Johnny Depp’s “Jack Kahuna Laguna” with SpongeBob, April 17

By April MacIntyre Apr 1, 2009, 14:56 GMT

Johnny Depp’s character “Jack Kahuna Laguna” will teach SpongeBob SquarePants a thing or two in the upcoming “SpongeBob vs. the Big One” premiering Friday, April 17, at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Johnny Depp’s character “Jack Kahuna Laguna” will teach SpongeBob SquarePants a thing or two in the upcoming “SpongeBob vs. the Big One” premiering Friday, April 17, at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

Depp will guest stars as an enigmatic surf guru in the first of many SpongeBob specials. All a celebration of SpongeBob’s 10th Anniversary on the network.

Nickelodeon inked Depp to work with SpongeBob in the first of several special on-air events this year in celebration of the show's 10th anniversary. 

SpongeBob SquarePants’ “SpongeBob vs. the Big One,” an all-new half-hour television special that follows a stranded SpongeBob and his friends as they search for Jack Kahuna Laguna (voiced by Depp) to teach them the gnarly surf moves to hit the elusive wave, The Big One, in order to return to Bikini Bottom. 

The special also will air on Nicktoons Network, where it will encore Sunday, April 19, at 10 p.m. ET.

“We’re excited to have Johnny Depp guest star on the SpongeBob TV special that kicks off the series’ 10th anniversary celebration,” said Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group.  “This is a big year for our porous pal, and some of the biggest celebrities are helping us honor him in a special way throughout the year.”

From Nick:

"While trying to sell Krabby Patties to hungry surfers in the waters of Goo Lagoon, SpongeBob (Tom Kenny), Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke), Squidward (Rodger Bumpass) and Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) are swept away by a giant wave.  Mr. Krabs is carried to the haunted waters of Dutchman’s Triangle, and the other three find themselves stranded on a remote tropical island.  In order to escape, they must find surf guru Jack Kahuna Laguna.  JKL, as he is known, informs them that the only way back to Bikini Bottom is to surf the legendary wave called The Big One, which will arrive in just a matter of days.  SpongeBob and the gang must absorb JKL’s lessons in order to shred the surf to avoid wiping out on the ride of their lives."

The premiere of SpongeBob vs. The Big One also will simulcast on Nickelodeon Mobile, and a week prior to its premiere, it will get a sneak peek via Nickelodeon’s wireless partners.  TurboNick (link), Nickelodeon’s online broadband player, will feature a sneak peek of SpongeBob vs. The Big One, short form video content, episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants and an Instant Replay following its on-air premiere.