Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 56 (click to see context) from:
* PunnyName: Fargo North, Decoder (Fargo, North Dakota); J. Arthur Crank (British film producer J. Arthur Rank); Dr. Dolots (''Literature/DoctorDolittle''); Julia Grownup (Julia Child, "The French Chef"); Morgan Freeman's Easy Reader (''Film/EasyRider'')
to:
* PunnyName: Fargo North, Decoder (Fargo, North Dakota); J. Arthur Crank (British film producer J. Arthur Rank); Dr. Dolots (''Literature/DoctorDolittle''); Julia Grownup (Julia Child, "The French Chef"); Morgan Freeman's Easy Reader (''Film/EasyRider'')(''Film/EasyRider''); Short Circus ([[MakesSenseInContext short circuit]])
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* [[VisualPun Visual Puns]]: Made learning grammar fun!
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 54 (click to see context) from:
* PoliceAreUseless: The show took this trope as far as was possible for a children's show. Police were portrayed many times as either incompetent, often outsmarted by the criminals, or even crime victims themselves. When they actually apprehended anybody, the criminals were then the less competent ones.
to:
* PoliceAreUseless: The show took this trope as far as was possible for a children's show. Police were portrayed many times as either incompetent, often outsmarted by the criminals, or even crime victims themselves. When they actually apprehended anybody, the criminals were then the less competent ones.
Added DiffLines:
* ScaryTeeth: PlayedForLaughs as a couple experiences the terror of [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Teeth]]. Subverted as said Teeth proclaims, [[LukeYouAreMyFather "Look dad, no cavities!"]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* {{Leitmotif}}: For the Fargo North, Decoder sketches.
Added DiffLines:
* OurGhostsAreDifferent: Such as in "Ga''ll''oping Sa''dd''le" sketch, a {{Western}} pastiche.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 67 (click to see context) from:
** In a {{Western}} skit, a cowboy (Jim Boyd) was constantly annoyed by a ''sentence'' in the air, to the point of pushing him as it made slide whistle sounds. "My Name is Kathy" - [[BrickJoke named after a Short Circus song]] - taunted the cowboy into a fight. The sentence won as the cowboy merely vanished. After one last whoop from the victorious sentence came the cowboy's voice: "Weeelll, you can't win'em all!"
to:
** In a {{Western}} skit, a cowboy (Jim Boyd) was constantly annoyed by a ''sentence'' in the air, to the point of pushing him as it made slide whistle sounds. "My Name is Kathy" - [[BrickJoke a a subverted BadassCreed[[BrickJoke named after a Short Circus song]] - taunted the cowboy into a fight. The sentence won as the cowboy merely vanished. After one last whoop from the victorious sentence came the cowboy's voice: "Weeelll, you can't win'em all!"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* ButtMonkey: J. Arthur Crank was usually this.
Changed line(s) 64 (click to see context) from:
* WordsCanBreakMyBones: Literally. In an animated ChickenLittle parody, the [[TheSkyIsFalling iconic phrase]] appears on the top of the screen and the wolf (wearing a suit) thinks he has dinner when the sentence ''falls'' on him, [[LaserGuidedKarma sending him to the ground.]]
to:
* WordsCanBreakMyBones: Literally.
** In an animated ChickenLittle parody, the [[TheSkyIsFalling iconic phrase]] appears on the top of the screen and the wolf (wearing a suit) thinks he has dinner when the sentence ''falls'' on him, [[LaserGuidedKarma sending him to the ground.]]]]
** In a {{Western}} skit, a cowboy (Jim Boyd) was constantly annoyed by a ''sentence'' in the air, to the point of pushing him as it made slide whistle sounds. "My Name is Kathy" - [[BrickJoke named after a Short Circus song]] - taunted the cowboy into a fight. The sentence won as the cowboy merely vanished. After one last whoop from the victorious sentence came the cowboy's voice: "Weeelll, you can't win'em all!"
** In an animated ChickenLittle parody, the [[TheSkyIsFalling iconic phrase]] appears on the top of the screen and the wolf (wearing a suit) thinks he has dinner when the sentence ''falls'' on him, [[LaserGuidedKarma sending him to the ground.
** In a {{Western}} skit, a cowboy (Jim Boyd) was constantly annoyed by a ''sentence'' in the air, to the point of pushing him as it made slide whistle sounds. "My Name is Kathy" - [[BrickJoke named after a Short Circus song]] - taunted the cowboy into a fight. The sentence won as the cowboy merely vanished. After one last whoop from the victorious sentence came the cowboy's voice: "Weeelll, you can't win'em all!"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* PoliceAreUseless: The show took this trope as far as was possible for a children's show. Police were portrayed many times as either incompetent, often outsmarted by the criminals, or even crime victims themselves. When they actually apprehended anybody, the criminals were then the less competent ones.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 24 (click to see context) from:
* CelebrityParadox: In a "Spidey Super Stories" segment, Spiderman sits in front of a TV to watch his favorite show: TheElectricCompany.
to:
* CelebrityParadox: In a "Spidey Super Stories" segment, Spiderman Spider-Man sits in front of a TV to watch his favorite show: TheElectricCompany.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* BilingualBonus: Frequently occurred among characters played by native ''hispanoparlantes'' Luis Avalos and Rita Moreno. A good example were the "Pedro's Plant Place" sketches. (Another bonus: in that, Maurice the guard plant spoke a language of his own!)
