TVSquad

It's almost hard to believe that SpongeBob SquarePants has been around for eight years, but it has. If any of you were afraid the eternally-optimistic invertebrate might be going away, don't fret: Nick has ordered up thirteen new episodes of the series for the 2008 season.

I was a big fan of SpongeBob from the very beginning (I actually have a SpongeBob mug with water in it sitting next to me at this very moment), but I'll admit I don't tune in as much as I used to. I'll still Tivo the show on occasion, though, and it still makes me laugh.

Also on tap for 2008: new episodes of The Fairly Oddparents, and a series from Amy Winfrey called Making Fiends, about the struggle between two girls named Vendetta and Charlotte. Winfrey is the creator of one of my favorite Web cartoons ever, Big Bunny. Making Fiends appeared in 2005 as a series of shorts on Nickelodeon.

Nick Jr will also have new episodes of Dora the Explorer, and Noggin has two new series: The Umizumiz, about a "miniature urban repair squad" that helps teach kids math, and Bubble Guppies, which takes place in an underwater classroom.

Also: new season orders for Zoey 101, The Naked Brothers Band and Just Jordon.

[via Toon Zone]