SpongeBob SquarePants And Patrick Star To Host Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2024
SpongeBob SquarePants And Patrick Star To Host Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2024
Nickelodeon’s biggest star (and his best star friend) will now host Nickelodeon’s biggest night to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary
Well two months isn’t very “shortly” now is it? It seems the guests of honor are now hosting their own anniversary celebration. Nickelodeon legends and best friends SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star, voiced as always by Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke, have been named co-hosts of the 2024 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, live from Bikini Bottom on Saturday, July 13, at 8 p.m. ET/(PT) on Nickelodeon, simulcasting across TeenNick, Nicktoons and Nick Jr.
Fresh off being the first animated characters to call a Super Bowl, which was also hosted in Bikini Bottom, they are the first animated characters to host a Kids’ Choice Awards, though many have certainly attended. Some have been nominated individually, including Patrick himself for Favorite Animated Sidekick against Sparky, Perry the Platypus, and Waddles. It also makes Kenny and Fagerbakke the first voice actors to host, though there are instances where a celebrity host choice is very obviously promoting an animated starring role, like Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz in 2004, Ben Stiller in 2005, and Jack Black in 2008. It also marks the fifth year in a row where Nickelodeon talent, past or present, will host. It began with Victoria Justice hosting the virtual pre-recorded show in 2020, followed by Kenan Thompson in 2021, iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove and Crashletes host Rob Gronkowski in 2022 (at the time the Paramount+ iCarly revival was in its second season), and NFL Slimetime host Nate Burleson co-hosting last year. This will likely be a more mobile experience for the augmented reality and enhanced graphics, which thus far has been confined to broadcast booths, control rooms, and standing on sidelines.
Infamously, SpongeBob SquarePants has won Favorite Cartoon 20 out of 21 times, and 15 years in a row. Of course it was time they just took over. Some years, SpongeBob would accept with an animated scene. 2014 was the first time Kenny and Fagerbakke accepted in-person, also doing so from home in 2020. Not only did Patrick win Favorite Animal Sidekick, but Sponge Out of Water and Sponge on the Run were Favorite Animated Movie nominees, and SpongeBob video games have won Favorite Video Game three times of four nominees. The cast of The SpongeBob Musical performed its version of “Best Day Ever” at the 2019 awards, as part of the franchise’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
July 13 is 2024’s final Saturday between SpongeBob’s actual May 1 premiere in 1999, which for the record was a Kids’ Choice Awards leadout, and the “official” July 17 regular premiere. It is this event that will signal the official start of the 25th anniversary celebrations, with new original content across the Paramount ecosystem. This includes all-new episodes with Easter eggs and nods to fan-favorite moments. Viewers will catch up with former jellyfishing champion Kevin C. Cucumber (HI KEVIN!), journey through different eras of Bikini Bottom, travel 2000 years into the future with Plankton ala “SB-129” and more. There will also be one-of-a-kind location-based experiences, exclusive consumer products and games, first-to-market partnerships and more. As for the awards, which honors kids’ favorites across movies, television, music, sports, video games, social media, and more, will have nominees, presenters, and celebrity appearances announced soon. It is unknown who will be the announcer, as it was Kenny who resumed those duties in 2021, having also been announcer from 2004 to 2013. His SpongeBob-voiced reading of “This has been a Bob Bain production” is etched in my mind.
“SpongeBob SquarePants combines creator Stephen Hillenburg’s love of the ocean with his passion for animation and love of quirky character comedy,” said Kenny. “From its first splash, SpongeBob has resonated with people of all ages, and I’m truly grateful to celebrate 25 years of positivity, optimism, and nautical nonsense. Our entire cast and crew look forward to celebrating SpongeBob’s Silver Jubilee with our friends and fans across the globe!”
Fagerbakke added “When I first saw the pilot episode ‘Help Wanted’ in 1998, I was thrilled. I felt flushed with a childlike joy. This celebration of creativity, uniquely layered humor and playful delight have characterized SpongeBob SquarePants for the past 25 years. To portray Patrick, who still makes me laugh, amidst my stellar castmates and brilliant creative team is a gift beyond measure.” Watch the promo below.
Source: Deadline