(The Electric Company theme music)
- [Narrator] We interrupt
our regularly scheduled
programming for a special
Electric Company Shout Out
from Prankster Planet.
Today's Honorary Electric
Company members are GARRY ,
SUPERSOFIA,
and ERICJU, the robot clown.
Congratulations!
- Thank you!
- [Narrator] And now, back to-
But wait!
We still need you!
Words on Earth are being reversed!
The stop signs are
turning into pots signs!
It's chaos!
It's madness!
- It's my reversi-balls.
No one can stop me!
- We will stop you!
- [Narrator] Can the Electric
Company stop Francine
and her reversi-balls?
Stay tuned!
And now, back to the show!
- Here are your five words.
Election.
An election is where you
choose someone by voting.
Poll.
A poll shows how people
are thinking of voting
in an election.
Campaign.
A campaign is when you
make posters and speeches
to get people to vote for you.
Negative.
If something is negative, it isn't good.
It's pretty bad.
Debate.
A debate is when people
with different opinions
talk to each other.
So we have election, poll,
campaign, negative, and debate.
Watch out for them in today's show.
- Hey, Lisa, what are you signing up for?
- Oh! It's time for the
neighborhood Book Club election.
- Oh, so the Book Club is going
to vote for a new president
and whoever gets the most votes wins?
- Yep, and I'm signing up to run.
- That's awesome, Lisa.
You've read more books than anyone I know.
You'd make a great president.
- Oh, thanks.
You know, I've already
thought of some great books
that we can read in the club.
- "Little Women".
Isn't that the book you're
always talking about
about the four sisters?
- Yeah, yeah, exactly.
(sighs)
I love this book.
Ya know, even though it was written
over a hundred years ago,
I feel like I could be
one of the sisters.
(clears throat)
- Hello, Lisa.
- Hello, Francine.
- So, I hear a little rumor
that you want to be president
of a club.
- Yeah, and she's gonna be the
best club president there is.
(laughs)
(electricity sound)
(dramatic music)
- "Vote for Lisa!"
Oh, that is so cute.
(laughs)
That you think that you can win
an election when I'm around.
I win every election.
It's kind of my thing.
I'm going to b*at you and then
I am going to be president
of the...
Um, what did I just sign up for?
(sighs)
- The Book Club.
- Whatever.
The point is that I am going to win.
(electricity sound)
(dramatic music)
- Good day.
- "Don't vote for Lisa!"
- [Boy] "She gives away
the endings of books"?
- That is so not true!
I would never do that!
Oh, no.
Do you think Francine's gonna
start spreading lies about me
so that she can win the election?
Hey, you guys!
(dramatic music)
(upbeat hip hop music)
Feel the power, feel the
power, feel the power
Yo, and plug it in!
It's Electric, Electric Company!
You connect it, Electric Company!
It's Electric, Electric Company!
You connect it, Electric Company!
The power we perfected
is electrically connected
So use it as directed and
expect to be respected
Turn it on and you will see
That you belong in a company
Feel the power, feel the
power, feel the power
Yo, and plug it in!
Feel the power, feel the
power, feel the power
Yo, and plug it in!
Electric Company
Electric Company
Electric Company
The Electric Company!
(robotic sounds)
- I mean, I can't even believe this.
She hasn't been to any of the meetings.
- I know.
- Hey, Hector.
- What's up, guys?
- Where's Jessica?
- Ah, she's in bed.
She's got the flu.
Let's just meet without her, what's up?
- Well, Francine is running
for Book Club president.
- Really?
I didn't even know that
she was in Book Club.
- Oh, she's not.
She just wants to be president
so she can boss people around
and she thinks she can
b*at me in the election.
- What's your campaign plan?
What are you gonna do to
get people to vote for you?
- Oh, well, I, uh,
I made this flier.
- "Vote for Lisa".
That's a good start, but we can do more.
We need a campaign slogan.
You know, something that
tells the voters that you
would make a good leader.
I mean, really, Lisa,
you were born to lead.
(electricity sound)
(dramatic music)
- Okay.
Well, um...
(clears throat)
When I am president of the
Book Club, things will change.
I'll invite authors for
weekly talks, and I will read
tons of books, new and old,
so that I can choose the
best books for the club
because I love to read.
(dramatic music)
(phone rings)
Oh.
Wait, um, I just got
an email from Francine.
(laughs)
(sighs)
- [Francine narrating] Francine
Carruthers knows books.
She has read every book her
teacher has ever assigned
for homework twice.
(laughs)
- Oh, I didn't see you there.
I was reading.
- [Francine narrating]
Francine knows the only problem
with books is that they
smell like boring old paper.
- (coughs) Ew!
- [Francine narrating] When
Francine becomes president,
she will personally spray every
Book Club book with perfume.
- What?
- You're welcome.
Hi, Lisa!
Is that book you're reading scented?
- No, of course not.
(dramatic music)
- [Francine narrating] Lisa
thinks reading should smell bad.
Francine thinks reading should smell good.
Do your nose a favor, vote for Francine.
- I'm Francine Carruthers
and I approve this message.
- Lisa thinks reading should smell bad?
That does not even make any sense.
- I thought this might happen.
Francine is going negative.
She's saying bad things about
Lisa so that she can win
the election.
- Voters aren't really going
to fall for her negative ads,
are they?
- Let's see.
This website keeps track
of the election polls.
- Yeah, they ask people
who they're gonna vote for.
Francine or Lisa.
- Well, according to the polls,
half the people are planning
to vote for you and half the
people are planning to vote
for Francine.
- We're tied?
- For now.
That's just because we haven't
started to campaign yet.
You know, tell the people
why they should vote for you.
- We'll fight her lies with
your true campaign message.
- Mhmm.
We'll go on the web, we'll send emails,
we'll get your message out on the street.
- Once people hear your ideas,
everyone will wanna vote
for you.
- Yeah, and we'll get the truth out there.
(upbeat hip hop music)
- [Narrator] Today's
show brought to you by:
N
and N Blends.
(agreeable grunting)
(typing sounds)
- My name is Jahresse and
we're gonna find words
that have the letter N in it.
Watch this N, N, N, N, N, N.
N, N, N, N.
Thinking.
Panic.
Green.
We're going to Central Park.
(singing) Look, I found a penny!
Penny. Penny!
(grunts) We're walking
through a narrow cr*ck.
We have a lot of green
grass and green leaves.
Mother Nature's grass.
What's this?
(crackling noises)
Skinny twig.
Tennis.
Dandelion.
No riding bikes on the pathway.
I wish I had a ice cream cone.
This is my grandma and this is my grandpa
and I just ran into them on the corner.
Street and Lenox Avenue.
Playground.
Vanilla tastes like peanut butter.
Panther.
Name.
Ooh, sweet pineapple.
What's happening right now?
I'm standing and spinning.
Bunny.
And turning and turning.
Funnel cake.
Round and round.
I'm spinning even faster and faster!
Woo hoo!
This is a fantastic swing.
- [Host] It's time for Electric Sound Off!
I'm your host, Hector Louise!
(audience cheers)
Let's spin the wheel!
What letters are we playing with today?
N blends!
Let's plug them in and see them in action!
(electricity crackling)
An N blend is when N puts
its sound together with
another consonant, like NT in giant tent,
or NK in honking trunk,
or ND in hand band.
(horns blow)
And now, I need two
volunteers to go head-to-head
with N blends!
- I'll do it!
- I'll do it!
- [Hector] Well, come on up!
(audience cheers)
Let's see some words!
Make a sentence using these words.
The person who uses the most
words with N blends wins!
But be careful, we've
included some words where N
works alone.
Ready?
- [Both] Ready!
- Work on your sentences
while we hear a word
from our sponsor!
(jingle) Francine
- Have you ever wanted to
write a secret message?
Well, you need my special
blend of invisible ink.
No one can read my ink.
Watch this!
Look at that.
Do you see any ink?
That proves it works.
Only fifteen dollars.
For fifteen dollars more, I will sell you
this invisible pen.
(jingle) Francine
- Time's up!
Let's see what sentences you made.
- My sentence is, "The grunting
king put sand by the stand."
- Look at that!
Grunting, king, sand, and stand.
Four N blend words!
You have your work cut out for you, Annie!