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
!!Examples from these TV shows:
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* CelebrityParadox: In a "Spidey Super Stories" segment, Spiderman sits in front of a TV to watch his favorite show: TheElectricCompany.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* NurseryRhyme: {{Deconstructed}} in "A Very Short Book" segments. Also, an animated Fats Domino {{Expy}} cat [[CoverVersion does a jazzy soul take]] on "Hey Diddle Diddle," with [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a cat playing the fiddle.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 55 (click to see context) from:
* {{Sting}}: The show had a cool collection of these. A few were specific to certain themes, such as Western ([[StockSoundEffects horse whinny]]) or medieval parodies ({{Parody}} of BaroqueMusic, with concluding {{Rimshot}}-like bell). Even Fargo North Decoder had one that {{parodied}} the opening theme for the sketch.
to:
* {{Sting}}: The show had a cool collection of these. these to conclude skits. A few were specific to certain themes, such as Western ([[StockSoundEffects trumpet sounding like a horse whinny]]) or medieval parodies ({{Parody}} of BaroqueMusic, with concluding {{Rimshot}}-like bell). Even Fargo North Decoder had one that {{parodied}} the opening theme for the sketch.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* FunnyForeigner: With his Anthony Quinn-like ability to do a plethora of accents, Luis Avalos frequently played this. Also, Skip Hennant sometimes did mangled British accents.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* WordsCanBreakMyBones: Literally. In an animated ChickenLittle parody, the [[TheSkyIsFalling iconic phrase]] appears on the top of the screen and the wolf (wearing a suit) thinks he has dinner when the sentence ''falls'' on him, [[LaserGuidedKarma sending him to the ground.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Frequently used in the skits to teach words.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* FracturedFairyTale: Two kinds. There was the feature "A Very Short Book." There were also several skits that were based on, and often {{deconstructed}} FairyTales, including SnowWhite and {{Cinderella}}.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* CatchPhrase: [[WhoWritesThisCrap "Who's the dummy writing this show?"]]
to:
* CatchPhrase: CatchPhrase:
** If you came to this page, you know it: HEY... YOU... GUUUUUUUUUUUUUYS!
** [[WhoWritesThisCrap "Who's the dummy writing this show?"]]
** If you came to this page, you know it: HEY... YOU... GUUUUUUUUUUUUUYS!
** [[WhoWritesThisCrap "Who's the dummy writing this show?"]]
Changed line(s) 50 (click to see context) from:
* {{Sting}}: The show had a cool collection of these. A few were specific to certain themes, such as Western ([[StockSoundEffects horse whinny]]) or medieval parodies ({{Parody}} of BaroqueMusic, with concluding {{Rimshot}}-like bell).
to:
* {{Sting}}: The show had a cool collection of these. A few were specific to certain themes, such as Western ([[StockSoundEffects horse whinny]]) or medieval parodies ({{Parody}} of BaroqueMusic, with concluding {{Rimshot}}-like bell). Even Fargo North Decoder had one that {{parodied}} the opening theme for the sketch.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 16 (click to see context) from:
* AffectionateParody: Of the historical figures who appeared in sketches, such as IsaacNewton and [[TheAmericanRevolution Paul Revere]].
to:
* AffectionateParody: Of the historical figures who appeared in sketches, such as IsaacNewton and [[TheAmericanRevolution Paul Revere]]. Inverted in [[HarsherInHindsight the end]] [[HilariousInHindsight of a sketch]] featuring ChristopherColumbus (played by, [[HilariousInHindsight hilariously enough,]] MorganFreeman).
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* AffectionateParody: Of the historical figures who appeared in sketches, such as IsaacNewton and [[TheAmericanRevolution Paul Revere]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* CatchPhrase: [[WhoWritesThisCrap "Who's the dummy writing this show?"]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* {{Sting}}: The show had a cool collection of these. A few were specific to certain themes, such as Western ([[StockSoundEffects horse whinny]]) or medieval parodies ({{Parody}} of BaroqueMusic, with concluding {{Rimshot}}-like bell).
