SpongeBob’s voice is different now, and not in a good way. It’s like he’s lost the innocence of his youth, and is trying really hard to sound chipper.
SpongeBob’s voice is different now, and not in a good way. It’s like he’s lost the innocence of his youth, and is trying really hard to sound chipper.
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Agreed! I try so hard to still love him, but it’s difficult.
Mel on November 3rd, 2007 at 11:13 am | Link
I’m 32 years old with 3 young kids and I love SpongeBob. I would love him if I didn’t have kids. I was online actually trying to find out if the voice actor had been changed when I found this. I CAN’T STAND the sound of the new voice. The old voice could make SpongeBob sound incredibly irritating when he would laugh or cry incessantly, but this new voice is incredibly irritating on its own. I have yet to find out what happened, but I don’t like it to the point where I try not to watch the new episodes. The voice has more clarity to it, like maybe it’s recorded in HD or something. I don’t know. I tried to find something on nick.com, place to complain or ask questions, actors list something- this is really bothering me because I’m such a fan.
The “chipperness”- I guess that could be bothering me as well about it. My kids even noticed the change in the voice. He sounds corny now. The interaction with the other characters isn’t the same. Sorry for going so deep into this. It sounds sometimes like the voices (characters) weren’t recorded in the same studio, there’s some delay. Something’s not right and I do not like it at all.
The “Atlantis” movie or whatever it’s called, I won’t be watching it. Can’t stand the new voice. Now that I think about it, remembering “The Best Day Ever” episode is when I noticed a difference. Did the actor change (Tom Kenny)?
Denine on November 4th, 2007 at 1:11 pm | Link
I totally agree. I mentioned once to my Fiancee that his voice sounded different, higher, and he insisted that it was still the same. I’m glad to see I’m not crazy after all.
Cinna on November 12th, 2007 at 2:44 pm | Link
Totally agree. From the very first new episode, didn’t like the new voice. Love the show though.
Pauly on November 14th, 2007 at 8:20 pm | Link
Ok spongebob has changed just a liiiiiiittle to much
Some1 on November 19th, 2007 at 4:15 pm | Link
I absolsutely am disgusted with his annoying new voice, its hard to watch the new episodes but I’m not gonna start hating him just cause of his voice. They better change it though and FAST!
BK on November 23rd, 2007 at 8:52 am | Link
Oh and I checked the old/new credits, I’m 90% sure its the same voice actor! Wierd….
BK on November 23rd, 2007 at 8:53 am | Link
I believe that the actor is still the same. I’m thinking that maybe doing the voice of spongebob puts a strain on his vocal cords and he just had to alter it a bit. I certainly prefer the old voice.
Dino on November 28th, 2007 at 11:45 am | Link
PLEASE!!! BRING OUR OLD SPONGEBOB BACK!!!
THE NEW VOICE IS TERRIBLE!!!!
Morris Lentz on December 2nd, 2007 at 9:48 am | Link
yeah i totaly agree!!
hi on December 4th, 2007 at 12:58 am | Link
i love sponge bob
laura on December 6th, 2007 at 4:14 am | Link
It’s sad, I know, when a 37 year old adult cares more than kids, but I watch this show all the time with my kids, since 2001, and I cannot stand the only voice which has changed; SpongeBob. My kids and I watch something else when I see the date of the cartoon..
Jeff on December 21st, 2007 at 5:25 pm | Link
The voice is not the only what has changued…
SpongeBob is other person
PD_ Im 27 years old, XD
Patricia on December 26th, 2007 at 4:52 pm | Link
I have always loved Spongebob, but now I can’t watch any of the new episodes. That voice is grating. And the humor has become almost goofy. Even my kids don’t like the new episodes. As soon as we realize that a new one is on, we change the channel. What happened? Did they get a new writer and a new person to do Spongebob’s voice?
Lisa on January 5th, 2008 at 10:10 pm | Link
I agree, I absolutely hate the new voice. It is horrible and I have a hard time watching even though my 7 year old loves Spongebob. I always try to watch the old episodes if possible. Must be a production change, and I hope these people pay attention because whatever they changed…please, please change it back!
Ken on January 8th, 2008 at 6:30 pm | Link
Exactly when did the voice change? It seems like 2003. Is it a new actor doing his voice? Whatever it is it is terrible. I’m like the rest of you when I see 2003 or newer I change the channel. The voice started to be bad in 2003, but it has progressivley gotten worse every year. Please somehow go back to the old voice!
