Sam the Eagle



Sam the Eagle is an American eagle, who feels his species and role as national symbol have placed certain responsibilities upon his shoulders. He has taken it upon himself to promote and protect wholesome American morals and values, and he works behind the scenes of The Muppet Show as self-appointed censor and advocate of cultural, educational acts.

Sam is appalled by the nonsense that passes for entertainment on the series, and does his best to keep things in check, even though his pleas for an end to madness are usually ignored. As noted in the first issue of The Muppet Show Fan Club newsletter, Sam's overpowering burden is to act as the "moral center" of The Muppet Show. He would, in fact, like to concern himself with the morals of the entire world, but "regrets that it takes all his time and energy just to keep up with The Muppet Show."

Early Sam
Sam first appeared in the 1975 pilot The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence and in the first batch of Muppet Meeting Films. In Sex and Violence, Sam works with Nigel in the control room; he spends his time playing solitaire by himself or checkers with Nigel, and otherwise attempts to keep things running smoothly. He is frequently confused by Floyd's hip lingo, which he takes literally, and is dubious about the proposed "Seven Deadly Sins" pageant. Otherwise, his relationship with host Nigel is more amicable than it would be with Kermit on The Muppet Show proper.

In the Muppet Meeting films, Sam joins Kermit, an early Janice, and P. Fenton Cosgrove on a company panel. In "The Muppet Introduction," he resents the fact that he's asked to introduce Kermit, convinced that it's undignifed for an American eagle to introduce a frog. In "Just a Few Announcements," he frets over his spelling, since the American eagle must not misspell words, and is appalled when Kermit jokingly asks him to join him in the Boom Boom Room as an honorary frog (offering to paint him green and lend him flippers).

Muppet Show Censor
Throughout the first season of The Muppet Show, Sam provides the introductions for Wayne and Wanda, an act that he considers the apex of good, clean entertainment. He also frequently participates in the Panel Discussion sketches. Beginning in the second season, Sam would occasionally deliver editorials on the state of the country and the world, lashing out against "weirdos" and "namby-pamby conservationists." Most notably, in episode 206, he rails against nudity, only to suddenly become aware that he himself is naked beneath his feathers; Sam hastily leaves the stage, in some embarassment. Otherwise, Sam seldom performs on-stage (though he frequently barges on to complain), unless convinced that the act is "cultural"; he's reluctantly persuaded to recite the lines of the dicky-bird in "Tit Willow" (episode 120). Sam occasionally becomes acutely aware of how futile his efforts are, and threatens to resign in disgust. He does so in episode 205, joining Statler and Waldorf in the balcony. He sees the pair as kindred spirits, due to their dislike for the show, and their obvious age and respectability. He heartily approves of their performance of "The Varsity Drag" in episode 208, referring to it as a brief moment of light at the end of the tunnel.

In addition to his moral concerns, Sam considers himself the arbiter of taste and sole judge of culturally enriching acts and performers. His actual knowledge is incredibly limited, however. In episode 213, he praises guest star Rudolf Nureyev as his favorite opera singer. When informed that Nureyev is a ballet dancer, Sam shrugs, and notes that "culture is culture"; he subsequently fails to recognize Nureyev in street clothes, and has him thrown out. Similarly, in episode 312, he nearly walks out yet again, until Rowlf tells him that he'll miss the dog's salute to Beethoven ("Eight Little Notes"). Sam eagerly announces that he'll stay for Beethoven, his favorite playwright.

When Kermit the Frog questions Sam's obsession with "decent family entertainment" in the UK spot of Episode 422, Sam inadvertently reveals the facts of his somewhat tragic home life. He was married, but he can't remember his wife's name, and they are separated; she flew the coop (later, Henson.com's Featured Creature bio confirmed that they subsequently divorced). His two children are in college, though neither write to him. To Sam's disgrace, his son is studying taxidermy and his daughter is dating an owl. He'd rather not talk about any of this.

