The "Electric Company" is back on PBS in January 2009!

[KyDXIn]

I just heard Kelly Ripa guest-starred on a new version of the "Electric Company" on PBS. Does anyone have any other information on this or on the original cast? Will they be involved in the new show? All seemed to be very talented people, like Morgan Freeman. What ever happened to him?

 

[LKellerIII]

I just heard Kelly Ripa guest-starred on a new version of the "Electric Company" on PBS. Does anyone have any other information on this or on the original cast? Will they be involved in the new show? All seemed to be very talented people, like Morgan Freeman. What ever happened to him?

Well...among other things, Morgan Freeman became our first African-American President. Or maybe that was Dennis Haysbert, and Freeman was second... ???

 

[radiorob2.0]

I just heard Kelly Ripa guest-starred on a new version of the "Electric Company" on PBS. Does anyone have any other information on this or on the original cast? Will they be involved in the new show? All seemed to be very talented people, like Morgan Freeman. What ever happened to him?

Well...among other things, Morgan Freeman became our first African-American President. Or maybe that was Dennis Haysbert, and Freeman was second... ???

I believe Freeman did time at Shawshank Penitentiary for murder.

 

[DToTheJ]

"Contrary to those upbeat lyrics, the Electric Company would like us to emphasize that it will not be bringing you the power." - Tom Tucker, Quahog 5 News, Family Guy

 

[Robnoxious]

There is no way a remake of The Electric Company could recapture the slick, far-out and groovy vein it pulsed through back in the 70's but if it can get just one new Tom Lehrer song from it then I'd call it a success.

 

[Nate Wesley]

The new Electric Company has just gotta have Morgan Freeman appear in an episode or two. I'm sure he'd love to do it.

 

[KML0224]

Would he reprise his role as Dracula? >

 

[kms575]

"Contrary to those upbeat lyrics, the Electric Company would like us to emphasize that it will not be bringing you the power." - Tom Tucker, Quahog 5 News, Family Guy

Tom and Diane are the best newscasters in New England!! ;D
Heeeey yoooou guyyyyys!!!!!!!

 

[robmadden1]

http://tviv.org/The_Electric_Company_(2009)

 

[RicoGregg]

And what about Naomi? ???

(old Electric Company humor for those too young or uninitiated.)

 

[andreajesus]

Hey, RicoSuave , I remember the ORIGINAL "Electric Company", but....Who's Naomi?? ???

Andrea

 

[azumanga]

During the first season (1971-1972), "The Electric Company" ran a soap opera spoof, "Love of Chair", which ended with at least three questions asked by the announcer, the third was always, "What about Naomi?" (who was actually a staffer on the show, not a character or performer). The soap was rerun in all episodes until 1975, when the new batch of episodes replaced the old 1971-1975 shows. The 1975-1977 series (the ones many of us are familiar with) included some material from the older episodes, but not "Love of Chair".

 

[andreajesus]

Thanks - i remembered "Love of Chair", but for some reason the whole "Naomi" thing wasn't clicking with me...

Andrea

 

[RicoGregg]

azumanga explained Naomi very well. Thumbs up.

Now if only someone would explain Tina Delgado, my life will be complete.

 

[gr8oldies]

Morgan Freeman is God!

 

[andreajesus]

Now if only someone would explain Tina Delgado, my life will be complete.

is that all it takes, Rico?? :-*:-*:-*:-*:-*

 

[RicoGregg]

Now if only someone would explain Tina Delgado, my life will be complete.

is that all it takes, Rico?? :-*:-*:-*:-*:-*

That, and a college football playoff. A flying pig might be amusing.

 

[andreajesus]

Now if only someone would explain Tina Delgado, my life will be complete.

is that all it takes, Rico?? :-*:-*:-*:-*:-*

That, and a college football playoff. A flying pig might be amusing.

never figured you like that, Rico - i figured you more of the, how should i say, the type who needs that of the feminine persuasion - oh, well... :-*:-*:-*:-*

Andrea

 

[Markxxx]

I saw previews of it, and it seemed pretty much to go the way of Zoom did when they brought it back.

There's something about the charm of those 70s shows, that gets lost when you try to remake them. For starters the like with Zoom the kids were basically kids. The new version of Zoom the kids were ACTORS playing kids or that's how it came across.

Remaking EC with rap type music and web interfaces etc doesn't work.

It's like if you remade "South Park," but did it with high quality animation. Part of the charm of that series is the low budget animation. If you did it high quality with the characters moving like in a Disney Movie, it loses something.

The worst part is since the subject matter is static, you'd probably be better just airing the reruns as a "retro" thing.

 

[azumanga]

There's something about the charm of those 70s shows, that gets lost when you try to remake them.

The worst part is since the subject matter is static, you'd probably be better just airing the reruns as a "retro" thing.

Would today's kids watch 1970s children's shows like old Electric Companys? No doubt Morgan Freeman would draw in adult viewers (which was one of the reasons the DVD sets sold so well), but would the 70s fashions, lingo and style bore a child instead of educate?

I wonder the same thing about "New Zoo Revue", which was taken out of mothballs merely to provide a choice for E/I programming for stations -- that show educates, too, though the fact that it's old may handicap its popularity with today's children.

The new Electric Company gives an opportunity to share the show with today's kids, by adapting it to the 21st Century. Time will tell if the new version will become popular -- or generate a star as big as Morgan Freeman.