My Favorite Muppets, Part 4: Jerry Nelson

Now let's take a look at Hunt's standard puppeteering partner, Jerry Nelson.  I wrote a tribute to him back in 2012 after he passed, where I noted that despite his lack of "huge" Muppet characters, he had more than his share of signature roles that showed his heart and humor.  Read that article if you haven't, as I don't want to repeat myself too much.

Nelson was great at the "sweet" character.  The little guy who only wanted to succeed in life, yet was crushed at every turn (physically or metaphorically).  Although he's not on this list, some honorable mentions would go to Emmett Otter, who was the star of his own tragic Christmas special and Mr. Johnson, the put-upon everyman who was constantly abused by Grover's incompetence.

But Nelson was never one to complain.  He remained loyal and supportive as long as his energy would allow him.  His last major performance was in The Muppets where he reprised the role of the Announcer.  He clearly still loved his work, even if it was hard sometimes.

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10) Herry Monster - Sesame Street

Herry was definitely more prominent in the '70s and '80s than he was in the '90s when I was introduced to Sesame Street, so I feel like he was often overlooked when it came to the core characters.  But he proved that even though a monster may look big and scary, they can be really sweet when you get to know them.  Sometimes he made mistakes and messes, but he always apologized and try to fix his errors.  And he sleeps with a dolly.  How can you not love Herry?

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9) Female Koozebanian Creature - The Muppet Show

Of the core five puppeteers, Nelson had the best "female" voice.  It came in a few varieties and it was mostly used for elderly women, like Fozzie's mother, or chickens, like Camilla.  But I chose the Female Koozebanian Creature because her giddy laugh is so infectious and it makes the sketch that results in her mating ritual sacrifice all the funnier.

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8) Count von Count - Sesame Street

Before the Count, children would count to 20 without Transylvnian accents and maniacal laughter.

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7) Floyd Pepper - The Muppet Show

Floyd was Nelson's choice as the character he identified most with, allowing his philosophies and interest to shine through in the character's dialogue.  I personally like the groovy strutting that Floyd did whenever he walked from place to place.

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6) Dr. Julius Strangepork - The Muppet Show

Man, I wish they had used Dr. Strangepork a lot more than they did.  An elderly German scientist is already great to have in your team of loonies, and the pig element only adds to the visual humor.  In fact, call me crazy, but I think I would have preferred it had Dr. Strangepork replaced Dr. Bunsen in the "Muppet Labs" segments.  Not only would it have paired Nelson with Hunt again, but it would have allowed for more zaniness.  Strangepork usually played the straightman in the "Pigs in Space" segments, and he was sometimes given the opportunity to play a Dr. Frankenstein like mad-scientist, but he always struck me as more endearing than Bunsen.  He's a pig I wouldn't have minded accidentally watching torture poor Beaker.  Bunsen just comes off as a creepy, heartless jerk.

But mostly, I just want more people to know who I'm talking about when I mention Dr. Strangepork.

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5) Gobo Fraggle - Fraggle Rock

With The Frog Prince and Emmett Otter, Nelson proved he could play the lead character without issue.  Fraggle Rock was very much a belated gift to the man who deserved star treatment.  Gobo isn't just a generic "leader."  Like many adventurers and heroes before him, Gobo is the small man who comes into greatness.  He is the Frodo of Fraggle Rock.  He's a positive force to all those around him, but he also makes mistakes and gets in over his head.  But he yearns to experience more, even when he fails.  He is one of my few puppet role models.

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4) Scred - The Land of Gorch (Saturday Night Live)

I've already discussed the rise and fall of the first attempt to bring the Muppets to an adult audience with the SNL misstep, "The Land of Gorch."  But leave it to Nelson to create the breakaway character from the sketches.  The sly and sarcastic Scred probably dealt with more shady dealings than all other Muppets combined, be he was just so lovable as a character.  Apparently, Scred was the inspiration for the Skek-Sis villains of The Dark Crystal (and Nelson even played the eldest Skek-Sis emperor who dies at the beginning, which leads me to believe that he is just and older version of Scred).

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3) Thog - The Great Santa Claus Switch, The Muppet Show

While many of the giant Muppet monsters tend to blend together, the warm-hearted Thog is worthy of iconic status.  He was the only surviving character of the lackluster early Muppet Christmas Special The Great Santa Claus Switch, despite being part of a duo.  His main shtick then involved dancing to romantic ballads with female guest stars because he was basically a big blue teddy bear.  For anyone who has trouble believing that Nelson was just a big softy, look no further than Thog.

