Absolutely hilarious as well as being educational to those learning to read, such a talented cast! I actually guessed the last botch during filming would be "Good...riddance" just before Judy said "riddance."
I watched this as a kid and now I direct today for a living. These skits were so close to the reality of it I'm in tears laughing right now hahaha... and Skip even wound up PRESIDENT OF SAG-AFTRA, I can't hahahaha
PBS should seriously consider picking up the old Electric Company shows for airing on weekend mornings...Since there are no outdated topical references and the skits themselves are quite entertaining and educational, I think today's younger viewers would get a kick out of them, just like we did when we were their age...
paul simmons: They should. The show was timeless in its own right. Nick Noggin had their chance and they partially ruined it. Just 65 heavily edited episodes not in order? TEC had 780 of them and PBS should focus on the final two seasons uncut for now as you mentioned on weekend mornings for 5 hours (7am-noon), ala Pinwheel on Nickelodeon.That way, kids will see it more over the vacanted network schedules no longer relegated to cartoons and such.
Hey, while we're at it, let's have PBS bring back the old Sesame Street episodes and air them before The Electric Company...Now that would be like a heady time warp...and at the same time, a fun, colorful and educational way to bond with our little ones...
Noggin was doing that for awhile and calling it "Sesame Street Unpaved." It would be great fun if PBS or some other accessible network did; they might worry about all the now dated references, but how about an old show right before a current show. SS, TEC and Mr. Rogers Neighborhood together would be great.
Dale Pidcoe I like the part of the classic Electric Company with Sylvia''s voice saying the actress has five seconds to read the next words she sees. Can you read them before she does? The actress failed to read the words good night and hears the times up buzzer and Otto says good night and breaks her pointer stick.
Sounds like this one is from EC’s final season; if you listen carefully, you’ll hear Rita ask of Skip, “How long have you been on the Electric Company?” “Six years.”(Somehow I did not remember this one at all.) I do remember a couple other “Otto the director” segments that have not been posted-something about the cue word or words were “We will make beautiful music”(Skip was the one to read the cue card), and at the end as Rita had had it(as usual), he ended up saying to HER,”We will make beautiful music,”(as the joke of the segment). All I remember it was so HILARIOUS, I laughed so hard I got the HICCUPS! The other one was a commercial parody promoting a cereal named “Whackies,”(the cue word being “should,”) and Judy sang the jingle,”Whackies, Whackies, Whackies, you have to try Whackies, if you haven’t tried Whackies, you (should!) she was supposed to say, but of course kept coming up with the wrong words-I remember “YOU BETTER!” and something like “You TURKEYS, you don’t know WHAT’S good for you!”(which was the last straw for Otto, as usual, as the joke in these Otto the director segments.) Anyway, hopefully someone will find and post those as well. :)
Julia Capulet Julia Capulet....nope, nobody got the Mary Hartman Mary Hartman reference....still don't?...it wa a thing back in the 1970's ...a running joke of sorts....
Every Otto the Director I know: 9 and 73) all for one and one for all 13) on 154) Gwendolyn 176) scream 204) Howdy, Slim! 285) Don't bug me. Please stop. 351) coin 368 and 119B) you 391) To the Queen. 60A) Is this the bus stop? 37B) Three Dwarfs 42B) Good night. 110B) prunes
00:07- Mr. Hinnant's character actually called Miss Moreno's character 'Otto'! Now whether this character is supposed to be a female with a male given name . ..or a male is never spelled out! However, Miss Moreno said it was FUN playing mean (and she sure had her share of mean directors in her career). Of course, it was funny how the Director addressed Mr. Hinnant's character as 'Half-Pint' in spite of being somewhat vertically challenged her(?)self. I know that got the attention of 'Little House on the Prairie' (1974-1983) fans and foes watching! LOL
I think it stems back to Rita is supposed to be playing a spoof of Otto Preminger, so Skip called her Otto in this one scene. I noticed it too, and from what I can remember, this was the only episode/skit where one of the "cast of said movie" actually referred to her as Otto during a "Director" skit
@@Defensewhiz Interesting. Of course, Miss Moreno didn't play Otto with any kind of Central European accent -and she definitely was capable using any kind of accent a role called for!
