The Electric Company (1971–1977) User Reviews (39)

Better than Sesame Street???

[haildevilman · 8/10 · 9 October 2006]

Maybe, just maybe.

One thing I liked about this show was the endless variety of sketches. It was like a Laugh-In episode for kids.

Skip (Fritz The Cat, no lie) Hinnant as Fargo North, Decoder. It took me years to finally get the pun.

J. Arthur Crank, Jennifer of the Jungle, Easy Reader, (another late pun) Pandora the brat, The Mad Scientist...great characters all.

And the Short Circus was one of the most talented bunch of kids since the original Mickey Mouse club.

A word about Pandora though. Rita Moreno wore this REALLY high skirt in that role. I wonder if her character ever became an accidental 'symbol' for those old enough to get it. She looked damn fine like that if you think about it. The females in the Short Circus too. That is, when they became teenagers.

The one problem with certain 1970's children's shows was the way some females dressed. Shouldn't be wearing minis or hot pants if you're entertaining kids. 'New Zoo Revue' was guilty of this as well.

The comedy was brilliant however. And even though the design and images are dated beyond belief, it's still great fun.

Launched Morgan Freeman's Career

[shelbythuylinh · 8/10 · 28 November 2021]

Hearing the catch phrase "Hey You Guys" by Rita Morena and kind of like the big show "Sesame Street" there. Where in making fun in learning.

Morgan Freeman got his start as loved his Easy Street and also in Spider Man and that over in the Letter Man who literally is named for replacing a letter the right one and to do away with the wrong letter.

Good show over in memories there.

Son of Sesame Street

[redryan64 · 7/10 · 13 February 2015]

BEING A SORT OF spin off of their highly successful and now iconic series, SESAME STREET, the Children's Television Workshop brought us this somewhat abbreviated dose of the same medicine two years after the "parent series". Although the objectives of keeping the little rug-rats entertained; while at the same time, slipping in some generous helpings of educational material.

AS FOR THE differences between the two series, we note the obvious half length of the newer show. With SESAME STREET's running for a full hour, this ELECTRIC COMPANY was allotted half of the screen time. Perhaps this is yet another indication of our next assertion that this EC series was designed and marketed to the kids who were just a tad older. These children were apt to have the patience to sit and watch as long as their younger brothers and sisters.

THE GENERAL TONE of the show is far more lively than its older brother. Right from the opening credits we are made aware of this quality. Its theme song sets the tone and it never really slows down. There are no Muppets in evidence and a smaller cast of regulars is employed.

IT IS ALSO a sobering thought that whatever accomplishments connected to this series were tempered with the knowledge that this production company had the benefit of funds from Federal Programs such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. This Children's Television Workshop is certainly no example of :Free Enterprise" and "Rugged Individualism".

AS WE SIT here, waxing nostalgically, there is really not much that we can recall that was typically a symbol of he show. The only two features that we can name are: THE ELECTRIC COMPANY's inclusion of brief vignettes of Marvel Comics' SPIDER-MAN and for being the venue to which we were introduced to actor Morgan Freeman.

The one Electric Company I owe!

[grendelkhan · 6 March 2003]

Three TV shows mean more to me than any others. The first was Mr Rogers' Neighborhood; the second, Sesame Street; and the third, The Electric Company. Mr Rogers taught me to be kind, that I was special, and that makebelive was a wonderful thing. Sesame Street taught me letters and numbers, how to count, how to spot similarities and differences, and that frogs conducted the best interviews. The Electric Company taught me how to sound out words and phrases, the basics of grammar; and, ultimately, how to read. My mother once told me that she didn't know I could read until I was riding in the car reading road signs out loud. This was before I was in school and was one of the reasons my parents dismissed the school's idea that I should wait a year to start, since my birthday was in mid-November. Thanks to this show and Sesame Street, I could read better than most of my classmates.

I haven't seen this show since the 70's, so I only have vague memories. I remember Morgan Freeman as Easy Reader, Rita Moreno shouting "Hey You Guyyyyyyyysssss". I remember the parts where two silhouetted people would sound out syllables. I remember Letterman (before Dave) and Spider-Man. Mostly, I remember a sense of fun.

