Product Details

• Actors: Jim Boyd, Morgan Freeman, Judy Graubart, Skip Hinnant, Rita Moreno
• Directors: Chuck Jones
• Writers: Elaine Laron, Jeremy Stevens, Jim Thurman, Paul Dooley, Sara Compton
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 4
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Shout Factory Theatr
• DVD Release Date: November 14, 2006
• Run Time: 630 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000H6SY1E
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,768 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #2 in	Movies & TV > Kids & Family > 3-6 Years > The Electric Company
  #11 in	Movies & TV > Comedy > Comedy Stars > Mel Brooks
  #11 in	Movies & TV > Comedy > Comedy Directors > Mel Brooks

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Each episode was an explosion of creativity. From 1971-1977, The Electric Company made learning to read not just fun, but downright hip. Designed more as a complement than an alternative to Sesame Street, that means skits, animated segments, musical interludes, and funky fashions--always a plus. (Dig those fringed jackets and snakeskin stretch pants.) The cast includes Emmy winner Bill Cosby, Oscar winner Rita Moreno, Fame star Irene Cara (a member of the Short Circus), and a skinny beanpole named Morgan Freeman, who would pick up his own Academy Award a few decades later. In this 20-episode set, cast members Judy Graubart, Luis Avalos, Skip Hinnant, Jim Boyd, and Hattie Winston provide introductions. In addition, pop-ups dispense fun facts, like the show's original title: The Reading Program. As in the first four-disc collection, episodes appear out of sequence, but work fine as stand-alones--although it would be nice to have all of them available at some point. Musical highlights include Freeman's hobo lament "Shoo Shoo Sunshine" (episode 12), Short Circus funk jam "Knock Knock Rock" (35A), and let's not forget that "empowering" theme: "We're gonna turn it on / we're gonna bring you the power!"

Watch carefully or you'll miss quick-as-a wink cameos from the likes of I Dream of Jeannie’s Barbara Eden (150), Bonanza’s Lorne Green (223), and All in the Family’s Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton (166). Other notables to contribute their talents include Tom Lehrer, author of the "Silent E" song, Mel Brooks, voice behind "Blond-Haired Cartoon Man," and Producers pals Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel, voices behind The Adventures of Letterman (with Joan Rivers as narrator and Mostel as the evil Spell Binder). The Electric Company set its sights on children aged 7-10, but there's plenty of fast-paced fun here for younger kids and adults, too. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description
With roots in the Motown Sound, Broadway and "The Carol Burnett Show", The Electric Company became a cultural phenomenon in the ‘70s as the wildly popular educational television show with big laughs and an even bigger message…teaching children basic reading and grammar skills, with the emphasis on fun. Now, even MORE of your favorite episodes are all here in true nostalgic glory, for the first time ever on The Best Of The Electric Company - Volume 2 4-DVD Set!

An impressive cast (such as Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno and many others) embodied characters and enlivened skits the whole world knows and loves: Easy Reader, Fargo North Decoder, Jennifer of the Jungle, J. Arthur Crank, Paul The Gorilla, The Adventures of Letterman, Love of Chair, The Short Circus, Spider-Man, and much more!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars better than anything you'll find on TV today for kids, November 29, 2006

By	Andrew Woodward (Salem, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's amazing how well this show has held up. I never missed it growing up and am so thankful that unedited episodes are available on DVD. If there is a volume 3 (I think there will be since volume 1 suprisingly sold well, and vol. 2 will do likewise), there should be a Friday episode from season 4 so we can see the production credits. They haven't been seen since their original airing so it will be worth it. Also, more season 1 Friday shows with the now classic Love of Chair segment over the credits. Apparently, the boy (Skip Hennat), does different things over the credits (including falling asleep!!). I will stick by that this show (and Sesame Street) are FAR better than any show you will find for kids. From Barney to Bob the Builder to Spongebob; these shows are idiotic and I would rather die than show these shows to kids. Shows produced by CTW are the ONLY shows that I would recommend to kids. I have learned though that some of the episodes have been slightly altered (particularly some of the Spidey segments) but that shouldn't stray people away from this set.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you have young children, then you should buy this for them!, November 20, 2006

By	Reuven M. Lerner (Skokie, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If your children are learning to read, then you owe it to them to buy one or both both DVD sets of the Electric Company. It's hard to exaggerate how much my daughters (ages 4 and 6) enjoy watching these episodes, or how much they have learned as a result. When volume 2 arrived at my home last week, my girls were screaming and jumping up and down with excitement.

And while they certainly enjoy the comedy and the music, it's very clear that the lessons have been sinking in; just a few nights ago, my 6-year-old wowed us with a demonstration of "dinner" vs. "diner." She has similarly learned to handle punctuation, silent E, and common letter combinations, long before these subjects were introduced in school. I'm generally quite skeptical of claims regarding "educational television," but the Electric Company demonstrates that it can work.

The inclusion of some classic bits, including Julia Grownup and the LY song, is greatly appreciated. And of course, we're enjoying Letterman and (the surprisingly small number of episodes with) Spiderman.

For most of my family, the second set of DVDs means that we now have 40 fabulous episodes to choose from, rather than just 20. But for me, as someone who grew up with this show, it was nice to see interviews with many of the cast members. And yes, it was a bit surprising to see how they've aged -- but I'm also 30 years older than I was in the 70s, so it's only fair! The documentary about teachers' use of the show was a bit long and dry, but still a worthwhile addition.

Even without the extras, this DVD set would be well worth the price. Your kids will learn to read, and they'll laugh and sing as they do so. I can't recommend The Electric Company highly enough; buy it, and you'll see what I mean.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the Electric Company Volume 2, February 8, 2007

By	K. Kelly "memory lane" (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a GREAT product. There is quite a bit of repetition from Vol. 1, but that's the nature of the show and despite that, the new sketches and songs Vol. 2 contains make it well worth the money. Also, all the regulars from the cast show up to do commentary and remember, and that was really great to see!!!