‘Electric Company’ redux

The Television Critics Assn. Press Tour, the semiannual gathering of television journalists from around the country, began at the Beverly Hilton on Tuesday. We offer you these dispatches.

Hey you, guuuuuyyyys! A newly re-envisioned “The Electric Company” will begin lighting up PBS starting in January and, though different stylistically, will feature the same educational goal as its predecessor -- to encourage and teach children to read.

The show’s creative team offered a rough outline of its updated version of the beloved children’s program in Beverly Hills on Saturday morning.

Other than in name, the modern version will bear little resemblance to the original series, which, including reruns, aired on PBS from 1971 to 1985. Gone are the major characters of the old show in favor of four “do-gooders” who use their literacy superpowers to solve problems and keep their urban neighborhood safe.

Like its inspiration, the new show will weave elements of pop culture, music, comedy sketches and celebrity appearances into the show to make the learning more palatable to youngsters. For instance, Jack McBrayer, from NBC’s “30 Rock,” appears in an early episode of the show.

“Kids are going to choose it not because it’s good for them,” said the show’s executive producer Karen Fowler, “but because it’s so fly and funny.”

The new show, too, was created to help combat the nation’s literacy crisis, which according to recent educational research indicates that more than half of the nation’s children are at risk of falling far behind in reading. The show mainly targets 6- to 9-year-olds who may be experiencing difficulty with reading.

The program will emphasize building vocabulary in a way the original did not. New education research shows that if children try to read and repeatedly trip over words they don’t understand, they are more likely to quit, said the show’s producers. The key is to get children reading by the fourth grade -- believed to be a watershed marker for literacy, they added.

“The Electric Company” will be plugged into more than just television. The show will reach out to youngsters through the Internet, gaming platforms, comic books and books.

“There is some irony in creating a television show that teaches kids how to read,” said the show’s education and research director, Scott Cameron.

-- Martin Miller

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PBS lauds ‘War,’ mum on McKellen

Paula Kerger, president and chief executive of PBS, appeared before reporters and critics Saturday morning and touted public television’s successes since last summer’s press tour. She mentioned the ratings for Ken Burns’ “The War,” the fact that PBS.org has grown to be a vibrant and much-viewed website and that viewers seem to have embraced the rebooted “Masterpiece.”

With that last achievement, Kerger said that its Jane Austen series doubled “Masterpiece’s” audience and brought 50% more men to the program than used to watch “Masterpiece Theatre.”

“You don’t have to have two X chromosomes to enjoy Jane,” Kerger said.

But yes, Kerger said, “Masterpiece” is still searching for a corporate underwriter. It is currently being funded by member stations and individual donations.

She also announced Burns’ next super-sized documentary series, which will be called “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” It will be a six-part, 12-hour series broadcast in fall 2009.

Kerger then outlined her three areas of focus going forward: public affairs, children and performing arts. With the arts, Kerger said she wants to bring more dance, theater and music to PBS. “Frankly, I think we’ve drifted away,” she said, and pointed to the Ian McKellen version of “King Lear,” which will be shown in the spring as part of the “Great Performances” series, as something she wants to do more of.

With the mention of McKellen and “King Lear,” things went off the rails a bit because of the actor’s scene of full-frontal nudity.

Will they show it as it is, one critic asked?

Kerger demurred, saying that they haven’t edited the program yet.

But will they show it? he asked again.

“Let’s talk about this in January, OK?” Kerger said, referring to the January press tour.

“My readers can’t wait that long,” he replied.

“Oh yes, they can,” Kerger assured.

The question was being pushed because PBS has had semi-regular run-ins with the FCC over language issues. Another journalist asked Kerger whether she is optimistic that a change in presidential administrations, whoever wins, will bring a change in the current FCC.

Kerger answered somewhat obliquely. “I’m an optimistic person in nature. I’ve spent most of my life raising money, and you have to be optimistic or you would kill yourself.”

-- Kate Aurthur

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3rd tour of duty for ‘Army Wives’

The second season isn’t even finished, but Lifetime has already greenlighted another cycle of its hit drama “Army Wives.”

Lifetime President and Chief Executive Andrea Wong broke the news Friday during the TV press tour, calling it the most successful series in the network’s 24-year history. The show ranks No. 1 among women 18 to 49 and 25 to 54 on ad-supported cable.

Eighteen new episodes will premiere in 2009.

“Since premiering last year, ‘Army Wives’ has become a game changer for Lifetime,” Wong said.

“Announcing this renewal early is a testament to the enormous faith and confidence we have in this show.”

The series airs Sundays at 10 p.m.

-- Denise Martin