- Here are your five words.
Concentrate.
When you concentrate on
something, you think about
just that thing and nothing else.
Straight.
If something doesn't curve
or bend, it's straight.
Direction.
Direction is the way
that something is going.
Target.
A target is the thing that you aim for.
Twice.
Twice means two times.
So we have Concentrate,
Straight, Direction,
Target, and Twice.
Watch out for them in today's show.
- Hey, guys, there's a lot going on
with The Electric Company so I thought
I'd give you a little update.
Okay, first of all, you
know how I love science?
Well, I got into a program
for young scientists
and I get to travel to
different places doing these
amazing science projects.
Can you believe it?
I'm really excited.
Of course, it does mean
I won't always be around
to help the rest of the
g*ng, but don't worry,
Hector keeps me posted on
everything that's going on.
And speaking of Hector,
he's still in college,
but now he's also running
The Electric Diner.
Keith's dad opened up a new restaurant,
so now Hector is the man.
You are not going to believe this.
Francine has an assistant.
This is Gilda Flip.
She lives in Francine's building
and really looks up to Francine.
You might want to keep an eye out for her.
There is one more person
to tell you about,
but I'll leave that one a surprise.
- [Announcer] The pitcher,
Marcus Barnes digs in.
Bottom of the eighth,
one out, two strikes.
- [Marcus Voiceover] No,
it's bottom of the ninth,
two outs, one strike.
- [Announcer] Right, sorry.
Oh, high fastball!
Man, that kid can throw.
Strike two!
- [Marcus Voiceover] This is it.
Should I throw another
fastball or a curve ball?
Maybe a curvy fastball
or a fasty curve ball?
There's no such word as fasty.
Think, Marcus, think!
(lively music)
- I was in the baseball game
and I didn't know whether
to throw a fastball or a curve ball--
- Okay, okay, hold on, Marcus.
What happened?
- This.
- Whoa-ee-ah, what is that?
- What is that?
It's a wordball.
- Uh, that's not a wordball.
- Why not?
- Okay, two reasons not exactly
a word, not exactly a ball.
But, but, but it's something.
Okay okay.
Try this, close your eyes and think of
the letters of your name.
Mwaffle?
- I was thinking about my
name, but then I got hungry,
so I started thinking about a waffle.
- Marcus!
Concentrate!
All right, just put your mind on your name
and keep it there.
- Okay.
Marcus!
I'm on a wordball!
- Okay okay okay, don't freak out,
just put it on that wall.
- Okay.
(grunts)
(screams)
(groans)
- Hey, you guys!
Oh
Oh
Feel the power
Feel the power
Feel the power, yo
And plug it in
It's electric, Electric Company
Get connected, Electric Company
It's electric, Electric Company
Get connected, Electric Company
The power we perfected
is electrically connected
So use it as directed and
expect to be respected
Just turn it on and you will see
That you belong in the company
Feel the power
Feel the power
Feel the power, yo
And plug it in
Plug it in, everybody
Electric Company
Electric Company
Electric Company
Electric Company
- Drink that whole thing!
- Hector, Keith, table, now.
- Marcus!
Hey!
- What's up, man?
Hey, hey!
- Haven't seen you in forever.
I like that haircut!
- [Marcus] What's up?
- Marcus, show them.
- All right.
- Dude!
That's awesome!
- Oh yeah, oh yeah,
I have, the power.
- He sort of has the power.
- Oh yeah, oh yeah, I
sort of have the power.
- What do you mean sort of?
- Throw it on the wall.
(gasps)
- [All] Oh!
- I got it on my face.
- So, can I be in The Electric Company?
- Um.
I think you have to practice
throwing your wordballs more.
They change direction.
They go this way and that way.
- You've got to learn how
to throw them straight.
- Okay, let me try again.
- [Both] No, no!
- You good, you good.
- Young Marcus, let me
show you how it's done.
(lively music)
- That was awesome!
- You thought that was awesome?
I'll show you.
- (chuckles) So you guys going to help me
or show off all day?
- I was thinking about showing
off for a little longer.
- [Jessica] He's right, he's right.
Marcus, can you cover your
ears for just a second?
- Okay.
La-la-la, can't hear anything!
- Look, I like this kid.
Do you think he's
Electric Company material?
- I like him too, but
his wordballs are wacky.
- La-la-la-la, I can't hear anything!
- True, but I'm sure we
can show him how it's done.
- Listen, how about this?
If he can throw a wordball
straight and he can hit
the target twice in a row, then he's in.
- That sounds awesome!
I mean, uh, la-la-la,
I can't hear anything.
