Shari & Lamb Chop – Watch the trailer for the new documentary

Before Fred Rogers & Jim Henson, there was Shari Lewis, a kids TV pioneer whose whimsical characters and ebullient spirit have guided generations of children. Raised in the Bronx by a proud feminist mother & a professor father who moonlighted as Peter Pan the Magic Man, Shari became a multi-talented dancer, singer, and magician. But when an injury sidelined her dance aspirations, she channeled her creativity into a passion for ventriloquism, creating the now beloved sock puppet characters Charlie Horse, Hush Puppy and, of course, Lamb Chop. From her early years of TV success to the blow of the cancellation to her 90s comeback, Lisa D’Apolito’s heartfelt documentary charts the life, loves, and career hits and misses of a spunky perfectionist whose talent and perseverance stand as a testament to women’s power and forever changed the landscape of children’s entertainment. Featuring interviews with ventriloquists inspired by Lewis alongside nostalgia-rich clips and home movies, this vibrant portrait brims with the same warmth, wit, and magic that defined her – celebrating the power of imagination and the inner child within us all.

Directed by Lisa D’Apolito, the documentary hits US cinemas on 18th July 2025.