1 9 8 7 – 1 9 8 8 (USA)
13 x 30 minute episodes
Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, expanded his repertoire of unique characters when he created a new puppet series for the cable channel HBO called Fraggle Rock from 1983 to 1988. This network cartoon used the same characters and setup as that show.
Doc (voiced by John Stephenson), a scientist, had a house under which lived a subterranean society composed of three species: the playful Fraggles; the miniature Doozers, who liked to build towers; and the Gorges, the giants of the underground village.
Their lighthearted adventures usually focused on one character per show (for example, one episode featured Wembley in a voyage to outer space), and some shows were two-part episodes.
Fraggle Rock was designed for international consumption, and some segments were specifically produced to appeal to foreign countries. For example, a tinkerer in the US version became a retired chef in France and a lighthouse keeper in the United Kingdom.
In America, the cartoon managed to avoid being scheduled opposite Muppet Babies on CBS, another cartoon based on Henson’s creations, despite the show’s four time-slot changes in its single season on NBC.
Gobo/Wrench
Townsend Coleman
Red/Wingnut
Barbara Goodson
Mokey/Cotterpin
Mona Marshall
Boober/Sprocket
Rob Paulsen
Doc/Philo/Gunge
John Stephenson
Wembley
Bob Bergen
Pa Gorg/Travelling Matt
Patrick Pinney
Ma Gorg
Patricia Parris
Junior Gorg
Michael Laskin
Storyteller
Stu Rosen