- Wait until Francine hears about this.
- If you learn how to throw
your wordball straight
and hit the target twice in a row.
- Dude, I wonder what Francine will think?
- I don't know, but I
hope Marcus gets into
The Electric Company.
That kid's all right.
- Nice!
They have nachos.
- Did I ever tell you
about the time my buddies
and I tried to make nachos?
It was a mess!
I mean, it was a disaster!
It was disgusting!
- That sounds awesome.
- Check it out, Fuzz Ball.
- [Jessica] Life moves fast!
Some days you have to
go straight from soccer
to piano to ballet.
Sometimes you even read
so fast, you don't finish
what you're reading.
Stop!
Slow down.
Take time to read all the way to the end
of the word or the sentence,
even if it's a really
long word or a sentence.
- [Girl] Be good, I'll be back soon.
- [All] Pets Home Alone!
- Let's move, game's on in five.
- You know what that means?
- Nachos!
- Tom, got the recipe?
- I printed it from NachosForPets.com
and gave it to Nuggets.
- Nuggets, what do we need to make nachos?
- The ingredients are chips,
cheese, sour cream, and Tom.
- I'm happy to help.
- Tom is an ingredient in the nachos?
- Let me see that recipe.
The ingredients are
chips, cheese, sour cream,
and tomatoes!
- Uh-oh, I guess I rushed.
- You gotta slow down, Fuzz Ball.
- And read all the way
to the end of the word.
- It's important to follow through.
- Oh, I can do it now!
The ingredients are
chips, cheese, sour cream,
and tomatoes.
- What?
- [All] Let's order a pizza!
(guitar music)
Take your time
You never know what you're gonna find
I'm UTK and when I read
I tend to speed it up
Sometimes I skip over the words
That are really tough
I guess about a story
based on what I'm seeing
But really I should keep reading
Right up to the period
It's just that I get nervous
and the words zoom by
Faster than a runner sprinting
Or the blinking of an eye
I miss the meaning of a
paragraph and wonder why
But Shock gave me this advice
- I'm a great guy!
- [Hector] What's happened so far?
- [Lisa] A lot's gone on.
I'm traveling all over doing
amazing science projects
so I'm not around, but the
rest of The Electric Company
has it under control.
Oh, and Hector's running the diner,
Francine has a new assistant,
and there's someone else.
You'll find out about him right now.
- [Marcus] I can make a wordball!
What do I do now?
- [Jessica] Breathe and pick a target.
- [Marcus] A what?
- [Jessica] A target!
Something you're aiming
for, like this wall.
- [Marcus] Okay, that's my target!
- [Jessica] Whoa, your wordball
is going all over the place.
- [Marcus] Yeah, it
keeps changing direction!
There it is, no there, wait, there!
I missed my target!
- [Jessica] Hey, you guys!
Marcus almost has the
power, but his wordballs
won't go straight.
- [Marcus] They curve, they bend,
but they won't go straight!
- [Keith] Watch how it's done.
To hit your target
You've got to throw straight
And to throw really straight
You've got to concentrate
Now watch me hit it
Come check out mine
I throw so straight
Like I'm following a line
- [Hector] If Marcus can hit the target
two times in a row, he can
join The Electric Company.
- [Gilda] Uh-oh, I'd better tell Francine.
- [Jessica] Okay, Marcus, show them.
- No!
Little Marty Farms has the power?
- It's Marcus Barnes.
Keep watching.
- Ah-ha!
Never mind.
He's terrible.
- He can't throw it straight yet,
but they're going to teach him.
And if he learns, he gets to
join The Electric Company.
- No!
Say it isn't so.
- It isn't so.
- Really?
- No, I just said that
because you told me to,
it's very much so.
- I was so happy when Lisa left, now this.
I must find a way to stop Marty Farms.
Think, Carruthers, concentrate.
- I've already written up six ideas.
Number four is the best.
- Have Manny Spamboni
invent a machine to mess up
Marcus' wordballs.
Gilda Flip, you are going to
make a great Prankster one day.
- Thanks.
- [Jessica] Okay, so I
think I see the problem.
I'll try this in slow
motion and I'll be you.
- [Marcus] Okay.
(sighs)
- Marcus.
Marcus.
- See, nice and straight.
- A waffle!
No!
Ah!
- Okay, you see?
You got to concentrate on
the word the whole time.
- Otherwise, the word will change
and the ball will change direction.
- So, let me try it.
- [Marcus Voiceover] Marcus.
Marcus.
Marcus.
Is awesome!
- Ah!