Later Appearances
Sam remained active beyond The Muppet Show, appearing in every Muppet movie to date. In The Muppet Christmas Carol, Sam played the role of young Scrooge's teacher. In Muppet Treasure Island, he played the role of Samuel Arrow. On Muppets Tonight, he hosts a segment called "The Eagle's Nest".

Sam is the only Muppet character that made a crossover appearance on The Animal Show as a special guest.

Concerned about his thinning feathers -- he is a bald eagle, after all -- he recently started using Propecia. In the 2002 TV-movie It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Sam has a newly-grown crop of feathers on his head. In The Muppets' Wizard of Oz he portrayed a guard at Emerald City working for The Wizard.

Casting History
Primary Performers
 * Frank Oz - from The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence (1975) to Muppets From Space (1999)


 * Kevin Clash - It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002), Muppet Party Cruise (2003)


 * Eric Jacobson - The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)

Other Performers
 * Drew Massey - Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony Episodes 11, 15, 18 and 33 (2005-2006)

Filmography

 * The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence
 * Muppet Meeting Films
 * "The Muppet Introduction"
 * "Just a Few Announcements"
 * The Muppet Show
 * Episode 101: Juliet Prowse
 * Episode 103: Joel Grey
 * Episode 104: Ruth Buzzi
 * Episode 105: Rita Moreno
 * Episode 106: Jim Nabors
 * Episode 108: Paul Williams
 * Episode 109: Charles Aznavour
 * Episode 110: Harvey Korman
 * Episode 112: Peter Ustinov
 * Episode 113: Bruce Forsyth
 * Episode 114: Sandy Duncan
 * Episode 115: Candice Bergen
 * Episode 116: Avery Schreiber
 * Episode 117: Ben Vereen
 * Episode 119: Vincent Price
 * Episode 120: Valerie Harper
 * Episode 121: Twiggy
 * Episode 124: Mummenschanz
 * Episode 202: Zero Mostel
 * Episode 205: Judy Collins
 * Episode 206: Nancy Walker
 * Episode 208: Steve Martin
 * Episode 209: Madeline Kahn
 * Episode 212: Bernadette Peters
 * Episode 213: Rudolf Nureyev
 * Episode 214: Elton John
 * Episode 217: Julie Andrews
 * Episode 218: Jaye P. Morgan
 * Episode 301: Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge
 * Episode 306: Jean Stapleton
 * Episode 307: Alice Cooper
 * Episode 308: Loretta Lynn
 * Episode 309: Liberace
 * Episode 312: James Coco
 * Episode 315: Lesley Ann Warren
 * Episode 317: Spike Milligan
 * Episode 320: Sylvester Stallone
 * Episode 323: Lynn Redgrave
 * Episode 406: Linda Lavin
 * Episode 409: Beverly Sills
 * Episode 418: Christopher Reeve
 * Episode 419: Lynda Carter
 * Episode 422: Andy Williams
 * Episode 518: Marty Feldman
 * Episode 519: Chris Langham
 * The Muppet Movie
 * The Great Muppet Caper
 * The Muppets Go to the Movies
 * The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
 * The Muppets Take Manhattan
 * The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
 * A Muppet Family Christmas
 * The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
 * Muppet Vision 3D
 * The Muppet Christmas Carol
 * Muppet Treasure Island
 * Muppets Tonight
 * Episode 103: Billy Crystal
 * Episode 105: Cindy Crawford
 * Episode 110: Martin Short
 * Episode 206: Paula Abdul
 * Episode 212: Johnny Fiama Leaves Home
 * The Animal Show
 * Episode 318: Bald Eagle
 * Muppets From Space
 * It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
 * The Muppets Wizard of Oz
 * Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony
 * episode 11
 * episode 15
 * episode 18
 * episode 33

Book Appearances

 * The Muppet Show Book
 * Two for the Show
 * The Muppet Guide to Magnificent Manners

Video Game Appearances

 * Jim Henson's Muppets
 * Muppet Race Mania
 * Spy Muppets: License to Croak
 * Muppet Party Cruise