British Children's Fantasy Television Series Codexery

Me and My Monsters

A children's comedy about a family and three basement 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.

Quick Facts

Creator
Mark Grant / Claudia Lloyd
Developer
Rebecca De Souza
Director
Mark Barnard
Starring
Macauley Keeper / Ivy Latimer / Lauren Clair / Felix Williamson / Puppeteers: Heath McIvor / Don Austen / David Collins
Country
Australia / United Kingdom / United States
Language
English
Num Seasons
2
Num Episodes
26
Executive Producer
Greg Brenman / Donna Andrews / Lisa Henson / Halle Stanford / Cherrie Bottger / Nicole Keeb / Heike Lagé / Sue Nott
Producer
Pete Coogan / Justine Flynn
Runtime
25 minutes
Company
Tiger Aspect Productions / The Jim Henson Company / Sticky Pictures / Baker/Coogan Productions

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

The series was announced on 27 August 2009, when The Jim Henson Company partnered with British production company Tiger Aspect Productions to produce a new drama series for the CBBC channel entitled Me & My Monsters. The series was originally intended to be an American/British co-production featuring an American family moving to a house in London, created by former cartoonist Mark Grant. The Jim Henson Company would create the three puppet monster creatures via its Jim Henson's Creature Shop division in Los Angeles. One year later on 10 February 2010, the series was retooled into an Australian/British co-production, with the family changed to an Australian one named the Carlsons, after Australian broadcasters Nickelodeon & Network Ten and German broadcaster ZDF joined as co-commissioners. Australian live-action & animation production studio Sticky Pictures alongside producer & founder Donna Andrews and British production outfit Baker/Coogan Productions joined as co-producers. The series was filmed in Sydney.

Reader's Guide

Me and My Monsters is significant as a co-production involving The Jim Henson Company, known for its puppetry, and as a children's program that aired on CBBC, Network Ten, and Nickelodeon. The series featured three monster puppets—Haggis, Norman, and Fiend—created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. It ran for two series of 13 episodes each, with the first series airing from October to November 2010 and the second from April 2011. The show was also adapted into four books based on series 1 episodes, written by Rory Growler. Its legacy includes international broadcasts and limited home media releases in Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, and Australia. The series last re-aired on CBBC on May 7, 2015.

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