Umair Gaines
Hey, you guys! was the catchphrase of Millie the Helper, played by Rita Moreno, on the American educational children's television series The Electric Company. The show aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977 and was created by the Children's Television Workshop (now known as Sesame Workshop) for children who had outgrown Sesame Street. The phrase was eventually incorporated into the show's opening credits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the show | The Electric Company |
| Type of show | American educational children's television series |
| Target audience | Children aged 6 to 9 |
| Number of seasons | Six |
| Number of episodes | 780 |
| First aired | October 25, 1971 |
| Last aired | April 15, 1977 |
| Production house | Children's Television Workshop (CTW) |
| Broadcasters | PBS, Noggin |
| Cast | Rita Moreno, Morgan Freeman, Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin, Skip Hinnant, Bill Cosby, Jim Boyd, Danny Seagren, Mel Brooks, Gary William Friedman, and more |
| Character who said "Hey, you guys!" | Millie the Helper (Rita Moreno) |
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What You'll Learn
- Millie the Helper, played by Rita Moreno, was the character who said Hey, you guys
- The Electric Company was an educational children's TV series
- The show aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977, with reruns until 1985
- The show's cast included Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, and Bill Cosby
- The Electric Company was created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett
Millie the Helper, played by Rita Moreno, was the character who said Hey, you guys
Millie the Helper, played by Rita Moreno, was the character who said, "Hey, you guys!" on The Electric Company. The show was an educational children's television series that aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977 and continued in reruns until 1985. It was produced by the Children's Television Workshop, which also brought Sesame Street to TV. The Electric Company was created for children who had outgrown Sesame Street, so the humour was more mature. The show employed sketch comedy, animation, and puppets to provide an entertaining program that helped children develop their grammar and reading skills. It also featured a diverse cast, including Morgan Freeman and Bill Cosby.
Rita Moreno's character, Millie the Helper, was an eager-beaver trainee working at various jobs. Her enthusiastic personality and catchphrase, "Hey, you guys!" were so iconic that the phrase was eventually incorporated into the show's opening credits. Moreno also played two other characters on the show: Otto the Director, a short-tempered film director, and Pandora the Brat, a bratty but lovable blonde girl.
The Electric Company left a lasting impact on children's television and its audience. It won two Emmys and was used as a teaching tool in classrooms across the country. The show's focus on children's literacy and its entertaining format made it a favourite among Gen Xers, who fondly remember it for its catchphrases, diverse cast, and unique blend of sketch comedy and animation.
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The Electric Company was an educational children's TV series
"Hey, you guys!" was the catchphrase of Millie the Helper, played by Rita Moreno on the educational children's TV series The Electric Company. The show aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977 and was aimed at children who had aged out of Sesame Street. Created by the then-relatively unknown actor Paul Dooley, The Electric Company was produced by the Children's Television Workshop, the same company that brought Sesame Street to TV. The Electric Company was designed to supplement what children were already learning in school, with a focus on literacy and reading skills.
The show featured a mix of live-action sketches, animation, and the occasional puppet. It also incorporated psychedelic graphics, mod outfits, and over-the-top characters. Each episode featured a "word of the day," with a cast member's voice saying a variant of, "Today on The Electric Company, the so-and-so says, '(bleep)'" as the action froze and the word was displayed to viewers. The redacted word was replaced by Minimoog sounds that children could guess.
The Electric Company enlisted a veritable cavalcade of stars, including Mel Brooks, who popped up as the Blond-Haired Cartoon Man. Satirist Tom Lehrer wrote ten songs for the series, including "L-Y" and "Silent E." Broadway icon Gary William Friedman composed material for about 260 episodes and penned 40 songs, including the popular Spider-Man theme song. The show's musical director for the first three seasons was Joe Raposo of Sesame Street fame.
The Electric Company was a success, airing 780 episodes over six seasons and winning two Emmys. It was used as a teaching tool in classrooms across the country and helped launch the careers of actors like Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno. The show continued to air in reruns until 1985 and was later rebooted in 2009, airing on PBS Kids Go! until 2011.
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The show aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977, with reruns until 1985
"The Electric Company" was an American educational children's television series that ran from 1971 to 1977, with reruns until 1985. The show, which aired on PBS, was produced by the Children's Television Workshop (now known as Sesame Workshop) and co-created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett. It was designed as a follow-up to the Workshop's flagship program, "Sesame Street", targeting children who had outgrown the preschool-oriented content of its predecessor. With a mix of live-action sketches, animation, and puppets, "The Electric Company" sought to teach elementary school children reading and grammar skills through entertainment.
