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[[Image:Hr Four-Monsters.jpg|300px|thumb|Two Frackles with the [[Screaming Thing]] and the [[Koozebanian Phoob]].]] |
[[Image:Hr Four-Monsters.jpg|300px|thumb|Two Frackles with the [[Screaming Thing]] and the [[Koozebanian Phoob]].]] |
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| − | [[File:Frackle_sketch.jpg|300px|thumb|Jim Henson's sketch of a few Frackles]] |
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'''The Frackles''' are a group of monsters who first appeared in the 1970 special ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'' as [[Cosmo Scam's henchmen|the henchmen]] of [[Cosmo Scam]], the villain who tried to replace [[Santa Claus]]. |
'''The Frackles''' are a group of monsters who first appeared in the 1970 special ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'' as [[Cosmo Scam's henchmen|the henchmen]] of [[Cosmo Scam]], the villain who tried to replace [[Santa Claus]]. |
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When ''[[Fraggle Rock]]'' was in development, the question arose of choosing a name for the characters' species. According to [[Michael K. Frith]], Jerry Juhl kept returning to the moniker "Frackle," which when softened to "Fraggle," became the final choice.<ref>''[[Jim Henson: The Works]]''</ref> |
When ''[[Fraggle Rock]]'' was in development, the question arose of choosing a name for the characters' species. According to [[Michael K. Frith]], Jerry Juhl kept returning to the moniker "Frackle," which when softened to "Fraggle," became the final choice.<ref>''[[Jim Henson: The Works]]''</ref> |
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| + | |||
| + | ''[[Jim Henson: The Biography]]'' by Brian Jay Jones suggests that the word may come from "Grackle," another name for blackbird.<ref name="biography">[[Jim Henson: The Biography]] by Brian Jay Jones, EPUB page 35.</ref> The major Frackles are all birdlike. |
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| + | |||
| + | The definition of what is a Frackle, rather than a generic monster, narrowed over time. It appears that as originally sketched for [[The Great Santa Claus Switch]], all of [[Cosmo Scam's henchmen]] could be called Frackles, and in a 1971 [[Dick Cavett Show]] appearance, Jim Henson offhandedly refers to [[Lothar]] and [[Thog]] in this way. However, dialogue by [[Cosmo Scam]] in the special seems to suggest that only the smaller creatures are Frackles. By the time of [[The Muppet Show]], only the birdlike creatures were referred to as Frackles, and any new Frackles created resemble Boppity and Gloat, thus defining what exactly a Frackle is. |
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==Frackles== |
==Frackles== |
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| Line 16: | Line 19: | ||
|- <div id="Blue_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Blue_Frackle" /> |
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| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Boppity Season 1.JPG| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Boppity Season 1.JPG|200px]]<br>[[Image:Boppity 2.JPG|200px]]<br>[[Image:Bluefrackle.JPG|200px]]<br>[[File:Boppity.jpg|132px]]<br>[[File:BlueFrackle1992.png|200px]]<br>[[File:Blue_Frackle_MOPATOPS.jpg|200px]]<br>[[File:GSCS 8368 BlueFrackleSketch.jpg|200px]] |
| valign=top | '''Blue Frackle'''<ref>[[The Muppet Show Annual 1978]]</ref> |
| valign=top | '''Blue Frackle'''<ref>[[The Muppet Show Annual 1978]]</ref> |
||
| − | A blue Frackle |
+ | A blue Frackle was one of the standard Frackles on ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. He was first used as [[Boppity]] in ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'', where he had yellow eyes. He was given googly white eyes for [[The Muppet Show]]. His design changed for [[Episode 119: Vincent Price|episode 119]] (changes include a better eye focus, a lighter beak and an adjusted ear shape). In [[1992]], in ''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]'', he was rebuilt to look more like his original design. He was later rebuilt in the late 90's for ''[[Mopatop's Shop]]''. In ''[[The Muppets Character Encyclopedia]]'', he's listed as "Bolshy blue Frackle". |
'''Filmography''' |
'''Filmography''' |
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| Line 55: | Line 58: | ||
**[[Episode 422: Andy Williams]] ("[[Green Door]]") |
**[[Episode 422: Andy Williams]] ("[[Green Door]]") |
||
**[[Episode 424: Diana Ross]] (Audience) |
**[[Episode 424: Diana Ross]] (Audience) |
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| − | *''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' |
+ | *''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' |
*''[[The Great Muppet Caper]]'' |
*''[[The Great Muppet Caper]]'' |
||
*''[[The Muppets Go to the Movies]]'' |
*''[[The Muppets Go to the Movies]]'' |
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| Line 74: | Line 77: | ||
**[[Episode 203: Heather Locklear]] |
**[[Episode 203: Heather Locklear]] |
||
*''[[Mopatop's Shop]]'' |
*''[[Mopatop's Shop]]'' |
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| + | *''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]'' |
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</div> |
</div> |
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| Line 82: | Line 86: | ||
*''[[Muppet Robin Hood]]'' - issue #2 |
*''[[Muppet Robin Hood]]'' - issue #2 |
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*''[[Muppet Snow White]]'' - issue #4 |
*''[[Muppet Snow White]]'' - issue #4 |
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| + | *''[[Green and Bear It]]'' |
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| + | *''[[The Muppets Character Encyclopedia]]'' |
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</div> |
</div> |
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|- <div id="Green_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Green_Frackle" /> |
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| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Gloat Season 1.JPG| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Gloat Season 1.JPG|200px]]<br>[[Image:Greenfrackle.jpg|200px]]<br>[[Image:Green_frackle_puppet.jpg|200px]]<br>[[File:Green_Frackle_MOPATOPS.jpg|200px]] |
| valign=top | '''Green Frackle'''<ref>[[The Muppet Show Annual 1978]]</ref> |
| valign=top | '''Green Frackle'''<ref>[[The Muppet Show Annual 1978]]</ref> |
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| − | A green Frackle was one of the standard Frackles on ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. He was used as [[Gloat]] in ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]''. He was rebuilt for [[Mopatop's Shop]]. |
+ | A green Frackle was one of the standard Frackles on ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. He was first used as [[Gloat]] in ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'', where he originally had yellow eyes and a blue inner mouth (lips). For [[The Muppet Show]], he was given white eyes and a green inner mouth (lips). He was rebuilt for [[Mopatop's Shop]]. In ''[[The Muppets Character Encyclopedia]]'', he's listed as "Grumpy green Frackle". |
'''Filmography''' |
'''Filmography''' |
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| Line 126: | Line 132: | ||
*''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]'' |
*''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]'' |
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*''[[Mopatop's Shop]]'' |
*''[[Mopatop's Shop]]'' |
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| + | *''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]'' |
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</div> |
</div> |
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| Line 137: | Line 144: | ||
*''[[The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson]]'' Issue #2: You May Meet a Stranger'' |
*''[[The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson]]'' Issue #2: You May Meet a Stranger'' |
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*''[[Muppet Snow White]]'' - issue #4 |
*''[[Muppet Snow White]]'' - issue #4 |
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| + | *''[[The Muppets Character Encyclopedia]]'' |
||
</div> |
</div> |
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|- <div id="Snake_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Snake_Frackle" /> |
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| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Snake Frackle.JPG| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Snake Frackle.JPG|200px]]<br>[[File:GSCS 8364 SnakeFrackleSketch.jpg|200px]] |
| valign=top | '''Snake Frackle'''<ref>[[Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles (book)|Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles]]</ref> |
| valign=top | '''Snake Frackle'''<ref>[[Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles (book)|Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles]]</ref> |
||
A green Frackle was used in the background of ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'', as well as ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', [[The Ghost of Faffner Hall]] and other programs. |
A green Frackle was used in the background of ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'', as well as ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', [[The Ghost of Faffner Hall]] and other programs. |
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| Line 160: | Line 168: | ||
**[[Episode 208: Steve Martin]] (Audience member) |
**[[Episode 208: Steve Martin]] (Audience member) |
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**[[Episode 406: Linda Lavin]] ("[[Beyond the Blue Horizon]]") |
**[[Episode 406: Linda Lavin]] ("[[Beyond the Blue Horizon]]") |
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| − | * ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' |
+ | * ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' ("[[The Rainbow Connection]]" Finale) |
* ''[[Better World Society]]'' |
* ''[[Better World Society]]'' |
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* ''[[The Ghost of Faffner Hall]]'' |
* ''[[The Ghost of Faffner Hall]]'' |
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| Line 170: | Line 178: | ||
|- <div id="Cigar_Box_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Cigar_Box_Frackle" /> |
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| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Cigar Box Frackle.jpg| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Cigar Box Frackle.jpg|200px]] |
| valign=top | '''Cigar Box Frackle'''<ref>[http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/interviews/goelz2.shtml Dave Goelz Interview]</ref> |
| valign=top | '''Cigar Box Frackle'''<ref>[http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/interviews/goelz2.shtml Dave Goelz Interview]</ref> |
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A crook-nosed Frackle was used as [[Snarl]] in ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'' and would later become the basis for [[Gonzo]]. |
A crook-nosed Frackle was used as [[Snarl]] in ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'' and would later become the basis for [[Gonzo]]. |
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| Line 182: | Line 190: | ||
|- <div id="Dripsnout_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Dripsnout_Frackle" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Droop.jpeg| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Droop.jpeg|200px]] |
| valign=top | '''Dripsnout Frackle'''<ref>[[Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles (book)|Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles]]</ref> |
| valign=top | '''Dripsnout Frackle'''<ref>[[Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles (book)|Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles]]</ref> |
||
A Frackle design used for [[Snivelly]], [[Droop]], and [[:Image:PureGoldie1.JPG|others]]. |
A Frackle design used for [[Snivelly]], [[Droop]], and [[:Image:PureGoldie1.JPG|others]]. |
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| Line 188: | Line 196: | ||
|- <div id="Blue_Bird_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Blue_Bird_Frackle" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Scoff.JPG| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Scoff.JPG|200px]] |
| valign=top | '''Blue Frackle'''<ref>Jim Henson's design sketches</ref> |
| valign=top | '''Blue Frackle'''<ref>Jim Henson's design sketches</ref> |
||
A blue bird-like Frackle was seen in the [[1970]] special ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'' as [[Scoff]]. In early seasons of ''The Muppet Show'', it was often seen paired with a Green Frackle. The puppet was referred to as "Blue Frackle" in a sketch drawn by [[Jim Henson]]. |
A blue bird-like Frackle was seen in the [[1970]] special ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'' as [[Scoff]]. In early seasons of ''The Muppet Show'', it was often seen paired with a Green Frackle. The puppet was referred to as "Blue Frackle" in a sketch drawn by [[Jim Henson]]. |
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| Line 204: | Line 212: | ||
|- <div id="Green_Bird_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Green_Bird_Frackle" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Scoff2.JPG| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Scoff2.JPG|200px]] |
| valign=top | '''Green Frackle'''<ref>[[The Muppet Show Annual 1977]]</ref> |
| valign=top | '''Green Frackle'''<ref>[[The Muppet Show Annual 1977]]</ref> |
||
A green bird-like Frackle was seen in early seasons of ''The Muppet Show''. The Frackle was occasionally portrayed as a female monster, but unlike other Frackles, only the voice changed in this respect and not the physical appearance of the character. |
A green bird-like Frackle was seen in early seasons of ''The Muppet Show''. The Frackle was occasionally portrayed as a female monster, but unlike other Frackles, only the voice changed in this respect and not the physical appearance of the character. |
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| Line 218: | Line 226: | ||
**[[Episode 203: Milton Berle]] ("[[Ugly Song]]," performed by [[Abby Hadfield]]) |
**[[Episode 203: Milton Berle]] ("[[Ugly Song]]," performed by [[Abby Hadfield]]) |
||
*''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' |
*''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' |
||
| − | **[[Episode 201: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince]] ("[[Tales |
+ | **[[Episode 201: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince]] ("[[Tales from the Vet]]") |
</div> |
</div> |
||
|- <div id="Mo_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Mo_Frackle" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Character.mofrackle.jpg| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Character.mofrackle.jpg|200px]][[File:Mo_Frackle.png|200px]] |
| valign=top | '''[[Mo Frackle]]''' |
| valign=top | '''[[Mo Frackle]]''' |
||
A green Frackle named '''Mo''' appeared with the Muppet team on ''[[Family Feud]]'' in 2001. He was built by [[James Wojtal]], and originally named Skankin. |
A green Frackle named '''Mo''' appeared with the Muppet team on ''[[Family Feud]]'' in 2001. He was built by [[James Wojtal]], and originally named Skankin. |
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| + | * [[Muppet viral videos]] |
||
| − | * ''[[Virmup]]'' |
||
**"[[Haunted Holidays]]" video (October 2009) |
**"[[Haunted Holidays]]" video (October 2009) |
||
**"[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" video (November 2009) |
**"[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" video (November 2009) |
||
*''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'' |
*''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'' |
||
| + | *''"[[Orange]]" spot'' |
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| + | *''[[Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular]]'' |
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|- <div id="Scabby_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Scabby_Frackle" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:scabby.jpg| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:scabby.jpg|200px]] |
| valign=top | '''Scabby Frackle'''<ref>[http://forum.muppetcentral.com/showthread.php?t=11695 Muppet Central Forum]</ref> |
| valign=top | '''Scabby Frackle'''<ref>[http://forum.muppetcentral.com/showthread.php?t=11695 Muppet Central Forum]</ref> |
||
A teal frackle built by [[James Wojtal]]. The character was originally named Rankin, and was featured in [[Macy's Windows]]. |
A teal frackle built by [[James Wojtal]]. The character was originally named Rankin, and was featured in [[Macy's Windows]]. |
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| Line 237: | Line 247: | ||
|- <div id="Pink_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Pink_Frackle" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Pink Frackle.JPG| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Pink Frackle.JPG|200px]][[File:Pink_Frackle_MOPATOPS.jpg|200px]] |
| valign=top | A pink Frackle debuted in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. This character was refurbished for [[Mopatop's Shop]]. |
| valign=top | A pink Frackle debuted in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. This character was refurbished for [[Mopatop's Shop]]. |
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| Line 256: | Line 266: | ||
* ''[[Mopatop's Shop]]'' |
* ''[[Mopatop's Shop]]'' |
||
** [[Episode 457: Grand Slam]] (as [[Zelda]]) |
** [[Episode 457: Grand Slam]] (as [[Zelda]]) |
||
| − | * |
+ | * [[Muppet viral videos]]: [[Haunted Holidays]] video (October 2009) |
* ''[[The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora]]'' |
* ''[[The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora]]'' |
||
**Game Day |
**Game Day |
||
*''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'' |
*''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'' |
||
| + | *''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]'' (in the [[Gulag]]) |
||
</div> |
</div> |
||
|- <div id="Purple_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Purple_Frackle" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:PurpleFrackle2.jpg| |
+ | | valign=top | [[File:Purple_Frackle.png|200px]][[Image:PurpleFrackle2.jpg|200px]] |
| valign=top | A light purple Frackle with yellow eyes debuted in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. |
| valign=top | A light purple Frackle with yellow eyes debuted in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. |
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| Line 284: | Line 295: | ||
* ''[[Mopatop's Shop]]'' |
* ''[[Mopatop's Shop]]'' |
||
* ''[[Disney Xtreme Digital]]'' (October 2008) |
* ''[[Disney Xtreme Digital]]'' (October 2008) |
||
| − | * |
+ | * [[Muppet viral videos]]: "[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" video (November 2009) |
* ''[[The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora]]'' |
* ''[[The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora]]'' |
||
**Game Day |
**Game Day |
||
*[[The Muppet Show Theme]] Music Video |
*[[The Muppet Show Theme]] Music Video |
||
*''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'' |
*''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'' |
||
| + | *''[[Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular]]'' |
||
| + | *[[Warburtons]] commercial |
||
</div> |
</div> |
||
|- <div id="Gray_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Gray_Frackle" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Elderly Frackle.JPG| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Elderly Frackle.JPG|200px]] |
| + | [[File:PurpleFrackle.png|200px]] |
||
| valign=top | A Frackle with light purple skin, grayish fur, no ears, and claws debuted in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. |
| valign=top | A Frackle with light purple skin, grayish fur, no ears, and claws debuted in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. |
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| Line 323: | Line 337: | ||
|- <div id="Dark_Green_Frackle" /><div id="Jade_Green_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Dark_Green_Frackle" /><div id="Jade_Green_Frackle" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Dark Green Hunchback Frackle.jpg| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Dark Green Hunchback Frackle.jpg|200px]] |
| valign=top | '''Jade Green Frackle''' |
| valign=top | '''Jade Green Frackle''' |
||
A dark green hunchbacked Frackle debuted in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. The monster is prominently featured in bonus material on the [[The Muppets (video)|Blu-ray release]] of ''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'', where he is named '''[[J. G.]]''' |
A dark green hunchbacked Frackle debuted in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. The monster is prominently featured in bonus material on the [[The Muppets (video)|Blu-ray release]] of ''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'', where he is named '''[[J. G.]]''' |
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| Line 350: | Line 364: | ||
*''[[Disney Xtreme Digital]]'' (October 2008) |
*''[[Disney Xtreme Digital]]'' (October 2008) |
||
*''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'' |
*''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'' |
||
| + | *''[[The Muppets Character Encyclopedia]]'' |
||
| + | *''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]'' |
||
</div> |
</div> |
||
|- <div id="Long-Beaked_Frackle" /> |
|- <div id="Long-Beaked_Frackle" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Greenlong-beakedFrackle.jpg| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Greenlong-beakedFrackle.jpg|200px]] |
| valign=top | A green long-beaked Frackle debuted in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. With a longer, darker green beak and olive-colored fur, this Frackle bore a slight resemblance to the Snake Frackle. |
| valign=top | A green long-beaked Frackle debuted in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. With a longer, darker green beak and olive-colored fur, this Frackle bore a slight resemblance to the Snake Frackle. |
||
| Line 373: | Line 389: | ||
|- <div id="Green_Frackle2" /> |
|- <div id="Green_Frackle2" /> |
||
| − | | valign=top | [[Image:Green Boppity.jpg| |
+ | | valign=top | [[Image:Green Boppity.jpg|200px]]<br>[[File:Green_Frackle_2_MOPATOPS_copy.jpg|200px]] |
| valign=top | A green-furred Frackle made his debut in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. With green fur ears and head but a fleshy face which changed between orange and pink, this Frackle bore a slight resemblance to the Blue Frackle. This Frackle was also refurbished for ''[[Mopatop's Shop]]''. |
| valign=top | A green-furred Frackle made his debut in [[Episode 507: Glenda Jackson|episode 507]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. With green fur ears and head but a fleshy face which changed between orange and pink, this Frackle bore a slight resemblance to the Blue Frackle. This Frackle was also refurbished for ''[[Mopatop's Shop]]''. |
||
| Line 401: | Line 417: | ||
|} |
|} |
||
| − | ==See |
+ | ==See also== |
| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Frackle_sketch.jpg|300px|thumb|Jim Henson's sketch of a few Frackles]] |
*[[Cosmo Scam's henchmen]] |
*[[Cosmo Scam's henchmen]] |
||
Revision as of 15:06, 26 March 2016
Two Frackles with the Screaming Thing and the Koozebanian Phoob.
The Frackles are a group of monsters who first appeared in the 1970 special The Great Santa Claus Switch as the henchmen of Cosmo Scam, the villain who tried to replace Santa Claus.
The group included Snivelly, Boppity and Gloat, among others. Several of the Frackles were later reused or reworked for other projects, including The Muppet Show. And some changed to monsters or other creatures - such as Gonzo (originally known as a cigar box Frackle) who moved away from the Frackle label to become a "whatever".
Five Frackles were mentioned by name in the lyrics of a song featured in The Great Santa Claus Switch. However they were never mentioned by those names again; their names were either changed or not mentioned at all thereafter. When the Frackles were referred to after that special, they were either named after their performer, color, shape or design. The Jim Henson Company does not have any official files, publications or material with the song's names included. Boppity and Gloat, for example, were officially known within the Henson organization as Blue Frackle and Green Frackle, respectively. The Frackles became nameless and personality-less monsters, similar to Whatnots, Anything Muppets, and Anything Monsters. They often changed appearance, performer, name and gender depending on the sketch. The Frackles had no distinct traits or personality, and functioned as utility monsters.
Six new Frackles debuted in the fifth season of The Muppet Show, similar in design to the established Frackles. In 2001, when the Muppets appeared on Family Feud, a new Frackle named Mo was introduced.
When Fraggle Rock was in development, the question arose of choosing a name for the characters' species. According to Michael K. Frith, Jerry Juhl kept returning to the moniker "Frackle," which when softened to "Fraggle," became the final choice.[1]
Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones suggests that the word may come from "Grackle," another name for blackbird.[2] The major Frackles are all birdlike.
The definition of what is a Frackle, rather than a generic monster, narrowed over time. It appears that as originally sketched for The Great Santa Claus Switch, all of Cosmo Scam's henchmen could be called Frackles, and in a 1971 Dick Cavett Show appearance, Jim Henson offhandedly refers to Lothar and Thog in this way. However, dialogue by Cosmo Scam in the special seems to suggest that only the smaller creatures are Frackles. By the time of The Muppet Show, only the birdlike creatures were referred to as Frackles, and any new Frackles created resemble Boppity and Gloat, thus defining what exactly a Frackle is.
Frackles
See also
Jim Henson's sketch of a few Frackles
Sources
- ↑ Jim Henson: The Works
- ↑ Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones, EPUB page 35.
- ↑ The Muppet Show Annual 1978
- ↑ The Muppet Show Annual 1978
- ↑ Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles
- ↑ Dave Goelz Interview
- ↑ Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles
- ↑ Jim Henson's design sketches
- ↑ The Muppet Show Annual 1977
- ↑ Muppet Central Forum