Fraggle Rock: "The Bells of Fraggle Rock"

Premiered December 24, 1984

The fraggles are preparing for their annual holiday that takes place around the Winter Solstice.  They call it the "Festival of the Bells" and believe that by ringing bells and doing the dance of the Weebabeast, they can keep the Rock from slowing down & stopping thus allowing time to continue as usual.

Red (Karen Prell), Boober (Dave Goelz) and Mokey (Kathryn Mullen) with a portion of the Weebabeast costume.

In the land of the Silly Creatures, Doc (Gerry Parkes) and his dog Sprocket (Steve Whitmire) are excitedly getting ready for Christmas.  Doc decides that they will learn about other Winter Solstice traditions as a part of their celebration and brings home a pinata and other items.

Sprocket is ready for the holidays!

Everyone except Gobo (Jerry Nelson) is excited about the coming holiday.  Gobo isn't really feeling the holiday spirit, in fact, he's feeling like it's all a big waste of time.

Gobo is an unenthusiastic Weebabeast head.

He has found an old map that shows many ancient tunnels and doesn't see the Great Bell that is said to be located "at the heart of the Rock."  His friend Wembley (Steve Whitmire again) notices a bell shaped cavern near the center of the map and wonders if that might be the great bell.  

Wembley and Gobo check out the map.

A wise and mystical fraggle named Cantus (Jim Henson) arrives to kick off the festivities.

Cantus arrives.

Much to the dismay of Red and the other fraggles,  Gobo announces that he is going to go find and bring back the Great Bell.

He asks that the fraggles wait to ring their bells and celebrate until he returns and Wembley rashly promises that they will all wait for him.

Gobo makes a cold and lonely journey in search of the Great Bell.

. Cantus tries to dissuade Gobo from searching for the Great Bell, saying that there is no need and that the tunnels will soon be too cold for anyone to travel safely.   Gobo doesn't want to listen and sets off on his quest.  Cantus offers to go look for Gobo and bring him back.

Cantus talks to Gobo

Will Gobo be successful in his quest to find the Great Bell?   Will Sprocket ever break open the pinata? Will the Rock stop turning?    You'll have to watch to see!

RigbyMel says:

I am not sure that I saw "The Bells of Fraggle Rock" when it first aired, but I certainly remember watching and enjoying the Fraggle Rock program when it aired on HBO.    I probably did see this episode, but it would have been out of season and hence, it didn't make as big an impression on me the first time around.

Red, Mokey, Boober and Wembley trying to keep warm as the Rock slows down

 Gobo's quest to find the Great Bell reminds me of children who are beginning to have questions about Santa Claus.  Cantus acts as a parental figure (albeit a mystically comedic one)  and tries to explain that the idea behind the Great Bell is just as important -- perhaps MORE important  -- as any physical manifestation.   But Cantus is also wise enough to allow Gobo to discover the truth about the Great Bell and the real "heart of the rock" in his own way.

The seasonal themes continue with  a Christmas Carol-esque hint of spooky when Gobo returns to find that his friends seem to have been frozen in time.   Fortunately,  the freezing proves reversible when Gobo -- like Scrooge --  manages to find his holiday spirit.

Gobo discovers a frozen Wembley.

The Fraggles' story dovetails nicely with the interaction between Doc and Sprocket as they talk and learn (and teach viewers) about other Winter Solstice customs.

Doc explains how axial tilt creates the Winter Solstice.

As is typical in most episodes of Fraggle Rock, we also get a postcard from Gobo's Uncle Traveling Matt where he shares his perspectives on "Outer Space" and the "Silly Creatures"  (aka the viewers' everyday world) and more thoughts on different Solstice traditions.

Uncle Traveling Matt wonders why the "Silly Creatures" don't know about the Weebabeast.

Although there is obviously a message being shared through these interlocking stories,  the warmth and tolerance of the storytelling give the message real resonance.  It also serves as a good introduction to various winter holiday traditions for younger audiences.

RigbyMel's rating:

3 candy canes

J.A. Morris says:
I can't add much to what RigbyMel said, but I have to mention that I enjoyed the original songs, written by Phil Balsam and Steve Whitmire.  "There's A Promise" is very catchy and festive.  Another song, "Weeba Weeba" performed by the young fraggles as they practice the Weebabeast dance, is amusing.  It consists of nothing but the words "Weeba Weeba" shouted over an 80s synthesizer accompaniment.  Not very complicated, but it sounds like a song kids would sing and it's also a been stuck in my head since I watched "The Bells Of Fraggle Rock."

Wembley rings a bell at the festival.

Gobo's seasonal depression is something that adults and kids alike can relate to around the holidays.  His disillusionment with the festival also recalls Charlie Brown's attitude in A Charlie Brown Christmas.