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2) Robin the Frog - The Frog Prince, The Muppet Show

I've already said so many wonderful things about Robin, but what I like the most is that he is inspired by Kermit.  Like Nelson to Henson, Robin observed the trials that Kermit underwent to become the star that he became today.  He was the first frog to leave the swamp and make a name for himself.  Robin wants to similarly be like Kermit.  But he isn't a copycat, nor is he overbearing.  He is timid, but self-aware.  He knows that he is smaller and less noticeable than the rest and is therefore unlikely to stand out, so he uses that to his advantage, singing songs that show the power one small individual can have.

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1) Uncle Deadly - The Muppet Show

And while Robin is a perfect choice for the best Nelson character, my own personal favorite would have to be Uncle Deadly.  As I said with Link Hogthrob and Sam the Eagle, part of it had to do with the fact that I was more familar with The Muppet Movie than The Muppet Show and these awesome looking creatures with hidden backstories would stare at me from my Muppet memorabilia.  When I learned Uncle Deadly's story, I thought he was just the coolest.

The closest thing that the Muppets could have to a villain (besides general critics/man-eating monsters/squares) was this former star, feeling that that Muppets were disgracing his stage with foolish antics.  He was a thespian of old and he commanded dignity.  But unlike Sam the Eagle, who just complained a lot, Deadly's dignity was well-earned.  He carried himself with grace and his beautiful voice was haunting in all senses of the word.

I wish he had become more of a hit amongst the fans, because I'd like to have seen what else he could have gotten up to.  I'm glad he resurfaced in The Muppets, fulfilling the role he was meant to play, but by then, Nelson was no longer at the helm.

Like Deadly, Nelson was a talented man.  He was strongly devoted to his craft and he held out for a long time, even while others moved on.  He lived to perform and he will forever be remembered for it.  And it goes to show that even though giant talents can make one a monster, one can use those talents to showcase a more sensitive side.

Let There Be Light

Music is essential to our culture.  The original stories, passed down through oral traditions, were often told in song and poetry.  The rhymes, rhythm, meter, and other poetic tropes helped make longer stories easier to memorize.  By setting the stories to music, history would be forever linked with song.

The Fraggle culture is even more dependent on music that we are.  They sing every single day.  Like our primitive societies, this was one of the only ways to stay entertained, sane, and alive.  Think that may seem a bit over-dramatic?  Well, consider "The Day the Music Died."

Once every generational cycle, a Fraggle is chosen to write and compose "The Glory Song."  This would be the defining song for the whole generation, preserving that group's history.  As the current cycle is coming to a close, Gobo is selected to write the Glory Song for the next cycle.  Gobo, considering himself to be more of an explorer, and less of the creative type, has trouble concentrating on writing this very important piece.  So as to not distract him, all of the other Fraggles refrain from singing until he is ready.  And that's when things get dark.

Literally.

All of the light starts to vanish from the cave.  The last few remaining specks cry out to the Fraggles for help.  These creatures are known as the Ditzies (similar to fireflies) and they are as confused as the Fraggles.  All they know is that they are dying rapidly, plunging the Rock into darkness.  Without any source of light, the Fraggles start to enter into a permanent sleep stasis.

Gobo and Wembley manage to make their way to the Trash Heap in the well-lit garden to ask for advice.  Being as cryptic as usual, she instructs them to "do what they always do."

But that's what got us in this mess in the first place.

Unsure of what to do, Gobo and Wembley head back to the cave to pull the Fraggles out into the light. Unfortunately, Wembley falls fast asleep, and Gobo only has enough strength to lift his guitar.  In a vain attempt to keep himself awake, Gobo begins to improvise a song.  He calls it "Shine On Me" and with each strum of the strings, a Ditzie flies out of the guitar.

The song restores everyone back to life, with a whole new set of Ditzies lighting the caves.  The Fraggles hail this as Gobo's Glory Song and they celebrate to ring in the new cycle.

"Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind...!"

The Fraggles learned that sometimes a simple, well-intentioned change could destroy years of support and structure within a society.  By removing music from the equation, the Fraggles ceased to be.  What is the point of having Fraggle Rock without any music in it?  The universe has a way of course correcting to ensure that giant populations can get through difficult situations.  That's because everything eventually tries to find a balance, a stasis.

