| SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | SpongeBob and the Big Birthday Blowout |
| Based on | SpongeBob SquarePants by Stephen Hillenburg |
| Written by | Kaz Mr. Lawrence |
| Directed by | Jonas Morganstein |
| Starring | Tom Kenny Bill Fagerbakke Clancy Brown Rodger Bumpass Carolyn Lawrence Mr. Lawrence Jill Talley Mary Jo Catlett Lori Alan Dee Bradley Baker Kel Mitchell Jack Griffo Daniella Perkins David Hasselhoff |
| Narrated by | Tom Kenny |
| Music by | Steve Belfer |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Editor | Rick Weis |
| Running time | 44 minutes |
| Production companies | United Plankton Pictures Nickelodeon Animation Studio |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nickelodeon Nicktoons |
| Release | July 12, 2019 |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout is a 2019 made-for-television live-action/animated comedy special based on the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants.[1][2] It was written by Kaz and Mr. Lawrence, and was directed by Jonas Morganstein. The special, produced as part of the show's twelfth season, originally aired on Nickelodeon in the United States on July 12, 2019, celebrating the series' twentieth anniversary. The cut version of this episode was released on October 5, 2019. The bonus edition of this episode was released on July 17, 2020, exactly 21 years after the official series premiere in 1999.[3][4][5]
The television series follows the adventures of SpongeBob SquarePants (voiced by Tom Kenny) in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom. In the special, the citizens of Bikini Bottom plan a surprise birthday party for SpongeBob, while he and Patrick Star (voiced by Bill Fagerbakke) tour the surface world and come across their real-life selves.[6][7][8] The live-action portions of the special also feature several guest stars including Kel Mitchell, Jack Griffo, Daniella Perkins, and David Hasselhoff, the latter of whom starred as himself in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.[9][10][11] Mindy The Mermaid made a special cameo in it since she was in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. The special is dedicated to the memory of the SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg, who died in 2018. Upon release, it received generally positive reviews.
- ^ Rearick, Lauren (July 13, 2019). "The Life Lessons "Spongebob Squarepants" Taught Us". Teen Vogue. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
- ^ Justin, Neal (July 9, 2019). "At age 20, 'SpongeBob SquarePants' is still soaking up the love". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
- ^ Lawler, Kelly (July 12, 2019). "Incredibly sweet 'SpongeBob Squarepants' 20th anniversary special has a human Krusty Krab". USA Today. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
- ^ Roush, Matt (July 12, 2019). "Worth Watching: Spongebob's Birthday Blowout, 'Point Blank' on Netflix, Showtime's 'Shangri-La'". TV Insider. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- ^ Pierce, Scott (July 11, 2019). "'SpongeBob SquarePants' turns 20 with an episode that's surreal, even for him". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- ^ Flores, Terry (July 10, 2019). "'SpongeBob' Voice Cast on Acting Together in Live-Action for 20th Anniversary Special". Variety. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
- ^ Owen, Rob (July 10, 2019). "Behind the Business of 'SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout'". Variety. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ Lang, Jaime (June 9, 2019). "Nickelodeon's Ramsey Naito Talks 'SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout' at Annecy". Variety. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ Jones, Marcus (May 22, 2019). "David Hasselhoff joins the SpongeBob SquarePants 20th anniversary special". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ Tehee, Joshua (July 16, 2019). "Celebrate 20 years of 'SpongeBob SquarePants' with a Krabby Patty showdown at brewery". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
- ^ Roush, Matt (July 12, 2019). "Worth Watching: Spongebob's Birthday Blowout, 'Point Blank' on Netflix, Showtime's 'Shangri-La'". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.