SpongeBob SquarePants (Season 3)

The third season of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, created by former marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, aired on Nickelodeon from October 5, 2001 to October 11, 2004, and consists of 20 episodes. The series chronicles the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The season was executive-produced by series creator Hillenburg, who also acted as the showrunner. Season 3 was announced on September 20, 2000. It began on October 5, 2001 with the episode "The Bully" and ended on October 11, 2004 with the episode "Pranks a Lot."
The season was well received by media critics and fans. During its run, SpongeBob SquarePants became the highest rated children's show on cable, with over 50 million viewers a month. The show received several recognitions, including its nomination at the Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children's Program. The episodes "New Student Starfish" and "Clams" were nominated for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour) category, while the entry "SpongeBob B.C. (Ugh)" won the same category. The season was also the first time the show received a nomination at the Kids' Choice Awards and won. It won the 2003 Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite Cartoon, and also won the following year's Kids' Choice Award for the same category. Celebrities—including Justin Timberlake, Kelly Osbourne, Britney Spears, Bruce Willis, Noel Gallagher, rapper Dr. Dre, and Mike Myers—have been reported to be fans of the show.
Several compilation DVDs that contain episodes from the season were released. The SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete 3rd Season DVD was released in Region 1 on September 27, 2005, Region 2 on December 3, 2007, and Region 4 on November 8, 2007.
==Episodes==
# 	# 	Title 	Airdate
41 	1 	The Algae's Always Greener 	March 22, 2002
41 	1 	SpongeGuard on Duty 	March 22, 2002
Plankton uses one of his inventions to swap lives with his rival, Mr. Krabs. / SpongeBob becomes a lifeguard at Goo Lagoon and closes it down, but he can't swim and has to find a way to rescue Patrick when he drowns in the lagoon. 	Plankton uses one of his inventions to swap lives with his rival, Mr. Krabs. / SpongeBob becomes a lifeguard at Goo Lagoon and closes it down, but he can't swim and has to find a way to rescue Patrick when he drowns in the lagoon. 	Plankton uses one of his inventions to swap lives with his rival, Mr. Krabs. / SpongeBob becomes a lifeguard at Goo Lagoon and closes it down, but he can't swim and has to find a way to rescue Patrick when he drowns in the lagoon. 	Plankton uses one of his inventions to swap lives with his rival, Mr. Krabs. / SpongeBob becomes a lifeguard at Goo Lagoon and closes it down, but he can't swim and has to find a way to rescue Patrick when he drowns in the lagoon.
42 	2 	Club SpongeBob 	July 12, 2002
42 	2 	My Pretty Seahorse 	July 12, 2002
SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward are flung into and stranded in the Kelp Forest, where the former two depend their lives on the Magic Conch shell. / SpongeBob adopts a stray seahorse. 	SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward are flung into and stranded in the Kelp Forest, where the former two depend their lives on the Magic Conch shell. / SpongeBob adopts a stray seahorse. 	SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward are flung into and stranded in the Kelp Forest, where the former two depend their lives on the Magic Conch shell. / SpongeBob adopts a stray seahorse. 	SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward are flung into and stranded in the Kelp Forest, where the former two depend their lives on the Magic Conch shell. / SpongeBob adopts a stray seahorse.
43 	3 	Just One Bite "Just One Bite" was cut and reaired with a scene with Squidward being blown up twice being cut on January 2, 2002 	October 5, 2001
43 	3 	The Bully 	October 5, 2001
SpongeBob tries to get Squidward to try a Krabby Patty. / A bully joins SpongeBob's boating class and threatens him that he will kick his butt. 	SpongeBob tries to get Squidward to try a Krabby Patty. / A bully joins SpongeBob's boating class and threatens him that he will kick his butt. 	SpongeBob tries to get Squidward to try a Krabby Patty. / A bully joins SpongeBob's boating class and threatens him that he will kick his butt. 	SpongeBob tries to get Squidward to try a Krabby Patty. / A bully joins SpongeBob's boating class and threatens him that he will kick his butt.
44 	4 	Nasty Patty 	March 1, 2002
44 	4 	Idiot Box 	March 1, 2002
SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs think they killed a health inspector with a tainted Krabby Patty, so they attempt to hide his body. / SpongeBob and Patrick use their imagination to play with an empty box. 	SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs think they killed a health inspector with a tainted Krabby Patty, so they attempt to hide his body. / SpongeBob and Patrick use their imagination to play with an empty box. 	SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs think they killed a health inspector with a tainted Krabby Patty, so they attempt to hide his body. / SpongeBob and Patrick use their imagination to play with an empty box. 	SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs think they killed a health inspector with a tainted Krabby Patty, so they attempt to hide his body. / SpongeBob and Patrick use their imagination to play with an empty box.
