Postcards from Traveling Matt

Gobo reads one of Uncle Matt's postcards to a captive audience.

Postcards are messages sent by Uncle Traveling Matt back to his nephew, Gobo. Matt's messages describe the interesting things he's discovered in Outer Space -- often misunderstanding what he's seen, and interpreting it from his own Fraggle point of view.

When the postcards arrive at Doc's workshop, Doc invariably throws them in the trash -- where Gobo can retrieve them. Gobo enjoys reading Matt's postcards, although some of the other Fraggles find them tedious -- especially Red.

As the series progressed the number and frequency of Matt's postcards decreased. Part of this was due to Matt returning to the Rock for good. Although he still would make occasional trips to Outer Space, he would also recount his travels to the other Fraggles orally, as flashbacks are shown, rather than being read by the others from a card.

International Traveling Matts

Many of the international co-productions of Fraggle Rock produced their own Traveling Matt segments to replace some of the original North American postcards. These international postcards would feature locations and customs of the local culture in which they were produced. Although not ever postcard segment would be re-shot and replaced, the new postcard segments would make the show feel like a local production and would also allow sharing between producers to give the allusion of Matt traveling all around the world.

Many of the foreign postcard segments used in the international co-productions were reworked with new English dialogue recorded by Dave Goelz in 1999. These 40-second channel bumpers ran on Odyssey Channel from 1999 to 2001. A collection of "20 International Traveling Matts" was included as a bonus feature on the Fraggle Rock: Complete Second Season DVD set; and 5 more of the spots were featured as hidden Easter eggs on the Complete Third Season set.

Animated Postcards

The animated version of Fraggle Rock also included postcards from Traveling Matt. Freed from the limitations of actually filming a puppet in different locales, Matt roamed more freely, participating in a roundup at a ranch, wandering in the desert, or walking directly into a highway. These segments often featured the animated character inserted infront of live photographic backdrops, a technique previously utilized on Muppet Babies.

