Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Marjory the Trash Heap

 MARJORY THE TRASH HEAP

Performed by...
Jerry Nelson

First appearance...
Fraggle Rock Season 1, Episode 101: "Beginnings" (1983)

Most recent appearance...
Fraggle Rock Season 5, Episode 513: "Change of Address" (1988)

Best known role...
Oracle to the Fraggles; heap of trash; gospel singer; home/employer of Philo and Gunge.

Memorable quote...
"Bring me your troubles, bring me your pain, bring me your woe."

WHO IS MARJORY THE TRASH HEAP?
Since the first episode of Fraggle Rock, Marjory has always acted as a sort of quirky fortune cookie for the Fraggles. Figuring out what she means with her sometimes-unintelligible wisdom always seems to be the hardest part of the Fraggle life (aside from crossing the Gorg's garden to actually get to Marjory). But no matter how strange Marjory's advice may be (such as, "You can't do that without a hat"), it always seems to somehow help the Fraggles into learning a valuable lesson.

Marjory is never without her trusty (and loud) sidekicks Philo and Gunge. Anytime a visitor comes to the Trash Heap for advice, Philo and Gunge proclaim her wonder and majesty by proudly declaring, "You are in the presence of the all-knowing, the all-seeing, Trash Heap! Nyah!"

But, as we learn in episode 307 - "Home is Where the Trash Is," Marjory doesn't just need Philo and Gunge for a grand introduction, she also needs them for life. When Philo and Gunge decided to leave Marjory to find their original home, Marjory begins to lose power and die. It was revealed that Marjory didn't come to life until Philo and Gunge came to her.

Thankfully, the rats came back and Marjory remained to give wisdom to wary Fraggles. Most of her greatest advice was dispersed between Gobo, Wembley, and Boober. Mokey and Red only received wisdom from the Trash Heap a few times throughout the series. It was always the boys who had the most problems that the Trash Heap could "fix." Some of Marjory's greatest advice includes, "You can't do that without a hat," giving Wembley a love potion, and "You cannot leave the magic."

Marjory is never without a piece of advice or Philo and Gunge. Without her, the Fraggles would truly be lost.

MARJORY THE TRASH HEAP SONGS
Like most of the other characters in Fraggle Rock, Marjory is never without a song in her heart. In fact, most of her wisdom is delivered via song (with Philo and Gunge on back-up). These are some of her best performances...

• "I Seen Troubles" - Episode 101: "Beginnings"
• "Without a Hat" - Episode 104: "You Can't Do That Without a Hat"
• "Lover, Lover Number 9" - Episode 113: "We Love You, Wembley"
• "Go With the Flow" - Episode 117: "Marooned"
• "Perfect Harmony" - Episode 119: "The Great Radish Famine"
• "Brave Boy, Jump Up" - Episode 123: "The Beast of Blue Rock"
• "Trash is Back in Town" - Episode 203: "The Trash Heap Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
• "Stuff Samba" - Episode 218: "The Day the Music Died"
• "It May Be Garbage, But it Sure Ain't Junk" - Episode 408: "A Brush With Jealousy"

WHY DOES FRAGGLE ROCK NEED MARJORY THE TRASH HEAP?
It's obvious why the Fraggles need Marjory in their daily lives. I think Gobo puts it best in the final episode of the show, "She's our oracle. Knower of all our wisdom!" Truly, Marjory the Trash Heap is the wisest of any creature in Fraggle Rock. Without her, there would be a lot more depressed, injured (or worse) Fraggles around.

Marjory takes care of the Fraggles like her own children and, in many respects, is the mother of the Fraggles. She may be trash, but she sure as heck ain't junk!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier