History Characters / TheElectricCompany

* For characters of the 2009 retool, go to: ''Characters/TheElectricCompany2009''.

!! The (ORIGINAL) Electric Company

!!! J. Arthur Crank

* ButtMonkey
* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: In the first season, he was strictly off-camera as an annoying voice making [[PunnyName crank calls.]]
* LargeHam
* NiceHat
* PunnyName: A Double Pun, based on director J. Arthur Rank and, in the first season, his propensity for making crank calls as an offscreen voice.
* ThisLoserIsYou: We've all had trouble pronouncing words. He just took it UpToEleven.

!!! Fargo North, Decoder

* GeniusDitz
* NiceHat: His detective's fedora.
* PunnyName: For Fargo, North Dakota.

!!! Jennifer of the Jungle

* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: With her sidekick Paul.
* JunglePrincess
* NiceHat: Her pith helmet.
* SignatureRoar: ''"Oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi!"''
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: To her faithful companion, Paul the Gorilla.

!!! Easy Reader

* CoolShades: Part of his wardrobe.
* [[ExpositoryThemeTune Expository Character Theme]]: "Easy Reader, that's my name ... mmm, mmm, mmm!"

!!! Valerie the Librarian

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Her name was Valerie, and she worked as a librarian.

!!! Doctor Doolats

* ShoutOut: Luis Avalos patterned his character after Groucho Marx and Dr. Doolittle.

!!! Otto the Director

* DeadpanSnarker: Otto has seen it all in her time, and is more and more frustrated with each blown take.
* ExhaustedEyebags: Each segment begins with a hilariously absurd take number (often in the 50s or 60s), and all on simple lines.
* FromBadToWorse: Each take becomes progressively worse, where inept actors flub simple lines worse than the previous take.

!!! Paul the Gorilla

* KillerGorilla: Although he really was harmless, several skits had other characters faint or flee upon sight of Paul.

!!! Pandora the Brat

* AlphaBitch: Pandora was one who always tried to get her way.
* SpoiledBrat: To a fault.

!!! Letterman
* [[AbsenteeActor Absentee Character]]: Letterman is absent from one episode: "A Friend in Need" (which centers around Spellbinder escaping from prison).
* TheBadGuyWins: Several times, although victory was very temporary. Examples:
** Once, Spellbinder managed to get one-up on his foe, once turning "Letterman" into a "Wetterman" (switching out the first letter and causing him to fall into a deep swimming pool). Letterman avoided drowning by finding a "b" and turning himself into a "betterman" (a better man than he was before).
** In "Small Talk" (probably the best known episode), Spellbinder broke into Letterman's home, hid in the attic and -- as Letterman was packing a trunk for a vacation, Spellbinder turned the "trunk" into "junk," then the "junk" into "shrunk." Eventually, the tiny superhero showed resolve and removed the "s" and "r" to turn himself back into a "hunk." Letterman then bends Spellbinder's wand, rendering it useless and causing him to break down in tears.
** Yet another time, Letterman declares he feels "good". Spellbinder changes the "g" to a "w" for "wood", turning Letterman into a talking tree. Spellbinder then proceeds to get a drill to try to drill holes in Letterman. Before Spellbinder returns, Letterman is able to convince a small bird to take a "g" from his front and replace the "w", thereby turning him back into the "feeling-good" Letterman, just in time as Spellbinder attempts to drill into him. The drill breaks and engulfs Spellbinder in the twisted metal.
** In another, the narrator declares Letterman good as "gold". Spellbinder removes the "g", leaving "old" and turning Letterman into an aged version of himself. Letterman summons what little strength he has and takes a "b" from his sweater to make "bold", restoring him to his youthful condition.
* ClarkKenting: Although there is no discernible difference between his "normal" persona and -- after his introduction -- his heroic Letterman persona. Presumably, he is always Letterman.
* HeroicBuild: He was handsome, brave and strong.
* JustInTime: Letterman often shows up just before the situation becomes too dire, saving everyone's necks and ruining Spellbinder's criminal activities.
* NotQuiteTheRightThing: Sometimes, even Letterman whiffed when trying to restore order and foil Spellbinder. Example: "Sticky Finances," where Spellbinder turns a man's "money" into "honey." To de-liquefy the assets, Letterman only has "bal" available, forcing him to turn the "honey" into "baloney." The annoyed man asks, "What am I going to do with all this baloney?" Letterman sheepishly replies, "Open a delicatessen?"
* VerySpecialEpisode: Although these were connected to Spellbinder one-upping his foe (see above TheBadGuyWins entry). Another was an OriginStory detailing Letterman's background and how he became a superhero.

!!! The Spellbinder
* ArchEnemy: Of Letterman.
* ChildHater: It seems his ultra-sadistic side is reserved for children, as many of his antics seem to be target situations involving children, putting them in extreme danger. See WouldHurtAChild.
* DeadpanSnarker: Cracks a lot of these one-liners.
* EvilForeigner: Of the evil Arab variety. That he was from the Middle East led to criticism, including (most notably) from Jack Shaheen, a professor emeritus from Southern Illinois University, who in his essay "The TV Arab" said that the character was a negative stereotype of Arabs and contrary to the Children's Television Workshop's realistic portrayal of minorities.
* EvilLaugh: After he changes a key letter to create mayhem and mischief. Often of the rolling-on-the-floor-laughing variety.
* AFriendInNeed: Literally, the name of one of the shorts, and the only one in which Letterman himself does not appear. It centers around Spellbinder escaping from prison ... with the help of a "friend." Created when Spellbinder unbends his bent wand and turns "fiend" into "friend."
* HarmlessVillain and PokeThePoodle: Much of Spellbinder's mischief was, in reality, harmless mischief -- some uncomfortable situations resulted but not too dangerous, and were done for Spellbinder's own amusement. However, there were times where this was dangerously averted, such as turning a school bus into an octopus (and the annoyed octopus squeezes the children hard), or his most despicable stunts: turning a plane (full of children and other passengers) into a plant and causing it to plummet toward the earth, and nearly causing a passenger train (again, full of children) to plummet into a deep ravine.
* HarsherInHindsight: Spellbinder's plant/plane stunt. See HilarityEnsues entry.
* HilarityEnsues: In circa 1975, the year the plane/plant Letterman short was released -- despite the potentially deadly situation faced by the passengers and crew of the plane -- Spellbinder's fun might be seen as quite humorous. (Indeed, Spellbinder thought [[DudeNotFunny the possibility of nearly 100 children, their parents, chaperones, teachers, principal and the flight crew dying in a plane crash ... and the thought of their families plunging into a catatonic state of grief, was quite funny]].) However, this became much HarsherInHindsight after the 9/11 attacks (which, ironically enough, were instigated by Middle Easterners) ... and today, Spellbinder might be shot on sight or swiftly and surely sentenced to death in a federal court. [[note]]The segment has not been seen since the original reruns last aired on PBS in 1985 (and has never been uploaded to video sharing sites), and were not seen in any episodes that were part of the rerun package that aired on Noggin in the late 1990s and early 2000s ... although if it had, that particular episode almost assuredly would have been pulled in the wake of 9/11.[[/note]]
** A similar situation, in a segment titled "Broken Bridge," involved the destruction of a railroad bridge (by Spellbinder removing the "b" from "bridge"). Again, in a pre-9/11 world, this might have gotten a few laughs from those who didn't know better, particularly in the 1974-1976 era. Today and in the real world (since the situation involves removal of infrastructure by non-natural means and a potentially deadly situation), Spellbinder would be arrested immediately and left to rot in prison. [[note]]Unlike the plane/plant episode, this segment was included in an episode aired on Noggin, at least prior to 9/11.[[/note]]
* KryptoniteFactor: Spellbinder, by changing a letter in a word to affect Letterman's situation, temporarily rendering Letterman helpless. (See TheBadGuyWins entry under Letterman for details.)
* ObviouslyEvil: He's an Arab, this is the mid-1970s (when tensions between the United States and Middle Eastern countries hit a new low) ... he's the perfect way to depict the series' antagonist.
* OhCrap: When he tried to shrink Letterman to six inches tall, but Letterman found a way to turn himself back into the muscular hunk he always was, Spellbinder decides it's time to flee ... but doesn't make it. (His wand pays the price.)
* PerspectiveMagic: Spellbinder literally grabs the sun in "A Rolling Bun Gathers No Seeds" -- after turning it into a "bun," of course -- and hurls it toward the earth and a beach wherein he had earlier been banned.
* PrisonEpisode: "A Friend in Need," which ends with Spellbinder's escape.
* TerroristsWithoutACause: In today's post-9/11 world, several of Spellbinder's actions could easily be classified as terrorism, as they involved potential mass death and destruction of infrastructure and aircraft. He worked alone, and his only goal was to amuse himself.
* TickleTorture: Spellbinder tried to put this onto the CEO of a pickle factory (turning "pickle" into "tickle"). Once Letterman restores order, the superhero turns the tables on Spellbinder by sending the feather onto the very ticklish villain. As the narrator enjoys her pickle, an exhausted Spellbinder -- having apparently gotten away from the feather after hours of being tickled non-stop -- finally concedes defeat ... this time.
* WouldHurtAChild: Not only does Spellbinder have no reservations about putting children in life-threatening situations, he revels in it, finding it to be cute and funny. (And in the real world would have him arrested on sight.) Examples include:
** The plane/plant situation (see HilarityEnsues).
** School bus/octopus/platypus (turns a bus into an octopus).
** "The Roar of Rage," involving cage/rage, wherein a lion, irate at being caged and now glad to be free, is about to pounce on a group of second graders.
** "Broken Bridge," involving bridge/ridge. After removing the "b" to create "ridge," a bridge over a deep ridge is removed from a rail line ... far too late for a train loaded with schoolchildren to stop. Letterman shows up in time and restores the bridge.

