BEING A SORT OF spin off of their highly successful and now iconic series, SESAME STREET, the Children's Television Workshop brought us this somewhat abbreviated dose of the same medicine two years after the "parent series". Although the objectives of keeping the little rug-rats entertained; while at the same time, slipping in some generous helpings of educational material.
AS FOR THE differences between the two series, we note the obvious half length of the newer show. With SESAME STREET's running for a full hour, this ELECTRIC COMPANY was allotted half of the screen time. Perhaps this is yet another indication of our next assertion that this EC series was designed and marketed to the kids who were just a tad older. These children were apt to have the patience to sit and watch as long as their younger brothers and sisters.
THE GENERAL TONE of the show is far more lively than its older brother. Right from the opening credits we are made aware of this quality. Its theme song sets the tone and it never really slows down. There are no Muppets in evidence and a smaller cast of regulars is employed.
IT IS ALSO a sobering thought that whatever accomplishments connected to this series were tempered with the knowledge that this production company had the benefit of funds from Federal Programs such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. This Children's Television Workshop is certainly no example of :Free Enterprise" and "Rugged Individualism".
AS WE SIT here, waxing nostalgically, there is really not much that we can recall that was typically a symbol of he show. The only two features that we can name are: THE ELECTRIC COMPANY's inclusion of brief vignettes of Marvel Comics' SPIDER-MAN and for being the venue to which we were introduced to actor Morgan Freeman.
AS FOR THE differences between the two series, we note the obvious half length of the newer show. With SESAME STREET's running for a full hour, this ELECTRIC COMPANY was allotted half of the screen time. Perhaps this is yet another indication of our next assertion that this EC series was designed and marketed to the kids who were just a tad older. These children were apt to have the patience to sit and watch as long as their younger brothers and sisters.
THE GENERAL TONE of the show is far more lively than its older brother. Right from the opening credits we are made aware of this quality. Its theme song sets the tone and it never really slows down. There are no Muppets in evidence and a smaller cast of regulars is employed.
IT IS ALSO a sobering thought that whatever accomplishments connected to this series were tempered with the knowledge that this production company had the benefit of funds from Federal Programs such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. This Children's Television Workshop is certainly no example of :Free Enterprise" and "Rugged Individualism".
AS WE SIT here, waxing nostalgically, there is really not much that we can recall that was typically a symbol of he show. The only two features that we can name are: THE ELECTRIC COMPANY's inclusion of brief vignettes of Marvel Comics' SPIDER-MAN and for being the venue to which we were introduced to actor Morgan Freeman.