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 94 (click to see context) from:
* SpiritualSuccessor: Given the show's timeslot and premise, it can be hard not to think of ''{{Ghostwriter}}'' if you grew up in the 1990s.
to:
* SpiritualSuccessor: Given the show's timeslot and premise, it can be hard not to think of ''{{Ghostwriter}}'' ''Series/{{Ghostwriter}}'' if you grew up in the 1990s.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ArtShift: The "Prankster Planet" segments feature animated versions of Jessica, Marcus, the Pranksters, and Paul the Gorilla.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 6,7 (click to see context) from:
''The Electric Company'' was an EdutainmentShow that ran from 1971 to 1977 on Creator/{{PBS}} (and the last two seasons reran until 1985) from Children's Television Workshop, the company that previously brought the world ''Series/SesameStreet''. Its main purpose was to teach reading to reluctant readers by using SketchComedy, but its clever writing, memorable characters (such as Easy Reader, Fargo North Decoder, J. Arthur Crank, Jennifer of the Jungle, Paul the Gorilla), appearances by Franchise/{{Spider-Man}}, animated inserts with the superhero Letterman, and psychedelic Scanimation visuals made it a cult hit with all ages.
to:
Deleted line(s) 9 (click to see context) :
Deleted line(s) 12 (click to see context) :
Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
[[folder:1970 series]]
to:
Changed line(s) 53,54 (click to see context) from:
* WithCatlikeTread: In "O-U (The Hound Song)," a hound sings very loudly about how he dare not make a sound.
----
----
to:
* WithCatlikeTread: In "O-U (The Hound Song)," Song)", a hound sings very loudly about how he dare not make a sound.
----sound.
----
Changed line(s) 57,58 (click to see context) from:
[[folder:2009 series]]
* AesopAmnesia: Expect the Pranksters to forget any lesson they learn by the start of the next episode. The Electric Company is guilty of this, too--no matter how many times it's proved you can't trust a Prankster, one of them will get suckered in again.
* AesopAmnesia: Expect the Pranksters to forget any lesson they learn by the start of the next episode. The Electric Company is guilty of this, too--no matter how many times it's proved you can't trust a Prankster, one of them will get suckered in again.
to:
* AesopAmnesia: Expect the Pranksters to forget any lesson they learn by the start of the next episode. The Electric Company is guilty of this,
Changed line(s) 70 (click to see context) from:
* EvilGloating: Lampshaded in "Prankster Holiday." Turns out blurting out the evil plan is a really bad habit amongst the Pranksters.
to:
* EvilGloating: Lampshaded in "Prankster Holiday." Holiday". Turns out out, blurting out the evil plan is a really bad habit amongst the Pranksters.
Changed line(s) 73 (click to see context) from:
* GrandTheftMe: Annie Scrambler stealing Lisa's body in "Scrambled Brains."
to:
* GrandTheftMe: Annie Scrambler stealing Lisa's body in "Scrambled Brains."Brains".
Changed line(s) 77,79 (click to see context) from:
* IncredibleShrinkingMan: The Electric Company, Francine and Lisa's friend Dax in the episode "Lost and Spaced."
** And again in the episode "The Flube Whisperer," this time with Keith and Manny.
* ItCantGetAnyWorse: Used by Hector in "Trouble Afoot."
** And again in the episode "The Flube Whisperer," this time with Keith and Manny.
* ItCantGetAnyWorse: Used by Hector in "Trouble Afoot."
to:
* IncredibleShrinkingMan: The Electric Company, Francine and Lisa's friend Dax in the episode "Lost and Spaced."
Spaced".
** And again in the episode "The FlubeWhisperer," Whisperer", this time with Keith and Manny.
* ItCantGetAnyWorse: Used by Hector in "TroubleAfoot."Afoot".
** And again in the episode "The Flube
* ItCantGetAnyWorse: Used by Hector in "Trouble
Changed line(s) 85 (click to see context) from:
* MasterApprenticeChain: Hector → Keith → Marcus
to:
* MasterApprenticeChain: Hector → Keith → MarcusMarcus.
Changed line(s) 88 (click to see context) from:
* {{Ninja}}: Silent "E" is called "the ninja of the alphabet."
to:
* {{Ninja}}: Silent "E" is called "the ninja of the alphabet."alphabet".
Changed line(s) 94 (click to see context) from:
* ScienceFair: The premise of the episode "Lost and Spaced."
to:
* ScienceFair: The premise of the episode "Lost and Spaced."Spaced".
Changed line(s) 96 (click to see context) from:
* SpiritualSuccessor: Given the show's time slot and premise, it can be hard not to think of {{Ghostwriter}} if you grew up in the 90's.
to:
* SpiritualSuccessor: Given the show's time slot timeslot and premise, it can be hard not to think of {{Ghostwriter}} ''{{Ghostwriter}}'' if you grew up in the 90's.1990s.
Changed line(s) 104,106 (click to see context) from:
* VillainSong: There are many, trust me.
* WillNotTellALie: In the pilot, Hector explicitly states that the members of the Company do not lie.
** They tend to lie anyway sometimes.
* WillNotTellALie: In the pilot, Hector explicitly states that the members of the Company do not lie.
** They tend to lie anyway sometimes.
to:
* VillainSong: There are many, trust me.
us.
* WillNotTellALie: In the pilot, Hector explicitly states that the members of the Company do notlie.
** Theylie. And yet, they tend to lie anyway sometimes.
* WillNotTellALie: In the pilot, Hector explicitly states that the members of the Company do not
** They
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* {{Malaproper}}s: The Giggle Goggle girls.
