Circle 4 Ranch was a weekend local kids show in Washington, D.C., hosted by Joe Campbell, a singing cowboy. In 1954, Circle 4 Ranch expanded from 30 minutes to 60, and Campbell decided to fill the additional half-hour with songs and skits, "and thought it might be interesting to add puppets to chat with, in the same way Buffalo Bob Smith interacted with his marionette co-stars on NBC's powerhouse kids show Howdy Doody." The show would end six months after Henson joined the show.