Sam Eagle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sam Eagle |
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| The Muppets character | |
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| First appearance | The Muppet Show (1975) |
| Performed by |
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| Information | |
| Species | American bald eagle |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Political commentator |
| Nationality | American |
Sam Eagle is a Muppet character. He is known for being super patriotic and very disciplined. Sam first appeared on The Muppet Show in 1975. He was played by Frank Oz.
Sam has been in every Muppet movie. He played himself in The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Muppets from Space, and The Muppets. He also played the Head Schoolmaster in The Muppet Christmas Carol and Samuel Arrow in Muppet Treasure Island. In Muppets Most Wanted, he was a CIA agent. Sam also appears as an executive for ABC in The Muppets TV series.
About Sam Eagle
Sam is also called Sammy or Samuel. His strong patriotic spirit makes him different from other Muppets. He is also known for being a bit stiff and overly serious. A funny running joke in The Muppet Show and the movies is how much he loves the United States.
In The Muppet Christmas Carol, Sam played Scrooge's old headmaster. He told young Scrooge that he would enjoy business because "It is the American way." The Great Gonzo, who was the narrator, corrected him. Gonzo said the line should be, "It is the British way," because the story happens in the United Kingdom. This was a moment where the characters seemed to know they were in a story.
Sam's Personality
Sam often complained about the "low brow" (not very smart or classy) entertainment on The Muppet Show. He always tried to bring "dignity and class" to the performances. But he usually didn't succeed.
In the first season, Sam would introduce two Muppet characters named Wayne and Wanda. They would sing songs that Sam thought were "normal" and "high brow." These songs were very different from the rest of the show.
On the show, Sam acts like a censor. He often feels that he is not appreciated enough. He gives serious lectures about his conservative ideas. But he often has to stop because he realizes he might sound like a hypocrite. For example, he once talked about conservationism. He read a list of endangered animals. Then he realized his own species, the bald eagle, was on the list! He quickly took back what he said.
In another funny moment, he lectured about indecency. He said all people are nude under their clothes. Then he got embarrassed when he realized birds are also nude under their feathers.
Sam loves his singing duo, Wayne and Wanda. He praises them for being proper. They never finish a song because their acts always end in slapstick (silly physical comedy) violence. But Sam still likes them because they fit his serious style. They sing old songs like "You Do Something to Me" and "It's Only a Paper Moon".
Sam claims to be a cultured bird, but he doesn't know much about culture. He thought Beethoven was a playwright. He also thought The Sound of Music was written by William Shakespeare. When ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev was a guest star, Sam thought he was an opera singer. Sam didn't even recognize Nureyev when he arrived and kicked him out of the theater! Sam is often unfriendly to people who don't share his views.
Sam doesn't interact with guest stars as much as other Muppets. But he has some memorable moments. He once threw out Rudolf Nureyev because he thought he was a bum. Sam was upset because Nureyev didn't meet his expectations. In another episode, Sam made a bet with Kermit the Frog about Elton John's clothes. Sam had to wear a flashy, patriotic costume.
During a Halloween episode, Sam faced Alice Cooper. Sam called Cooper "demented, sick, degenerate, barbaric, naughty, Freako!" But Cooper took it as a compliment. Sam then sadly said, "Freakos one, civilization zero."
On Muppets Tonight, Sam hosted a debate show called From The Eagle's Nest. The only regular debaters were Miss Piggy's silly nephews, Andy and Randy. They often outsmarted him. His show's catchphrase was "Let's talk POLITICS!"
Sam also appeared on Jim Henson's Animal Show. He was the only Muppet to cross over to that show. He guest-starred in the "Bald Eagle" episode.
Sam in Movies and TV
Sam has been in every main Muppet movie. He usually has a small role or a quick appearance. This includes The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Muppets from Space.
However, in Muppet Treasure Island, Sam had a bigger role. He played the first mate, Samuel Arrow. This made him a more important part of the story.
In The Muppets, Sam worked at a political news TV station. He hosted a segment called "Everything Stinks." But he soon joined the other Muppets again. He helped with The Muppet Telethon as a phone operator. He also sang "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with Rowlf the Dog, Link Hogthrob and Beaker. He also sang in the "Rainbow Connection" finale.
In Muppets Most Wanted, Sam had a fairly big role. He played a CIA agent. He worked with Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell) to solve some burglaries in Europe. Sam and Napoleon questioned the Muppets but didn't learn much. They mistakenly arrested Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear for the crimes.
In The Muppets TV series, Sam is a main character. He is in charge of the broadcast standards and practices for ABC. This means he makes sure shows follow certain rules. He has also started to like Janice.
