Non-profit organization Sesame Workshop, the producer behind educational children’s television hit series Sesame Street, reintroduced the show’s first Fil-Am character, TJ, on Friday, January 17.
On Facebook, Sesame Workshop said TJ is a “second-generation Filipino-American boy” who has a baby sister and is learning to speak Tagalog with the help of his grandparents.
TJ’s parents are from California, and, as the organization puts it, “he loves it when they all get together so he can help his mom make lumpia with all the veggies he picked, and so he can play basketball and have a dance off with his cousins.”
Netizens, mostly fans of the show, expressed their delight with this rare occurrence of Filipino representation on American TV series.
“Sesame Street has always shown interest in inclusivity and representation. Also kindness and understanding of all people from all walks of life. Over the years it’s dealt with some heavy subjects in a way [that] helps kids understand them,” a netizen said on Sesame Workshop’s post, thanking the organization for all that they have done.
Another netizen said he is “glad to see Pinoy culture get a moment to shine here on American television” even though he’s American.
“Nice work from the sesame street crew as always,” the netizen added.
Created by Fil-Am animator Bobby Pontilas in collaboration with puppeteer Louis Mitchell and played by voice actor and puppeteer Yinan Shentu, TJ the muppet was first introduced in the show in May 2023.
