|
PBS - 'The Electric Company' goes Hip Hop |
|
By Hip Hop News
|
|
01/12/09 |
|
jANUARY 12 2009
Recent graduates of "Sesame Street" (and their parents) rejoice -- on Jan. 19 a revamped version of “The Electric Company" premieres on PBS Kids Go. And, you should know, there's lots of Hip Hop beat-boxing.
The original "Electric Company" premiered in 1971 -- two years after
"Sesame Street" launched and became an instant (and unexpected)
success. Joan Ganz Cooney, the visionary behind both shows, created
"The Electric Company" as a follow-up with a focus on phonics.
If "Sesame Street's" mission was to teach kids their ABCs, "The
Electric Company" would show them how to string those letters together.
There were sketch comedy segments (both Morgan Freeman and Bill Cosby
were featured on the show) interspersed with animation, songs and the
iconic silhouette of two people sounding out a word ("B." "Ack."
"Back!").
That version of the show left the air in 1977 after 780 episodes. It
continued to air in reruns throughout the early '80s and is now
available on DVD and on iTunes. Still, the people at the Sesame
Workshop believe there is a great need for an updated version of "The
Electric Company," which teaches literary skills to elementary school
students.
More than a quarter of fourth-graders in public schools read below
grade level, with those from poor communities performing especially
badly, according to the show's producers. The hope is that a revamped
"Electric Company" will be part of a multi-pronged effort to help
underachieving kids catch up with their peers in reading.
"I want to create a revolution in the playgrounds of America," said
Karen Fowler, the show's executive producer. "Kids can sing about
silent E just as easily as they can sing about people's booties."
Readers have left 2 comments.
Neat web site
Apogelill on May 20, 2009 - 07:12 am
1. Fantastic internet site.. I will definitely visit soon.
Nice post
Apogelill on May 24, 2009 - 09:26 am
2. Fantastic site:D I will visit again:D
|
