Helpsters

{{Short description|American educational children's television series}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

| runtime = 22-28 minutes

| last_aired = {{End date|2023|01|06}}

| first_aired = {{Start date|2019|11|01}}

| network = Apple TV+

| company = {{ubl|Sesame Workshop|{{nowrap|Big Indie Pictures}}|Monkey Boys Productions}}

| location = New York City, New York

| image = Helpsters logo.png

| creator = Tim McKeon

| executive_producer = {{ubl|Tim McKeon|Kay Wilson Stallings|Benjamin Lehmann|Adam Peltzman}}

| list_episodes =

| num_episodes = 40

| num_seasons = 3

| language = English

| opentheme = "How Can We Help You?"

| endtheme = "How Can We Help You?"

| composer = Paul Buckley

| country = United States

| writer = Tim McKeon

| starring = {{ubl|Stephanie D'Abruzzo|Ingrid Hansen|Jennifer Barnhart|Tim Lagasse|Martin P. Robinson}}

| genre = {{ubl|Children's television|Education|Musical|Comedy}}

| image_alt = Logo for the Helpsters television series.

}}

Helpsters is an American educational children's television series created by Tim McKeon and produced by Sesame Workshop and Big Indie Pictures as an original series for Apple TV+, and premiered on November 1, 2019, coinciding with the launch of the service. A spin-off short series, titled Helpsters Help You!, was released on April 24, 2020, in order to provide children with supportive content during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=Breaking News - Cody and The Helpsters Team Up for Apple's "Helpsters Help You," Inspired by the Parents' Choice Award-Winning "Helpsters," Now Streaming for Free {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/04/24/cody-and-the-helpsters-team-up-for-apples-helpsters-help-you-inspired-by-the-parents-choice-award-winning-helpsters-now-streaming-for-free-414213/20200424apple01/|access-date=2021-02-13|website=www.thefutoncritic.com}}

The show was announced at Apple's "It's Showtime" presentation on March 25, 2019, by Sesame Street's Big Bird and series protagonist Cody.{{Cite news|last=Kooser|first=Amanda|title=Apple dives into children's shows with Sesame Workshop|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-tv-plus-bird-bird-team-up-for-sesame-workshop-show-helpsters/|access-date=2021-02-13|website=CNET|language=en|archive-date=2020-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111234915/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-tv-plus-bird-bird-team-up-for-sesame-workshop-show-helpsters/|url-status=live}}

In March 2021, Apple renewed Helpsters for a third season which premiered on May 27, 2022.{{Cite web|date=March 4, 2021|title=Breaking News - Apple TV+ Unveils Robust Lineup of Hit Children's Series, Including the Peanuts Gang, Emmy-winning "Ghostwriter," Parents' Choice-winning "Helpsters," "Doug Unplugs" and More {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/03/04/apple-tvplus-unveils-robust-lineup-of-hit-childrens-series-including-the-peanuts-gang-emmy-winning-ghostwriter-parents-choice-winning-helpsters-doug-unplugs-and-more-165313/20210304apple01/|access-date=March 4, 2021|website=The Futon Critic|archive-date=December 22, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231222042235/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/03/04/apple-tvplus-unveils-robust-lineup-of-hit-childrens-series-including-the-peanuts-gang-emmy-winning-ghostwriter-parents-choice-winning-helpsters-doug-unplugs-and-more-165313/20210304apple01/|url-status=live}}

Premise

A group of monsters known as the Helpsters work together to help solve the problems of customers who enter their shop through teamwork and problem solving. The series aims to teach children important skills for planning and following directions for the challenges they face, as well as introducing them to basic concepts in coding.{{Cite web|title=Helpsters|url=https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/helpsters/|access-date=2021-02-13|website=Apple TV+ Press|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629002020/https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/helpsters/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Helpsters {{!}} Sesame Workshop|url=https://www.sesameworkshop.org/what-we-do/shows/helpsters|access-date=2021-03-10|website=www.sesameworkshop.org|archive-date=2021-02-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211072036/https://www.sesameworkshop.org/what-we-do/shows/helpsters|url-status=live}}

Cast and characters

= Main =

  • Stephanie D'Abruzzo as Cody – Cody is the enthusiastic leader of the Helpsters whose positive attitude never fails to rally everyone to action.
  • Martin P. Robinson as Mr. Primm – Mr. Primm is the most sophisticated member of the Helpsters with a secret wild streak. Always willing to help, Mr. Primm gets hung up on doing things the correct way.
  • Tim Lagasse as Scatter – Scatter is the youngest and most innocent member of the Helpsters. He can be scatterbrained at times, but also comes up with ideas by thinking outside the box.
  • Ingrid Hansen as Heart – Heart is the Helpster with the biggest heart. Be careful which instructions you give Heart, because Heart will do exactly what you say.
  • Jennifer Barnhart as Jackie – Jackie is the Helpsters’ closest friend who appears whenever they need an extra hand. She speaks in monster mumbles that only the Helpsters can understand.