Josh on January 8th, 2008 at 7:55 pm | Link
so the voice is still tom kenny, but i agree! its SO different. and did anyone notice that in the new episode laugh box, whenever spongebob would laugh, there was a sqeaking sound? the show is totally down the toilet! i cant stand it. and i used to love it so much.
chelsea on January 9th, 2008 at 10:52 am | Link
that new spongebob voice is AWFUL! it sounds way too whiny and is very annoying . the new episodes aren’t very funny either, the older ones are a lot more funny. (or maybe it is just the voice is so annoying that i cannot see anything funny with the show…???)
i will not let my kids watch the new episodes.
brad on January 15th, 2008 at 6:33 pm | Link
Hey, you guys wanna start a spongebob petition? I am an adult, and I used to LOVE him, and NOW I hate it! I was waiting patiently like a child waiting in line at a toy store, for them to change back to their old selves, and nothing. I won’t lose hope, though.
Paige on January 15th, 2008 at 6:44 pm | Link
It also seems like they’re all on a sugar high!
It makes me so sad.
Paige on January 15th, 2008 at 6:45 pm | Link
The more I see others hate the voice, the more I have to say about it. I’ve watched more of the new episodes still trying to figure out what the difference is. Here are some things I think changed and what has changed- obviously. It sounds like a different voice actor, but I think we agree from the credits it’s the same guy. It sounds like a bad imitation like a new Bugs Bunny. The humor almost seems politically correct. The voice is not only annoying now, but it still to me sounds like it’s recorded in a different way. He seems to enunciate more than before, it’s too proper and just not funny. There’s still not the same interaction between the characters as there used to be and this is a cartoon for crying out loud! I am so very tired of all the singing. I swear it’s become SpongeBob The Musical. I know it’s just me with this one- there’s an odd silence in between dialogue or like there’s less background noise than there was before.
My favorite episode is “Opposite Day” when SpongeBob is imitating Squidward. Seeing them try the Squidward voice with the new voice makes me cringe. It shouldn’t be taken so seriously but I know what I like and the new voice is definitely not it. Even with the old voice, this new humor wouldn’t be funny. They’re also trying to introduce too many new characters who themselves add nothing to the show like the episode where the guy’s voice is Hulk Hogan. That one drives me crazy. SpongeBob is worried about his parents and he just says “parents” so many times. It has gone from a funny, silly, goofy, seemingly innocent show to something I just don’t understand anymore. My kids still watch, but they don’t seem to laugh at the new episodes.
Here’s my final comment in this post. I’m just realizing, like other shows I’m sure SpongeBob has contracts to abide by. The new episodes with the terrible voice and dry boring humor make me think the show is about to end. Seems like they’re doing just enough to stay on the air like any other show that makes bad choices.
I’ve gone on so much about this because I love the old Sponge and have nothing better to do. Thanks for reading.
Denine on January 15th, 2008 at 10:35 pm | Link
Okay….I quit my job as a middle school choir director and now teach privately out of my home and now have time to get reaquainted with my loveable SpongeBob again. (I’m 38, no children, and I destress by watching SpongeBob from time to time!) I have been disturbed because his voice sounds like he’s TRYING to sound like the old SpongeBob I know. It sounds like a BAD IMITATION or something. So this morning, I do a search to see if the actor has changed and I see different sites that say “SpongeBob voice change.” I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed. I hope to GOD this isn’t the same actor and his voice as been effected for being Spongebob for so long. It sounds so corny and artificial now. I’m glad I’m not the only person who has noticed it. I thought I was going crazy or something!!! I’ll just keep watching and hope to see some classic episodes.
Kelley on January 21st, 2008 at 10:01 am | Link
I am a babysitter for younger children and i feel that spongebob is in appropiate for young children i mean come on in one episode it’s about spongebob saying a bad word i wouldn’t want my kids watching that i thought nickolodean was suppose to keep children learing new things it wasn’t suppose to have tv shows that have things like that on it i would like if this matter would be addressed.
Cortney Wilson
Cortney Wilson on January 26th, 2008 at 12:57 pm | Link
You people are all so stupid…. Spongebob is a cartoon for crying out loud!! I have two kids and I watch spongebob all the time with them. I love spongebob and I even love the newer episodes. I can hear no difference in his voice and I have been watching this show since it started. I can’t believe you people, if you don’t like spongebob than don’t watch it.
Carolina on January 28th, 2008 at 9:14 pm | Link
Oh MY!! The young woman who wrote that we are all stupid, it sounds like you need to take some much needed “Me” time. Anytime you have to call people stupid for voicing their opinions for something this trivial, means that you are more than likely stressed out. Do something nice for yourself. You don’t sound happy and life is too short to be so negative. I wish you the best! And none of us will take that dig at us personally because it has nothing to do with us. Be kind to yourself, sista!!
Love ya!
