First Filipino ‘Sesame Street’ Muppet teaches kids about being confident

He debuts for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

The beloved PBS children’s program “Sesame Street” introduced its first Filipino American Muppet during a recent Sunday episode.

In a segment about what it means to be confident, Kal Penn, Asian Excellence Award winner and former Obama administration staffer, told the new Muppet, TJ, that he had confidence when acting or speaking in front of people and then asked TJ how he showed his confidence.

“Oh, well, I’m learning Tagalog,” he replied. “It’s a language my Filipino family speaks, and I have confidence because I can always ask my lola (grandma) for help when I don’t know a word.”

Ji-young, a Korean American Muppet who made her debut on “Sesame Street” in 2021, appeared alongside TJ and Penn and said that confidence could be found in support from friends and family. She also showed off her shredding skills when she played a lick on the guitar and said she felt confident when she learned new songs.

TJ was the brainchild of Filipino American animation director Bobby Pontillas, who shared a sketch of TJ on Instagram, saying, “I had the amazing opportunity to work with the geniuses at the Sesame Workshop to create a Filipino Muppet for @sesamestreet! Meet TJ!”

“For his look, I based him off of my lifelong friends’ kids, Max and Matteo, thank you for the inspiration, lads,” he continued. “I was blessed to collaborate with master puppeteer Louis Mitchell, the loveliest human on earth.”

TJ is played by voice actor and puppeteer Yinan Shentu, who also shared several ecstatic selfies with “Sesame Street’s” newest Muppet.

COURTESY OF SESAME WORKSHOP TJ is the first Filipino Muppet to be featured on “Sesame Street.”