When I read stories about what's wrong with education, I know the answer is simple (aside from money and parents and communities who care). School was rarely as fun as this. If education is fun, children will soak it up like a sponge. This show, and Sesame Street and Mr Rogers were fun.

I'm turned on, I have the power. Hey you guyyyyyyyyssss! Thanks.

Thanks Electric Company!

[navrm-1 · 10/10 · 14 July 2007]

I had a huge crush on Julie, the cutie from Short Circus. I think it may have been that she was like me, Asian-American, and I could relate to her (don't know how exactly except for appearance). All I know is that she was quite popular here in Hawaii. So without sounding like an obsessed crazed fan, I will simply say that TEC was a great learning tool for me and my three brothers. As a latchkey kid throughout the 70's, this show was a great distraction from the bigger problems around me. I don't have as great a memory about the show's skits and musical numbers, but I do remember episodes of Spidey, Letterman, and Rita Moreno's "Hey you guyyyyys!". I can't watch a Morgan Freeman film without first seeing Easy Reader. The silhouettes of two of the show's cast members compounding words remains vivid. And T-I-O-N, shun-shun-shun-shun....classic! I have never heard of Noggin, but it sounds like a great network(?) in the same vein as TV Land.

...the truest words that you ever heard anybody say!

[BaileySEA · 10/10 · 4 August 2013]

The Children's Television Workshop production of The Electric Company was quite simply a class act. Designed for children aged 7-10, it definitely left an impression on me as a child, and now as an adult. It occurs to me I was indeed lucky to have grown up in the time that I did. I was 9, going on 10 when The Electric Company first aired. I saw it in class and was at once electrified. It was a witty, intelligent show. It also had a stellar cast comprised of Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno, Morgan Freeman, Judy Graubert, Skip Hinnant, Luis Avalos, Lee Chamberlin, Hattie Winston, not to mention the voices of Mel Brooks and Zero Mostel. Highly entertaining as it was, sadly it was cancelled in 1977 due to production costs. A new updated version was made in the 2000's, cute but can't hold a candle to the original.

Excellent then, Excellent now!

[haka21 · 10/10 · 17 May 2006]

Groovy! I vaguely remembered bits and pieces of The Electric Company from my childhood... I remembered liking it but just bits and pieces. I saw a 'Best of' in a catalog and had to have it immediately. Watching it again was a complete joy. I recognized things that I haven't seen in 30 years, it was a complete joy. It was Sesame Street's funky, hip kid brother.

Even better than the enjoyment I've been getting out of it (which is considerable), I'm introducing my 4 year old daughter too it and she think's it's cool, too! She likes dancing with the songs, and (rightly) thinks that Morgan Freeman's Easy Reader is the coolest thing on the planet.

And man, even as a kid I had the hots for Rita Moreno!

Pop Culture Classics: P.B.S. children's programming.

[Captain_Couth · 8/10 · 27 August 2005]

The Electric Company (1971-1977) was a P.B.S. show that I saw when I was a young one. Our local station used to broadcast re-runs of this show for several years. I caught quite a few of them when I was about six to nine years old. Some of the stuff I remember from this show was the wild opening, Mr. Easy Reader and The Amazing Spider-Man. They also used to teach simple Spanish phrases and words as well. I wish P.B.S. would bring back this show in a newer more modernized format. I learned a lot watching this show. One of the few shows I would actually watch besides cartoons. This and 3-2-1- Contact were some of my childhood favorites.

Watch out for repeats!

What a blast from the past...

[albert-owen-j7r7 · 21 May 2004]

...this show was!!

I remember this show so vividly, and thanks to the Noggin Network, old memories have now surfaced!!