Kelley on January 28th, 2008 at 9:28 pm | Link
Thank God I’m not going crazy!! I’ve been asking my wife & son if they noticed this. My son could tell. I just couldn’t take it anymore! So I did a search. I’ve totally noticed the same thing lately - it’s like Invasion of the Body Snatchers or something. That’s not the REAL Spongebob! It’s like an old guy trying to act young. His voice seems synthesized to sound like Spongebob. They must have gotten another guy to do the voice - & the writing isn’t the same anymore either. It’s corny now - bummer. I remember when they brought back Gumby in the ’80’s & the voice had the same qualities. Maybe Tom Kenny wanted more $$ & Nickelodeon was too cheap to give the man his due.
We must find the REAL spongebob… before it’s too late!!!
Herb on January 31st, 2008 at 12:04 am | Link
Wow. I really thought I was the only one who noticed the voice-change. As a once-devoted SpongeBob viewer, I can no longer watch it — at least not the newer episodes. The new voice is SO irritating. Of course, there’s nowhere on Nick.com to complain or find out info on the cause of the new voice. They figure the kids won’t notice it, I guess.
I refuse to believe it’s the same guy! I was told that he actually left the show, but after reading these other posts, I don’t think so. I can understand that his voice probably got affected from doing the show for so long, but if that’s the case, they should’ve pulled the plug.
BUT remember, the show was made for kids and the execs probably don’t expect that the kiddies will note the change. Also, the brand still makes big money and ratings for Nickelodeon.
Looks like all we adults can do is either not watch anymore and buy the DVDs of older episodes or grin and bear it.
jessica on February 5th, 2008 at 9:01 pm | Link
I agree with you guys . . .the new voice is sooo annoying. I think Paige has a good idea, we should start a petition. His voice and the new cartoons are horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!
michelle on February 11th, 2008 at 4:47 pm | Link
Wow, check this out! http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/.....oice-overs (Spongebob voice actors dub over some classic movies). Hilarious!
Thank goodness…I thought it was just me…glad to see all the comments. The change seemed to start after the Songebob Movie. But aside from the voice (which is awful), different facial expressions, but mostly the plots are not good( of new episodes. ) Sometimes it is better to end a show if the originality isn’t there…happened with the Rugrats too. I STILL laugh at the old episodes that I have seen 100 times, and rarely at the new ones. My kids even know I am happy when an “old” episode is on…thank goodness they still play them.
With all the feedback here, I wonder if Nickelodeon has an explanation or response to this?
Tara on February 18th, 2008 at 5:34 pm | Link
I was thinking it was just me. I’m a 36 year old male and can’t stand the new voice one bit!!! My nephews and nieces feel the same way. What the heck happened since 2003? Why change the voice? I can’t stand watching the new episodes as well because the voice grates on me after awhile! Apparently Nickelodeon doesn’t care that it is losing its fan base.
Todd on February 20th, 2008 at 4:48 pm | Link
Spongebob not only has an annoying new voice, he also seems stupid. He used to do everything right even when not trying to. Now, he always screws up, is REALLY quick to cry, or whine, or whatever. The new ones are stupid and hard to watch. Classic Spongebob is still enjoyable.
James on February 22nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm | Link
The new Spongebob is FREAKING HORRIBLE….. I HATE HIM SO MUCH… I used to love to watch this show with my kids. Now I won’t even let them watch the new episodes becuase it makes you stupid. If you watch the new episodes you acutally get dumber by the second. The plots blow, I HATE his stupid, annoying, terrible, gay, high voice… PLEASE KILL THE SHOW… It must be ended with what little dignity it has left.
Ihatespongebobnow on March 5th, 2008 at 7:28 pm | Link
I think the voice change has more to do with production quality than with the actor. All of the actors are the same… no change, there. But, the quality of production just seems different. Not for the better, either.
The big difference is in the writing. The writing has become TERRIBLE. There is just nothing good about the new episodes… the plots blow! It’s like they are trying to pack too much into the 13 minute episode.
I’m glad to see that I’m not the only person to notice that Spongebob has changed for the worse!
Dan H on March 8th, 2008 at 7:55 am | Link
This new spongebob voice sucks!
LULU on March 8th, 2008 at 11:11 am | Link
I read that Tibbets no longer handles the show directly (since the movie) but simply oversees the final output. The pre-movie SpongeBob was naive and at times simple, but he was never mean or downright stupid. Now he tends toward both at times, when he’s not screaming. The characters are all mean to each other. “National No-Spongebob Day”?!
