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"The Electric Company" makes a comebackHey you guyyyyyyys! The Electric Company is turning on the power again. That’s right, the classic '70s children’s program is back with a new series set to premiere in January. PBS producers have said that the new The Electric Company will be a literacy show for the 21st century. (Aww, does that mean they are going to get rid of the groovy logo?)
The original series ran from 1971 to 1977 (with repeats playing until 1985) and taught reading through a series of skits, cartoons and songs. It also helped introduce the world to Rita Moreno, Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby and Irene Cara. Electric version 2.0 will be more plot and character-driven than the original. Linda Simensky, senior director of programming for PBS Kids, described the show this way: “It’s the old one mixed with High School Musical and a Dr Pepper commercial.” Um, are Dr. Pepper commercials really the best way to get kids reading? Oh dear. Every time a piece of my childhood nostalgia gets remade, I get a little nervous. How could this new version possibly compare to the Motown-infused funkiness of the original? I defy you to not sing along to that theme song. And vintage Morgan Freeman is a real treat — the man has an Oscar. Remember Easy Rider? Come on — if he couldn’t convince you that reading was cool, no one could.
Thankfully, the show does plan to pay tribute to its past. Rita, the originator of the show’s famous “Hey you guyyyyyyys!” yell, has been offered a cameo. The new show will follow a “not-so-secret society known as the Electric Company” whose headquarters is a natural-foods diner. Among the cast is beat-box artist Shockwave (Chris Sullivan, pictured below). According to the New York Times, his character speaks in “one-word bursts only — no sentences — and appears in guises like the much missed gorilla and a butcher who cleaves words,” as well as a DJ.
Well, as long as it gets kids reading, I’m in. But, clearly, I won’t watch, since I’m way past its target 6 to 9 age bracket. Now, if they brought back 3-2-1 Contact, that would be another story. So, what do you think: Should The Electric Company come back to help a new generation learn to read, or should they leave an old classic alone? And does anyone want to sing along with me to the “There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea” song? Pretty please? Submitted by on May 14, 2008 - 5:00pm. |
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Ohm.
Banana splits and meat chopping? Am I sensing a dangerous Freudian theme here?
I obviously wasn't old enough to catch this one on TV, but I do miss the days where Sesame Street was an hour long, not just 50% Elmo's World.
...and all was well, and the world smiled.
Loved
Me some 'Electric Company'! Watched it more than Seasame Street when I was a kid. Probably had alot to do with that huge crush I had on Rita Moreno. Of course that crush started back when she played Anita in 'The West Side Story'. And my deep love of 'The Adventures Of Letterman'. As seen on the links added here.
"http://www.youtube.com/v/NKgBxZmDakE&hl=en"
"http://www.youtube.com/v/dI9J1-6kjQM&hl=en"
They should definitely bring back the Electric Company for a new generation!!
Wasn't it "Easy READER"?
I don't think I ever watched a full episode of Sesame Street. I was 100% an Electric Company girl. Letterman - someone would replace letters in words to turn them into something else - A witch (I think) turned some woman's groom into a broom until Letterman saved the day - I don't know why that has stuck with me.
...And now you having me searching youtube for the theme to The Bloodhound Gang (from 3-2-1 Contact)...
LOL....
"Whenever there's trouble we're there on the double...we're The Bloodhound Gang!
If you've got the crime, we've got the time...we're The Bloodhound Gang!
I haven't thought about that in YEARS!
Born to be...literate
Yes, of course, Reader. My bad. With apologies to Dennis Hopper.
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Why I Don't Sleep Much: Dorothy Surrenders
I LOVED this show!
As a 70's child....and proud of it....I grew up with these characters. It was Easy Reader-I remember the theme song and the Short Circus!!!!!
Remember this????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzFE6fE703A&feature=related
And by the way----the narrator on "Letterman" is Joan Rivers! It was one of her first gigs---how bout that?
GR eat GREAT SH ow SHOW
While I was, ahem, slightly older than the target audience, I often stopped in on the Electric Company and enjoyed it a lot.
Hope they do the new one justice!
3-2-1 Contact!
Electric Company is a little before my time, and I don't ever remember watching the reruns. But 3-2-1 Contact was great. I love it. And I'll never forget Fridays in Fourth Grade. If you collected enough "points" throughout the week (by doing your work, not getting in trouble) you got to join the class in watching tapes of 3-2-1 Contact. With a Blow Pop!
If you didn't get enough points, you had to finish your work in the hallway. (the horror!)