“Hey You Guyyyys!” The Electric Company On DVD
6 Comments Published by Alex March 6th, 2007 in TV. Share This
When I was a little kid, the school board thought I was supposed to be some kind of genius because I was reading when I was two years old. I don’t know why they didn’t figure out then that which my family already knew: I was an average kid which a big love for PBS’ children’s educational sketch comedy show, The Electric Company. They did a bang-up job of educating me on the verbal and reading comprehension skills.
The Electric Company enjoyed a pretty great crew of regular performers including Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno (who would open every show shouting the “Hey you guys!” bit from the title of this post, if you didn’t know that), and featured guest appearances by the likes of Bill Cosby, Gene Wilder, Mel Brooks, and Zero Mostel. Tom Lehr wrote some songs for certain sketches. IAs memory serves, it never felt dumbed-down or patronizing, the way that so many modern kids’ programs seem to be. My mom often watched with me because it was genuinely funny, and worked on multiple levels.
Last month I learned that The Electric Company has released a few Best-Of collections on DVD. I’m totally intrigued, but reluctant in the same token; so many of these trips down memory lane have an actual interest factor of around five minutes of nostalgic glee followed by a growing remorse as I realize that the shows usually weren’t that great and now the happy childhood memory of them is tarnished.
Wondering if any parent out there (or anyone else, for that matter) has viewed these DVDs, and if so, what did you think?
I haven’t seen the DVDs, but I do have a couple of episodes on tape. Stuff like this always holds up for me. So if you buy the DVD and you don’t like it, I’d be *more* than happy to take them off your hands ;)
I have the ‘Best of Best of’ DVD and really enjoyed sharing it with my kids. Almost every sketch was like ‘I remember that!’ I found myself singing along to long ago forgotten songs. I felt like I was in my Garanamals again.
The production technology and some slang is dated, but the writing holds up well, and as you said, was written as much for adults as kids. My dad says it was one of the shows that he didn’t mind watching with us back then.
I don’t have the Electric Company on DVD, but I do have SchoolHouse Rock, and it, well, rocks. Songs that I used to abhor as a child now I find surprisingly engaging.
I bought this for my wife and myself… oh yea, and our son (just now 6). It rocks even more than you remember.
I had no idea that I was watching Bill Cosby and Morgan Freeman in the cast. WOW.
Morgan Freeman as EZ Reader is in itself worth the price.
Buy it.
Was there a recurring Spiderman bit on this show?
Was this also the show with “Letterman” a super hero that….spelled? (more powerful than a silent ‘e’ anyone?)
There was a recurring Spiderman segment in this show indeed, as well as Letterman (who was voiced by Gene Wilder).