My 9-year-old daughter and I agree — bring back the old SpongeBob or retire the series.
spongebobfan on March 8th, 2008 at 4:11 pm | Link
SPONGEBOB SUCKS NOW
I HATE THE NEW VOICE
BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
sarah on March 8th, 2008 at 7:07 pm | Link
AND ALSO THE NEW EPISODE PLOTS ARE STUPID
THIS SUCKS.
sarah on March 8th, 2008 at 7:08 pm | Link
you all are ridiculous. spongebob will never lose his sweet innocence. he will always be the sponge to me. if he ever were to sound less chipper its because over-critical assbags like you push him to the limits with your stupid complaints. shame on you.
iluvthesponge on March 9th, 2008 at 5:51 pm | Link
I am heartbroken. The new Spongebob episodes are HORRIBLE. I miss the complexity of the old episodes. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!! Bring old Spongebob back!!!!!!!!!!
Jamie on March 21st, 2008 at 12:34 am | Link
Tom Kenny is indeed still the voice of Spongebob, so a petition to get the “old Spongebob” voice back would be useless (unless they could digitally alter it in some way). When the show first started in 1999, Mr. Kenny was 37. He’ll be 46 this year. The natural aging process of his voice has probably been the biggest contributing factor to Spongebob sounding different. He’s also probably had to compensate for this, making Spongebob’s voice sound more forced and too bright and “chipper”. At least he doesn’t always talk like he did in the “Not Normal” episode. I found that “normal” voice of his to be REALLY creepy sounding!
Brian on March 24th, 2008 at 2:16 am | Link
Spongebob has definately gone downhill. Ever since this new voice was added or came along all of the series has been a dissapointment. Spongebob is ruined with this new voice. The series has gone from being entertaining and funny to sophmoric and wrtiten by a two year old. I don’t know what happened if maybe a new producer took over and fired the talent of the orignal spongebob and started writing his own stories but something is definately wrong. The old spongebob will be really missed his character, his voice and the stories.
philip on March 29th, 2008 at 9:48 pm | Link
I can’t watch spongebob anymore because they killed it for me with his voice so I just watch old shows.
Sean on April 7th, 2008 at 4:04 pm | Link
Okay, I too thought I was losing my mind. I’ve been saying to my family for a while that Spongebob’s voice is different, however, none of them can hear it. Lucky them, to my utter disappointment, it’s the 1st thing I notice. Spongebob is one of the few things we enjoy as a whole family and I cringe when I hear the new voice. Has the real Spongebob been kidnapped and their trying to pull a wool over our eyes until his safe return? Someone save Spongebob!!
Brandi on April 11th, 2008 at 6:48 pm | Link
OMG!!! I am so glad to see I’m not the only one! My kids thought it was the same spongebob with just stupid storylines now, but I KNEW his voice had changed! It is just so awfully nerve grating! You know, could deal with the voice change if the storylines hadn’t become so terrible, but there is nothing good about Spongebob anymore
I was such a huge fan for so many years 
Christina on April 12th, 2008 at 6:57 am | Link
the old episodes are amazing. when newer episodes come on, i have to change the channel. his voice goes right through me.
sarah on April 13th, 2008 at 6:12 pm | Link
get a life you bastards, seriously grow the **** up!!
notlame951 on April 15th, 2008 at 5:12 pm | Link
Does nickelodean know that so many people feel this way? Maybe since it is the same guy doing the voice, we should send him some feedback somehow.
Mark Nelson on April 15th, 2008 at 7:39 pm | Link
It looks like the only way to contact them is snail mail. I’ll send them a printout of this page.
I have to agree although if the production team does not get it by this point, it must not matter. The old episodes rock! Laugh out loud funny. Ironic, engaging, and always entertaining. The new ones definatly are lacking a writer or the writing staff was high when they sat down together. The jokes are cliche. There is no thought. Yes, it is a cartoon, but to be SpongeBob for so many years and have such an entity with young and old peopel alike to this is just a damn shame. Watching the new episodes I would agree it is a matter of timing between the dialogue. Everything is rushed. No delivery.Bad
Adrienne on April 20th, 2008 at 8:46 am | Link
They may very well be aware of the lessening in quality, but they don’t necessarily care… if the show is still being watched by most people and those people are still obeying the commercials, the owners of the show don’t necessarily care about the 1% of us that can no longer stand the show. Maximizing profit sometimes means leveling the product quality to match what most people will still put up with. It’s a shame, but it happens all the time. Products become popular based on high quality, then the quality slips but the product momentum carries on. But like my grandma says: “you vote with your wallet, or you vote with your feet”. I no longer watch Spongebob.
