It seems that Little House on the Praire and Spongebob Squarepants have more in common than just being a couple of shows on Nickelodeon. The two share a very interesting connection that you may not have probably guessed.
Now, what would a wacky children’s TV show have in common with serious, live-action drama? Cheatsheat was able to point out that both shows were fans of having guest stars or recurring actors. Little House on the Prairie welcomed a number of noteworthy guests including singer Johnny Cash and his wife, Scarface‘s Robert Loggia, and Sean Penn.
Spongebob Squarepants, on the other hand, had many recurring characters that became beloved by many. These include the likes of Larry the Lobster, The Flying Dutchman, and Gary the snail. Spongebob also welcomed an elderly superhero duo, Mermaid Man and Barnicle Boy.
It’s here where the two shows intersect. Mermaid Man from Spongebob Squarepants is an elderly man living out his days as a superhero. Though not a permanent character, Mermaid Man had become a crowd-favorite and integral part of the show. He was voiced by Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine.
Ernest Borgnine became famous around the 1970s, about the same time Little House on the Prairie was on the air. If you haven’t guessed yet, Borgnine, who voices Mermaid Man on Spongebob Squarepants, also made a guest appearance on Little House on the Prairie. He played a guardian angel named Jonathan in the first season of the show.