The first seasons of Spongebob are some of the finest and funniest television I've ever watched. Ever since I was practically a toddler I've been a fan, and as I've matured over the years I've begun to appreciate some of the wittier, earlier Spongebob episodes much more. This pilot is the classic that started it all (I use the term "classic" loosely, as this episode isn't even 20 years old yet, but the fact that it is approaching that age is kind of incredible to me, especially since the show, no matter how much it has decreased in quality, is still going on), an episode filled with memorable, funny, and creative moments, this is as enjoyable as any cartoon I have ever had the pleasure of laughing along with. Below are my reviews for the episode's individual parts (which, in the future, will be how my reviews of this show will be structured from this point onward): Help Wanted-an introduction to many of the show's most essential and memorable characters that is a quick but entertaining mix of wacky slapstick, hilarious dialogue, and absurdist humor. Reef Blower-this is the shortest section of the episode, and it is also the weakest, but that doesn't mean it isn't great, because is it! It's a silent comedy that recalls everything from Buster Keaton to Looney Tunes. It's very cartoonish, but in a good way; it's not laugh out loud funny per se, but it's charming enough to make me smirk at the very least. Tea at the Treedome-definitely my favorite of the pilot's three, brief parts. The opening is purely physical comedy, while the rest is mostly situational and conversational humor, and the mix is pulled off quite well. Patrick steals the show as he always does (or, more appropriately now that modern Spongebob has sort of crushed his likable legacy) as he tries his best to help his friend out, but ultimately is stupid enough to nearly get him killed. He's the classic lovable idiot and has many side splitting comical lines in the episode, many of which I still quote today in "mundane" conversation