I heard about Tom Kenny will be 47 this year and perhaps has to do with his voice changing compare to 1999 but, that didn’t stop the simpsons… Besides does sounding chippier is a lot more damaging to the voice box? he’s hitting that note pretty high. Maybe he want’s to get replaced?? And Avatar Last Airbender Uncle Iro’s voice was replace pretty well but, anways, rest in peace Mako. Not a lot of people knew you played in Lovejoy
chazy001 on April 22nd, 2008 at 2:25 am | Link
just found out that they are ending SpongeBob in 2008, so… getting replaced is probably pointless. We will all miss SpongeBob. Avatar is the last string that ties me to nickolodean.
chazy001 on April 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 am | Link
I agree 100%. Ever since they made the Spongebob movie, the TV show just hasn’t been the same. Spongebob’s voice is terrible, the colors are all brighter, the lines are drawn harder, and the plots are bad. It’s so sad… The Karate Island episode (among MANY others)??? Absolutely ridiculous…
Chelsea on April 23rd, 2008 at 11:08 am | Link
I’m so thrilled to see this thread-I really thought I was the only one who realized his voice had changed!! I HATE it!! It is so flippin’ annoying; it’s like nails on a chalkboard.
Since you’ve all pretty much said what I’ve been feeling about this, I’ll leave it at that.
B
Becky on April 25th, 2008 at 5:46 am | Link
Everyone’s comments (except the tone def idiots that state there is no difference in Sponge Bob’s voice) confirm what has been going around our household for some time now. I am a 34 year old male with two sons, 8 and 9 1/2. I own multiple Sponge Bob articles of clothing (including the PJ bottoms I am in now). I watch SBSP even when my children are out of the room occupied with other activities. My wife teases me that I used to watch CNN in the evenings before our favorite Sponge came along. My opinion is this, I can completely understand that Mr. Kenny’s voice has potentially changed from age and/or the rigors of generating one of the greatest cartoon character’s voices of all time. But THIS DOES NOT excuse the shaddy, lackluster story plots of the new episodes. These new episodes have no depth or complexity in either storyline or character development as the older, original episodes. There is no longer any “Looney Tune” style adult humor that no child under the age of 15 would ever pick up on (such as when SBSP was looking for peanuts to create his “Special Sunday” and appeared at first to be looking in the bathroom toilet…Classic!). I will stay loyal to Mr. Kenny as he has given my family and I countless hours of joy through his masterpiece character. But! I feel Nickelodean, true to form for any “For Profit” organization, has cut corners to save a buck and essentially has completely screwed up one of America’s most cherished cartoons that has truly met no generation boundries.
Ron G. on April 26th, 2008 at 7:49 pm | Link
I am a mom of three who is kissin’ 40. I absolutely adored my little Spongebob and know many episodes by heart. These new episodes are horrible, and Spongebob’s voice HAS changed. It is grating, annoying, whiney, high pitched, and absolutely impossible for me to listen to. My three kids agree! There IS something different, and not in a good way. I wish the old voice could come back, because I do miss my old Spongebob.
3QTS1K9 on April 28th, 2008 at 5:58 pm | Link
Thank heavens, I thought I was the only one crazy enough to love Sponge Bob (a kids show) and now hates the new voice and has serious issues with it (well semi serious, enough to add a note here).
It’s too bad that we can’t get these notes to the producers at Nick (and the I suppose Tom Kenny) so they can go back to what they were doing right before and drop the new voice and the new way they are writting the show.
Hey it’s worse than when they ruined th OC (oops did I write that)
Jupiter on April 30th, 2008 at 2:13 pm | Link
i agree completely! I can’t stand it! It’s so sad, I love spongebob so much, but I just can’t watch the new episodes!
Jeremy on May 5th, 2008 at 12:23 pm | Link
I am 47 years old and I love Spongebob. The old one that is. I haven’t seen a cartoon that I enjoyed as much since the Flintstones, if any of you remember them. But I have to say that I noticed the change in his voice immediately. He sounds corny and it irritates me. It is like when they changed the voices of the Flintstones toward the end of their time. It just wasn’t the same. I haven’t watched Spongebob in a long time and I miss him, but I can’t take him anymore. I too wish they would get the old voice back. There are alot of grown ups as well as kids that would really love to have the old spongebob voice back…………
Ty from Virginia Beach on May 10th, 2008 at 10:15 pm | Link
It’s NEW Coke vs Coke Classic! Who do they think they are fooling? The new SpongeBob is terrible. No, it’s irritating! No, HE’s irritating! It is a new voice and new, cheaper animation. It’s sad really, because it used to be a fun watch. Now it’s just sad…and did I mention irritating??!!!! The new episodes aren’t even funny. Who is writing these days? I hate it now as I am sure that I’m not the only one. SpongeBob is a pansy! Keep up the good work Nick(elodeon) - you’ll soon be in reruns… and for me, not soon enough!
Daryle on May 11th, 2008 at 3:02 pm | Link
what the hell happened to SpongeBob’s voice??? I actually won’t even watch the new ones because of that voice. Come on Tom Kenny get back to the old….it worked much better.
