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GenX Gon Give It To Ya is ultimately about spreading love and bridging generations. I’m broadening connections while scoopin up some old friends along the way. We’ll reminisce on tv, movies, music, entertainment and events that helped form our culture cause the bond is deep!
Come Play!
The Electric Company and Schoolhouse Rock
(0:05 - 0:14)
Welcome to another episode of Danex Don't Give It To Ya. It is a very special episode for me
because this is my 10th episode y'all. I want to thank everyone for their support.
(0:15 - 0:24)
If you are new, welcome to the block party. It's important for me to continue growing this
community. We are living in challenging times and I want y'all to consider this a safe space.
(0:24 - 0:33)
Come get this love. And don't forget to share with your friends. On today's episode, we'll talk
about another two children's educational shows that are close to many of our hearts.
(0:33 - 0:47)
I know I was already at the TV waiting to hear Rita Moreno beckon us to pop in front of our TV
sets for the next half hour and honestly, for me, it wasn't long enough. That's how much I love
The Lecture Company. And Schoolhouse Rock was just in a class of itself.
(0:48 - 1:06)
It helped so many of us learn grammar, math, science, and politics through infectious songs that
we can still bop to today. So let's get into it. The Lecture Company is another one of the most
influential educational TV shows in American history, especially when it comes to blending
literacy with entertainment, music, and urban culture.
(1:07 - 1:23)
The Lecture Company premiered in 1971 on PBS. It was created by the Children's Television
Workshop, now Sesame Workshop. It ran for six seasons from October 25, 1971 to April 15,
1977, consisting of 780 episodes.
(1:23 - 1:33)
It was created by Joan Ganz Cooney, Lloyd Morissette, and Paul Dooley. Joan and Lloyd also
created Sesame Street. What a talented visionary team.
(1:33 - 1:53)
Unlike Sesame Street, which focused on preschoolers, The Lecture Company targeted kids who
were learning to read, and it treated them like a slightly older, sharper audience. The cast would
include Rita Moreno, who was one of the defining forces behind The Lecture Company. Not just a
cast member, but a performer who helped shape the show's tone, energy, and cultural reach.
(1:54 - 2:14)
Her contribution went far beyond acting. She made literacy feel vibrant, theatrical, and
emotionally engaging. That's her at the beginning of the show that goes, Hey you guys! By the
time Moreno joined The Lecture Company, she was already an Academy Award winner for West
Side Story, which happens to be on my top favourite movie list.
(2:14 - 2:34)
I watched it every year when it came on during the holidays, so I've always loved me some Rita
Moreno. She brought credibility and prestige to children's television, helped legitimise educational
programming as serious entertainment, and she drew in parents as well as kids. At a time when
many major actors avoided children's TV, Moreno leaned into it and raised the bar.
(2:34 - 2:52)
Rita Moreno's versatility was one of her biggest contributions. She didn't just play one role, she
transformed constantly. Characters included Jungle Adventures, Jennifer of the Jungle, tough
street smart characters, elegant theatrical personalities, broad comedic roles with exaggerated
accents, and physical humour.
(2:53 - 3:10)
This constant reinvention kept the show unpredictable and exciting. Rita's comedic timing was
sharp, expressive, and often physical, which helped make learning segments feel like sketches
from a variety show, not a classroom lesson. Her background in singing and dance gave the
show a major advantage.
(3:10 - 3:23)
She performed in phonic songs, spelling numbers, and rhythm-based sketches. She helped turn
repetition, which is key to reading, into something catchy and memorable. Moreno brought
Broadway-level performance quality to children's education.
(3:24 - 3:33)
Kids weren't just watching, they were singing. We were singing and absorbing literacy skills
without realising it. Many educational shows focused on letters and sounds.
(3:33 - 3:46)
Rita added emotion. She gave word personality, acted out meaning with facial expressions and
tone, while turning vocabulary into storytelling. This helped children connect reading with feeling
and imagination, not just memorisation.
(3:47 - 3:58)
As a Puerto Rican actress, Moreno's presence on national TV in the early 70s was powerful. She
is one of the first Latina leads in children's television. She presented bilingual and multicultural
energy.
