SpongeBob SquarePants (season 4)

SpongeBob SquarePants (season 4)
DVD cover for Volume 1 (left) and Volume 2 (right)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	20
Release
Original network	Nickelodeon
Original release	May 6, 2005 – July 24, 2007

The fourth season of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, created by former marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, aired on Nickelodeon from May 6, 2005 to July 24, 2007, and contained 20 episodes, beginning with the episodes "Fear of a Krabby Patty" and "Shell of a Man". The series chronicles the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The season was executive produced by series creator Hillenburg, while writer Paul Tibbitt acted as the showrunner. The show underwent a hiatus on television as Hillenburg halted the production in 2002 to work on the film adaptation of the series, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. Once the film was finalized and the previous season had completed broadcast on television, Hillenburg wanted to end the show, but the success of the series led to more episodes, so Tibbitt took over Hillenburg's position as showrunner and began working on a fourth season for broadcast in 2005. Hillenburg remained with the show, but in a smaller advisory role in which he reviewed each episode and offered suggestions to the show's production crew.

The show itself received several recognition, including the three Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite Cartoon from 2005 to 2007. The episodes "Fear of a Krabby Patty" and "Shell of a Man" were nominated at the 57th Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour). It also received a nomination for its episodes "Bummer Vacation" and "Wigstruck" at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards for the same category.

Several compilation DVDs that contained episodes from the season were released. The SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 4, Volume 1 and 2 DVDs were released in Region 1 on September 12, 2006 and January 9, 2007, respectively, while the complete set was released in Region 2 on November 3, 2008 and Region 4 on November 7, 2008. On November 13, 2012, The Complete Fourth Season DVD was released in Region 1.

Production

The season aired on Nickelodeon, which is owned by Viacom, and was produced by United Plankton Pictures and Nickelodeon. The season's executive producer was series creator Stephen Hillenburg.^[1] In 2002, Hillenburg and the show's staff members decided to stop making episodes to work on the 2004 film The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, after completing the third season.^[2] As a result, the show went into a two-year "self-imposed" production hiatus.^[3] During the break on television, Nickelodeon expanded the programming for the third season to cover the delay, however, according to network executive Eric Coleman, "there certainly was a delay and a built-up demand."^[4] Nickelodeon announced nine "as-yet-unaired" episodes would be shown during the break.^[5]

Once the production on the film was completed, Hillenburg wanted to end the series "so the show wouldn't jump the shark", but Nickelodeon wanted to do more episodes.^[6] Hillenburg said "Well, there was concern when we did the movie [in 2004] that the show had peaked. There were concerns among executives at Nickelodeon."^[7][8] Hillenburg resigned as the series' showrunner,^[9] and appointed Paul Tibbitt, who previously served as a writer, director, and storyboard artist of the show, to overtake the role.^[10] Hillenburg considered Tibbitt one of his favorite members of the show's crew,^[11] and "totally trusted him".^[12] Tibbitt still helmed the showrunner position, until October 2015 when Vincent Waller & Marc Ceccarelli took his position, and also functions as an executive producer.^[10][13] Hillenburg no longer writes or runs the show on a day-to-day basis, but reviews each episode and delivers suggestions. He said, "I figure when I'm pretty old I can still paint. I don't know about running shows."^[9][14]

In 2004, Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, and the rest of the crew confirmed they have completed four new episodes for broadcast on Nickelodeon in early 2005,^[15][16] and planned to finish about 20 total for the then-fourth season.^[15][16] In particular, Kenny said, "Kids were happy watching them for the 3,000th time. It was the parents who've been busting my chops for new episodes."^[17] He remarked that it would be "the same show, the same sponge".^[17] On May 6, 2005, the season premiered with the episodes "Fear of a Krabby Patty" and "Shell of a Man".^[17][18][19] "Fear of a Krabby Patty" was the first episode to be broadcast after the show's intermission.^[17][18][19] It was written by C.H. Greenblatt and Paul Tibbitt, while Alan Smart served as animation director.^[20]

