announcer: find your voice and share it. american greetings-- proud sponsor of "the electric company." - beaches resorts is a proud sponsor of "the electric company," connecting bright ideas and countless outlets for high-energy excitement. from the u.s. department of education's ready to learn grant, and... - you're listening to the sounds of lukewarm 91.5, the station that's so hot and so cool, it's lukewarm, baby!

and i am the tune meister coming at you live with our finalists in our rap competition. are y'all ready for the winner? - whoo! - and the winner is... hector! that means, hector, you will star in a music video directed by the tune meister himself--that'd be me. ha ha! and annie, you are our runner-up, which means, if for any reason hector cannot perform, it's all you. heh! local restrictions may apply. ah-ha! - runner-up? annie scrambler is no runner-up. annie scrambler is a winner! uncle sigmund, you have to do something. oh. couldn't you hypnotize hector? you know, make it so that he can't do the video? - yes. i suppose i could try something. [high voice] uh, excuse me, sir.

- hmm? - do you have the time? - uh, sure, ma'am, but you have a watch. - let's not quibble over details, hmm? - uh, it's 12:00. no. 10 of...[yawns] wow. i'm getting really sleepy. - yes. very sleepy. [normal voice] and when i snap my fingers, you will wake up, and you will... you will...uh... - [dog barks] - oh, i got it. you will have the mind of a canine. - a canine? like, like a dog? - exactly! you will think you are a dog until sunset tonight. [snaps] [high voice] thank you. good day. - yo, hector. - hmm? hmm? - the meister will meet you right here at 2:00 to shoot the video sponsored by lukewarm 91.5... - [sniffing]

- well, that was a little weird. - [barks] - why are you barking at the tune meister? - i don't know. i don't know. ruff! ruff! hey, you guys! ruff! - [beatboxing] - ♪ come on, yeah! - 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! - yo, yo, yo, yo! - ♪ 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! - ♪ oh, feel the power! - feel the power, yo! and plug it in! - ♪ plug it in, everybody! - feel the power! electric company! - ♪ electric company! ♪ electric company!

♪ electric company! - electric company! - i've lost my appetite. - aw, you finished. good boy! - mm! ha! - um, do you really have to wag like that? - i can't help it. when i get happy, i wag. deal with it. - wagging is a basic canine instinct. it's what dogs naturally do. you can't help your instincts. - ok. here's the thing. um, my brother, he's not a dog. he's a person, a human. - but i feel like a dog. ever since that weird lady came up to me and she asked me for the time. see? wait. it's sigmund! it was annie's uncle. he hypnotized me! - wait, wait. so, annie's behind this? - ruff! - what is it, boy?

- ruff! [sniffing] i smell something. - oh, the canine sense of smell is really strong. they can pick up a scent from far away. - what scent? what do you smell? - ruff! - i'll go get hector. you meet me at the playground later? yeah. ok. - so weird. - he drank this whole thing. - ruff! ruff! [panting] - oh, hi, hector. oh, who's a big rap star? who is he? give me paw. come on! hee hee! you! - arroof! - or not! - annie... when will this wear off? - don't worry. hector will get his human instincts back at sundown. oh...but the video shoot is at 2:00. [gasp] so that means you'll have to rap with a canine brain. oh, that's really too bad. - i can rap under any circumstances. - oh, yeah? - yep. - i'd like to see you try. - [beatboxing] - yo. yo, yo. ♪ now, my name is hector and i like cats ♪

♪ i like to chase cats so show me the cats ♪ ♪ and i'll chase the cats cats...cats...cats... - [whirring down sound] - what? no good? - eh. - a tad cat-heavy. - i guess if you can't do the video, then i'll have to do it. oh, well. bye, poochie. oh! whoops. - oh! [panting] oh! i can't do the video like this. - you'll be ok. we just have to... train you not to follow your canine instincts. - drop it. - ok. this might work.

- "eh." - ♪ hey, you short "e" - ♪ eh, eh-eh - ♪ eh-eh-ell - ♪ ok, you ring that be-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh-ell ♪ - ♪ eh, eh-eh - ♪ so all of you can... - ♪ now, let me scream no, yell ♪ ♪ that short "e" is best standing tall as a tense ♪ ♪ it will never need a rest ♪ in the middle of a word it will always pass the test ♪ ♪ when you need it most to cast a spell ♪ ♪ grab your pencils, your pens... ♪ ♪ the time is set for you to ring that bell ♪ ♪ eh, eh-eh-ell - ♪ eh, eh-eh - ♪ eh, eh-eh - ♪ yo, short "e" ♪ come and ring that bell

- "eh, eh..." cobweb! [blows] ted?

