'The Electric Company' powers up again

Carla W. Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 07:01 PM EST

What was Sesame Workshop thinking? This new show is nothing like the old one and definitely not as funny. The old one won 5 Emmy awards and its original cast album won a Grammy. Haven't these people ever heard the saying "If it isn't broke, don't fix it."? Okay, so it isn't meant for my generation (I'm 40 and grew up with the old show) but they still could've just left it the way it was.

EI Sun, Mar 29, 2009 at 09:24 PM EST

This is my 9 yearold sister speaking: Listen up. wether you're in your sewing circles or watching CNN Electric Company is awesome and if you can't understand that it's probably cuz you're old. So if you want to find out if it's not "hip" or "groovy" enough for you, then put a kid in front of the TV, and make him watch the old version and the new version, and if they go around screaming HEEYY YYOOUU GUUUYYYZZZ!!!Then you're right but if he goes around singing:feel the power feel the power feel the power yo and plug it in, then that's because it's not for you it's for the kids so go watch your reruns.

BiggO Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 01:24 PM EST

While I understand that this new show is being brought back "for the benefit of our children", I HAVE to agree with James. I don't like it, and my KIDS don't like it either. Still, though, you have to wonder why the "re-creators" insist on giving an OLD name to a NEW show. Those of us that grew up on the original ARE going to watch AND have strong opinions whether we're watching with our kids or not. At one level, this is part of the Hollywood trend of the last decade of REMAKES, REMAKES, and MORE REMAKES (ie, a lack of creativity and imagination that has defined the Generation-X and 'Y writers, screenwriters, musicians, singers, etc.). Unfortunately, though, this one is right down there with the "New Captain Kangaroo" show of the late 90s. People like to criticize the OLDER educational programs, but those show actually worked. Obviously, things have gone wrong at many levels in the last 20 years to put the current "tech-savvy" generation in the academic straits they are currently in.

venessa Fri, Jan 23, 2009 at 12:53 PM EST

while the new version of the electric company is not the one I remeber. it is not meant for me it is meant for my daugther. who loved it and was repeating along with it. she loves music and dancing so it did engage her. If it keeps my daugther interested and teaches her how to read then I am happy. so don't judge so fast give it a chance and see what your kids think first.

JamesO Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 02:38 PM EST

I saw the "debut" of the new show yesterday. I didn't like it at all. The episode with Tiki Barber was all right because they were imparting a valuable lesson and telling a story (like Sesame Street did WAY back when). The OTHER segments left much to be desired. There's something condescending about a show that feels like EVERY skit has to have people rapping and/or dancing in order to reach its intended audience. The beatboxing guy is one of the most annoying characters I've EVER seen on a kids' show. It would've been cool, say, 20 years ago, but TODAY? I think not. Also, the show is a bit contrived with its tolerance and diverstity values. It's like the show's writers went overboard. At one point one of the kids basically said, "Hey, we're DIVERSE. Look at us." Oddly enough, the ORIGINAL Electric Company WAS very diverse at a time when that was REVOLUTIONARY, but we didn't have the characters on the show telling us that.

Anyway, KEEP TRYING guys.

stella Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 11:10 PM EST

It's so good! I just watched the first 4 episodes, and I was so impressed.

Jason Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 05:16 PM EST

I'm watching it with my daughter right now and its really good. The entire show is based on a theme ( we finished the C letter where Hector was thinking he was a canine) and now they are doing "A" where one of the kids is stuck in a science experiment. I am glad they are making this show as we are teaching my daughter right now about letters and pronunciation so this is perfect for her.

Steven Acevedo Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 10:33 AM EST

I'm sorry. This isn't going to cut it.
No good ever came from reinventing an old idea without a bit of conscious thought behind it.

This version will die a horrible gruesome death.

Mobean Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 03:37 PM EST

I May not been anound (at the time) when this Show was but I do Know about "Between the Lions" which kind of picked up what this show [left off?]This is Great for todays preteens (or Tweens as we call'em these days)... Then what's next 3-2-1 Contact or Square one TV will come back? if too early I'm just saying... gotta go!

Melinda65 Sat, Sep 13, 2008 at 10:15 AM EST

I watched EC, but I have very few memories of it, other than Easy Reader, Jennifer (?) of the Jungle, and Rita Moreno's "Hey, you guys!" If I saw it again, though, I might be surprised what comes back. I also remember 3-2-1 Contact (loved the Bloodhound Gang) and watched Square One with my older kids, and clips on YouTube with my younger kids.
http://www.squareonetv.org

Jackie Sat, Sep 13, 2008 at 09:13 AM EST

Hey I loved the Electric Company when I was a kid too but you people do realize that they are not bringing it back for your benefit but your kids and for some of you maybe your grandkids. Give it a chance, of course it is going to be different, it is 30 years later. It better be different.

WILLIAM HOEFT Thu, May 29, 2008 at 07:18 AM EST

SAY WHAT YOU WILL. I WATCHED THE SHOW JUST TO SEE SPIDERMAN. WHO KNEW I WAS LEARNING SOMETHING AT THE SAME TIME.