My favorites on the show were when either Skip Hinnant (JJ) or Jim Boyd (Andy) would get themselves in a mess. J. Arthur Crank was a hoot!! Favorite one-liner..."somebody stole steal!!" ...but here's Harry...high in the sky...having his lunch..."Harrrrrrry...you forgot your lunch!!"..."A Peck on the Neck"..."House" (animated musical number)..."SpiderMan" (always was terrified of the Tickler because my sister would say she would get him on me or she would tickle my feet...what can you say for a naive eight-year old at the time?)..."Letterman" (there's where I get my nickname "Rolling O" from)..."Love of Chair"..."Bleached blonde Blanche blinked in the blinding blizzard"..."SuperGuy is a meatball"..."Tilt" by the Short Circuit ("stop playing pinball with my heart")..."My Name is Buddy, Buddy is my Name"...Paul the Gorilla with Jennifer of the Jungle..."A Very Short Book"...I could go on for hours...and at my age then, I would have LOVED to have met Denise Nickerson (Allison) in person!! She was downright cute...and still is today!!

Wow...the Electric Company...a true blast from MY past!!!

Wonderful! Golden childhood memories...

[shaadowlove · 27 January 2003]

When I was a child, I remember watching The Electric company with my friends and family. The actors were amazing, and the skits were unforgettable. I adored Morgan Freeman's cowboy sketches! Jim Boyd's character, the inimitable 'Crank', remains my personal favorite to this day. I loved Luis as 'Yankee Doodle'. In all of the historical skits, he looked like he was having as much fun as the viewers! Luis is an amazing talent, and I've been taping all of his movies just to see him in other roles. Rita, Judy, Lee and Hattie were all wonderful, too! Skip Hinnant is also very talented and funny: When he was in a scene portraying a Romeo type character, and Rita was the angry director screaming at him, he muttered "The things I do for art," and then

slammed himself back against the wall when she glared at him! I couldn't stop laughing!!! I also enjoyed him as "Roy the Toy Boy".

My favorite sketches are: "Boris the Boxer" (Jim plays a toothless boxer who has been hit in the head quite a bit, and throws punches when he hears a bell), "Greedy Greg Grabbed The Green Grapes" (Jim again), the "--ing" song (sung by Brenda, who was 'swing-ing' and 'sitt-ing' on a bee that was 'sting-ing' her), "Pandora the Brat" (Rita Moreno), "Nitty Gritty" (Hattie), "The Galloping Saddle" (Morgan and Jim), "Springing From A Sponge", "Yankee Doodle" "The Mad Conductor" ("YAGA! Are you trying to turn me into a little bowl of pasta???" Luis yells at Jim, who can't seem to play the right note on his tuba), "Grouch" (Morgan introduces the sketch, where two cavemen, Jim and Luis, are busy pounding rocks. Luis tries to show Jim something, and he growls: "GRRR!" and then pops Luis on the head with the stone hammer. "OUCH!!!" Luis cries... the scene repeats itself several times before it dawns on them that they have created a new word! Vaudeville music strikes up, and they dance around (with the dazed, confused look that only Jim can effect!) chanting "Grouch! Grouch! Grouch!" LOL!!! I still howl with laughter whenever Jim pulls that face!), and "Skunk In The Trunk", where Jim opens a trunk and discovers "...a pretty little kitty---with BAD BREATH!!!"

As an adult, I still love this show (maybe TOO much!) and I would recommend it to people of any age who like to laugh and have fun. Life is too short to frown all of the time! Let Electric Company "turn you on" and "bring you the power"... of laughter and positive vibes!

I give this show 10/10 stars.

One of the most educational shows of its day!!!

[raysond · 3 August 2000]

I can remember this show like it was yesterday. When I was in school,everyday after lunch we would go back into the classroom,and our teacher(dear sweet Mrs. Edge)would turn to the station where the show was on(it came on at 12:30 in the afternoon),and she would tell us that their were certain words and sounds like "ch",and "sh" that would be announced on the show,and IT WAS MANDATORY,that we watch the show,cause you'll never know if Mrs. Edge would give us a word to say or used in a sentence,and it came directly from that show.

The Electric Company was that show. It may have been a great show,but it was educational as well. I always looked forward to it coming on everyday. We couldn't wait for Rita Moreno to yell "Hey you Guys!",and we would yell right along,if you wasn't too loud or gotten or Mrs. Edge's last nerve. She was a very good teacher. I can remember some of the characters like Crank, J.J., Sylvia or Jennifer with Paul the Gorilla. Morgan Freeman was everyone's favorite because he could not only entertain the kids,but at the same time teach them about words and phrases,and other lessons of interest(my teacher worship the ground he walked on everytime he was on the air).

Oh yeah,how can I forget other characters like "Letterman",and learning to read from your friendly-neighborhood "Spiderman",and most importantly.....silent "e"....Who can remember the song.... "Who can turn a can into a cane","Who can turn a man into a mane"......and so forth.....

One of the best shows for my childhood. I'm surprised it didn't last very long,but it would be nice if someone did a remake of the show that encourages children to learn more and be entertain at the same time. Great show of the 1970's!!!!

Thank God for Noggin!

[14jade · 7 January 2002]

Although I love its great predecessor, "Sesame Street," this show was a lot more beneficial to me as a child because I learned to read at an early age. I have been told that the reason the show ceased was because of production costs, but I still think it holds value today as a teaching tool. I think "Electric Company" was one of the best educational shows PBS ever produced. The clothing and hair may be retro, but the songs (by Tom Lehrer and also the late, great Joe Raposo, a truly talented composer for both "Electric Company" and "Sesame Street," as well as the composer of the infamous "Three's Company" theme, "Come and Knock on Our Door") are timeless. "T-I-O-N," "N'T," the "If" song, "L-Y," and "I Like Fish Food" are my top five "Electric Company" songs. Noggin has done a great service by airing the reruns of all six seasons (not the final two seasons as PBS did in the 1980s). Thanks, Nickelodeon (even if you are a subsidiary of Viacom)!

I love it when all the pieces fit!

[legaleagle16 · 7 August 2001]

I watched every episode of "The Electric Company" with my children. When they got too "old" for the genre, I had occasion to watch it by myself-this led to a lot of teasing, but I thought "Dracula" and "Easy Reader" were just great. Today I was surfing the Children's TV Show Archives, and naturally clicked on "Electric Company." DEJEVU! Morgan Freeman was the actor portraying my favorite (vicariously enjoyed) characters! The first time I saw Morgan Freeman in my adult life was in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." He looked sooo familiar, but I just couldn't place him! What a rush! ...life has come full-circle for me. A fan of this man all my life-and I never realized it! What a treat!

Easy Reader - the apotheosis of cool

[Mike Sh. · 12 November 2002]

I was never terribly impressed by cool people. James Dean? A scenery-chewing ham. The Fonz? A clown in a leather jacket. Yes, from the time I was a kid, I always thought cool was overrated. The cool kids in school were either sadistic jerks or so obliviously self-centered that they couldn't see how ridiculous they were. Cool? Bah!

But Easy Reader, he was one cool cat who I really liked. Here was a guy who was really cool, in every way. I can't say he was a role model for me, as I could never have hoped to be as cool as he was on his nerdiest days. But I must admit, I thought he was the coolest.

Imagine my surprise when Easy Reader turned out to be Morgan Freeman!

I remember!

[numberone_1 · 15 August 2000]

Reading some of the comments other people have said regarding the "Electric Company" makes me realize that it has been forgotten, and that is a shame! If anyone can tell me more about this "Noggin" cable channel or where to find reruns, it would be much appreciated. I, too, remember the Electric Company, and I watched it fervently from age 7-12. It was a wonderful show that provided the best possible learning environment, by combining education with humor and repetition, and, above all, in small enough doses to aid in memory retention. I think my all-time favorite was "Fargo North, De-Coder." The cast was certainly very talented and very capable, and I have nothing but fond memories of watching this show, while also improving my language skills.

My favorite childhood show!

