July 17, 1999 –
The series, Spongebob Squarepants, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, started regularly airing on Nickelodeon on this date. (It’s actually the second episode. The pilot episode had premiered in May of 1999)
Frequently, a French accented-voice comes on to note a passage of time. It’s an homage to Jacques-Yves Cousteau, a leading influence on Stephen Hillenburg and his interest in marine biology.
The Haus of Dcaligari 