Renewals: Nickelodeon has picked up a ninth season of “SpongeBob SquarePants” (26 episodes) that will premiere in 2012, when the series reaches the 200-episode mark. It’s been the top-rated kids show for 10 consecutive years now.

And “Judge Karen’s Court” (Karen Mills-Francis), which returned to the New York airwaves this season after a one-season absence — nearly unheard-of in the world of TV — will return for a second season on Ch. 11 this fall, capping a storybook comeback. In its second incarnation (it originally aired as “Judge Karen” in 2008-09), the show finished November sweeps as New York’s number-one syndicated show (first-run) in households (with a 1.1 rating), and in women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

“Judge Karen’s Court” airs 2 p.m. on Ch. 11.

* * *

Memo to Syfy:

Next year, if you decide to rerun your “Twilight Zone” marathon, please refrain from putting those annoying little pop-up programming squibs on the bottom left-hand-corner of the screen — and stop squeezing the closing credits so they’re unreadable. Believe it or not, some people (like me) actually read the closing credits to see the cast members who appeared in each episode.

Speaking of “The Twilight Zone,” PBS’ “Pioneers of Television” returns Jan. 18 on Ch. 13 (at 8 p.m.) with an episode on “Science Fiction” — focusing on luminaries including “Twilight Zone” creator Rod Serling and Gene Roddenberry (“Star Trek”).

Last, but not least:

* Red carpet bleacher seats for the SAG Awards are being auctioned off through Jan. 10 (sagawards.org/auction) to benefit the SAG Foundation. The awards air live on both TBS and TNT on Sunday, Jan. 30 (8 p.m.). Ernest Borgnine, who turns 94 on Jan. 24, is being honored this year with a Lifetime Achievement Award (Betty White was feted last year) . . . Out today on DVD: BBC America’s black comedy, “Dirty Tricks” (starring Martin Clunes).