Changed line(s) 44 (click to see context) from:
* ShoutOut: Whenever Letterman would come in to save the day, Joan Rivers would make a speech reminiscent of one used for ''{{Superman}}''.
to:
* ShoutOut: Whenever Letterman would come in to save the day, Joan Rivers would make a speech reminiscent of one used for ''{{Superman}}''.''Franchise/{{Superman}}''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,3 (click to see context) from:
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Electric_Company_2554.jpg
[[caption-width:340:"We're gonna turn it on, we're gonna bring you the power!"]]
[[caption-width:340:"We're gonna turn it on, we're gonna bring you the power!"]]
to:
[[caption-width:340:"We're
[[caption-width-right:340:"We're gonna turn it on, we're gonna bring you the power!"]]
Deleted line(s) 11,12 (click to see context) :
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Electric_Company_09_2799.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"Feel the power, yo, and plug it in!"]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"Feel the power, yo, and plug it in!"]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* CheesyMoon: There is a sketch where Fargo North is an astronaut in space who receives orders to proceed to the moon. He protests that is impossible since the Moon is made of green cheese and his exasperated partner reminds him that he was told otherwise in training.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
moved from Main + editing + folders
Added DiffLines:
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Electric_Company_2554.jpg
[[caption-width:340:"We're gonna turn it on, we're gonna bring you the power!"]]
->''"[[PunctuatedForEmphasis Hey you GUUUUUUYYYYYYS!]]"''
''The Electric Company'' was an EdutainmentShow that ran from 1971 to 1977 on Creator/{{PBS}} (and the last two seasons reran until 1985) from Children's Television Workshop, the company that previously brought the world ''Series/SesameStreet''. Its main purpose was to teach reading to reluctant readers by using SketchComedy, but its clever writing, memorable characters (such as Easy Reader, Fargo North Decoder, J. Arthur Crank, Jennifer of the Jungle, Paul the Gorilla), appearances by Franchise/{{Spider-Man}}, animated inserts with the superhero Letterman, and psychedelic Scanimation visuals made it a cult hit with all ages.
The cast was made up of a diverse group of performers such as Rita Moreno, who was already a well-known actress in her own right. BillCosby was a cast member in Season 1, and "The Adventures of Letterman" shorts featured the voices of GeneWilder, Zero Mostel, and Joan Rivers. But most notable was a young and then-unknown MorganFreeman, who played Easy Reader ([[OldShame and has been trying to live it down ever since]]). Other cast members included Skip Hinnant (best known as the voice of ''WesternAnimation/FritzTheCat''), Judy Graubart (a member of the improvisational comedy troupe ''The Second City''), Luis Avalos, Jim Boyd, Hattie Winston, and Lee Chamberlin. In addition to the adult cast, there was a FakeBand called the Short Circus, which consisted of 11- to 17-year-olds; [[TwoFirstNames June Angela]] was the only member of the Short Circus to stay the whole series' run. Other notable members included Irene Cara, later to become a hit-making solo artist; Todd Graff, brother of ''Mr. Belvedere'' actress Ilene Graff, and Denise Nickerson, at the time known for playing Violet Beauregarde in ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory''.
----
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Electric_Company_09_2799.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"Feel the power, yo, and plug it in!"]]
In the 2009 ReTool, four [[KidHero teenagers]] use the power of the "Word Ball" to thwart the Pranksters, a group of small mayhem-loving teenagers. See the "Characters" link at the top of this page for tropes relating to each character.
----
!!Examples from these TV shows:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:1970 series]]
* TheBadGuyWins: Surprisingly for a children's show, sometimes Spider-Man would fail to defeat the [[VillainOfTheWeek Villain Of The Day]].
* BobAndRay: They provided the voices for a couple of animated shorts featured on the show.
* BreadEggsBreadedEggs: Here, it's an educational tool. Two silhouetted faces going "Ch." "Ew." "Chew." "Bl." "Ew." "Blew." And so on.
* ChainOfCorrections
* ChuckJones: He created special educational [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Road Runner & Coyote]] shorts for the show.
* CrossOver: Big Bird, Grover and Oscar the Grouch from ''Series/SesameStreet'' all paid visits in separate episodes.
** The "Spidey Super Stories" comic.
** A primetime Creator/{{ABC}} special in 1974, ''Out to Lunch'', featured the ''Electric Company'' cast and the ''Sesame'' Muppets.
* CutASliceTakeTheRest: A staple. When it was used in a live segment, the character doing so remarked that he'd "learned this from the Spellbinder [Letterman's animated foe]."
* EducationalSong
* EndOfSeriesAwareness: The last episode aired, #130B, ends with the entire cast (except Rita Moreno, who had left the show by that point), singing a song that ends, "''The show is done. We hate to run. We're sorry, but that's all.''"
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Paul the Gorilla.
* GeniusDitz: Fargo North may qualify.
* JunglePrincess: Jennifer of the Jungle.
* MorganFreeman: That's right, he was on this show. Don't be embarassed, Morgan!
