The late plus toSesame Street ’s dramatis personae of case is a son named TJ — the show ’s very first Filipino American Muppet .
AsNPR reports , TJ made his TV launching in a ‘ discussion of the Day ’ segment about trust alongside Grover , actor Kal Penn , andJi - Young — a Korean American miss who made history asSesame Street ’s first Asian AmericanMuppetin 2021 .
Grover ’s sureness in himself to perform anEvel Knievel – inspired feat ( namely , sailing over the Sesame Street sign on a trike ) prompts the others to discuss what they feel surefooted about . Ji - Young feels confident while dominate new songs on her guitar ; Penn ’s confidence come out while playing or public oral presentation . TJ , who ’s learningTagalog — one of the Philippines ’ most spoken spoken communication — is positive that he can always require hislola(Tagalog for “ grannie ” ) for assistance when he occur across an unfamiliar Christian Bible .
Sesame Workshop also apportion some other item about TJ with Mental Floss . He ’s a four - yr - old , second - genesis Philippine American whose parent come to Sesame Street by means of California , where many member of their phratry still live . TJ ’s grandparent , on the other hand , live in the same building as he does , and you could often happen him impart a hand in their vegetable garden . If his relation are in town , TJ and his mom will use some of those veg to make up flock oflumpia , or fried spring rolls , which will for certain aid fuel TJ and his cousin through their favorite activities : basketball game and dance - offs . He ’s also a “ proudkuya[“older crony ” in Tagalog ] to his baby sister , ” whom he loves to amuse “ with a funny voice , song , or dance . ”
TJ was designed by Filipino American animator Bobby Pontillas , whoshared on Instagramthat he mould the character after his “ womb-to-tomb supporter ’ kids , Max and Mateo . ”PuppeteerLouis Mitchell help realize the pattern ; and Yinan Shentuoperatesand voices the creature . Rosemary Espina Palacios , Sesame Workshop ’s music director of gift outreach , inclusion , and subject matter development , wrote on Instagramthat she ’s “ so proud to assist bring some Filipino delegacy to the neighborhood , and just in sentence for[AAPI ] Heritage Monthto show the ambit in our diaspora . ”
