The scripts for Sponge Bob Square Pants are written by adults. You can see a full list of crew members (writers included) here: http://spongebob.wikia.com/wiki/SpongeBob_SquarePants_%28series%29. The cartoon was originally developed by Stephen Hillenburg, a marine biologist turned animator. The scenarios in the episodes are made with the overall target audience being children but to also appeal to adults. The way that the show keeps adults engaged is by throwing some comic situations, references and language that may go over the younger audience’s head without being understood. It sometimes also allows the children to watch the same thing as they age and finally understand it. It’s almost like seeing it for the first time. This is also a strategy used by Disney and Pixar (think about the scene in Toy Story where Bo Peep tells Woody she can get “someone else to watch the sheep tonight”) as well as many other studios.

Plots change by episodes but the baseline of the series centers around adventures that Sponge Bob has with his friends while living under the sea in Bikini Bottom. The show is driven by the character’s personalities and the situations that they get themselves into.

Sponge Bob has been running since May 1, 1999 and has completed 7 seasons which is 282 aired episodes. They have been picked up for an eighth season due to its popularity.