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Fargo North appears to have been based on PeterSellers' Inspector Clouseau, although the voice is more of a rip-off of [[Series/GetSmart Maxwell Smart]]. (Skip Hinnant admitted this was on purpose in the PBS pledge drive special ''The Electric Company's Greatest Hits and Bits''.)
** The recurring character of Dr. Dolots was an amalgam of [[TheMarxBrothers Groucho and Harpo Marx]].
* OldShame: For Morgan Freeman, who may still be best-remembered among the [=GenX=] set for this show, and who refuses to talk about it.
** Contrast Bill Cosby and Rita Moreno, both of whom remember the show fondly, though they both had more benevolent reasons for participating than "IWasYoungAndNeededTheMoney"; Cosby chose to use his time on the show as credit toward his doctorate in education, and Moreno had a young daughter who was part of the first generation of ''Series/SesameStreet'' viewers, and was so impressed that she agreed to join ''The Electric Company''.
* OnTheNext: Usually follows a format in which a clip from the next episode plays, and a cast member announces, "Tune in next time, when [character] says [a word or phrase appears onscreen, accompanied by one SoundEffectBleep for each syllable]."
** Episodes from the last four seasons recycle these as {{Precap}}s, with "Tune in next time" replaced with, "Today on ''The Electric Company''..."
** The first season didn't use these; instead, the final scene would be "And now, the last word", and would show a word next to a bare light bulb, which would then be turned off by a hand pulling its pull-chain. Usually, the word would be repeated out loud in the dark.
* ParentalBonus
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: HEY... YOU... GUUUUUUUUUUUUUYS!
* PunnyName: Fargo North, Decoder (Fargo, North Dakota); J. Arthur Crank (British film producer J. Arthur Rank); Dr. Dolots (''Literature/DoctorDolittle''); Julia Grownup (Julia Child, "The French Chef"); Morgan Freeman's Easy Reader (''Film/EasyRider'')
* ShoutOut: Whenever Letterman would come in to save the day, Joan Rivers would make a speech reminiscent of one used for ''{{Superman}}''.
-->Faster than a rolling O! Stronger than silent E! Able to leap Capital T in a single bound! It's a word, it's a plan, it's Letterman!
** Every "Love of Chair" sketch would end with the narrator and a cast member asking random questions, the second-to-last of which was always, "What about Naomi?" referring to producer Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal, mother of [[JakeGyllenhaal Jake]] and [[MaggieGyllenhaal Maggie]].
* SoapOpera: "Love of Chair," a {{parody}} of the Creator/{{CBS}} soap opera ''Love of Life'' that even used the same continuity announcer (Ken Roberts).
* TheSpeechless: Spider-Man, in the "Spidey Super Stories" live-action skits, speaks only with word balloons.
* Music/TomLehrer: He wrote a few songs for the show, all quite a change from his previous satirical work. Not surprising, however, as he was close friends with Joe Raposo, who served as the program's music director for the first three seasons.
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece
* VegetarianVampire: Morgan Freeman's Vincent the Vegetable Vampire, of course (though WordOfGod says that he was originally supposed to be {{Dracula}}).
* WithCatlikeTread: In "O-U (The Hound Song)," a hound sings very loudly about how he dare not make a sound.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:2009 series]]
* AesopAmnesia: Expect the Pranksters to forget any lesson they learn by the start of the next episode. The Electric Company is guilty of this, too--no matter how many times it's proved you can't trust a Prankster, one of them will get suckered in again.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Skeleckians.
* AmusingAlien: The Skeleckians, with all their bizarre customs.
* TheArtifact: The soft-shoe phonetics routine ("Wuh! All! WALL!"), used with much less frequency.
** HEY YOU GUYS!
* CallBack: Keith and Marcus have the same reaction to their first word balls.
* TheCameo: Many celebrities pop up for a segment, including JimmyFallon and WhoopiGoldberg.
* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Francine can throw wordballs as her power, but they're [[PaletteSwap PURPLE]].
* ComesGreatResponsibility: The whole pilot, especially [[ThePromise the pledge]].
* ContinuityReboot: Almost everything associated with the 1970s version has been thrown out the window, including the cast.
* DesignStudentsOrgasm: Just ''look'' at the [[http://www.5minutesforbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/tec-new-logo.jpg logo.]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: Danny Rebus. He takes offense at a lot of things and retaliates harshly.
* EvilGloating: Lampshaded in "Prankster Holiday." Turns out blurting out the evil plan is a really bad habit amongst the Pranksters.
* EvilIsPetty: Very, very petty.
* EvilIsHammy: The Pranksters. Special mention to Manny Spamboni.
* GrandTheftMe: Annie Scrambler stealing Lisa's body in "Scrambled Brains."
* HalloweenEpisode: [[OppositeDay "Unmuffins."]]
* ICantHearYou: "Count Vacula's a little loud!" "What?! I can't hear you. Count Vacula's a little loud!"