Animation was handled overseas in South Korea at Rough Draft Studios.^[12][21] Animation directors credited with episodes in the fourth season included Larry Leichliter, Andrew Overtoom, Smart, and Tom Yasumi.^{[lower-alpha 1]} Starting with the episode "Fear of a Krabby Patty," this is the first season to use the 3-D computer cel shading rather than digital ink and paint or traditional cel animation. The show would continue to be animated like this until the end of the eighth season. Episodes were written by a team of writers, which consisted of Casey Alexander, Steven Banks, Mike Bell, Luke Brookshier, Nate Cash, Zeus Cervas, Greenblatt, Tom King, Tim Hill, Kyle McCulloch, Dani Michaeli, Chris Mitchell, Mike Mitchell, Aaron Springer, Tibbitt, Vincent Waller, and Erik Wiese.^{[lower-alpha 1]} The season was storyboarded by Alexander, Bell, Brookshier, Cash, Cervas, Greenblatt, King, Chris Mitchell, Springer, Tuck Tucker, Brad Vandergrift, Waller, and Wiese.^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Cast

Amy Poehler (left) guest starred in the episode "Have You Seen This Snail?". Pat Morita voiced Master Udon in "Karate Island"; Morita died before the episode aired, and the program was dedicated in his memory.

The fourth season had a cast of six main actors. Tom Kenny provided the voice of the title character SpongeBob SquarePants and his pet snail Gary. SpongeBob's best friend, a starfish named Patrick Star, was voiced by Bill Fagerbakke,^[22] while Rodger Bumpass played the voice of Squidward Tentacles, an arrogant and ill-tempered octopus.^[23] Other members of the cast were Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks, a squirrel from Texas;^[24] Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs, a miserly crab obsessed with money and SpongeBob's boss at the Krusty Krab;^[25] and Mr. Lawrence as Plankton, a small green copepod and Mr. Krabs' business rival.^[26] The season had a number of secondary characters including Jill Talley as Plankton's computer wife, Karen;^[27] Mary Jo Catlett as Mrs. Puff, SpongeBob's driving instructor;^[28] Lori Alan as Pearl, Mr. Krabs' daughter;^[29] and Brian Doyle-Murray as the Flying Dutchman.^[30][31]

In addition to the regular cast members, episodes feature guest voices from many ranges of professions, including actors, musicians, and artists. For instance, in the episode "Have You Seen This Snail?", American comedian and actress Amy Poehler guest starred as the voice of Grandma, a sweet old woman who adopted Gary after he ran away.^[32][33] Musician Stew also appeared as a voice, performing the song "Gary, Come Home".^[32][34][35] Show writer C.H. Greenblatt made an appearance in the episode "Selling Out" as Carl.^[36][37] Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway returned in the episode "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy: VI The Motion Picture", reprising their roles as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, respectively.^[38] In "Mrs. Puff, You're Fired", English actor Robin Sachs voiced Sergeant Sam Roderick, a driving instructor who took over Mrs. Puff in teaching SpongeBob.^[39] Christopher Ryan, Nigel Planer and Rik Mayall appeared in the episode "Chimps Ahoy" as Sandy's bosses—Professor Percy, Dr. Marmalade and Lord Reginald, respectively.^[40] In the entry "Karate Island", Happy Days and The Karate Kid actor Pat Morita guest starred as Master Udon, a scammer who kidnaps SpongeBob to make him buy real estate.^[36][41] Morita died in November 2005, and the May 2006 episode was dedicated to Morita's memory.^[41]

Reception

The season was well received by media critics and fans. Paul Mavis of DVD Talk gave both of the season's volumes 4 1/2 stars. The episodes "Fear of a Krabby Patty" and "Shell of a Man" were nominated at the 57th Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour), but lost to South Park's "Best Friends Forever".^[42] The show was also nominated at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards for the same category for the episodes "Bummer Vacation" and "Wigstruck".^[43] At the 33rd Annie Awards, C.H. Greenblatt, Paul Tibbitt, Mike Bell and Tim Hill were also nominated for Best Writing in an Animated Television Production for the episode "Fear of a Krabby Patty".^[44] "Fear of a Krabby Patty" won for a Special Award at the 2005 Annecy International Animated Film Festival.^[45] At the 2006 Golden Reel Awards, the episode "Have You Seen This Snail?" was nominated for Best Sound Editing in Television: Animated.^[46] The show itself received several recognition, including the three Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite Cartoon from 2005 to 2007.^[47][48][49] It also received a nomination at the 21st TCA Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming, but lost to Degrassi: The Next Generation,^[50] and at the 23rd TCA Awards for the same category. However, the series did not win.^[51]