Postcards

Season 1
Picture	Episode	Description
	Episode 101: Beginnings	Matt's first postcard simply tells Gobo that he is "fine", while he actually discovers Doc's shop, is confronted by the a ferocious hairy beast and discovers humans and cars.
	Episode 102: Wembley and the Gorgs	Matt writes about kites and balloons thinking they are flying creatures being held captive on strings.
	Episode 103: Let the Water Run	Matt think umbrellas are devices that can pull water from the sky.
	Episode 104: You Can't Do That Without a Hat	Matt finds that "treasures come and treasures go" at a donut shop.
	Episode 105: The Thirty-Minute Work Week	Matt uses the Silly Creature's rapid transport system, a rollercoaster. Note: Dave Goelz makes a cameo as the man sitting next to Matt.
	Episode 106: The Preachification of Convincing John	Matt thinks a construction crew are large Doozers, but finds their constructions are not as easy to eat.
	Episode 107: I Want To Be You	Matt visits a farm, disguises himself as a pig.
	Episode 108: The Terrible Tunnel	Fishermen making nets are preceived by Matt as hole-sewing creatures.
	Episode 109: The Lost Treasure of the Fraggles	Matt finds coins and finds out that they are for throwing into fountains.
	Episode 110: Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk	Matt thinks parking meters are Sidewalk Creatures.
	Episode 111: Catch the Tail by the Tiger	Matt encounters "shiny creatures" that talk by honking. They are actually cars.
	Episode 112: The Finger of Light	Matt discovers marionettes. He thinks they are "String Creatures" that are under the control of their leader.
	Episode 113: We Love You, Wembley	Matt thinks Ice cream cones are Silly Creatures' moss packs - he sticks one on his head.
	Episode 114: The Challenge	Matt writes about smokers, which thinks are "mouth-burners".
	Episode 115: I Don't Care	Matt finds that a boomerang is a stick that you can't throw away.
	Episode 116: Capture the Moon	Matt goes to Rainbow Farms, where he finds rainbows are hatched
	Episode 117: Marooned	Matt discovers that bubble gum is a weird food that he thinks will make your tongue inflate and explode.
	Episode 118: The Minstrels	Matt thinks mannequins are creatures performing a new form of meditation.
	Episode 120: The Garden Plot	Matt tries skateboarding
	Episode 121: Gobo's Discovery	Matt finds a sheep shearers and gets a hair cut.
	Episode 122: Mokey's Funeral	Matt discovers a magic cold stone known as ice.
	Episode 123: The Beast of Bluerock	Matt describes lawnmowers as "yard pets".
	Episode 124: New Trash Heap in Town	Matt thinks that kangaroos are some kind of transportation systems.
Season 2
Picture	Episode	Description
	Episode 201: Wembley's Egg	Matt describes airplanes as flying creatures.
	Episode 202: Boober Rock	Matt thinks subways are magical traveling caves.
	Episode 203: The Trash Heap Doesn't Live Here Anymore	Matt encounters an elevator and belives it to be a rooms that transforms the Silly Creatures inside it.
	Episode 204: Red's Sea Monster	After encountering identical twins, Matt thinks he has met Silly Creatures that split in two.
	Episode 205: Uncle Matt Comes Home	Matt goes skiing, which is an activity in which he thinks getting a "white leg" (a cast) is the object. Note: This report was given in-person by Traveling Matt rather than being read on a postcard.
	Episode 206: Boober's Dream	Matt goes to a drive-in movie which he thinks is the shared dreams of the shiny creatures (a.k.a. cars). Note: The film being shown at the drive-in is The Dark Crystal.
	Episode 208: All Work and All Play	Matt visits a video arcade.
	Episode 209: Sir Hubris and the Gorgs	Matt thinks trick or treaters are ugly creatures that seek out candy. Note: One trick or treator is dressed as Kermit the Frog and another is dressed as Miss Piggy.
	Episode 210: A Friend in Need	Traveling Matt finds himself locked in a broom closet and makes some new friends.
	Episode 211: The Wizard of Fraggle Rock	Matt goes to a beauty salon and thinks the hairdryers are hats that can change your appearance.
	Episode 212: Doozer Contest	Matt visits the CN Tower in Canada. He thinks it is a giant Doozer construction and attempts to eat it and climb it.
	Episode 213: Red's Club	Matt thinks school buildings are cave that can control Silly Creatures by ringing.
	Episode 214: The Secret of Convincing John	Matt finds that statues are Silly Creatures that have chosen to be completely inflexible as a way of life
	Episode 215: Manny's Land of Carpets	Matt meets a department store Santa and learns that he is a magic wish-granting creature.
	Episode 218: The Day the Music Died	Matt meets a street musician. Note: Phil Balsam makes a cameo as the street musician.
	Episode 219: Doomsday Soup	Matt tries to race fast food and finds that it isn't very fast at all
	Episode 220: A Cave of One's Own	Matt explores the room of two girls, including their toy chest.
	Episode 221: Wembley and the Great Race	Matt learns that Silly Creatures have to be scared into running a race by a starting pistol's shot.
	Episode 222: Doozer Is As Doozer Does	Matt belives that buses are large creatures that Silly Creatures let eat them.
	Episode 223: Boober's Quiet Day	Matt thinks napkins are objects that Silly Creatures keep on their laps and kiss occasionally
	Episode 224: The Invasion of the Toe Ticklers	Matt describes that trash as treasured objects left behind.
Season 3
Picture	Episode	Description
	Episode 301: The Bells of Fraggle Rock	Matt explains Christmas, a holiday were the Silly Creatures leave milk and cookies to cook by the fire and hang their laundry in their living rooms.