(3:59 - 4:13)
She showed kids of colour that they belonged in educational spaces. This aligned with the
diverse mission of Children's Television Workshop, but Rita made it visible and charismatic. Her
interaction with co-stars Morgan Freeman and Bill Cosby helped define the show's rhythm.
(4:13 - 4:27)
She could catch Freeman's cool confidence, play off Cosby's comedic style, plus anchor group
sketches with strong presence. She was often the emotional centre or comedic spark of
ensemble scenes. Rita helped solve a core challenge.
(4:27 - 4:45)
How do you teach reading without losing kids' attention? Her answer? Go big, be funny, musical
and expressive. She turned instructional content into performance art. Moreno would later say
The Electric Company was one of the most meaningful projects of her career because it directly
helped children learn to read.
(4:45 - 4:58)
It reached underserved communities and it combined art with purpose. Many viewers from the
70s still credit her segments with helping them develop confidence in reading. Rita Moreno didn't
just appear on The Electric Company, she defined its spirit.
(4:59 - 5:10)
Next we have Morgan Freeman. He was one of the most instinctive and influential performers on
The Electric Company. His contribution combined charisma, clarity, and cultural cool.
(5:10 - 5:24)
Helping transform reading from a basic skill into something that felt confident, expressive, and
empowering. Freeman's most iconic role was easy writer. He was a smooth, confident, street
smart character who was always in control and very articulate.
(5:25 - 5:35)
He solved problems using reading and intelligence. This was groundbreaking. A black character
whose power came from literacy at a time when media rarely portrayed reading as cool.
(5:35 - 5:53)
Easy Writer made it stylish, confident, and aspirational. Morgan didn't just play one role. He
created multiple memorable characters including Mel Mounds' loud, over-the-top parody of TV
hosts and Vincent the Vestibule Vampire in comedic sketches, plus various authority figures and
comedic personalities.
(5:54 - 6:07)
This range showed kids that language changes depending on the situation and the tone and
delivery and personality affect meaning. Even early in his career, Freeman had a remarkably
strong voice. He spoke with precision and rhythm.
(6:08 - 6:23)
He emphasised key words naturally and he made dialogue easy to follow without oversimplifying.
His delivery modelled confident reading, allowed clear communication, and natural pacing.
Freeman's approach differed from more overtly educational styles.
(6:23 - 6:34)
He didn't teach in the traditional sense. He demonstrated mastery of language. He let kids
observe how reading works in action and he also used dialogue and problem solving instead of
direct explanation.
(6:34 - 6:46)
This encouraged, I want to be like that rather than I have to learn this. Freeman's presence was
deeply important in the early 70s. Morgan reflected a confident, intelligent black lead character.
(6:46 - 7:01)
Not a comedic relief, a cultural figure of authority and capability. Morgan was part of the inclusive
vision of the Children's Television Workshop. For many children, especially black viewers, this
was affirming, empowering, and rare on television at the time.
(7:01 - 7:15)
He had a unique balance of cool and serious, easily switching back and forth. This duality
showed language can be formal and playful, plus you can be intelligent without being rigid. The
Electric Company was one of Freeman's first major TV roles.
(7:15 - 7:44)
You can already see the traits that defined his later career with roles in authority, emotional
control, as well as strong narrative presence. These qualities later made him iconic in films like
Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption, Outbreak, Lean on Me, Glory, and can't forget
Seven. Freeman helped shift the perception of literacy before reading equalled schoolwork, after
reading equalled power, reading equals independence, and reading equals confidence.
(7:45 - 7:53)
That shift is one of the show's biggest cultural contributions. Morgan Freeman didn't just help kids
learn to read. He helped them want to read.
(7:53 - 8:14)
Next, Bill Cosby, who played a significant, though stylistically very different role in shaping The
Electric Company. His contributions centred on language, play, relatability, and comedic rhythm,
helping make reading feel natural, conversational, and even cool to kids who might otherwise
struggle with it. This style also made his stand-up comedy so popular.
