Sam and Friends is an American live-action and puppet sketch comedy television series and a lead-in to The Tonight Show created by puppeteers Jane Nebel and Jim Henson, who later married. It marks the debut of The Muppets franchise, particularly Kermit the Frog.
The show aired live twice daily as a local series in Washington, D.C., on WRC-TV in black and white, and later color, on weeknights from May 9, 1955, to December 15, 1961. However, due to network budget issues, most of the original episodes were never preserved to film/kinescope and are considered lost.
A few of the show's surviving episodes can be viewed at the Paley Center for Media, but many can also be found on video websites like YouTube, such as those digitally archived by the Jim Henson Company. Some have also been documented by either the Henson Archives or newspaper articles published while the show was still on air.
Plot The series centers around Sam, a bald-headed, big-eared man who escaped the harshness of everyday life with the help of abstract friends that he created based on parts of his life. His friends included Yorick, Professor Madcliffe, Chicken Liver, Harry the Hipster, and Kermit.
Early in its run, the show mostly featured the puppets lip-syncing to popular songs of the day (if the song was by a female performer, the puppet would wear a wig while singing). Later, formal sketches were drawn up, many spoofing well-known television shows at the time, including the series which followed Sam and Friends in the Washington market, The Huntley–Brinkley Report.
A popular early sketch that was used often in subsequent Henson productions was "Glow-Worm", in which a character, often Kermit, would nibble on what looked like a worm, but would ultimately turn out to be the tongue or nose of the monster Big V, who would devour him.
Bob Payne once substituted for Jim Henson while he was in Europe. Jerry Juhl also worked on the show toward the end of its run where he substituted for Jane Henson. Starting in 1959, advertisements for Esskay Meats would appear at the end of the show, as well as Wilkins Coffee (the latter featured two Muppets created exclusively for the spots, Wilkins and Wontkins).
While Payne, Juhl, and Jane Henson all puppeteered in the series alongside him, Jim Henson provided all of the voices himself (unless the voices were taken from a record).
Broadcast time Network Release date Broadcast time Ref WRC-TV May 9, 1955 – December 15, 1961 Mon - Fri 23:30 - 23:35 Newtype (Japanese Ver) 1986-10 "Jim Henson Interview" (153 Page)
Characters
Sam (performed by Jim Henson) – A bald-headed man who is the main character. Only footage of him lip-syncing to a song currently survives. His head was made from papier-mâché. Kermit (performed by Jim Henson) – A lizard-like creature. He was prominently featured in many sketches that led him to popularity, though he would not be referred to as a frog until a decade later. Harry the Hipster (performed by Jim Henson) – A beatnik black sock puppet. Harry was one of the first Muppets designed and built by Jim Henson. Yorick (performed by Jim Henson) – A voracious puppet that resembled a rock head. Yorick has been known for appearing with supporting Muppets, whom he would attempt to eat. His puppet was made of papier-mâché with a tube in his mouth that allowed him to swallow things. Professor Madcliffe (performed by Jim Henson) – A tall-headed professor with big eyes and a mustache. He had a loud and energetic personality. He made most of his appearances in commercials. Chicken Liver (performed by Jim Henson) – A humanoid character with a tall head and a big nose. He has been described as "a dramatic storyteller", and believed that the show lacked culture. Hank and Frank – Two bald humanoids that served as the show's bit players. They took on the roles of Chet Huntley and David Brinkley in a spoof interview with Kermit. Mushmellon – A small yellow monster with a permanent grimace. He was a favorite among younger audiences. Icky Gunk – A green snake sporting a pair of arms. Henrietta (performed by Jerry Juhl) – A pink female creature of indeterminable species. Moldy Hay – A humanoid character with orange-red skin, a big nose, and hair over his eyes. Omar (performed by Jim Henson) – A beaked humanoid with a papier-mâché face. He was described as "the nomadic type". Pierre the French Rat (performed by Jim Henson) – A French rat. He was one of Jim Henson's first puppets built and was embodied as a puppet made from plastic wood. Bernice (performed by Bob Payne) - A female humanoid.
Cast +Sam and Friends castActorRoleJim HensonSamHarry the HipsterKermit Chicken LiverOmarProfessor MadcliffeYorickPierre the French RatOthersJane HensonOthersJerry JuhlHenriettaOthersBob PayneBerniceOthers
Episodes
Surviving episodes Powder-Burn (August 20, 1959): A pun-filled Gunsmoke parody with Marshall Dilly (Chicken Liver) preparing for a showdown with Black Bart (Yorick) which results in a game of chess. Poison to Poison (October 29, 1959): Lip-synching to the Spike Jones track "Poisen to Poisen", Harry the Hipster (as "Ed Burrow") interviews Chicken Liver (as Alfred Hitchcock) in his rather horrifying home. The Westerners (circa November 1960): Lip-synching to a recording of Bob and Ray's act The Westerners, Kermit and Chicken Liver play two cowboys who are having a little trouble getting off their horses. Huntley and Brinkley (January 6, 1961): In a parody of The Huntley-Brinkley Report, Kermit hosts an interview with NBC News anchormen Chet Huntley and David Brinkley (Hank and Frank). Visual Thinking (circa April 1961): In a mix of puppetry and animation, Harry demonstrates the Art of Visual Thinking to Kermit—and what it does to you once it gets out of control. Weather Warehouse (September 29, 1961): Harry demonstrates to a skeptical Kermit his new business for selling weather, and gives him a tour of the warehouse. Chef Omar (November 13, 1961): Omar prepares a chef salad, which blows up in his face when he serves it flaming. Last Sam Show (December 15, 1961): Kermit and Harry sing a song about the show's sponsor, Esskay Meats, then Kermit lip-syncs to Bob Gibson's recording of "I Come for to Sing". After both songs, Kermit discusses the end of the series with Harry—who blows up all the scenery and equipment since they won't need it anymore.
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