Season 4

This is the page about the fourth season of the main series. For other uses, see Season 4 (disambiguation).

The fourth season of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, created by former marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, was announced on September 22, 2004.

A total of 20 half-hour episodes were produced for this season.

Season 4 premiered on May 6, 2005 with "Fear of a Krabby Patty" and "Shell of a Man," and ended on July 24, 2007 with "Squid Wood."

Unlike the previous seasons' DVDs, season 4's was split into volumes. The volume one DVD was released in Region 1 on September 12, 2006, the volume two DVD was released in Region 1 on January 9, 2007, the season set was released its entirety in Region 2 on November 3, 2008, and on November 13, 2012, the entire collection of episodes from season 4 was released on DVD in Region 1.

Production

Full article on early episode production: Season 4/production (early episodes)

Although series creator Stephen Hillenburg wanted the show to end after release of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie to prevent it from "jumping the shark" and because SpongeBob SquarePants had peaked in popularity, Nickelodeon wanted more episodes to be produced in accordance with high ratings and series-based merchandise sales. Thus, the show was renewed for a fourth season. However, Hillenburg resigned as the showrunner and appointed Paul Tibbitt.

On May 16, 2004, former writer Jay Lender said on the now defunct SpongeBob Area that there would be more episodes made: "I believe Nickelodeon is making a handful of new episodes right now, 10 or fewer. Steve's involvement is limited, but the show is in good hands with Paul Tibbitt." Despite concerns over a possibly similar situation over what happened with The Ren & Stimpy Show and its creator, Lender said "that's not what's happening here" and assured that "Steve and Derek are exactly as involved as they want to be with the new episodes." Former writer Sam Henderson also stated that the show was back: "I know that SB is going back into production, but I'm not involved (at least I think). I know that Paul Tibbitt is in charge and Steve Hillenburg & Derek Drymon are not." He theorized that as to the reason of why these new episodes were being made was "that they want to be able to have an even 65. The real money in television is when a show is rerun in syndication, and 65 is the minimum amount to be eligible."

Kaz was called up by Paul Tibbitt to return at some point as well: "Paul called me a few weeks ago to work on a SpongeBob or two. He said he wouldn't be ready for me until late June and July. Of course I said YES. He told me that Nickelodeon ordered four new half-hours. Ten makes more sense -- ----, why not do one more whole season? I believe the characters are strong enough work out 24 more stories. I'm not sure what Paul Tibbitt is thinking about. I know that Carl Greenblatt (my second writing/storyboard directing partner) did a freelance storyboard for one of the new episodes under Paul Tibbitt. [this would end up being the season premiere "Fear of a Krabby Patty"] There's no gag order on information as far as I know." However, by July 2004, he never got the call back and eventually went off to work on Camp Lazlo.

On July 5, 2004, Jay Lender responded to two emails about a new season he had gotten from both of SBM's moderators, now confident that there would be new episodes, and (as Kaz said) there would be four half-hours. As far as he was aware, the show would still be staffed by series veterans, production began a few months before, and these episodes were likely part of the fourth season. It was likely that these episodes weren't coming before the movie, (although stranger things had happened) and it was possible that they wouldn't even come at all (Lender said "Nick would be crazy not to make more but I wouldn't bet my life on them following through---they're famously fickle about these things.")

However, by September 2004, the season was publicly announced, gaining a 15 or 16-episode extension to make another 20-episode season. In November 2004, Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, and the rest of the crew confirmed that they had completed four new episodes for broadcast on Nickelodeon in early 2005, and planned to finish about 20 total for the then-fourth season. 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." He remarked that it would be "the same show, the same sponge."

