Howard Stern: The High School Years: According to Variety, Spike TV is ramping up its toon biz, greenlighting production on the animated series "Howard Stern: The High School Years."

The cabler has ordered 13 episodes of the series, which it hopes to have ready in time for a premiere next summer, network chief Albie Hecht confirmed. Topper said he had seen several scripts and drawings and that the skein was in the early stages of production.

Stern will exec produce the series alongside Spike programming exec VP Kevin Kay. Not decided is whether the shock jock will provide narration or voice his character. As the title suggests, skein would take a look at an adolescent Stern as he wades through high school.