 In 1997 , while pitching the cartoon to Nickelodeon executives , Hillenburg donned a Hawaiian shirt , brought along an " underwater terrarium with models of the characters " , and played Hawaiian music to set the theme . The setup was described by Nickelodeon executive Eric Coleman as " pretty amazing " . When they were given money and two weeks to write the pilot episode " Help Wanted " , Derek Drymon , Stephen Hillenberg , and Nick Jennings returned with what was described by Nickelodeon official Albie Hecht as , " a performance [ he ] wished [ he ] had on tape " . Although executive producer Derek Drymon described the pitch as stressful , he said it went " very well " . Kevin Kay and Hecht had to step outside because they were " exhausted from laughing " , which worried the cartoonists . 
