"This thing's a present from the wish-granting creature."
Doc invents a radio that he thinks will pick up signals from the other side of the world. All he can get it to pick up, though, is broadcasts from the local radio station. While Doc is out, Sprocket, disturbed by the static, shoves the radio through the Fraggle hole, where it's found by Gobo on his way to get his Uncle Matt's postcard.The Fraggles believe it's a magic box that's a gift from a wish-granting creature Uncle Matt mentioned in a previous postcard. When they hear a commercial for Manny's Land of Carpets, which claims to have "everything you want" and "everything you need" and that "your happiness is guaranteed at Manny's," they think the creature is inviting them to a land of total existential bliss. But when they hear other commercials—such as one for Bubba's Burger Barn, promising "all you can eat"—they begin arguing over where they should go.
Gobo, believing the wish-granting creature is taking on different personas and trying to split the Fraggles up, starts to have second thoughts. He tells the Fraggles they should stay home in the Rock, which already has everything they need. Everyone ignores him and prepares to leave, until Gobo sings a song about what they're leaving behind. Deciding to stay at the Rock, they return the radio to Doc's workshop.
This episode contains examples of:
- An Aesop: Don't believe everything you hear in the media (television, radio, Internet, etc).
- Apple of Discord: The radio becomes this, with the commercials, each promising a different thing, splitting up the Fraggles as to where they should go.
- But Wait, There's More!: The commercials.
- Crowd Chant: The opposing groups of Fraggles do this. "MANNY'S LAND OF CARPETS!" "BUBBA'S BURGER BARN!" "SALLY'S SPOTLESS CLEANERS!"
- Ear Trumpet: Boober uses a megaphone as one when a commercial from Sally's Spotless Cleaners airs.
- Entertainingly Wrong: Uncle Matt thinks a Mall Santa is a wish-granting creature because kids tell him what they'd like him to bring them for Christmas.Uncle Matt: According to my little friends, this jolly old fellow came out of hiding once a year to make secret dreams come true.
- Forgot to Mind Their Head: Wembley bumps his head on the pipe again.
- Home Sweet Home: Gobo realizing Fraggle Rock has everything the commercials promise and more.
- It Was a Gift: The radio has special significance to Gobo because he believes it was a gift from the wish-granting creature Uncle Matt wrote to him about.
- Make a Wish: When it was Matt's turn in line, he told the Mall Santa his wish: for him to arrange for Gobo and his friends to visit Outer Space. Santa said he wasn't sure if he could manage that, but he did say he would send Gobo a present.
- Melancholy Musical Number: After everyone else has gone to pack, Gobo sings "Good-bye, Good-bye (Just a Rainbow in the Sky)." The others come in to listen, begin to have second thoughts about leaving the Rock, and join in.
- Mundane Object Amazement: The Fraggles are amazed by the music coming out of the radio and think the announcer for Manny's Land of Carpets is the voice of the wish-granting creature.
- Noisy Shut-Up: Gobo yells, "QUIET!" when all the other Fraggles are arguing about where to go.
- Obsessed with Food: Large Marvin wants to go to Bubba's Burger Barn so he can eat as much as he likes.
- Only Sane Man: Boober—until he hears a commercial from Sally's Spotless Cleaners, which claims to "care about clean laundry as much as you do."
- The Promised Land: The Fraggles believe both Bubba's Burger Barn and Manny's Land of Carpets are this because of claims like "all you can eat" and "your happiness is guaranteed."
- Radio Voice: The announcers for the commercials all sound slightly staticky.
- Security Cling: Boober and Wembley cling to each other in fear when Gobo touches the radio and it makes staticky noises.
- Self-Deprecation: When Boober tells the others that the radio is taking over their minds, one of them responds: "What minds?"
- Shout-Out: There's one to The Burger King when Gobo tells his friends that Fraggle Rock has everything the voices promise and more.Gobo: It's got us, living together in a place we love. And never mind the voices in the box. Listen to the little voice inside yourself!
Red: Well... the little voice inside me says... "BUBBA'S BURGER BARN!"
[Everyone but Gobo begins excitedly cheering again for a different destination.]
Mokey: Manny's Land of Carpets! Manny's Land of Carpets...!
Boober: Sally's Spotless Cleaners! Sally! Sally! Sally...!
Gobo: [exasperated] All right, all right! Have it your way. We'll all leave Fraggle Rock, and you can go anyplace you want.
Large Marvin: Let's go pack our stuff!
[Everyone but Gobo rushes off.] - "Somewhere" Song: "Follow the Road" is a variation. Even the title could be construed as an allusion to The Wizard of Oz.
- The Tape Knew You Would Say That: This happens when Gobo first hears a commercial for Manny's Land of Carpets.Announcer: Manny's Land of Carpets is having an all-day extravaganza! Manny's got everything you want. Manny's got everything you need. Manny wants you...
Gobo: Me?
Announcer: ...yes, you, to get down here to Manny's Land of Carpets right now! At Manny's, your happiness is guaranteed. - This Is No Time to Panic: Gobo and Boober are heading toward the hole to return the radio. Meanwhile, Doc, learning that Sprocket has shoved the radio into the hole, tells him to get it out.Gobo: Now, don't panic, Boober. Don't panic.
[Sprocket, groping for the radio, accidentally grabs Gobo.]
Gobo: Okay, okay, Boober, now panic! HELLLLLP...! - What Does This Button Do?: After the Fraggles have made up their minds to go to Manny's Land of Carpets, Large Marvin hears something else coming from the radio and turns one of its knobs, despite Gobo's protests. Subverted in that all that happens is that a commercial for Bubba's Burger Barn airs.Large Marvin: Wait a minute, I think I hear something!
Gobo: Hey! Hey, what are you...? Large Marvin, don't touch that! You might break it! - Wrong Assumption: Gobo thinks the radio is a gift from the wish-granting creature Uncle Matt's postcard talked about. When a commercial airs, he thinks it's the creature's voice.
- The X of Y: The episode's title.