Michele on May 11th, 2008 at 6:20 pm | Link
Wowzers, it’s gratifying to know I’m not the only one who noticed the difference and hates it, but it’s a shame that the quality has fallen off so precipitously. It seems that every time nick gets too involved in a show’s direction or decision making, it jumps the shark and goes splat. It’s happened to every creative cartoon on Nick from Ren & Stimpy on, and has continued to generate bitter animation creators, as well as mass-producing passive CGI masquerading as art and humor.
Poor SpongeBob will die a slow and painfully annoying death due to cynicism from network execs and frustration by the original creative team. Sorry to see it go, but it’s had a great run, and I can’t stand seeing it in the condition it is now; pandering to an audience who could care less if it’s Renaissance art or computer-generated stick figures. Feh!
Chyll Will on May 24th, 2008 at 3:26 pm | Link
i want spongebobs old voice back so that i can enjoy the episodes again. This voice change is really irritating and im just refusing to watch the new spongebob.
jalee on May 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pm | Link
The voice has changed….even though it is the same actor. The first 2-3 seasons were great. BRILLIANT writing, great situational comedy and subtle references that adults could find funny as well. Squidwards character was especially well developed as a middleaged sophisticate whose still working fast food….good stuff. Then the movie came out…wich was HORRIBLE…that was the first time I noticed the bad voice…always high pitched….now he sounds like he is trying to be annoying. The movie not having the original neptune from the golden spatula episode was a huge dissappointment as well. That neptune was awesome. The one in the movie was rediculous.
The old episodes were well thought out and developed the new episodes LOOK and SOUND like bean counters fired the staff and hired cheaper replacements to do the whole thing because they knew they could sell the show on it’s good reputation and popularity….what a SHAME that whole thing is now…I, like many others, only watch the old episodes.
The SAME thing happend to the looney toons…event though I am 31, you can see the difference from the 40’s and 50’s looney toons (GOOD) to the 60’s and 70′ (BAD) Some higher up comes in and decides to change things….look up BILL LAVA…he is the guy who came in and screwed up looney toons.
G. Hamilton on May 25th, 2008 at 10:27 pm | Link
I know how you feel, Spongebob has lost his cute innocence and just acts like a idiot now. It’s like two more retarded Patrick’s.
Hillenburg, despite many rumors, did not actually leave the show but has resigned from his position as the shows executive producer (this job now belongs to Derek Drymon, with Paul Tibbitt taking over Drymons job as creative director). I believe this is why the show has changed so much.
Sara on June 2nd, 2008 at 3:46 pm | Link
I was so weirded out by Spongebob’s new voice that I had to type it up on the comp to see what the heck was going on. I completely agree w/ a lot of you!!! Spongebob’s voice seems so forced and not as comical as before. My kids can tell the difference too. What’s crazy is that we all used to laugh so hard at the episodes; now it’s like we’re all just sitting around watching some foreign cartoon. I’m always wanting to change it when it’s on now and am just realizing why! I used to loooooove Spongebob. I guess it’s time to stop watching~~~
MOMMY_OF_FOUR on June 13th, 2008 at 6:30 pm | Link
I think I’m one of the only ones that didn’t notice the change. I watch Spongebob all the time. In fact, I have Season 4 on right now on my dvd player. It’s really making me listen to him now. I’ll have to go back and watch the older ones to compare. I still love this show, though. It’s my “happy place.” I’ll be sad if they end this year. By the way, it’s SUPPOSED to be silly and corny. That’s what makes it a Spongebob cartoon. It’s not supposed to make any sense. So, even though everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, please try to lighten up a bit. Spongebob still rocks!!!! At least for me. Have a good day all!!
Vicky on June 17th, 2008 at 7:50 am | Link
Well, I’m back….UGH!! I finally noticed how different the voice is. Guess I just didn’t pay much attention before now. My husband said he noticed but didn’t say anything. How stupid am I not to hear the difference???!!!! I really don’t like the new voice AT ALL! Maybe it was better before I found this website, when I didn’t think about it. Now that’s all I think about when watching him. Oh well, I’ll still always love Spongebob and will continue to watch it. (But mostly the old ones!!) Bye all!!!
Vicky on June 20th, 2008 at 2:28 pm | Link
Kill the series soon !! Let it “die” with what little respect it has left. I no longer can watch the newer shows; the stories are horrible, the dialouge is pitiful, the artwork has gone into the toilet. I can tell you what year a certain episode was made from the animation style alone, not to mention crappy stories and the “new” voice. I can understand Kenney’s aging vocal chords, but he needs to maybe lower the pitch of Bob’s voice (would be better than whats used now) and it would be easier on Kenney’s voice. He has a magnificent talent and range, but at this rate he will suffer a vocal chord strain that will permanantly damage him. Just a horrible, horrible overall change in the show…I watch reruns of the “older” shows, but will not ever watch the “newer” ones.
homesick Jimmy on June 21st, 2008 at 12:25 pm | Link
There’s no way that’s Tom Kenny. The new voice is different, and the person behind it does not have nearly the same comedic talent that Tom has. (Aging ? Give me a break.) Nick Jr. needs to own up and tell us what’s going on !!! We’re not fooled by this crappy wanna-be !!!