** Bonus point because it had a mute button the whole time.
* IncredibleShrinkingMan: The Electric Company, Francine and Lisa's friend Dax in the episode "Lost and Spaced."
** And again in the episode "The Flube Whisperer," this time with Keith and Manny.
* ItCantGetAnyWorse: Used by Hector in "Trouble Afoot."
* JumpedAtTheCall: Marcus ''can't wait'' to join the company.
* LastSecondWordSwap: Combined with GoshDangItToHeck in the season three premiere.
* LocalHangout: The Electric Diner is a rare example of one being used as home base.
* MadScientist: Manuel "Manny" Spamboni is a teenage version.
* MadeOfExplodium: "I'm special agent Jack Bowser. And this place is about to ''explode''!"
* MasterApprenticeChain: Hector → Keith → Marcus
* MeaningfulName: Annie ''Scrambler'', Danny ''Rebus'' and Gilda "Flip", [[DontExplainTheJoke who uses a flip phone]].
* MythologyGag: "The Slide and Drop" music sequence is done in 1970s-style costumes reminiscent of the original series.
* {{Ninja}}: Silent "E" is called "the ninja of the alphabet."
* OnceAnEpisode: There will be a song in the main storyline, or possibly a rap. Usually tied to the moral of the day.
* PetTheDog: Annie and Danny have occasionally done some good deeds (and are literally both dog lovers). Manny and Francine have done it only if personal gain is involved.
* PhotographicMemory: Hector's superpower, in a more literal sense. He can actually call up any image he remembers, then manipulate it.
* PokeThePoodle: The Pranksters' deeds can only be considered evil ''in context''. If Creator/PBSKids took it any further than that, they'd be impressionable.
* RemakeCameo: June Angela had one, but did not say anything.
* ScienceFair: The premise of the episode "Lost and Spaced."
* SesameWorkshop: Produced this show.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Given the show's time slot and premise, it can be hard not to think of {{Ghostwriter}} if you grew up in the 90's.
* StatusQuoIsGod: At the end of the Unmuffin story, Danny and Manny eat the unbuns to go back to being pranksters. Jessica says they don't have to, but Danny says they do (with no further explanation).
* SuperSpeedReading: Viewers at home are told to [[InvertedTrope take their time reading]], because a word or sentence might end differently than they expect.
* TheTeaser: Used to set up the conflict of the episode. One member of the company sees something going wrong and rallies the team with "HEY YOU GUYS!" This doubles as a CouchGag.
* {{Timeskip}}: Between seasons 2 and 3.
* TrueCompanions: The four main characters.
* {{Tsundere}}: Annie on occasion; a villainous version.
* ViewersAreMorons: Strangely averted, although some say this is a good thing. The 1970s version seemed to address short attention spans (no overarching stories; some segments lasted only three to five seconds), while this version uses a continuing story arc. If anything, attention spans ''decreased'' in the 32 years between that version's end and this version's beginni—[[AttentionDeficitOohShiny hey, a butterfly!]]
* VillainSong: There are many, trust me.
* WillNotTellALie: In the pilot, Hector explicitly states that the members of the Company do not lie.
** They tend to lie anyway sometimes.
[[/folder]]
----
[[caption-width:340:"We're gonna turn it on, we're gonna bring you the power!"]]
->''"[[PunctuatedForEmphasis Hey you GUUUUUUYYYYYYS!]]"''
''The Electric Company'' was an EdutainmentShow that ran from 1971 to 1977 on Creator/{{PBS}} (and the last two seasons reran until 1985) from Children's Television Workshop, the company that previously brought the world ''Series/SesameStreet''. Its main purpose was to teach reading to reluctant readers by using SketchComedy, but its clever writing, memorable characters (such as Easy Reader, Fargo North Decoder, J. Arthur Crank, Jennifer of the Jungle, Paul the Gorilla), appearances by Franchise/{{Spider-Man}}, animated inserts with the superhero Letterman, and psychedelic Scanimation visuals made it a cult hit with all ages.
The cast was made up of a diverse group of performers such as Rita Moreno, who was already a well-known actress in her own right. BillCosby was a cast member in Season 1, and "The Adventures of Letterman" shorts featured the voices of GeneWilder, Zero Mostel, and Joan Rivers. But most notable was a young and then-unknown MorganFreeman, who played Easy Reader ([[OldShame and has been trying to live it down ever since]]). Other cast members included Skip Hinnant (best known as the voice of ''WesternAnimation/FritzTheCat''), Judy Graubart (a member of the improvisational comedy troupe ''The Second City''), Luis Avalos, Jim Boyd, Hattie Winston, and Lee Chamberlin. In addition to the adult cast, there was a FakeBand called the Short Circus, which consisted of 11- to 17-year-olds; [[TwoFirstNames June Angela]] was the only member of the Short Circus to stay the whole series' run. Other notable members included Irene Cara, later to become a hit-making solo artist; Todd Graff, brother of ''Mr. Belvedere'' actress Ilene Graff, and Denise Nickerson, at the time known for playing Violet Beauregarde in ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory''.
