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Hey You Guys! 'Electric Company' Is Coming Back

The Sesame Workshop, the company behind PBS’ “Sesame Street,” is bringing back its 1970s staple “The Electric Company.” The series, targeted for children ages 6-9, promotes literacy and aims to interest viewers in the joy of reading.

Production for the series is scheduled to begin Tuesday on location in New York and in a Newark, N.J., studio. Weekly episodes will start to air in January on PBS Kids.

The show’s new format will encompass interactive online elements and community-based activities across the country, in addition to adapting a more contemporary style.

“Our goal with ‘The Electric Company’ is to reach the kids who are struggling, and who might think that reading isn’t cool or isn’t useful,” said Scott Cameron, director of education and research for Sesame Workshop. “We hope to do that by creating compelling and high-quality television, Web and outreach materials.”

Writers for the new incarnation include Willie Reale (“A Year With Frog and Toad”), Jeff and Craig Cox (“Blades of Glory”) and Jerome Hairston (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent”). The show’s musical directors are Chris Jackson, Thomas Kail and Bill Sherman, all from Broadway musical “In the Heights.”

“The Electric Company” is produced with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Department of Education. Karen Fowler serves as executive producer.

Comments (7)

Heather from Houston:

I am so excited! As a kid, this was my favorit show. I can not wait to let my youngest child watch. I wish they would have brought this back sooner when my 15 and 16 year old children were younger.

I can't wait to see it! It was my favorite show as a kid, way better than Sesame Street!

Leanne:

You can buy the original series on dvd at Amazon.com. I LOVED this show, and no one I know remembers it!

Morgan Freeman, Spidey, HEY YOU GUYS!, and the sillouette phonic game were awesome!

Jofi:

That is awesome to hear! I loved that show as a kid. The sillouette phonic game was my favorite! Glad my kids will be able to see it to!

Will:

'Hope they bring back LETTER-MAN!!!

mark:

EASY READER = MORGAN FREEMAN, word!

Brian Rose:

I heard that "The Electric Company" is
coming back.I just hope they bring back
Spider-Man,too. And how about we add some
Iron-Man with that?

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