Otis Singleton
What about Naomi? is a reference to a recurring sketch on the American educational children's television series The Electric Company, which was created by Paul Dooley and first aired in 1971. The sketch, titled Love of Chair, was a parody of classic soap operas and ended with the non-sequitur question, And what about Naomi? The Naomi in question refers to Naomi Foner, a producer on the show during its first two seasons and the mother of actors Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Show | The Electric Company |
| Year of Debut | 1971 |
| Genre | Educational Children's Television Series |
| Creator | Paul Dooley |
| Directors | Robert Schwarz, Henry Behar, John Tracy |
| Writers | Paul Dooley, Christopher Cerf |
| Producers | Samuel Y. Gibbon, Naomi Foner |
| Cast | Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Skip Hinnant |
| Sketch | Love of Chair |
| Sketch Writer | Paul Dooley |
| Sketch Announcer | Ken Roberts |
| Sketch Character | Boy |
| Sketch Character Played By | Skip Hinnant |
| Sketch Setting | A room with bare featureless walls and floors |
| Sketch Object | A simple wooden chair |
| Sketch Sequence | "And...What about Naomi?" |
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What You'll Learn
Naomi Foner, producer and mother of Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal
The phrase "What about Naomi" is associated with the 1970s PBS hit "The Electric Company", which was a children's show that aimed to teach kids to read. The show was rebooted in 2009, but the character Naomi was missing from the new version.
Now, Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal (née Achs; born March 4, 1946) is an American screenwriter and director. She is also known as a producer and writer, with credits including "Running on Empty" (1988), "Very Good Girls" (2013), and "Moon Flower of Flying Tigers". For "Running on Empty", she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay and won a Golden Globe in the same category. Foner was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, in a family of "high-achieving New York Jews". Her grandparents were Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Eastern Europe (Latvia and Poland). She attended Barnard College in New York City, graduating with a BA in English, and later earned an MA in developmental psychology from Columbia University.
Foner was first married to Eric Foner, a historian and Columbia University professor, from 1965 to 1977. Her second marriage was to film director Stephen Gyllenhaal, from 1977 until their divorce in 2009. She has two children with Gyllenhaal, actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jake Gyllenhaal.
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Love of Chair, a recurring sketch on The Electric Company
"Love of Chair" was a recurring sketch on the television program "The Electric Company". It was a parody of classic soap operas, specifically the long-running TV soap opera "Love of Life". The sketch was written by actor and comedian Paul Dooley and was seen primarily during the 1971-1972 season. The unseen announcer for the sketch was Ken Roberts, who had also been the announcer for "Love of Life".
The sketch featured background organ music similar to that of classic radio soap operas, including dramatic strings during key portions of the sketch. The scene was always set in a room with bare, featureless walls and floors, and focused on the actions of a boy (played by 30-year-old Skip Hinnant, dressed as a pre-teen child). The only other visible objects in the room were a simple wooden chair, in which the boy usually sat, and a paneled door in the background.
The format of each sketch was very simple and showed little variation over the course of the first season. Each episode began with a brief introduction by the announcer, for example: "Love of Chair. Can a boy from a small chair in a big room find happiness as a top dog in a pet shop?" Later episodes began this introduction with "The drama that asks the question: Can a boy..." Each episode had a different set of humorous "opposites", such as "an understudy in an overcoat" or "a VIP in the FBI".
During the regular sketches, the boy never spoke; the only voice heard was that of the off-screen announcer. The four simple sentences that appeared onscreen via Scanimate were read aloud by Roberts, who would then follow up with a series of gag questions before ending with "What about Naomi?". A cast member would then respond with a quick one-liner before the segment ended.
In the final "Chair" sequence, which was shown only in season 2, the sketch started normally. However, right after the sketch began, the boy turned to face the camera and angrily interrupted the announcer, declaring "No, he isn't! The boy is quitting!". The boy then put on a baseball cap and walked out of the door, slamming it behind him. After a moment's silence, the shocked announcer sputtered, "But... what about Naomi?". The scene then cut to the entire cast of "The Electric Company" standing on a stage under a banner that read, "What about Naomi?". The cast sang a brief song that repeatedly asked, "What about Naomi?", along with other questions about her, such as "Is she thin?" or "Is she fat?". The final lines of the song were: "What about Naomi? What about Naomi? We shall never know."