(8:15 - 8:35)
Instead of teaching, he often sounded like someone just talking, which helped kids absorb
language organically. He excelled at playing with words, which fit perfectly with the show's
literacy goals. He frequently emphasised sounds, syllables, and repetition, used rhythm and
pacing to highlight how words work, and he turned simple phrases into memorable patterns.
(8:35 - 8:53)
This helped reinforce phonics and comprehension without making it feel like a lesson. His
comedy style leaned into exaggeration, timing, and surprise. He often built sketches where
misunderstandings of words created humour, repetition led to punchlines, and kids had to get the
joke by understanding the language.
(8:53 - 9:13)
Cosby brought a calm, grounded presence with a tone similar to a teacher, parent, or older friend,
a sense of real-world connection. This balance kept the show from becoming chaotic or abstract.
His interactions with cast members helped create a range of tones like playful banter, comedic
contrast, and structured versus spontaneous energy.
(9:13 - 9:40)
In the early 70s, Cosby was already a major television figure from I Spy and stand-up. His
presence helped attract a wider audience, reinforced the idea that black performers could lead
educational television, and contributed to the show's broader mission of diversity along the work
of Children's Television Workshop. It should be noted that Cosby's legacy has been significantly
tarnished and held in question due to criminal convictions and allegations in later years.
(9:41 - 10:07)
Then there's Leigh Chamberlain, who brought the distinctly grounded, intelligent, and expressive
presence to the Electric Company. While she wasn't always as flashy or musical as some of her
co-stars, her contribution was essential in making the show feel real, relatable, and emotionally
authentic, especially for children learning how language works in everyday life. In a show full of
exaggerated sketches and fast-paced comedy, she helped ground scenes in real-life interactions.
(10:07 - 10:34)
Where some segments focused on phonics or spelling, Chamberlain's performances often
emphasised understanding context, interpreting tone and intent, and following conversations
logically. She helped answer the question, what do these words actually mean when people use
them? Her delivery encouraged kids to listen closely, think critically, and connect words to ideas
and emotions. Chamberlain had a measured, articulate speaking style, which made her
especially effective in a literacy-focused show.
(10:34 - 10:57)
She spoke clearly without sounding robotic, she used natural pacing to highlight key words, and
she modelled how to communicate confidently and precisely. As a black actress on a nationally
broadcast educational show in the early 70s, Chamberlain contributed to something larger. It
normalised diverse professional black voices on television, while also portraying intelligence,
authority, and warmth.
(10:57 - 11:16)
She excelled in playing the straight character in comedic setups, delivering dry or knowing
reactions, then letting humour emerge from understanding the situation. This type of performance
helped kids grasp nuance in language, not just obvious jokes. Many of Lee Chamberlain's most
effective moments came in dialogue-driven scenes.
(11:16 - 11:40)
She helped to ensure that The Electric Company didn't just teach kids how to read words, but
how to understand and use language in the real world. Next up, Hattie Winston was another vital
part of the ensemble that made The Electric Company feel warm, human, and accessible. Her
contributions centred on emotional connection, relatability, and expressive communication,
helping children not just decode words, but feel comfortable using them.
(11:40 - 11:53)
Winston had a naturally inviting, friendly presence on screen. For kids who might feel intimidated
by reading, she created a sense of, it's okay, you can do this. That emotional safety is crucial in
learning environments, especially for early readers.
(11:53 - 12:10)
Winston excelled in natural conversational dialogue. Her scenes often showed how people
actually talk in daily life, how tone and expression affect meaning, and how words function in real
interactions. This helped children understand that reading isn't just about books, it's about
communication with people.
(12:11 - 12:28)
One of Winston's biggest strengths was her facial expressions and voice nuance. She
emphasised key words with subtle tone shifts, used reactions to reinforce meaning, and she
made abstract concepts feel emotionally clear. Kids could see and hear what words meant, not
just read them.
(12:28 - 12:47)
Winston's humour tended to be light, situational, and character-driven. She often played off
misunderstandings in a natural way, reacted to absurd situations with grounded realism, and she
helped kids get the joke through context. This supported comprehension skills, especially
understanding nuance and intent.
