"The Electric Company" (1971) TV series 1971-1977

Writers:

Sara Compton (writer)
Paul Dooley (head writer) (1971-1972)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

25 October 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy

Tagline:

Hey, you guys!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Spider-Man | Part Animated | Smart | Scanimate | Hero

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Jim Boyd	...	Andy / ... (780 episodes, 1971-1977)
Morgan Freeman	...	Count Dracula / ... (780 episodes, 1971-1977)
Judy Graubart	...	Jennifer of the Jungle / ... (780 episodes, 1971-1977)
Skip Hinnant	...	Clam / ... (780 episodes, 1971-1977)
Rita Moreno	...	Carmela / ... (780 episodes, 1971-1977)
June Angela	...	Julie - Member of the Short Circus (780 episodes, 1971-1977)
Mel Brooks	...	Blond-Haired Cartoon Man (780 episodes, 1971-1977)
Luis Avalos	...	Dr. Doolats / ... (650 episodes, 1972-1977)
Joan Rivers	...	Narrator of 'The Adventures of Letterman' (650 episodes, 1972-1977)
Gene Wilder	...	Letterman (650 episodes, 1972-1977)
Zero Mostel	...	Spell Binder (650 episodes, 1972-1977)
Hattie Winston	...	Sylvia / ... (520 episodes, 1973-1977)
Melanie Henderson	...	Kathy - Member of the Short Circus (520 episodes, 1971-1975)
Steve Gustafson	...	Buddy - Member of the Short Circus (520 episodes, 1971-1975)
Danny Seagren	...	Spider-Man (390 episodes, 1974-1977)

Also Known As:

The Reading Program (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

28 min (780 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-Y | USA:TV-Y7 (some epiosodes) | USA:TV-G (1971-1985) | Singapore:G

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Children's Television Workshop (CTW)

Trivia:

For the "Letterman" sketches, Gene Wilder, who voiced the heroic title character, and Zero Mostel, who voiced the villainous Spell Binder, were so excited to be working with each other again after The Producers (1968) that they recorded their dialogue together, a rarity in animation. The two would work together in one film during the show's run called Rhinoceros (1974). Wilder was also devastated because of Mostel's death in 1977, soon after the show ended production.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
J. Arthur Crank: Who's the dummy writing this show?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Family Guy: Mr. Saturday Knight (#3.9)" (2001)

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.