Christmas Specials Wiki
Christmas Specials Wiki
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{{character|image=Gonzo.jpg|performer={{w|Dave Goelz}}|appear=''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'' (as Snarl)<br>''[[w:c:muppet:The Muppets productions|The Muppets]]''}}
 
{{character|image=Gonzo.jpg|performer={{w|Dave Goelz}}|appear=''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]'' (as Snarl)<br>''[[w:c:muppet:The Muppets productions|The Muppets]]''}}
'''Gonzo''' is one of the major characters from the television series ''[[w:c:muppet:The Muppet Show|The Muppet Show]]''. He is an odd-looking, unidentifiable alien creature with blue fur and a long crooked nose. He takes pride in his uniqueness and enjoys everything that he does, no matter how painful or ill-advised it may be. As one of the main characters from the show, he appeared in almost every [[Christmas]] special featuring the Muppets since the late 1970s.
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'''The Great Gonzo''' is one of the major characters from the television series ''[[w:c:muppet:The Muppet Show|The Muppet Show]]''. He is an odd-looking, unidentifiable alien creature with blue fur and a long crooked nose. He takes pride in his uniqueness and enjoys everything that he does, no matter how painful or ill-advised it may be. As one of the main characters from the show, he appeared in almost every [[Christmas]] special featuring the Muppets since the late 1970s.
   
 
==Appearances in Christmas specials==
 
==Appearances in Christmas specials==
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===''The Great Santa Claus Switch''===
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Long prior to ''The Muppet Show'', Gonzo originated as '''Snarl''', one of Cosmo Scam's henchmen in ''[[The Great Santa Claus Switch]]''. In one scene, he pops out of a cigar box to hand Cosmo Scam his cigar. Later, he appears in [[Santa Claus]]'s workshop as one of the Frackles who take the Elves' place. Snarl is the only Frackle who asks Santa for a present at the beginning of the special - a baseball mitt.
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===''The Muppets''===
   
 
In ''[[John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together]]'', Gonzo sings along in the chorus of most of the songs, including "[[The Twelve Days of Christmas]]", with his line of course being "Three French Hens". He also has a close call with the volatile [[Miss Piggy]] during "[[We Wish You a Merry Christmas]]" when the porcine-correct diva mistakes his request for figgy pudding as "piggy pudding".
 
In ''[[John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together]]'', Gonzo sings along in the chorus of most of the songs, including "[[The Twelve Days of Christmas]]", with his line of course being "Three French Hens". He also has a close call with the volatile [[Miss Piggy]] during "[[We Wish You a Merry Christmas]]" when the porcine-correct diva mistakes his request for figgy pudding as "piggy pudding".
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In ''[[A Muppet Family Christmas]]'', Gonzo must keep his beloved chicken [[w:c:muppet:Camilla the Chicken|Camilla]] from the clutches of the smooth-talking Christmas Turkey. The Turkey ends up making Gonzo so mad, he happily lets [[the Swedish Chef]] deal with him. In the caroling medley at the end of the special, Gonzo leads the group in singing "[[Good King Wenceslas]]".
 
In ''[[A Muppet Family Christmas]]'', Gonzo must keep his beloved chicken [[w:c:muppet:Camilla the Chicken|Camilla]] from the clutches of the smooth-talking Christmas Turkey. The Turkey ends up making Gonzo so mad, he happily lets [[the Swedish Chef]] deal with him. In the caroling medley at the end of the special, Gonzo leads the group in singing "[[Good King Wenceslas]]".
   
 
[[File:MCC-Screengrabs-GR-a.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Gonzo as [[Charles Dickens]] in ''The Muppet Christmas Carol''.]]
''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]'' marks Gonzo's most prominent role in the Muppets' Christmas productions. Here, he is the story's "omniscient" narrator, claiming to be none other than [[Charles Dickens]] himself, a claim [[Rizzo the Rat]] finds dubious, to say the least. He and Rizzo are often on the set while the action is taking place, sometimes getting the worst of it, especially Rizzo. In one instance, Gonzo actively corrects a flubbed line from [[Sam the Eagle]], who, in his patriotic fervor, forgot that the story takes place in Britain. Gonzo and Rizzo decide to wait out the sequence featuring [[the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come]] as it gets too scary, but promptly return after Scrooge wakes up Christmas morning.
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''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]'' marked Gonzo's most prominent role in the Muppets' Christmas productions. Here, he is the story's "omniscient" narrator, claiming to be none other than [[Charles Dickens]] himself, a claim [[Rizzo the Rat]] finds dubious, to say the least. He and Rizzo are often on the set while the action is taking place, sometimes getting the worst of it, especially Rizzo. In one instance, Gonzo actively corrects a flubbed line from [[Sam the Eagle]], who, in his patriotic fervor, forgot that the story takes place in Britain. Gonzo and Rizzo decide to wait out the sequence featuring [[the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come]] as it gets too scary, but promptly return after Scrooge wakes up Christmas morning.
 
In ''[[It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]'', Gonzo is among those whose lives are worse off in the alternate world where [[Kermit the Frog]] had never been born. In the alternate reality, it is shown that Gonzo would have ended up becoming a depressed street performer that plays guitar accompaniment for a dancing brick (which ironically does not dance at all).
 
