MUMBAI: The sponge squeezed out a huge night of ratings in the US. Nick US' show SpongeBob SquarePants aired the episode Lost In Time on 20 February.

The half-hour special episode marked the highest-rated program on all TV with kids aged 2 to11 for the year behind the Super Bowl, and the highest-rated play on all of Nickelodeon since 2001.

Lost In Time was the highest-rated episode of SpongeBob ever with kids since it launched in 1999. The episode scored triple digit increases among all demographics. SpongeBob triumphed with kids 6 to 11, averaging a 18.1/3.6 millionK6-11, up 197 per cent versus year-ago levels. Among kids 2 to 11, the special averaged a 16.1/5.2 million K2-11, up 176 per cent versus last year's like time period.

With Tweens 9 to 14, the sponge squeezed a 223 per cent increase over last year, earning a 12.4/2.5 million T9-14. And 8.6 million total viewers (P2+) tuned-in to watch SpongeBob in his time traveling adventure (up +209% versus last year), marking the most watched President's Day ever on Nick.

SpongeBob embarked on an outrageous journey when he is transported to the Middle Ages in Lost in Time. After a freak jousting accident at a medieval- themed restaurant, SpongeBob and Patrick find themselves in a historic version of Bikini Bottom where they are mistaken for great knights. The duo is then entrusted with the daunting task of saving King Krabs' daughter, Princess Pearl, from the clutches of the evil wizard, Lord Plankton.