List of episodes

Title card	#	Title	U.S. airdate	U.S. viewers (millions)
File:Fear of a Krabby Patty title card.png	61a	"Fear of a Krabby Patty" (tr • ga)	May 6, 2005	3.81
	The Krusty Krab opens up for 24 hours as part of Plankton's plan, and it causes SpongeBob to become afraid of Krabby Patties.
File:Shell of a Man title card.png	61b	"Shell of a Man" (tr • ga)	May 6, 2005	3.81
	Mr. Krabs molts and loses his shell just before meeting up with his Navy buddies, so SpongeBob dresses up in it and takes his place.
File:The Lost Mattress title card.png	62a	"The Lost Mattress" (tr • ga)	May 13, 2005	3.34
	SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward try to get back Mr. Krabs' lost mattress.
File:Krabs vs. Plankton title card.png	62b	"Krabs vs. Plankton" (tr • ga)	May 13, 2005	3.34
	Plankton sues Mr. Krabs over an injury, and SpongeBob serves as Krabs' lawyer.
File:Have You Seen This Snail? title card.png	63	"Have You Seen This Snail?" (tr • ga)	November 11, 2005	7.93
	Gary runs away from home after being neglected by SpongeBob.
File:Skill Crane title card.png	64a	"Skill Crane" (tr • ga)	May 20, 2005	3.26
	Squidward attempts to win a prize from the skill crane.
File:Good Neighbors title card.png	64b	"Good Neighbors" (tr • ga)	May 20, 2005	3.26
	SpongeBob and Patrick annoy Squidward on his Sunday off.
File:Selling Out title card.png	65a	"Selling Out" (tr • ga)	September 23, 2005	2.53
	Mr. Krabs retires and leaves the Krusty Krab under new management.
File:Funny Pants title card.png	65b	"Funny Pants" (tr • ga)	September 30, 2005	2.85
	Fed up over SpongeBob's constant laughter, Squidward tricks him into thinking he lost it.
File:Dunces and Dragons title card.png	66	"Dunces and Dragons" (tr • ga)	February 20, 2006	8.56
	SpongeBob and Patrick end up in the Middle Ages, and have to go on a quest to defeat Planktonamor.
File:Enemy In-Law title card.png	67a	"Enemy In-Law" (tr • ga)	October 14, 2005	2.08
	Plankton falls in love with Mr. Krabs' mother, Betsy Krabs.
File:Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy VI The Motion Picture title card.png	67b	"Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy VI: The Motion Picture" (tr • ga)	October 7, 2005	2.68
	SpongeBob and Patrick find out that a Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy movie is in production using actors, so they make their own with the real heroes.
File:Patrick SmartPants title card.png	68a	"Patrick SmartPants" (tr • ga)	October 21, 2005	2.73
	Patrick gets smarter after falling off a cliff and knocking his head off.
File:SquidBob TentaclePants title card.png	68b	"SquidBob TentaclePants" (tr • ga)	November 4, 2005	3.28
	Thanks to Sandy's faulty invention, SpongeBob and Squidward get morphed together.
File:Krusty Towers title card.png	69a	"Krusty Towers" (tr • ga)	April 1, 2006	5.83
	Mr. Krabs turns the Krusty Krab into a hotel.
File:Mrs. Puff, You're Fired title card.png	69b	"Mrs. Puff, You're Fired" (tr • ga)	April 1, 2006	5.83
	Mrs. Puff gets fired and is replaced by a stricter teacher.
File:Chimps Ahoy title card.png	70a	"Chimps Ahoy" (tr • ga)	May 5, 2006	2.16
	Sandy's bosses visit to see her inventions, but if they don't like anything, she must leave Bikini Bottom.
File:Ghost Host title card.png	70b	"Ghost Host" (tr • ga)	May 5, 2006	2.16
	The Flying Dutchman stays with SpongeBob to reclaim his dignity.
File:Whale of a Birthday title card.png	71a	"Whale of a Birthday" (tr • ga)	May 12, 2006	2.85
	Mr. Krabs sends SpongeBob to get Pearl a birthday present.
File:Karate Island title card.png	71b	"Karate Island" (tr • ga)	May 12, 2006	2.85
	SpongeBob becomes "king of karate" and travels to Karate Island with Sandy.
File:All That Glitters title card.png	72a	"All That Glitters" (tr • ga)	June 2, 2006	3.37
	SpongeBob breaks his spatula, and is forced to replace it.
File:Wishing You Well title card.png	72b	"Wishing You Well" (tr • ga)	June 2, 2006	3.37
	Mr. Krabs opens a wishing well.
File:New Leaf title card.png	73a	"New Leaf" (tr • ga)	September 22, 2006	2.58
	Plankton turns the Chum Bucket into a gift shop.
File:Once Bitten title card.png	73b	"Once Bitten" (tr • ga)	September 29, 2006	3.05
	Gary's biting causes the Bikini Bottomites to think that he has a disease.
File:Bummer Vacation title card.png	74a	"Bummer Vacation" (tr • ga)	October 13, 2006	3.10
	Mr. Krabs forces SpongeBob to take vacation time off work.
File:Wigstruck title card.png	74b	"Wigstruck" (tr • ga)	November 17, 2006	2.64
	SpongeBob finds a wig and starts wearing it.
File:Squidtastic Voyage title card.png	75a	"Squidtastic Voyage" (tr • ga)	October 6, 2006	3.17
	SpongeBob and Patrick shrink themselves so they can retrieve a clarinet reed stuck in Squidward's throat.
File:That's No Lady title card.png	75b	"That's No Lady" (tr • ga)	November 25, 2006	2.99
	Patrick disguises himself as a woman to avoid getting kicked out of town.
File:The Thing title card.png	76a	"The Thing" (tr • ga)	January 15, 2007	3.60
	SpongeBob and Patrick think Squidward is an animal and call him "Smelly."
File:Hocus Pocus title card.png	76b	"Hocus Pocus" (tr • ga)	January 15, 2007	3.60
	SpongeBob thinks he turned Squidward into an ice cream cone.
File:Driven to Tears title card.png	77a	"Driven to Tears" (tr • ga)	February 19, 2007	4.99
	Patrick gets his driver's license, and rubs it in SpongeBob's face.
File:Rule of Dumb title card.png	77b	"Rule of Dumb" (tr • ga)	February 19, 2007	4.99
	Patrick becomes a mean tyrant when he is crowned king.
File:Born to Be Wild title card.png	78a	"Born to Be Wild" (tr • ga)	March 31, 2007	4.42
	SpongeBob and Patrick are convinced that a ferocious biker gang is coming to Bikini Bottom.
File:Best Frenemies title card.png	78b	"Best Frenemies" (tr • ga)	March 31, 2007	4.42
	Mr. Krabs and Plankton team up to infiltrate the new Kelpshake restaurant.
File:The Pink Purloiner title card.png	79a	"The Pink Purloiner" (tr • ga)	February 19, 2007	5.39
	SpongeBob thinks Patrick stole his jellyfishing net.
File:Squid Wood title card.png	79b	"Squid Wood" (tr • ga)	July 24, 2007	3.91
	SpongeBob makes a miniature Squidward, who everyone likes better than the real Squidward.
File:Best Day Ever title card.png	80a	"Best Day Ever" (tr • ga)	November 10, 2006	6.66
	SpongeBob's "best day ever" doesn't go as planned.
File:The Gift of Gum title card.png	80b	"The Gift of Gum" (tr • ga)	February 19, 2007	5.39
	Patrick gives SpongeBob a glob of gum for Best Friends Day, but SpongeBob wants to get rid of it.

