Fun Fact: The educational video about making ice cream is voiced by John Paragon.
5.04 • Tango Time
Written by: David Cohen and S.H. Schulman
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: September 29, 1990
[© Ken Sax]
After spending a day playing, Pee-wee helps Mrs. Rene learn how to tango using his magic footprints. Ultimately, Pee-wee sweeps her off her feet, literally, and then reminisces about the good old days with Cowboy Curtis and the puppets.
When critics offer evidence that Pee-wee’s Playhouse “jumped the shark,” this is the episode they refer to. The show’s half hour is stuffed with filler material, beginning with Roosevelt eating a can of dog food for nearly two minutes, the King showing two lengthy cartoons, and faux flashbacks at the end. There is barely a plot to speak of in this episode and what is there isn’t very strong.
The Secret Word of the Day: Fast
The King’s Cartoons: Freddy the Freshman (produced by Rudolf Isling in 1932) and Humpty Dumpty (produced by Ub Iwerks in 1935)
Fun Fact: This is the first episode to include two classic cartoons. Also, this is the only episode to show the characters outside on the playhouse deck.
Bet You Didn’t Know: There’s a reason the King of Cartoons sounds so comfortable reciting Hamlet’s classic “To be or not to be” speech. Before hosting cartoons at the playhouse, William Marshall was a Shakespearean actor who had starred in many productions in North America and Europe.
5.05 • Playhouse Day
Written by: Rob Bragin
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: October 6, 1990
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee becomes bummed out when Cowboy Curtis and Miss Yvonne can’t come over and play because they have to work. Pee-wee and the puppets decide to pretend it is a holiday so they could have fun together. When the King of Cartoons declares Playhouse Day an official holiday, Cowboy Curtis and Miss Yvonne come right over to celebrate.
“Playhouse Day” has a paper-thin plot, but the anything-goes atmosphere makes for an episode one can sit through. The final sequence at the parade is just silly enough to make you giggle.
The Secret Word of the Day: Thing
The King’s Cartoons: Fin N’ Catty (produced by Chuck Jones in 1943)
Fun Fact: During the parade, the band plays “Louie Louie,” made famous by The Kingsmen.
You May Remember: Pee-wee’s big-shoe dance comes back in this episode during the parade sequence.
Blink and You’ll Miss: While most of the Playhouse characters are easy to spot during the parade, keep your eyes open for Roosevelt and Mr. Kite.
5.06 • Accidental Playhouse
Written by: John Moody and Doug Cox
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: October 13, 1990
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee receives a pen pal letter from his friend Oki Doki in Japan telling him that he’s coming to visit. Within moments, Oki arrives at the playhouse. During Oki’s visit, Pee-wee learns about Japanese culture.
“Accidental Playhouse” is a particularly fun episode, primarily because of all of the Japanese culture infused into the half hour. Globey’s recap of his tour to Japan is entertaining to watch, along with Oki introducing Pee-wee to sushi and to dubbed, Godzilla-type films. Although Pee-wee occasionally seems disinterested, most people would certainly find something of value in this episode.
The Secret Word of the Day: Place
The King’s Cartoon: Sinkin’ in the Bathtub (produced by Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising in 1930)
Fun Fact: This is the only episode where the secret word is said and flashed on the screen in a different language.
5.07 • Fun, Fun, Fun
Written by: Max Robert
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: October 20, 1990
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee watches a “moo-vie” (get it?) produced by Cowntess and then has fun making cheese balls with Miss Yvonne. The rest of his day is spent making a mobile out of construction paper and coat hangers and getting fit by doing aerobics.
As the title suggests, this is another episode devoid of a significant plot. The majority of the segments aren’t well executed or interesting to watch. For example, when Pee-wee makes the mobile, he has difficulty cutting the string because of the safety scissors he’s using. Then he occasionally has to maneuver the yarn to keep the construction paper figures from colliding with one another. The episode seems hastily put together from start to finish.
The Secret Word of the Day: On
The King’s Cartoon: Freddy the Freshman (produced by Rudolf Isling in 1932)
5.08 • Camping Out
Written by: John Paragon
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: October 27, 1990
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee and Cowboy Curtis go camping in the Grand Canyon. While there, they have a weenie roast and talk about the beauty of nature. While they are gone, Mrs. Rene playhouse-sits and keeps the puppets entertained.
“Camping Out” is really the last episode worth watching in this series. While it’s unfortunate to leave so many Playhouse characters behind, it is a nice change of pace to see Pee-wee and Cowboy Curtis alone with the elements. Their conversations are poignant without being too sappy and they still manage to have fun cracking jokes and singing.
The Secret Word of the Day: Wait
The King’s Cartoons: Allegretto (produced by Oskar Fischinger in 1936) and Balloon Land (produced by Ub Iwerks in 1935)
You May Remember: The footage inside the fridge is exactly the same as in “Mystery,” except this time the food is watching Sesame Street instead of Big Top Pee-wee. And the Balloon Land cartoon was shown during the 1981 and Club Nokia runs of The Pee-wee Herman Show. It was replaced during the Broadway run with a Penny cartoon.