(12:47 - 13:09)
As a black woman on a nationally broadcast children's show, Winston contributed to meaningful
representation. What set her apart was how she represented not as a stereotype or a caricature,
but as a fully human, everyday presence and someone kids could recognise from their own lives.
Patty helped strengthen listening skills, contact clues, and emotional intelligence in language.
(13:09 - 13:25)
She made the show feel like a community, not just a collection of segments. She helped ensure
that children didn't just learn how to read, but felt comfortable engaging with language in their
own lives. Up next, Judy Graubart brought a bright, elastic, and highly comedic energy to the
Electric Company.
(13:25 - 13:50)
Her contributions stood out in how she used physical comedy, vocal exaggeration, and character
transformation to make the mechanics of language, like sound, syllables, and word structure feel
fun and memorable. This theatrical style made abstract language concepts feel concrete and
entertaining. Where some cast members grounded the show, Graubart amplified it, turning
lessons into mini-comedy performances.
(13:51 - 14:04)
One of her biggest strengths was turning sounds into action. She would stretch out syllables
dramatically, over-enunciate key sounds, and use body language to match pronunciation. Kids
didn't just hear phonics, they saw and felt it.
(14:04 - 14:19)
She often built sketches where a word or phrase became funnier each time it was repeated.
Mince pronunciations created humour, and the punchline depended on recognising the correct
word or sound. That moment of laughter reinforced the correct reading skill.
(14:19 - 14:33)
Her voice was one of her most powerful tools. She could shift pitch and tone quickly, mimic
different speech patterns, and highlight subtle differences between similar sounds. This helped
children distinguish word endings, vowel changes, and rhythm in speech.
(14:33 - 14:50)
Repetition is essential in learning to read, but it can become dull. Judy kept kids engaged while
still getting the repetition they needed. Her exaggerated style helped break down intimidation
around reading, make mistakes feel okay even when funny, and she encouraged kids to try
sounds out loud.
(14:51 - 15:10)
She helped create an environment where learning felt playful rather than pressured. Up next,
Skip Hennett brought a sharp, satirical, and character-driven comedic style to their lecture
company. His contributions stood out for blending parody, wordplay, and sketch comedy in a way
that challenged slightly older kids to think about language, not just recognise it.
(15:10 - 15:30)
Hennett excelled at spoofing familiar genres and characters. He frequently appeared in detective
parodies, superhero-style sketches, authority figures like reporters, announcers, officials. These
sketches worked because kids had to recognise the type of character, follow the dialogue,
understand wordplay driving the humour.
(15:30 - 15:45)
This made reading feel like part of a bigger cultural joke. Skip leaned heavily into clever language
manipulation. He often delivered puns in double meanings, played with similar sounding words,
used deliberate misinterpretation for comedic effect.
(15:45 - 16:07)
His sketches pushed kids beyond phonics into vocabulary, context, multiple meanings of words.
Unlike more straightforward teaching styles, Skip's segments often required kids to pay close
attention, catch subtle jokes, understand why something was funny. This helped develop reading
comprehension, critical thinking, and awareness on how language can be flexible and playful.
(16:08 - 16:24)
Skip's comedic style was often more understated and dry compared to some cast members. He
delivered absurd lines with a straight face, let the humour come from the words themselves, and
played the serious character in ridiculous situations. This contrast made the language stand out
even more.
(16:25 - 16:41)
Skip is especially notable for voicing characters in the animated segment Letterman. In various
episodes associated with segments, villains, and narration. This segment taught spelling, letter
recognition, word construction, through superhero storytelling, repetition of key letters and
sounds.
(16:41 - 16:58)
His vocal performance helped make these segments dynamic and memorable. His contributions
had a slightly more sophisticated humour style, included satirical elements older kids could
appreciate, and he treated the audience as capable of getting the joke. This prevented the show
from feeling too childish.
(16:58 - 17:07)
Hinnant's role fit perfectly within the cast dynamic. Rita Moreno was bold, musical, and theatrical.
Bill Cosby was conversational and rhythmic.