For people, we refer to this as our "comfort zone," with a negative connotation.  As we ring in the new year, millions of people are making resolutions to change who they are, only to find that in a couple of weeks, they'll still be the same person they always were.  This isn't bad.  This isn't good.  It's just the way life is.  Making significant changes can be hard.  And there is always a difficult period to get through.  And sometimes we find it is beneficial to return to the comfort zone.  It's up to you.

Have a wonderful New Year!  May you never lose the music, or the light, in your life!

"...should old acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne!"

This Side of Paradise

Last year, I noted that the Fraggles' winter solstice holiday, the Festival of the Bells, can trace its roots to the traditions of pagan cultures and the origins of our holiday customs that have long been forgotten. But an earlier "Christmas episode" of Fraggle Rock showcases the origin of organized religion itself.

In "Manny's Land of Carpets," Uncle Traveling Matt's latest postcard prepares the Fraggles for an unexpected gift from above.  Having noticed the humans' Christmas routine of sitting on a strange, white-beared man's lap to ask for gifts, Uncle Matt gives it a go.  He asks the red-suited stranger to bring his family and friends up to the surface to reunite with him.  The mall Santa, confused by the request, promises him that he'll make sure his family gets the presents they need.

He does exist!  They do exist!

Coincidentally, Doc receives a brand new radio.  Finding the noise unbearable, Sprocket sticks it in the Fraggle hole where it is discovered by Gobo who shows it to the rest.  They surmise that this is the gift from the "magical wish-granting creature from Outer Space" that Matt told them about.  The fact that such a creature exists is already mesmerizing to the simple-minded Fraggles, so when the magic box starts talking, they are transfixed.

All hail the magic box!

Gobo is the first to hear the radio speak.  It "instructs" him to go to Manny's Land of Carpets, where "happiness is guaranteed."  Gobo acts as a prophet and begins spreading the word to the other Fraggles about the wonderful world of Manny's, where all your dreams can come true.  A mass exodus from Fraggle Rock is in order, but the plans change when some of the other Fraggles hear the wish-granting creature instruct them to go to Bubba's Burger Barn, where they can have "all they can eat!"

A schism develops among the clan, each claiming that the location they heard is the one true path for the group.  Boober, rightfully, sees this box as causing nothing but strife, but even he too is swayed by the box's promise of a place where his laundry whites will look their whitest (Sally's Spotless Cleaners).  Gobo assures people that Manny's is the voice they should follow, because it will have everything they need, including food and laundry.  But still, tension erupts.

Gobo takes some time away from the box to clear his head, and realizes that the Rock is the best place for the Fraggles, because they can't even be sure if those other locations really exist.  He tries to convince everyone to make the most of where they live and not worry about these lofty promises, but the Fraggles still need their gratification.  Giving up, Gobo tells them to just go their separate ways then.

As Fraggle Rock begins to empty out, Gobo sings "Goodbye, Goodbye" to his home.  The words touch the Fraggles so deeply that they decide to get rid of the box, for it is better to be unsure about their future than to throw away the lives they have now worrying about it.

Leave it to Gobo to show us the way.

Before we go too much further, the two songs in this episode are amazing, some of the best I've ever seen in the show.  Gobo's "Follow the Road," which gets everyone excited about the paradise of Manny's is really uplifting and fun while his "Goodbye, Goodbye" just hits you right there.  I couldn't find it on Youtube, but there is a wonderful fan cover that is worth a listen.

Although the Christmas influence is very light in this episode, this is worthy of inclusion in your Christmas library.  There is a lot of controversy and ire over the secularization of Christmas, with some choosing to ignore the religious overtones and others choosing to embrace it.  But the ultimate aim of the holiday (assuming we're optimistic) is to celebrate life and togetherness, no matter what your background.  Gobo learns that worrying about the afterlife too much can lead us to miss out on the beauty of what we have in this one.

Take a moment this holiday season to just appreciate the magic in your life.

The Essential Jerry Nelson

Every Muppeteer has their signature Muppet.  Jim has Kermit, Frank has Miss Piggy, Richard has Scooter, and Dave has Gonzo.  But who does Jerry have?

Jerry Nelson had one of the longest careers of any Muppet performer, so he's amassed quite a few characters over the years.  With over 250 characters on his resume, it's going to be difficult choosing one Muppet that represented the man.

Intentional Muppet caricatures don't count.

The character that most people are going to recognize is Count von Count.  Sesame Street deals primarily with letters and numbers and, for over half of the current American population, this kindly lavender vampire is the person who taught us how to count.

At a young age, we are taught that math is scary.