- yo. - ted! - oh! ohh! - whoa. - ok. i'm ok. - oh, i don't trust you, letter "c." i don't trust you one bit. one minute you're making hard "kuh" sounds, like...

but whenever you get in front of an "i," an "e" or a "y," you totally change. you start making a soft "sss" sound, like... oh, i'm onto you, letter "c." onto you. from this moment on, i will never use hard or soft "c" again or my name isn't... there's a hard and soft "c" in my name. you know what letter i love? the letter "c"! best letter in the alphabet. - [beatboxing]

- some instincts are human. - some instincts are canine. - what are we here to learn? - human instincts. - that's right. - do i get a treat? - not yet. lesson number one: shock, the sound effects, please.

- [clears throat] will do. ding-dong! - ruff! ruff! - no! those were your canine instincts. when humans hear a doorbell, they don't bark. they say... - who is it? i knew that! i knew that. now can i get a treat? - oh, they're training him! uncle sigmund, maybe you didn't hypnotize him enough. - i hypnotized him plenty. - oh. play on without me. i'll be right back. [humming] oh! hey, tune meister! fancy meeting you here. - hey, runner-up person. - annie. - right. listen, the tune meister has come to look for hector, 'cause we got a new location for the video shoot. - oh. i can give it to him. - ok. cool. here you go.

- oh. skate park. got it. - cool. thanks so much, runner-up girl. hey, listen, tell him to hurry up. 2:00 sharp. - oh, i'll tell him. - all right. - bye! [giggling] skate park. stark peak. much better. - how do humans catch tennis balls? - with their hands! - nice job. - [sniffing] what's that smell? - [sniffing] - it's the scent of annie scrambler. rrr! - easy, hector. - hey, guys. the tune meister gave me this note. it's the new location for the video shoot. see you there. - [growls] ruff! ruff! - stark peak. - i know that place. wait, that's really far uptown. ok, we'd better hurry! - wait a minute, guys!

annie scrambler just gave us this message. my instinct says... - she scrambled it. - [beatboxing] - how about...skate park? - must be the skate park downtown. - all right, come on. we'd better hurry. - wait! what if it really is stark peak, and she's trying to trick us by not scrambling the note? - so, how are we gonna make this right? - i have an idea. [sniffing] - uh, what is he doing? - he's getting annie's scent. when dogs want to find something, they follow the smell. they track it. track that scent, hector. track like the wind! - "kuh" "sss" - "kuh-kuh-kuh" "sss" - "kuh-kuh-kuh" "sss" - whoo! - "kuh-kuh-kuh" "sss" - "kuh-kuh-kuh" "sss"

- oh! ♪ shock, i love that beat ♪ ♪ everything you beatbox sounds so sweet ♪ ♪ but can you see what i see? ♪ ♪ you're using the sounds of hard and soft "c" ♪ ♪ "kuh" as in... ♪ was that a canary or a crow? ♪ ♪ soft "c" is also nice ♪ at the end of words like... ♪ it sounds like an "s," but take my advice ♪ ♪ sometimes you need a soft "c" to add that spice ♪ - "kuh, kuh, kuh, kuh, sss, sss, sss, kuh" - ♪ and when the sounds work together ♪ ♪ the circus is in town ♪ they run circles around this ground ♪ ♪ the other letters fall back ♪ it's a simple little hard "c" soft "c" practice ♪ - "sss..." - oh. this is a good word, and it just goes round and round. let's see. it has two "cs" in it. now, that first one is a soft "c," because there's an "i" after it,

so it makes the "sss" sound. so, "sss...ih...rr..." oh, no. it's "ssurr..." and now we get to the second "c." this one has an "l" after it, so we know it makes the hard "c" sound. so it's "sur-kuh--circle." circle! circle round, folks. yee-haw! - wet cement? i love fresh cement. you can write stuff in fresh cement. - what are you doing? i just poured that cement. that was going to be my nice, new concrete sidewalk. you ruined it! ohh! - ♪ there's two ways to see everything ♪ ♪ my grandma used to say ♪ and that rule applies to what i'm singing here today ♪

