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The Electric Company

  • TV Series
  • 1971–20091971–2009
  • TV-GTV-G
  • 28m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,883
894
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, June Angela, Luis Avalos, Lee Chamberlin, Doug Grant, Judy Graubart, Stephen Gustafson, Melanie Henderson, Skip Hinnant, Denise Nickerson, and Jim Boyd in The Electric Company (1971)
Music Video: Tom Lehrer - S-N (Snore, Sniff, And Sneeze)
Play trailer2:31
5 Videos
43 Photos
FamilyComedy

A comedy variety show that teaches basic phonetic and grammar concepts using live-action sketches, cartoons, songs, and Spider-Man episodes.A comedy variety show that teaches basic phonetic and grammar concepts using live-action sketches, cartoons, songs, and Spider-Man episodes.A comedy variety show that teaches basic phonetic and grammar concepts using live-action sketches, cartoons, songs, and Spider-Man episodes.

IMDb RATING
8.1/10
2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,883
894
  • Stars
    • Jim Boyd
    • Morgan Freeman
    • Judy Graubart
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Jim Boyd
    • Morgan Freeman
    • Judy Graubart
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 39User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations total

    Episodes780

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos5

    The Electric Company: The Tom Lehrer Collection
    Trailer 2:31
    The Electric Company: The Tom Lehrer Collection
    The Electric Company: The Tom Lehrer Collection
    Trailer 1:10
    The Electric Company: The Tom Lehrer Collection
    The Electric Company: The Tom Lehrer Collection
    Trailer 1:31
    The Electric Company: The Tom Lehrer Collection
    The Electric Company: The Tom Lehrer Collection
    Trailer 2:16
    The Electric Company: The Tom Lehrer Collection
    The Best of the Electric Company
    Trailer 1:18
    The Best of the Electric Company

    Photos43

    Morgan Freeman in The Electric Company (1971)
    Morgan Freeman and Skip Hinnant in The Electric Company (1971)
    Rita Moreno in The Electric Company (1971)
    Skip Hinnant and Jim Boyd in The Electric Company (1971)
    Jim Boyd in The Electric Company (1971)
    Morgan Freeman in The Electric Company (1971)
    Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, and Lee Chamberlin in The Electric Company (1971)
    Rita Moreno and Skip Hinnant in The Electric Company (1971)
    Hattie Winston in The Electric Company (1971)
    Bayn Johnson and Jim Boyd in The Electric Company (1971)
    Luis Avalos, Hattie Winston, and Jim Boyd in The Electric Company (1971)
    The Electric Company (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jim Boyd
    Jim Boyd
    • Andyas Andy…
    780 episodes780 eps • 1971–1977
    Morgan Freeman
    Morgan Freeman
    • Count Draculaas Count Dracula…
    780 episodes780 eps • 1971–1977
    Judy Graubart
    Judy Graubart
    • Jennifer of the Jungleas Jennifer of the Jungle…
    780 episodes780 eps • 1971–1977
    Skip Hinnant
    Skip Hinnant
    • Clamas Clam…
    780 episodes780 eps • 1971–1977
    Rita Moreno
    Rita Moreno
    • Carmelaas Carmela…
    780 episodes780 eps • 1971–1977
    June Angela
    June Angela
    • Julie - Member of the Short Circusas Julie - Member of the Short Circus
    780 episodes780 eps • 1971–1977
    Mel Brooks
    Mel Brooks
    • Blond-Haired Cartoon Manas Blond-Haired Cartoon Man
    780 episodes780 eps • 1971–1977
    Luis Avalos
    Luis Avalos
    • Dr. Doolatsas Dr. Doolats…
    650 episodes650 eps • 1972–1977
    Zero Mostel
    Zero Mostel
    • Spell Binderas Spell Binder
    650 episodes650 eps • 1972–1977
    Hattie Winston
    Hattie Winston
    • Sylviaas Sylvia…
    520 episodes520 eps • 1973–1977
    Melanie Henderson
    Melanie Henderson
    • Kathy - Member of the Short Circusas Kathy - Member of the Short Circus
    520 episodes520 eps • 1971–1975
    Stephen Gustafson
    Stephen Gustafson
    • Buddy - Member of the Short Circusas Buddy - Member of the Short Circus
    520 episodes520 eps • 1971–1975
    Danny Seagren
    • Spider-Manas Spider-Man
    390 episodes390 eps • 1974–1977
    Lee Chamberlin
    Lee Chamberlin
    • Brendaas Brenda…
    260 episodes260 eps • 1971–1973
    Bill Cosby
    Bill Cosby
    • Hankas Hank…
    260 episodes260 eps • 1971–1973
    Gregg Burge
    Gregg Burge
    • Dwayne - Member of the Short Circusas Dwayne - Member of the Short Circus
    260 episodes260 eps • 1973–1975
    Todd Graff
    Todd Graff
    • Jesse - Member of the Short Circusas Jesse - Member of the Short Circus
    260 episodes260 eps • 1975–1977
    Doug Grant
    • Zack - Member of the Short Circusas Zack - Member of the Short Circus
    260 episodes260 eps • 1971–1973
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    "The Electric Company," aimed at children ages 7 to 10, was designed to teach basic reading concepts to its young viewers. Skits featuring the show's regulars, cartoons, vignettes, and regular features revolved around sound clusters (such as -ly, sh-, oo-) and punctuation marks. On occasion, a fun song was played with the audience challenged to supply the lyrics during the second sing-through. Through the years, different features were added including "Love of Chair" (1971-1973, a spoof of "Love of Life"), "The Adventures of Letterman" (added in 1972), cartoon segments featuring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner (1973), and Spider-Man (1974). —Brian Rathjen <briguy_52732@yahoo.com>
    superheromarvel comicsphonicsgrammareducational9 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Hey, you guys!
    • Genres
      • Family
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • TV-G
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Rita Moreno first said "Hey, you guys!" on episode 19 (season 1, show 19), which became the series' catchphrase in episode 131 (season 2, show 1). It opened every episode for the rest of season 2, vanished from episodes 261-520, returned in episode 1A (season 5, episode 1), and lasted until the final episode, 130B (season 6, show 130).
    • Goofs
      During the song "Apostrophe S" (sung by Lee Chamberlin), after Lee sings "the hat is Jim's and that's that", a white-sleeved arm appears briefly at the bottom right of the screen.
    • Quotes

