Getting’ Down with the Old School Electric Company

Rating: TV-Y
Audience: Preschool-Elementary School
Episode Length: 30 min
Network: Unfortunately no longer on air…but available on DVD!!!!

You might have heard that earlier in the year PBS brought back the Electric Company to their line-up for educational programming. Well, so far I haven’t had the chance to catch the modernized version of the original show that aired back in 1971. Fortunately, my dad has the DVD of the original Electric Company so I’ve been watching it instead.

The Electric Company was a show created for young kids with the purpose of helping them learn to read by watching TV. It was a product of the Children’s Television Workshop, which also created Sesame Street, and used many of the same techniques. The Electric Company was a half-hour show featuring seven adults (including Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, and Judy Graubart) and a few children. Unlike Sesame Street, there were no puppets (although they would use cartoons from time to time). Each episode would usually focus on one letter. They would use multiple segments throughout the show that would find different ways to shows kids how that letter can be used or how it can sound differently when used in different words (like the letter “g” with “gym” and “gum”). They would also use entertaining ways of reinforcing these lessons. One that I really enjoyed was with Bill Cosby and Rita Moreno. Bill was a milkman training Rita on her first day of work. When they got to their first house, there was a note on the door telling them how many bottles to leave, but the “ottle” of bottle was missing leaving only the “b”, so Bill and Rita had to figure out what they had to leave. After trying out “bag” and “box,” Rita finally gave up and just left one bottle of milk.

The original Electric Company is still such a fun show to watch, but it is also still really useful. The different techniques they used could still be effective even for kids today. Obviously, talking is a big part of the show, but even the dialogue is made up of very simple sentences and phrases that are easy to understand. Also, when the characters are reading different sentences, the sentences are also written on the screen, so the audience can follow along. They take their time and sound out every part of the sentence to make sure they know what they’re reading. They also use a lot of music in the show. For example, when they were teaching how to use punctuation in sentences, they used a song to explain what punctuation is; “they are the little mark that use their influence to help a sentence make sense.” Another nice thing I found in the show was how they (maybe intentionally or unintentionally) helped the audience with their listening comprehension. At the beginning of the show, Bill Cosby, under the name Gus, went to a detective to help him figure out the missing letter in a note from his wife, Gert. They eventually figured out that the “g” was missing and that Gus needed to go get gas. Then later, at the end of the show Gus and Gert were used again in another segment about the letter “g.” It helps kids make the connection between the beginning and end of the show, and help them remember all they have learned. Finally, one my most favorite things about this show are the people on it!!!! It is so fun to turn it on and see people that you know, but wouldn’t necessarily expect to see on a children’s show. Now I know, Bill Cosby makes perfect sense, but when I found out the Morgan Freeman was on the show and was called “Easy Reader” I have to admit I kind of lost it!! Everyone on the show has so much energy and just put so much into it that you know they are having fun and believe in what they are doing. Plus, their comedic timing is fantastic. It’s really just a well made show that not only fits it’s time with the clothing and lessons it teaches, but it could also be used today (even if the fashion is a little too dated for some of the younger audience). Believe me, The Electric Company will definitely power you up!!!! J

For more info on The Electric Company visit:

http://archive.sesameworkshop.org/tec/

Movin’ and Groovin’ with Imagination Movers!!

Rating: TV-Y
Audience: Preschoolers-grade school kids
Episode Length: 30 min
Network/Schedule: Playhouse Disney: weekdays at 9:30/8:30c (Check local listings)

Over the past month of watching different children television shows that are currently available to young children and comparing them to the classic shows I remember from my childhood, I have found many differences in the way they are made and the methods they use to educate and reach out to kids. At the same time however, there are also some similarities that I have noticed. Music, for example, seems to be a standard in many shows. Last week I wrote about the Little Einsteins and how they use classical music the help young kids learn. I also mentioned earlier how one of the things I remember the most from Lambchop’s Play-Along is “The Song that Never Ends.” It doesn’t matter whether it’s a person, a puppet, or cartoon doing the singing; music seems to have the best ability of reaching out to kids and getting their attention.

Recently, I’ve been watching the Imagination Movers on Playhouse Disney. The show is nothing too extravagant with giant puppets or actors dressed up like giant dinosaurs. It’s pretty much four men who work together in a factory and how they use new ideas to solve problems that arise. The Movers include Rich, Scott, Dave, and Smitty. They are also often joined by their neighbor Nina and her Uncle Knick Knock (who is extremely boring--seriously, he hates anything and everthing exciting!!) For the Imagination Movers, music is a big component of their show. They use the music they play and sing on the show to reinforce the ideas they’re using to solve their problems. For example, this morning on the show, when the guys came into the factory it was super windy. They found out that the wind was coming from their wind room (cause everyone needs a wind room) after the door was accidentally left open. To stop the extremely strong wind, the Movers along with Neighbor Nina had to find a way to close the door. After trying multiple ideas that failed to solve the problem (like lassoing the door knob and sling shooting Scott to the door) they found that if they worked together they could get the door closed. As they did this, they sang a song about working together. Of course, they also sing many other songs throughout the show including the beginning and ending theme songs.