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The show's return in 2009, without Naomi
The Electric Company returned to screens in 2009, with a reboot of the 1971 series of the same name. The show's return came 32 years after the original series ended in 1977. Reruns of the original series continued until 1985, and the show was revived in 1999 on the Noggin network.
The 2009 series ran from January 19, 2009, to April 4, 2011, with reruns continuing on PBS until August 31, 2014. The show was aimed at 6- to 9-year-olds and, like its predecessor, targeted the literacy gap between low- and middle-income children. Each episode featured a storyline designed to teach four to five vocabulary words with a mix of hip-hop or contemporary R&B-style music. The show also featured similar short animations, parodies, sketches, and music videos to the original.
The new series revolved around the Electric Company, a group of tween and teen literacy heroes who protect their neighbourhood from the Pranksters, a group of vandals. The Electric Company members each have a special skill and the power to throw wordballs, blue magical balls that create words on any surface. The group's headquarters is the Electric Diner, where their friend Shock, a beat-boxing short-order cook, resides.
The show's return in 2009 did not include Naomi, a notable absence given the original series' famous "What About Naomi?" sketch.
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The show's original run from 1971-1977
The Electric Company, an American educational children's television series, first aired in 1971. The show was created by producer Samuel Y. Gibbon and Paul Dooley, and was produced by Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop). It was directed by Robert Schwarz (1971 and 1977), Henry Behar (1972–1975), and John Tracy (1975–1976). The show's original run ended in 1977, but reruns continued through 1985.
The Electric Company soon became a cultural phenomenon. The show targeted the literacy gap between low- and middle-income children, promoting the idea that reading was "cool". Stars including Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno, and Morgan Freeman were regulars, while Joan Rivers, Gene Wilder, Zero Mostel, and Mel Brooks provided voiceovers. Satirist Tom Lehrer wrote songs for the show, which also featured a comedy segment with a gorilla.
The show's unique, groovy, and psychedelic format drew fans of all ages. It was far from a typical children's show, also skewering pop culture. The Electric Company remained popular in reruns for decades, and about 30 episodes are available on DVD.
One of the show's most memorable features was the recurring sketch "Love of Chair", written by actor Paul Dooley. This parody of classic soap operas was seen primarily during the 1971–1972 season. The sketch featured background organ music and dramatic strings, similar to classic radio soap operas. The unseen announcer, Ken Roberts, had previously been the announcer for the TV soap opera "Love of Life", which inspired the name of the sketch. The sketch always ended with the non-sequitur question, "And what about Naomi?". This referred to Naomi Foner, a producer on the show during its first two seasons and the mother of actors Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal.
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The show's aim to teach kids to read
The Electric Company is an American educational children's television series that first aired in 1971. The show aimed to teach children to read and promote literacy among low- and middle-income children. It featured a mix of comedy, celebrity guests, and educational content to make learning fun and engaging for young viewers. The show's unique and psychedelic format drew fans of all ages and became a cultural phenomenon.
One of the show's memorable aspects was its recurring sketch, "Love of Chair," a parody of soap operas. This sketch, written by actor Paul Dooley, featured background organ music and a simple set, focusing on the actions of a boy played by Skip Hinnant. The sketch always ended with the nonsensical question, "And what about Naomi?" which became a catchphrase associated with the show.
The question "What about Naomi?" sparked curiosity and intrigue among viewers, and the answer has been revealed to be a reference to Naomi Foner, a producer on the show during its first two seasons. Naomi Foner is also known as the mother of actors Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal. The "Love of Chair" sketch, with its whimsical ending, added a touch of humor and unpredictability to the show's educational content.
The Electric Company had a significant impact on children's television and learning. It received recognition through Emmy awards and continued to air in reruns for decades after its initial run ended in 1977. The show's success also led to the release of DVDs, specials, and new episodes in the 2000s, demonstrating its enduring appeal and the continued support for its educational mission.
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Frequently asked questions
"What about Naomi" is a reference to a recurring sketch called "Love of Chair" on The Electric Company. The sketch was a parody of classic soap operas and ended with the non-sequitur question, "And what about Naomi?".
The Naomi mentioned in the segment is Naomi Foner, who was a producer on the show during its first two seasons and is the mother of actors Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal.
"Love of Chair" was a parody of classic soap operas that spoofed various aspects of these shows, including their names. It featured background organ music and dramatic strings, similar to classic radio soap operas. The sketch also employed jump cuts and non-sequitur questions to create a humorous effect.
