Puppets in Philadelphia?

In late 2025, there were quite a few charity auctions popping up for Season 18 set visits (it's how we originally obtained speculation dates for when Season 18 would be filming!), and while these auctions all went far beyond the range of affordability for me, what I was able to be grateful for was the idea that there would be fans on set getting to experience filming, likely across the entire filming season, and hopefully some of those fans would be eager enough to share even just a little bit of their experience.

And hope springs eternal! Because in a recent LinkedIn post, a user took to the platform to share her experience of visiting the set as a gift from her husband for Valentine's Day. 

In the post, she shared that the two of them saw a behind-the-scenes taping, which included "some wild puppet action" and a look at a stunt area. She thanked Charlie and Glenn and shared a photo with the two of them, giving us another tantalizing peek into the bar this Season:

It's not unusual for Charlie to be dressed a little shabbily, but there's something about his outfit that made me second-guess if he was actually in character or not. Of course, on a closer look, that style of jacket and the shoes indicate he mostly likely is, but that beanie and those jeans throw me off! Glenn, too, while wearing a Dennis-style jumper and Dennis' shoes, is in matching black jeans. Honestly, they're both giving "stagehand" to me... and wait—did she say puppets??? Perhaps that read isn't too far off...

Sunny is well known for the current social and political commentary, and if you've been keeping up with the state of The United States recently, I'm sure your mind, like mine, jumps to make certain connections when hearing the words Sunny Commentary and Puppets—namely, Sesame Street. The most famous puppets around here since their debut in 1970 on PBS, the lovable residents of Sesame Street were recently cast out from their home due to the recent complete defunding of Public Media (or, as the Government puts it, "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization Of Biased Media") resulting in PBS shutting down. 

Of course, Netflix has stepped in to save Sesame Street, but that's likely neither here nor there for the Gang. I think we can be all but certain that the moment they caught wind of Sesame Street being cancelled due to being "biased media" they knew they would be the right choice to take over... And surely the Paddy's Pub Gang taking over public media messaging via puppets will result in way fewer biases coming forward! 

But of course... this is just speculation. All we know for certain is that there are puppets (and stunts!) involved in a scene which has Dennis and Charlie dressed in all black (like puppeteers).. and knowing Dennis' love for Fraggle Rock and Charlie's artistic, musical background, I am amped up for whatever this plot may be (whether actually related to PBS defunding, or something completely organic)! (Please, please, have a musical element...)

Any other ideas related to puppets and the guys in all-black? Could this be a solo Charlie and Dennis plot, or are the whole Gang involved? Might everyone's creative ideas butt heads? Or is this something that unites the Gang (but likely not their community...)? Let me know your ideas!

And, hey, is anyone looking to gift this guy a set visit for... *checks calendar for holidays between now and wrapping filming* ...Easter?

    (Haha, jk, I think I would last a total of 20 seconds on that set)

-Seth