Home US News SpongeBob fans have mixed reactions to Super Bowl halftime tribute

US News

SpongeBob fans have mixed reactions to Super Bowl halftime tribute

CBS Report

February 4, 2019

275

SpongeBob SquarePants fans have mixed reactions to tribute during Super Bowl halftime show

By Danielle Garrand

Updated on: February 4, 2019 / 4:42 AM / CBS News

For some fans of "SpongeBob SquarePants," the brief tribute to the cartoon during the Super Bowl LIII halftime show made Sunday the best day ever. For others, it wasn't such a "Sweet Victory." The beloved cartoon's creator, Stephen Hillenburg, died in November.

Many of the show's viewers hoped he would be honored at this year's Super Bowl halftime show in Atlanta, headlined by Maroon 5, with a rendition of the song "Sweet Victory."

The song originated in a 2001 episode of the Nickelodeon hit titled "Band Geeks," during which SpongeBob and other characters perform at "The Bubble Bowl," a football game that imitates the Super Bowl. The episode, and song, quickly became an iconic part of the show and is a favorite among many fans.

The song was so beloved that a change.org petition titled, "Have 'Sweet Victory' Performed at the Super Bowl" garnered over 1,200,000 signatures. The aim was to honor both the show's creator and the tune itself.

"As a tribute to his legacy, his contributions to a generation of children, and to truly showcase the greatness of this song, we call for Sweet Victory to be performed at the Halftime Show," said the petition, started by user Isreal Colunga.

The moment from the show has also surged in popularity recently and become somewhat of a meme sensation since internet paired it with Travis Scott's hit "Sicko Mode." Word came out that Scott and fellow rapper Big Boi would be joining Maroon 5 as guest performers — driving fans to suspect that "Sweet Victory" could be making an appearance.

Maroon 5 also fanned the flames of speculation when the band's official Twitter account posted a video tease of their Super Bowl performance last month. The clip included a second of SpongeBob footage. While it wasn't a clip from "Sweet Victory," it was the only cartoon featured in the video, reports CBS Sports.

Those who love the song got their wish — kind of. A short clip of the "Sweet Victory" performance featuring SpongeBob, Squidward and other characters was shown on the Mercedes-Benz stadium big screen as an introduction to Travis Scott's rendition of "Sicko Mode."

Some fans, and even the the cartoon's official Twitter account were happy to see the show and its creator seemingly honored. "So honored and humbled! Thankful for being included and for all our fellow sea creatures 💛💛," the show tweeted.

Others on Twitter weren't so thrilled with the short clip and expressed their disappointment.

SWEET VICTORY #SpongeBob #SuperBowl Rest in piece Stephen Hillenburg your legacy lives on. pic.twitter.com/G8UjwH7v3G

— Alli (@_allibally_) February 4, 2019

So honored and humbled! Thankful for being included and for all our fellow sea creatures 💛💛 pic.twitter.com/F8lesQvDBz

— SpongeBob (@SpongeBob) February 4, 2019

My biggest hot take from #SuperBowl2019 was how DISRESPECTFUL it was to tease “Sweet Victory” from Spongebob and then NOT EVEN PLAY IT! #spongebobdeservedbetter pic.twitter.com/yXzgIQZRfZ

— Hayleigh Gowans (@HayleighGowans) February 4, 2019

me watching the halftime show #spongebob #halftimeshow pic.twitter.com/kcuDVVjdMz

— holly™️ (@hollytm_) February 4, 2019

First published on February 4, 2019

SpongeBob fans have mixed reactions to Super Bowl halftime tribute

For some, it was the best day ever. For others, it wasn't such a "Sweet Victory"

updated 13M ago

Much of Trump's time is unstructured "executive time": Report

Schedules leaked to Axios show the president spending some 60 percent of his working hours in so-called "executive time" over the last three months

updated 47M ago

Pats fans take to Boston streets to celebrate 6th Super Bowl win

Immediately after Sunday's game, a huge crowd gathered on Landsdowne Street near Fenway Park

2H ago

Super Bowl LIII: Live score and updates

The Patriots have won their sixth NFL championship

3H ago

Plane crash kills 5, sparks house fire, scatters debris near L.A.

