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Gob's Dummy: The Racist Puppet's Origin
6 Sep
Summary
- Gob's dummy Franklin was a mouthpiece for offensive insults.
- Will Arnett was inspired by the ventriloquist duo from 'Soap'.
- Franklin's character originated decades before 'Arrested Development'.
Will Arnett, who portrayed Gob Bluth in "Arrested Development," shared the backstory of Gob's controversial ventriloquist dummy, Franklin Delano Bluth. Franklin, a Black puppet, was frequently used by Gob to deliver offensive remarks and racial slurs, leading to conflicts with family and community members.
Arnett stated in a 2013 interview that his passion for ventriloquism dated back decades. He was inspired by the duo Chuck and his dummy Bob from the television show "Soap." Arnett explained that he had worked for the producers of "Soap" for many years and admired the dynamic between the ventriloquist and his puppet. This admiration led to the creation of Gob's character with a Black puppet designed to provoke offense.