- No problem.
My sentence is, "The king
likes to stand in the sand."
- You've got king, stand, and sand.
That's three points!
But in is not an N blend.
The N in the word "in" is working alone.
That means Marcus wins!
(audience cheers)
- What do I win?
- Sand!
(screams)
See you next time on Electric Sound Off!
(upbeat hip hop music)
(guitar playing)
Some people try and fool you
so let me try to school you
On what you should
and shouldn't believe
You can't be sure of
what you see and hear
Sometimes things are
not as they appear
You have to be smart,
you have to be clear
'Cause looks, they can deceive
You have to look a little
harder, dig a little deeper
Get the who's, the what's,
the where's, and the why's
You have to answer all the questions,
Question all the answers
To separate the truth from the lies
The truth is often twisted
and liars are assisted
By talking just a little too loud
And here's another thing they do
They repeat a lie 'til it seems true
And at that point it's up to
you to stand up to the crowd
You have to look a little
harder, dig a little deeper
Get the who's, the what's,
the where's, and the why's
You have to answer all the questions
Question all the answers
To separate the truth from the lies
(laughing)
- I'm Lisa Heffenbacher
and I approve this message.
- Your campaign video's a hit.
You've already got tons of
comments on your campaign blog.
- I do?
Oh, that's awesome.
You know, people really
seem to like my ideas
for the Book Club.
- Yeah, no kidding,
check out the new polls.
Huh?
Whoa, there you go, you just moved ahead.
Looks like the voters are tired
of Francine's negative ads.
I guess they just want
a Book Club president
that knows good books.
(laughs)
- I'm behind in the polls?
Fiddlesticks!
Now listen, Carl.
Every good president needs
a good vice president
to help her run things.
- Vice president?
- Yes!
And I'm going to choose you!
(squeals)
You just have to do me
this one little favor.
- When I become president,
I'll do more than just spray
perfume on books.
We're going to have
parties where we dress up
as our favorite characters
from books, and, um,
I'm even gonna ask members to
choose the books that we read.
I think it's about time
that we had a Book Club
of the readers, for the
readers, and by the readers.
- Great.
- If you can't b*at them, copy them.
- I think I've emailed
every voter in the universe.
- Yeah and I shook every
hand in the neighborhood.
- Oh, guys, thank you so
much for campaigning for me.
I could never do this alone.
- I'm worried about Francine.
She's been quiet.
Too quiet.
(phone rings)
- Uh oh.
I wouldn't speak too soon.
Guess who just got an email from Francine.
- You want a book club
president who has a plan
for the future.
I am going to ask the
members of the book club
to choose the books.
I believe we should have a
book club of the readers,
for the readers, and by the readers!
- That's my line.
- Francine has a plan for the book club.
What does Lisa have?
I'm Francine Carruthers
and I approve this message.
- That's my campaign plan.
She just copied it.
- That's because the only
thing Francine knows how to do
is be negative.
And that won't work, right Hector?
- Actually, Francine just
pulled ahead in the polls.
- What?
(sad sounds)
You mean she's going to win?
By tricking people?
You know, I am starting
to feel really negative
about this election.
- Hey, come on, she's not
gonna win this election.
Why don't you challenge her
to a debate where both of you
can answer questions about
books and the people voting
in the election can decide who
will make a better president
for the Book Club?
- He's right.
The only way that you're
gonna show voters you'll be
a better president than Francine
is if you have a debate.
- Hmm.
Maybe I will.
(upbeat music)
- [Narrator] Today's show
brought to you by MB.
(beatboxing)
- Thumb.
(beatboxing)
Comb.
(beatboxing)
Climb.
(beatboxing)
Lamb.
(beatboxing)
(bah-ing)
- L.
- Imb.
- [Both] Limb.
- L.
- Amb.
- [Both] Lamb.
- Cr.
- Umb.
- [Both] Crumb.
- Cl.
- Imb.
- [Both] Climb.
- Th.
- Umb.
- [Both] Thumb.
- Thumb's up to you!
- Good job!
- Oh, you're great!
- You were really good.
- You're fantastic.
- You're the best.
- You're awesome!
- Thanks.
I know.
- Yeah, I guess you do.