Episodes

Key

• The following episodes listed in the chart are arranged according to their production order, rather than by their original air dates.^[52]

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Animation directors [lower-alpha 1]	Written by [lower-alpha 1]	Original air date [53]	Prod. code [54]	U.S. viewers (millions)
61a	1a	"Fear of a Krabby Patty"	Alan Smart	C.H. Greenblatt and Paul Tibbitt	May 6, 2005	5574-401	2.60[55]
After seeing Plankton's tactic of keeping the Chum Bucket open for 23 hours, Mr. Krabs decides to keep the Krusty Krab open 24/7. Eventually, SpongeBob suffers a mental breakdown and becomes afraid of Krabby Patties due to the nonstop work. Plankton pretends to be a psychiatrist, naming himself Dr. Peter Lankton in order to treat SpongeBob's phobia, and in turn get the Krabby Patty secret formula. Much to Plankton's dismay, SpongeBob stays asleep during a hypnosis session, where he overcomes his phobia in a dream, and goes back to the Krusty Krab fully rehabilitated.
61b	1b	"Shell of a Man"	Tom Yasumi	Mike Bell and Paul Tibbitt	May 6, 2005	5574-402	2.60[55]
Mr. Krabs is going to a Naval reunion, but he moults his shell right before the event. So SpongeBob attempts to impersonate Mr. Krabs by wearing the recently molted shell. At the reunion, everything is going well, until SpongeBob has to fight one of Mr. Krabs' buddies and the shell breaks in the process. The real Mr. Krabs comes out and tells the truth, but to the surprise of him and SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs' old buddies had secrets to hide themselves.
62a	2a	"The Lost Mattress"	Alan Smart	Mike Bell and Tim Hill	May 13, 2005	5574-406	N/A
Mr. Krabs is having trouble sleeping on his old mattress, so Patrick and SpongeBob buy him a new one and Squidward takes the credit. Unbeknownst to them, Mr. Krabs' money was in the mattress because he doesn't trust banks. Mr. Krabs ends up in the hospital suffering from a "cash coma", leaving SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward to retrieve it from the nearby dump; and Squidward will go to jail if Krabs doesn't come out. After a few encounters with a guard worm, they retrieve the mattress and Mr. Krabs is awakened from his coma.
62b	2b	"Krabs vs. Plankton"	Tom Yasumi	Tim Hill, Mike Mitchell, and Vincent Waller	May 13, 2005	5574-403	N/A
After slipping on a wet floor while trying to steal a Krabby Patty, Plankton sues Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob is forced to defend him after the same floor injures Mr. Krabs' high-priced lawyer. SpongeBob spends most of the trial trying to open a briefcase, but what's in it can help Mr. Krabs win the case.
63	3	"Have You Seen This Snail?" "(Where's Gary?)"	Alan Smart and Tom Yasumi	Aaron Springer and Paul Tibbitt	November 11, 2005	5574-404	7.93[56][57]
SpongeBob takes the "Dirty Bubble Challenge" with his new paddleball set and neglects Gary in the process, which causes him to run away and be adopted by a senile old fish who mistakes him for her snail. While the woman seems gentle, she overfeeds Gary, who soon learns the old lady's bad history with snails. Guest stars: Amy Poehler as Grammy, Stew
64a	4a	"Skill Crane"	Alan Smart	Kyle McCulloch, Aaron Springer, and Vincent Waller	May 20, 2005	5574-407	N/A
Mr. Krabs purchases a skill crane for the Krusty Krab. SpongeBob wins something from the machine every time he inserts a quarter, while Squidward loses every time. This drives Squidward insane, and soon he puts all of his money, as well as the deed to his house, into the machine, trying to beat it. When SpongeBob tells him the secret to winning, Squidward finally wins something, a hairless teddy bear. His constant bragging soon gets the better of him though.
64b	4b	"Good Neighbors"	Tom Yasumi	Mike Bell	May 20, 2005	5574-408	N/A
