Michael Frith has been inducted into the Golden Circle Honour Society at the Children and Family Emmy Awards for his 50 years of “outstanding contribution” to the television industry.

Mr Frith, who was the creative director for The Muppet Show, attended the ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Centre's Frederick P Rose Hall in New York City with his wife Kathryn Mullen.

The Gold and Silver Circle Society is part of the national Emmy Awards and honours “trailblazers and exceptional talent who have made a lasting impact in broadcasting”.

The induction marks Mr Frith’s twentieth honour from the Emmy Awards, which includes four International Emmy Awards, five Certificates of Contribution and ten further nominations for a variety of projects, including The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock, produced during his time as director of creative services and vice-president at Jim Henson Productions, and later as cofounder of Sirius Thinking which produced Between the Lions.

“Fifty years in kids and family television? Actually it’s closer to seventy, starting here in Bermuda with the very beginning of ZBM TV, appearing on Junior Club, drawing and telling stories,” Mr Frith said.

“In the decades since, I’ve been so privileged to work with so many amazing and talented people — this honour is as much theirs as mine. Thanks to them all. I’m somewhat amazed and truly touched.”

Mr Frith earned his first International Emmy Award in 1983 for Fraggle Rock for which he was conceptual designer and co-creator.

The show was inspired by Mr Frith’s childhood in Bermuda and ran from 1983 to 1987.

It was broadcast in more than 100 countries and its characters were all designed by Frith.

Three original puppets from the show, and three original puppets from The Muppet Show, also designed by Mr Frith, are on display at the Bermuda National Gallery in The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppet.

The Bermuda National Gallery is encouraging Bermudians to celebrate one of their own by donating to Keep the Fraggles of the Rock — a fundraising initiative recently launched to cover the cost of extending the show.

The exhibition, which was due to close in April and has been extended through August, is the gallery’s most popular exhibition to date.

“Michael’s list of awards is incredibly extensive and runs to three pages,” said Eve Godet Thomas, director of exhibitions at the BNG and curator of the exhibition.

“To have another honour, and such a prestigious one, added to this exhaustive list during the run of From Pencil to Puppet is evidence of just how incredible his contributions are.

“I hope that everyone who has been to the show and enjoyed it donates to our campaign. The cost of mounting such an exhibition is enormous and every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference.

“We have raised close to half of what we need — please show your support for Michael by donating today and helping us reach our target and if you haven’t already seen the exhibition, be sure to come in and meet some Muppets.”

Donations can be made online at www.bng.bm/fraggles