The series features puppet characters designed and built by Monkey Boys Productions.{{Cite web|title=Monkey Boys Productions's Instagram profile post: "Congratulations to everyone on the Helpsters team on 5 Daytime Emmy nominations!!! We are honored to be a part of the this amazing puppet…"|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CAfxk2ojjKB/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CAfxk2ojjKB |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=limited|access-date=2021-02-13|website=Instagram|language=en}}{{cbignore}}

Episodes

{{Series overview

| episodes1 = 13

| color1 = #998CD4

| start1 = {{Start date|2019|11|01}}

| end1 = {{End date|2020|04|03}}

| color2 = #3CC1A2

| episodes2 = 13

| start2 = {{Start date|2020|10|16}}

| end2 = {{End date|2021|03|05}}

| color3 = #3CC1A2

| episodes3 = 14

| start3 = {{Start date|2022|05|27}}

| end3 = {{End date|2023|01|06}}

}}

= Season 1 (2019-20) =

{{Episode table|total_width=82%|background=#998CD4|overall=#FFFFFF|season=|title=#FFFFFF|director=#FFFFFF|writer=#FFFFFF|airdate=#FFFFFF|airdateR={{Cite web|website=Apple TV+ Press|publisher=Apple Inc.|title=Helpsters - Episodes|url=https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/helpsters/episodes/|access-date=February 13, 2021|language=en-US}}|released=y|country=US|episodes={{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Amazing Alie / Robbie & Rhonda Runner

| DirectedBy = Ben Lehmann

| WrittenBy = Tim McKeon

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|1}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Dancer Dave / Astronaut Amrita

| DirectedBy = Benjamin Lehmann

| WrittenBy = Nick Confalone

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|1}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = Singing Starlett / Heart's Family Photo

| DirectedBy = Matt Vogel

| WrittenBy = Alex Fox & Rachel Lewis

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|1}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = Rita Reader / Cody Gets a Cold

| DirectedBy = Shannon Flynn

| WrittenBy = Liz Hara

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|1}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Musical Mabels / Barbara Birdwatcher

| DirectedBy = Shannon Flynn

| WrittenBy = Annabeth Bondor-Stone & Connor White

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|1}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = Wayne of Wonder / Paleontologist Paloma

| DirectedBy = Ryan McFaul

| WrittenBy = Alex Fox & Rachel Lewis

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|1}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 7

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = Scatter / Sid Square

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Eva Konstantopoulos

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|3}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 8

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = Frank the Flyer / Neighbor Nora

| DirectedBy = Melanie Orr

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|3}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 9

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = Isaac Ice / Air Conditioning Repairman Aaron

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Alex Fox & Rachel Lewis

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|3}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 10

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Chef Charlie / Fashion Fil

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Nick Confalone & Tim McKeon

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|3}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 11

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = Basketball Brianna / Heart’s Fish

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Alex Fox & Rachel Lewis

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|3}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 12

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = Nurse Nina & Farmer Flynn / Firefighter Fran & Painter Pat

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|3}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 13

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = Primmflandia Day / Marching Band Marsha

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Annabeth Bondor-Stone & Connor White

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|3}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #998CD4

}}}}

= Season 2 (2020-21) =

{{Episode table|total_width=82%|background=#3CC1A2|overall=#FFFFFF|season=|title=#FFFFFF|director=#FFFFFF|writer=#FFFFFF|airdate=#FFFFFF|airdateR=|released=y|country=US|episodes={{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 14

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Amazing Atticus / Sea Lovin’ Sam

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|16}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 15

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Ballerina Betsy / Pizza Pasquale

| DirectedBy = Shannon Flynn & Sean Mulcahy

| WrittenBy = Alex Fox & Rachel Lewis

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|16}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 16

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = Mini-Golf Mike / Helpsters Need Help

| DirectedBy = Tim McKeon

| WrittenBy = Alex Fox & Rachel Lewis

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|16}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 17

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = Helpsters Halloween / Storyteller Sophia

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|16}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 18

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Billy Bug / Cody Rides a Bike

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|16}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 19