45 	5 	Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy lV 	January 21, 2002
45 	5 	Doing Time 	January 21, 2002
SpongeBob plays with Mermaid Man's shrink ray on his utility belt, but doesn't know how to turn things back to normal size. / SpongeBob and Patrick try to break Mrs. Puff out of jail. 	SpongeBob plays with Mermaid Man's shrink ray on his utility belt, but doesn't know how to turn things back to normal size. / SpongeBob and Patrick try to break Mrs. Puff out of jail. 	SpongeBob plays with Mermaid Man's shrink ray on his utility belt, but doesn't know how to turn things back to normal size. / SpongeBob and Patrick try to break Mrs. Puff out of jail. 	SpongeBob plays with Mermaid Man's shrink ray on his utility belt, but doesn't know how to turn things back to normal size. / SpongeBob and Patrick try to break Mrs. Puff out of jail.
46 	6 	Snowball Effect 	February 22, 2002
46 	6 	One Krabs Trash 	February 22, 2002
SpongeBob and Patrick have a snowball fight and try to get Squidward to join in as well. / Mr. Krabs sells SpongeBob a soda drinking hat but after hearing how valuable it is, he decides to try and get it back. 	SpongeBob and Patrick have a snowball fight and try to get Squidward to join in as well. / Mr. Krabs sells SpongeBob a soda drinking hat but after hearing how valuable it is, he decides to try and get it back. 	SpongeBob and Patrick have a snowball fight and try to get Squidward to join in as well. / Mr. Krabs sells SpongeBob a soda drinking hat but after hearing how valuable it is, he decides to try and get it back. 	SpongeBob and Patrick have a snowball fight and try to get Squidward to join in as well. / Mr. Krabs sells SpongeBob a soda drinking hat but after hearing how valuable it is, he decides to try and get it back.
47 	7 	As Seen on TV 	March 8, 2002
47 	7 	Can You Spare a Dime? 	March 8, 2002
The Krusty Krab airs its first commercial and SpongeBob believes he has become famous off of it. / Squidward quits his job and SpongeBob decides to let him stay at his house, but despite Gary's warnings, Squidward secretly uses him to his advantage. 	The Krusty Krab airs its first commercial and SpongeBob believes he has become famous off of it. / Squidward quits his job and SpongeBob decides to let him stay at his house, but despite Gary's warnings, Squidward secretly uses him to his advantage. 	The Krusty Krab airs its first commercial and SpongeBob believes he has become famous off of it. / Squidward quits his job and SpongeBob decides to let him stay at his house, but despite Gary's warnings, Squidward secretly uses him to his advantage. 	The Krusty Krab airs its first commercial and SpongeBob believes he has become famous off of it. / Squidward quits his job and SpongeBob decides to let him stay at his house, but despite Gary's warnings, Squidward secretly uses him to his advantage.
48 	8 	No Weenies Allowed 	March 15, 2002
48 	8 	Squilliam Returns 	March 15, 2002
SpongeBob tries to act tough in order to get into The Salty Spitoon. / Squidward tries to convince Squilliam that he owns a five-star restaurant. 	SpongeBob tries to act tough in order to get into The Salty Spitoon. / Squidward tries to convince Squilliam that he owns a five-star restaurant. 	SpongeBob tries to act tough in order to get into The Salty Spitoon. / Squidward tries to convince Squilliam that he owns a five-star restaurant. 	SpongeBob tries to act tough in order to get into The Salty Spitoon. / Squidward tries to convince Squilliam that he owns a five-star restaurant.
49 	9 	Krab Borg 	March 29, 2002
49 	9 	Rock-a-Bye Bivalve 	March 29, 2002
SpongeBob and Squidward think Mr. Krabs is a robot. / SpongeBob and Squidward think Mr. Krabs is a robot. 	SpongeBob and Squidward think Mr. Krabs is a robot. / SpongeBob and Squidward think Mr. Krabs is a robot. 	SpongeBob and Squidward think Mr. Krabs is a robot. / SpongeBob and Squidward think Mr. Krabs is a robot. 	SpongeBob and Squidward think Mr. Krabs is a robot. / SpongeBob and Squidward think Mr. Krabs is a robot.