Bill Warner Fri, May 16, 2008 at 02:13 PM EST

borm in 73, 35 yr old Gen-X'r, my memories of TV were from PBS shows. Of course "The Electric Company" is tops in my memory. Although I was a little young to totally comprehend all the relivance of the skits, I remember watching it. Q: how many of you out there remember 321 contact??
Do I remember correctly or was that show that had a skit showing the band KISS, rehearsing & setting up their stage w/ all the stagehands, pyro works, lights etc.., what makes that so memorable to me is seeing Peter Criss's high rise drum hoist going into the air, to a little kid in the early 70's, that was pure bliss. KISS was like a live action cartoon. I too remember the PBS programing of my childhood in the early 70's. Bill.

Brian Rose Thu, May 15, 2008 at 07:35 PM EST

I've found out that PBS is bringing
back "The Electric Company".And they
started shooting this week. But,Ive
found out that no celebrities were
involved in the new one.They used to
have Bill Cosby,Rita Moreno,and
Morgan Freeman on the show.If they
make an updated version,here's what
I want to see.

Chris Rock as Easy Reader
Rose McGowan as Pandora
Fergie as Jennifer Of The Jungle
Michael De Lorenzo as Mr.Crank
John Leguizamo as Dr.Doolots
Debra Wilson as The Libarian
Ashton Kutcher as Fargo North
Vintage Letterman Cartoons
And..More Spider-Man Adventures

If that doesen't happen,the new
Electric Company won't last long.

I just hope PBS is getting it right.

Stephanie T. Wed, May 14, 2008 at 05:11 PM EST

Fargo North, Decoder

Morgan Freeman as a dancing Dracula-awesome.

Spiderman, totally!

Jane of the Jungle

Mike Wed, May 14, 2008 at 02:33 PM EST

I'll never forget Spiderman and Easy Reader says this book is easy to read. Electric Company was the next logical step after Seasme Street and there is no way any remake will do it justice. How about an original idea every once in a while, huh?

Heather A. Wed, May 14, 2008 at 02:29 PM EST

B.... AT.... BAT. C.... AT.... CAT.

Spiderman, Spiderman, nobody knows who you are!!!!!!!!!

Easy Reader was the man! I can't understand why Morgan Freeman doesn't want it mentioned to him. He rocked.

I was born in 1970 and raised on PBS. Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, Electric Company, Big Blue Marble and Zoom were the best shows EVER. I can't see how it could possibly be as good as the original, but I guess a whole new generation of kids deserves the same fun memories.

Martha Wed, May 14, 2008 at 01:33 PM EST

Nancy, we have the Schoolhouse Rock DVD. It is just as awesome as you remember, and my 5-year-old is into it too - bonus!

vw Wed, May 14, 2008 at 01:32 PM EST

no way this will be better cause their not even tryin to keep the original skits,etc. which were by the way entertaining as well as educational. repetitive, humorous, musical learning is always the best way to learn.the original school house rock and the electric company are out on dvd, yeaaaah!

Martha Wed, May 14, 2008 at 01:28 PM EST

Portia, I did a Google search to confirm and it turns out "One of these things" is from Sesame Street. Apologies for the mixed-up nostalgia! (I'm still getting the EC box set.)

Nancy Wed, May 14, 2008 at 12:01 PM EST

I don't remember anything specific about The Electric Company. I do remember School House Rock, though. When are they going to bring that back?!! That was educational! I was a little kiddo when those first came out, and I STILL remember all the lyrics. "Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Hooking up words and phrases and clauses."

Portia Wed, May 14, 2008 at 11:42 AM EST

Martha-Was "one of these things is not like the other..." from Electric Company? I still sing that and it's sister "One of kids is doin' his own thing..." all the time! Younger people think I'm nuts.

Martha Wed, May 14, 2008 at 11:17 AM EST

One of my favorite segments? "One of these things is not like the other..." There's an Electric Company box set? I am *so* buying that...for my five-year-old. Yeah.

enidtoo Wed, May 14, 2008 at 10:50 AM EST

Out of nostalgia, last year I bought my son (now 8 years old) the Electric Company box set on DVD. He has loved it since day one and still watches it over and over again, even though he is already a strong reader. He enjoys the entertainment aspect as much as the learning aspect. I can only hope the new version of EC will be just as entertaining as the original but honestly I'm not holding my breath. And I plan on letting my 1 year old watch the original EC DVDs in a couple of years. BTW, some of the outtakes on the DVD are hilarious!! One last thing -- J. Arthur Crank!!

DW Wed, May 14, 2008 at 10:20 AM EST

The Bloodhound Gang was on 3-2-1 Contact. Also awesome, but not the same as the Electric Company!

Kathgal Wed, May 14, 2008 at 10:14 AM EST

Bill Cosby's Picture Page was from Captain Kangaroo I think.

Winona Wed, May 14, 2008 at 08:58 AM EST

Hey You Guuuyyyysss!!!! And of course, Bill Cosby's Picture Pages... ah, memories.

Now if they'd only bring back The Letter People, I'd be set... of course, I already bought a bootleg complete set off of eBay - my kid will grow up with the originals!!!

