Molly Ayala
The Electric Company was an educational American children's television series produced by the Children's Television Workshop for PBS. It ran from 1971 to 1977, with reruns continuing until 1985. The show helped elementary school children develop their grammar and reading skills, employing sketch comedy and other devices to entertain and educate young audiences. Despite its popularity and impact, The Electric Company is notably absent from mainstream streaming services. While it is possible to purchase the show on Amazon Video or Apple TV, it is not available for streaming on any major platforms. This absence is surprising, given the show's awards and accolades, including Daytime Emmy wins for Outstanding Children's Series and Outstanding Achievement in Single Camera Editing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Educational children's television series |
| Format | Sketch comedy, animated shorts |
| Target audience | Elementary school children |
| Aim | To teach reading and grammar skills |
| Number of seasons | 6 |
| Number of episodes | 780 |
| Original run | 25 October 1971 – 15 April 1977 |
| Networks | PBS, Noggin |
| Production companies | Children's Television Workshop (CTW), Sesame Workshop |
| Notable cast members | Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin, Skip Hinnant |
| Notable crew members | Paul Dooley (co-creator, writer), Joan Ganz Cooney (co-creator), Lloyd Morrisett (co-creator), Robert Schwarz (director), Henry Behar (director), John Tracy (director), Christopher Cerf (writer), Jeremy Stevens (writer), John Boni/Amy Ephron (writers) |
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What You'll Learn
The Electric Company was an educational children's TV series
The Electric Company was an American educational children's television series that aired from 25 October 1971 to 15 April 1977. The show was produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), now known as Sesame Workshop, and co-created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett. The series employed sketch comedy, animated shorts, and various other devices to provide an entertaining program to help elementary school children develop their grammar and reading skills. The target audience was children who had graduated from CTW's flagship program, Sesame Street, and thus the humour was more mature.
The Electric Company's cast included Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin, and Skip Hinnant, most of whom had experience in stage, repertory, and improvisational work. The series also featured guest stars such as Mel Brooks, Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, and Joan Rivers. The music for the show was composed by Eric Rogers, who also composed the music for the DePatie-Freleng cartoons in the '70s. Clark Gesner wrote several songs for the series, including most of the sign songs.
The show was notable for its extensive use of early computer-generated imagery, particularly Scanimate, a state-of-the-art analog video-synthesizer system. These technologies were often used to present words with particular sounds and to enhance the educational content of the show. The Electric Company ran for six seasons, with a total of 780 episodes produced, and it became a teaching tool in thousands of classrooms nationwide. The last two seasons were designed as year-long curricula for schools and had an "A" and "B" in the episode numbers.
A reboot of the show aired for three seasons between 2009 and 2011, with reruns playing until 2013. The reboot continued the educational focus of the original series, teaching children about English and Language Arts, as well as lessons about friendship, kindness, and doing the right thing.
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It used comedy and animation to teach kids reading and grammar
The Electric Company was an American educational children's television series that used sketch comedy and animation to teach kids reading and grammar. It was co-created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett, and aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977, with reruns until 1985. The show was targeted at elementary school students who were too old for Sesame Street but still needed help learning to read. It employed various devices such as sketch comedy, animated shorts, psychedelic graphics, and creative animation to provide an entertaining program that helped children develop their grammar and reading skills.
The show's use of comedy and animation was innovative for its time and helped to make the show fun and engaging for young viewers. The comedy writers were among the best in the business, and the show featured guest stars such as Mel Brooks, Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, and Joan Rivers. The cast included well-known performers like Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin, and Skip Hinnant. The show also featured music and songs that enhanced the learning experience, with Clark Gesner writing several songs for the series, including most of the sign songs. Eric Rogers composed additional music and wrote the arrangement for the theme song.
The Electric Company used a variety of techniques to present words and sounds in a fun and interactive way. For example, they often used Scanimate, a state-of-the-art analog video-synthesizer system, to present words with particular sounds. Sometimes, a cast member would be seen interacting with a word animation, bringing the learning experience to life. The show also featured a spin-off magazine and a special comic book series called "Spidey Super Stories," which were easy-to-read adventures featuring Spider-Man.
The show's combination of entertainment and education was groundbreaking for its time and helped to make it a success. It won two Emmys, aired on more than 250 public TV stations, and became a teaching tool in thousands of classrooms nationwide. The show's impact extended beyond its initial run, with a reboot airing from 2009 to 2011, and it continues to be remembered fondly by those who grew up watching it.