And while this is an important service and instantly recognizable character, the Count never developed beyond his main trait.  Nelson was impersonating Bela Lugosi's Dracula, and while he made the character his own, he was not able to bring much depth to the pre-established role.

Besides, the Count wasn't from The Muppet Show.  Nelson's biggest role on that show would have to be Sgt. Floyd Pepper, lead singer and bassist for the Electric Mayhem.  This cool hip cat is exactly the laid-back type of person Nelson could identify with.

They even have the same hat!

And Floyd is a great character.  But signature?  Well, it's hard to imagine Floyd outside the context of the Electric Mayhem.  Frank Oz's Animal was able to break free and become a memorable icon in his own right, but Floyd is forever a musician, and he sticks with the band.  We're going to have to look elsewhere...

How about down in Fraggle Rock?  Here, Jerry Nelson had the lead role with the courageous and adventurous Gobo Fraggle.  This was the character that sought the answers to life's greatest mysteries and grew to be a better person because of them.  Everyone in Fraggle Rock looked up to Gobo as a leader, and it gave Nelson a chance to shine!

The two most pleasant people under the earth.

Although, as great as it was, Fraggle Rock did not have as large an impact on our collective consciousness as the other Muppet productions.  The polite Canadian-accented Gobo Fraggle is a wonderful, well-developed character for a children's show.  If only more people knew that Fraggles existed...

It seems as if Nelson was most skilled at playing the meek and small, since it played to his sense of playfulness when it came to exploring the giant world around him.  And as far as Muppet's go, they don't get any littler than Robin the Frog.  Kermit's nephew may feel limited by his size, but his heart is big enough to make up for his shortcomings.  He can see the beauty in life, no matter what.

Kermit isn't the only frog singing about rainbows.

I'm almost content to settle on Robin as being the best character to represent Jerry Nelson, but then more voices keep popping up.  What about Emmet Otter?  What about Herry Monster?  What about Camilla the Chicken?  What about Frazzle or Sherlock Hemlock or the Amazing Mumford or Biff the construction worker or Grover's perpetual victim Mr. Johnson or the Two-Headed Monster's right head?  What about Pops or Louis Kazagger or Crazy Harry or Dr. Julius Strangepork or Uncle Deadly or Lew Zealand or the indispensable Female Koozebanean Creature?  What about Scred or Majory the Trash Heap or Balthazar the Teddy Bear or the Emperor Skeksis from The Dark Crystal?

AND WHAT ABOUT THOG?!

Don't you forget about me.

This list will go on forever.  There are so many great characters that Nelson has brought to life that it would be wrong to pick just one.  These are all Jerry Nelson.  Each of these characters, whether it be Floyd or Gobo or the Count or Robin, belong with the group they are associated with.  You can't take them on their own because they are essential to the ensemble.

Without Jerry, an entire population of characters would not exist.  Nelson was a vital part of the Muppet group and a crucial part of our lives, whether we realized it or not.  May he rest in peace.

Red Fraggle: I Want to Be the Very Best

It takes a special kind of person to work with the Muppets.  They must not only be one with their puppets, but one with their own emotions as well.  When actors portray characters, they are often tapping into an element of themselves that is true.  The puppeteers must pass this internalization of a character onto an inanimate object and make it just as believable as if they were performing the part by themselves.  Rarely does the audience decide who someone's signature Muppet is.  The connection between the special Muppet and the puppeteer is born from within, and once the connection is made, it is impossible to see anyone else in that role.

Karen Prell's signature Muppet is Red Fraggle and this pairing was not a coincidence.

Karen Prell and Red Fraggle

In 1979, Karen was a huge fan of the Muppets, and she had begun crafting her own puppets in a similar vein.  She boldly reached out to Jim Henson directly, vying for a spot on his team, and showcasing the puppets she created which were clearly based on his own, one even being a modified Grover puppet.

We should all try writing letters like this.

Henson liked her style and soon she was doing bit parts on The Muppet Show and Sesame Street, and she assisted in his Creature Shop movies as well.  When Fraggle Rock was being developed, Karen knew that she wanted to be the artsy, thoughtful Mokey Fraggle, but after her audition, Henson cast her as Red Fraggle instead.  The athletic, competitive, energetic Fraggle was not who Karen had in mind as her best character, and was disappointed, struggling to connect.  But she was later quoted as saying that Henson could see through to the real her, and knew she would be perfect for the role.

On the set of "A Muppet Family Christmas."   Karen and Red are part of the family.

