Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Architect Doozer

Written by Mike Baldasare.

ARCHITECT DOOZER

Performed by...
Jerry Nelson

First appearance...
Fraggle Rock Episode 208: "All Work and All Play" (1984)

Most recent appearance...
Fraggle Rock Episode 513: "Change of Address" (1987)

Best known role...
Leader of the Doozer community

Memorable quote...
"Oh it is imperative that you pay very close attention during briefings, especially this one!"

WHO IS ARCHITECT DOOZER?
The Architect Doozer, known by no other name, acts as the de facto leader of the entire Doozer community in Fraggle Rock. The Architect supervises over the designing and building of all Doozer constructions and also acts as mentor to Doozer younglings, granting them their helmets in a "graduation" ceremony. Architect Doozer first appeared in the season two episode "All Work and All Play," where he informed Cotterpin Doozer that it was time for her to study and become an actual Doozer. After much frustration and a lesson about being different, the Architect takes Cotterpin on as his apprentice.

More often than not, Architect gets frustrated by Cotterpin's youthful imagination and eagerness to revolutionize Doozer building methods and customs. Despite this, the Architect always has a genuine respect and affection for young Cotterpin. Much like Cotterpin, the Architect refused to take the helmet like other Doozers, having no interest in building, as mentioned in the episode "All Work and All Play." All Architect really wanted to do was draw, so he chose to take the drawing board instead. Originally Doozers favored circles, and it took Architect years to get some nice squares back into Doozer constructions.

In the episode "The Doozer Contest," Architect hosted a competition between Flange and Modem Doozer to see which Doozer stick tastes the best. In "Doozer Is As Doozer Does," Architect and Cotterpin save Wrench Doozer after a wicked "flooping" accident. In "Gunge the Great and Glorious," while surveying the Doozer Dome, Architect found Gunge's wild Doozer party and put a stop to it.

WHY DOES FRAGGLE ROCK NEED THE ARCHITECT DOOZER?
It's obvious that the Architect is the most important and influential of the Doozer community. It's likely that Architect builds the best building, has the best ideas, and works the hardest. He also shows that being unique in a community of individuals doing nothing but the same is sometimes more valuable than following the rules.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com