Pee-wee's Playhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pee-wee's Playhouse |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by | Paul Reubens |
| Presented by | Pee-wee Herman |
| Starring |
|
| Theme music composer | George McGrath, Mark Mothersbaugh, & Paul Reubens |
| Opening theme | Mark Mothersbaugh |
| Ending theme | Mark Mothersbaugh |
| Composer(s) |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 45 + Christmas Special (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Paul Reubens Richard Abramson |
| Production location(s) |
|
| Camera setup |
|
| Running time | 23–24 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
|
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Picture format | 4:3 NTSC (480i) |
| Audio format | CBS Stereo Sound |
| Original release | September 13, 1986 – November 17, 1990 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The Pee-wee Herman Show |
Pee-wee's Playhouse was a popular American children's television program. It starred Paul Reubens as the fun-loving character Pee-wee Herman. The show aired on Saturday mornings on CBS from 1986 to 1990. It was known for its unique style and silly humor.
The show was created from Paul Reubens' earlier stage performances. It also came from a TV special called The Pee-wee Herman Show. This special was similar but had more jokes for adults. Pee-wee's Playhouse became a big hit with kids and families. It was even ranked as one of the "Top Cult Shows Ever" by TV Guide in 2004 and 2007.
Contents
Exploring Pee-wee's Playhouse
The show takes place in Pee-wee Herman's amazing Playhouse. This house is full of strange and wonderful things. It has talking furniture and appliances, like Chairry and Magic Screen. There are also many puppet friends, such as Conky the Robot and Pterri the baby Pteranodon. Jambi, a genie's head in a jeweled box, also lives there. He can grant wishes!
Who Visits the Playhouse?
Many human characters visit the Playhouse regularly. These include Miss Yvonne, Reba The Mail Lady, Captain Carl, and Cowboy Curtis. A group of children called The Playhouse Gang also joins in the fun.
How the Show Was Made
Pee-wee's Playhouse was mostly a live-action comedy. But it also used many cool special effects. These included puppetry, video animation, and Chroma-key effects. For example, Pee-wee could jump right into the Magic Screen! The show also featured clay animation clips, some made by Aardman Animations. This is the same studio that later created Wallace & Gromit.
The show also played old cartoons from the "Golden Age of American animation." These were usually introduced by a character called "The King of Cartoons." Each episode had special music. Famous musicians like Mark Mothersbaugh (from Devo) and Todd Rundgren helped create the music. The show's theme song was sung by Cyndi Lauper, though she was credited as "Ellen Shaw."
Fun and Games in the Playhouse
Every episode of Pee-wee's Playhouse had funny running jokes. There was often a "secret word" for the day. Viewers were told to "scream real loud" every time a character said the word. This made watching the show interactive and exciting for kids.
The show ran for five seasons and had 45 episodes. The last new episode aired on November 17, 1990. Reruns continued for a while, but the show ended its run in July 1991.
Meet the Characters
Many actors who later became famous appeared on the show. These include Laurence Fishburne, Phil Hartman, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Natasha Lyonne. Even some future filmmakers worked behind the scenes.
The show also had a special Christmas episode in its third season. It featured many guest stars! Famous people like Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Magic Johnson, Joan Rivers, Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, and Little Richard made appearances.
