Way back in 2007, right here on this website, I posted a “reader participation”-style article called “NicheMuppet.” It was inspired by reports that the then-new Sesame Street Muppet Abby Cadabby (wow, remember when Abby was new?!) was designed to appeal to all viewers, but especially the young girls in the audience.
That got me thinking: What if Sesame Street started creating Muppets aimed at extremely specific segments of their viewership? The example I gave in the original call for entries was “What if the show wanted to reach the stamp collectors in the audience? They could introduce a Muppet named Posty, who’s covered in stamps, or who goes around sticking stamps on everyone.”
Here’s a new one: What if Sesame Street wanted to reach folks in the audience who really like doing “the wave” at sporting events? They could introduce Watson the Waving Walrus, an enthusiastic pinniped who’s always trying to get “the wave” going, all day, every day.
You get the idea. Last time around I got some highly creative responses, like Minesweeper Grouch, I-Can-Sing-All-of-Rent Monster, and Zefrem the Polygamist Rabbit. (Check out part one and part two!)
Now I figure it’s about time to do this again! So here’s what I want you to do: Write up a description of YOUR idea for a new character — their name, the audience they’re designed for, and what they’re like — and put it in the Google Form below. You are highly encouraged to include an illustration of your new Muppet — use crayons, markers, colored pencils, Microsoft Paint, whatever (but NOT generative AI)! I’ll post the standout NicheMuppets right here on this website in the near future!
You can also access the Google Form by clicking here!
(NOTE: Please don’t submit a real Sesame Street character who actually exists on the show or who has actually existed on the show in the past. I want to see what YOU can come up with!)
Click here to reminisce about your favorite Cigarilla street stories from Sesame Street on the Tough Pigs Discord!
by Ryan Roe – [email protected]
