Behind the Scenes of the 'Shrinking' Crossover: Photos, Puppets, and Guest Stars

Breaking down the facts behind Behind the Scenes of the 'Shrinking' Crossover: Photos, Puppets, and Guest Stars—read on to discover the main takeaways.

Working alongside Jim Henson Company puppeteers presents distinct physical challenges for screen actors. Jason Segel arrived with significant prior experience, having written, produced, and starred in Disney's 2011 theatrical reboot The Muppets. For Segel, returning to work with felt performers felt like second nature. He spent considerable time between takes chatting directly with the characters rather than the puppeteers controlling them, an unwritten industry etiquette that maintains the magic of the performance for everyone on set.

For Harrison Ford, the environment required a different adjustment. Known for his reserved off-camera persona and dry delivery, Ford leaned into his screen persona opposite Oscar the Grouch, operated by veteran puppeteer Eric Jacobson. Production staff noted that Ford treated the green Muppet with the same gravitas he brings to high-stakes dramatic co-stars, refusing to break character even when Jacobson threw unscripted ad-libs into rehearsal takes.

The behind-the-scenes portraits captured by the set photographer highlight this dynamic. Rather than standard publicity stills, the images show real, unposed moments: Jessica Williams doubled over in laughter while sitting beside Abby Cadabby, and Christa Miller offering notes on camera angles alongside Ernie’s operating team. The images demonstrate the deep mutual respect between two very different corners of the television industry.