Shari Lewis’ daughter brings *the* Lamb Chop to TikTok to heal your inner child

Few American icons are as beloved by multiple generations as puppeteer and ventriloquist Shari Lewis, who touched the hearts of children the world over with Lamb Chop, the sweet sock puppet who made her TV debut all the way back in 1956. After Lewis’ death in 1998, her daughter, Mallory Lewis, has held to her promise to her mom that she’d  “keep Lamb Chop alive,” honoring the pair in a feature-length documentary that was released late last year.

Mallory, now 61, has kept her mom’s legacy at the forefront of her mind since her death, but in the age of social media, it seems she’s all about introducing Lamb Chop to a new generation of kids born after Shari’s final PBS series, The Charlie Horse Music Pizza, ended its run in 1999 on what would have been her 66th birthday. Fans young and old can find Mallory and Lamb Chop on Instagram and TikTok, where the duo are bringing much-needed smiles and laughs to new audiences every single day.

In an interview with TODAY.com, Mallory remembers her mom not only as being kind and loving to all, but as being a force of nature in a time where women weren’t taken seriously or given opportunities to shine in the entertainment industry. “People think of my mom as a nice little lady who played with puppets. Well, she was powerful. She was smart. She was strong. She was a woman in the 50s who not only had her own production company, but had her own credit card, which was almost impossible in the 50s,” she told the outlet.

After her death at the age of 65, Mallory began touring the country with Lamb Chop, and the “sisters” have some pretty big plans in the works for 2024. Not only is lovable Lamb Chop running for president (“Who among us doesn’t want to have a viable third-party candidate?” Mallory told TODAY.com), but there’s also a documentary titled “Shari & Lamb Chop” making the festival circuit right now. The film chronicles Shari’s illustrious TV career, which spanned more than four decades and earned her 13 Emmy awards. Mallory acknowledges that her mom’s warm, comforting presence is always necessary, especially these days.

“Little kids need to be loved,” she said. “Little kids need to be challenged. Little kids need to be encouraged. Little kids need food, water and a warm lap. Little kids need a kind adult in their lives. It’s a tough world to be a parent and a tough world to be a kid.”

Thankfully, Mallory is more than happy to share Lamb Chop with the world, and what better way to do so than on social media? “Lamb Chop was born almost 70 years ago, and she is taking the socials by storm and it makes me really proud,” she said.

“I promised my mom I would keep Lamb Chop alive,” she added. And boy, we’re so glad she’s keeping that promise.