'Electric Company' children's show gets recharged on DVD
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By Steve Lackmeyer
Published: May 16, 2008
Hey you guys! An old favorite is available on DVD and your child can learn to read with a little help from Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno and a cast of funny and talented actors whose goals are to keep your children interested and teach them words and concepts without them realizing they're learning.
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That's right, "The Electric Company” is now available, and it actually works. Adults who grew up watching it on PBS will remember the classic songs, like "Hey Diddle Diddle,” "Knock Knock Rock” and "Whimper and Whine” (You know you've heard it: "We are the kids known as Whimper and Whine ...”).
The original series was broadcast on PBS from 1971 to 1977 and continued in reruns through the mid 1980s. Granted, the show was meant for children who have graduated from "Sesame Street,” but my 3-year-old son couldn't take his eyes off of the silhouettes saying "sw” "im” swim.
And Freeman is amazing as usual in all of his skits. We bought "The Best of The Electric Company Vol. 2” and we'll buy Volume 1 next, now that we know the kids really dig it (as Freeman's Easy Reader character might say).
Special features on the Volume 2 set include a really groovy 1975 documentary about how schoolchildren respond to the show and whether it actually helps with reading skills; "Remembering ‘The Electric Company'” featuring cast members Luis Avalos, Jimmy Boyd, Judy Graubart, Skip Hinnant and Hattie Winston; new episode introductions by the cast members featured in the "Remembering” extra; a play all songs option, and a segment of the Dick Cavett Show where he interviews Bill Cosby.
The Cosby segment is fun for adults to watch but not really suitable for the kiddos as it shows Cosby smoking a cigarette at the end of the segment. Sadly, the set does not feature any current participation by Freeman, Moreno, or Cosby, although it's difficult to imagine them not being very proud of the work they did on what was really a great and memorable show.
You will remember many if not all of the skits, and it will be a great walk down memory lane for you to enjoy with your kids.
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Domestic Policy, Political Policy, Politics, Entertainment, Media, Television, Media and Broadcasting Policy, Children's Programming
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