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The Electric Company

  • TV Series
  • 1971–20091971–2009
  • TV-GTV-G
  • 28m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,338
660
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
  • Family
  • Comedy
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
2.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,338
660
  • Stars
    • Jim Boyd
    • Morgan Freeman
    • Judy Graubart
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Jim Boyd
    • Morgan Freeman
    • Judy Graubart
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 39User reviews
    • 9Critic 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

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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
    Wonderful! Golden childhood memories...
    When I was a child, I remember watching The Electric company with my friends and family. The actors were amazing, and the skits were unforgettable. I adored Morgan Freeman's cowboy sketches! Jim Boyd's character, the inimitable 'Crank', remains my personal favorite to this day. I loved Luis as 'Yankee Doodle'. In all of the historical skits, he looked like he was having as much fun as the viewers! Luis is an amazing talent, and I've been taping all of his movies just to see him in other roles. Rita, Judy, Lee and Hattie were all wonderful, too! Skip Hinnant is also very talented and funny: When he was in a scene portraying a Romeo type character, and Rita was the angry director screaming at him, he muttered "The things I do for art," and then

    slammed himself back against the wall when she glared at him! I couldn't stop laughing!!! I also enjoyed him as "Roy the Toy Boy".

    My favorite sketches are: "Boris the Boxer" (Jim plays a toothless boxer who has been hit in the head quite a bit, and throws punches when he hears a bell), "Greedy Greg Grabbed The Green Grapes" (Jim again), the "--ing" song (sung by Brenda, who was 'swing-ing' and 'sitt-ing' on a bee that was 'sting-ing' her), "Pandora the Brat" (Rita Moreno), "Nitty Gritty" (Hattie), "The Galloping Saddle" (Morgan and Jim), "Springing From A Sponge", "Yankee Doodle" "The Mad Conductor" ("YAGA! Are you trying to turn me into a little bowl of pasta???" Luis yells at Jim, who can't seem to play the right note on his tuba), "Grouch" (Morgan introduces the sketch, where two cavemen, Jim and Luis, are busy pounding rocks. Luis tries to show Jim something, and he growls: "GRRR!" and then pops Luis on the head with the stone hammer. "OUCH!!!" Luis cries... the scene repeats itself several times before it dawns on them that they have created a new word! Vaudeville music strikes up, and they dance around (with the dazed, confused look that only Jim can effect!) chanting "Grouch! Grouch! Grouch!" LOL!!! I still howl with laughter whenever Jim pulls that face!), and "Skunk In The Trunk", where Jim opens a trunk and discovers "...a pretty little kitty---with BAD BREATH!!!"

    As an adult, I still love this show (maybe TOO much!) and I would recommend it to people of any age who like to laugh and have fun. Life is too short to frown all of the time! Let Electric Company "turn you on" and "bring you the power"... of laughter and positive vibes!

    I give this show 10/10 stars.
    helpful•10
    1
    • shaadowlove
    • Jan 27, 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

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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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