Me and My Monsters

Me and My Monsters is a children's comedy television program from The Jim Henson Company that blends live action with puppetry. It was filmed as a co-production in Australia and first aired on CBBC on 18 October 2010, later also broadcasting on Network Ten and Nickelodeon. The series follows the Carlson family, who have just moved from Australia to the UK, and find three monsters living in their basement.

The series was announced on 27 August 2009, when The Jim Henson Company partnered with British production company Tiger Aspect Productions to create a new drama for CBBC titled Me & My Monsters. It was originally planned as an American/British co-production featuring an American family moving to a London house. The series was created by former cartoonist Mark Grant, who developed it with Tiger Aspect Productions, while The Jim Henson Company’s Creature Shop in Los Angeles would build the three puppet monsters.

A year later, on 10 February 2010, the series was retooled into an Australian/British co-production. The family was changed from American to Australian and renamed the Carlsons. Australian broadcasters Nickelodeon and Network Ten, along with German broadcaster ZDF, joined CBBC as co-commissioners.

Australian live-action and animation studio Sticky Pictures, along with its founder Donna Andrews (who also founded Buster Dandy Productions with Justine Flynn, which previously co-created and produced Bambaloo and Five Minutes More), joined as co-producers. British production outfit Baker/Coogan Productions also came on board. Writers for the series included Larry Rickard, George Sawyer, Tom Basden, Sam Leifer, and James Bachman, alongside creator Mark Grant, with occasional guest writers. Filming took place in Sydney.

Sticky Pictures’ head of live-action and former Buster Dandy Productions co-founder Justine Flynn became producer, alongside Baker/Coogan Productions co-founder Pete Coogan. Donna Andrews served as executive producer. BBC Worldwide handled international sales, unlike other Jim Henson series such as Fraggle Rock and The Hoobs, for which Henson handled distribution.

The first series consisted of 13 episodes. A second series of 13 episodes aired less than half a year later. The first series aired on CBBC on 18 October 2010, broadcasting every weekday except Monday until episode 10, “Dust Bag Love,” on 29 October.