Nickelodeon Renews “SpongeBob SquarePants” Through Ninth Season

Get ready for more of your favorite singing sponge from beneath the sea. Nickelodeon has ordered a ninth season of its longrunning animated series SpongeBob SquarePants — television’s No. 1 animated series with kids ages 2-11.

The 26 fresh episodes –including the 200th — will premiere in 2012, says Nick’s President of Animation at Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group Brown Johnson.

“SpongeBob’s success in reaching over 200 episodes is a testament to creator Stephen Hillenburg’s vision, comedic sensibility and his dynamic, lovable characters. The series now joins the club of contemporary classic Nicktoons that have hit this benchmark, so we’re incredibly proud.”