(upbeat music)
- Lisa!
Did you come to drop out of the election?
- Oh, I'm not dropping
out of anything, Francine.
I'm here to challenge you to a debate.
- A debate?
- Mhmm.
- About books?
- Mhmm!
(laughs)
- No problem!
I've read every book ever
assigned to me for homework.
Twice!
- Oh, that's nice.
The thing is this debate is
going to be about all books,
not just ones you read in school.
- All books?
- Mhmm.
(clears throat)
- I think I have a cold coming on.
- Oh, Francine?
Are you afraid to debate me?
(laughs)
- No.
No! I am not afraid.
It's just that we can't
have a debate because
we need someone who knows a
lot about debates to lead it.
- I'm sorry, did somebody just say debate?
- Oh, Samantha Bee!
I love you.
- Oh, thank you.
- You're so great on The Daily Show.
She can lead the debate.
- Okay, yeah.
I meant someone who has a lot
of experience leading debates.
- Oh, I actually have a lot of experience.
I work on a fake news show.
I mean, you know.
- I meant someone in a suit!
- Oh, just give me a second.
(whirring sounds)
Oh, whew.
- Wow, you are amazing.
- I know, tell me about it, right?
- Guess you're all out
of excuses, Francine.
- Okay, fine.
(laughs)
We'll have a debate!
It's fine.
It's fine!
So what if I've only read books
assigned to me for homework?
I can still win this!
I just-
I just have to find Lisa's weakness.
- I'm really worried about this debate.
- Why are you worried?
Lisa will be fine.
Unless...
- Unless what?
- Unless they ask her
about "Little Women".
- I've never read "Little Women".
What's it about?
- I'll tell you all about it.
(techno music)
- Shh!
Okay.
When Samantha Bee asks for
questions from the audience,
I want you to ask about
the book "Little Women".
- "Little Women".
Why?
- Trust me, Mr. Vice President.
- Hello, and welcome to
the Neighborhood Book Club
Presidential Debate.
I'm Samantha Bee.
We're going to start the
debate by taking some questions
from our audience.
Oh, you in the front.
- How do you feel about
the book "Little Women"?
- Oh, "Little Women", one of my favorites.
Let's turn the question over to Francine.
- Thanks, Samantha.
"Little Women" is my
absolute favorite book.
I've read it over a hundred times.
I guess what I love most
about "Little Women" is that
it's called "Little Women" but
it's actually about ninjas.
- I'm sorry, what did you just say?
- "Little Women" is the story
of a plucky group of tiny,
heroic lady ninjas who band
together to defend Mt. Rushmore.
They may be tiny, Samantha,
but I think they're lady ninjas
we can all look up to.
- Excuse me!
There are no tiny lady
ninjas in "Little Women".
(laughs)
- Nice try, Lisa.
Samantha, you may just wanna
go ahead and declare me
the winner of this debate.
- Actually, she's right.
There are no tiny lady
ninjas in "Little Women", so.
- Um, of course there are.
Who else do you think fights
off the attacking army
of miniature zombie cats?
(cats meowing)
- Okay, "Little Women"
also has no zombie cats.
- No zombie cats either?
- No, I'm afraid not.
Lisa, would you like
to take this question?
- Samantha, I would.
- Oh, good, good, good.
- You know, I think what I
love most about "Little Women"
is that even though it was
written over a hundred years ago,
I feel like the March
sisters are just like me.
(laughs)
- Are the election results in yet?
- Oh, I can't watch!
- What are you worried about?
You won that debate and
now you're going to win
this election.
- Shh!
She's about to announce the winner.
- Thank you for that report
on the global economy.
Now, turning our attention
to more pressing news,
the neighborhood book club election.
Well, it was a tightly contested race,
but now that the votes are
in, we're prepared to declare
Lisa Heffenbacher the winner
over Francine Carruthers.
Congratulations, Lisa.
(cheering)
- You did it, Madame President.
You ran an excellent campaign.
- Ah, thanks, though
I never could have won
without you guys campaigning for me!
- To Lisa, who's gonna run a book club
that's of the readers, for the
readers, and by the readers.
(laughs)
- I'm Lisa Heffenbacher
and I approve that message.
