Wilkins Coffee In 1957 , Jim Henson was approached by a Washington , D . C . coffee company to produce commercials for Wilkins Coffee " . " The local stations only had ten seconds for station identification , so the Muppet commercials had to be lightning - fast — essentially , eight seconds for the commercial pitch and a two - second shot of the product . From 1957 to 1961 , Henson made 179 commercials for Wilkins Coffee and other Wilkins products , including Community Coffee and Wilkins Tea . The ads were initially filmed at Rodel Studios in Washington D . C . The ads were so successful and well - liked that they sparked a series of remakes for companies in other local markets throughout the 1960s . The ads starred the cheerful Wilkins , who liked Wilkins Coffee , and the grumpy Wontkins , who hated it . Wilkins would often do serious harm to Wontkins in the ads — blowing him up , stabbing him with a knife , and smashing him with a club , among many other violent acts . Wilkins and Wontkins were generally the only characters in the commercials , though on rare occasions , such critters as a Muppet whale or baby birds would appear . Company owner Mr . Wilkins was also invoked more than once . The characters proved so popular that in October 1958 , the company offered vinyl puppets of Wilkins and Wontkins through the mail for $ 1 . 00 and a coffee can label . The offer on the can said , " Hey Kids ! I ' m Wilkins — he ' s Wontkins — you see us on TV ! " Obviously , Wilkins Coffee and Henson knew that the Muppet characters had kid appeal , although this doesn ' t seem to have had any effect on the use of violence and terror in the ads . The only time Wontkins was caught drinking a coffee that was not Wilkins was in the 1958 " Steamroller " ad . Commercials . These are Henson ' s official titles for the commercials . Public appeal . The Wilkins Coffee ads stood out from the usual commercial fare . In a press release issued February 19 , 1959 , Senator John Marshall Butler ( R - MD ) strongly criticized the quality of broadcast television , but praised the Wilkins ads : " The Maryland Senator , an opponent of pay television , called on the networks and individual stations to re - examine their programming and advertising policies at once to provide the public with better television fare . He said that the Senate Commerce Committee , of which he is a member , will explore the entire situation . . . As to advertising , it insults the intelligence of the viewer . It is geared at know - nothings . As far as I am concerned , if I hear ' a thinking - man ' s filter and a smoking - man ' s taste , ' I promptly switch to another channel . About the only clever advertising on the air today is ' Wilkins and Wontkins ' . It pleases rather than irritates television audiences , and I am happy to learn that this series is bringing increased sales to the sponsor . " The Senator ' s approval was echoed in a 1965 article in the Washington , D . C . " Evening Star " , which reported the findings of a poll in the D . C . area about television commercials : " John H . Wilkins , Jr . , of the Wilkins Coffee Company , can be proud of the overwhelming endorsement of Washington area viewers of his Muppet TV spots . The Wilkins commercials , which he conceived , are easily the favorite of voters in this area . " Franchise . Following the success of the Wilkins Coffee commercials in the Washington , D . C . market , Jim Henson sold the concept to coffee companies in other local markets around the US . The same ads were reshot , with the only difference being the name of the coffee company . The other companies included : Releases . The " TV Anti - Violence League " spot was released on a commercial DVD by Madacy Home Video . Awards . The " TV Anti - Violence League " spot from 1960 was recognized by the Clio awards , as runner - up in the category of best television / cinema spot .