@@wardarcade7452 from what I remember in interviews… It was more Otto’s demeanor, mannerisms, and irate attitude that she was spoofing rather than accent
So was I! I think Hattie's character thought this was a waste of time, and didn't have much confidence the next take would be done correctly either, haha!
FWIW, in TEC DVD Miss Graubart praised Miss Moreno for being energetic, a very hard worker and 'FUN-NEE!' while Miss Moreno praised Miss Graubart's talent(and the fact that she was a Second City alumna) in her Emmy TV Legends Interview when they discussed TEC. So, I doubt there was much if any actual contempt on either part but all the performers seemed to have fun interacting with each other- even if their characters didn't for this particular skit! Miss Moreno has said she wished she'd been able to have done more TEC episodes than she did in the last few years of its run.
Rita being interviewed said hey really did get along in real life and had a lot of fun on set! Sometimes cracking up after the real TEC director said "Cut." All the animosity in these sketches between them is acting!
@@bobdavis4848 What would have been really cool is if both Rita Moreno and Judy Graburt competed against each other for charity on a episode of Concentration back when Jack Narz was hosting it. Now I doubt if that ever happened but man, that would be priceless to see!
@@meyerj75 You mean Judy Graubart. Yes, that would have been great to see. I enjoyed "Concentration" and other 70s game shows. Well, Rita did do some game shows including talking up TEC on the $25,000 Pyramid.
Rita Moreno as that irate director was absolutely HILARIOUS! These sketches never fail to make me laugh. :)
You betcha. Rita rocks it out as that director.
nobody can blame her for getting frustrated. why can't people read simple cue cards?
@@jimhayes4163 Or remember simple lines?
I always loved the director sketches., They were some of my favorites.
Rita is first on most Electric Company's shows as Millie saying "Hey You Guys!".
Rita Moreno was always so funny when she played the director and get mad when they say the wrong word(s)
Absolutely hilarious as well as being educational to those learning to read, such a talented cast! I actually guessed the last botch during filming would be "Good...riddance" just before Judy said "riddance."
I watched this as a kid and now I direct today for a living. These skits were so close to the reality of it I'm in tears laughing right now hahaha... and Skip even wound up PRESIDENT OF SAG-AFTRA, I can't hahahaha
What have you directed?
PBS should seriously consider picking up the old Electric Company shows for airing on weekend mornings...Since there are no outdated topical references and the skits themselves are quite entertaining and educational, I think today's younger viewers would get a kick out of them, just like we did when we were their age...
+paul simmons Ditto that.
I SO second that!
paul simmons I third that! lol I couldn't agree with you more!
paul simmons: They should. The show was timeless in its own right. Nick Noggin had their chance and they partially ruined it. Just 65 heavily edited episodes not in order? TEC had 780 of them and PBS should focus on the final two seasons uncut for now as you mentioned on weekend mornings for 5 hours (7am-noon), ala Pinwheel on Nickelodeon.That way, kids will see it more over the vacanted network schedules no longer relegated to cartoons and such.
Didn't have an ample chance to do it.Should have more than one.Didn't partially ruin a thing.
Skip: "In all my years--" Rita: "CAN IT, HALF-PINT!!"
I had almost forgotten how many different characters Rita has played.
Hey, while we're at it, let's have PBS bring back the old Sesame Street episodes and air them before The Electric Company...Now that would be like a heady time warp...and at the same time, a fun, colorful and educational way to bond with our little ones...
Totally agree! Somebody make it happen!
Noggin was doing that for awhile and calling it "Sesame Street Unpaved." It would be great fun if PBS or some other accessible network did; they might worry about all the now dated references, but how about an old show right before a current show. SS, TEC and Mr. Rogers Neighborhood together would be great.
gotta love Judy! she too funny! lol
She made being clueless so hilarious.
Love the way Judy speaks. Wonder her accent and cadence was natural or something she developed as a performer.