It's Sunday, and Squidward just wants to relax. He has a pedicure scheduled for later in the afternoon, but SpongeBob and Patrick keep thwarting his plans and spoiling his day. When Squidward is taken to the hospital by a couple who thinks he's sick, SpongeBob and Patrick end up getting his pedicure, driving him to set up a new security system in his home. Eventually, things get out of hand when Squidward's house comes to life and attacks Bikini Bottom.
65a	5a	"Selling Out"	Alan Smart	Zeus Cervas, Erik Wiese and Tim Hill	September 23, 2005	5574-409	N/A
Mr. Krabs sells the Krusty Krab to a franchise restauranteur and retires, leaving Spongebob and Squidward with an over-peppy new manager and a new way of business. Mr. Krabs, bored of retirement, takes a job as a busboy at the Krabby O'Mondays, but is shocked at the changes, especially to the Krabby Patties, now made with synthetic gray glop. Mr. Krabs then destroys the Krusty Krab, buying it back, and gets Spongebob and Squidward their original jobs back.
65b	5b	"Funny Pants"	Tom Yasumi	Luke Brookshier, Tom King, and Steven Banks	September 30, 2005	5574-410	N/A
Squidward tricks SpongeBob into thinking he broke his "laugh box" after he is annoyed by his laughter one too many times. Concerned, SpongeBob attempts not to laugh for an entire day, and although he succeeds, he finds he cannot laugh anymore the next morning. He starts crying profusely until Squidward admits that he fooled him. Squidward then blows his laugh box out while laughing at his attempt to fool SpongeBob. SpongeBob gives half of his laugh box to Squidward, causing him to laugh like SpongeBob.
66	6	"Dunces and Dragons" "(Lost in Time)"	Alan Smart and Tom Yasumi	Zeus Cervas, Erik Wiese, and Tim Hill	February 20, 2006	5574-412	8.60[58][59]
After a jousting accident, SpongeBob and Patrick go back in time to restore peace to a kingdom in peril: a medieval Bikini Bottom.
67a	7a	"Enemy In-Law"	Andrew Overtoom	Tom King, Luke Brookshier, and Tim Hill	October 14, 2005	5574-414	N/A
Plankton falls in love with Mr. Krabs' mother and begins to date her. When Mr. Krabs finds out, he tries to convince his mother that Plankton is only after the Krabby Patty secret formula, but Mama Krabs orders her son to stay out of her personal affairs. Mr. Krabs painfully obliges, until Plankton decides to pop the question. The next day, Plankton asks Mama Krabs to marry him, and Mr. Krabs tries to stop him. When she says no, Plankton asks for the secret formula, and Mama Krabs beats him up.
67b	7b	"Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy VI: The Motion Picture"	Andrew Overtoom	Casey Alexander, Chris Mitchell, and Paul Tibbitt	October 7, 2005	5574-411	N/A
After seeing a preview of a Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy film that will not include the real heroes, SpongeBob and Patrick set out to make their own film, using the real Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, and with Pearl in a starring role. They also recruit some of their friends to help out, but run into many setbacks. Finally, SpongeBob and Patrick present their movie at the Krusty Krab and the fan club attends. The end result is a poorly edited, 1-minute long, low-quality film that disappoints fans of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, but the heroes themselves are quite proud of it regardless. Guest appearances: Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy.
68a	8a	"Patrick SmartPants" "(Abracamoron)"	Tom Yasumi	Casey Alexander, Chris Mitchell, and Tim Hill	October 21, 2005	5574-415	N/A
After falling off a cliff, Patrick's intelligence increases significantly. SpongeBob wants Patrick to play with him but he finds SpongeBob childish and declines, and befriends with Squidward and Sandy instead. However, Patrick misses being SpongeBob's friend so he jumps off the cliff again, and he and SpongeBob find out that he landed in a brain coral field. Patrick gets his own head back and becomes his normal, dumb self again.
68b	8b	"SquidBob TentaclePants"	Alan Smart	Zeus Cervas, Erik Wiese, and Steven Banks	November 4, 2005	5574-416	N/A