!!! Spiderman
* HeroicMime: Danny Seagren played this portrayal of Spiderman to a fault this way.
* TheVoiceless: His communiation was via speech balloons, which his friends, adversaries -- and most importantly, the audience at home -- would read.

!! The (NEW) Electric Company

!!! Hector Ruiz

* AlmightyJanitor: He remains useful to the Electric Company, even after he starts running the diner at the beginning of Season 3.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: In one episode, he explains to the rest of the company that he used to be the champion of an annual limerick contest, but was (unfairly) defeated by Manny on one year. He has never entered said contest since.
* TheHero
* OneHeadTaller
* SiblingRivalry: Among the greatest aversions of all time. Jessica and Hector are not just friends, they are on BashBrothers level.
* [[ImprobableUseOfAWeapon Improbable Use Of A Wordball]]: In one episode, Hector is chasing Sigmund Scrambler around the neighborhood. He creates a detour sign using a wordball [[TooDumbToLive which Sigmund follows]], leading him into a dead end.
* WillNotTellALie: Mentioned on the show's page

!!! Jessica Ruiz

* TheLancer
* SeriesMascot: She is the favorite Character of the fandom. She also has preformed live with Hector, Manny and Shock, sings the end-of-show rap 90 percent of the time and even interviewed an actor from the original version.
* ShoutOut: Was seen wearing a "Zoom" T-shirt at the beginning of Season 2.

!!! Lisa Heffenbacher

* TheChick
* CuteClumsyGirl
* GoodIsNotDumb: She is probably the smartest member of the Electric Company.
* PutOnABus: In season three.
* RedOniBlueOni: The blue to Annie's red.

!!! Keith Watson

* AudienceSurrogate: We learn the premise of the show along with him.
* TheSmartGuy
* TokenBlack: To the Electric Company, before Marcus showed up.

!!! Marcus Barnes
* AccidentalMisnaming: Francine calls him this name quite a bit.
* CousinOliver: Series/TheElectricCompany2009 is meant for gradeschoolers. Because the original AudienceSurrogate hit puberty, the show needed a new one.
* [[SixthRanger Fifth Ranger]]
* HowDoIShotWeb: A nice way to sum up his debut. He spends the episode learning to aim word balls properly.
* JumpedAtTheCall
* PromotionToOpeningTitles
* SpotlightStealingSquad

!!! Shock

* TheQuietOne: He rarely speaks, only beatboxes.

!!The Pranksters

!!! Francine Carruthers

* AlphaBitch
* BigBad: Appears to be the leader of the Pranksters.
* RichBitch

!!! Annie Scrambler

* DarkChick
* EvilCounterpart: Annie is supposedly this in comparison to Lisa.
* TheNapoleon
* PetTheDog: Sometimes is genuinely helpful ("Bananas"), and quite literally likes dogs ("Pies For Puppies").
* RedOniBlueOni: The red to Lisa's blue.
* {{Tsundere}}

!!! Manny Spamboni

* {{Acrofatic}}: Averted so very much.
* EvilGenius
* EvilIsHammy
* GadgeteerGenius
* LargeHam
* MadScientist
* MechaMooks: The robots he builds for small tasks. Most notably, Count Vacula.
* RobotBuddy: Has one that assists him.