- You know what club I'm president of?
The "my reversi-balls are the
most awesome thing ever" club.
On Prankster Planet, no one can stop me.
Will you even dare to
try, Electric Company?
(evil laugh)
Boom!
Prankster Planet!
Ka-Pow!
Prankster Planet!
Her reversi-balls reversing
all the words on Earth
So it's Jessica and
Marcus to the rescue
Francine has eight machines
You must stop them all
To save the world
from the reversi-balls
Prankster Planet!
Ka-Pow!
Prankster Planet!
- [Narrator] Meanwhile,
in Francine's studio...
- Hello, loyal fans!
- [All] Francine, Francine!
- Oh, stop.
Stop.
Let's take a look at three examples
of my reversi-balls on Earth.
Reversi-ball one.
- A poll shows how people
are thinking of voting
in an election.
(dramatic music)
- Reversi-ball two!
(song playing)
(dramatic music)
- Reversi-ball three.
- We can't have a debate-
(dramatic music)
- Brilliant!
(cheering)
Let's check on the progress
of our little heroes,
Jessica and Marcus, as they
try to stop my reversi-balls.
(laughs)
As if!
- Marcus, don't get too close.
- Why not?
(screaming)
- That's why.
(dramatic music)
- Well, it's not looking good
for the Electric Company.
So, why don't I make it worse?
- [Narrator] Hey! It's survey time!
- The survey question is:
"What should I use to stop
the Electric Company?"
- [Narrator] Time to vote!
- You can vote for an army of
aardvarks, a pond of pudding,
or my super duper secret
stunning surprise!
I'm going to show the
results of the survey
using a circle graph!
Circle graphs are swell!
It's time to-
- [All] Vote, vote, vote!
- [Narrator] Now, the part
where we have the results
of the survey.
- What did you vote for?
This section of the circle
graph shows that ten of you
voted for an army of aardvarks.
This section shows that ten
voted for a pond of pudding.
And this section shows
that twenty voted for
my super duper secret stunning surprise!
My super duper secret stunning surprise
is the biggest section! It wins!
- [Narrator] The results
of the survey shall be that
the super duper secret
stunning surprise is for
Jessica and Marcus' time.
- Guess who.
(laughs)
(dramatic music)
- Marcus, please tell me
that was your stomach.
- No?
(thunder sounds)
(screaming)
Boy, Francine really likes herself.
- Ah!
We have to get down from here!
We have to stop the reversi-ball machine!
(clears throat)
- But first, let me
remove that ferment vine
from you, ma'am.
- Thanks.
- Yee-haw!
I need to wrangle me a
reversi-ball machine!
- Good work, cowboy!
- [Francine] Now, it's personal.
- Onto the lever!
- Time for my Prankster
Planet prankster rules
emergency button!
(alarm blaring)
Good lucking stopping
the reversi-balls now!
(laughs)
- Hey you guys!
- [Narrator] Go to pbskidgo.org
and stop the reversi-balls.
The Electric Company and the
people of Earth need you!
Electric Company!
(chicken clucks)
- [Narrator] We interrupt
our regularly scheduled
programming for a special
Electric Company Shout Out
from Prankster Planet.
Today's Honorary Electric
Company Members are:
SKYLAS , ALYSSA, and BIGRYAN .
Congratulations!
- Thank you.
- You can be an honorary member
of the Electric Company, too!
Go online and stop
Francine's reversi-balls!
- Trust me.
It's device- (laughs)
- But it's actually about zombies.
- [Man] Ninjas, actually.
- Ninjas! Sorry.
(laughing)
- Wanna know a little secret?
If you miss one of the
Electric Company shows,
you can go online to
pbskidsgo.org and watch
the entire episode right online!
So, if you wanna catch up
on old episodes or you just
gotta watch it again, the
Electric Company is online
all the time.
02x33 - Madame President
Watch on Amazon Merchandise
A comedy series that teaches basic phonetic and grammar concepts using live-action sketches, cartoons, songs, and Spider-Man episodes now known as Sesame Workshop.
A comedy series that teaches basic phonetic and grammar concepts using live-action sketches, cartoons, songs, and Spider-Man episodes now known as Sesame Workshop.