Year: 2022
Runtime: 27 minutes
Director: Jon Rosenbaum
Writers: John Tartaglia, Matt Fusfeld, Alex
Actors: Daveed Diggs, Dave Goelz, John Tartaglia, Karen Prell, Donna Kimball, Jordan Lockhart, Lilli Cooper, Dan Garza, Aymee Garcia
By Joan Amenn
What’s red and white, is full of other red and white goodies and gets hit with a stick? A radish pinata, of course. It’s the holiday flair I never know I needed and just one of the surprises in store with the Fraggles and their latest holiday special, “Night of the Lights.”
After an outstanding first season, “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” continues to offer kids of all ages a sensitive and fun outing that encompasses all winter holidays by astutely pointing out their common denominator of celebrating light in darkness. Apparently, even Fraggle Rock gets festive this time of year and the gang is ready to sing and dance away any blahs due to a lack of Vitamin D.
Daveed Diggs is back as troubadour Jamdolin and he’s ready to party but first he helps lead the gang on an adventure. There are several themes woven throughout the relatively short runtime of this episode but Jamdolin represents one that particularly impressed me. He is respectful to an elderly Fraggle and gently insists on taking him seriously even though he is described as “notoriously unreliable” by one of the young members of the group. “Fraggle Rock” has always been about inclusiveness but this acknowledgement that the holidays mean just as much to the elderly as to kids was especially touching.
This is not to say there isn’t humor that might go over the heads of the preschool set. A running gag about “rootcake” is sure to make viewing adults snort with amusement as well as some excessive holiday decorating.
“Night of the Lights” is a worthy addition to the “Fraggle Rock” canon and can be seen on Apple+ this Friday, November 18th. Enjoy it with your family and when you set out the plates of holiday treats, make sure to include a few radishes. You never know if Uncle Travelling Matt Fraggle (Dave Goelz) might stop by. (Editor’s Note: Yes, it is spelled with two “L’s”.)
In Their Own League 