On the eve of Squidward's big clarinet recital, he and SpongeBob are accidentally morphed together by Sandy's teleportation device. Daily life proves to be difficult for them when they are fused together. During Squidward's clarinet recital, their disguise falls off and everybody becomes amazed at how they are morphed together, but Sandy spoils the moment by sending the two back to their original form with her Molecular Separator Ray. Squidward, wanting to be famous again, tries to reverse the device by tampering with it, and ends up fusing himself with SpongeBob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, and Mrs. Puff into a grotesque flesh-colored blob. He then goes to a therapy session in this new form, now more miserable than ever.
69a	9a	"Krusty Towers"	Andrew Overtoom	Luke Brookshier, Tom King, and Steven Banks	April 1, 2006	5574-417	N/A
Due to his high hotel bill, Mr. Krabs believes hotels to be a gold mine and opens Krusty Towers. When Patrick checks in, Mr. Krabs orders Squidward to cater to his every whim. When Squidward finally has enough, he quits and comes back...as a guest! Now the tables are turned as Squidward's unreasonable demands force Mr. Krabs to regret his motto. When SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward's indoor pool destroys the place, Mr. Krabs discover hospitals are way more overpriced than hotels.
69b	9b	"Mrs. Puff, You're Fired"	Tom Yasumi	Casey Alexander, Chris Mitchell, and Tim Hill	April 1, 2006	5574-418	N/A
Mrs. Puff is fired after SpongeBob fails his driving test again, and is replaced by a drill sergeant whose methods are uncommon.
70a	10a	"Chimps Ahoy"	Andrew Overtoom	Luke Brookshier, Tom King, and Steven Banks	May 5, 2006	5574-426	N/A
Sandy's benefactors from the surface threaten to pull her from the Treedome if she cannot come up with an invention, and her friends SpongeBob and Patrick decide to help her.
70b	10b	"Ghost Host"	Alan Smart	Erik Wiese, Zeus Cervas, and Tim Hill	May 5, 2006	5574-419	N/A
After his ship crashes and he is forced to live at SpongeBob's, the Flying Dutchman comes to the realization he is no longer scary.
71a	11a	"Whale of a Birthday"	Tom Yasumi	Luke Brookshier, Tom King, and Paul Tibbitt	May 12, 2006	5574-423	N/A
Pearl is turning 16, and warns Mr. Krabs not to give her a cheap party and gifts, like in the past. Mr. Krabs sends SpongeBob out with a credit card to buy presents for Pearl, and she turns out to love her party and gifts in the end.
71b	11b	"Karate Island"	Tom Yasumi	Casey Alexander, Chris Mitchell, and Steven Banks	May 12, 2006	5574-421	N/A
SpongeBob wins a trip to "Karate Island", run by a scammer who kidnaps him and forces Sandy to save him. Guest appearance: Pat Morita as Master Udon. Note: This episode is dedicated to Pat Morita.
72a	12a	"All That Glitters"	Andrew Overtoom	Zeus Cervas, Erik Wiese, and Steven Banks	June 2, 2006	5574-422	N/A
While preparing a Monster Krabby Patty, SpongeBob's spatula explodes and he needs another one. SpongeBob starts crying and invests all his money for a fancy hi-tech spatula. The mechanical spatula then refuses to do the job of a regular spatula, and then it runs away. The episode ends with his beloved spatula (which wasn't the spatula that recently exploded) flipping some Krabby Patties. SpongeBob yet had to face another Monster Krabby Patty, this time snapping his arm but laughing at it without pain.
72b	12b	"Wishing You Well"	Andrew Overtoom	Luke Brookshier, Tom King, and Steven Banks	June 2, 2006	5574-420	N/A
Mr. Krabs has SpongeBob and Patrick dig a wishing well in another moneymaking scheme.
73a	13a	"New Leaf"	Alan Smart	Zeus Cervas, Erik Wiese, and Steven Banks	September 22, 2006	5574-425	N/A
Plankton says he is giving up on his many tries to steal the Krabby Patty formula to turn the Chum Bucket into a store, and even renames The Chum Bucket to The Chumporium. But Mr. Krabs is smart not to believe him, certain that it is just another one of Plankton's schemes to get the secret formula.
