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List Price: $39.99 | | Label: Shout Factory Theatr
Salesrank: 16501
Released: November 14, 2006 |
| Our Price: $18.99 |
| Used Price: $17.00 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
With roots in the Motown Sound, Broadway and "The Carol Burnett Show", The Electric Company became a cultural phenomenon in the ‘70s as the wildly popular educational television show with big laughs and an even bigger message…teaching children basic reading and grammar skills, with the emphasis on fun. Now, even MORE of your favorite episodes are all here in true nostalgic glory, for the first time ever on The Best Of The Electric Company - Volume 2 4-DVD Set!
An impressive cast (such as Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno and many others) embodied characters and enlivened skits the whole world knows and loves: Easy Reader, Fargo North Decoder, Jennifer of the Jungle, J. Arthur Crank, Paul The Gorilla, The Adventures of Letterman, Love of Chair, The Short Circus, Spider-Man, and much more!
Description of The Best Of The Electric Company - Volume 2:
Each episode was an explosion of creativity. From 1971-1977, The Electric Company made learning to read not just fun, but downright hip. Designed more as a complement than an alternative to Sesame Street, that means skits, animated segments, musical interludes, and funky fashions--always a plus. (Dig those fringed jackets and snakeskin stretch pants.) The cast includes Emmy winner Bill Cosby, Oscar winner Rita Moreno, Fame star Irene Cara (a member of the Short Circus), and a skinny beanpole named Morgan Freeman, who would pick up his own Academy Award a few decades later. In this 20-episode set, cast members Judy Graubart, Luis Avalos, Skip Hinnant, Jim Boyd, and Hattie Winston provide introductions. In addition, pop-ups dispense fun facts, like the show's original title: The Reading Program. As in the first four-disc collection, episodes appear out of sequence, but work fine as stand-alones--although it would be nice to have all of them available at some point. Musical highlights include Freeman's hobo lament "Shoo Shoo Sunshine" (episode 12), Short Circus funk jam "Knock Knock Rock" (35A), and let's not forget that "empowering" theme: "We're gonna turn it on / we're gonna bring you the power!"
Watch carefully or you'll miss quick-as-a wink cameos from the likes of I Dream of Jeannie’s Barbara Eden (150), Bonanza’s Lorne Green (223), and All in the Family’s Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton (166). Other notables to contribute their talents include Tom Lehrer, author of the "Silent E" song, Mel Brooks, voice behind "Blond-Haired Cartoon Man," and Producers pals Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel, voices behind The Adventures of Letterman (with Joan Rivers as narrator and Mostel as the evil Spell Binder). The Electric Company set its sights on children aged 7-10, but there's plenty of fast-paced fun here for younger kids and adults, too. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
The Best Of The Electric Company - Volume 2 Reviews:
The Best of the Electric Company Vol 2 
2009-05-31 - I got these in the mail in almost record time. They are in excellent condition--brand new. I'm enjoying reliving my youth through fun, clean TV. Thank you so much. I highly recommend Cargo Largo.
Excellent, but Vol. 1 is Better! 
2009-04-02 - I bought both Volume 1 & 2 for my three preschool-age sons (ages 4 & 5 ). While both are EXCELLENT in every respect, I think the Volume 1 compilation is slightly better than Volume 2. Volume 1 has a bit better variety. Volume 2 spends too much time with some of the more boring skits. That being said, my boys love both sets and are taking leaps and bounds in their reading ability. This series is amazing in its ability to educate and entertain ALL age ranges. As a parent, I genuinely enjoy watching it too.
PS...I wish the new Electric Company series would take lot more cues from the original series. It pales in comparison to the original.
So great to see these again!
2008-06-09 - These episodes of The Electric Company not only conjure up wonderfully nostalgic feelings in me, but they are wildly educational for my 5 year-old son. He loves them! What a wonderful series that was way before it's time!
Excellent
2008-04-09 - I got this for my son but we both get a kick out of watching it, brings back some old memories.
Bring on volume three!!
2007-04-22 - For those of you who have kids struggling with reading may I recommend both this and volume one of the Best of the Electric Company! This is a show that has stood up to the test of time. In volume two the cast intros show some of the members graying with age! I wish in volume three they would show "Sing Out" in addition to Billy Licks A Lolly and the L-Y song as previously mentioned! Great time down memory lane with the likes of The Electric Company. Just remember you are never too old to learn!!
