The Frackles
Encyclopedia
Bio
They first appeared in a television specialTelevision special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
called The Great Santa Claus Switch
The Great Santa Claus Switch
The Great Santa Claus Switch was a Jim Henson television special featuring his Muppets. It first aired on CBS in December 1970. It was directed by John Moffitt, written by Jerry Juhl, with music by Joe Raposo and puppets by Don Sahlin.-Plot:...
. They would then appear in later franchises, such as The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
. Characteristics of a Frackle include fur
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
and toothy beaks. They are normally small in stature, but there are exceptions. The Frackles became nameless, utility characters without personalities. They often changed appearance, performer, name and gender depending on the sketch and show. Gonzo
Gonzo the Great
Gonzo the Great is a puppet character, one of Jim Henson's Muppets. He was developed and performed by Dave Goelz. The character made his first appearance in a 1970 Christmas special entitled "The Great Santa Claus Switch". Known as a "Whatever" , he is considered one of The Frackles...
, one of the most well known Muppets, originated as a Frackle. He appeared as a Frackle living in a cigar box in The Great Santa Claus Switch.
List of Frackles
- Blue Frackle - A blue colored Frackle with a very short beak, which also has ears. The character originated in The Great Santa Claus Switch where it was called Boppity.
- Cigar Box Frackle - A crooked-nosed Frackle that was introduced as Snarl in The Great Santa Claus Switch. This Frackle was the basis for the GonzoGonzo the GreatGonzo the Great is a puppet character, one of Jim Henson's Muppets. He was developed and performed by Dave Goelz. The character made his first appearance in a 1970 Christmas special entitled "The Great Santa Claus Switch". Known as a "Whatever" , he is considered one of The Frackles...
character.
- Dripsnout Frackle - A Frackle design used for Snivelly in The Great Santa Claus Switch, Droop on The Muppet Show, Nincompoop, Ziggedy Zest, Zeke, and Abel on Mopatop's ShopMopatop's ShopMopatop's Shop is a television series that which premiered on CITV in the UK in 1999. 260 ten-minute episodes were made and aired daily. It was a co-production between Jim Henson Productions and Carlton Television.-Production:...
, Nigel on Muppets TonightMuppets TonightMuppets Tonight is a live-action/puppet television series created by Jim Henson Productions and featuring The Muppets. Much like the "MuppeTelevision" segment of The Jim Henson Hour, Muppets Tonight was a continuation of The Muppet Show, set in a television studio, rather than a theater.-Format:The...
, and others. The name comes from the book Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles.
- Green Frackle - A light green Frackle with a short toothy beak and long fur all around his neck. The character originated in The Great Santa Claus Switch where it was called Gloat.
- Snake Frackle - A dark green Frackle with a long toothy beak and large eyes. The name comes from the book Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles.
- Pink Frackle - A magenta Frackle with long ears and a beak.
- Blue-Green Frackle - A dark blue-green Frackle with a long toothy beak and a gorillaGorillaGorillas are the largest extant species of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies...
-like body.
- Green-Pink Frackle - A light green Frackle with foxFoxFox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
-like ears and a pink beak.
- Purple Frackle - A lavender Frackle with yellow eyes and a vultureVultureVulture is the name given to two groups of convergently evolved scavenging birds, the New World Vultures including the well-known Californian and Andean Condors, and the Old World Vultures including the birds which are seen scavenging on carcasses of dead animals on African plains...
-like appearance.
- Gray Frackle - A gray-purple Frackle with clawed fingers and a brownish-purple face with white hair.
- Green Frackle - A dark green Frackle similar to Snake Frackle, only with a long, greener toothy beak and smaller eyes.
- Blue Frackle - A blue vultureVultureVulture is the name given to two groups of convergently evolved scavenging birds, the New World Vultures including the well-known Californian and Andean Condors, and the Old World Vultures including the birds which are seen scavenging on carcasses of dead animals on African plains...
-like Frackle with a long toothy beak and long fur all around his neck. The character originated in The Great Santa Claus Switch where it was called Scoff.
- Green Frackle - A green vultureVultureVulture is the name given to two groups of convergently evolved scavenging birds, the New World Vultures including the well-known Californian and Andean Condors, and the Old World Vultures including the birds which are seen scavenging on carcasses of dead animals on African plains...
-like Frackle with a long toothy beak and long fur all around his neck and body.
- Mo Frackle - A lime green frackle with yellow eyes, catCatThe cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
-like ears, bushy eyebrows, and a darker-colored beak.
- Scabby Frackle - A teal frackle with a long, toothy beak, baggy eyes, and bushy eyebrows.