Craig Shemin is a creator of content across all media.

who is this guy?

Craig Shemin is a freelance writer-producer in all media, formerly on staff with Jim Henson Company, the creators of the Muppets.
 
He created and wrote The Disney Channel's successful interstitial series, "Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol," and wrote "Tasty Time with ZeFronk" and the pilot for "The 7D" also for Disney.  

A Muppet Historian and President of the non-profit organization, The Jim Henson Legacy, Shemin wrote “Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson’s First Television Show” and "The Muppets Character Encyclopedia" and serves as guest curator for the ongoing Henson film series at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens.

He helped curate the video content of the Jim Henson Exhibition at the Museum, and, along with his wife, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, he produced the video content for the Henson Gallery at the Center for Puppetry Arts.

Shemin produced and directed an award-winning behind-the-scenes documentary about "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas," for the holiday classic's special edition DVD, and produced a documentary that toured with the Smithsonian Institution touring museum exhibition, "Jim  Henson's Fantastic World."

Since 2015, Shemin has written the popular "LOS Kids" concert series presented in New York City by The Little Orchestra Society.

In the world of long form, Shemin wrote “Dick Cavett Ruined My Life,” winner of the Writer’s Network Screenwriting competition and he is currently working with Perspective Studios on a new animated feature film.  “The Green Room,” a play about the early years of television, has had several readings in New York City.  His play, “Panophobia,” was a semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference.  In 2008, he was commissioned by The Little Orchestra Society to create a new adaptation of  Victor Herbert’s “Babes in Toyland,” which has been produced twice at Lincoln Center.

Shemin wrote the script for the Noggin pilot “Penny Anything,” and several episodes of the popular  children’s shows. "Dora and Friends" and “Oobi.”  He served as consulting producer for “Hallmark Café,” a music-variety show for the Hallmark Channel and wrote the pilot and initial episodes of “Inventor’s Club,” for Hallmark’s interactive cable venture, Crayola Kids Club.

He also wrote seven episodes of the Cartoon Network series “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” as well as an episode of the popular Nickelodeon series “Gullah Gullah Island.” He also co-wrote (with his wife, writer and Tony-nominated performer Stephanie D'Abruzzo) two episodes of “Rory's Place” for The Learning Channel and wrote and directed a live, touring version of that show.

During his 14-year tenure at the Jim Henson Company, Shemin was a writer on all 26 episodes of “Telling Stories with Tomie DePaola” and served as writer and consultant for the first season of “The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss.”  His work on that show earned him a Writer's Guild of America Award nomination for Outstanding Children's Script.  He was also Head Writer on 26 episodes of “Donna’s Day,” and contributed material for subsequent episodes of that Hallmark Channel’s family activity show. 

Shemin also wrote the award-winning “Muppet CD-ROM: Muppets Inside,” an interactive computer game from Starwave Corp.  In addition, he served as one of the writers of  “The Muppet Treasure Island CD-ROM,” a game based on the hit feature film.  He also assisted Miss Piggy with her cookbook, “In the Kitchen With Miss Piggy.” 

His work at Muppets also included co-writing the pilot script and serving as story consultant for the Fox Children's Network animated series, “Jim Henson's Dog City.”  In addition, he scripted the episode entitled “Comedy of Horrors.” 

Shemin has also scripted material for numerous Muppet guest appearances, including “The Rosie O'Donnell Show,” CBS's coverage of the 1998 Winter Olympics, “The View,” “Late Night with Conan O'Brien,” “Good Morning America,” the “Today Show,” “CBS This Morning,” “Entertainment Tonight,” ABC’s “Monday Night Football” and “Mrs. Bush's Storytime,” a program broadcast on the ABC radio network.  In 1994, he wrote material for Kermit the Frog's highly acclaimed stint as guest host of “Larry King Live.”

In 1993, Shemin wrote “Fraggle Rock Storytime,” a six-episode series for the children's radio network, Radio AAHS.  He has also served on the writing staff for “Muppet Meeting Films,” a series of brief Muppet vignettes aimed at a corporate audience.  In addition, Shemin consulted on the development of new Muppet productions and licensed products and he continues to write for the characters, most recently for the Muppets’ takeover of the “Today Show” as well as “The Muppets Kitchen,” an online cooking show featuring Cat Cora.

Shemin's freelance work also includes of “Toby Terrier and his Video Pals,” a series of interactive home videos produced by Sid and Marty Krofft Pictures, also seen nationwide in syndicated television.   He also served as story editor and writer of “Imagineland,” a children's show seen on more than 250 PBS stations.

He is the author of seven published children's stories, as well as the book & cassette set entitled “Inside Fraggle Rock” and the award-winning book “Families are Forever.”  He served as editorial consultant and created several features for Harvey Magazine, a periodical for children.

Shemin wrote the liner notes for Rhino Records’ Muppet anthology CD as well as for Muppet music releases distributed through BMG. He also wrote liner notes for several PPI CD releases.

A graduate of Northwestern University, Craig Shemin serves as Vice-President of the Jim Henson Legacy and is a member of BMI, The Television Academy, The Dramatists Guild and is a lifetime member of the Writers Guild of America, East.

He lives happily ever after, in an undisclosed major metropolitan city with his wife, Stephanie D’Abruzzo.

Awards and honors

• Nomination, Emmy Award for Outstanding Short-Form Program,"Tasty Time with ZeFronk,"

• Nomination, Webby Award for Outstanding Comedy Program, "The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora." 

• Telly Award, "Behind the Scenes in Frogtown Hollow"

• Nomination, Writers Guild Award, "Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss: The Road to Ka-Larry"