Is SpongeBob SquarePants becoming a"pure kids' cartoon"?

[Sara SquarePants]

I noticed a change ever since Sponge out of Water with the rap battle

Then came SpongeBob's Birthday Blowout with Kel Mitchell, Daniella Perkins, and Jojo Siwa

And now the "Patchy's Beach Bash" special with modern celebrities like Meghan Trainor, Jon Heder, and Anthony Davis

Is it my imagination or is Nickelodeon skewing SpongeBob to a kid-specific demographic, which goes against what Stephen Hillenburg wanted for the series?

What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Vuvuzela Smasher]

which goes against what Stephen Hillenburg wanted for the series

When did he say he didn't want it to be targeted toward children specifically?

 

[Sara SquarePants]

When Hillenburg initially pitched the show to Nickelodeon he specifically fought to keep SpongeBob as an adult so there would be wide appeal

 

[Pugs4Thugs]

While I think it is trending more towards being kid-centered, I don't think it's going against what Hillenburg wanted. There are still plenty of adult jokes and topics in modern SpongeBob, and as I get older I can still find enjoyment in the series. I really think this is just a result of the simplified comedy that Nickelodeon is turning towards, not a "kidification" of the show.

 

[SpongeBobfan1987]

I don't think it's "kidification."

It's more of a "watering down" of everything SpongeBob stood for (which is ironic, because he lives down there)...