   
 
[[File:Gonzo_and_Rizzo_Gift_of_the_Magi.jpg|thumb|250px|Gonzo and Rizzo exchange gifts at the beginning of ''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie''.]]
Gonzo plays another major role in ''[[A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa]]''. Here, his mistake in not sending the letters and his determination to make it right drive much of the plot.
 
 
At the beginning of ''[[It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]'', Gonzo is seen exchanging gifts with Rizzo at the Muppet Theater's Christmas party. In a reference to ''[[The Gift of the Magi]]'', Rizzo reveals that he sold his collection of rare cheese to buy a crystal petri dish for Gonzo's mold collection, but Gonzo sold his mold collection to buy Rizzo a diamond-tipped cheese slicer. Later in the movie, Gonzo is shown to be among those whose lives are worse off in the alternate world where [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] had never been born. In the alternate reality, it is shown that Gonzo would have ended up becoming a depressed street performer who plays guitar accompaniment for a dancing brick (which ironically does not dance at all).
   
 
Gonzo plays another major role in ''[[A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa]]''. Here, his mistake in not sending the letters and his determination to make it right drive much of the plot. Accompanied by Kermit, [[Fozzie Bear|Fozzie]], Rizzo, and [[Pepe the King Prawn|Pepe]], Gonzo travels to the North Pole in an attempt to deliver the letters to [[Santa Claus]].
It has been confirmed that Gonzo will appear in the upcoming ''[[Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular]]'', but his role in this special is currently unknown.
 
   
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Gonzo's most recent appearance in a Christmas special was ''[[Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular]]''.
==Gallery==
 
<gallery widths="200" position="center" spacing="small">
 
MCC-Screengrabs-GR-a.jpg|Gonzo as [[Charles Dickens]] in ''The Muppet Christmas Carol''.
 
Gonzo_and_Rizzo_Gift_of_the_Magi.jpg|Gonzo and Rizzo exchange gifts at the beginning of ''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie''.
 
</gallery>
 
   
 
==External links==
 
==External links==

Revision as of 06:27, 8 December 2013

The Great Gonzo is one of the major characters from the television series The Muppet Show. He is an odd-looking, unidentifiable alien creature with blue fur and a long crooked nose. He takes pride in his uniqueness and enjoys everything that he does, no matter how painful or ill-advised it may be. As one of the main characters from the show, he appeared in almost every Christmas special featuring the Muppets since the late 1970s.

Appearances in Christmas specials

The Great Santa Claus Switch

Long prior to The Muppet Show, Gonzo originated as Snarl, one of Cosmo Scam's henchmen in The Great Santa Claus Switch. In one scene, he pops out of a cigar box to hand Cosmo Scam his cigar. Later, he appears in Santa Claus's workshop as one of the Frackles who take the Elves' place. Snarl is the only Frackle who asks Santa for a present at the beginning of the special - a baseball mitt.

The Muppets

In John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together, Gonzo sings along in the chorus of most of the songs, including "The Twelve Days of Christmas", with his line of course being "Three French Hens". He also has a close call with the volatile Miss Piggy during "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" when the porcine-correct diva mistakes his request for figgy pudding as "piggy pudding".

GonzoSingGoodKingWenceslas

Gonzo singing "Good King Wenceslas" in A Muppet Family Christmas.

In A Muppet Family Christmas, Gonzo must keep his beloved chicken Camilla from the clutches of the smooth-talking Christmas Turkey. The Turkey ends up making Gonzo so mad, he happily lets the Swedish Chef deal with him. In the caroling medley at the end of the special, Gonzo leads the group in singing "Good King Wenceslas".

MCC-Screengrabs-GR-a

Gonzo as Charles Dickens in The Muppet Christmas Carol.

The Muppet Christmas Carol marked Gonzo's most prominent role in the Muppets' Christmas productions. Here, he is the story's "omniscient" narrator, claiming to be none other than Charles Dickens himself, a claim Rizzo the Rat finds dubious, to say the least. He and Rizzo are often on the set while the action is taking place, sometimes getting the worst of it, especially Rizzo. In one instance, Gonzo actively corrects a flubbed line from Sam the Eagle, who, in his patriotic fervor, forgot that the story takes place in Britain. Gonzo and Rizzo decide to wait out the sequence featuring the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come as it gets too scary, but promptly return after Scrooge wakes up Christmas morning.

Gonzo and Rizzo Gift of the Magi

Gonzo and Rizzo exchange gifts at the beginning of It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.

At the beginning of It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Gonzo is seen exchanging gifts with Rizzo at the Muppet Theater's Christmas party. In a reference to The Gift of the Magi, Rizzo reveals that he sold his collection of rare cheese to buy a crystal petri dish for Gonzo's mold collection, but Gonzo sold his mold collection to buy Rizzo a diamond-tipped cheese slicer. Later in the movie, Gonzo is shown to be among those whose lives are worse off in the alternate world where Kermit had never been born. In the alternate reality, it is shown that Gonzo would have ended up becoming a depressed street performer who plays guitar accompaniment for a dancing brick (which ironically does not dance at all).

Gonzo plays another major role in A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa. Here, his mistake in not sending the letters and his determination to make it right drive much of the plot. Accompanied by Kermit, Fozzie, Rizzo, and Pepe, Gonzo travels to the North Pole in an attempt to deliver the letters to Santa Claus.

Gonzo's most recent appearance in a Christmas special was Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular.

External links