The Electric Company Gets a Much Needed Boost at PBS

Fans of "The Electric Company" will have seven reasons to get up in the morning, starting Sept. 7.

The Public Broadcasting Service has expanded its programming schedule for the series, from its traditional spot during the weekdays to now include the weekends.

The move follows the show's ascent towards the top of PBS Kid's programming block. The decision will mean the remaining 19 episodes of a 35 episode season will air across the week this fall, in addition to 16 previously aired episodes.

While the current "Electric Company" bears some similarities in tone and style to the original--witness the segments of people in silhouette sounding words--the show is more urban and diverse than the one Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno hosted, drawing influences from hip-hop artists as well as Broadway shows such as "Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk."

The decision to take a harder approach was the brain child of executive producer Karen Fowler, who sought out an edgy vibe from the beginning.

"What we learned was, the instinct to create a show that was built of hip-hop and spoken words, shooting from the streets of New York, getting that street vibe, made a lot of sense," she said in an interview. "Sketch comedy is really hard to do in a half-hour show, and kids and adults like characters they can rely on and come back to again and again."

That focus extended to the show's writers, many of whom are established playwrights and artists in their own right. Lin-Michael Miranda, who penned the Tony-award winning "In the Heights," wrote the show's pilot and produced much of the first season.

In addition, "The Electric Company" drew on a list of A-list twentysomething actors and comedians as guests stars who could appeal to a hipper, more savvy 6-9 demographic.

Among the roster of celebrities who have appeared on the show: Common, Jimmy Fallon, and Wyclef Jean, among many others.

In addition, cast member Chris Sullivan, who portrays Shock on the show, is currently on a 20 city tour reaching out to fans of the show. The tour ends in November.

After nearly 37 years off the air, PBS brought the show back on the air in 2008. Although the original targeted 7 to 10-year-olds, the new version has aimed lower, but the goal is largely the same: getting children to comprehend words.