BIKINI BOTTOM IS TOPS

Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants absorbed its biggest audience ever — 8.6 million total viewers — with a special prime-time episode that aired Monday, says the Hollywood Reporter. What's more, the eppy drew 5.2 mil kids ages 2 to 11, making it the second-most-watched TV program of the year (behind the Super Bowl) among children. Mick and Keith rocking the preschool set? Who knew?

TV GuideNews Feb. 24, 2006 at 12:00 a.m. PT