Monday, November 30, 2009

Fraggle Blog - You Can't Do That Without a Hat

Another Jocelyn Stevenson episode.

Boober is a really great character, performed wonderfully by Dave Goelz. Here in the early episodes, he seems the most confident and grounded in his character, and his puppeteering is really terrific. (Although we get a glimpse of his left hand operating Boober's when he and Red are talking to Marjory!)

Boober is a great example of what I perceive as Henson guarding against letting things get too "sweet". Just as Sesame Street has Oscar, this show has Boober to undercut the positive, enthusiastic vibe of the other Fraggles with a note of pessimism and fear. I feel strongly that this is one of the things that sets Henson's worlds apart from the crowd. It creates a much more realistic vibe. Statler and Waldorf are another perfect example of this, even though granted the world of the Muppet Show wouldn't be a harmonious one even without them. Henson creates the show and the hecklers!

Random observation: Marjory the Trash Heap has trash boobs!

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