Paramount+ is crossing over its two biggest IPs in a perplexing new ad for the streaming service. The crew aboard the USS Enterprise from “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” is working alongside the residents of Bikini Bottom from “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
We guess a pineapple under the sea counts as a strange new world…
The advertisement shows Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) taking control of the “Patrick Starship Enterprise,” a new kind of spaceship that resembles a big, pink starfish. [Can’t say that sounds very aerodynamic, but we aren’t scientists here.] Of course, the voice of the ship sounds like “SpongeBob” veteran Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke).
We cut to the ever logical Spock (Ethan Peck) working alongside the air-loving Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence). The duo gaze at the stars while Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) and Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) man the controls…we mean grill. Apparently, to make this arrangement work, some of the Enterprises’ control panels had to be turned into a grill for Krabby Patties.
Everything comes together when SpongeBob (Tom Kenny), or as Spock calls him, “SpongeRobert,” beams aboard the ship. The minute-long spot ends with the whole thing being Uhura’s strange dream.
Why a “Star Trek” and “SpongeBob” ad?
It’s safe to say that “Star Trek” and “SpongeBob” are two of the biggest IPs in Paramount’s arsenal. So why not have two things with huge fan bases do a little silly crossover? And it seems that both shows have a lot of love among the casts.
“Speaking as a lifelong Trekker (OG TOS, baby! I was a nerd before nerds were cool!),” said Kenny about the ad. “It was a huge thrill to have my porous alter ego SpongeBob SquarePants “beam up” to the USS Enterprise for a dreamy visit! Interacting with the “stellar” (yes, pun intended!) cast of Strange New Worlds was an honor and a pleasure. They made SpongeBob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs and Sandy feel welcome, which is a good thing because Star Trek is such a HUUUUUGE deal to me, I was really sweating it! Live Long and Perspire!”
“I grew up on SpongeBob, so I feel like I’ve been training for this my whole life,” Gooding said. “I’ve committed a lot of the Krusty Krab training video to memory, but how prepared can you be for a blended fever dream of your past and present? In this case, it’s SpongeBob and Star Trek. Wild, to say the least. I’ll be crossing some things off my bucket list, but I have so many questions. Can the food replicator make Krabby Patties? Does Spock play mayonnaise in this universe? Where is Gary? Have it out on your preferred platform. I’m ready! I’m ready!”
“The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” premieres on December 19, 2025. “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” 3rd season will debut sometime this summer. You can catch both franchises streaming exclusively on Paramount+.
