Ep 8. Revenge of the Zeros

The Electric Company is a half-hour educational children's television series that first aired in 1971 and was later rebooted in 2009. The show aims to teach reading and grammar skills to children through music, sketch comedy, animation, and game show segments. Each episode is structured around a theme and features a group of young characters who use their literacy skills to solve problems and defeat various villains.

Season 3 episode 8, titled "Revenge of the Zeros," centers around a scary math concept known as zero. The episode begins with Ann and Francine setting up a haunted house for Halloween. However, when they realize that an actual ghost has taken up residence in the house, they call in their friend, Marcus, for help. Marcus is a member of the Electric Company, a group of young heroes who use their literacy skills to thwart various villains.

As Marcus investigates the haunted house, he discovers that the ghost is actually a group of zeros who have taken on a life of their own. The zeros are upset that they are always left out of math equations and are often seen as insignificant. They decide to take revenge by causing chaos across the city.

Marcus and the Electric Company team up to teach the zeros about their importance in math and show them how they can be used to represent numbers. The team sings a catchy song called "Add 'Em Up" to help the zeros understand their worth. With the help of the Electric Company, the zeros finally feel valued and agree to stop their mischief.

In addition to the main storyline involving the zeros, the episode also features several segments designed to teach specific literacy skills. For example, the game show segment "What's in the News" challenges viewers to spot grammatical errors in news headlines. Another segment featuring comedian Kyle Kinane teaches the difference between homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings).

Overall, "Revenge of the Zeros" is a fun and engaging episode of The Electric Company that teaches important math and literacy skills in a way that is accessible and entertaining for young viewers.