Lamb Chop (puppet)
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Lamb Chop is a fictional character, more precisely a fictional sheep, who is a sock puppet created by comedienne and ventriloquist Shari Lewis. In 1957, Lamb Chop, a ewe, first appeared with Lewis on Hi Mom, a local morning show that aired on WNBC in New York.
Lamb Chop has been described as a "6-year-old girl, very intuitive and very feisty, a combination of obstinacy and vulnerability...you know how they say fools rush in where wise men fear to go? Well, Lamb Chop would rush in, then scream for help." [1]
During the 1960s, Shari Lewis had her own musical-comedy network television show. After children's programming turned to animation, she continued to perform in a wide range of venues. In 1992, Lamb Chop and Shari began their own PBS children's show, Lamb Chop's Play-Along, an Emmy Award winner for five consecutive years. [2]
Shari Lewis died in 1998 from pneumonia while being treated for uterine cancer. Two years later, her daughter, producer and writer Mallory Lewis (formerly Tarcher) decided that Lamb Chop should live on for her many fans. Shari's daughter had worked closely with her mother when producing the PBS program.
Ms. Lewis has this to say about her mother and Lamb Chop:
- "My mom was one of the world's greatest entertainers. I don't want to challenge that. I don't think it's wise to go there. But I do want to do everything that I can do for Lamb Chop. I'll help keep her going." [3]
[edit] Lamb Chop Status
Lamb Chop was originally played on PBS and lasted approximately 30 minutes. It premiered January 1, 1992 and was last aired on January 1, 1997. The category of this show is Children, Variety Shows, It had been 29 years since Shari Lewis had been canceled by NBC, and she was ready to win back American audiences. With the creation of Lamb Chop's Play-Along! , a new generation of preschoolers got to hear the wonderful Shari Lewis perform the alter egos of Lamb Chop, Hush Puppy, and Charlie Horse. Each show was full of entertaining sing-a longs and jokes, including the 'song that never ends'.
Lamb Chop's Play-Along! ran three series on PBS before being lifted for Shari's last show, The Charlie Horse Music Pizza .
