Morgan Freeman on Electric Company

[TomStrong]

I was born in 1976 and barely remember The Electric Company being on TV. Today My seven year old and I were streaming it on Amazon and HOLY COW, Morgan Freeman was an actor on the show on the '76 season!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were aghast with disbelief. How did we miss this?

[The Toyroom]

Morgan Freeman was on for more than just that season...He was a regular featured cast member during the entire run...from '71 to '77. And his "Easy Reader" character is easily one of the iconic characters of the 1970s. (And his "Dracula" was no slouch either )

[The Toyroom]

There's a reason why he's done so many movie narrations and voice-overs

[Earth 2 Chris]

The Easy Reader character was also heavily featured in the Spidey Super Stories based on the show too!

I remember watching The Electric Company religiously, although by the time I really remember it, the show had to be in reruns.

I remember seeing ads for the movie "Street Smart" with Christopher Reeve, and noticing the guy from the Electric Company was in it!!! That's what kind of kickstarted Freeman's career.

Oddly enough, Reeve got THAT movie produced by agreeing to make Superman IV!!!


Chris

[madmarva]

Well, that makes Superman IV worth something in my eyes.

I remember Jon Cryer saying in an interview that they filmed a good movie, but who knew what happened with the editing.

Oh, and Easy Reader was easily the coolest dude on TV in the 70s, including Fonzie. The Fonz could not not rock an NBA-worthy fro, even in his dreams.

[rche]

Sometimes the threads on this forum make me feel kinda old.

[JediJaida]

That's because we ARE old!!!

But, don't worry. You're in good company amongst the geezer brigade.

Now, where's my geritol?

[TomStrong]

I just saw Bill Cosby!!! We're on episode 4.

[rche]

How did we miss this. - Well, you stated you weren't born yet; that might be one reason.
it's all one big history lesson.
You can find Mel Brooks and Wil E Coyote too along with the aforementioned Spiderman and his spin-off easy reading comic from Marvel.

How about news from another PBS front.

did you know Oscar the Grouch was orange and Big Bird was a pinhead.
Or how about a very young Jesse Jackson reciting I am somebody on Sesame Street. Wait a minute; you might not know who JJ is. And forget Katy Perry - Stevie Wonder rocked it out with a live band in the courtyard on Sesame Street.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Didn't he play Spidey too?

Don C.

[The Toyroom]

Nope. Danny Seagren played Spider-Man...

[TomStrong]

I didn't know that about Oscar or Big Bird. We had a ball watching The Electric Co. last night. I barely remember it being on tv when I was a kid but of course didn't know who the actors were. When we were watching it last night it was a pleasant surprise. Also, was it just me or was Morgan Freeman channeling a little bit of Don Cornelius. We followed up with and episode of Three's Company. It was a seventies explosion!!!