OT: The Electric Company

[ThePeterNetwork]

So there I was on the Sesame Street website (don't ask), when I see a link for The Electric Company show. I'm thinking, "Hmmm, I wonder how they updated this for a new generation?" So I click and discover that it's definitely for a new generation. People, just because you add a little hip-hop to a classic favorite for new audiences does not make it appealing to the prior generation who grew up with J. Arthur Crank, Fargo North, Decoder, and the Spidey Super Stories sketches to name a few (I'd bet Marvel wouldn't "budget" an inch for the licensing of Spidey for this series).

But don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself and judge: (http://pbskids.org/electriccompany/)Just don't blame me when the videos make you scratch your head and go :befuddled.

[MarkTheShark]

So there I was on the Sesame Street website (don't ask), when I see a link for The Electric Company show. I'm thinking, "Hmmm, I wonder how they updated this for a new generation?" So I click and discover that it's definitely for a new generation. People, just because you add a little hip-hop to a classic favorite for new audiences does not make it appealing to the prior generation who grew up with J. Arthur Crank, Fargo North, Decoder, and the Spidey Super Stories sketches to name a few (I'd bet Marvel wouldn't "budget" an inch for the licensing of Spidey for this series).

But don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself and judge: (http://pbskids.org/electriccompany/)Just don't blame me when the videos make you scratch your head and go :befuddled.

...or you could just get these:

The Best Of The Electric Company Vol, 1 (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Electric-Company-Henry-Behar/dp/B000AA4F2O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1241221763&sr=1-1)

The Best Of The Electric Company Vol. 2 (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Electric-Company-2/dp/B000H6SY1E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1241221763&sr=1-3)

The Electric Company's Greatest Hits And Bits (http://www.amazon.com/Electric-Companys-Greatest-Hits-Bits/dp/B000LW7OYC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1241221763&sr=1-4)

...the latter includes the "TION" song -- which I don't believe is in any of the shows on Vol. 1 or Vol. 2, nor did it make any of the Noggin episodes.

[nickramer]

Well to be fair, they sorta of borrowed some stuff from "Ghostwriters" and "Square One TV". I think the new show is getting better, but then again what would I know? Just hope that they tone down the hip-hop next season, if there is one.

There's an old saying: if you expect a revision to be the same as the original, you'll probably be disappointed.

Also, the Street site just added an old '70's cartoon with Daws Butler as the voice of a cirlce. "I'm the smallest of all! Smaller than a flea's dinner!"

[samtheq]

I can't yet bear to bring myself to see what blasphemy they've done to one of my MOST favorite shows of childhood---but, I can steer this thread quickly from "OT" to "T"!

I have read that Chuck Jones made five Road Runner segments for the Electric Company.
My question is, does anybody know what they are, and if that number is correct? I have the boxed sets, and tons of Noggin broadcasts, and I've tried to note what episodes have a Road Runner short, but I haven't always left myself notes as to which ones they are. Here's what I do have:

1) Road Runner - Street signs ("Walk" "Crawl" "Hop")
2) Road Runner - Signs ("Down" "Splash")
3) Road Runner - Stoplight

Unfortunately, I just put "Road Runner" in my list for the official DVD boxed sets, so the other two could be on there for all I know.
Anybody have better info? I want to add these to my WB checklist.

Oh, and Mark--I think you are right about the great "TION" song--I had to get that from YouTube, and it was also included in a TVLand broadcast marathon they did called "The Best of the Electric Company."

thanks,
brant

[Ratso]

Just hope that they tone down the hip-hop next season

Why?

[nickramer]

Why?

Well, it isn't all that memorable. But than again, the orginal show had sole music whole way through. I don't know.

And why do I have the feeling this fourm is slowly becoming another bland 'jump the shark' fourm?

[janiepooh34]

My 8 year old watched the new electric company and was so bored...he turned the channel. Even HE thinks the old show was better.

[larriva9/11]

Let me guess...

SH -- IT

SH*T

[nickramer]

Let me guess...

SH -- IT

SH*T
Knock it off, bud. I'm getting tired of your urban humor posts.

[larriva9/11]

I actually don't use curse language a lot if at all, if you noticed--I tend to naturally be of the rats/phooey variety when it comes to cursing--but as a spoof of an Electric Company classic routine re what the 8 year old thought of the new show, how could I resist?

[nickramer]

I actually don't use curse language a lot if at all, if you noticed--I tend to naturally be of the rats/phooey variety when it comes to cursing--but as a spoof of an Electric Company classic routine re what the 8 year old thought of the new show, how could I resist?
Well, you could of resist by not posting.

[MarkTheShark]

I actually don't use curse language a lot if at all, if you noticed--I tend to naturally be of the rats/phooey variety when it comes to cursing--but as a spoof of an Electric Company classic routine re what the 8 year old thought of the new show, how could I resist?

I have to admit when I was a kid watching the show, I was always wishing they would do a "silhouettes" segment like that. That kind of stuff was funny to me back then -- how old was I? I think about 6.

[Studio Toledo]

I have to admit when I was a kid watching the show, I was always wishing they would do a "silhouettes" segment like that. That kind of stuff was funny to me back then -- how old was I? I think about 6.
I was probably 3-4 when I saw those things myself! It was nice that the original Electric Company (at least the last two seasons) got reran through the early 80's on many stations as it had or I would've missed the boat on it!

[larriva9/11]

Well, you could of resist by not posting.

But especially in this day and age, whose sensibility am I offending?

And besides, what kind of person derogatorily uses terms like "urban humor posts"? Hey, last weekend was one for celebrating the humor of urbanity. (http://www.janeswalkusa.org)

[Ratso]

Anti-"urban humor", anti-hip hop. Hmm, maybe nickramer is really Michael Medved. Maybe even Michael Savage!

[nickramer]

Anti-"urban humor", anti-hip hop. Hmm, maybe nickramer is really Michael Medved. Maybe even Michael Savage!
Very funny.:rolleyes:

Look, I'm not anti-hip hop. I'm just not too keen on it.

[janiepooh34]

Let me guess...

SH -- IT

SH*T

I wish I would have thought of that...perfect!:D

[Studio Toledo]

I wish I would have thought of that...perfect!:D
Me too, but somehow I just couldn't set myself up for that!