View source for News:‘SpongeBob’ Loses Job, Earns Big Ratings for Nickelodeon

{{News
|archive = November 2013
|title = ‘SpongeBob’ Loses Job, Earns Big Ratings for Nickelodeon
|first = Jon
|last = Weisman
|date = {{Time|November 12}}, {{Time|2013}}
|url = http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/spongebob-loses-job-earns-big-ratings-for-nick-1200824175/
|publication = Variety
|accessdate = {{Time|April 17}}, {{Time|2014}}
|article = 
Episode tops in TV across kid demos

Nick’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” drew 5.2 million viewers — its biggest audience in two years — for its Monday episode, “SpongeBob, You’re Fired!”

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The episode, which created some level of controversy for its depiction of unemployment, was a hit with kids, ranking first for the night in the 2-11, 6-11 and 9-14 demos.

“SpongeBob” has become an unwitting player in the culture wars in the past, such as past attempts by groups to make the lead character a figure in debates over homosexuality and tolerance.
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