Rita Moreno was famous in the ‘70s for The Electric Company, which helped kids back them with their reading and grammar. Five decades later, she is reflecting on her time as a cast member in the PBS children’s series and the trend she started in schools.
The 92-year-old had a chat with PEOPLE where she also discussed her participation in other similar shows, and her acting career in general. Age has not stopped Rita from working, as she appeared in 80 For Brady, and the tenth Fast & Furious film Fast X last year.
Kids used to yell Rita Moreno’s ‘Electric Company’ catchphrase at school
Rita was a regular on The Electric Company from 1971 to 1977, and her character Millie the helper started the iconic catchphrase “Hey, you guys!” The three-word exclamation was eventually added to the opening credits, and kids around the country started to echo it at school.
She recalled how Principals would reach out to her because school kids used to yell the catchphrase around the school halls. To this day, Rita still has people yelling, “Hey, you guys!” whenever she is out in public, and she loves it. She earned multiple recognitions for the series, including a Grammy for Best Children’s Album.
Rita Moreno did not expect adults to enjoy the show
The sole aim of The Electric Company was to teach kids to read; however, grown-ups who did not know how to read in English benefitted from the show. Rita noted that this impact was unplanned, but it was exciting. Her co-star Morgan Freeman, who played the DJ, also shared the same thought.
Rita made guest appearances in other children’s shows like The Magic School Bus and Disney’s Elena of Avalor. She also made Hollywood history as the third of 27 persons so far after Richard Rodgers and Helen Hayes to attain EGOT status with two Emmys, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.