Plot Synopsis

Ten aspiring creature creators compete in a series of elimination challenges, as they build everything from mechanical characters to whimsical beasts while vying for a prize worth $100,000, including the opportunity for a contract to work at Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Hosted by Gigi Edgley, JIM HENSON'S CREATURE SHOP CHALLENGE includes challenges that explore all aspects of the creature design field, from sculpting and animatronics to full-body creature creation, with some episodes inspired by Henson film and television classics, like THE DARK CRYSTAL and FARSCAPE. During each challenge, the designers are mentored by world-renowned designer Peter Brooke, mechanization and animatronics master John Criswell and fabrication and artistic specialist Julie Zobel. After the contestants have created their designs, three judges -- lead judge Brian Henson, Chairman of the Jim Henson Company and the Creature Shop; creature fabricator Beth Hathaway; and creature designer Kirk R. Thatcher -- evaluate the creatures for overall creativity and originality, technical execution and, most importantly, how convincingly the creature designers bring their creations to life. Plus, the creatures are featured in a screen test in which professional puppeteers showcase the creatures' abilities to perform. At the end of each 60-minute episode, one contestant is eliminated.