The gargoyles on the cathedral belfry on The Muppet Show.
A gargoyle is a stone-carved decorative waterspout that protects buildings from water damage and erosion. In Gothic architecture, the ornimental figures are often carved to resemble a fantasy monster or demon-like creature. While they were believed in French folklore to frighten away evil spirits, the idea of such statues physically coming to life to serve as physical guardians of a place such as a cathedral or castle also grew.
A Muppet gargoyle performs "For Me and Gargoyle," a romantic duet with Mulch, in episode 509 of The Muppet Show. Three additional gargoyle heads with wings and talons adorn the belltower and sing back-up.
All four gargoyle puppets from The Muppet Show were recycled on Little Muppet Monsters in the unaired episode "Gonzo's Talent Hunt." Gonzo hopes the gargoyle will "breakdance on stilts in a 500-gallon vat of chocolate pudding," but the French gargoyle states he doesn't breakdance and tells Gonzo to eat the pudding as he performs a ballet dance routine while the trio of gargoyle heads gargle Tchaikovsky's "Vals De El Lago De Los Cisnes" from Swan Lake.
Gonzo wrote a "Weirder Than Me" report on the gargoyles of Notre Dame for the spring 1983 issue of Muppet Magazine. He figures if he ever loses his job as photographer for the Muppets, he could always get a gig as a gargoyle. The Muppet Babies Castle Playset from Playmates Toys features a Baby Gonzo inspired gargoyle atop the clock tower.
While performing "The Hunchbear of Notre Dame" in episode 211 of Muppets Tonight, "Quasi-Bobo" laments about being shut away from the world "with only the gargoyles and the bells for company."
Angus McGonagle is introduced as "the argyle gargoyle who gargles Gershwin." Early concept artwork for Uncle Deadly depicts the character as a gargoyle-like creature. Mahna Mahna and the Snowths appear as the gargoyle candle holders in the stretching room of the Haunted Mansion in Muppets Haunted Mansion.
The Castle of the Crystal in The Dark Crystal features large gargoyle carvings[1]; Jen and Kira enter the castle through "The Teeth of Skreesh," a massive gargoyle-faced drain near the bottom of the ravine that surrounds the Castle; water and waste from the Skeksis trickled out of the opening. The door knockers in Labyrinth also have facial designs reminiscent of gargoyles.
(Dave Goelz)
(Jim Henson)
See also[]
- Rock characters
- Angus McGonagle, the argyle gargoyle who gargles Gershwin