Super Bowl LVIII took place on Sunday Feb. 11, 2024, and it was a chaotic night no matter which team you were cheering for. From an electric halftime show to the birth of new memes, the big game was about much more than football this year. Another new development was that Nickelodeon broadcasted the Super Bowl for the first time — with a few unique twists for kids and adults alike to enjoy. The Nickelodeon Super Bowl broadcast was arguably more entertaining than just watching the game by itself, and the internet had a lot to say about it.
In an effort to increase younger people’s interest in football, Nickelodeon did their own telecast of the Super Bowl for the first time in 2024. While the official broadcast included a team of human sports commentators, the Nickelodeon version featured Spongebob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer, and plenty of Nickelodeon’s signature green slime.
Spongebob and Patrick from the classic Nickelodeon show Spongebob Squarepants joined sports commentators Noah Eagle and Nate Burleson in the official broadcast booth. Other classic characters from the show, like Larry the Lobster and Sandy Cheeks, appeared as sideline commentators. And who better to make a cameo as a rules expert than Dora the Explorer?
Pop star Taylor Swift has taken the NFL by storm ever since going public with her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. During the Super Bowl, Swift was shown having fun with her family and friends while watching the nail-bitingly close game. Nickelodeon did not shy away from Swift either. Doodlebob from Spongebob Squarepants popped up with heart eyes to scribble “Hi Taylor!” When introducing Kelce, Nickelodeon had a pop-up that read, “Taylor Swift’s boyfriend: Good at football.”
Plenty of celebrities were in attendance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, but Nickelodeon spoofed even more during their cuts to the audience. Among the attendees were “Taylor Fish,” “Jason Kelpe,” “LePrawn James,” and “Herring Styles.” In real life, red and yellow confetti showered the field when the Chiefs won the game, but on Nickelodeon, the field was covered in neon green slime.
Needless to say, the Nickelodeon broadcast went viral. Twitter and Tik Tok users were quick to share their thoughts. “The Nickelodeon Super Bowl has been insane,” Cole Adams tweeted alongside photos of Nickelodeon characters as commentators and the Travis Kelce banner.
Another Twitter user, rudy betrayed, shared, “The Nickelodeon Super Bowl rocks lmao. 49ers dropped a pass and a banner popped up on the screen that said FIRMLY GRASP IT.” “Firmly grasp it” is a popular meme from a Spongebob Squarepants episode that aired in 1999 — clearly, Nickelodeon was using references that older fans would enjoy, not just kids.
“Can somebody tell me why the Nickelodeon Super Bowl was the most unhinged thing I’ve ever seen?” asked Tik Tok user @butthatsmyopinion in a video showing all of the fishy celebrity doppelgangers.
As chaotic as the Nickelodeon broadcast was, clearly, it was a hit. Whether you were a disappointed 49ers fan or an exhilarated Chiefs fan on Sunday, one thing that brought everyone together was a little bit of childhood nostalgia.