THE POPULAR PUPPETS OF AUSTRALIAN TV

To celebrate the release of Sammy J and Randy in Ricketts Lane on ABC iview, we’re looking back at some other well-known Australian puppets who have made it big on the small screen.

Randy from Sammy J and Randy in Ricketts Lane

Half of popular Australian comedic duo, Sammy J and Randy, Randy makes his TV sitcom debut on 1 September, when Sammy J and Randy in Ricketts Lane is released on ABC iview. The series will air on ABC TV too.

Mr Squiggle from Mr Squiggle

Australia’s longest-running kids TV series, Mr Squiggle was created by Norman Hetherington and first went to air 1 July 1959 on ABC TV. The last episode aired more than 40 years later, on 9 July 1999.

B1 and B2 from Bananas in Pyjamas

Bananas in Pyjamas first aired on 20 July 1992 on ABC TV. It was inspired by a popular Play School song of the same name. Today, Bananas in Pyjamas is an animated kids TV series.

Johnson, McDuff, Diesel, Alfred, Squeaky and Victoria from Johnson and Friends

Johnson and Friends aired from 3 September 1990 to 30 October 1995. It followed Michael’s toys, who unbeknownst to Michael, got up to hijinks while he was asleep or out of his room.

Agro from Agro’s Cartoon Connection

Agro was the host of popular kids cartoon show, Agro’s Cartoon Connection, which aired for almost ten years – from 1989 to 1997 – on Channel 7.

Rattus, Modigliana, Mixy and Derryn from The Ferals

The Ferals ran for two seasons on ABC TV from 1994 to 1995. After the show, Mixy the rabbit went on to host ABC kids shows, Rattus the rat and Modigliana the cat were featured in Numbers Count, and Modigliana also co-hosted Creature Features.

Humphrey from Humphrey B. Bear

Humphrey B. Bear was first broadcast on 24 May 1965 on Channel 9. In 1994, Humphrey was named Citizen of the Year. The show finished up on Channel 9 in 2009. An animated reboot is in the works.