	Episode 302: Red-Handed and the Invisible Thief	Matt thinks clocks are direction finders.
	Episode 303: Boober and the Glob	Matt thinks newspapers are house food.
	Episode 304: The Grapes of Generosity	Traveling Matt visits a grocery store.
	Episode 305: Blanket of Snow, Blanket of Woe	Traveling Matt visits Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London.
	Episode 306: Pebble Pox Blues	Matt befriends a cow.
	Episode 307: Home Is Where the Trash Is	Matt finds a garbage dump, a giant Trash Heap, however it has seagulls instead of wisdom.
	Episode 308: Believe It or Not	Matt visit's Buckingham Palace and comes to the conclusion that the hats worn by theguards are actually pets, and the owners are very careful not to wake them. According to Matt, this is why they never speak.
	Episode 309: Wembley and the Mean Genie	Matt thinks zoos are places where Silly Creatures are kept behind bars.
	Episode 311: The Beanbarrow, the Burden and the Bright Bouquet	Matt describes steam locomotives as beasts.
	Episode 312: Gobo's School for Explorers	Matt explains how a playground is a school for explorers.
	Episode 313: Scared Silly	Matt describes an alarm clock as a beluvious-tester.
File:Neuschwansteincastle.jpg	Episode 314: The Great Radish Caper	Traveling Matt visits Neuschwanstein Castle and thinks it is a long lost Gorg outpost. Since where Gorgs live radishes must be nearby, Uncle Matt succeeds in finding the vegetable at a nearby stall.
	Episode 316: The Battle of Leaking Roof	Matt thinks his reflection in a shopping mall mirror is a hideous creature who likes his hat.
	Episode 317: Playing Till It Hurts	Matt thinks the mummies in a museum exhibit on Egypt are part of a hospital for Silly Creatures who have obviously been playing Rock Hockey.
	Episode 318: Bored Stiff	Matt explores a shopping mall perfume counter.
	Episode 319: The Cavern of Lost Dreams	Traveling Matt goes to an antiques shop.
	Episode 320: The Incredible Shrinking Mokey	Matt thinks dolls are shrunken Silly Creatures.
	Episode 321: A Dark and Stormy Night	Matt thinks a large house is a Gorg castle.
	Episode 322: Gunge the Great and Glorious	Matt thinks that kayaks are giant water shoes.
Season 4
Picture	Episode	Description
	Episode 403: Sidebottom Blues	Matt thinks that tea kettle, phone, and cuckoo clock are noisy creatures with strange voices.
	Episode 404: Uncle Matt's Discovery	As Matt returns to Fraggle Rock he encounters Doc spraypainting primer on a garden gnome and thinks he is face-erasing. Note: This adventure was not shared via a postcard.
	Episode 407: The Perfect Blue Rollie	Matt finds that golf balls are perfect white rollies but the Silly Creatures just hit them into ponds.
	Episode 408: A Brush with Jealousy	Matt explains how a televisions with a videocamera appear to be a window with a Fraggle looking out. Note: This report was given in-person by Traveling Matt rather than being read on a postcard.
	Episode 409: Wembley's Flight	Matt thinks surfing is a form of walking on water.
	Episode 410: Red's Blue Dragon	Although Matt ends up in a library at one point while searching for Red in Outer Space. Note: This adventure was not shared via a postcard.
Season 5
Picture	Episode	Description
	Episode 504: The Trial of Cotterpin Doozer	Matt reports on his adventure outside Doc's house where he observed Doc and Sprocket taking a nap. Note: This adventure was not shared via a postcard.
	Episode 510: Inspector Red	Matt recounts trying to get a ride from a drag race car and losing his toupee. Note: This report was given in-person by Traveling Matt rather than being read on a postcard.
International
Picture	Country	Description
	United Kindom	Matt thinks that parking tickets are love notes to the shiny creatures (a.k.a. cars)
	Australia	Traveling Matt visits a great Australian Barbecue
File:Postcards.i03.jpg	Germany	Matt visits a German bar and meets the "rope testers".
	Australia	Matt goes to the beach and encounters some surfers.
	United Kingdom	Matt visits an auction house.
	Zambia	Traveling Matt visits an African market. He sees the locals caring fruit on their heads and thinks these are some kind of hats. However when he tries putting a bunch of bananas on his head, he finds he can't support the weight.
	United Kingdom	Matt thinks bagpipes are a creature being tortured.
	Germany	Matt tries to explain the sport of curling.
	Australia	Matt thinks ketchup is some kind of food paint.
	Switzerland	Traveling Matt encounters some mountain climbers. But rather than climb the mountain he finds an easier way to the top.
	New Zealand	Traveling Matt meets a group of Maori dancers.
	United Kingdom	Matt thinks tea drinking is the Silly Creatures' way of bathing their upper-lips.
	Australia	Matt tries jumping on a trampoline. He is excited to becomes the first Fraggle to fly, but soon he gets stuck in a tree.
	United Kingdom	Matt goes a British Christmas celebration and learns about the love power mistletoe holds.
	Germany	Matt meets some fishermen who he calls "the pole-sitters" as they just sit there with their poles.
	United Kingdom	Matt learns about the sport cricket.
	Australia	Matt gets invovled with a rugby scrum.
	Germany	Matt thinks customs is some kind of game where Silly Creatures hide objects in their luggage for others to find.
	United Kingdom	Matt accidentally mistakes someone's hair for cotton candy, a Silly Creature delicacy, and is sent flying.
	Germany	Matt meets some yodelers and learns the trade of these minstrels.