24 Years Ago, A Bizarre Puppet Sitcom Premiered Thanks to a Buffy Favorite and a Future Oscar Winner

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A strange and funny puppet show first aired 24 years ago and quickly gained a dedicated following, though it’s largely forgotten today. It’s surprising, considering it featured a popular actor from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was co-created by someone who later won an Oscar, and included appearances by two major comedy stars of the 90s and 2000s. But the real stars were the puppets themselves – each one had a unique personality and often outshone the human actors. Many see it as a clear inspiration for the animated series Robot Chicken, particularly because of its parodies of famous movies.

Premiering on Fox on March 27, 2002, Greg the Bunny lasted one official season but also included two seasons of short episodes. It’s remembered as a highly inventive puppet show – one of the most creative since The Muppet Show – and definitely one of the most daring.

Seth Green and Sean Baker Helped Create Greg the Bunny

Greg the Bunny first appeared 24 years ago as a comedy show that uniquely combined human actors with puppets. Created by Sean Baker, Spencer Chinoy, and Dan Milano, it began as a local public access program in New York City, airing every other week. The IFC channel then picked it up for regular broadcasts, and eventually, Fox ordered a full season. Unfortunately, the show didn’t attract enough viewers and was canceled after just one season.

I absolutely love this show! It’s a hilarious comedy set in a world where puppets and humans live side-by-side, but the puppets are treated like a minority group – they’re called ‘fabricated Americans.’ What’s really amazing is the cast of human actors – you’ve got Seth Green from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eugene Levy of American Pie, and the incredibly funny Sarah Silverman. They all work at a TV network, producing a show starring the puppets. But the story doesn’t focus on the show itself, it’s all about what goes on behind the scenes – it reminds me a lot of 30 Rock in that way.

The show really revolves around its puppets. Greg the Bunny, voiced by Dan Milano, is the central character and provides much of the comedy – he’s a famous TV star, but a terrible actor. Another key character is Warren, a seasoned ape actor struggling with addiction, who always wears a helmet. But arguably the funniest character is Tardy Turtle, who sounds like Ralph Wiggum from The Simpsons and delivers some of the show’s best lines – often unintentionally suggestive ones.

I remember when Space Ghost Coast to Coast originally aired – the first season had thirteen episodes, but Fox sadly canceled it before it could really find its footing. They just sort of dumped the last two episodes on us, which felt a bit abrupt. But honestly, that didn’t kill the show at all! It developed this amazing cult following, and when the DVDs came out in 2004, even more people discovered it. That led to a revival on IFC in 2005, and that’s where things really got fun. They started doing these hilarious spoofs of classic and popular movies, all done with the puppets! Another DVD release followed, and it just cemented the show’s status as a true cult classic. It’s a show I still revisit!

Greg the Bunny Helped Start a Legacy for a Future Oscar Winner

Though Seth Green, Eugene Levy, and Sarah Silverman were the most well-known faces on the show—with guests like Sasha Alexander appearing a year before her role on NCIS—many important creative forces worked behind the scenes. Notably, Seth Green quickly moved on after Greg the Bunny to co-create Robot Chicken in 2005 with Matthew Senreich. They also brought in Dan Milano, a fellow Greg the Bunny creator, to continue voicing characters on the new show.

Many fans may be surprised to learn that one of the creators of Greg the Bunny later won an Oscar, but in a completely different field. Sean Baker, who helped create the show when it began on public access TV, has directed seven films. What’s particularly striking is the type of movies he’s made and the awards they’ve received. His breakthrough Oscar-nominated film, The Florida Project, came out in 2017 and earned Willem Dafoe a Best Supporting Actor nomination.

Sean Baker achieved major recognition with his 2024 film, Anora, which tells the story of a woman who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, only to face pressure from his family to end the marriage. The film was a critical and commercial triumph, earning the prestigious Palme d’Or and the Academy Award for Best Picture – a feat accomplished by only a handful of films. Anora also brought Oscar wins for Mikey Madison as Best Actress, and for Baker himself, who was recognized for both Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Though Anora marked a peak in his career, Baker first gained attention 24 years prior with Greg the Bunny.

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2026-03-28 00:43