50 	10 	Wet Painters 	May 10, 2002
50 	10 	Krusty Krab Training Video 	May 10, 2002
SpongeBob and Patrick paint the inside of Mr. Krabs' house, but at the cost of their behinds if anything other than the walls gets painted on. / The Krusty Krab is featured in an instructional video for future employees. 	SpongeBob and Patrick paint the inside of Mr. Krabs' house, but at the cost of their behinds if anything other than the walls gets painted on. / The Krusty Krab is featured in an instructional video for future employees. 	SpongeBob and Patrick paint the inside of Mr. Krabs' house, but at the cost of their behinds if anything other than the walls gets painted on. / The Krusty Krab is featured in an instructional video for future employees. 	SpongeBob and Patrick paint the inside of Mr. Krabs' house, but at the cost of their behinds if anything other than the walls gets painted on. / The Krusty Krab is featured in an instructional video for future employees.
51 	11 	Party Pooper Pants 	May 17, 2002
SpongeBob throws a party, but his guests refuse to follow his rather strict schedule and he ends up getting locked outside. Meanwhile, Patchy the Pirate is throwing his own party. 	SpongeBob throws a party, but his guests refuse to follow his rather strict schedule and he ends up getting locked outside. Meanwhile, Patchy the Pirate is throwing his own party. 	SpongeBob throws a party, but his guests refuse to follow his rather strict schedule and he ends up getting locked outside. Meanwhile, Patchy the Pirate is throwing his own party. 	SpongeBob throws a party, but his guests refuse to follow his rather strict schedule and he ends up getting locked outside. Meanwhile, Patchy the Pirate is throwing his own party.
52 	12 	Chocolate With Nuts 	June 1, 2002
52 	12 	Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V 	June 1, 2002
SpongeBob and Patrick read Squidward's fancy magazine and want to become entrepreneurs, so they proceed to sell chocolate bars, which doesn't go as planned. / After being childishly teased for having "Boy" in his name, Barnacle Boy joins the dark side and a team emerges to try and stop him and his new allies.	SpongeBob and Patrick read Squidward's fancy magazine and want to become entrepreneurs, so they proceed to sell chocolate bars, which doesn't go as planned. / After being childishly teased for having "Boy" in his name, Barnacle Boy joins the dark side and a team emerges to try and stop him and his new allies.	SpongeBob and Patrick read Squidward's fancy magazine and want to become entrepreneurs, so they proceed to sell chocolate bars, which doesn't go as planned. / After being childishly teased for having "Boy" in his name, Barnacle Boy joins the dark side and a team emerges to try and stop him and his new allies.	SpongeBob and Patrick read Squidward's fancy magazine and want to become entrepreneurs, so they proceed to sell chocolate bars, which doesn't go as planned. / After being childishly teased for having "Boy" in his name, Barnacle Boy joins the dark side and a team emerges to try and stop him and his new allies.
53 	13 	New Student Starfish 	September 20, 2002
53 	13 	Clams 	September 20, 2002
Patrick joins SpongeBob's boating school, but he gets SpongeBob in trouble. / Mr. Krabs earns his millionth dollar and takes his crew on a fishing trip, but a clam eats the dollar, and he orders his crew to get it back. 	Patrick joins SpongeBob's boating school, but he gets SpongeBob in trouble. / Mr. Krabs earns his millionth dollar and takes his crew on a fishing trip, but a clam eats the dollar, and he orders his crew to get it back. 	Patrick joins SpongeBob's boating school, but he gets SpongeBob in trouble. / Mr. Krabs earns his millionth dollar and takes his crew on a fishing trip, but a clam eats the dollar, and he orders his crew to get it back. 	Patrick joins SpongeBob's boating school, but he gets SpongeBob in trouble. / Mr. Krabs earns his millionth dollar and takes his crew on a fishing trip, but a clam eats the dollar, and he orders his crew to get it back.
54 	14 	Ugh 	March 5, 2004
SpongeGar, Patar, and Squog discover fire. 	SpongeGar, Patar, and Squog discover fire. 	SpongeGar, Patar, and Squog discover fire. 	SpongeGar, Patar, and Squog discover fire.