5.09 • Something to DO
Written by: John Paragon
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: November 3, 1990
[© Ken Sax]
Pee-wee’s bored, so Jambi gives him a list of things to do. Pee-wee begins by drawing a self-portrait, moves on to blowing up a balloon, and finishes up by taking a walk with Miss Yvonne past the flowers and the waterfall picture hanging up in the playhouse.
“Something to Do” is a better executed version of “Fun, Fun, Fun,” but still suffers from a lack of purpose. The activities Pee-wee engages in during this episode are at least entertaining to watch. However, the episode loses points for the ill-placed musical interlude thrown in during the last few minutes.
The Secret Word of the Day: Do
Fun Fact: Pee-wee and Miss Yvonne lip-synch to “By a Waterfall” from the film Footlight Parade.
You May Remember: Pee-wee repeats his routine of letting the air out of a balloon in the revival of The Pee-wee Herman Show. And the “My Name Is” song from the third season’s “Reba Eats and Pterri Runs” is back in this episode.
5.10 • Playhouse for Sale
Written by: John Paragon
Directed by: John Paragon and Paul Reubens
Original airdate: November 10, 1990
[© Ken Sax]
In this final episode of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Miss Yvonne comes by the playhouse to visit, but Pee-wee isn’t there. Within a few moments, she discovers a “for sale” sign in the window. The characters all begin reminiscing about the good times they had and wondering what will become of them without a playhouse. When Pee-wee arrives, he explains that the sign originally was advertising lemonade for sale, but a portion of the sign fell off.
While there is a certain rationale be
hind ending a series with a clip show, it always feels boring and contrite. Pee-wee’s Playhouse was one of the most innovative shows on television and to end the show’s run with a barrage of flashbacks does a mild disservice to all the preceding episodes. It’s also hard to sit through an episode of the show where Pee-wee is present for less than three minutes. “Playhouse for Sale” is an unfortunate ending to an extraordinary series.
The Secret Word of the Day: Word
Fun Fact: The song that plays over the montage is “The Way We Were,” performed by Charlotte Crossley.
You May Remember: This episode includes clips from “Reba Eats and Pterri Runs,” “Open House,” “Chairry-Tee Drive,” “Love That Story,” “Spring,” “Store,” “Dr. Pee-wee and the Del Rubios,” “Pee-wee Catches a Cold,” “Tons of Fun,” “Playhouse Day,” “Miss Yvonne’s Visit,” “Rebarella,” “Front Page Pee-wee,” “Tango Time,” “Sick? Did Somebody Say Sick?,” “Fire in the Playhouse,” “Pajama Party,” and Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special. Miss Yvonne performs her ballet with the same music and choreography as in the original Pee-wee Herman Show. Also Pee-wee says he wouldn’t sell the playhouse, not even for “a million, billion, trillion, zillion dollars.” This same amount was ruled out in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure when Francis was trying to negotiate a price for Pee-wee’s bicycle.
[© John Duke Kisch / CBS]
Afterword
The Pee-wee Herman Show had its official opening on November 11, 2010, with a red carpet event attended by Alan Cumming, Rosie O’Donnell, Chita Rivera, Susan Sarandon, John Waters, Wendy Williams, and Playhouse alumni S. Epatha Merkerson and Natasha Lyonne, among others. The show received overwhelmingly positive reviews from nearly all major news outlets, with the New York Times declaring the show “yummier than chocolate!”
Pee-wee’s Broadway run was an undeniable success, generating over $6.3 million in ticket sales alone in during its 10-week engagement. The show ran for 18 previews and 62 regular performances. The comeback of Pee-wee Herman placed second on the New York Times’ list of 110 topics New Yorkers were discussing most in 2010.
On December 21, 2010, weeks before the show was scheduled to close on January 2, 2011, it was announced that HBO would air a special presentation of The Pee-wee Herman Show on March 19, 2011, that would be taped a couple of months earlier on January 6. Nancy Geller, senior vice president of HBO original programming, put it best in a press release: “Before his hit series and movies, HBO introduced Paul Reubens’ Pee-wee Herman to a national audience in the ‘Young Comedians’ series, followed by the groundbreaking 1981 special. It’s thrilling to have Paul back on the network, and it will be a blast to return to Pee-wee’s playhouse.”
Pee-wee’s fans, whether they were first introduced to him in the 1980s or late 2000s, couldn’t agree with her more.
The Puppetland Directory
Richard Abramson: Paul Reubens’ manager (1984–1987), producer of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, and executive producer of Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987) and Big Top Pee-wee.
Lori Alan: Understudy and vocal actress for the Los Angeles run of The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010).
Craig Bartlett: Animator on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987–1991).
Steve Binder: Producer of Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987–1989) and Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special.