73b	13b	"Once Bitten"	Alan Smart	Casey Alexander, Chris Mitchell, and Steven Banks	September 29, 2006	5574-424	N/A
Gary bites Squidward because of a splinter that is infected, but Patrick tells everyone that it is "Mad Snail Disease", causing the whole town to panic.
74a	14a	"Bummer Vacation"	Tom Yasumi	Casey Alexander, Chris Mitchell, and Dani Michaeli	October 13, 2006	5574-427	N/A
SpongeBob is forced to take his vacation days at work but cannot accept that. When Patrick is hired as his temporary replacement, SpongeBob goes crazy.
74b	14b	"Wigstruck"	Alan Smart	Luke Brookshier, Tom King, and Dani Michaeli	November 17, 2006	5574-428	N/A
SpongeBob begins wearing an old ratty wig around town to the ridicule of others.
75a	15a	"Squidtastic Voyage"	Tom Yasumi	Luke Brookshier, Tom King, and Dani Michaeli	October 6, 2006	5574-431	N/A
SpongeBob and Patrick cause Squidward to swallow his clarinet reed and they must retrieve it.
75b	15b	"That's No Lady"	Andrew Overtoom	Casey Alexander, Chris Mitchell, and Steven Banks	November 25, 2006	5574-430	N/A
After misinterpreting a salesman's pitch, Patrick disguises himself as a woman and immediately becomes the center of attention in Bikini Bottom.
76a	16a	"The Thing"	Andrew Overtoom	Zeus Cervas, Erik Wiese, and Steven Banks	January 15, 2007	5574-429	N/A
After Squidward's day is ruined yet again by SpongeBob and Patrick while he is trying to watch public television, he rides his bike into a cement mixer and emerges as a hideous-looking, unusual creature that SpongeBob and Patrick adopt.
76b	16b	"Hocus Pocus"	Alan Smart	Casey Alexander, Chris Mitchell, and Steven Banks	January 15, 2007	5574-432	N/A
SpongeBob thinks he accidentally turned Squidward into an ice cream cone with a magic set.
77a	17a	"Driven to Tears"	Andrew Overtoom	Luke Brookshier, Tom King, and Steven Banks	February 19, 2007	5574-434	N/A
Patrick successfully passes his driving exam and it goes to his head, which makes SpongeBob very angry. Patrick repeatedly rubs his license on SpongeBob's face, causing SpongeBob to lose his temper.
77b	17b	"Rule of Dumb" "(Starfish of Royalty)"	Tom Yasumi	Zeus Cervas, Erik Wiese, and Dani Michaeli	February 19, 2007	5574-433	N/A
Patrick is revealed to have descended from "King Amoeba" and is thus now King of Bikini Bottom. He quickly becomes tyrannical and power-abusive until it is later revealed that in fact Gary is the true king.
78a	18a	"Born to Be Wild"	Tom Yasumi	Luke Brookshier, Tom King, and Steven Banks	March 31, 2007	5574-437	N/A
SpongeBob finds a patch from a biker's jacket in Jellyfish Fields and immediately becomes frightened.
79b	19b	"Best Frenemies"	Alan Smart	Zeus Cervas, Erik Wiese, and Dani Michaeli	March 31, 2007	5574-436	N/A
After a smoothie stand selling "kelpshakes" opens near the Krusty Krab and the Chum Bucket, Plankton and Mr. Krabs work together to stop it.
79a	19a	"The Pink Purloiner"	Tom Yasumi	Luke Brookshier, Tom King, and Steven Banks	February 19, 2007	5574-440	N/A
There is a migration of many exotic jellyfish species. SpongeBob and Patrick bring their nets to catch them. However, SpongeBob's jellyfish net is missing and he thinks Patrick stole it.
79b	19b	"Squid Wood"	Andrew Overtoom	Casey Alexander, Chris Mitchell, and Dani Michaeli	July 24, 2007	5574-438	N/A
After Squidward won't play with him, SpongeBob makes a miniature wooden puppet version of Squidward that becomes much more popular than the actual Squidward.
80a	20a	"Best Day Ever"	Larry Leichliter	Nate Cash, Tuck Tucker, and Steven Banks	November 10, 2006	151-507	6.70[60][61]
SpongeBob wants to have the best day ever. He keeps a list of pastimes, including working at the Krusty Krab, jellyfishing, karate, and watching Squidward perform. However, several problems that occur prevent him from doing them.
80b	20b	"The Gift of Gum"	Alan Smart	Zeus Cervas, Erik Wiese, and Dani Michaeli	February 19, 2007	5574-439	N/A
Patrick gives SpongeBob a huge wad of bubble gum on Best Friends' Day.

