" The Nitwitting " is the first segment of the first episode in the 12th season of (officially Episode 243a). Premiering on January 13, 2019, it is notable as the first episode to air following the death of series creator Stephen Hillenburg. Plot Summary
After a series of gross and nonsensical initiation rituals—including drinking a jar of spit—SpongeBob is inducted into the club. The group then embarks on their "civic duty," a destructive event known as , where they unintentionally cause chaos and mass destruction across the city under the guise of helping. Eventually, SpongeBob loses his last "brain stem" and becomes truly brainless, wandering into a dark alley. Patrick eventually helps him retrieve his brain from a jar, allowing SpongeBob to return to normal. Key Characters & Voice Cast [S12E1] The Nitwitting
Seeking a break from his "powerful intellect," SpongeBob follows Patrick to the , an exclusive club for the "dullards and doofuses" of Bikini Bottom. Led by the Ice Cream King , the society requires members to literally remove their brains at the door. " The Nitwitting " is the first segment