55 	15 	The Great Snail Race 	January 24, 2003
55 	15 	Mid-Life CrustaceanThis episode was removed from airing and streaming starting March 2021. 	January 24, 2003
SpongeBob forcefully trains Gary to enter a snail race against Squidward's snail after Squidward insults Gary. / Mr. Krabs has a mid-life crisis when he realizes that he is old and joins SpongeBob and Patrick for a night out in the town. 	SpongeBob forcefully trains Gary to enter a snail race against Squidward's snail after Squidward insults Gary. / Mr. Krabs has a mid-life crisis when he realizes that he is old and joins SpongeBob and Patrick for a night out in the town. 	SpongeBob forcefully trains Gary to enter a snail race against Squidward's snail after Squidward insults Gary. / Mr. Krabs has a mid-life crisis when he realizes that he is old and joins SpongeBob and Patrick for a night out in the town. 	SpongeBob forcefully trains Gary to enter a snail race against Squidward's snail after Squidward insults Gary. / Mr. Krabs has a mid-life crisis when he realizes that he is old and joins SpongeBob and Patrick for a night out in the town.
56 	16 	Born Again Krabs 	October 4, 2003
56 	16 	I Had an Accident 	October 4, 2003
Mr. Krabs encounters the Flying Dutchman for his cheap actions after being sent to the hospital after eating a moldy Krabby Patty he tried to sell. / SpongeBob breaks his butt while sand-sledding and refuses to go outside, but Patrick and Sandy try to convince him to do so. 	Mr. Krabs encounters the Flying Dutchman for his cheap actions after being sent to the hospital after eating a moldy Krabby Patty he tried to sell. / SpongeBob breaks his butt while sand-sledding and refuses to go outside, but Patrick and Sandy try to convince him to do so. 	Mr. Krabs encounters the Flying Dutchman for his cheap actions after being sent to the hospital after eating a moldy Krabby Patty he tried to sell. / SpongeBob breaks his butt while sand-sledding and refuses to go outside, but Patrick and Sandy try to convince him to do so. 	Mr. Krabs encounters the Flying Dutchman for his cheap actions after being sent to the hospital after eating a moldy Krabby Patty he tried to sell. / SpongeBob breaks his butt while sand-sledding and refuses to go outside, but Patrick and Sandy try to convince him to do so.
57 	17 	Krabby Land 	April 3, 2004
57 	17 	The Camping Episode 	April 3, 2004
Mr. Krabs builds a junky playground in an attempt to get lots of money from children. / SpongeBob and Patrick go camping on SpongeBob's front lawn, to Squidward's dismay. 	Mr. Krabs builds a junky playground in an attempt to get lots of money from children. / SpongeBob and Patrick go camping on SpongeBob's front lawn, to Squidward's dismay. 	Mr. Krabs builds a junky playground in an attempt to get lots of money from children. / SpongeBob and Patrick go camping on SpongeBob's front lawn, to Squidward's dismay. 	Mr. Krabs builds a junky playground in an attempt to get lots of money from children. / SpongeBob and Patrick go camping on SpongeBob's front lawn, to Squidward's dismay.
58 	18 	Missing Identity 	January 19, 2004
58 	18 	Plankton's Army 	January 19, 2004
SpongeBob loses his name tag. / Plankton enlists the help of his hillbilly cousins to steal the Krabby Patty formula. 	SpongeBob loses his name tag. / Plankton enlists the help of his hillbilly cousins to steal the Krabby Patty formula. 	SpongeBob loses his name tag. / Plankton enlists the help of his hillbilly cousins to steal the Krabby Patty formula. 	SpongeBob loses his name tag. / Plankton enlists the help of his hillbilly cousins to steal the Krabby Patty formula.
59 	19 	The Sponge Who Could Fly 	March 21, 2003
SpongeBob wishes he could fly with the jellyfish, despite the residents of Bikini Bottom repeatedly making fun of him. 	SpongeBob wishes he could fly with the jellyfish, despite the residents of Bikini Bottom repeatedly making fun of him. 	SpongeBob wishes he could fly with the jellyfish, despite the residents of Bikini Bottom repeatedly making fun of him. 	SpongeBob wishes he could fly with the jellyfish, despite the residents of Bikini Bottom repeatedly making fun of him.
60 	20 	SpongeBob Meets the Strangler 	October 11, 2004
60 	20 	Pranks a Lot 	October 11, 2004
A criminal attempts to get revenge on SpongeBob. / SpongeBob and Patrick use invisibility spray to play pranks on the citizens of Bikini Bottom. 	A criminal attempts to get revenge on SpongeBob. / SpongeBob and Patrick use invisibility spray to play pranks on the citizens of Bikini Bottom. 	A criminal attempts to get revenge on SpongeBob. / SpongeBob and Patrick use invisibility spray to play pranks on the citizens of Bikini Bottom. 	A criminal attempts to get revenge on SpongeBob. / SpongeBob and Patrick use invisibility spray to play pranks on the citizens of Bikini Bottom.