As it was sung, "dance your cares away, worry's for another day, let the music play!"
Down in Fraggle Rock, 25 years ago on Jan. 10th, 1983, Gobo, Wembley, Red, Mokey and Boober made their first foray onto the screen, making their debut on HBO in the U.S. and TVS in the U.K. Along with Sprocket, and the shopkeeper, Doc, the Doozers, and the Gorgs, and the sage-like Trash heap, Marjory, the Fraggles taught me how to tackle the world's societal problems while probably instilling in me a little TOO MUCH procrastination.....
The vision of Fraggle Rock articulated by Jim Henson was to depict a colorful and fun world, but also a world with a relatively complex system of symbiotic relationships between different "races" of creatures, an allegory to the human world, where each group was somewhat unaware of how interconnected and important they were to one another. Creating this allegorical world allowed the program to entertain and amuse while seriously exploring complex issues of prejudice, spirituality, personal identity, environment, and social conflict.
The show was also specifically designed for international co-production, constructed in such a way that it could be easily be tailored to different countries and cultures.
Fraggle Rock generally refused to over-simplify any individual issue, instead simply illustrating the consequences and inherent difficulties of different actions and relationships. Though the Fraggles do learn important lessons, they rarely are aware that they are learning them. The ideals of friendship, being true to yourself, and learning to love those who are incredibly different, were the cornerstone of Jim Henson's work throughout his career, and he considered Fraggle Rock to be one of the purest and most successful expressions of that vision.
Happy Anniversary, Fraggles. I hope you're still exploring, still creating mischief and still holding on to that insatiable curiosity, and that thirst for knowledge that you instilled in me, 25 years ago.
thanks to: http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Fraggle_Rock for the info
My Trusted MOGs
It frustrated me to no end how they would eat the Doozers constructions. Henson was a genius.
My Trusted MOGs
Oh, I got some of the symbolism even at a young age, but we got rid of cable after about a year, so no more Fraggles...
Genius, work-a-holic, or both? You don't have to die from pneumonia unless you've waited to long to be treated. I assume he was too busy to mind his own health.
My Trusted MOGs
Me too! But it was a symbiotic relationship. The Doozers (who like to "DO!") would have nothing to do if the Fraggles didn't eat their structures....
Henson really was a genius...
My Trusted MOGs
How do I lurve thee j ?!? Let me count the ways...
Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober & Red... well that's 5; then there's Henson & the Doozers & the Marjory & Doc n Sprocket, that's 5 n then some ... oh & all the musical parallels, sheesh, you ROCK !!! ;)
The Life cover when Jim Henson died was one of the most moving for me given our history & my education thanks to Henson & his wonderous creations (Kermie slumped in Henson's directors chair)... I actually stood in line at the grocery store & cried, not got teary & I didn't sob til I got home, but I sure did cry. Still hits me hard.
Chase is turning 1 on Saturday... his favorite cookie cutter (he likes to teethe on them, is of Kermit & I think it's his favorite partly cuz I always say _"Hello Chase, I am Kermit D. Frog, I love you !!!"_
My Trusted MOGs
The muppets were good friends with Rose Kennedy? Go figure!
My Trusted MOGs
A birthday & funeral all in one.