      Narrator of 'The Adventures of Letterman': Faster than a rolling "O"! Stronger than silent "E"! Able to leap capital "T" in a single bound! It's a word, it's a plan, it's Letterman!

    • Crazy credits
      At the end of every episode is a disclaimer read aloud by one of the cast members stating, "The Electric Company gets its power from the Children's Television Workshop".
    • Connections
      Featured in The 25th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1973)

    User reviews39

    Review
    Top review
    Another educational program
    This show displayed a variety of sketches that uses comedy and other means of interest to children about education. I remember seeing this show in the early 80s in syndication on PBS. What I've remembered enjoying on the show was a cartoon named Letterman. In which this little superhero teaches grammer with vowels and prepositions and how they are used in a sentence. I also remember the Spiderman episodes. I had to be around six or seven when this show was aired,though the other segments on the show I vaguely remembered. But if someone had mention this show to me I would remember it as if it was yesterday because of the impact it put on me as a child.
    helpful•2
    2
    • IrockGswift
    • May 3, 2003

    FAQ3

    • Who sings/plays the theme song?
    • What are the lyrics of the theme song?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 25, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sesame Workshop
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Reading Program
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Children's Television Workshop (CTW)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It review – vampish and sharp as a stiletto
    Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It review – vampish and sharp as a stiletto
    Dec 1The Guardian - Film News
    ‘Spider-Man’ TV Star Nicholas Hammond Wasn’t Approached for ‘No Way Home’ — But He Sure Wanted to Be
    ‘Spider-Man’ TV Star Nicholas Hammond Wasn’t Approached for ‘No Way Home’ — But He Sure Wanted to Be
    Nov 8The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV

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    Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, June Angela, Luis Avalos, Lee Chamberlin, Doug Grant, Judy Graubart, Stephen Gustafson, Melanie Henderson, Skip Hinnant, Denise Nickerson, and Jim Boyd in The Electric Company (1971)
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