Sesame Workshop
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Things to know about TJ, Sesame Street’s first Fil-Am muppet

Jaff Conejos

Sesame Workshop delighted fans on Friday by posting a photo of TJ, the first Filipino-American muppet to join the beloved Sesame Street family.

A second-generation Filipino-American boy, TJ is described as a "proud kuya" (older brother) to his baby sister and is learning to speak Tagalog with his grandparents.

"He is so proud when he gets to put it to use when his family comes to visit from California, where his parents are from," the caption read. "He loves it when they all get together so he can help his mom make lumpia with all the veggies he picked," adding that, like many Filipinos, his character loves to play basketball and have dance-offs with his cousins.

TJ brings a fresh perspective to the iconic show, capturing the essence of Filipino culture while offering valuable lessons for young viewers.

Fans in the post’s comment section praised Sesame Street for providing Filipino representation in a children’s show.

“Sesame Street definitely is branching out to different cultures over the years. They’ve showcased Mexican culture for a while, and now I’ve seen them pivot more toward Asian countries,” one comment read.

TJ was first introduced in May 2023, created by Bobby Pontillas and Louis Mitchell. Yinan Shentu voices and puppeteers the character.