[lthseldy1 · 6 September 2003]

Out of all the educational shows that I can remember as a child, I enjoyed this one the best. The skits that I remember the most are "I Hate To Take A Nap", "Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha Chimney", "Act Your Age", "N'T", All the skits mimicking Johnny Cash, "Randy" and being a horror fan I mostly enjoyed the monster characters. I enjoyed the Short Circus and having a crush on Jessy and Buddy and the songs "Poison", "Knock, Knock, Rock" and "Tilt". I loved this show and I wish that it would come on regularly on TV. I did not have Noggin so I wish that all kids had the opportunity that I had as a kid to enjoy these educational shows that are far more better and "cleaner" than todays children's shows.

Hey You Guys! This Show Was Fun.

[blackarachnia2 · 14 December 2004]

Hey You Guys! I really loved the Electric Company even though it was five years before my time. I can say that I learned a lot from this show. Just basic reading and grammatical skills that so many kids are lacking these days. This show was really fun and there were a lot of people who made it that way. They really need to make more educational programs just like this so that kids can keep an opened mind as to what's out there rather than relying on other TV shows that don't really have any educational value and do very little to stimulate young minds.

I'm surprised that this show isn't in syndication and hasn't been released on DVD and VHS because the Children's Television Workshop could profit very well from it.

Faster than a rolling O... Stronger than silent E...

[OKCRay · 23 January 2003]

... able to leap Capital T in a single bound... it's a word... it's a plan... it's LetterMan (with Joan Rivers doing the narration!)

OMG does this bring back memories! Unfortunately I don't have Noggin on my basic cable, but they did a preview a few years back with about two hours' worth of EC highlights, and I made sure I taped that puppy!

Along with Sesame Street, Zoom and all the others (remember Carrascolendas? Now there's a blast from the past for some of you!), these shows made learning fun. The Electric Company especially brought phonics to life with all of the songs and skits. And just look at that talent roster: Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno, Irene Cara, not to mention all the memorable characters they created!

Favorite song? Hmmmm... how about "See Sam, See Sam sit, See Sam sit in the sun, See Sam sit in the sun sipping soda". Or maybe "If I had an ING, I'd go on a flING..." I also liked their skit on WAS and IS, with everyone dumping garbage and whipped cream on the WAS (with Rita Moreno's little girl character commenting, "That WAS a very nice WAS!")

Okay, I'm probably scaring a lot of you right now, so I'll stop here and go visit Romper Room and the New Zoo Revue!

Hey Youse Guys! LOL!

[gazzo-2 · 4 March 2001]

I loved this show as a kid! Esp the Adventures of Letterman(he was voiced by Gene Wilder-!, and it was narrated by Joan Rivers-!!-boys the things you find out here at IMDB)-which had the rather non-PC villainous Arab guy in each one. That segment of the show was the best.

Easy Reader everyone remembers, to me as a kid he had a kinda forboding look to him-nowadays Morgan Freeman conveys the same vibes in anything he touches. He was good then too.

I always enjoyed the little animated segments showing the little guy who would come up beneath a sign and begin t-o s-o-u-n-d i-t o-u-t. Then something BAD would happen-say a giant would almost get him or a pig would land on him, etc. Fun stuff of course.

And of course, we got a kick in the family outta 'Spidey', the dancing Rooster and 'Cool Pool Fool'.

Def. a show for the ages, it's sad they didn't make it for longer or run it more.

As it is, it was made '71-77 and ran til '82, so it's run wasn't exactly short. Just to those of us growing up with it.

Better than Stresme Street too.

*** outta **** of course.

Another educational program

[IrockGswift · 3 May 2003]

This show displayed a variety of sketches that uses comedy and other means of interest to children about education. I remember seeing this show in the early 80s in syndication on PBS. What I've remembered enjoying on the show was a cartoon named Letterman. In which this little superhero teaches grammer with vowels and prepositions and how they are used in a sentence. I also remember the Spiderman episodes. I had to be around six or seven when this show was aired,though the other segments on the show I vaguely remembered. But if someone had mention this show to me I would remember it as if it was yesterday because of the impact it put on me as a child.

