A Few Words About Nudity...
Written: Jul 16 '04 (Updated Jul 16 '04)
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Pros: Outstanding sculpt, paint, articulation, and accessories. The Perfect Sam Eagle.
Cons: We've had to wait a while for this big guy...
The Bottom Line: If your choices are either a Naked Sam Eagle toy or a Naked Rush Limbaugh toy...take the Naked Sam.
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| JediKermit's Full Review: Jim Henson's Muppets Sam the Eagle Action Figure |
“I would like to say a few words about nudity in the world today. And I, for one, and just appalled by it.
“Are you aware that underneath their clothing, every single human is walking around completely NAKED?
“Yes, and it’s not just the people, although goodness knows that’s bad enough. Animals too, even cute little doggies and pussycats can’t be trusted. Underneath their fur…absolutely NAKED!!
“And it’s not just the quadrupeds either! Birds, yes, even birds, underneath all their fine feathers, completely…”
This fine little speech wasn’t delivered by a right wing politician, or a politician at all, but the guy does have a right wing. A left wing, too, but he probably denies it. The speech is on nudity, and was delivered by Sam the Eagle in one of his most memorable Muppet Show appearances, one that was repeated on a few different Muppet albums, so chances are it may sound familiar to some of you.
Sam Eagle, like the pundits who inspired his creation nearly thirty years ago and who are still going strong today, thinks he’s better than everyone else…especially better than his cohorts on The Muppet Show. He’s basically the morality patrol, but often, as in his nudity speech, he misses the point and ends up becoming a Moral Issue of his own creation. A great, self-important bore, there’s a lot of fun at his own expense, which is exactly how those people should be treated.
Sam is one of those great second tier Muppets who’s fortunate enough to have made three appearances in Palisades Toys’ Muppet line of action figures so far…once as Sam Arrow from Muppet Treasure Island, another time as the Ghost of Sam Arrow, and now the “Signature Version,” Naked Sam, as he usually appeared on The Muppet Show and in the Muppet movies.
And he’s perfect.
At the time Sam Arrow came out, I was worried about the line surviving long enough to get a “regular” Sam Eagle…so I’m glad this day has come. Palisades has thrown in some great features both in his sculpt and accessories that really make this the star of Series Eight…even though the character is an uptight jerk.
Sam’s big…about the same size as The Swedish Chef and other large Muppets, and for some reason he looks even bigger naked than he does in his earlier, clothed version. I won’t get into size issues here about naked birds, but he’s an impressive figure. He has a surprising amount of articulation worked into his wings, considering the limitation that the feathers put on joints and movement. He’s got jointed shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, ankles, and neck…and they all move well. At first I was wondering why he even had jointed wrists, but their few degrees of movement add a lot when he’s either pounding the podium or covering his eyes in shame.
The sculpt is excellent…everything from the bags under his eyes to his unibrow to the collar of feathers around his neck are great, and he’s got a wonderful Muppety texture on his chest and legs that’s set off from the feathers on his wings and neck. The paint seems relatively simple, but they’ve added a sort of dull wash to this figure that sets him apart from the previous Sam. The Sam puppet in Muppet Treasure Island was rebuilt, and a much brighter blue than the original Muppet Show Sam, and Palisades has kept that in mind…both the sculpt and the colors on this Sam Eagle place him firmly in his roots in the mid-1970’s. He’s also got a closed mouth—er—beak, shaking his head in disapproval at whatever shenanigans are going on backstage at the Muppet Theatre.
His accessories complete the bird—he comes with a Lectern or Podium with four interchangeable seals that attach by magnet to the front of the Lectern. These include three different patriotic versions of Sam with stars and stripes, and one that’s the Scales of Justice on a flag background. There’s a small paper copy of the Constitution, and a red plastic Standards and Practices book that’s open to his speech on Nudity, most of which is reprinted in the book. In very small font. There’s also an alternate “chase” version of Sam, which has his eyes shifting to the side, a different book, different color for the Lectern, and a copy of the Declaration of Independence instead of the Constitution.
Sam’s a fun character despite himself, and this is the best version of him ever made. If you’ve got an uptight Republican in your home, this would be a great gift for them. Or maybe not. But you can always buy another one for me. I’m sure I could find a good use for him.
You can find Palisades Toys Muppet Action Figures at Media Play, Suncoast, Sam Goody, Newbury Comics, and online at EB Games and other fine retailers. Get 'em while they're hot and naked!
PALISADES TOYS MUPPET ACTION FIGURES
Series One:
Kermit the Frog http://www.epinions.com/content_81549233796
Miss Piggy http://www.epinions.com/content_81637707396
Dr. Teeth http://www.epinions.com/content_81569549956
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew http://www.epinions.com/content_81822191236
Beaker w/Muppet Labs Playset http://www.epinions.com/content_81755606660
Series Two:
Fozzie Bear http://www.epinions.com/content_85935820420
Gonzo the Great http://www.epinions.com/content_98463813252
Crazy Harry http://www.epinions.com/content_98525613700
Floyd Pepper http://www.epinions.com/content_98514865796
Animal w/Electric Mayhem Stage Playset http://www.epinions.com/content_98538262148
Series Three:
Scooter http://www.epinions.com/content_91825081988
Lew Zealand http://www.epinions.com/content_91457293956
Rowlf http://www.epinions.com/content_90764316292
Zoot http://www.epinions.com/content_91549830788
Swedish Chef w/Swedish Kitchen Playset http://www.epinions.com/content_98725432964
Series Four:
Link Hogthrob http://www.epinions.com/content_105889107588
Dr. Julius Strangepork http://www.epinions.com/content_105892187780
Rizzo the Rat http://www.epinions.com/content_105903591044
Samuel Arrow http://www.epinions.com/content_105895988868
Koozebane Kermit http://www.epinions.com/content_113299066500
Series Five:
Gonzo and Camilla http://www.epinions.com/content_115081186948
Pepe http://www.epinions.com/content_117043138180
Janice http://www.epinions.com/content_117029899908
Muppet Newsman http://www.epinions.com/content_117058145924
Series Six:
Statler http://www.epinions.com/content_120983948932
Waldorf http://www.epinions.com/content_120987487876
Patrol Bear Fozzie http://www.epinions.com/content_120963501700
Clifford http://www.epinions.com/content_120939515524
Pigs In Space Playset http://www.epinions.com/content_134628544132
Series Seven:
Kermit as Captain Smollet http://www.epinions.com/content_135481364100
Frog Scout Robin http://www.epinions.com/content_135578947204
Beauregard http://www.epinions.com/content_135557975684
Johnny Fiama http://www.epinions.com/content_135581634180
Series Eight:
Sam Eagle http://www.epinions.com/content_147964202628
Movie Usher Scooter http://www.epinions.com/content_147937201796
Marvin Suggs http://www.epinions.com/content_147934580356
Dr. Phil Van Neuter http://www.epinions.com/content_147964202628
Muppet Exclusives:
Adventure Kermit http://www.epinions.com/content_134654889604
MUPPET PVCS
Set 1 http://www.epinions.com/content_119826517636
Set 2 http://www.epinions.com/content_119837462148
Muppet Christmas Carol 1 http://www.epinions.com/content_120237952644
Muppet Christmas Carol 2 http://www.epinions.com/content_120245292676
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 9.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
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Epinions.com ID:
JediKermit
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Member: Quinn
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Reviews written: 2119
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About Me:
Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
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