Human Friends in the Playhouse
| Character | Played by | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pee-wee Herman | Paul Reubens | The main host of the show. Pee-wee is like a fun-loving child. He is usually cheerful but can have silly temper tantrums. |
| Cowboy Curtis | Laurence Fishburne | A cool cowboy with a unique hairstyle. |
| Captain Carl (first season) | Phil Hartman | A gruff but shy sea captain. He often brings interesting things from the ocean. |
| Miss Yvonne | Lynne Marie Stewart | Known as "the most beautiful woman in Puppetland." She loves beauty and often flirts with other characters. |
| Reba the Mail Lady | S. Epatha Merkerson | The mail carrier who sometimes gets confused by the Playhouse rules. |
| The King of Cartoons | Gilbert Lewis (first season); William H. Marshall (later seasons) |
He shows a short cartoon clip. His catchphrase is "Let the cartoon begin!" |
| Tito (first season only) | Roland Rodriguez | The Playhouse lifeguard. |
| Ricardo | Vic Trevino | A soccer star who replaced Tito after the first season. |
| Mrs. Steve | Shirley Stoler | A frequent visitor in the first season who enjoyed eating and looking around. |
| Mrs. Rene | Suzanne Kent | Pee-wee's neighbor who replaced Mrs. Steve. She is much more fun-loving. |
| Dixie (first season only) | Johann Carlo | A taxi driver who introduced the King of Cartoons by playing her trumpet. |
| The Playhouse Gang (first season) | Natasha Lyonne (Opal); Shawn Weiss (Elvis); Diane Yang (Cher) |
Three children who played with Pee-wee in the first season. |
| The Playhouse Gang (second season) | Vaughn Tyree Jelks (Fabian); Alisan Porter (Li'l Punkin); Stephanie Walski (Rapunzel) |
Three different children who appeared in the second season. |
| Roosevelt | Unknown | Pee-wee's dog. Pee-wee can understand what he says. |
Puppet and Object Friends
| Character | Voiced by | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Jambi | John Paragon | A blue-faced genie's head in a box. He grants wishes when everyone chants, "Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho." |
| Chairry | Alison Mork | A bluish-green armchair with eyes and a mouth. She sometimes hugs Pee-wee. |
| Magic Screen | Alison Mork | A screen on wheels that looks like an Etch-A-Sketch. It shows films, and Pee-wee can jump inside it. |
| Pterri | John Paragon (seasons 1, 3–5); George McGrath (season 2) |
A green pteranodon who is one of Pee-wee's best friends. He acts like a sensitive young child. |
| Mr. Window | Ric Heitzman | The talking window to the left of the Playhouse door. He introduces other characters. |
| Clockey | Kevin Carlson | A yellow and red clock shaped like the United States. He often introduces cartoons. |
| Conky 2000 | Gregory Harrison (season 1); Kevin Carlson (later seasons) |
The Playhouse robot. He gives Pee-wee the "secret word" each week. |
| Globey | George McGrath | A spinning globe with a face and arms. He speaks with a French accent and helps Pee-wee with facts. |
| Puppet Band | Wayne White (Dirty Dog) Ric Heitzman (Cool Cat) Alison Mork (Chicky Baby) |
Three animal puppets who play jazz music. They often speak in rhymes. |
| Mr. Kite | Wayne White | A pink kite that appears in the window for weather reports. |
| Randy | Wayne White | A red-headed marionette who acts as the Playhouse bully. |
| Billy Baloney | Paul Reubens | A blonde ventriloquist dummy that Pee-wee sometimes operates. |
| Dog Chair | George McGrath | A white chaise longue that looks like a dog's face. |
| The Ants | Miscellaneous | Animated ants in an ant farm who do human activities. |
| The Dinosaur Family | George McGrath (Red) Alison Mork (Light Blue) Ric Heitzman (Blue) Kevin Carlson (Pink) |
Tiny, clay-animation dinosaurs living in a mouse hole. |
| Food | Miscellaneous | Clay-animation food items from Pee-wee's refrigerator that dance. |
| Flowers | Ric Heitzman George McGrath Wayne White |
Three talking flowers in a flowerbed. They introduce the King of Cartoons. |
| Fish | Ric Heitzman (Purple); George McGrath (Yellow) |
The fish that live in the Playhouse aquarium. |
| Penny | Avriel Hillman | A clay animation short about a blonde girl with pennies for eyes. |
| Knucklehead | Gregory Harrison (season 1) Kevin Carlson (season 2) |
A large fist with eyes and lipstick that tells bad knock-knock jokes. |
| Cowntess | George McGrath | A life-sized, talking cow with an elegant voice. |
| Salesman | Ric Heitzman | A giant salesman who rings the doorbell shouting about an "incredible offer!" |
| Floory | Kevin Carlson | A section of the Playhouse floor that stands up and talks. |
| Chandelier | Alison Mork | A talking chandelier with a French accent. |
| Magic Glasses | N/A | Glasses attached to a hat with a monkey's head. Pee-wee wears them to see different things. |
| Exercise Belt | Ric Hetizman | A vintage vibrating belt exercise machine. |
| Toys | Miscellaneous | Pee-wee's strange toys kept in a smiley face-shaped window. |
| El Hombre | Tito Larriva | A Spanish-language cartoon about a superhero. |