Linda on June 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm | Link
I’m NOT crazy! I noticed the irritating new voice about the time the Atlantis movie came out. I hate it! Evertime a new episode came on I would say somthing to my wife and kids about how Spongebob’s voice changed. Nobody believed me. It’s nice to see I’m not alone. I also agree with you guys that Spongebob has become annoying. He’s not cute anymore. He’s a spaz with an irritating voice. I miss the old Spongebob.
Dan on June 24th, 2008 at 11:53 pm | Link
Well I noticed the voice difference right away. Although he isn’t always the best role model we have let our three year old watch Spongebob for quite a while now & I have watched it for about 6+ years. He used to crack me up, but I Cannot stand the voice and really don’t watch the new shows anymore. The story are a little different but Spongebob has an almost Gay voice and very annoying!!!
CSmith on June 26th, 2008 at 2:07 pm | Link
Yes the voice is SO dumb now it is so different and the new episodes have a dumb meaning as well, plus his new voice makes it even worse I hate the new spongebob’s.
Brandon on June 26th, 2008 at 5:40 pm | Link
The new spongebob episodes are definitely a disgrace. I agree with everyone, the storylines are horribly mediocre and the artwork is terrible not to mention spongebob’s annoying voice. Has anyone noticed that spongebob cries so much more often now. he is always nagging… very very annoying. and I loved the old spongebobs….
popmajid jenkins on June 30th, 2008 at 5:43 pm | Link
Thank God. My husband thought I was crazy! He swore up and down that the voice was still the same, and I knew it wasn’t. I have three kids and am 28 and I love Spongbob…but I can’t stand this new voice!
Rachel on July 1st, 2008 at 9:57 am | Link
Not only is Spongebob’s voice irritatingly higher than usual, but the story lines are horribly written out… and poor humor. A lot of the episodes include gross humor, like a huge wad of gum (HUGE), or… oh GOD, the splinter episode. It makes me cry inside sometimes ;~;
sai on July 7th, 2008 at 10:21 am | Link
The new voice sucks, he is a jerk, much more of a whiner, and I feel like I am watching the episodes in fast foward. The last great episode was, Spongebob meets the Strangler, and Pranks A’ Lot.
Riley on July 11th, 2008 at 11:35 am | Link
i beleive it is not the same peron doing spongy.its a stupid version of sponge bob.the writing is piss poor as well.its a shame.the show was the perfect show for parents to watch with their children.a person of any age used to be able to enjoy the show.now you have to be a toddler or mentaly challenged to watch this dribble.i would hate to be the voices of any of the other actors involved.this is dragging them down too.
chris on July 12th, 2008 at 9:52 am | Link
What’s a spongebob?
beau on July 18th, 2008 at 6:49 pm | Link
It’s a member of the squarepants set.
I told my husband something was wrong. I mean TERRIBLY wrong. It’s like a spit bubble is stuck in Tom Kenny’s throat or something. I almost think he ruined his voice or something from years of playing Spongebob so now he has to strain to do the voice. I also wonder if it’s because he does so many other voices that he’s lost the ability to do Spongebob’s voice. I went to IMDB.com to see if the voice talent had changed and it has not. I’m sure if I dig a little more I can find Tom Kenny, a fan site or something and ask him what happened. If I get a response I will cross post… SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE!
Meg on July 23rd, 2008 at 5:38 pm | Link
Huh?? I met Tom Kenny last year at Comic Con and he talked to me in his Spongebob voice and he didn’t sound any different!
Am I missing something?
AJ on July 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pm | Link
I am a huge fan of the old Spongbob cartoons and find it terribly disappointing that the newer episodes have been taken over by some vanilla flavored, politically correct, talentless and clearly humorless bean counters. Spongebob’s voice change is bad enough but the writing…ugh. How could anyone, even a CEO, think these new episodes are comparable to the old ones that made Spongebob famous? Obviously there were huge changes made to the staff. There must have been some artistic differences about the time the movie was being made and big changes ensued - unfortunately. I don’t watch Spongebob anymore except on my DVD’s from the first 4 or 5 seasons. One thing I would like to mention here is that most of my favorite episodes have the name MERRIWETHER WILLIAMS in the writing credits. It seems that when she left, the talent left with her. I don’t know what other changes were made to the staff, I only know that she went to Camp Lazlo and so I began watching that and find it quite funny and original. Much like the old Spongebob cartoons that made him so endearing to all of us. Give it a try and see what you think.