----
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Electric_Company_09_2799.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"Feel the power, yo, and plug it in!"]]
In the 2009 ReTool, four [[KidHero teenagers]] use the power of the "Word Ball" to thwart the Pranksters, a group of small mayhem-loving teenagers. See the "Characters" link at the top of this page for tropes relating to each character.
----
!!Examples from these TV shows:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:1970 series]]
* TheBadGuyWins: Surprisingly for a children's show, sometimes Spider-Man would fail to defeat the [[VillainOfTheWeek Villain Of The Day]].
* BobAndRay: They provided the voices for a couple of animated shorts featured on the show.
* BreadEggsBreadedEggs: Here, it's an educational tool. Two silhouetted faces going "Ch." "Ew." "Chew." "Bl." "Ew." "Blew." And so on.
* ChainOfCorrections
* ChuckJones: He created special educational [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Road Runner & Coyote]] shorts for the show.
* CrossOver: Big Bird, Grover and Oscar the Grouch from ''Series/SesameStreet'' all paid visits in separate episodes.
** The "Spidey Super Stories" comic.
** A primetime Creator/{{ABC}} special in 1974, ''Out to Lunch'', featured the ''Electric Company'' cast and the ''Sesame'' Muppets.
* CutASliceTakeTheRest: A staple. When it was used in a live segment, the character doing so remarked that he'd "learned this from the Spellbinder [Letterman's animated foe]."
* EducationalSong
* EndOfSeriesAwareness: The last episode aired, #130B, ends with the entire cast (except Rita Moreno, who had left the show by that point), singing a song that ends, "''The show is done. We hate to run. We're sorry, but that's all.''"
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Paul the Gorilla.
* GeniusDitz: Fargo North may qualify.
* JunglePrincess: Jennifer of the Jungle.
* MorganFreeman: That's right, he was on this show. Don't be embarassed, Morgan!
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Fargo North appears to have been based on PeterSellers' Inspector Clouseau, although the voice is more of a rip-off of [[Series/GetSmart Maxwell Smart]]. (Skip Hinnant admitted this was on purpose in the PBS pledge drive special ''The Electric Company's Greatest Hits and Bits''.)
** The recurring character of Dr. Dolots was an amalgam of [[TheMarxBrothers Groucho and Harpo Marx]].
* OldShame: For Morgan Freeman, who may still be best-remembered among the [=GenX=] set for this show, and who refuses to talk about it.
** Contrast Bill Cosby and Rita Moreno, both of whom remember the show fondly, though they both had more benevolent reasons for participating than "IWasYoungAndNeededTheMoney"; Cosby chose to use his time on the show as credit toward his doctorate in education, and Moreno had a young daughter who was part of the first generation of ''Series/SesameStreet'' viewers, and was so impressed that she agreed to join ''The Electric Company''.
* OnTheNext: Usually follows a format in which a clip from the next episode plays, and a cast member announces, "Tune in next time, when [character] says [a word or phrase appears onscreen, accompanied by one SoundEffectBleep for each syllable]."
** Episodes from the last four seasons recycle these as {{Precap}}s, with "Tune in next time" replaced with, "Today on ''The Electric Company''..."
** The first season didn't use these; instead, the final scene would be "And now, the last word", and would show a word next to a bare light bulb, which would then be turned off by a hand pulling its pull-chain. Usually, the word would be repeated out loud in the dark.
* ParentalBonus
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: HEY... YOU... GUUUUUUUUUUUUUYS!
* PunnyName: Fargo North, Decoder (Fargo, North Dakota); J. Arthur Crank (British film producer J. Arthur Rank); Dr. Dolots (''Literature/DoctorDolittle''); Julia Grownup (Julia Child, "The French Chef"); Morgan Freeman's Easy Reader (''Film/EasyRider'')
* ShoutOut: Whenever Letterman would come in to save the day, Joan Rivers would make a speech reminiscent of one used for ''{{Superman}}''.
-->Faster than a rolling O! Stronger than silent E! Able to leap Capital T in a single bound! It's a word, it's a plan, it's Letterman!
** Every "Love of Chair" sketch would end with the narrator and a cast member asking random questions, the second-to-last of which was always, "What about Naomi?" referring to producer Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal, mother of [[JakeGyllenhaal Jake]] and [[MaggieGyllenhaal Maggie]].
* SoapOpera: "Love of Chair," a {{parody}} of the Creator/{{CBS}} soap opera ''Love of Life'' that even used the same continuity announcer (Ken Roberts).
* TheSpeechless: Spider-Man, in the "Spidey Super Stories" live-action skits, speaks only with word balloons.
* Music/TomLehrer: He wrote a few songs for the show, all quite a change from his previous satirical work. Not surprising, however, as he was close friends with Joe Raposo, who served as the program's music director for the first three seasons.
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece
* VegetarianVampire: Morgan Freeman's Vincent the Vegetable Vampire, of course (though WordOfGod says that he was originally supposed to be {{Dracula}}).