Trivia

• This is the first season for several things:
  • The first season of the main series to not premiere while the previous season was still airing, having premiered seven months after season 3 ended.
  • The first season to not include a framing device hosted by Patchy the Pirate in the double-length episodes.
    • This is also the first season since the first where Patchy does not appear outside of the special opening for double-length episodes.
  • The first season to have Paul Tibbitt as the showrunner. Because of this, he is credited as a supervising producer in every episode beginning with this season up to the season 9 episode "SpongeBob You're Fired."
    • Despite Stephen Hillenburg lending the showrunner role over to the former, he had a small advisory role in which he reviewed each episode and offered suggestions to the show's production crew.
  • The first season to have Barry Anthony compose music for the show. He would continue to compose new music for future seasons until he retired in 2014, and later passed away in 2016.
  • The first season whose DVD release is split into volumes.
  • The first season to be fully released on DVD before finishing its television broadcast.
  • The first season not to play "Stars and Games," "War Blower," "Paradise Isle," or "Maui Beach" (if the first movie counts as season 3).
• Starting with this season:
  • Episodes now have their sisters normally premiere as 11-minute increments and rarely premiere them together, which was used earlier with "Hooky"/"Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy II" and "Shanghaied"/"Gary Takes a Bath."
  • The episodes become PAL-pitched in some countries. The only exceptions are "The Lost Mattress"/"Krabs vs. Plankton" and "Enemy In-Law"/"Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy VI: The Motion Picture."
  • SpongeBob's cheeks face outward instead of inward.
• This is the last season to have episodes released on VHS.
• This is the first season since Squilliam Fancyson's debut to not feature him. His next apperance is Season 6's House Fancy.
• Tuck Tucker's first and only episode from this season he worked as writer and storyboard director was "Best Day Ever". he later worked on the next season before his departure in December 2020.

Videos

• File:SpongeBob Season 4 Marathon 🧽 - 2 HOURS of the Best Episodes - @SpongeBobOfficial
• File:One Moment from EVERY SpongeBob Episode in Season 4 🧽 - @SpongeBobOfficial
• File:SpongeBob Season 4 in 60 SECONDS! -shorts