You May Remember: Pee-wee uses the mirror on his doctor headband to look up Reba’s dress, much like he does to Susan in the original The Pee-wee Herman Show.
4.02 • Fire in the Playhouse
Written by: John Paragon
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: September 16, 1989
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee dreams about being Super Pee-wee, saving Miss Yvonne trapped under a barbell. Just as she is about to give him a thank-you kiss, Pee-wee is woken up for snack time. Miss Yvonne bakes bread for their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but impatient Randy turns up the heat and causes the bread to burn. Fireman Frank comes by, puts out the fire, and teaches everyone about fire safety.
This episode is an excellent one for parents to watch with their kids, especially with the educational lesson. Parents would have the added treat of some suggestive humor that’s likely to soar over the heads of most children. Watching Miss Yvonne flirt with Fireman Frank is fun, especially since he is so deadpan and seemingly disinterested in her romantic advances.
The Secret Word of the Day: One
The King’s Cartoon: The Stork Market (produced by Seymour Kneitel in 1949)
Bet You Didn’t Know: In the event that CBS’s standards and practices department would veto the joke about Miss Yvonne having a smoke detector over her bed, Lynne Stewart recorded a near-identical scene in which she says she has a “smoke detector in [her] kitchen over the sink.”
You May Remember: When Pee-wee makes fun of Miss Yvonne’s flirting with Fireman Frank, it’s similar to the way he made fun of her relationship with Kap’n Karl in the original Pee-wee Herman Show.
Blink and You’ll Miss: When Miss Yvonne gets trapped under the dumbbell, the bar is bent around her bust.
4.03 • Love That Story
Written by: Max Robert
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: September 23, 1989
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee and Miss Yvonne decide to play library with the puppets, and Pee-wee turns into a tyrannical librarian. Afterwards, Ricardo comes over to show off his new ballet moves and Miss Yvonne dances the hula.
“Love That Story” is an interesting concept for an episode. It’s important for children to learn that a story can be told in many different ways and Pee-wee and his pals teach that lesson in a creative way. It would have been nice to have included Miss Yvonne’s interpretative dance from earlier in the series as an additional method of creative storytelling.
The Secret Word of the Day: End
The King’s Cartoon: Spring Song (produced by Isador Sparber in 1949)
You May Remember: The book Miss Yvonne wants to check out from the library is the fictitious Part-Time Dog: Part Two, a reference to the book Pee-wee read in last season’s “Pajama Party.” Additionally, Pee-wee does his big-shoe dance during the Nutcracker performance with Ricardo.
Blink and You’ll Miss: This is the first episode in which the classic cartoon is not introduced by the King.
4.04 • Sick, Did Somebody Say Sick?
Written by: John Paragon
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: September 30, 1989
[© John Duke Kisch / CBS]
Pee-wee makes a wish to go to Paris, but Jambi is unable to grant it because he’s sick. After calling a genie-ologist, Pee-wee learns that Jambi is suffering from a disease called “mekka lekka hi mekka hineyitis.” To cure the disease, Dr. Jinga-Janga suggests that Pee-wee remind Jambi how much he is appreciated around the playhouse. Pee-wee does, and Jambi feels better.
It’s nice to have an episode centered on Jambi, a favorite character for many fans. However, because he is sick, there isn’t a ton for the character to do in this episode. The opening moments of the episode set in “Randy’s Playhouse” are clever, as is the animated sequence of Jambi’s head adjusting to his sickness. The animation on that particular segment was done by Dave Daniels.
The Secret Word of the Day: Go
The King’s Cartoon: To Spring (produced by Hugh Harman and Rudolf Isling in 1936)
Fun Fact: In this episode, Randy gets the secret word from Conky while Pee-wee is out of the playhouse. Being the mischief-maker he is, Randy makes everyone bark like a dog instead of scream after hearing the secret word.
Bet You Didn’t Know: Dr. Jinga-Janga, the “wish doctor” played by Bernard Fox, is a reference to Dr. Bombay, the “witch doctor” on Bewitched.
4.05 • Miss Yvonne’s Visit
Written by: Doug Cox and John Moody
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: October 7, 1989
[© Ken Sax]
Miss Yvonne is getting her house painted and asks Pee-wee if she can stay over for a few days. At first he’s excited about having company, but it doesn’t take long for her to overstay her welcome. By cluttering up the playhouse and spending hours on the picture phone, she slowly makes Pee-wee regret inviting her in the first place. With the help of Jambi, Pee-wee accelerates the painting of her house, allowing Miss Yvonne to make a quick return home.
Most everyone has experienced a houseguest who overstays his or her welcome, and “Miss Yvonne’s Visit” perfectly illustrates how one can be torn between wanting to spend time with a good friend and wanting privacy and normality to return. Kudos to writers Doug Cox and John Moody, who are careful not to vilify Miss Yvonne by portraying her as a completely narcissistic monster. When she makes Pee-wee breakfast and genuinely expresses her gratitude for his hospitality, the audience is reminded why the two are such good friends.
The Secret Word of the Day: Nice
Fun Fact: Pee-wee’s picture phone backdrop has him filling in for the farmer in Grant Wood’s American Gothic painting. Additionally, this is the first episode to not include a classic cartoon.
Bet You Didn’t Know: The writers had originally planned for a sequence where Miss Yvonne’s wigs would be hanging from a clothing line in the playhouse, but Paul Reubens nixed the joke, worried that it would ruin the illusion of her hair being real.
Blink and You’ll Miss: The painter responsible for sprucing up Miss Yvonne’s ceiling is named Michael Angelo, a reference to artist Michaelangelo and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
4.06 • Rebarella
Written by: Lynne Stewart and Mimi Pond
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: October 14, 1989
[Courtesy CBS / PhotoFest © CBS]
Pee-wee and his friends pretend they are flying in an airplane, but their playtime is interrupted when Reba comes over to talk about a problem. She has a big crush on a fireman named Derrick, who recently asked her out on a date, but she’s nervous and doesn’t know how to act. Miss Yvonne gives her a beauty makeover, which transforms Reba’s self-esteem. Pee-wee suggests that Reba and Derrick have their date in the playhouse, using the Magic Screen to help recreate a drive-in movie setting. The two hit it off and end the night with a kiss.
“Rebarella” is an amazingly entertaining episode that revisits themes from both “The Cowboy and the Cowntess” and “Beauty Makeover” from the first season. The episode marks the Playhouse writing debut for Lynne Stewart and for Mimi Pond, Wayne White’s wife. Although this is Reba’s last appearance in the series, with the exception of clips from previous episodes, she is given an excellent send-off with a touching and funny episode centered on her character.
The Secret Word of the Day: Stop
The King’s Cartoon: The Kids in the Shoe (produced by Dave Fleisher in 1935)
Fun Fact: When Globey says “the plane, the plane,” it’s an allusion to Hervé Villechaize’s character on the hit television show Fantasy Island. Also, this is the only episode where the credits don’t scro
ll over footage of Pee-wee riding his scooter.
You May Remember: As a part of her beauty makeover, Reba wears a bouffant wig similar to Miss Yvonne’s and even borrows one of the most beautiful woman in Puppetland’s favorite dresses.
Blink and You’ll Miss: The imaginary plane ride takes place on “flight eleven-teen.” Additionally, Billy Baloney magically moves by himself during the plane sequences, despite Pee-wee being in the front of the plane. Finally, Conky asks to read a Playrobot magazine on the flight, a reference for grown-ups to both Playboy and Playgirl adult magazines.
4.07 • Heat Wave
Written by: Rob Bragin
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: October 21, 1989
[© Ken Sax]
It’s unbearably hot in Puppetland, causing the flowers to wilt. The temperature rises even more when Miss Yvonne and Mrs. Rene come to the playhouse to show off the same one-of-a-kind dress designed by a French designer. Pee-wee has a trial to decide which woman should be allowed to wear the dress. When the ladies’ bickering turns to attempted bribery of the Honorable Pee-wee Herman, the designer himself is brought in to settle the score.
“Heat Wave” is a curiously titled episode, especially since much of it takes place during the sober courtroom sequence. Watching Miss Yvonne and Mrs. Rene go at it over fashion is fun, along with the chance to see Pee-wee rule with an iron fist, much like he did in the earlier “Love That Story” episode.
The Secret Words of the Day: Hear and Here
The King’s Cartoon: The Song of the Birds (produced by Dave Fleisher in 1935)
Fun Fact: Elvis makes his second appearance in consecutive Penny cartoons. The King had a brief cameo in last episode’s “Rebarella.” This is also the only episode with two secret words.
4.08 • Chairry-Tee Drive
Written by: John Paragon
Directed by: Wayne Orr and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: October 28, 1989
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee searches the playhouse frantically for the Cowntess’s pencil sharpener, which she let him borrow and he has not yet returned. While rummaging through his clutter, he decides to donate a lot of old items to charity. The rest of the residents of Puppetland chip in, occasionally having fun with the items found along the way.
Despite a relatively weak premise, this episode succeeds due to some very funny moments. The Cowntess repeatedly asking for her pencil sharpener causes laughter, despite the predictable ending when she realizes she’s had it at her barn all along. And the flashback to a young Pee-wee Herman playing with Baby Pterri is a nice touch.
The Secret Word of the Day: Wait
Fun Fact: Pee-wee dances in high-heel shoes to Peggy Lee’s “Fever.”
Bet You Didn’t Know: The educational video about traffic is narrated by James Stewart.
4.09 • Let’s Play Office
Written by: John Paragon and Lynne Stewart
Directed by: Wayne Orr and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: November 4, 1989
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee and Miss Yvonne decide to play office. Pee-wee acts as the boss, while Miss Yvonne is stuck being the secretary. In typical fashion, he becomes a bully and makes her job difficult. When the two switch positions, Pee-wee takes an extended break by the water cooler.
“Let’s Play Office” is similar in tone to several earlier episodes this season, but for some reason, it falls flat. The play between Pee-wee and Miss Yvonne is similar to “Love That Story” and “Rebarella,” and the friendship between Miss Yvonne and Cowntess comes back to life. But, despite some funny moments, “Let’s Play Office” is constructed around one gag and some sewn-together elements from previous installments.
The Secret Word of the Day: That
The King’s Cartoon: Little Lambkins (produced by Dave Fleisher in 1940)
Fun Fact: This is the only time Jambi appears outside his box.
4.10 • I Remember Curtis
Written by: John Paragon
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: November 11, 1989
[© Ken Sax]
When Pee-wee realizes Cowboy Curtis forgot his magic lasso at the playhouse, he invites the cowboy over to play and retrieve his rope. This leads to a series of reminiscences from the Playhouse characters about fun times they have had with Cowboy Curtis.
Flashback episodes are typically weak, and this episode doesn’t even have the benefit of a strong premise. It’s fitting that a season that began with the awkward Del Rubio Triplets be concluded with an episode with less than 10 minutes of original material in it. While most of the clips are of stories worth revisiting, it’s better to watch the original episodes than to waste your time with this.
The Secret Word of the Day: Remember
Fun Fact: When Pee-wee says, “Tune in next week, same Pee-wee time, same Pee-wee channel,” he’s making a reference to the 1960s television show Batman.
You May Remember: This episode includes clips from “Store,” “Rainy Day,” “Pajama Party,” and “The Cowboy and the Cowntess.”
Blink and You’ll Miss: When Pee-wee tries to get Cowboy Curtis’s boots, there’s a quick visual reference to the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz (sparks fly off Curtis’s boots in much the same way Dorothy’s shoes send out sparks to prevent the witch from taking them).
[© Ken Sax]
5.01 • Conky’s Breakdown
Written by: John Moody and Doug Cox
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: September 9, 1990
[© Ken Sax]
Conky has difficulty printing the secret word, and soon after, he tells Pee-wee he’s feeling sick. Pee-wee attempts to fix Conky himself, but can’t make heads or tails of the meticulous directions in the instruction manual. He decides to call his authorized Conky repairman who has the robot fixed in no time.
This episode is one of the most famous of the show’s final season. One can almost imagine the children watching at home becoming sad as their favorite robot falls sick, then excited when he is put back together. Jimmy Smits’ cameo as the repairman is classic, along with Miss Yvonne’s heavy-handed flirting. It’s not every day you can ask “Is that a wrench in your pocket?” on children’s television and get away with it!
The Secret Word of the Day: Great
The King’s Cartoon: One More Time (produced by Rudolf Ising in 1931)
Fun Fact: The secret word initially comes out as “Grrrrr” due to Conky’s malfunction.
You May Remember: Pee-wee fawns over a centerfold of a Schwinn, a reference to his beloved bicycle in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
5.02 • Mystery
Written by: David Cohen and S.H. Schulman
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: September 15, 1990
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee can’t find one of his suits, a bowl, a spoon, his photo album, and his dots for playing inside the Magic Screen. He holds his friends on trial for the theft, but absolves them of guilt after he catches a man named Busby sneaking out of the playhouse with his belongings. Busby tells Pee-wee he stole the things because he was new to the neighborhood and, seeing as Pee-wee had a lot of friends, thought he could attract people if he tried to become more like Pee-wee. Pee-wee decides to let Busby off the hook and befriend him instead of calling the police.
Although this episode has a lot of filler, like a lengthy classic cartoon, it’s surprisingly engaging. The final sequence with Busby is both hilarious and frightening at the same time, along with the recurring joke of the organist playing a chord after Pee-wee screams, “It’s a mystery!” While not one of the strongest installments in the series, “Mystery” is certainly a highlight of the tepid
fifth season.
The Secret Word of the Day: Around
The King’s Cartoon: Farm Frolics (produced by Bob Clampett in 1941)
Fun Fact: This is the first episode where the secret word is screamed after it is read.
Bet You Didn’t Know: The creepy organist is Max Robert, cowriter on all episodes for the first two seasons.
You May Remember: The food in the refrigerator watches a brief scene from Big Top Pee-wee.
5.03 • Front Page Pee-wee
Written by: John Moody and Doug Cox
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: September 22, 1990
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee and his friends decide to print a newspaper about the fun things going on in the playhouse. Although everyone contributes articles and photographs, they are horrified to see the finished product — a paper full of lies and gossip. It turns out Randy edited the paper after Pee-wee went to sleep in an attempt to “spice it up.” Pee-wee tells Randy that making up lies is never good, especially in print.
“Front Page Pee-wee” suffers the same malady as do many episodes in the fifth season. The writers seem either fatigued with or disinterested in the show. The premise seems promising enough, but there really aren’t any memorable or funny moments in this episode to make it worth watching.
The Secret Word of the Day: How
The King’s Cartoon: The Little Red Hen (produced by Ub Iwerks in 1934)
Inside Pee-wee's Playhouse Page 19
