Beatrice Lang
The Electric Company is an American educational children's television series that aired on PBS and PBS Kids Go! The original series ran from 1971 to 1977, with reruns continuing until 1985. A reboot of the series, aimed at children ages 7 to 16, aired on PBS Kids Go! from 2009 to 2011, with reruns continuing on PBS until 2014. The cast of the original series included Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, and Judy Graubart, while the reboot featured new characters such as Keith Watson (played by Ricky Smith) and introduced new Company member Marcus and Prankster Gilda in its third season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the show | The Electric Company |
| Format | Television show |
| Genre | Educational, Children's show |
| Original run | October 25, 1971–April 15, 1977 |
| Number of seasons | 6 |
| Number of episodes | 780 |
| Length | 1 hour |
| Producers | Children's Television Workshop (CTW), Sesame Workshop, Authorized Pictures, American Public Television |
| Broadcasters | PBS, PBS Kids Go! |
| Cast members | Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Judy Graubart, Ricky Smith, Lee Chamberlin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Giancarlo Esposito, Marcus, Gilda |
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What You'll Learn
- The original cast of The Electric Company included Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, and Morgan Freeman
- The cast of the 2009 reboot included Ricky Smith, who played Keith Watson
- Lin-Manuel Miranda made several cameos in the show
- The show's cast of kids had the ability to create and rearrange words
- The Electric Company's cast members were interviewed for the show 'The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits'
The original cast of The Electric Company included Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, and Morgan Freeman
The Electric Company is an American educational children's television series that initially aired from 1971 to 1977. A reboot of the series ran from 2009 to 2011. The original cast of The Electric Company included Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, and Morgan Freeman.
Rita Moreno is an Academy Award-winning actress and the only cast member who didn't appear in the show's finale. She is known for her roles in West Side Story and Oz. Bill Cosby is a comedian and actor who has faced serious legal troubles in recent years. Morgan Freeman is an acclaimed actor known for his distinctive voice and has appeared in films such as The Shawshank Redemption and Million Dollar Baby.
The Electric Company used sketch comedy and animated shorts to teach children reading and literacy skills. It featured a group of singing and rapping tween and teen literacy heroes who battled a group of neighbourhood vandals called the Pranksters. The show was produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), now known as Sesame Workshop, and aired on PBS stations across the country.
In addition to Moreno, Cosby, and Freeman, the cast of The Electric Company included Judy Graubart, who joined the show from The Second City in Chicago, and Lee Chamberlin. The show also featured a young Giancarlo Esposito, who sang the chorus of the opening theme song.
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The cast of the 2009 reboot included Ricky Smith, who played Keith Watson
The 2009 reboot of The Electric Company featured a cast of young actors playing a group of friends who protect their neighbourhood from the Pranksters. The cast included Ricky Smith, who portrayed Keith Watson, a level-headed member of the Electric Company with the ability to generate and manipulate images in mid-air. This skill proved useful for explaining challenging words to his friends and foiling the Pranksters' plans.
Keith Watson, played by Ricky Smith, was known for his logical and level-headed personality. He was often the one to devise solutions to counter the tricks played by the Pranksters. With his image manipulation powers, Keith played a crucial role in the group's efforts to maintain peace in their community.
The Electric Company, consisting of singing and rapping tween and teen literacy heroes, served as positive role models for their audience. They promoted educational values and provided entertaining content for children aged 7 to 16. The inclusion of Keith Watson, played by Ricky Smith, added a unique dynamic to the group with his rational thinking and visual abilities.
The 2009 reboot of The Electric Company introduced a fresh cast to a new generation of viewers. Among them was Ricky Smith, who portrayed Keith Watson with a blend of calmness and ingenuity. Through his character's powers and quick thinking, Ricky Smith added depth to the diverse cast of young actors who worked together to bring the show to life.
The cast of the 2009 reboot of The Electric Company, including Ricky Smith, successfully engaged and entertained their target audience. Their performances and the show's educational content left a lasting impression on young viewers, with some even attributing their pursuit of art and music to the influence of the series. The cast's dynamic and diverse talents, including Ricky Smith as Keith Watson, contributed to the show's overall appeal and impact.
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Lin-Manuel Miranda made several cameos in the show
Lin-Manuel Miranda is an American songwriter, actor, singer, filmmaker, rapper, composer, and librettist. He is known for creating the Broadway musicals In the Heights (2005) and Hamilton (2015), and for writing the soundtracks for the animated films Moana (2016), Vivo, and Encanto (both 2021). Miranda has also worked in television, making a small appearance on The Sopranos in 2007 and playing Juan "Alvie" Alvarez in House in 2009.
Miranda had a recurring role on The Electric Company from 2009 to 2010. The Electric Company is an American educational children's television series that first aired in 1971 and was later rebooted in 2009. The show revolves around a group of singing and rapping tween and teen literacy heroes who battle a group of neighbourhood vandals called the Pranksters. Miranda was a composer and actor on the show, which was one of the first PBS Kids shows to utilise hip-hop and take advantage of its New York setting.
Miranda made several cameos in the show, playing various roles. He is known for his appearances in Season 3, where he played the new owner of the Electric Diner, Hector. Hector is described as a level-headed character who is always the one to go to when there is trouble. Miranda's character also has a strong rivalry with Manny, another member of the Electric Company, due to a limerick contest they had when they were kids.
In addition to his role as Hector, Miranda also played Keith Watson, a member of the Electric Company who can generate and manipulate images in mid-air. This ability comes in handy when explaining difficult words or magnifying images. Keith is logical and level-headed, often creating solutions to deal with the Pranksters' tricks.
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The show's cast of kids had the ability to create and rearrange words
The Electric Company is an American educational television series for children aged 7 to 16. It first aired in 1971 and ran for six seasons until 1977, with reruns continuing until 1985. A reboot of the series was later aired on PBS Kids Go! from 2009 to 2011, with reruns continuing until 2014.
The show's cast included Academy Award winner Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, and a then-unknown Morgan Freeman. Cosby and Moreno did not appear in the show's final episode. Other cast members included Judy Graubart and Giancarlo Esposito, who was one of the children singing the chorus of the opening theme song.
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The Electric Company's cast members were interviewed for the show 'The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits'
The Electric Company is an American educational children's television series that initially aired from 1971 to 1977. The show was produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), now known as Sesame Workshop. In 2006, an hour-long television special titled "The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits" was broadcast on PBS stations. This special included interviews with cast members, voice talent, and creator-producer Joan Ganz Cooney.
The following cast members were interviewed for "The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits":
- Jim Boyd
- Judy Graubart
- Skip Hinnant
- Tom Lehrer
- Rita Moreno
- Joan Rivers
In addition to the cast interviews, the special also included new segments with creator-producer Joan Ganz Cooney and voice talent Morgan Freeman. The special was a celebration of the series' most popular segments and a testament to its impact on education, with nearly a quarter of all US schools using the show in classrooms by the end of its first season.
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Frequently asked questions
The Electric Company, which aired from 1971 to 1977, included cast members like Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, and Morgan Freeman.
Yes, actor Giancarlo Esposito was one of the children singing the chorus of the opening theme song.
The cast of the 2009 reboot included Keith Watson, played by Ricky Smith, and introduced new characters like Marcus and Gilda in its third season.
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