Rita is a gem.
"How long have you been on Electric Company?"
"6 years."
"6 years, and you still don't know how to read the card?"
That's a clue of this being from season #6.
That was totally meta!
"What I do for Art." Judy:"Whoops" Classic.
this is such a fun way to teach words
I loved Rita Moreno when she did this character! My class would roll over!
Dale Pidcoe
I like the part of the classic Electric Company with Sylvia''s voice saying the actress has five seconds to read the next words she sees. Can you read them before she does? The actress failed to read the words good night and hears the times up buzzer and Otto says good night and breaks her pointer stick.
Marcello looks positively demented here, like Otto has screamed at him one too many times...
Brilliant actors and great characters.
Didn't even realized the Director was Rita Moreno until YEARS later.
Will anyone ever release a complete series DVD of this show? If I say please? Are you listening Shout Factory?
Great idea, I'd buy it, it would have to be a box bigger them the packages they already released.
Makes me wonder if Morgan really felt intimidated by Rita when she's in character as Otto?
Introducing the most unsatisfying director EVER, the adorable Rita Moreno, ladies and gentlemen!!!
I loved these sketches!
Why can't there be a cable channel where they have all these classic PBS shows?
Because the PO wers that be Want everyone to be DUMB DOWN!?!?!?!!??!.
Rights issues.
I remember such segments as this on PBS only I forgot the Director's name as Otto until Sunday 4-30-23. That Otto scared the shit of me as a kid.
Judy looks cute as pretty much anybody she plays ;-)
Sounds like this one is from EC’s final season; if you listen carefully, you’ll hear Rita ask of Skip, “How long have you been on the Electric Company?” “Six years.”(Somehow I did not remember this one at all.)
I do remember a couple other “Otto the director” segments that have not been posted-something about the cue word or words were “We will make beautiful music”(Skip was the one to read the cue card), and at the end as Rita had had it(as usual), he ended up saying to HER,”We will make beautiful music,”(as the joke of the segment). All I remember it was so HILARIOUS, I laughed so hard I got the HICCUPS!
The other one was a commercial parody promoting a cereal named “Whackies,”(the cue word being “should,”) and Judy sang the jingle,”Whackies, Whackies, Whackies, you have to try Whackies, if you haven’t tried Whackies, you (should!) she was supposed to say, but of course kept coming up with the wrong words-I remember “YOU BETTER!” and something like “You TURKEYS, you don’t know WHAT’S good for you!”(which was the last straw for Otto, as usual, as the joke in these Otto the director segments.) Anyway, hopefully someone will find and post those as well. :)
Skip: "What I do for art-" LMFAO
He truly was a great underrated character actor. May he RIP.
My guess is Morgan Freeman's holding the sign on a pole to escape the brutality of the director's hitting it.
It was a valiant attempt, but Marcello still ended up getting being on the receiving end of Otto's wrath. :-)
Ironic that Morgan was on a movie set(although a sketch).A sign of things to come.
He really was feeling it in his hands when she whapped the card he'd be holding!
Julia Capulet Julia Capulet....nope, nobody got the Mary Hartman Mary Hartman reference....still don't?...it wa a thing back in the 1970's ...a running joke of sorts....
Correction! I'm afraid the word is "Juliet Capulet-Juliet Capulet!"
Also indicates this was from the final season!
Jennifer of the Jungle too. GREAT!!
Great actress. Very talented and underrated.
I think Morgan Freeman was my favorite character in these sketches. No lines, but at least as funny as anyone else there, if not more so.
Morgan's reactions whenever Rita would whack the cue card with stick are priceless,
that was sooo funny!!
Charles Bronson as Judy?
Elvis has left the building.
Judy looks so cute as the princess
Just realized this: Romeo says "good night" in his speech so Juliet should pick that up as a cue.
"well mimsy its gonna be good-bye to you if you dont get it right". LOL
GOOD NIGHT Judy .
rita is so hilarious
this is why there's no good comedy today... they used it all up back then
@thesagebrushkid And this same actor played Joe Clark.
