In 1957, Jim Henson was hired by Helen Ver Standig who worked on advertising Wilkins Coffee, to produce commercials using early Muppet characters.

[14] They were composed of an 8-second puppet skit, and a 2-second shot of the advertised Wilkins product.

[11] The typical format of the ads would see the gleeful Wilkins persuading the sour Wontkins to drink Wilkins Coffee; Wontkins would almost always grumpily refuse, leading Wilkins (or an assisting outside force, such as an animal, a vehicle, an object, a hand, or company president Mr. Wilkins) to assault, harass, injure, or even kill him in return.

[1][10] Wilkins Coffee had a number 1 retail spot in the 1950s, but as competition got tougher with companies such as General Mills and Folgers, Wilkins began losing its market share.

[19] In recent years the Wilkins Coffee ads have gone viral online.