♪ i'm talking 'bout the letter "c" ♪ ♪ come follow if you will ♪ i learned this as a shortie ♪ ♪ and it still gives me a thrill ♪ ♪ now when that "c" is hard ♪ it sounds just like a "k" ♪ make me want to go kuh-kuh, kuh-kuh ♪ ♪ now you say - ♪ kuh-kuh, kuh-kuh - everybody, hey! hey, hey! - ♪ now, when that "c" is soft it sounds just like an "s" ♪ ♪ oh, oh you get me? ♪ ♪ there's... ♪ and it's always fine with me ♪ oh ♪ there's... ♪ ♪ and either way is cool ♪ there's two ways to say ♪ now, if a "c" comes before an "e," "i" or "y" ♪ ♪ that is when you know to give the softer "c" a try ♪

♪ say nice - nice. yeah. - ♪ or peace - peace! yeah! - ♪ listen to me ♪ now, when that "c" comes before an "l," "r" or "t" ♪ ♪ you'll probably want to use ♪ the harder sounding kind of "c" ♪ ♪ say clap - hey. clap. yeah! - ♪ or crab - crab. whoa! - ♪ come on and sing with me ♪ there's... ♪ and it's always fine with me ♪ there's... ♪ and either way is cool ♪ there's two ways to say... - it's 2:00! hector should be here by now! - oh, i guess you'll have to go with the runner-up.

- who was the runner-up? it was hector! - it was--! it was me. - right. angie, angie. right! if hector doesn't show up, you do it. - great. is it ok if i put some of my stuff down? - sure, danni, sure! - i almost hope he does show up. - [squeaks] [zips bag] - track faster, hector. it's almost 2:00. - annie's scent is getting really strong. - good boy! - skate park. - oh, good tracking, boy! - let's go. - hello, annie. - hector, you made it. - how did you find us? - i tracked your scent. it's really strong. all right. i'm ready to shoot a music video. - that's what you think. - huh! [growls] - remember, hector...

- human. i got it. - yeah. - and...action! - [dog barking] - ♪ 100% human and i'm out of sight ♪ ♪ i don't have a tail and i stand upright ♪ ♪ said i catch with my hands and i've got two feet ♪ - easy, hector. - ♪ and i listen to my human instincts ♪ - ♪ 100% human - ♪ and i dance and sing ♪ - ♪ 100% human - ♪ it's a beautiful thing ♪ give me a glass if you please ♪ ♪ i don't drink water out of a bowl ♪ - ♪ oh, no, no, no - ♪ a steak is great but yo, i like it well-done ♪ ♪ serve it on a plate with a knife and fork ♪ ♪ 'cause i'm a human - [dog barks] - ♪ i can paint a picture i can say a rhyme ♪ ♪ i can do both at the same time ♪ - meow! - ruff! ruff! - meow! - ♪ this little pretty kit is a sight to see ♪

♪ i wouldn't eat it, no look how it's purring at me ♪ - ♪ 100% human - ♪ and i'm on top ♪ and it don't stop ♪ human instincts rock - ♪ 100% human ♪ two hands and feet it's hard to beat ♪ ♪ a treat as neat as human instinct, yeah ♪ - ♪ 100% human - and cut! ha ha! great work, hector. ah, yeah. hey, what's your name again? - annie scrambler... the runner-up. - great. we have a consolation prize for our runner-up. - really? well, what is it? - it's an autographed picture of me and hector, our winner. - aah! - woof! excuse me. - it's ok, dawg. - ♪ it's hard, it's soft - "kuh," "sss" - ♪ the letter "c" - letter "c." - ♪ it's hard, it's soft - "kuh," "sss" - ♪ the letter "c" - letter "c." - ♪ i called a cab, it came right away ♪ ♪ i got my camera out, took a picture of his car ♪