(17:08 - 17:15)
Morgan Freeman was smooth and confident. Judy Grobart was exaggerated physical comedy.
Hattie Wilson was warm and relatable.
(17:15 - 17:25)
Lee Chamberlain was grounded and thoughtful. And then we have Skip who was witty, satirical,
intellectually playful. He added a layer of cleverness and sophistication.
(17:25 - 17:43)
This gave the show a more grown-up comedic sensibility while still being educational. He helped
kids move from, I can read this word to, I understand how this word works and I can play with it.
Other contributors to the show was teen group The Short Circus, a five-member singing band
whose songs helped reading comprehension.
(17:44 - 18:03)
Original members of Short Circus were singer and guitarist Melanie Henderson as Kathy,
Stephen Gustafson as Buddy played drums, Douglas Grant as Zach played guitar and
percussion. The incomparable Irene Cara as Iris played keyboards and we know later she'd
become a famous pop star. June Angela as Julie played tambourine.
(18:04 - 18:38)
Popular segments on the show included silent Spider-Man shorts featured Spider-Man solving
crimes using reading clues, phonic sounds and word families, visual wordplay with split screens
and combined animations. While not as guest-heavy as Sesame Street, notable appearances
included Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers, Carol Burnett, Big Bird, Barbara Eden, Peter Graves, Diane
Keaton, Michael Landon, Dean Martin, Carol O'Connor, Tony Orlando, Oscar DeGrouch and Lily
Tomlin. Guests typically appeared in comedic sketches or reading-based bits.
(18:39 - 19:06)
The Electric Company's cultural impact included making reading cool, promoted diversity and
representation, was built on the success of Sesame Street but expanded on faster pacing, more
complex humour and more music-driven learning. It influenced later shows like Schoolhouse
Rock and modern PBS literacy programming. A reboot aired in 2009 with Modern Hip-Hop
Influences which continued the mission of literacy for a new generation.
(19:06 - 19:22)
It still matters today because the Electric Company proved that education can be entertaining and
culturally relevant. Music and humour are powerful learning tools and representation matters in
children's media. It helped shape how educational TV is made even today.
(19:22 - 19:37)
I want to give a special shout out to Electric Company because it was one of my favourite, alltime
favourite children's programming growing up. Another one of my favourites is Schoolhouse
Rock. It is one of the most influential educational series in American television history.
(19:37 - 19:56)
A set of short animated musical segments that made learning catchy, memorable and fun.
Debuting in 1973 during Saturday morning programming on ABC, Schoolhouse Rock was
created by advertising executive David McCall and produced by Tom Yohe and George Newell.
The concept was simple but brilliant.
(19:56 - 20:09)
Teach kids academic subjects through short animated songs. Each segment lasted about 3
minutes and covered topics like grammar, math, science, history and civics. The show was
divided into theme collections.
(20:09 - 20:21)
Grammar Rock focused on speech and sentence structure. A famous song was Conjunction
Junction. What's that function? Multiplication Rock helped kids memorise times tables.
(20:21 - 20:38)
The famous song that we probably remember is 3, that's the magic number, yes it is, it's the
magic number. America Rock explored US history and government. The famous song that we
would remember would be I'm just a bill, yes I'm only a bill.
(20:38 - 20:55)
Then there was Science Rock which covered science concepts such as energy and astronomy.
Money Rock explained economics and financial literacy. Unlike traditional shows, Schoolhouse
Rock didn't rely on a fixed cast but it created iconic animated figures tied to specific songs.
(20:55 - 21:11)
Bill from I'm just a bill, which is a rolled up bill sitting on Capitol Hill explaining how laws are
made. Conjunction Junction crew consisted of train themed characters representing conjunction.
Interplanet Janet was a cosmic traveller teaching astronomy.
(21:11 - 21:28)
The Multiplication Kids were whimsical characters representing numbers and patterns. These
weren't recurring in storylines but they became instantly recognisable educational icons. The
show featured a rotating group of talented singers and voice actors rather than celebrity guest
stars.