The show's original cast included notable performers such as Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin, and Skip Hinnant. Over its six-season run, "The Electric Company" aired 780 episodes, ending its original run on April 15, 1977. The show continued to re-air on PBS until late 1985, leaving a lasting impact on children's television.
One of the show's most memorable catchphrases was "Hey, you guys!", delivered enthusiastically by Rita Moreno's character, Millie the Helper. This phrase eventually became so iconic that it was incorporated into the show's opening credits. "The Electric Company" also featured appearances by popular characters like Spider-Man and Road Runner, further contributing to its appeal.
In addition to its educational content, "The Electric Company" is remembered for its clever writing and diverse cast of performers. It helped launch the careers of actors like Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno, who would go on to achieve success in film and television. The show's blend of entertainment and education left a lasting impression on its audience, influencing both children's television and the broader entertainment landscape.
"The Electric Company" remains a beloved piece of television history, with its reruns continuing to air until 1985, nearly a decade after its original finale.
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The show's cast included Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, and Bill Cosby
The Electric Company, a show that ran from 1971 to 1977, featured a cast of well-known and up-and-coming actors, including Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, and Bill Cosby. The show, aimed at children who had outgrown Sesame Street, focused on children's literacy and featured a mix of live-action sketches, animation, and puppets.
Morgan Freeman, who played Mark and Vincent the Vegetable Vampire, was part of the show's first cast and is now a well-known and respected film actor. Freeman's character Vincent the Vegetable Vampire was a send-up of Dracula with a penchant for eating vegetables. Freeman's time on The Electric Company helped launch his career, and he has since gone on to become one of the most recognisable actors in Hollywood.
Rita Moreno, an Academy Award-winning actress, played a variety of roles on the show, including Carmela, Bess West, Millie the Helper, Otto the Director, and Pandora the Brat. Moreno's catchphrase, "Hey, you guys!", became synonymous with the show and was incorporated into its opening credits. Moreno herself has fond memories of her time on The Electric Company, seeing it as a community service and a wonderful experiment that left a lasting impact on children's television.
Bill Cosby, who played Hank, was a regular in season one and occasionally appeared in new segments during season two. Cosby was already a well-established performer in film and television when he joined the cast of The Electric Company. However, he has since faced serious legal troubles.
The show also featured other notable actors, including Skip Hinnant, Lee Chamberlin, Judy Graubart, and Jim Boyd, as well as guest stars such as Mel Brooks, Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, and Joan Rivers. The Electric Company left a lasting impact on children's television and is remembered fondly by many who grew up watching it.
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The Electric Company was created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett
"Hey, you guys!" is a catchphrase that was made popular by the American educational children's television series, The Electric Company. The show, which was created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett, ran from 1971 to 1977 and promoted literacy and reading comprehension for children who had outgrown Sesame Street.
The phrase was often said by actress Rita Moreno, who played Millie the Helper, an enthusiastic character whose catchphrase was eventually incorporated into the show's opening credits. The show also featured a five-member singing band called the Short Circus, whose songs facilitated reading comprehension.
The Electric Company was known for its mix of live-action sketches, animation, and the occasional puppet. It featured a number of well-known actors, including Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby, and Mel Brooks. The show also included appearances by popular characters from other entertainment franchises, such as Spider-Man and Road Runner.
The show's creators, Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett, were relatively unknown at the time. However, The Electric Company went on to have a lasting impact on children's television, airing 780 episodes over six seasons and winning two Emmys. It also helped launch the careers of several actors, including Morgan Freeman, who was known mostly for his Broadway work prior to the show.
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Frequently asked questions
Rita Moreno, playing Millie the Helper, was the first to shout the phrase, which was eventually incorporated into the show's opening credits.
The Electric Company was an educational children's television series produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW). It was intended for children who had graduated from CTW's flagship program, Sesame Street, and thus had more mature humor. The show tried to teach children to read by focusing on the sounds of letters and letter combinations.
The show was co-created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett.
The Electric Company also helped launch the careers of actors like Morgan Freeman, Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin, Skip Hinnant, and Bill Cosby.
