There's an Uncensored Version of "Sailor Mouth," According to SpongeBob Voice Actor Tom Kenny

The voice actor admitted it was one of the hardest episodes he had to do. 

Cussing is strictly prohibited in children’s cartoons, except when it’s behind the scenes. SpongeBob voice actor Tom Kenny revealed last Saturday at ConnectiCon that there’s an uncensored version of the SpongeBob season 2 episode “Sailor Mouth,” due to limitations in the script. 

“When we recorded that, you know, that’s the one where SpongeBob and Patrick learn a word that’s scribbled on the bathroom wall, and they just go throwing it around,” Kenny said. “We were supposed to be recording that with swearing, but not really swearing, which is hard because it said ‘Ad lib almost swearing’... and we were like this is really, really hard. Can we just cuss and have you guys bleep it out?”

Instead of using a standard bleep, the creators decided to replace the swears with animal noises, such as a dolphin chirp, for comedic effect. According to Kenny, when the studio gave the actors the green light to swear, Clancy Brown, the voice actor of Mr. Krabs, warmed up to the opportunity. 

“He was like ‘I’m all for that,’” Kenny said, imitating Mr. Krabs to a crowd of laughing fans. “’Listen to the four-eyed fellow. He makes sense.’”

Kenny described it as one of the hardest episodes he ever had to film, because of how funny it was. 

“Listening to Patrick and Squidward and Mr. Krabs really drop those bombs may be the funniest thing in the world and also something you will never be allowed to hear, ever,” Kenny said. “I’m sure Nickelodeon has them buried deep in a pit in the middle of the Earth somewhere.” 

According to an interview with former Creative Director Derek Drymon, the episode was inspired by an event in real life. 

“’Sailor Mouth’ was based on a time I got in trouble for saying the f-word in front of my mother,” Drymon said in the magazine Hogan’s Alley #17. “The scene where Patrick is running to Mr Krabs to tattle, with SpongeBob chasing him, is pretty much how it happened in real life. The button on the show where Mr Krabs swears worse than the boys was inspired by the fact that my mother has a sailor mouth herself.”

Nickelodeon was unable to be reached for comment.