Kent Burton: Animator for Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987, 1989–1991).
Tim Burton: Director of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
Johann Carlo: Actress who played Dixie on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Kevin Carlson: Actor and puppeteer who voiced and operated Clocky, Floory, and Conky on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987–1991).
Peggy Charren: Founder and president of Action for Children’s Television.
Scott Chester: Personal assistant to Richard Abramson (1983–1987) and Paul Reubens (1987–1988) and associate producer of Big Top Pee-wee.
Doug Chiang: Animator for Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987–1991).
The Chiodo Brothers: Puppet builders for The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010–2011).
Jay Cotton: Composer of the score for both productions of The Pee-wee Herman Show and songwriter and coproducer of Pee-wee Herman’s single, “I Know You Are, But What Am I?”
Valerie Curtin: Cowriter of The Pee-wee Herman Story, the film announced in 1999 that has yet to be released.
E.G. Daily: Actress who played Dottie in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
Dave Daniels: Animator for Pee-wee’s Playhouse and Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special.
John DeFazio: Animator on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Sal Denaro: Constructed the dinosaur family armatures for Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Doug Draizin: Paul Reubens’ agent through Agency for the Performing Arts (1979–1983).
Danny Elfman: Composer for Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and several episodes of Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
Artie Esposito: Puppet builder and puppeteer for the Los Angeles run of The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010).
Prudence Fenton: Emmy Award–winning animation and effects producer for Pee-wee’s Playhouse and cartoon and film consultant for The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010–2011).
Laurence (Larry) Fishburne: Actor who played Cowboy Curtis on Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
Bill Freiberger: Animation director for Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1989–1991).
Barbara Gallucci: Animator on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Monica Ganas: Cowriter and actress who played Mrs. Jelly Donut in The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981).
Jesse Garcia: Actor who played Sergio in The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010).
Jared Geller: Associate producer of The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010–2011) who is also credited with convincing Paul Reubens to revive his stage show.
Richard “Golly” Goleszowski: Animator on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Valeria Golino: Actress who played Gina in Big Top Pee-wee.
Sonny Grosso: Producer for Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1989–1991).
Greg Harrison: Puppeteer and puppet builder on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Phil Hartman: Actor who played Kap’n Karl in The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981) and Captain Carl in Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987) and cowriter of The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981) and Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
Ric Heitzman: Emmy Award–winning art director who also voiced and operated puppets on Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
Larry Jacobson: Producer for Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1989–1991).
Vaughn Tyree Jelks: Actor who played Fabian on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987–1988).
Haley Jenkins: Puppeteer for The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010–2011).
Lynette Johnson: Miniature clothing specialist who worked on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987–1988).
Patrick Johnson: Puppet builder and puppeteer for the Los Angeles run of The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010).
Sean Johnson: Puppet builder and puppeteer for the Los Angeles run of The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010).
Stephen R. Johnson: Director of Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Victoria Johnson: Puppet designer and puppeteer for the Los Angeles run of The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010).
Phyllis Katz: Member of the Groundlings who taught the class in which Paul Reubens first developed the Pee-wee Herman character.
Dawna Kaufmann: Executive in charge of production of The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981).
Suzanne Kent: Actress who played Mrs. Rene on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987–1991).
John Duke Kisch: Still photographer for Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Randal Kleiser: Director of Big Top Pee-wee.
Erik Kuska: Puppet builder and puppeteer for the Los Angeles run of The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010).
Kevin Ladson: A production assistant on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–19
87).
Phil LaMarr: Actor who played Cowboy Curtis in The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010–2011).
Cyndi Lauper: Singer who provided the vocals for the Pee-wee’s Playhouse theme song.
Glenn Lazzaro: Editor for the Magic Screen sequences for Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Joan Leizman: Actress who played Joan in The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981).
Gilbert Lewis: Actor who first played the King of Cartoons on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Natasha Lyonne: Actress who played Opal on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1987).
Karen Lyons: Toy designer for Pee-wee’s Playhouse merchandise.
William Marshall: Actor who played the King of Cartoons on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987–1991) after Gilbert Lewis.
Edie McClurg: Actress who played Hermit Hattie and cowrote The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981).
Bill McEuen: Paul Reubens’ agent (1983–1986) and executive producer of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
George McGrath: Cowriter for Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986–1988) and Big Top Pee-wee. Also a puppeteer who provided voices on Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
Tom McLaughlin: Animator on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987–1991).
Michael McLean: Paul Reubens’ agent (circa 1991).
S. Epatha Merkerson: Actress who played Reba the Mail Lady on Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
Josh Meyers: Actor who played Fireman Phineas in The Pee-wee Herman Show (2010–2011).
Penelope Ann Miller: Actress who portrayed Winnie in Big Top Pee-wee.
John Moody: Cowriter for The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981) and actor who played Mailman Mike in both productions of the show. He was also a writer on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1989–1991).
Inside Pee-wee's Playhouse Page 20