This episode is available on DVD, in the season 3 set and on a standalone disc called A Merry Fraggle Holiday. It also streams on Amazon and iTunes.

"The Bells Of Fraggle Rock" is a good holiday episode that teaches a nice lesson about faith and also shows how different cultures celebrate Christmas and other Winter holidays.

Sprocket and Doc wish each other a Merry Christmas.

J.A. Morris' rating:

3 candy canes.

A Muppet Family Christmas

Robin: We always come together at Christmas!
Kermit:  Yeah. Life would just pass in a blur if it weren't for times like this.

Note:we normally try to tell you cast members' names in our reviews.  But this special features just about every Muppet that existed at the time and they are voiced by a small group of puppeteers.  Naming all of them could get monotonous so please check the imdb page for A Muppet Family Christmas for more information about the cast.

Premiered December 16, 1987.

Kermit and friends traveling through the snow

Fozzie Bear has decided to spend Christmas at his mother Emily's farmhouse and is bringing along all his Muppet friends.  Kermit the frog thinks they should have called first, but Fozzie says she loves surprises.

Emily Bear is ready for surfing in Malibu! 

At the farmhouse, Emily Bear is packing up and getting ready to fly to California for Christmas. She's rented out a room to Doc (Gerry Parkes, the only human cast member in this special) and his dog Sprocket.  They have come to the farmhouse to spend a nice quiet Christmas by themselves.

Doc and Sprocket arrive at "Grizzly Farm"

When Fozzie and friends arrive, Emily isn't very happy, since she's been taking surfing lessons. Suddenly, she has dozens of house guests and not enough sleeping space for everyone.  Doc is also disappointed since he wanted a peaceful holiday.

One of the Muppets is absent.  Miss Piggy is running late, due to a modelling photo shoot gig.  She phones Kermit and says she will arrive as soon as possible.

Miss Piggy hams it up at her photo shoot

The house gets even more crowded when the Sesame Street gang shows up.  Big Bird, Bert, Ernie and their friends will also spend Christmas with the Muppets.  

MORE houseguests for Mrs. Bear! 

The Swedish Chef is planning to cook a turkey for their Christmas dinner.  But when the (still living) turkey arrives he has other ideas.  The turkey tells the chef that Big Bird would make a better dinner.

Is Big Bird in trouble?

Piggy's trip is  delayed by her last minute Christmas shopping.  It's later further complicated by a major blizzard.  Kermit and friends are worried about Miss Piggy's safety.

Plus, Kermit's nephew Robin discovers a Fraggle hole in Emily's basement, leading him and Kermit to Fraggle Rock!

Frogs meet Fraggles

J.A. Morris says:
I didn't see this special when it originally aired.  I was "too old" for Christmas specials at the time and didn't watch this until a few years ago.  This is a wonderful special.

Many Muppets! 

It was nice to combine all the Muppets' "universes" that existed at the time.  It feels like a love letter to the fans who grew up watching Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock.   It's all the more special when you remember that Henson would be gone in less than three years and Richard Hunt (who performed Scooter, Beaker and Janice, among others) would die in 1992.  It sort of feels like a celebration of everything Henson and company had done.

The Fraggles, including Gobo's uncle Matt, climb up from underground to join the party.

Muppet Family Christmas doesn't have much of a story, other than Miss Piggy's trip through the snow (spoiler alert:she arrives unscathed).  It's really just a series of funny interactions between Muppets. Which is fine, it's fun and entertaining from start to finish.

There's a great scene where Kermit and his nephew Robin are talking about how special Christmas is to them, which leads to their duet of "Jingle Bells."  Then suddenly, the Electric Mayhem joins with with a revved-up version of "Jingle Bell Rock."  It's a nice reminder of how Henson's Muppets could go back and forth between sentimentality and subversion.

The Electric Mayhem rocks out!

Dressing the Muppets in Winter clothing was also a nice touch.

Grover and Scooter (in a Christmas sweater!) participate in the Christmas sing-a-long.

.A Muppet Family Christmas ends with a medley of holiday songs.  It's sweet and touching without being maudlin at all. 

This special is currently out of print, but you can still find copies at libraries all over the country.  It should be noted that the version that was released on DVD and VHS is different than the one that aired on TV, with some songs cut for copyright reasons.  But that version is better than nothing.

A Muppet Family Christmas is an overlooked classic that is absolutely must see for Muppets fans.  

J.A. Morris' review:

4 candy canes!

The Sesame Street gang's Christmas pageant features "The Night Before Christmas" - note how Grover is NOT stirring in his role as the mouse

RigbyMel says:

A Muppet Family Christmas was a recent discovery for me as well.   It really is a lovely treat to see all of the Muppets from different shows interacting with one another.    

Oscar the Grouch meets Rizzo the Rat

It also feels pleasantly like an old-school Christmas variety special what with all the random people showing up at Emily Bear's home.    (I must say that Mrs. Bear, Doc and Sprocket are exceptionally good sports seeing as their holiday plans get rather significantly altered by Fozzie and company dropping in unexpectedly!)

Fozzie meets a snowy friend

As with most Muppet specials, there are some delightful character moments. I particularly enjoyed seeing Fozzie find a new comedy partner in a talking snowman and the Swedish Chef's (ultimately unsuccessful) attempts to prepare a  Christmas turkey.   Kermit and Robin's brief visit to Fraggle Rock also yields a catchy song about giving (and re-gifting) called "Pass It On."

The Muppet Babies also show up in a "home movie" clip segment 

In light of the fact that the world would lose Jim Henson & Richard Hunt just a few years after A Muppet Family Christmas was produced, this special feels extra poignant in hindsight.

Henson's cameo appearance near the end of the special makes me farklempt. Every. Time.

In addition to all the more traditional Christmas songs presented, it's also nice to see callbacks to songs from other Muppet specials like "Together At Christmas" (re-used from 1986's The Christmas Toy)  and "It's In Every One Of Us" (which first appeared on the 1979 album A Christmas Together featuring John Denver and the Muppets and also in the 1983 Rocky Mountain Holiday TV special).

Gonzo and Animal are okay with these sleeping arrangements in the crowded house

A Muppet Family Christmas is a classic and well worth seeking out.    I hope that one day we will see it re-released on DVD/Blu-Ray in an un-edited version.

RigbyMel's rating:

4 candy canes! 

A Tribute to Jerry Nelson (1934-2012)

Jerry Nelson with two of his Sesame Street alter egos,  the Count von Count and Herry Monster

We were saddened to hear about the recent death of Muppets puppeteer Jerry Nelson.  He was never as famous as Jim Henson or Frank Oz, but if you ever watched Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock or any of the various "Muppet" movies, you know Jerry Nelson through the many characters he performed.

Jerry Nelson was a brilliant puppeteer.  His best known characters were Count Von Count and Snuffalupagus, both from Sesame Street.  But he also performed dozens of other Muppets, such Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog (Kermit's nephew), Lew Zealand, Uncle Deadly, Gobo Fraggle, and many more (including most of the "announcer" type voices that crop up in various Muppet performances).  It's not a stretch to say Nelson was the "best supporting actor" of the Muppet performers.

Robin & Uncle Kermit sing 'Jingle Bells' in Muppet Family Christmas

As "children of the 70s", Nelson's work had a big impact on our lives.  In addition to his regular TV gigs, he also performed on quite a few Holiday specials and films.  Since this is a holiday-themed blog, we wanted to pay tribute.

It's hard to get through the Holiday Season without hearing the voice of Jerry Nelson.  Here's a list of all the Christmas specials/movies/episodes he worked on:
*The Great Santa Claus Switch (1970)
* Christmas Eve On Sesame Street (1978)
* John Denver And The Muppets: A Christmas Together (1979)
* Fraggle Rock- The Bells Of Fraggle Rock (1984)
* The Christmas Toy (1986)
* A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
* The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
* Elmo Saves Christmas (1996)
* It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)
* Elmo's Christmas Countdown (2007)

Nelson as the Ghost of Christmas Present

One of Nelson's lesser known characters was Scred,  who was part of a group of Muppets that appeared on the first season of Saturday Night Live (back when the show was still called NBC's Saturday Night).

Here is a picture of Scred interacting with Candace Bergen in the 1975 Christmas episode of the show:

Scred flirting with Candace Bergen on a Chirstmas SNL (1975) 

But our favorite Muppets Christmas special is Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas (1977).  Nelson voices the gentle title character Emmet Otter and  also Stanley Weasel, a, um...weaselly villain who is the polar opposite of the sweet, innocent Emmet.

Emmet Otter on wash tub bass 

Both of us had watched the special a dozen times before realizing this, which is the ultimate tribute to Nelson's talent.  We'll get around to a full-fledged review of this special before the end of the year.

Stanley Weasel, guitarist for Riverbottom Nightmare Band and nemesis of Emmet Otter.

In addition to Christmas specials, Nelson also performed on The Muppets Valentine Show (1974) as the 9 1/2 foot blue monster Thog, among other characters.  We reviewed that special earlier this year.

Thog gets a Valentine hug from Mia Farrow in "The Muppets Valentine Show" (1974)

We were saddened to learn of Jerry Nelson's death in August of this year,  but we are glad that his great Muppet performances will live on.  Thanks for all the great memories, Mr. Nelson!  RIP.

Jerry Nelson tribute art by James Hance  (check out his website: http://www.jameshance.com)

-  J.A. Morris RigbyMel