Karen herself didn't make the connection until the episode "I Want to Be You."  During this episode, Red grows jealous of Mokey when Gobo implies that he'd rather hang out with her, since she is quiet and not always asking him to do dangerous stunts like Red does.  Red laments that she wishes she could just be Mokey, instead of herself.  So, she decides to give herself a complete makeover, let her hair down, and act just like Mokey.

She's all that.

This was Karen's chance to basically perform Mokey for a day, changing her voice and performing style.  Unfortunately, Red fails at performing Mokey's talents and just ends up confusing her friends.  Ultimately, she finds herself in a situation in which her friends are about to be captured by the Gorg, and, using her assertive, boldness, she manages to distract the Gorg long enough for her friends to escape.  Mokey's meekness would have failed in this situation, and it was then that both Red and Karen understood who they were.

Red evolved to be the Fraggliest Fraggle of them all.  Her boundless energy made her a force to be reckoned with, and her competitive spirit became her signature quality.  This often put her at direct odds with Gobo, the genial leader of the group.  Gobo always remained level-headed, Wembley always followed along with whatever anyone said, Mokey was too introspective, and Boober was too worried all the time to be in control.  Red, however, always wanted to be in charge, and she gets her wish (sort of) in "Red's Club."

Pictured: All the members of Red's Club.

In her attempt to be the leader for once, she forms a club that has many rules for exclusion from the group.  Basically, anything Gobo wants to do is forbidden (especially reading postcards from Uncle Traveling Matt, which Red found to be the most boring part of each episode).  Since Gobo was nicer and less demanding, all the Fraggles end up staying in his club, leaving Red all alone (save for a Doozer, who eventually quits).  Red learns a lesson innot always having to be the center of attention, and that cooperating with others is beneficial to all involved.

There is one more episode that is important to understanding Red's character: "Playing Till It Hurts."  This episode was based on a story idea pitched by Karen Prell herself, when a Wembley episode fell through at the last minute.  By now, Karen understood her character so well that she knew the perfect conflict for Red to encounter: her own determination.

As mentioned before, Red was the athlete of the group.  Her favorite sport was the game "Rock Hockey," which seemed like a cross-between hockey, rocks, and Quidditch.

It makes perfect sense.

Her idol Rock Hockey Hannah had heard of Red's prowess on the field and was planning a visit to watch her play.  Red, unfortunately, injures her leg during practice and is placed on bed rest during the big game.  Despite doctor's orders, she sneaks into the game posing as the goalie (which isn't even her position) and, combined with her crippling injury, performs very badly.  Eventually, Red reveals herself, claiming that she just wanted to impress Rock Hockey Hannah, and her idol informs her that a true athlete knows when to quit.

This is just a terrible day.

When we look at these three episodes side by side, we can see a pattern of staying true to yourself, but not going overboard.  Red is an independent spirit, which defines her.  But in each case, she takes her good qualities to such an extreme that it ends up working against her favor.  Red's sole purpose in these series seems to be to inform children to be comfortable with who they are.

Even if they are loud and rambunctious.

Karen eventually left the Muppets to work with Pixar where she continued to do great work.  However, in recent years, she has returned to the Muppets, appearing at many events in character as Red.  

Seen here at Comic Con.

Usually she appears alone, which indicates that this is truly a labor of love.  These aren't just big Muppet gatherings.  She is looking for any chance to keep Red alive.  And that is exactly the kind of Fraggle Red is.  She won't stay down.  She will remain the center of attention as long as she has to, because she is full of self-worth.  This all coming from the woman who thought Red wasn't a right fit for her.

Paris Hilton and Red Fraggle.  This sight made possible by Ms. Prell.

With upcoming Fraggle Rock projects in the works, you can be certain that Karen Prell is the most excited out of all of us.  Red will have the chance to reach a new generation of kids, and we will all be the better for it.

Because you can take the Fraggle out of the Rock, but you can't take the Rock out of the Fraggle.

Seasonal Depression

If you know your Christmas history, then you are aware that the birth of Christ and December 25th do not exactly match up.  The December date was chosen as a way to take advantage of the pagan winter solstice celebrations occurring at the end of the year anyway.  With so many feasts and parties going on, this was the high point of the year, a great time for our biggest holiday to be celebrated.  But why were these events even happening in the first place?

As Uncle Traveling Matt observes, we partake in some very silly habits on Christmas Eve.