Middento Wed, May 14, 2008 at 08:58 AM EST

It won't be nearly as good unless there is a remake of "Love of Chair." (I mean, if they can bring back 90210, certainly we can have more "Love of Chair"!)

donner Wed, May 14, 2008 at 08:54 AM EST

I loved EC and can only hope the new revision is just as good...if not, you CAN NETFLIX old eps, ya know...go...put them in your queue NOW...talk about the memories coming back...

My best memory is HEYYYY YOUUUU GUYYYYYZZZZ!!!!! We're gonna turn it on....we're gonna bring you the power....

my memory of it was, its was on just before ZOOM came on...THAT was the show I was waiting for...how to make play doh outta your mom's flour, water and food coloring...how to build a kite..how to clean a penny using lemon juice...

Eric Friedmann Wed, May 14, 2008 at 08:01 AM EST

I loved THE ELECTRIC COMPANY as a kid, so naturally, the thought of some stupid recycled "reboot" of this show is just pointless to me. I think this idea is destined to fail in today's market because, unlike the '70s, there is too much damn competition between PBS, Nick Jr. and The Disney Channel for these kinds of programs. Today, parents can also pick and choose videos and DVDs for children to get their educational fun, as well as TV channels. A new ELECTRIC COMPANY will only mean something to today's parents who will be undoubtedly curious. Ultimately, they will be disappointed.

Nick, not only was Letterman voiced by Gene Wilder, but the narrator of that skit was none other than Joan Rivers!

Kathleen Wed, May 14, 2008 at 07:45 AM EST

Puh.
Op.
Pop!

Tuh.
Ag.
Tag!

Wasn't there some sort of funky beat playing too? I don't remember, but I distinctly remember the silhouettes.

Kathgal Wed, May 14, 2008 at 07:18 AM EST

"Who can turn a cap into a cape? Who can turn a tap into some tape...Its el-e-men-tar-y, its SILENT E"!

Rollo Wed, May 14, 2008 at 01:48 AM EST

No way can a new "Electric Company" compete with the original. Some things should be left alone. Like when you hear "classic rock" everyday, it's no longer classic rock. Just more of the same...

David D Tue, May 13, 2008 at 06:07 PM EST

Ohhhhhh, I had SUCH a crush on Judy Graubart. I even met her once in a record store and desperately tried to stay cool and professional.

Ditto on "It's the plumber." I tell that joke to this day.

Shana Tue, May 13, 2008 at 05:50 PM EST

Well if someone from Law & Order is working on it then the Bloodhound Gang should be resurrected and better than ever!

daisyj Tue, May 13, 2008 at 04:16 PM EST

Me, I just want to know when they're gonna bring back Square One (hey, kids need to learn their math, too, right?). And not that I would ever admit it (except for here, I guess), but I would totally still watch Mathnet, even now.

"The story you're about to see is a fib, but it's short. The names are made up but the problems are real."

Snarf Tue, May 13, 2008 at 04:07 PM EST

HEY! YOU! GUUUUUUUUUUUYS!
I do believe I just dated myself.

Portia Tue, May 13, 2008 at 04:01 PM EST

Oh, you guys are awesome! Spiderman, the plumber, letterman...it's all coming back to me! My brother-in-law and I have an ongoing arguement about which Spiderman theme song is the more legitimate.

Portia Tue, May 13, 2008 at 03:59 PM EST

OK, so I was VERY young (born in'74),so I don't remember alot of details, but I distinctly remember being WAY more into the Electric Company than Sesame Street. I'm going to have to research some of the sketches I do remember and see what shows they were featured on...Letter People, Bloodhound Gang, 3-2-1 Contact....I do remember all the theme songs, including the instrumental "Bom Bom Bom Bom...dudda da da!" from Electric Company. Now I have a rotation in my head of all these songs...how funny! "Come and meet the letter people..."

Tue, May 13, 2008 at 03:56 PM EST

"It's the plumber. I've come to fix the sink."

Nick Tue, May 13, 2008 at 03:55 PM EST

The old one also had the amazing adventures of... Letterman!! (which, I did not know until a few days ago, was voiced by Gene Wilder).

Don't forget those animated Spiderman clips too.

JJJ Tue, May 13, 2008 at 03:54 PM EST

Easy Reader was the man!

Tue, May 13, 2008 at 03:54 PM EST

"But what about Naomi?"

Jill Tue, May 13, 2008 at 03:51 PM EST

I LOVED the Electric Company. I grew up on it. Every now and then I find myself singing songs from it. I ONLY hope that the new bunch of people put as much time and devotion into it.
(Current song in head - Hurray for hate, it's really great, when things are not so hot, hate really hits the spot. Okay, so the best message does not go out with this song, but the song is still stuck in my head after all these years)

Miriam Tue, May 13, 2008 at 03:47 PM EST

Fargo North, Decoder was definitely my favorite sketch.

Cheryl Tue, May 13, 2008 at 03:40 PM EST

Fargo North, Decoder

ZF Tue, May 13, 2008 at 03:31 PM EST

HEY YOU GUYYYYYYYS!