Even second-tier characters like the Swedish Chef, Sam Eagle and the members of ... abc/getty Before The Muppet Show premiered in 1976, Jim Henson and co. produced two pilots for ABC.

The Muppet Christmas Carol opens with a dedication to both Jim and fellow Muppeteer Richard ... Chairman Of The Board would have been performed by Sam The Eagle under the guise of young Scrooge ...

Kermit introduced a series of clips featuring Muppets Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Lew Zealand, Pops, Sam Eagle, Uncle Deadly ... In a statement, The Jim Henson Company also commented on the show ...