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = Mr. Primm’s Spoon Club / Cookie Cornelius

| DirectedBy = Tim McKeon & Shannon Flynn

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|16}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 20

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = Camper Cortez / Artist Andrew & Detective Dudley

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Alex Fox & Rachel Lewis

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|16}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 21

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = Helpsters Help Heart / Callie the Clown

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|3|5}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 22

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = Park Ranger Percy / Lizard Lizzy

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|3|5}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 23

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Bells and Whistles Will / Beatrice Builder

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|3|5}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 24

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = Piano Paul / Grandma Gracie

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|3|5}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 25

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = Freeze Pop Felix / Bowling Babette

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|3|5}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 26

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = T-Ball Toni / Trophy Todd

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|3|5}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}}}

= Season 3 (2022) =

{{Episode table|total_width=82%|background=#3CC1A2|overall=#FFFFFF|season=|title=#FFFFFF|director=#FFFFFF|writer=#FFFFFF|airdate=#FFFFFF|airdateR=|released=y|country=US|episodes={{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 27

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Delivery Delia / Knight Niko

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Adam Peltzman

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|05|27}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 28

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Mail Carrier Marty / His Royal Primmness

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|05|27}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 29

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = Smoothie Samantha / Taxi Tina

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|05|27}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 30

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = Cheerleader Chadwick & Chelsea / Heart's Family Dinner

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Adam Peltzman & Tim McKeon

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|05|27}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 31

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Pancake Flipping Pietro / Scatter's Band

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|05|27}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 32

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = Race Car Roxy / Helpsters Go to the Beach

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|05|27}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 33

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = Sporty Spencer / Giveaway Day

| DirectedBy = Joe Menendez

| WrittenBy = Tim McKeon

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|05|27}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 34

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = Birthday Performer Bart / Supermarket Sue

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|06}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 35

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = Weather-Loving Winston / Veterinarians Vera and Vinnie

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|06}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 36

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Traveling Tracy / Inventor Ines

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|06}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 37

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = Scuba Skylar / Librarians Leroy, Lana, & Luke

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|06}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 38

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = Mechanic Mel / Robby & Rhonda Run Again

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|06}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 39

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = Wizard Wallace / Heart Goes to the Dentist

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|06}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 40

| EpisodeNumber2 = 14

| Title = Nurse Nina / Helpsters' Hundredth Help

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|01|06}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #3CC1A2

}}}}

= Helpsters Help You (2020) =

{{Episode table|total_width=82%|background=#44DBE2|overall=#FFFFFF|title=#FFFFFF|director=#FFFFFF|writer=#FFFFFF|airdate=#FFFFFF|airdateR=|released=y|country=US|episodes={{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| Title = When Plans Change

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|24}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #44DBE2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| Title = Honorary Helpster

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|1}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #44DBE2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| Title = Scavenger Hunt

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|8}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #44DBE2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| Title = Bright Smiles & Hand Waves

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|15}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #44DBE2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| Title = How to Be Together

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|22}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #44DBE2

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| Title = Thank You

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|29}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = #44DBE2

}}}}

Reception

= Accolades =

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year

!Award

!Category

!Recipient(s)

!Result

!{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}

rowspan="14" |2020

| rowspan="9" |Daytime Emmy Awards

|Outstanding Special Effects Costume. Make Up and Hairstyling

|Andrea Detwiler, Jean Marie Keevins, Jimmy Helvin, Marc, Petrosino, Michael Latini

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="9" align="center" |{{Cite web|last=Montgomery|first=Daniel|date=July 27, 2020|title=2020 Daytime Emmy winners: Full list of nominees and winners in all categories|url=https://www.goldderby.com/feature/2020-daytime-emmy-winners-list-1203553153/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231222042357/https://www.goldderby.com/feature/2020-daytime-emmy-winners-list-1203553153/|archive-date=December 22, 2023|access-date=February 11, 2021|website=Gold Derby|language=en-US|url-status=live}}

Outstanding Costume Design/Styling

|Zeynep Netherton, Mikaela Wohl

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Single Camera Editing

|Robert Arrucci

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Directing for a Children's or Young Adult Program

|Tim McKeon, Connor White, Amy Keating Rogers, Laurie Israel, Annabeth Bondor-Stone, Liz Hara, Anna Christopher, Rachel Lewis, Alex Fox, Nick Confalone

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Preschool Children's Series

|Tim McKeon, Kay Wilson Stallings, Benjamin Lehmann, Melanie Grisanti, Michael J. Cargill, Alex Fox, Rachel Lewis, Jackie Stolfi, Eileen Bernstien

| {{nom}}

References