Molly Ayala
The Electric Company was a live-action series produced by the Children's Television Workshop, which also produced Sesame Street. The show aired from 1971 to 1977 and was aimed at elementary school kids aged 6-9 to teach reading skills, with an emphasis on phonics, rhymes, and punctuation. Unlike Sesame Street, which licensed its Muppet characters for merchandising, The Electric Company did not have any stand-alone characters or brands that could generate additional profits. However, Muppets from Sesame Street did make occasional appearances on The Electric Company, and the two shows shared some crew members.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airing time | 1971-1977 |
| Total number of episodes | 780 |
| Number of episodes per season | 130 |
| Target audience | Elementary school kids aged 6-9 |
| Objective | Teach and supplement reading skill instruction |
| Focus areas | Phonics, rhymes, punctuation, and basics of sentence structure |
| Format | Live-action series |
| Producers | Children's Television Workshop |
| Notable cast members | Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Lee Chamberlin |
| Muppet appearances | 3 episodes |
| Spin-offs | Spidey Super Stories comic book, Milton Bradley board game, educational video games |
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What You'll Learn
Muppet Wiki Forums mentions The Electric Company
The Muppet Wiki Forums mention The Electric Company in several contexts. One of the most prominent connections between the two is the fact that both Sesame Street and The Electric Company were produced by the Children's Television Workshop. This relationship is highlighted in the Muppet Wiki Forums, where users discuss the collaboration between the two shows and the guest appearances of Sesame Street characters on The Electric Company, including Big Bird, Grover, and Oscar.
The Muppet Wiki Forums also provide insights into the development and impact of The Electric Company. It is noted that the show aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977, with the last two seasons remaining in reruns until 1985. The show's focus on teaching reading skills to elementary school children is mentioned, along with its use of short segments and animated commercials, and a unique numbering system for episodes instead of traditional titles.
Additionally, the Muppet Wiki Forums discuss the cast and crew of The Electric Company, including stars like Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno. There are also mentions of alumni who worked on both Sesame Street and The Electric Company, such as Victor Borge, Mel Brooks, and David M. Clark. The forums also serve as a platform for users to share updates, request assistance, and collaborate on creating comprehensive guides and wikis dedicated to The Electric Company.
The Electric Company's connection to the Muppets extends beyond the forums as well. For instance, the Electric Company Guide Activity Book 2 mentions Sesame Street and the Muppets, and features cameo appearances by Bert and Cookie Monster. There are also references to crossovers and collaborations between the two properties, such as the prime-time special Out to Lunch in 1974, where the casts of both shows joined forces.
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Muppet characters were licensed for Sesame Street merchandising
The Muppet characters were licensed for Sesame Street merchandising. Sesame Street was produced by the Children's Television Workshop, which also produced The Electric Company. The Electric Company was a live-action series that aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977 and was aimed at elementary school children aged 6-9. Unlike Sesame Street, which had licensed Muppet characters for merchandising, The Electric Company did not have a stand-alone brand or character that could generate additional profits. The show licensed comic books and a board game, but these were not based on a specific character from the show.
The Muppet characters were a crucial part of Sesame Street's popularity. Jim Henson created the Muppet characters, and he agreed to waive his performance fee for full ownership of the Sesame Street Muppets and to split any revenue they generated with the Children's Television Workshop. The Muppets were effective teaching tools because children easily recognized them, they were predictable, and they appealed to adults and older siblings. The Muppet segments of the show were popular, and more Muppets were added during the first few seasons.
During the production of Sesame Street's first season, producers created five one-hour episodes to test the show's appeal to children and their comprehension of the material. The results were positive, and children's attention was sustained over the full hour. However, researchers found that although children's attention was high during the Muppet segments, their interest wavered during the "Street" segments when no Muppets were on screen. This highlighted the effectiveness of the Muppet characters in engaging young audiences.
The relationship between Sesame Street and advertising, particularly the use of its characters to sell products, has evolved over the years. Initially, there was wariness due to the show's presence on public television and its target audience of children. However, as the show gained popularity, commercial advertising for Sesame Street products and services began appearing. Eventually, the Muppet characters themselves began appearing in these ads, sometimes in animated form. In some cases, the Muppets were hired to advertise products for other companies, further expanding their reach and influence.
