‘SpongeBob’s Tom Kenny Says That He’ll Audition for Literally Any Voiceover Gig Because He Doesn’t Have Hobbies

It’s shockingly easy to get SpongeBob SquarePants to be the voice of a regional commercial — even one that airs at 3:28 a.m.

For Millennial cartoon fans whose memories of watching SpongeBob SquarePants form the central pillar of their comedy sensibilities, it’s hard to imagine that there was ever a time in television history when Tom Kenny wasn’t the defining voice of silliness. In fact, it’s hard for Tom Kenny to imagine those B.C. (before comedy) years, too. Nevertheless, the Syracuse, New York native didn’t start his comedy career as the most beloved voice actor in children’s entertainment, coming up as a stand-up comic along with his close childhood friend Bobcat Goldthwait before landing small roles on TV and in film throughout the 1990s while developing his talents as a cartoon voice actor on the short-lived but beloved Nickelodeon series Rocko’s Modern Life.

Then, shortly following the cancellation of Rocko’s Modern Life in 1996, Kenny’s colleague Stephen Hillenburg tapped him to voice the title character in his new Nickelodeon project SpongeBob SquarePants, a gig that turned out to be the opportunity of a lifetime and one that he’s still working nearly three decades later.

But that doesn’t mean Kenny is done chasing new jobs. No, as he revealed in a recent Variety interview alongside his SpongeBob costar Bill Fagerbakke, Kenny still attends every voiceover audition his agent can secure, due in part to his complete lack of pastimes — but, astoundingly, no single striped sweater company has tapped him for a singing spot.

“I audition nonstop. I’ve always hustled,” Kenny said, ribbing his friend and colleague. “Our agent is always asking me, ‘What’s with Bill? I can’t get him to audition for anything.’ But he’ll call me and say, ‘Hey, there’s a radio spot for the Wisconsin lottery that pays $100; it’s an hour-and-a-half drive from Los Angeles,’ and I’m like, ‘I’ll do it!’” 

Kenny said that he fully lives the SpongeBob “I’m ready!” mantra when it comes to his career, saying of his work, “I just love doing it. I don’t have other hobbies; I just like doing voiceovers, so I’m always auditioning for stuff. I end up in a lot of weird places.”

Critically, Kenny clarified, his fitting eagerness to work doesn’t come from a place of resentment toward the biggest gig of his life. “I can divide my lifespan into pre- and post-SpongeBob,” Kenny explained. “So much of our time and energy is spent on SpongeBob, which I totally love. I never became resentful or regretful that I wasn’t doing other things. This has just always felt like the right thing to do. I think we’re both good at it and good at representing the brand. We’re proud of the show and we love it, so we never have to fake it when we do press and say, ‘It’s a great show.’ That’s a gift, too.”

So, just as SpongeBob himself is a true believer in the Krusty Krab, Kenny has that same endless enthusiasm for SpongeBob SquarePants. However, unlike SpongeBob, Kenny doesn't have a quirky collection of hobbies to occupy those rare hours when he isn’t working. That said, it’s never too late to take up karate or jellyfishing.