DVD release

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Fourth Season DVD cover art, released on November 13, 2012.

The first ten episodes of the fourth season were released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment in the United States and Canada on September 12, 2006.^[62] The "Volume 1" DVD release features bonus material including animatics and featurettes.^[62] The remaining ten episodes of the season were also released under the title "Volume 2" in the United States and Canada on January 9, 2007.^[63] The DVD release also features bonus material including music videos, shorts and featurettes.^[63] In Region 2 and 4, the DVD release for the season was a complete set. On November 13, 2012, The Complete Fourth Season DVD was released in Region 1, five years after the season had completed broadcast on television.^[64]

SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 4, Volume 1
Set details[62]			Special features[62]
10 episodes (18 segment episodes) 2-disc set 1.33:1 aspect ratio Languages: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)			Animatics for "Fear of a Krabby Patty" and "Dunces and Dragons" Behind the Scenes with SpongeBob SquarePants featurette
Release dates
Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
September 12, 2006[65]	November 3, 2008[66]	November 7, 2008[67]

SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 4, Volume 2
Set details[63]			Special features[63]
10 episodes (20 segment episodes) 2-disc set 1.33:1 aspect ratio Languages: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)			"Best Day Ever" shorts Best Day Ever Karaoke Music Video Behind the Scenes with Pick Boy and SpongeBob
Release dates
Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
January 9, 2007[68]	November 3, 2008[66]	November 7, 2008[67]

Notes

1. Information is taken from the opening credits of each episode.

References

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2. Koltnow, Barry (November 14, 2004). "SpongeBob creator is soaking up success". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
3. "Aqua Maniac". Syracuse New Times. November 23, 2004. Retrieved October 31, 2013.  – via HighBeam (subscription required)
4. Coleman, Eric (2010). "The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants". Hogan's Alley #17. Bull Moose Publishing Corporation. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
5. Maurstad, Tom (March 19, 2003). "'SpongeBob SquarePants' special Friday night on Nickelodeon". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 11, 2013. (subscription required)
6. Heintjes, Tom (September 21, 2012). "The Oral History of SpongeBob SquarePants". Hogan's Alley. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
7. Cavna, Michael (July 14, 2009). "The Interview: 'SpongeBob' Creator Stephen Hillenburg". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
8. "The brilliance behind SpongeBob". Boston.com. July 16, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
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10. Fletcher, Alex (April 3, 2011). "Paul Tibbitt ('Spongebob Squarepants')". Digital Spy. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
11. Hillenburg, Stephen (2009). The First 100 Episodes - Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants (DVD). Paramount Home Entertainment.
12. Cavna, Michael (July 14, 2009). "The Interview: 'SpongeBob' Creator Stephen Hillenburg". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
13. Rae, Fiona (September 26, 2009). "Paul Tibbitt interview". New Zealand Listener. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
14. "Nickelodeon's 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Reaches A Milestone: 10 Years". Access Hollywood. July 13, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
15. "10 secrets of SpongeBob SquarePants". The Chicago Tribune. November 19, 2004. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
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External links

• Season 4 at TV.com
• Season 4 at Metacritic