Help Wanted

"Today's the big day, Gary!"

- SpongeBob

"Help Wanted" is the very first episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. The episode is about SpongeBob being hired as the fry cook of the Krusty Krab.

Characters

 * French Narrator
 * SpongeBob SquarePants
 * Gary the Snail
 * Patrick Star
 * Squidward Tentacles
 * Eugene Krabs
 * Anchovies

Note: All characters listed made their debut in the episode.

Songs

 * Barg'N-Mart, performed by SpongeBob SquarePants
 * Barg'N-Mart Reprise, performed by SpongeBob SquarePants
 * Livin' the Sunlight, Lovin' the Moonlight, performed by Tiny Tim

Plot
A Narrator with a French Accent introduces SpongeBob SquarePants, a Sponge who lives in a Pineapple in the city of Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob's alarm clock rings, waking him up at 7 a.m. in the morning. He tells his pet, Gary that he must be in good shape because this particular day is important. He jumps off of his diving board, and lands in his pants. He goes to his exercise room and lifts a bar-weight (which is actually two stuffed animals). Afterwards, SpongeBob declares that he is ready. He runs outside and down the street to the Krusty Krab, repeatedly saying, "I'm ready" while his Neighbor and best friend, Patrick Star, cheers him on. SpongeBob sees the 'Help Wanted' sign on the Krusty Krab window. He then declares that he is ready to obtain the job, which he has dreamed of for years; however, he loses his confidence. Patrick convinces him to go for the job, and so SpongeBob does so. Squidward Tentacles, the head Cashier, is cleaning the window (his head is drawn and loser is written above it). Squidward sees that SpongeBob wants the job, and so he tells restaurant owner Eugene H. Krabs that SpongeBob doesn't qualify for the job. SpongeBob walks into the Krusty Krab and asks for the job. To get rid of him, Mr. Krabs tells SpongeBob that he can join the 'Krusty Krew' if he passes a "test"&mdash;which is to obtain a 'Hydrodynamic Spatula with Port and Starboard Attachments and a Turbo-Drive' (essentially sending SpongeBob on a form of snipe hunt). As soon as SpongeBob leaves, six buses drop off a large crowds of hungry anchovies. They barge into the Krusty Krab, demanding Krabby Patties. Attempting to keep things in order, Squidward requests that there be a single-file line in front of the cash register. But the anchovies angrily protest, forming a 'storm' of angry anchovies. This forces Squidward and Mr. Krabs to climb up the 'mast'. Thinking that it is the end for them, they say their good-byes. Suddenly, SpongeBob arrives, flying with his 'hydrodynamic spatula with port and starboard attachments and a turbo-drive' (according to SpongeBob, the Barg'n Mart only had one in stock). Mr. Krabs is flabbergasted at the fact that SpongeBob actually passed the "test." SpongeBob flies into the kitchen and as fast as he can, satisfies the needs of the angry anchovies. When the last anchovy gets their Krabby Patty, Mr. Krabs is delighted. He hires SpongeBob, by welcoming him to the Krusty Krew and giving him a name tag. Then, Mr. Krabs calls for three cheers for SpongeBob. Even though Squidward is upset, Mr. Krabs doesn't listen to him because he wants to go and count the money he just made in his office. At the end, Patrick walks in and asks for a Krabby Patty. SpongeBob races into the kitchen and makes a huge stream of Krabby Patties which hit Patrick and send him flying out of the restaurant. Worried, Squidward calls Mr. Krabs to come see his new employee.

Quotes
(SpongeBob zooms in the kitchen, making hundreds of patties)
 * Patrick: Whose first words were, "May I take your order?"
 * SpongeBob: Mine were.
 * Patrick: Who made a spatula out of toothpicks in wood shop?
 * SpongeBob: I did.
 * Patrick: Who's a... Uhh... Who's... Who's a big yellow cube with holes?
 * SpongeBob: I am!
 * Patrick: Who's ready?
 * SpongeBob: I'm ready!
 * Patrick: Who's ready?
 * SpongeBob: I'm ready!
 * Patrick: Who's ready?!
 * SpongeBob: I'm ready!! *Mr. Krabs: (as the anchovies swarm the Krusty Krab) Batten down the hatches, Mr. Squidward! We're taking on water, Mr. Squidward! I want my mommy, Mr. Squidward! *Patrick: Good morning, Krusty Krew!
 * Squidward: What would you like, Patrick?
 * Patrick: One Krabby Patty, please.
 * Patrick: Aahhhh!
 * Squidward: Mr. Krabs! Mr. Krabs! Mr. Krabs!! Come see your new employee!

Animation style
Because it is the first episode, "Help Wanted" has many differences to the rest of the series. However, the original version of the episode had many other minor differences corrected later. For example, this is the only episode where SpongeBob's bed is on the right. Differences in voices are another example. SpongeBob's voice is slightly lower and Patrick's is deeper. Designs and colors are also different. Mr. Krabs' eyelids are bright pink opposed to just red, Squidward wears a regular orange shirt instead of brown-orange, his complexion is more pale, his laugh is different, the comedic "splat" sound is different, and Gary's eye pupils & irises are smaller with a lower tone of voice in the "meow" (although Tom Kenny claims to use a new "meow" for each episode where Gary is shown meowing). Squidward also appears to have rows of sticks behind his house. In addition, the Animation wasn't as high quality unlike the following episodes, as the rapid movement made by SpongeBob when he was bouncing off the walls, roof, and floor of the Krusty Krab showed just a yellow square. When the anchovies were jumping up and down they were just blue and brown (mostly blue) finger-shaped ovals. Differences in SpongeBob's house are also present in this episode, but not other, such as there is only one window in front. SpongeBob's alarm clock has a different ship horn sound than his alarm clock in later episodes. Also, SpongeBob has a pet Scallop that he kept in a bird cage in his room. The changes were made when the series officially aired.

Trivia

 * Stephen Hillenburg in the "Written By:" section of the title card was mistakenly spelled as "Stephen Hilleburg."
 * SpongeBob says "I'm ready" at the Krusty Krab three times. The last time he says it, his collar turns red.
 * Initially, this episode was not included on the SpongeBob season one DVD set, presumably because of licensing issues involving the aforementioned song. However, the episode has since been made available on the DVD release of the third season as a bonus feature.