Ah... remember when kids could actually learn something by watching the children's programming on PBS. Now its alien things that don't even speak a language.
This show used to confuse me as a kid because I could never figure out what it had to do with the people who "made" the electricity in my house and who my parents were always complaining about having to give money to every time I opened the refrigerator door or turned up the heat.
When The Electric Company premiered, All in the Family (started its 1st of 5 seasons as the #1 show on TV), Hawaii Five-O, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, The Carol Burnett Show were stiil on CBS, The Brady Bunch, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Bewitched (which was in its final season), Mod Squad, Odd Couple, Love American Style were still on ABC, Flip Wilson, Laugh-In, Columbo, Night Gallery Adam-12, Ironside were still on NBC.
The new Electric Company has nothing on this. The older version DID make learning fun & the skits were funny....and did anybody else wonder what the hell was 'the Children's Television Work Shop' when they were a kid?
Very early episode from the first season. Note that the funding credits appeared in the Clarendon font; by the time Episode 40 aired, the font was changed to Franklin Gothic.
The new Electric Company is horrible. All they needed to do was take the original and lightly update it. Have some rap and beatboxing and stuff but the old concept was perfect. Not some wannabe Power Rangers or Hogwarts BS. A STORYLINE????? PuhLEEZE!!!!
What's amazing is it looks like they used *analog* computers to generate the computer effects. Any kind of digital FX would have been way too expensive and too primitive in 1971 for the FX shown here (personal computers with graphics were still several years away, and mainframes ruled the day.)
My 5-year old and I just watched the openings from the new Electric Company and the old ones from the 70's. When I asked, she said she likes the OLD ones better. YESSSS!
B/c it was a magical time with possibilities
koffeebrwn 3 days ago 2
WHY DID EVERYTHING IN THE 70'S MAKE YOU FEEL HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BigTMoney121 6 days ago
Ah... remember when kids could actually learn something by watching the children's programming on PBS. Now its alien things that don't even speak a language.
Mthrok 1 week ago 3
Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, and songs by Tom Lehrer. Pure genius!
micropickletwo 1 week ago
This show used to confuse me as a kid because I could never figure out what it had to do with the people who "made" the electricity in my house and who my parents were always complaining about having to give money to every time I opened the refrigerator door or turned up the heat.
Marc3c 2 weeks ago
When The Electric Company premiered, All in the Family (started its 1st of 5 seasons as the #1 show on TV), Hawaii Five-O, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, The Carol Burnett Show were stiil on CBS, The Brady Bunch, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Bewitched (which was in its final season), Mod Squad, Odd Couple, Love American Style were still on ABC, Flip Wilson, Laugh-In, Columbo, Night Gallery Adam-12, Ironside were still on NBC.
megamanj2004X 3 weeks ago
The new Electric Company has nothing on this. The older version DID make learning fun & the skits were funny....and did anybody else wonder what the hell was 'the Children's Television Work Shop' when they were a kid?
TheColorOfCaramel 3 weeks ago
Very early episode from the first season. Note that the funding credits appeared in the Clarendon font; by the time Episode 40 aired, the font was changed to Franklin Gothic.
RJSchex 1 month ago
So this is what LSD feels like
cryptosquid 1 month ago
@cryptosquid - *Laughing so hard*
centuryboatfan 2 weeks ago
What happened to "Hey You Guys"
PHender864 1 month ago
@PHender864 The "HEY YOU GUYYYYS!" line was first heard on Episode 19; for Season 2 (as well as 5 and 6) it was heard at the opening.
RJSchex 1 week ago
I like watching the present-day show with my 5 y/o lol
seonfox 1 month ago
how come the electric company doesn't sing to me today?
MultiBillycarter 1 month ago
I remember this song!
myeshasnp198 1 month ago
God this takes me back!
slitlcka005 1 month ago
Oh wow! I'm 7-years old all over again! Thank you for posting! (Love the 70s!)
TeeDub106 1 month ago
The New Electric Company is terrible. :P
CelesteK 1 month ago
my electric company never sing to me.
Wellch 2 months ago
Yeah, that's great now the electric company can go easy on my bill!!!
pete0969wi 2 months ago
funny i havent heard that song in over 30 some odd years and i was able to sing that song word for word lol
ocampojr 2 months ago
I remembered all the words & I'm almost 50! LOL.
ebonyruffles 3 months ago 4
Forty-five years old, and this song still makes me smile.
ericdrumz 3 months ago 7
Apparently they didn't know how to center text in the 70s.
Moosenogger 3 months ago 2
Trippy...
ThePolerbearproducts 3 months ago
Love that blues-rock arrangement!
Milesco 3 months ago
Can't say Family Guy brought me here. The '70s did :)
snoops71 4 months ago 38
Never seen The Family Guy, but I watched The Electric Company when I was knee high to a grasshopper : )
linyonglan 4 months ago 4
Happy 40th anniversary, today! Man what great times...
djdavemick 4 months ago
My favorite show as a kid. I always felt sorry for the guy in Love Of Chair.
And, no, 'The Family Guy' did NOT bring me here!
libertatus 4 months ago 5
0:10 This is why they taught reading, not lip-syncing. LOL JK I love the old series, I wish the new one used this song.
FishWRabies 5 months ago
LOVED this show. I still think of that Columbo character whenever I hear "Fargo, North Dakota." Wish I could find the "banana split, man" bit.
1Nakape 6 months ago
1 person wasnt turned on and didnt get the power
manning89 6 months ago
The new Electric Company is horrible. All they needed to do was take the original and lightly update it. Have some rap and beatboxing and stuff but the old concept was perfect. Not some wannabe Power Rangers or Hogwarts BS. A STORYLINE????? PuhLEEZE!!!!
micmac99 9 months ago 3
I remember seeing this on family guy
eddypikachu 11 months ago
@eddypikachu i know! "contrary to those upbeat lyrics, the electric company would like to inform you they will not be bringing u the power."
cdude1234567891 5 months ago
THUMBS IF FAMILY GUY BROUGHT YOU HERE!!!
Airickk2021 11 months ago 10
What's amazing is it looks like they used *analog* computers to generate the computer effects. Any kind of digital FX would have been way too expensive and too primitive in 1971 for the FX shown here (personal computers with graphics were still several years away, and mainframes ruled the day.)
plateshutoverlock 11 months ago
My 5-year old and I just watched the openings from the new Electric Company and the old ones from the 70's. When I asked, she said she likes the OLD ones better. YESSSS!
Marsx4 1 year ago 2
Ah the good old days!!!!!
TheGirlsFlorida 1 year ago
i like this one much better than the new one its more quicker , the new one makes the kids look like wannabe rappers
paleobc65 1 year ago
wow- no wonder I have strange memories of my childhood. So groovy! where many of us first "met" Morgan Freeman!
cosmos1moon 1 year ago
@cosmos1moon As well as Bill Cosby and Rita Moreno!
smittykins 5 months ago
Beats the new one by far! I love the 70's.
DisneyBlackJet 1 year ago
@DisneyBlackJet ANIT THATH THE TRUTH AND IM 13 ;D
katylin900 1 year ago 14