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The puppets are coming. Deadline reports NBC has ordered a new competition special from Craig Ferguson called Top Puppet.

From Talpa Media and The Jim Henson Company, the variety special will “set out to discover the next great puppet act.” Ferguson is executive producing the series but is not expected to host.

The series will feature competitors battling it out “in front of a live studio audience and three judges who will seek originality. The goal is to feature the full spectrum of puppeteering on the show — from hand puppets to giant walkers, marionettes to humanettes, ventriloquists to singing hand puppets — with acts as grand as the spectacle of The Lion King or realistic as War Horse or simple as sock puppets.”

The special is expected to premiere next summer and if successful, it could expand into a series.

What do you think? Are you a fan of puppet acts? Will you watch Top Puppet?