Well, at least he gets to laugh at a joke for, like, two seconds.
Every Otto the Director I know:
9 and 73) all for one and one for all
13) on
154) Gwendolyn
176) scream
204) Howdy, Slim!
285) Don't bug me. Please stop.
351) coin
368 and 119B) you
391) To the Queen.
60A) Is this the bus stop?
37B) Three Dwarfs
42B) Good night.
110B) prunes
"You bet your bippy that's wrong!"
A Laugh In reference!
Rita always is alert for wrong words
00:07- Mr. Hinnant's character actually called Miss Moreno's character 'Otto'! Now whether this character is supposed to be a female with a male given name . ..or a male is never spelled out! However, Miss Moreno said it was FUN playing mean (and she sure had her share of mean directors in her career). Of course, it was funny how the Director addressed Mr. Hinnant's character as 'Half-Pint' in spite of being somewhat vertically challenged her(?)self. I know that got the attention of 'Little House on the Prairie' (1974-1983) fans and foes watching! LOL
I think it stems back to Rita is supposed to be playing a spoof of Otto Preminger, so Skip called her Otto in this one scene. I noticed it too, and from what I can remember, this was the only episode/skit where one of the "cast of said movie" actually referred to her as Otto during a "Director" skit
@@Defensewhiz Interesting. Of course, Miss Moreno didn't play Otto with any kind of Central European accent -and she definitely was capable using any kind of accent a role called for!
@@wardarcade7452 from what I remember in interviews… It was more Otto’s demeanor, mannerisms, and irate attitude that she was spoofing rather than accent
Lol lol poor marchello
Maybe it's just me, but I was kind of snickering at Hattie's 'tude while clacking the take slate
So was I! I think Hattie's character thought this was a waste of time, and didn't have much confidence the next take would be done correctly either, haha!
Judy is cute! :-)
Jack Wolf oh, but isn't she though?
Yes, adorably funny as usual. :-)
MARCELLO!!!!!!!
Is it just me, or does Morgan Freeman look like a terrified Buckwheat in this sketch?
Well, when you deal with a temperamental director, you'd be scared, too.
He does look like a terrified Buckwheat.
Good..........Riddance. LOL
Did that poor director ever win? 🎬
I always wondered if Judy and Rita ever got along on the show or are they just enemies.
FWIW, in TEC DVD Miss Graubart praised Miss Moreno for being energetic, a very hard worker and 'FUN-NEE!' while Miss Moreno praised Miss Graubart's talent(and the fact that she was a Second City alumna) in her Emmy TV Legends Interview when they discussed TEC. So, I doubt there was much if any actual contempt on either part but all the performers seemed to have fun interacting with each other- even if their characters didn't for this particular skit! Miss Moreno has said she wished she'd been able to have done more TEC episodes than she did in the last few years of its run.
Rita being interviewed said hey really did get along in real life and had a lot of fun on set! Sometimes cracking up after the real TEC director said "Cut." All the animosity in these sketches between them is acting!
@@bobdavis4848 What would have been really cool is if both Rita Moreno and Judy Graburt competed against each other for charity on a episode of Concentration back when Jack Narz was hosting it. Now I doubt if that ever happened but man, that would be priceless to see!
@@meyerj75 You mean Judy Graubart. Yes, that would have been great to see. I enjoyed "Concentration" and other 70s game shows. Well, Rita did do some game shows including talking up TEC on the $25,000 Pyramid.
Juliet Capulet-Juliet Capulet: take 33.
Otto: ACTION!
But Mimsi's still working...
Silly, she's under contract.
😤Oh Yeah, I'd lose it too & go my ass home in Otto's shoes😬.
lindsay lohan wasn't even thought of.
Maybe Julie is supposed to be Lindsay Lohan haha! MARCELLO!!!!!!!!!
These directors sketches were hilarious. But what did it teach kids?
How to say the words, camel breath!
This case, the right word and similar words to go in possible two word phrases.
@@bobdavis4848 thank you.
You wonder how this director ever got jobs?