(21:28 - 21:49)
Notable contributors were Jack Sheldon, the voice of I'm just a bill and Conjunction Bob Dorough
who was musical director wrote and performed many songs. Lynn Areems wrote several
memorable songs early in her career. And Grady Tate performed Naughty Number 9. Unlike
shows like Sesame Street, Schoolhouse Rock rarely used celebrity guests.
(21:49 - 21:59)
Its stars were the songs themselves. Its most iconic songs didn't just entertain, they directly
mapped what kids learned in school. Often in ways that are still used today.
(21:59 - 22:10)
I'm just a bill explains how a law is made. It teaches the legislative process. Starting at the bill it
goes to the committee and then it goes to congress and then it goes to the president.
(22:10 - 22:24)
It also teaches the role of both houses which are the house and the senate. It explains the
concept of veto power. Many teachers still show this clip before introducing the constitution, law
making processes or checks and balances.
(22:24 - 22:39)
Conjunction Junction was grammar you would never forget. It teaches coordinating conjunctions,
sentence structure, and how clauses connect. Three is the magic number teaches multiples of
three, pattern recognition, early multiplication fluency.
(22:39 - 22:49)
Music based learning like this is now widely used because rhythm improves recall. Repetition
builds automaticity. Interplanet Janet in children's astronomy.
(22:50 - 23:11)
It teaches order of planets, basic astronomy vocabulary, and space awareness. Even today
teachers use songs like this to teach planet order often updated to reflect Pluto's reclassification.
Electricity, electricity, basic physics teaches basic ideas of electrical current, energy transfer,
everyday applications.
(23:11 - 23:30)
Modern classrooms expand this into simple circuit experiments and renewable energy
discussions. The pronoun song identity in language teaches subject, object pronouns, sentence
clarity and avoiding repetition. This is still core to early writing instruction and grammar and
editing skills.
(23:31 - 23:53)
Scholar and sense financial literacy basics teaches basic money concepts, spending versus
saving, economic awareness, which is now even more relevant because financial literacy is
increasingly required in schools. Ties into budgeting lessons and real life math. The energy blues
types of energy teaches renewable versus non-renewable energy and resource awareness.
(23:54 - 24:09)
Modern classrooms expand it today to teach climate science and to have sustainability
discussions. The brilliance of schoolhouse rock is that it turned memorisation into something
joyful. Instead of worksheets and rote repetition, it gave kids songs they'd remember for life.
(24:10 - 24:27)
That's why decades later adults can still sing lyrics and still understand the concepts behind
them. The animation was simple and colourful, hand-drawn with a loose expression and style,
and often experimental and playful. Different animators brought unique visual styles, giving each
segment its own personality.
(24:27 - 24:42)
Schoolhouse rock revolutionised educational TV. Artists and TV shows that have referenced or
parodied schoolhouse rock include The Simpsons and Family Guy. There is even a tribute album,
Schoolhouse Rock Rocks, featuring artists like Pavement and Blind Melon.
(24:43 - 24:53)
The original show run was from 1973 to 1985. It was revolved in the 1990s with new episodes. It
continues to air on platforms like Disney, which owns ABC.
(24:53 - 25:09)
Schoolhouse rock succeeded because it respected kids' intelligence, made learning fun, musical,
and visual. It also delivered timeless content that still holds up decades later. It didn't just teach
facts, it shaped how educational content is created today.
(25:09 - 25:25)
Coming up on the next episode of Gen X Gon' Give It To Ya, I reconnect with someone I've
known since high school. What I remember most is he always kept us laughing. We reconnected
on Facebook, and come to find out, he has an artistic flair that includes writing, acting, and
creating songs.
(25:25 - 25:41)
When I originally told him about the show, he didn't hesitate to offer to be on. That's how much he
believed in me and this show, and I will never forget. I am very excited to have Rodney Taylor on
the mic with me as we share some laughs and talk about the good old days on the next episode
of Gen X Gon' Give It To Ya.
(25:41 - 25:47)
You and your friends won't want to miss it. Be there or be square. And if you haven't already,
please like and subscribe.
(25:47 - 25:48)
Love you!