Sam Eagle is a Muppet character originating from the television show The Muppet Show, where he was performed by Frank Oz.Sam's patriotic spirit differentiates him from the rest of the Muppet cast, as does his general stuffiness and pomposity. Because of this, it has been a running gag in either The Muppet Show, or Muppet movies, that shows his patriotism towards the United States. In The Muppet Christmas Carol, the fourth wall was broken when Sam (playing Scrooge's former headmaster) tells the young Scrooge that he will love business because "It's the American way". The Great Gonzo, playing Charles Dickens, as well as the narrator, whispers in his ear that the line is, "It's the British way," because the story takes place in Great Britain.