Emmy & Peabody Award winner Shari Lewis returned to television in 1992 with PBS' Lamb Chop's Play Along. The ventriloquist, who launched her career 40 years earlier on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, entertained children with this weekday series for 5 seasons (1992-7).
In a way, Shari & PBS were meant for each other. Shari's family-friendly act, with puppets Lamb Chop, Hush Puppy, Charlie Horse, et al, had been a staple of variety shows for many years, and so it seemed so right that she would be right at home on the same network that is also home to Sesame Street.
So why just 5 seasons? I'm not sure, but Shari would return with one more series, Charlie Horse's Music Pizza, before her passing. Daughter Mallory has inherited Lamb Chop and the rest of the gang, and, who knows, maybe they'll be back someday.
Leave us not forget that Shari was also the voice of Princess Nida of the Arabian Knights (Banana Splits, 1968-70), among her many acting credits.
Here's a sample episode.
Aw, wasn't she a doll?
No rating. It was on when I was at work during the day, so I never saw the show.
2 comments:
It would be interesting if her daughter does something with the property. Too often these things just fade away without question.
She might be, but I don't know about right now.
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