The show was originally to be called ' SpongeBoy Ahoy!,' but the name ' SpongeBoy' was already in use for a mop product. To voice the character of SpongeBob, Hillenburg turned to Kenny, who had worked with him on Rocko's Modern Life. Hillenburg initially conceived the show in 1984 and began to work on it shortly after the cancellation of Rocko's Modern Life in 1996. Lawrence as Plankton, Jill Talley as Karen, Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy, Mary Jo Catlett as Mrs. The show features the voices of Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary, Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick, Rodger Bumpass as Squidward, Clancy Brown as Mr. The series chronicles the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The first season of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, created by former marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, aired from to March 3, 2001, and consisted of 20 episodes.
