SpongeBob Gets Medieval in Half Hour Prime Time Special "Lost in Time"  2/2/06

SpongeBob Gets Medieval in Half-Hour, Prime-Time Special 'Lost in Time'

Premiering Monday, February 20 at 8 p.m. on Nickelodeon Programming Event Includes SpongeBob Marathon, Online Bonus Footage and Games and Special Medieval Edition of Friday Night Slimetime Live

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- SpongeBob embarks on an outrageous time-traveling adventure when he is transported to the Middle Ages in "Lost in Time," a special half-hour event premiering on Nickelodeon Monday, February 20 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). After a freak jousting accident at a medieval-themed restaurant, SpongeBob and Patrick find themselves in a historic version of Bikini Bottom where they are mistaken for great knights. The duo is then entrusted with the daunting task of saving King Krabs' daughter, Princess Pearl, from the clutches of the evil wizard, Lord Plankton.

"Lost in Time offers fans the opportunity to see SpongeBob and the gang in an outrageous new setting and historical time period," said Marjorie Cohn, Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming, Nickelodeon. "It's fun to watch SpongeBob in a suit of armor riding a seahorse, and bringing karate to the Middle Ages."

Launched in July 1999, the Emmy-nominated series, SpongeBob SquarePants, has since emerged as a pop culture phenomenon and has held rank as one of the top kids' shows on broadcast and cable television since its debut. It has been the most watched animated series for kids on television for the past five years.

Kids can also celebrate SpongeBob's time-traveling adventures on Nickelodeon with a special Middle Ages edition of Friday Night Slimetime, Monday Knight Slimetime. The usual roster of messy games and challenges will be replaced for one day only with an array of Arthurian amusements including Jellyfish Joust, Archery Ooze, Slimy Sword Battle, and more. The games begin on February 20 at 7:00 p.m., and lead up to the big "Lost in Time" premiere. Winners of Monday Knight Slimetime will be dubbed "Knights of the Square Table." A SpongeBob marathon of hero-themed episodes airing from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Nickelodeon will also lead up to the special.

Prior to the premiere of the "Lost in Time" special, Nickelodeon will offer a sneak peek clip of the special on Nickelodeon's broadband online platform TurboNick (available on Nick.com) and the complete episode will also air on TurboNick after its television premiere. Beginning January 26, kids can visit Nick.com where a medieval jousting adventure awaits in the "SpongeBob: Dunces and Dragons" Flash game. In the game, the diabolical sorcerer Plankton unleashes his wrath on all the kingdom, and now SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy and Squidward must end his evil reign. Kids will be able to suit up as their favorite SpongeBob character and joust their way through multiple medieval levels in this game for one or two players. The SpongeBob SquarePants "Lost in Time" DVD will be available beginning February 21 at select retailers.

SpongeBob SquarePants has consistently been one of the top rated kids' shows on television, with the Saturday play of the series ranking as the number one rated program among Kids 2-11. Nearly 57.7 million viewers tune into the show each month, making it the most watched show on Nickelodeon among Total Viewers (ages two and up) including 22.5 million Kids 2-11, 13.3 million Tweens 9-14 and 19.2 million Adults 18+. (Source: Nielsen Cume Data - July 2005). SpongeBob's adult viewers also continue to tune-in and have increased by 31% since the premiere of the show in 1999.

SpongeBob SquarePants is created and executive produced by Stephen Hillenburg, who previously worked as a writer, director and creative director on Nickelodeon's animated series, Rocko's Modern Life. Hillenburg graduated from the California Institute of the Arts with a master's degree in Experimental Animation and studied marine biology and art as an undergraduate. Before beginning a career in animation, Hillenburg worked with kids as a science educator and staff artist at the Orange County Marine Institute. Hillenburg created and executive produced The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie which hit theaters in November 2004.

Paul Tibbitt served as a director and writer on SpongeBob SquarePants for the first three seasons and is executive producer of the fourth. He wrote some of the show's most memorable episodes such as "Ripped Pants" and "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy." Tibbitt is one of the co-writers and storyboard artists on The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. SpongeBob SquarePants is a Nicktoons Production and is produced at the Nicktoons Studio in Burbank, CA.

Nickelodeon, in its 26th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 89 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for more than ten consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B). 

SOURCE Nickelodeon

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