Yeah, that was--
- I kind of knew that was going to happen,
but that's better.
Now you've got to practice
concentrating on the ball
until it actually lands.
- I'll make you a target.
- Okay, so if you hit
this twice, then you'll be
able to take the pledge to
be in The Electric Company.
- And then I find out
what my special skill is?
- Whoa, slow down, first you
have to hit the target twice.
- You keep practicing and I'm
sure you're going to get it.
We'll see you later, okay?
- You can do it.
- [Hector] Concentrate!
- All right, Spamboni!
What ya got?
- Oh, it's good,
Carruthers, it's real good.
Introducing, Count Vacula.
(laughs)
- What's it do?
- Throw a wordball!
- What?
- Throw a wordball!
- What?
- Throw a wordball!
- Oh!
- It changes the
direction of the wordball.
- I love it!
It's a little loud!
- A little what?
- A little loud!
- A little what?
- She said Count Vacula's a little loud!
- I can't hear you, Count
Vacula's a little loud!
I added a mute button.
- Good thinking!
- [Manny] And now I'm moving
Count Vacula into position.
- I hit the target!
Just one more time.
- Deploy Count Vacula.
- Aye-aye, matey!
(suspenseful music)
- That was weird.
Okay, let's try again.
Why is it changing direction?
Ugh!
I'll never be in The Electric Company.
(laughs)
- Now, I'm going to
have scary dreams about
vampire vacuums with fangs,
you know what I mean?
- Sure.
- How come you're so calm?
- I live in a haunted house, freaky stuff
happens all the time.
- Really?
Like what?
- Watch and find out.
- I can't, but I must.
- The secret to good
friends is no secret to you.
Ah, that's nice.
- You will soon eat a cookie.
Ah, how true.
- A big monster will get you.
(creaks)
(screams)
- Lock the door!
- Close the shutters!
- Run around and scream!
(screams)
- Stop!
Bat, you only read the first half of it.
It says a big monster will get you
a present you'll never forget.
You've got to follow
through to the end, dude!
- You have to read the whole thing.
- Gee, thanks!
(laughs)
(screams)
- I am a runner because I like to go fast.
I like to do everything fast.
The only problem is
sometimes I read too fast,
and then I miss important details.
Before my first big race,
my coach handed me a note
that said, good luck!
The only problem is I
read the note so fast
that I didn't see that it actually said,
good luck, and your shoes are untied.
I did not win that race.
The next race, I was in front of everyone
when I saw a sign that
said, the finish line.
Unfortunately, I rushed
reading that sign too
and I didn't notice that it really said,
the finish line is that way.
I did not win that race either.
But this race today, I am
definitely going to win.
I followed all of coach's
instructions perfectly,
be at the track at :
a.m., and that is exactly
where I am.
Funny, I don't see any other runners here.
Maybe I should check
those instructions again.
Be at the track in China at : a.m.
I missed the in China part!
I was rushing again!
China?
Yeah, that's really far away.
Well, I'd better get running.
- Gentlemen, what's shaking?
- Dude, there's some wild stuff going on.
Marcus is trying to get
into The Electric Company.
- Yeah, but this kid, he's a funny kid.
He was throwing his wordball straight,
but then it started changing direction.
- And then he said, I'll never
be in The Electric Company!
- Then what happened?
- Then you came in and said,
Gentlemen, what's shaking?
And we started telling
you what was shaking,
and that's pretty much it.
- Fascinating!
- I stink.
- Don't worry, man, you'll get it.
- Marcus, I know you want
to be great right away,
but it doesn't work that way.
- I bet you were great right away.
(laughs)
- What?
- Oh, come on, I think you know the story.
- Yeah, I don't want to
tell that story, okay?
(talking over each other)
Okay, okay, okay, yeah.
That story.
I was nine years old and
I thought I was great
I had just gotten the power
But he couldn't get it straight
He threw his wordball up
And didn't know where it landed
So I tried to play it cool
I said, I threw it left-handed
So he kept showing off
He even started to strut
And no one ever told me
I had a wordball on my
What
You know what
His what
His you know what
His you know what
That's right
He had a wordball on his
Wordball on his
But I didn't know
And it was there all day
People started pointing
When I would come their way
So I found myself a mirror
And I felt like a nut
'Cause finally he saw it
The wordball on his
What
You know what
His what
His you know what
His you know what
That's right
He had a wordball on his
Wordball on his
What
You know what
His what
His you know what
That's right
He had a wordball on his
Wordball on his
- Anyway, that's the story.
(laughs)
- It was like that all day?
- Yeah, let's just keep
that one between us.
- So, Marcus, even the great Hector Ruiz
couldn't get it right away.
- [Keith] You ready to try again?
- Yeah, let's do it!
- All right.
Come on.
- [Hector] All right.
(laughs)
- A wordball on his--
- But anyway, they're
heading back to the park now.
- Good work, Gilda, meet you there.
- I'm on my way.
- All right, Marcus, twice in a row.
- [Marcus] All right.
- Ah, ah, ah!
Not yet.
- There we go!
Yeah!
- Very nice, now just one more.
- All right.
- Gilda?
Watch and learn.
- [Marcus Voiceover] I'm going to be
in The Electric Company!
Easy, Marcus, concentrate.
(suspenseful music)
(triumphant music)
- [All] No!
- Count Vacula!
Poor baby!
Stay back!
He's not well.
I just need to change
the direction of the air
so that it blows out and...
He's going to blow!
(screams)
- You got a wordball on your--
- I know, I know!
Oh, it's so funny, little Marty!
- It's Marcus.
- Whatever!
You're so clever, just like the rest
of your little Electric companions!
Well, whoop-dee-do!
- Come on, Count Vacula,
you need rest, come on.
- I can have that dry
cleaned for you, Francine.
- My favorite dress!
- Marcus, that was so cool!
- Welcome to The Electric
Company, brother!
- Now, hold on, you only
hit the target once.
- Oh yeah.
Make that twice!
- Now you're in, man.
(cheers)
- Hey, Marcus, congratulations!
- Thanks, Lisa.
- Wonder what your special skill will be?
- We're about to find out.
All right, Marcus.
Raise your right hand.
- Do you understand the seriousness
of what you're about to do?
- I do.
- Do you recognize the awesome power
that lives inside of words?
- [Marcus] I do.
- Do you accept this power and all
the responsibilities that come with it?
- I do.
- Wow.
- That's amazing.
- That's so cool, Marcus.
Congratulations!
(groans)
- [Announcer] The last time we left Manny,
he had created his most
dastardly gadget yet,
the Wordsuckeruppernator!
The Pranksters are using
it to suck up all the words
on Earth, giving them.
- [All] Total word domination!
- [Announcer] Nice echo.
Luckily, Marcus and Jessica are on the way
to stop the Pranksters.
Unluckily, they've never
flown alone before.
(screams)
- [Marcus] Jessica, go
straight, the target
is Prankster Planet.
- I'm trying, but these
controls are weird.
Oh, I did it!
We're flying straight!
- [Marcus] Straight for that pancake!
- What's a giant pancake doing here?
- It is Prankster Planet.
- Good point.
(screams)
- Believe it or not, that
was one of the better
flying experiences I've had.
- Hey, we hit our target.
At least we're on Prankster Planet.
Now we just have to find a way to stop
the Wordsuckeruppernator.
- Hey, how about that
Wordsuckeruppernator off button?
I rule, I rule!
- Wait, it's still sucking up words.
- Because there's more
than one off button!
Bots, get the fuel.
- [Marcus] Those bots
are taking our wordballs.
The ship won't fly without them.
- Not a problem, we'll just make more.
My wordball powers, they're gone!
- Ah, mine too!
- Prankster Planet, Prankster rules.
Rule number one the Electric Company's
powers don't work here.
Rule number two, there
is no rule number two.
Anyway, as I was saying, I
made off buttons and you
have to push all of them to shut off
my Wordsuckeruppernator.
Too bad they're hidden
all over the planet!
(laughs)
- If you were making off
buttons, why didn't you
make or , or just not give
the Wordsuckeruppernator any off buttons?
- Because, that's stop talking, you!
The point is you'll never
find them without this map.
(laughs)
My map!
No, get back here with that!
- Nice job, Marcus.
Now we can follow this
to find the off buttons.
- What about those wordballs?
- First the off buttons,
then the wordballs.
According to this, the second button
should be straight ahead.
This is going to be so
incredibly, incredibly difficult.
- [Both] Hey you guys!
- [Announcer] Go to PBSkidsgo.org,
press that off button!
The Electric Company needs you!
(groans)
- Are you new to the g*ng too?
Looks like we both have a
lot of catching up to do.
Well, visit pbskidsgo.org where
you can play a lot of games
for your favorite characters
and win votes too.
Go ahead, what are you waiting for?
- Hey, you.
- [Director] Cut it!
(laughs)
- [Manny] That's awkward.
(laughs)
- Put your arm, put it down, sorry!
Put your name on your mind and.
(laughs)
03x41 - Off Target
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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.