The winter solstice marks the beginning of the snowy season with the shortest and darkest day of the year (in the northern hemisphere, at least).  Because the freezing cold temperatures and prolonged lack of sunlight make for an unpleasant time, many cultures decided to mark the day with a celebration, filled with lots of food and mythical gift-giving characters to raise everyone's spirits.  The end of the year became a time to look forward to, rather than reluctantly endure.  It was as if everybody decided to ignore Mother Nature's annual season of misery.

In Fraggle Rock's only holiday special "The Bells of Fraggle Rock," Doc prepares his home for Christmas by embracing the traditions of other cultures.  He introduces these various customs by teaching his dog Sprocket about the winter solstice.

It's December 21st! Time to break out the piñata!

Down in Fraggle Rock, the Fraggles have their own holiday associated with the beginning of winter known as "The Festival of the Bells."  According to tradition, there lies a Great Bell at the center of the rock that must be rung to prevent the rock from freezing completely.  In order to awaken the Great Bell, all Fraggles must ring their own personal bells.  As with all of these events, games, dances, songs and giant meals accompany the festival, making the time very merry indeed.

Finally, a chance for the Fraggles to sing and play!

But Gobo Fraggle (Jerry Nelson), after some deep thinking, surmises that there is no point to all of these silly traditions.  Every year they ring their bells and every year nothing changes.  It still gets cold, it still gets dark, he still never hears the Great Bell and his spirit drops.  He recognizes that people enjoy this day, but as he gets older, the fun has been drained from this once festive occasion.  He tries to convince his friends that all of their ringing is for naught, as no one has actually seen the Great Bell in person, and it most likely is just a myth and nothing more.

When the wise minstrel Cantus (Jim Henson) comes to officiate the bell-ringing ceremonies, Gobo tries to ask his faith-shaking questions about the holiday but receives only metaphors and vague responses.  Frustrated, he leaves the ceremony, using an old map of the Fraggle Rock tunnels to locate the Great Bell.  If no one else will answer his questions, he will discover the truth by himself.

His best bet would be to start with that bell shaped camber in the center of the rock.

Gobo's friends plead with Cantus to bring their friend back from his quest, agreeing to put the festival on hold until they both return.  Despite the fact that the temperature is dropping rapidly, Cantus sets forth to retrieve Gobo.

And with a confusing array of lyrical dialogue, he is off!

Eventually, he catches up with him just as Gobo discovers the door to the center chamber.  Cantus warns Gobo that by opening the door, he may not be prepared for what he finds and that it is best to turn back.  However, Gobo proceeds, for he needs to know the truth.

THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE GREAT BELL AND WOULD RATHER RELY ON THEIR OWN FAITH FOR THE ANSWER.

The Path to Enlightenment

Gobo opens the door, heads inside, and discovers that the chamber is completely empty!  The Great Bell does not exist and it never has!  Centuries of legend destroyed in an instant!

Life is meaningless.

Wise Cantus leads Gobo back to his family, trying to explain what he just saw.  So it's true, there is no Great Bell.  So what?  Every year, the rock keeps thriving.  People keep living and they stay happy.  Even if there is no Great Bell to keep everyone safe, people can still look out for each other and make their own meanings in life.  The world's answers are not going to lie behind some door.  Some things will forever be a mystery to us.  It is better to accept it and embrace the life that you have.

Gobo resigns to this fate and sadly returns home.  Unfortunately, home is not the same as it once was.  With the Festival of the Bells postponed, the great freeze did indeed come, freezing everyone solid!

It's just as creepy as the ending of The Shining.

How could this be?  Gobo just learned that there was never a Great Bell to prevent a freeze like this.  How could it suddenly happen?  It then dawns on Gobo that no one rang their own bells.  By staying put and not moving, the freeze was able to take over.  It is the act of ringing the bells that keeps the rock warm enough to survive the cold.  There is a Great Bell at the center of the rock!  Gobo unleashes his own Great Bell to help revive everyone once and for all.

Life has returned with a warming glow.

It is not every children's Christmas special that deals with such a complicated topic as the lack of faith.  Yet, it is exactly what many people experience during the winter holidays (and was, in fact, the reason these holidays were invented in the first place).  There may not be some great metaphysical reason behind our celebrations, but as humans, we have chosen to observe them for a valuable purpose.  Winter is the season of death.  Plants die, food becomes scarce, and life becomes difficult.  Without our annual pick-me-up encouraging us to stay close together, our species may not have survived as long as it has.

When the world is at it's coldest, we supply the warmth.