Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge

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Season 1
  • Network: SyFy
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 25, 2014
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
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Critic Reviews

  1. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Diane Werts
    Mar 24, 2014
    91
    We ultimately get to spend time with Henson's judges hashing it out. That brings insight into what makes things work, into creature logic, proportions, movement, performance facilitation, and letting the creation "emote through its environment." We don't just watch art being made, we come to understand the process.
  2. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Mar 25, 2014
    80
    What Creature Shop may lack in originality it makes up for in creative energy, with the contestants further challenged in mentoring sessions by being made to focus on having the full-body costumes be fully functional for the skilled Henson puppeteers within.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Erik Adams
    Mar 25, 2014
    75
    Creature Shop Challenge is about doing the most in the least amount of time, and while there’s some impressive work on display in the premiere, the impulse to keep watching comes from the sense that the best, most stunning creatures are yet to come.
  5. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Mar 24, 2014
    70
    The first episode is pretty much just as entertaining as "Face Off" or "Project Runway" or similar creative endeavor shows.
  6. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Mar 25, 2014
    60
    Because the contestants are also paired into teams, we get the sometime fractious reality-show dynamics of forced alliances. Based on this show, however, there don’t seem to be many truly obnoxious people whose dream is to design cool monsters.
  7. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Allison Keene
    Mar 25, 2014
    60
    Though Creature Shop's competition approach might be tiresomely formulaic (all stemming from the Project Runway idea tree), the bottom line is it's still a series that promotes creativity.
  8. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Mar 25, 2014
    58
    Creature Shop Challenge is inviting enough to merit another look. Not for its pro forma adherence to the “reality competition” handbook but for whatever creative hoops await its very eager group of contestants.
  9. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Mar 21, 2014
    50
    In this digital age, it’s nice to see the Muppet-maker still hiring, but there’s simply nothing special enough about this Challenge to warrant another show the next time there’s an opening; better instead to go through plain old human-resource channels.

Awards & Rankings

78
#78 Best TV Season of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Pixiecg
    Jun 1, 2014
    10
    I am not a fan of "reality" TV. But I absolutely LOVED this show. Not only watching the artists (contestants) performing their skills (withI am not a fan of "reality" TV. But I absolutely LOVED this show. Not only watching the artists (contestants) performing their skills (with very difficult deadlines). But mostly, that the judges were fair, honest... and NOT BULLIES. Too many of the shows the judges are jerks (and I am being nice). Not once, through the whole season, were any of the judges anything but helpful and constructive, They NEVER made a contestant feel bad about themselves or their talent.
    I really hope that this show continues, we need MORE positive role models ... and less bullies.    … Full Review »
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