♪ i got in, he drove fast ♪ ♪ but then he stopped ♪ i got out, took my coat ♪ and i was standing on the corner ♪ ♪ i was approached by a "cantipede" ♪ ♪ i meant a centipede ♪ he said he had a race car to take me into outer space ♪ ♪ and so i did ♪ and i met some magical mice ♪ i had to thank them twice ♪ for a certificate for a brand-new type of cereal ♪ - ♪ it's hard, it's soft - "kuh," "sss" - ♪ the letter "c" - letter "c." - ♪ it's hard, it's soft - "kuh," "sss" - ♪ the letter "c" - letter "c." - ♪ it's hard, it's soft - "kuh," "sss" - ♪ the letter "c" ♪ - what's up? i'm marc echo. to be creative, i'll use what's right in front of me. maybe it's a pen; it could be a spray can. as long as it feels right and does the job.

i create art every single day. to me, being creative means taking what i'm thinking from here and what i feel from here and bringing it out with these. there's no right way, there's no wrong way, as long as you do it your way. - hi, josephine. raising money for your school? - yes, mr. creepy. would you like to buy a crab? - i don't mean to be crabby, but i already have a crab. - how about a crocodile? - i have 3 crocodiles. - you have everything! oh! - i'll buy your scream. - my scream? that's crazy. - here's $5.00. - one scream. sold! - ohh! - [beatboxing]

- whoosh! poom! [chuckles] - i'm special agent jack bowser. well, do-re-mi. it's time to face the music. this place is about to explode. and i can't crack the code to get out. come help me read this... [buzzer] - meet detective wednesday jones, a private eye with a nose for trouble.

- what's that scent? i know it was you, dixie. i know it was you all along. i tracked your scent all the way from the herbal tea shop. - you got it all wrong, jones. i wasn't anywhere near the herbal tea shop. - oh, yeah? - hey! that's private. - what do you call this? - she can smell a criminal from a mile away, and track the scent to the ends of the earth. - how'd you know it was me, wednesday? - crime stinks. - so, wait. what happened? - yeah. i'm gonna be the star of a video. - i want to be the star. you're a canine. - are you calling me a dog? i'm not a ruff! oh, no! hey, you guys! - how'd you find us? - i used my nose to track your scent. you smell like keith. - i am keith. we got to train you to act like a human again. - it's a shoe. what do you do? - eat it! - no! it's a canine instinct. - you have to act like a human and not a canine. - and what does a human do with a shoe? - wear it! - exactly! nice using your human instinct. you're ready to shoot the video! - good luck getting there. the location has changed. - oh, no!

- no worries. i'll just track annie's scent. - yay! - no hector. i guess i'll have to be the star. - not quite, annie. this human is ready to rap. - boo-hoo! - action! - ♪ am i a canine? - no! - ♪ that's right i don't bark ♪ ♪ i'm a human and i bust a rhyme at the skate park ♪ [barking] - ♪ and it don't stop, human instincts rock! ♪ - ♪ 100% human - ♪ two hands and feet it's hard to beat ♪ ♪ a treat as neat as human instinct, yeah ♪ - [giggling, clapping] - awesome! - yeah. nice rhymes, hector. - why, thank you. - shock, what happened to your sneakers? - ask hector. - [dog barks] - sorry. can't help my instincts. - [all laugh] - aw. - thanks, man. - want to know a little secret? if you miss one "electric company" show, you can go online to pbskidsgo.org and watch the entire episode right online. so, if you want to catch up on old episodes or you just gotta watch it again, "the electric company" is online all the time.

- ♪ go - hey, you guys! - ♪ the time is now, the day is here ♪ ♪ the rhythm that you're feelin' ♪ ♪ the music in your ear ♪ the charge is electric, and all you got to do is ♪ ♪ plug it in - ♪ ah-ppp - ♪ p-plug it in - ♪ that's what we do, we're the electric company ♪ ♪ inviting all of you to all the possibilities ♪ ♪ learning to write and learning to read ♪ ♪ we have a good time while we plant the seeds ♪ ♪ and once you get it, you have to share it ♪ ♪ discovering your power ♪ you own it, you wear it ♪ proud, and you shout it out loud! ♪ ♪ electric company ♪ is in town - ♪ oh! - i am the tune meister, coming at you live...whoa! i just blew that away. ha hah! and i am the tune meister. ha ha. [gasping] - couldn't you hypnotize hector? - i suppose i could, uh... think of something. - [laughs] cut. - [laughing] - track like the wind!

announcer: find your voice and share it. american greetings-- proud sponsor of "the electric company." - beaches resorts is a proud sponsor of "the electric company," connecting bright ideas and countless outlets for high-energy excitement. from the u.s. department of education's ready to learn grant, and...