‘Shari & Lamb Chop’ Honors a Trailblazing Voice in Children’s Television

 ‘Shari & Lamb Chop’ Honors a Trailblazing Voice in Children’s Television

July 18 in NY, July 25 in LA, expansion to follow

Before Mister Rogers welcomed viewers into his neighborhood and Jim Henson introduced the Muppets to the world, there was Shari Lewis—a singular force in children’s television whose irrepressible energy, clever ventriloquism, and beloved sock puppet Lamb Chop captivated generations.

A new documentary, Shari & Lamb Chop, directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Lisa D’Apolito (Love, Gilda), offers a heartfelt portrait of Lewis’s groundbreaking career. The film, which made its world premiere at DOC NYC, will be released theatrically by Kino Lorber on July 18, followed by digital, educational, and home video platforms.

Born Phyllis Naomi Hurwitz in the Bronx, Lewis was raised by a feminist mother and a father who moonlighted as a magician. An aspiring dancer turned magician-ventriloquist, she developed characters like Charlie Horse, Hush Puppy and, most famously, Lamb Chop—a precocious, wide-eyed sock puppet who became her lifelong creative partner. Over a career spanning decades, Lewis charmed audiences through early television fame, a career setback after the cancellation of The Shari Lewis Show, and a remarkable resurgence in the 1990s with Lamb Chop’s Play-Along, launched when she was in her 60s.

D’Apolito’s film traces the highs and lows of Lewis’s path with sensitivity and spark, drawing on archival footage, home movies, and interviews with contemporary ventriloquists and admirers. The result is a layered tribute to a performer whose drive, perfectionism, and commitment to children’s intelligence redefined what family entertainment could be.

“There’s no shortage of Lamb Chop love in her illuminating film,” said Richard Lorber, Chairman and CEO of Kino Lorber. “But Lisa D’Apolito goes beyond nostalgia to explore Shari Lewis’s extraordinary gifts and the hurdles she overcame as a female creator in a male-dominated industry. Few have matched her influence, and none have created a character as enduring as Lamb Chop.”

In an interview, D’Apolito emphasized Lewis’s legacy of resilience and imagination. “She believed deeply in the intelligence and creativity of children. Her story, her strength, and her heart are exactly what we need right now,” she said.

Mallory Lewis, who now performs with Lamb Chop and helped steward the project through the Shari Lewis estate, said the film captures her mother’s essence. “Lamb Chop and I are thrilled that the true story of the ‘multi-faceted real-life woman’—our mom—will finally be shared with her fans, young and old.”

Shari & Lamb Chop is produced by Cassidy Hartmann (The Apollo), Nicholas Ferrall (The Beatles: Eight Days a Week), Morris Ruskin, Douglas Warner, and D’Apolito. Executive producers include White Horse’s Nigel Sinclair and Jeanne Elfant Festa, Bob Valentine, Sophia Dilley, and Wesley Adams of Concord Originals, and a team of industry veterans representing MoJo Global Arts, Olive Hill Media, The 51 Fund, Chicago Media Project, and others. The project was developed in full cooperation with the Shari Lewis estate.

About the Director

Lisa D’Apolito is best known for Love, Gilda, her critically acclaimed portrait of comedian Gilda Radner, which opened the Tribeca Film Festival and earned two Creative Arts Emmy nominations. A former actress with credits including Goodfellas, D’Apolito transitioned into directing and producing for commercial and documentary projects. She is currently developing a film on singer-songwriter Laura Nyro and recently completed Albert Pyun: King of Cult Movies. She was named one of Variety’s 10 Documentarians to Watch in 2018.

About Concord Originals

Concord Originals, the film and television arm of music and theater powerhouse Concord, develops scripted and unscripted content rooted in its rich catalog of artists and properties. Recent productions include HBO’s Stax: Soulsville U.S.A., Alison Ellwood’s Let the Canary Sing (Paramount+), and My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert (PBS/Sky Arts).

About Kino Lorber

A leader in art-house and independent cinema for more than four decades, Kino Lorber has amassed a catalog of over 4,000 titles and earned 15 Academy Award® nominations since 2000. The company recently expanded its digital footprint with the acquisition of MHz Choice and the launch of Kino Film Collection, a subscription platform for new and classic international and documentary films.