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The show ran from 1971-1977, with reruns until 1985
The Electric Company was an American educational children's television series that aired from 1971 to 1977, with reruns until 1985. The show was produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), now known as Sesame Workshop, and was co-created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett. It was designed to help elementary school children develop their grammar and reading skills through sketch comedy, animated shorts, and other innovative techniques.
The show's target audience was children who had outgrown Sesame Street but still needed assistance with reading. According to a report by CTW, the series aimed to address the issue of illiteracy, which affected a significant portion of Americans at the time. The show's creators spent 18 months conducting research and development before the show's debut, which was considered unusual for educational television programs in 1971.
The Electric Company's first season premiered on October 25, 1971, and its final episode aired on April 15, 1977, with a total of 780 episodes produced over six seasons. The show featured a talented cast, including Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin, and Skip Hinnant, many of whom had experience in film, television, and stage performances. The series also included guest stars such as Mel Brooks, Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, and Joan Rivers.
The show was well-received during its original run, winning two Emmys and airing on more than 250 public TV stations. It became a popular teaching tool in thousands of classrooms across the nation. After its initial run concluded in 1977, The Electric Company continued to air in reruns until 1985, providing children with educational and entertaining content for many years.
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It was created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett
The Electric Company was co-created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett. It was an American educational children's television series produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), now known as Sesame Workshop. The show was intended for elementary school children who had graduated from CTW's flagship program, Sesame Street, and therefore the humour was more mature. It aimed to teach children reading and grammatical skills through the use of sketch comedy, animated shorts, and psychedelic graphics.
The show was written by Dooley, Christopher Cerf, Jeremy Stevens, and John Boni/Amy Ephron, and directed by Robert Schwarz, Henry Behar, and John Tracy. It featured a host of talented performers, including Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin, and Skip Hinnant. The original soundtrack, released on Warner Bros. Records, won a Grammy Award for the show's cast.
The Electric Company was notable for its extensive use of early computer-generated imagery, particularly Scanimate, a state-of-the-art analog video-synthesizer system. This technology was often used to present words with particular sounds and to engage children in the learning process. The show also featured a parody of the comic book character Spider-Man, which was allowed for free by Marvel Comics.
The series aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977, with 780 episodes over six seasons. It was well-received, winning two Emmys and airing on more than 250 public TV stations. It continued to air in reruns until 1985 and later had a reboot from 2009 to 2011. The Electric Company's legacy lies in its innovative approach to educating and entertaining children, leaving a lasting impact on television and education.
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The Electric Company won two Emmys and was very popular
The Electric Company was an American educational children's television series that aired from 1971 to 1977. The show was created to help elementary school children develop their grammar and reading skills through the use of sketch comedy and various other devices. The Electric Company was produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), now known as Sesame Workshop, and was intended for children who had graduated from CTW's flagship program, Sesame Street. The show was written by comedian, actor, and writer Paul Dooley, along with Christopher Cerf and Jeremy Stevens, among others.
The Electric Company was very popular and aired on more than 250 public TV stations, becoming a teaching tool in thousands of classrooms nationwide. The show won two Emmys and received widespread critical acclaim. It was notable for its extensive use of early computer-generated imagery, particularly the Scanimate system, which was used to present words with particular sounds. The show's cast included Academy Award winner Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, and a then-unknown Morgan Freeman, along with other established performers like Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin, and Skip Hinnant.
The Electric Company's unique blend of entertainment and education captivated audiences and left a lasting impact. The show's innovative approach to teaching reading and grammar skills through comedy sketches and creative visuals inspired dozens of educational shows that followed. The success of The Electric Company led to reruns, a reboot, and a DVD release that continued into the 2000s.
The show's impact extended beyond its initial run, with a 2009 revival that built upon the original's success. The new version retained the short animations, parodies, sketches, and music videos while incorporating a storyline focused on vocabulary building and a modern musical twist. This revival received positive reviews and won several Daytime Emmy Awards, further solidifying the legacy of The Electric Company as a groundbreaking and influential educational program.
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Frequently asked questions
'The Electric Company' is an American educational children's television series that aired from 1971 to 1977.
The show used sketch comedy, animations, songs, and graphics to teach children reading, grammar, and pronunciation.
The show was co-created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett, and was produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), now known as Sesame Workshop.
The original cast included Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin, and Skip Hinnant.
The show ended after six seasons due to financial reasons. 'Sesame Street' was a more profitable venture for CTW, with more lucrative merchandise tie-ins.
