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.

My brother and I loved Pee Wee Herman's Playhouse. I was 10 and my brother was 8 when it came on. It made learning a lot of fun believe it or not. My grandmother couldn't stand it whenever we put Pee Wee on but far be it from a 10 year old girl and an 8 year old boy to listen to anything that their grandparents have to say. I didn't care about anything that my grandmother had to say. I still love Pee Wee Herman and there's not a single thing that he could do wrong in my eyes.

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!!!

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'm kind of a strange case when it comes to this show. I never watched it when it was being produced because I was 18 and I thought it would be a "baby show." Oh, ha-ha-ha. MY MISTAKE! After it was pulled from the line-up because Paul Reubens had to go and pull his little stunt(among other things that he pulled) in the porno parlor,I read about how 1/3 of his fans were 18+, so I decided to check it out when FoxFamily (now ABC family)aired the repeats in 1998. I was 30. I was hooked. This wasn't just kiddie fare. This was wacky, warpy comedy wih something for everyone. For the kids,it was a straight out kid show, and for adults, it was a wonderfully zany spoof of the kiddie shows they grew up with, and for the ladies . . . there was (girlie-type sigh) Tito, the devastatingly handsome lifeguard at the Playhouse pool (after they let him go, the show was still excellent, but it was missing something. (Ricardo was cute, but nothing like the gorgeous Tito!)Truly a show with something for everyone and I recommend it highly. Comedy, satire, wonderfully cartoony sets, and a caramel-complexioned caballero who's hotter than habanero. It doesn't get much better than that