* WithCatlikeTread: In "O-U (The Hound Song)," a hound sings very loudly about how he dare not make a sound.
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:2009 series]]
* AesopAmnesia: Expect the Pranksters to forget any lesson they learn by the start of the next episode. The Electric Company is guilty of this, too--no matter how many times it's proved you can't trust a Prankster, one of them will get suckered in again.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Skeleckians.
* AmusingAlien: The Skeleckians, with all their bizarre customs.
* TheArtifact: The soft-shoe phonetics routine ("Wuh! All! WALL!"), used with much less frequency.
** HEY YOU GUYS!
* CallBack: Keith and Marcus have the same reaction to their first word balls.
* TheCameo: Many celebrities pop up for a segment, including JimmyFallon and WhoopiGoldberg.
* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Francine can throw wordballs as her power, but they're [[PaletteSwap PURPLE]].
* ComesGreatResponsibility: The whole pilot, especially [[ThePromise the pledge]].
* ContinuityReboot: Almost everything associated with the 1970s version has been thrown out the window, including the cast.
* DesignStudentsOrgasm: Just ''look'' at the [[http://www.5minutesforbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/tec-new-logo.jpg logo.]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: Danny Rebus. He takes offense at a lot of things and retaliates harshly.
* EvilGloating: Lampshaded in "Prankster Holiday." Turns out blurting out the evil plan is a really bad habit amongst the Pranksters.
* EvilIsPetty: Very, very petty.
* EvilIsHammy: The Pranksters. Special mention to Manny Spamboni.
* GrandTheftMe: Annie Scrambler stealing Lisa's body in "Scrambled Brains."
* HalloweenEpisode: [[OppositeDay "Unmuffins."]]
* ICantHearYou: "Count Vacula's a little loud!" "What?! I can't hear you. Count Vacula's a little loud!"
** Bonus point because it had a mute button the whole time.
* IncredibleShrinkingMan: The Electric Company, Francine and Lisa's friend Dax in the episode "Lost and Spaced."
** And again in the episode "The Flube Whisperer," this time with Keith and Manny.
* ItCantGetAnyWorse: Used by Hector in "Trouble Afoot."
* JumpedAtTheCall: Marcus ''can't wait'' to join the company.
* LastSecondWordSwap: Combined with GoshDangItToHeck in the season three premiere.
* LocalHangout: The Electric Diner is a rare example of one being used as home base.
* MadScientist: Manuel "Manny" Spamboni is a teenage version.
* MadeOfExplodium: "I'm special agent Jack Bowser. And this place is about to ''explode''!"
* MasterApprenticeChain: Hector → Keith → Marcus
* MeaningfulName: Annie ''Scrambler'', Danny ''Rebus'' and Gilda "Flip", [[DontExplainTheJoke who uses a flip phone]].
* MythologyGag: "The Slide and Drop" music sequence is done in 1970s-style costumes reminiscent of the original series.
* {{Ninja}}: Silent "E" is called "the ninja of the alphabet."
* OnceAnEpisode: There will be a song in the main storyline, or possibly a rap. Usually tied to the moral of the day.
* PetTheDog: Annie and Danny have occasionally done some good deeds (and are literally both dog lovers). Manny and Francine have done it only if personal gain is involved.
* PhotographicMemory: Hector's superpower, in a more literal sense. He can actually call up any image he remembers, then manipulate it.
* PokeThePoodle: The Pranksters' deeds can only be considered evil ''in context''. If Creator/PBSKids took it any further than that, they'd be impressionable.
* RemakeCameo: June Angela had one, but did not say anything.
* ScienceFair: The premise of the episode "Lost and Spaced."
* SesameWorkshop: Produced this show.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Given the show's time slot and premise, it can be hard not to think of {{Ghostwriter}} if you grew up in the 90's.
* StatusQuoIsGod: At the end of the Unmuffin story, Danny and Manny eat the unbuns to go back to being pranksters. Jessica says they don't have to, but Danny says they do (with no further explanation).
* SuperSpeedReading: Viewers at home are told to [[InvertedTrope take their time reading]], because a word or sentence might end differently than they expect.
* TheTeaser: Used to set up the conflict of the episode. One member of the company sees something going wrong and rallies the team with "HEY YOU GUYS!" This doubles as a CouchGag.
* {{Timeskip}}: Between seasons 2 and 3.
* TrueCompanions: The four main characters.
* {{Tsundere}}: Annie on occasion; a villainous version.
* ViewersAreMorons: Strangely averted, although some say this is a good thing. The 1970s version seemed to address short attention spans (no overarching stories; some segments lasted only three to five seconds), while this version uses a continuing story arc. If anything, attention spans ''decreased'' in the 32 years between that version's end and this version's beginni—[[AttentionDeficitOohShiny hey, a butterfly!]]
* VillainSong: There are many, trust me.
* WillNotTellALie: In the pilot, Hector explicitly states that the members of the Company do not lie.
** They tend to lie anyway sometimes.
[[/folder]]
----
