The Electric Company

:

Season 1
  • Network: PBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 19, 2009
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On
Stream On
Stream On

Critic Reviews

  1. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Valerie Kellogg
    83
    With a visual sensibility that mimics a video game, Web browser and iPhone, as well as a hearty online presence with a social-networking bent, the new Electric Company seems to deliver.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Whitney Pastorek
    83
    Though the hip 'n' urban vibe seems overly calculated--did studies show that 8-year-olds respond to beatboxing white dudes?--and the cast is aggressively up with people, you gotta love new characters.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    80
    Today’s children will certainly find it watchable and will have better language skills after spending time with it. They just aren’t likely to still be holding it in their hearts 35 years from now.
  5. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Michael Starr
    75
    All told, the graphics and the easy-to-follow, fun storylines are sure to entertain the show's easily distracted target audience.
  6. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Joan Anderman
    70
    Appealing to a super-sophisticated generation of kids is likely to be the biggest challenge for Sesame Workshop, which is producing The Electric Company for PBS.
  7. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    70
    Like everything else in the world, the show is faster, louder and busier, which would not necessarily seem to be the best environment for learning.
  8. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Monica Hesse
    70
    New technology is good. The latest educational research is good. This new crew is a superhero team we could support--even if we don't quite understand how Wordball solves crimes. None of that was ever what the original "Electric Company" was about, though.
  9. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    60
    The only problem here is that once in a while the producers and cast get so enthusiastic about their production numbers, their words become almost unintelligible.

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Best TV Season of 2009
100
#100 Most Discussed TV Season of 2009
77
#77 Most Shared TV Season of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. InfraMan
    Apr 1, 2009
    2
    This show is an abomination. The only thing going for it is the title. My kids love the original, this stuff makes us all cringe.
  2. Aria
    Sep 23, 2011
    5
    While the new Electric Company gets an A for Effort (why not an E?), the show misses the mark. The characters have the appeal of anWhile the new Electric Company gets an A for Effort (why not an E?), the show misses the mark. The characters have the appeal of an after-school program for older kids but with subject matter suitable for kindergarteners. This show is simultaneously so close and so far from that mark.… Full Review »
  3. DocBubba
    Sep 14, 2010
    10
    My sons all love this show. The use of hiphop is an inspired addition to the Electric Company tradition and underscores the importantMy sons all love this show. The use of hiphop is an inspired addition to the Electric Company tradition and underscores the important interplay between the written word and the spoken word. I also loved the original, and it was right for its time. The new version is right for our time and for our kids today.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »