Originally Aired: February 17th, 1973
Written by: Bob Dorough & Maurice Irby Jr.
Performed by: Bob Dorough
Shel's Review
Music: π΅π΅π΅π΅π΅
Animation: πΊ πΊ πΊ πΊ
Pedagogy: πππππ
Accuracy: π―π―π―π―π―
Yikes Factor: Zero!! (my hero)
This is the best one so far, by far. It's catchy. It's a bop. It's fun. It's funny. It's the most racially integrated one we've seen so far, and remembering what year this came out, that's pretty significant. In general, it's pretty wholesome! You'll notice this is the first song we've had where someone besides Bob has been involved in the writing, we'll start to see more of that going forward. The animation has some cute gags and fun stylized numerals. The pedagogy is fantastic. It's so catchy that its catchiness becomes a useful pedagogical tool to teach more math concepts. I definitely got this one stuck in my head a lot and still use it for multiplication by fives. Also, nothing is factually wrong here, and nothing made me cringe or say yikes at all! Really fantastic song all around.
June's Review
Music π΅π΅π΅π΅π΅
Bob finally figured out how to talk over songs and have it be entertaining: Jazzβand it works! The song is a fuckin' banger. When it cuts to him actually singing, it's got a solid musical tuneβand when it's just freestyling in the background it makes him talking even better. 5/5, as is fitting.
Animation πΊ πΊ πΊ πΊπΊ
Also fantastic. Love the 17 fingers gag, love the baffling way all the numbers show up, love the way things stop when he stops, love just the big group shots of all the kids. the sheer number of them makes it more fun to rewatch cause you can always refocus on someone.
Pedagogy πππππ
This song has two modes: "force you to memorize all your 5s in order" and "here's some fun facts about 5s" and unlike Elementary, here it works Perfectly. 5/5.
Accuracyπ―π―π―π―π―
I mean, it's still multiplication. I guess maybe you could take a point off for his focus on nickles, since most kids don't use that anymore? but eh, it can have a 5.
Yikes Factor
Yeah, I can't think of anything. There is a baffling scene where two kids run into each other and trade hairstyles resulting in a white kid with a big afro but it's mostly a tiny momentary gag that's pretty funny. 0 yikes.
Next Up: A very, uh, formative memory for some of you, apparently. Cohost's first Sexyman helps you learn multiplication.
