Review: 'Helpsters' is a fantastic problem-solving program from the Sesame Workshop

Helpsters
4 out of 5 Stars
Creator: Timothy McKeon
Starring: Jennifer Barnhart, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Ingrid Hansen
Genre: Family
Available On: Apple TV+

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) —Synopsis: Cody and her friends are Helpsters, monsters that help people solve problems big and small.

Review: Between “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and “Sesame Street” I was in good hands when my parents weren’t available to teach me about the world. Both series had their own personality and quirks. I loved running away with Mister Rogers to Never Never Land, but I really wanted to live on Sesame Street. I felt like I had a home there. I spent a lot of time hanging out with Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, Grover, Count von Count and Mr. Snuffleupagus. These weren’t puppets, they were friends with distinct personalities. I knew exactly who I’d turn to if I needed help.

“Helpsters,” a 25-minute education program entering its second season on Apple TV+, comes from the Sesame Workshop. It’s certainly not a “Sesame Street” knock off, but the charm and warmth is the same. Within the world of the show, Helpsters is a place where people can go when they have problems that they need help solving. It’s employees, a happy band of monsters who come in various shapes, sizes and colors. Cody, an energetic young monster, leads the charge.

The show is somewhat formulaic in that it features a person looking for help, the Helpsters making a plan (with various degrees of success) and a song celebration when they’ve solved the conundrum. And yet, the problems tend to be radically different. Every plan is different. Some require one or two steps, others are far more elaborate. Many of the shows feature a famous actor or musician, a layer that might have adults watching over their child's shoulder to enjoy the delightful lunacy.

I would have loved to have added the Helpsters to my imaginary menagerie of friends.