Pee-wee's Playhouse

As a child growing up in the 1980s (born October 1982), you could not avoid watching "Pee-Wee's Playhouse." Originally airing on CBS from 1986-1990, it was a staple in the viewing habits of youngsters of all ages (and sometimes, their parents too!)

Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Rubens) has a wacky, funny playhouse. When we come to visit his playhouse, Pee-Wee treats the visitors (viewers) to games, cartoons, friends, and the "The Secret Word of the Day" (AHHHHH!) The presentations in his playhouse are always fun and educational, and tend not to drive the parents crazy. The guests are assorted oddballs, such as Captain Carl, Miss Yvonne, and Cowboy Curtis, as well as "The Salesman" ("I'm here to make you this one-time special offer--" "AAAAHHHH!").

This was by-far one of the greatest kiddie shows on television during my early years. If you ask anyone around my age, they will proudly tell you that they watched Pee-Wee. (In fact, my brother and I used to scream when they said the Secret Word of the Day) This was one of the most fun sows on TV, and was cancelled so abruptly after Ruben's rather interesting ordeal. My mom used to watch this with my brother and I when we were in pre-school, and continued to watch it with us when we started Kindergarten in 1988. I was saddened when it was cancelled after I finished first grade in 1990, as was many kids who idolized Pee-Wee, and looked up to him as our entertainment.

This a such a great and educational show, and I am sad to not be able to see the reruns (tragically, I don't have any on tape) and that future generations will never see what a great show this was. I'm hoping a children's networ will bring back the reruns. I'm hoping I will find videos somewhere, as I would like to be able to show my own children some day who this children's programming genius was. You know how big of a fan I am??? I have Pee-Wee Herman's scream on my AOL Instant Messanger.

The secret word of the day is "fun." "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" is the most "fun" you can have in a half-hour. "Ahhhhhhh!" Brings back old memories.

The fondest memory I have of Pee-wee's Playhouse is when Pee-wee was really frustrating Cap'n Carl when they were playing restauraunt 'cause Cap'n Carl was hungry. First Pee-wee(as the waiter) took this really long order. Then he kept saying he was out of everything Cap'n Carl ordered, then charged him $2 for a peanut butter sandwich. A classic

Ten years after CBS pulled Pee-Wee from the Saturday morning line-up, it seems people are starting to realize what a piece of work his show really was. This show made the first real strides in children's programming since Sesame Street came along in 1968. Pee-Wee realized that programming should never be dumbed down for kids, so he filled his show with all sorts of in-jokes and far-out ideas. The playhouse itself is a Dali-esque gallery of weird creatures and set pieces. Countless imitators have followed, but none seem to live up to the imagination and sincerity of *Pee-Wee's Playhouse.*

I finally caught up with this on DVD. I'd always been told how creative and popular this show was, but had never seen it. I was in my thirties when it was first run, so I wasn't exactly watching Saturday morning television at that point in my life.

The reason I love the hosts of my youth (Chuck McCann, Soupy Sales and Sandy Becker) was because they didn't dumb down to the kids. Their shows were crazy, unpredictable and just plain fun. All three of these men had their own style, and you tuned in to see just how crazy they were going to be. Herman captures that beautifully. There are so many creative things going on: great characters, running jokes (the secret word, the salesman at the door, the 'cool' musician puppets, the refrigerator) and the old Ub Iwerks cartoons (with an early WB cartoon with Foxy thrown in). Herman and crew use every conceivable animation technique available at the time, and it all fits together without calling attention to itself. It is great to see all the live actors; I hadn't realized that cult actress Shirley Stoler was a member of the cast.

But the center is Pee-Wee, a very strange child-man who reminded kids that it was okay to be who they were.

Well If you are wondering what that means I guess I should tell you. There were some stuff in this show I did not understand as a kid that I understand now. Mostly the jokes, and I pay more attention now on what's happening. But still this was positively one of the greatest shows I have ever watched in my life. Pee Wee Herman Kicks. The characters were funny, the cartoons were good, I use to scream at the secret word, I would always get excited when someone was coming over too the Playhouse. ESPECALLY MRS. STEVE!!! And Cowboy Curtis. Whoever is reading this I just got one thing too tell you. WATCH IT!!! THIS SHOW RULES!!!