!!! Danny Rebus

* ArtShift: A number of animated shorts from Season 3 depict him as a cartoon character.
* BerserkButton: Never break a promise to Danny Rebus; It's just not a good idea.
* TheBrute
* CriminalMindGames: The main use for his powers.
* HairTriggerTemper
* LargeHam
* NiceHat
* PetTheDog: Sometimes is genuinely helpful ("Oh, Danny Boy"), and quite literally likes dogs ("Pies For Puppies").
* RebusBubble: His superpower.

!!! Gilda Flip

* [[AscendedFanboy Ascended Fangirl]]: Towards Francine.
* TheDragon: And how!
* HyperCompetentSidekick: Is fond of making lists and being organized. Plus, she often comes up with ideas that Francine commandeers with a GladIThoughtOfIt.
** Also, if the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_W825VbQrw "Breaking Records"]] song is any indication, then Gilda is actually kind of awesome.
* PaperThinDisguise: Is quite fond of them.
* TheStoolPigeon: This kid tells Francine ''everything.''

* CousinOliver: TheElectricCompany is meant for gradeschoolers. Because the original AudienceSurrogate hit puberty, the show needed a new one.

* AccidentalMisnaming: Calls Marcus "Marty Brans" in Season 3.

* HarmlessVillain and PokeThePoodle: Much of Spellbinder's mischief was, in reality, harmless mischief -- some uncomfortable situations resulted but not too dangerous, and were done for Spellbinder's own amusement. However, there were times where this was dangerously averted, such as turning a school bus into an octopus (and the annoyed octopus squeezes the children hard), or his most despicable stunts: turning a plane (full of children and other passengers) into a plant and causing it to plummet toward the earth, and nearly causing a passenger trail (again, full of children) to plummet into a deep ravine.

* HarmlessVillain and PokeThePoodle: Much of Spellbinder's mischief was, in reality, harmless mischief -- some uncomfortable situations resulted but not too dangerous, and were done for Spellbinder's own amusement. However, there were times where this was dangerously averted, such as turning a school bus into an octopus (and the annoyed octopus squeezes the children hard), or his most despicable stunt: turning a plane (full of children and other passengers) into a plant and causing it to plummet toward the earth.

* TerroristsWithoutACause: In today's post-9/11 world, several of Spellbinder's actions could easily be classified as terrorism, as they involved potential mass death and destruction of infrastructure and aircraft. His only goal was to amuse himself.
* TickleTorture: Spellbinder tried to put this onto the CEO of a pickle factory (turning "pickle" into "tickle"). Once Letterman restores order, the superhero turns the tables on Spellbinder by sending the feather onto the very ticklish villain. As the narrator enjoys her pickle, an exhausted Spellbinder -- having apparently gotten away from the feather, after hours of being tickled non-stop -- finally concedes defeat ... this time.

* HilarityEnsues: In circa 1975, the year the plane/plant Letterman short was released -- despite the potentially deadly situation faced by the passengers and crew of the plane -- Spellbinder's fun might be seen as quite humorous. (Indeed, Spellbinder thought [[DudeNotFunny the possibility of nearly 100 children, their parents, chaperones, teachers, principal and the flight crew dying in a plane crash ... and the thought of their families plunging into a catatonic state of grief, was quite funny]].) However, this became much HarsherInHindsight after the 9/11 attacks (which, ironically enough, were instigated by Middle Easterners) ... and today, Spellbinder might be shot on sight or swiftly and surely sentenced to death in a federal court. The clip has not been seen since the original reruns last aired on PBS in 1985 (and has never been uploaded to video sharing sites), and were not seen in any episodes that were part of the rerun package that aired on Noggin in the late 1990s and early 2000s ... although if it had, that particular episode would have been pulled in the wake of 9/11.

** A similar situation, in a segment titled "Broken Bridge," involved the destruction of a railroad bridge (by Spellbinder removing the "b" from "bridge"). Again, in a pre-9/11 world, this might have gotten a few laughs from those who didn't know better, particularly in the 1974-1976 era. Today and in the real world (since the situation involves removal of infrastructure by non-natural means) and the potential deaths of scores of innocent people, Spellbinder would be arrested immediately and left to rot in prison. (Although unlike the plane/plant episode, this segment was included in an episode aired on Noggin, at least prior to 9/11.)