Nickelodeon has renewed five first season shows including AS TOLD BY GINGER (20 EPISODES), THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS (14), INVADER ZIM (20) and PELSWICK (13). In addition, Nelvana-produced MAGGIE AND THE FEROCIOUS BEAST has also been renewed for 13 episodes. AS TOLD BY GINGER, produced by Klasky Csupo, follows 12-year-old Ginger Foutley as she crosses the shaky bridge between childhood and adolescence. THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS follows 10-year-old Timmy Turner and his fairly odd fairy godparents.

Jumping up to the 40th spot, THE SIMPSONS scored a 5.4 rating/10 share. This is .5 better than it captured last week. The special Tuesday night airing of THE SIMPSONS grabbed a 4 rating/7 share for 69th place. Dropping from 57th to finish in 73rd, FAMILY GUY fashioned a 3.8 rating/6 share. In 77th place, KING OF THE HILL hitched a 3.6 rating/7 share. FUTURAMA racked in a 2.9 rating/6 share in 88th place. The U.S. universe estimate used for calculating ratings for the broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, UPN, PAX and WB) is equal to 100% of all TV households.

Nickelodeon has licensed the international distribution rights to the Nick series, THE FAIRLY ODD PARENTS to Nelvana. In addition, Nick has renewed Nelvana-produced shows, MAGGIE AND THE FEROCIOUS BEAST and PELSWICK. In addition, Nickelodeon has agreed to co-produce a minimum of one new series with Nelvana. THE FAIRLY ODD PARENTS follows Timmy Turner and his two bungling fairy godparents. Michael Hirsh, co-chief executive officer of Nelvana, said, "Nickelodeon's programming has terrific youth appeal around the world.

TV-Loonland has made several key sales to Kinderkanal, Germany’s free children's television channel. CRAMP TWINS, THREE FRIENDS AND JERRY and YVON OF THE YUKON will premiere on Kinderkanal in November 2001. Directed by Becky Bristow and based on the graphic comic novels by Brian Wood, CRAMP TWINS is a story of two 10-year-old twins Wayne and Lucien Cramp, who are completely unalike. The series is a TV-Loonland, Sunbow Entertainment and Cartoon Network U.K co-production. THREE FRIENDS AND JERRY follows four ten-year-old boys as they struggle to get through adolescence.

DIC Entertainment and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) have announced the debut of their newest children's animated series, LIBERTY'S KIDS. Premiering on Memorial Day 2002 on PBS, the series follows two young teenagers working in Benjamin Franklin's print shop as they tell the stories of the American Revolution. Walter Cronkite, one of the most respected American journalists of all time, will be voicing the Benjamin Franklin character. Dr. Jack Rakove, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, and Dr.

Gary Selvaggio, the creator of the U.K. hit animated series BUTT-UGLY MARTIANS, has entered a deal with the Krislin Company to develop and produce animated series. Previously, Selvaggio has served as creative director at both DIC Entertainment and MWS Films. He also helped develop and produce TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. Selvaggio said, "Having the whole facility placed at my disposal simply to create new toys and TV shows is fantastic. It's something that's never happened before, certainly not at MGM Animation, MWS Films nor DIC.

In 51st place, THE SIMPSONS remained the top toon in primetime. Bart and family's ratings slipped a bit however from last week's 4.9 rating/9 share to this week's 4.4 rating/8 share. Moving up from 63rd place to finish 57th in its second week of its new season, FAMILY GUY garnered an improved 4.1 rating/7 share. The special Wednesday 8 pm airing of KING OF THE HILL placed 73rd, scoring a 3.5 rating/7 share. In its regular Sunday time slot, KING OF THE HILL took home a 2.9 rating/6 share in the 85th slot. At #90, FUTURAMA fashioned a 2.6 rating/6 share. The U.S.

Cartoon Network has contracted J.J. Sedelmaier Productions for three more installments of CAPTAIN LINGER. The series was created by writer Stuart Hill and animation director J.J. Sedelmaier and follows Captain Linger, a superhero who lingers around after saving the day. "Everybody who has seen the Captain loves him," said Sedelmaier. "Ad agency people especially respond immediately because any airtime not filled makes them react. Almost immediately, however, they are charmed by this totally irresponsible use of on-air time. The problem is that, so far, these are short, interstitial pieces.

Phoenix Media Group Ltd. has obtained the universal rights to the LITTLE DINOS cartoon series throughout North America. The show is a 26-episode series that presents both popular science and scientific fantasy. Produced by Guangdong South Natural Science Museum Co. Ltd., LITTLE DINOS follows the birth, development, domination and extinction of dinosaurs. "We see the LITTLE DINOS series as a perfect complement to our own MANFRED MOOSE character," said Ron Irwin, chief executive officer of Phoenix Media Group. "Both are dedicated to imparting knowledge to children in a fun and entertaining way.

Wolfmill Entertainment has acquired the rights to ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS, an Internet adventure comic strip. The show will follow the adventures of the explorer Argosy Smith after The Shift, a cosmic event that transformed the laws governing the universe. "Steve Conley's created a fascinating universe filled with entertaining characters who give ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS a quirky humor that blends perfectly with the adventurous stories he tells," said Marv Wolfman, a partner in Wolfmill Entertainment.