Still The Best Educational Show

[rmills-5 · 25 October 2004]

The Electric Company remains the best, most effective, teaching tool on television for young viewers. Nothing that Sesame Workshop (formerly the Children's Television Workshop) has produced since then (including Sesame Street) comes anywhere near to actually working as a teaching method for kids. It is, quite simply, the best educational show ever produced. Sesame Workshop is notorious for not getting their lesser known shows on video for parents who are both eager and desperate to provide their kids with high quality educational viewing - they prefer to flog their flagship show, Sesame Street, for every dime they can scrounge. For those fans who truly adore the show and have been posting clips on the web - Sesame Workshop responds with heavy handed legal tactics to shut them down. This show deserves to be seen - and not just on the barely-subscribed-to Noggin satellite channel. If Sesame Workshop can't get their best show on video they could at least acknowledge the support of fans who want to share the wonderful experience of The Electric Company with a new generation of young viewers. Let them know you want the show and perhaps they will finally be shamed into releasing it as a DVD collection.

It has returned!!!

[austinangela · 3 April 2001]

The Electric Company has returned on Noggin, Nickelodeon's "other" station. I catch it in the wee hours of the morning. It's great to watch, even at 27. I'm going to record the episodes so that my kids can see them, too!

Check your local listings (if you have Noggin) for times.

Loved the voice of Joan Rivers

[jonmyrlebailey · 13 October 2006]

I was ten in 1974. That is really the year I started to dig EC. I thought Joan Rivers was super when she announced Letterman as being "faster than a rolling "o".....stronger than the silent "e" ...able to leapa capital "T" in a single bound". That jazzy Latin American number "Punctuation" was my favorite Electric Company tune. Victor Borge, the famous punctuation "teacher", was cool with that vocalized question mark and period (pop!!) thing. Most children in my second-grade class preferred the Electric Company over Sesame Street hands down. I thought the Love of Chair thing a little stupid. Who did the "Freddy's Free Fruit" skit? I do wish EC continued on TV. A few parts I thought dumb, but the Joe Raposo music was groovy!!!

My favorite TV show of all time; fiddler on the chair!

[jweissmn · 25 November 2005]

This was my favorite TV show ever, tied with The Bullwinkle show.

I would get home from work, open a beer, and watch the late-afternoon showing, giggling all the way.

Aburdist comedy, plus reading instruction. What more could you want? Superb acting? Bread on Morgan Freeman's table before the world recognized him as a great actor?

Rita Moreno's movie director, the Fiddler on the chair sketch, Mel Brooks saying "That doesn't swing!", the "Everyone has Pain" song.

WHEN will this come out on DVD? Is it showing anywhere in the US? Will the old record ever come out on CD?

It's back on! It's back on! and More on the LY song

[visceralgirl · 3 February 2001]

Boy, did I love this show! I always wished they would put it back on television. I never forgot it in the more than 20 years since I watched it as a child. I credit it with teaching me how to read better than any teacher could have done alone and also with instilling in me a love of reading that has never gone away. Morgan Freeman has had a stellar acting career but to me he will always be Easy Reader first and foremost.

My prayers have been answered.

For those of you who have Comcast Digital cable there is a channel called Noggin that shows nothing but children's educational shows. One of them is the Electric Company. Perhaps other cable packages have this channel, I don't know. I am thoroughly enjoying watching the old bits and am anticipating bits which I have yet to see again (like the Silent e song and "It's the plumber. I've come to fix the sink.").

Somebody who posted here wanted to know other lyrics to the LY song:

"You're wearing your squeaky shoes. When sitting there taking a snooze is a tiger, so how do you walk on by? Silently, silently, silent- ly"

"At a pie eating contest you boast, that you can eat the most. How do you down your 50th piece of pie? Eagerly, eagerly, eager- ly"

"You're walking down the street, when you happen to meet a porcupine. How do you shake his hand when he says hi? Carefully, carefully, careful-ly."

I feel sorry that some of my favorite performers on the show did not seem to have as successful acting careers as Morgan Freeman. I hoped that I would see them again