One of the things I like the most about the Imagination Movers is that the music they play is a little more modern or contemporary than some of the other shows on Playhouse Disney. Some shows sick more to the nursery rhyme format for music, but with the Imagination Movers, it’s a little more rock and roll. Yes, the songs deal with simple ideas like working together and having fun, but the guys really seem like they’re having fun playing the music. They put so much energy into their songs that I think it would be hard for any kid to sit still while watching. They just kind of make you want to get up and move. On top entertaining the audience with the music, they also teach a lot of different lessons like working together, being understanding when someone makes a mistake, and being open to new and imaginative ideas. It’s a very fun and energetic show that exemplifies the importance of incorporating different forms of music into children’s television and the impact it can have.


If you would like to find out more about the Imagination Movers, you can visit their website at:

http://www.imaginationmovers.com/website/

or

http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/imaginationmovers/index.html


Above picture from: www.songspeak.com

Listening and Learning with Little Einsteins

Rating: TV-Y
Audience: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 30 mins
Schedule/Network: Playhouse Disney 10:30/9:30c (check local listings)

Today, it seems like children shows have so many options in the paths they can choose from to educate their audience. Shows are finding new and interesting ways to catch children’s attention and teach them new lessons. They’re using new and fresh ideas and theories in the education world and molding them to fit the television format. A great example is Little Einsteins Playhouse Disney.

The idea behind Little Einsteins focuses on the theory that classical music can help young children develop their minds and become smarter at an earlier age. Each episode features a certain well known measure from a piece of classical music as well as a piece of art. It’s kind of similar to how Sesame Street usually focuses on one letter and one number in each show. The Little Einsteins (Leo, Annie, Quincy, and June) incorporate the music and art into the show by using them to help solve problems. For example, in one episode, the Little Einsteins were trying to get a baby tulip into springtime weather so it wouldn’t die. When they got to a point where they had to choose which path through the mountains to take, they matched the featured music (which represented spring and just happened to be Antonio Vivaldi’s “Spring Allegro” from the Four Seasons) with the right path to springtime. Throughout the show the music is repeated so that the audience is able to recognize it when they need to.

The first time I heard about Little Einsteins, it sounded like it might be too sophisticated for young children. Even when I watch it now, I still think some of the things they try to teach, like what “fortissimo” means, might be a little much for small children to handle. (I can barely say the word half the time) However, sometimes kids just need to be pushed a little farther to really learn something new, and I have to respect Little Einsteins for doing that. The show really does enforce many different areas of learning and yet still keep it easy to follow. Not only do they help kids learn how to pick up beats and build an appreciation for all types of music, but it also teaches them teamwork, and how to understand and recognize what they are listening to. Another nice aspect to the show is that the Little Einsteins try to interact with the audience by asking them questions about which song is the right one, or to help them get their rocket started by clapping their hands on their laps. The show gets the audience to engage their minds and really think about what they are seeing and hearing. The music is also nice because it gives a kind of soothing effect to the show similar to the music used in Mister Rogers. I have to say that Little Einsteins is a very cute and valuable show that really does a great job of reaching out to children in fresh new ways.

If you would like to learn more about Little Einsteins you can visit:

http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/littleeinsteins/index.html

or

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0756522/

above picture from: disneymusic.disney.go.com

Catching Up with Old Friends: My Friends Tigger and Pooh!!

Rating: TV-Y
Audience: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 30 mins (consists of two stories)
Network/Schedule: Playhouse Disney 8:30/7:30c (check local listings)

Growing up one of my absolute favorite cartoon characters was Winnie the Pooh. I can still remember waking up on Saturday mornings as a little girl and going down to the kitchen to eat breakfast and watch The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. He was just the sweetest, funniest character with the oddest obsession for honey (I always loved seeing him with his entire head in the pot).

Over spring break I also made it my goal to get up early each day to catch up on all of my favorite kid shows. However, instead of watching the Winnie the Pooh I grew up with, I found My Friends Tigger and Pooh.

My Friends Tigger and Pooh airs on Playhouse Disney and follows the adventures of Pooh, Tigger and the other inhabitants of The Hundred Acre Wood. New to the community is the red-headed little girl Darby, who takes the place of Christopher Robin. Together Darby, Tigger, and Pooh make up the “Super Sleuths” (basically detectives) who help solve problems and mysteries that may arise in The Hundred Acre Wood. The mysteries can range from anything like helping kangaroo Rue and his Huffalump friend figure out how to paint a bird house purple when they only have primary colors, to helping Piglet gather up his courage and voice to sing for his friends. It really covers a wide variety of issues.

Although My Friends Tigger and Pooh could never take the place of the original Winnie the Pooh in my heart, I do have to admit that it is cute show. It’s able to take beloved characters and update them while still keeping those characteristics that make them so special. Along with the few new characters, the show has a fresher look to it. Instead of the traditional drawn cartoon style, the show has more of a computer generated look to it. One of the things I really love about the show is that although they may have changed the some of the aspects of the show to make it appeal to today’s younger generation, they kept most of the personality traits of the main characters that made them so special. Winnie the Pooh still loves honey, Piglet is still afraid of everything, Tigger never stops bouncing, and Rabbit is still kind of scary!! Even most of the voices sound exactly the same as they did around 16 years ago. There’s something very comforting about that. The show is also special because not only does it help kids learn to solve problems, but it also shows them how to do it using teamwork. It also points out that sometimes you can’t always help someone solve their problem physically; there are times when that someone will have to look inside themselves for the solution, like how Piglet had to have confidence in himself and over come his stage fright to get his voice back. It’s nice to see something that was so special years ago transform and renew itself and still keep that magic that was so beloved long ago.

To find out more about My Friends Tigger and Pooh you can visit:

http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/myfriendstiggerandpooh/index.html

or

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805905/

above picture from: video.tvguide.com