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Muppet Wiki mentions The Electric Company cast
Muppet Wiki also mentions that there were some crossovers between The Electric Company and the Muppets from Sesame Street. In 1974, the Electric Company cast joined the Sesame Street Muppets in the prime-time special Out to Lunch. Big Bird, Grover, and Oscar have also guest-starred on The Electric Company. Additionally, the Muppet Wiki mentions that Bert and Cookie Monster from the Muppets made cameo appearances in The Electric Company Guide Activity Book 2, which also mentions Sesame Street and the Muppets several times.
The Muppet Wiki also provides information on the cast members of The Electric Company. It mentions that the show starred Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno and that the final episode featured a musical and dance number with the final cast members, excluding Bill Cosby and Lee Chamberlin, who had left the show, and Rita Moreno, who did not participate.
Furthermore, Muppet Wiki users have expressed interest in creating and expanding wikis dedicated to The Electric Company, indicating that more information about the cast and show could be added in the future.
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Muppet Wiki mentions The Electric Company comic books
The Muppet Wiki also mentions that The Electric Company Guide Activity Book 2 mentions Sesame Street and Muppets several times, and Bert and Cookie Monster make cameo appearances. Additionally, the wiki mentions that an Electric Company book is seen on a table in the Sesame Street episode "Home Video Visits the Hospital".
The Electric Company was a live-action series produced by the Children's Television Workshop and ran on PBS from 1971 to 1977. The show was aimed at elementary school children and focused on teaching reading skills, with an emphasis on phonics, rhymes, and punctuation. While the show did not have a stand-alone brand or character for merchandising, it did license comic books and a board game based on the Fargo North, Decoder character.
The Muppet Wiki Forums require a full understanding of the Rules and Etiquette for participation, and users are encouraged to contribute images, videos, and information about cast members and characters to the wiki.
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Muppet Wiki mentions The Electric Company alumni
Muppet Wiki mentions that several Muppet alumni were involved in The Electric Company. The Electric Company was a live-action series produced by the Children's Television Workshop, which also produced Sesame Street. The show ran from 1971 to 1977 and was aimed at teaching elementary school kids reading skills, with an emphasis on phonics, rhymes, and punctuation.
The Muppet Wiki mentions that there were several connections between The Electric Company and the Muppet/Henson universe. Firstly, it mentions that some Muppet alumni worked on The Electric Company, including Victor Borge, Mel Brooks, Fred Calvert, David M. Clark, Michael K. Frith, Samuel Y. Gibbon Jr., Clark Gist, John and Faith Hubley, Gerald S. Lesser, and Joan Lufrano.
Secondly, the Muppet Wiki mentions that there were several instances of crossovers between The Electric Company and Sesame Street, which is a Muppet show. For example, in Sesame Street Episode 0637, Rita Moreno appears as Millie, and Morgan Freeman appears as Easy Reader, reading newspapers that reference The Electric Company. In 1974, the cast of The Electric Company joined the Sesame Street Muppets in the prime-time special Out to Lunch. Additionally, Big Bird, Grover, and Oscar have all guest-starred on The Electric Company.
The Muppet Wiki also mentions that there were several references to The Electric Company in Sesame Street episodes and vice versa. For example, in one Sesame Street episode, Gina shouts the signature phrase of The Electric Company ("HEY, YOU GUYS!!!!") to create silence in Hooper's Store. In another instance, a sketch in the final episode of The Electric Company features a Mad Scientist (Morgan Freeman) calling his assistant Igor (Luis Avalos) a "misshapen little Muppet."
Lastly, the Muppet Wiki mentions that there were some Electric Company episodes that featured Muppets. According to the Wiki, there were only three episodes where Muppets made appearances. This information suggests that while there were some Muppet appearances and alumni involved in The Electric Company, it was not a significant aspect of the show.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there were muppets on The Electric Company. Big Bird, Grover, and Oscar made guest appearances on the show.
The Electric Company was a live-action series produced by the Children's Television Workshop. It was developed by Sesame alumni, including Dave Connell, and aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977. The show was aimed at elementary school kids aged 6-9 and intended to teach and supplement reading skill instruction.
Unlike Sesame Street, which licensed its Muppet characters for merchandising, The Electric Company never had a stand-alone brand or character that could have generated additional profits. The show only licensed comic books and a Milton Bradley board game of the Fargo North, Decoder character.
