Nickelodeon, my favorite network growing up, just decided to greenlight another season of one of my most treasured cartoons, SpongeBob SquarePants. When the 26-episode ninth season airs in 2012, it will breeze past the coveted 200 episode milestone. Says Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group: “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.” Hillenburg, who still serves as an executive producer, handed off day-to-day responsibility to director/writer Paul Tibbitt after the series found its long-lasting success. “We never imagined we would be on for that long but we’re going to keep going,” Tibbitt said. “The trick is to try to keep the episodes funny and simple and press from there.”
SpongeBob has ranked as the #1 animated TV series with children (ages 2-11) for a whopping ten consecutive years. Season 9, I’m ready!