Ronda B on July 30th, 2008 at 3:57 pm | Link
GOOD. I’m glad there are other people that feel the same way I do! And that a majority of you are near my age (old Spongebob episodes were always touted because of their use of secretive adult humor). I agree with everyone’s opinions here. An additional thing I can’t stand about the newer episodes are the faces Spongebob makes. I mean, they were sometimes exaggerated in the older episodes (with hilarious results), but the newer Spongebob makes such needless outrageous faces. It’s like everyone involved with this show is just trying way too hard to be funny, without success. Also, another way you can always tell it’s a new episode is that there are 23497382 names listed after the intro to each episode. It seems like they’ve gathered too many people together, none of which have a bit of humor or wit about them.
Juli on August 2nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm | Link
Please bring back the old voice. I have been trying to watch him, because I love spongebob, however his voice is briving me crazy.Now I watch the old ones & turn the new ones.
Kathleen on August 4th, 2008 at 8:56 am | Link
Don’t you guys think that you’re a little too old to watch Spongebob!!? JUST KIDDING, I’m the one to talk, thirty something, have no kids, and I have loved Spongebob since it first aired. told my girlfriend one day that the voice had changed and that the humor had drifted, she also noticed it. And the new shows always seem to have some form of physical voilence included ( Someone getting hit with something, falling, punching, etc.) Almost like the new writers can’t think of anything clever to get a laugh. Now I only watch the old shows and as my girlfriend comments (can’t quite understand how you can find something funny 100 times) but I do!!. The old shows are the best, and one word for the new shows and voice change…(TARTAR SAUCE!!)…or is that two words?.
Patrick on August 6th, 2008 at 9:15 pm | Link
Complaining won’t help unfortunatley. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.
Spongey on August 13th, 2008 at 1:54 pm | Link
I hope the “powers that be” read these comments. I noticed his voice change when they made the SBSP Movie. I can’t stand it! It also seems like they “dumbed down” his character, once sweet and naive but somewhat intellegent, now just stupid like Patrick. I’ve read other posters who think Tom Kinney changed it because he possibly has voice strain, but it seems like he has to strain more to make that high-pitched whine. I, too, will only watch the old ones (40-y-o mom of 2) with my kids.
me too on August 20th, 2008 at 11:40 am | Link
SPONGEBOB’S VOICE HAS NOT CHANGED, CLICK THIS LINK AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THE VOICE HAS NOT CHANGED:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxN8Mq6seE8
This video has 4th and 5th season audio clips, and spongebob season 3 video clips, look at this video, and read the descriptoion, and you will know that spongebob’s voice has not changed.
Josh Richard on August 26th, 2008 at 12:29 pm | Link
Not even a good try. The video and the audio don’t match. My dog could edit video better than that.
One giveaway is that the video is titled “Season 4-5 Voice Clips, Season 1-3 Video Clips”. Sheesh.
Okay, apparently I misunderstood the intent of that video (although I still am not sure what it was supposed to prove, by mixing old video with new audio). The poster has said they’ll make a version featuring old clips and new; I feel confident the difference will be as painfully obvious there as it is every time I surf by (and stay with) a new episode.
I watched a new episode, then an old one and noticed that the voice actors are the same but the problem is that the storyboard writers and artists are different people. Very sad. I remember getting excited when a commercial for a new episode of Spongebob came on before and now I feel sick when I see it. It went downhill from the movie. I also liked the first king Neptune voice. New one is lame. Also noticed I think they created that new show about the sailor kid and its the same corny dry humor and same voices.They should stop making new episodes! Just keep reruns of the fabulous old ones.
kathy on August 28th, 2008 at 5:07 pm | Link
i think it doesnt matter and i think no matter if the spongebob episodes are new or old ..its the same! deal with it! because there still going to make new more episodes. and they dont cuss in there..so..they could do whatever they WANT with the show. GOT OVER IT PWEASE!
xoxo
Stephanie on August 31st, 2008 at 6:31 pm | Link
Granted, there are worse problems in the world than the changes in Spongebob, but it is too bad they messed it up! So good to see others feel the same! It WAS a great show - not anymore. I am kind of ashamed to admit how much this has bothered me, but seeing the other comments has helped me ‘get it out’, I am a grown (very grown) adult with 6 kids, but I looked forward to the show everyday. It was a great show to watch with my kids to relax and forget about the real world, but now - can not tolerate it. PLEASE someone out there, bring back our clueless, but lovable spongebob - not this yellow, irrtating creature you have left us with! Voice in wrong, writting is crap.
Teresa on September 4th, 2008 at 4:41 pm | Link