"Oh my God, it was just awful. By the time I got from here to my backyard, the house was just burning," one witness said

2H ago

Howard Schultz considering independent run for president

The lifelong Democrat tells "60 Minutes" both parties are not doing what's necessary on behalf of the American people

Jan 28

Company launches "largest fleet of satellites in human history"

A private company has set off a revolution in space by launching hundreds of small satellites, enough to photograph the entire landmass of the Earth every day

Jan 28

Couple wins millions using lottery loophole

It was completely legal and it won them millions. Jon Wertheim reports on how Jerry Selbee and his wife Marge used "basic arithmetic" to crack the code on certain lottery games

Jan 28

Elijah Cummings' new power for investigating Trump

House Democrats have been stonewalled over the last two years when it came to subpoenas on various Trump administration dealings. But now Democrats have the majority, and Elijah Cummings plans to make the most of it

Jan 14

How advanced is AI today?

Scott Pelley reports on the developments in artificial intelligence brought about by venture capitalist Kai-Fu Lee's investments and China's effort to dominate the AI field

Jan 13

Architect still designing, 10 years after going blind

A social worker tried to tell him about "career alternatives" after he lost his sight, but Chris Downey wasn't about to stop being an architect

Jan 13

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: The "60 Minutes" interview

The youngest woman ever elected to Congress tells "60 Minutes" she thinks President Trump is racist and responds to criticisms she could be pushing the Democratic Party too far to the left

Jan 7

President El-Sisi: The interview Egypt didn't want aired

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi seized control of Egypt in the wake of an uprising against Mohamed Morsi's autocratic regime. Since then, Sisi's regime has imprisoned opponents and killed protesters

Jan 6

The inventor turning plant life into biofuel

Marshall Medoff unveils to "60 Minutes" his innovative method of turning plant life into fuel and other useful products

Jan 6

Right Rail – Video Promo – Listing

Linda Ronstadt speaks

In a revealing interview, the legendary singer-songwriter Linda Ronstadt opens up to Tracy Smith about her career, the loss of her singing voice, and living with Parkinson's. She also talks about the release of her first-ever live album, "Linda Ronstadt Live in Hollywood," which presents previously-unreleased recordings from her celebrated 1980 HBO special, recorded at Television Center Studios in Hollywood.

17H ago 09:34

Searching for an end to peanut allergies

While you may have grown up without ever hearing of a food allergy, today an estimated 26 million people (including at least six million children) have one. But researchers now think they have the answer to possibly eliminating peanut allergies. How? By feeding kids peanuts early and often. Tony Dokoupil reports on a rare reversal of medical advice.

18H ago 06:40

After 50 years, Sam Elliott has his moment

Martha Teichner interviews veteran character actor Sam Elliott, renowned for decades of appearances in films and TV, and nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in "A Star Is Born."

18H ago 06:02

Super Bowl: Behind the scenes of instant replays

The first instant replay was broadcast by CBS during the 1963 Army-Navy game. Since then, instant replays have transformed sports on TV, ratcheting up the drama, and giving fans a much better understanding of the games they watched (as well as letting fans second-guess officials). Correspondent Brook Silva-Braga meets the team that will be bringing you all of the Super Bowl's best moments, again.

10H ago 04:25

Welcome to the Waffle House

Founded in 1955, the first Waffle House was just a tiny rectangular box; it has since grown to a chain of 2,000 restaurants, mostly in the South, that serve up grits, hash browns, and of course waffles, all day and all night. Luke Burbank talks with the customers who come at all hours to sample the Waffle House's menu that Atlanta Magazine food critic Mara Shaloup calls "meats and starch and sugar and butter and grease and everything that's comforting and wonderful."

18H ago 03:55

SpongeBob fans have mixed reactions to Super Bowl halftime tribute

For some, it was the best day ever. For others, it wasn't such a "Sweet Victory"

updated 13M ago

Much of Trump's time is unstructured "executive time": Report

Schedules leaked to Axios show the president spending some 60 percent of his working hours in so-called "executive time" over the last three months

updated 47M ago

Pats fans take to Boston streets to celebrate 6th Super Bowl win

Immediately after Sunday's game, a huge crowd gathered on Landsdowne Street near Fenway Park

2H ago

Super Bowl LIII: Live score and updates

The Patriots have won their sixth NFL championship

3H ago

Plane crash kills 5, sparks house fire, scatters debris near L.A.

"Oh my God, it was just awful. By the time I got from here to my backyard, the house was just burning," one witness said

2H ago

Julian Edelman on becoming Super Bowl LIII MVP

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl LIII on Sunday night. He caught 10 passes for 141 yards against the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta. He speaks with our CBS Boston station after the game.

2H ago 01:56