Pee-wee's Playhouse

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.*

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!!!

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.

I grew up watching this show. It was my favorite for three years. Now I would like to know, why do all kids shows filmed these days have to be so dull? YES, I know that Pee Wee Herman was a goofy guy, but he was just acting. If you watch this show, you'll see that he could be serious, and was when trying to make important points. This is one show that I can still enjoy, even being in my twenties. It's funny for kids, and it also teaches kids important facts, such as episodes where they talk about fire safety, health care, nutritious foods and many other things too numerous to mention. Not only that, but there is some great adult humor involved, which I can now understand MUCH BETTER!

It was STUPID of CBS to cancel this show just because of Pee Wee's arrest. They shouldn't have arrested him in the first place. It's not like he was in a kids' movie--he was at an all adult XXX rated movie. What harm did that have on kids who watch his show?

Just go to internet sites like e-Bay, and see how popular Pee Wee still is. Then see about other old kids stuff, like Power Rangers! Pee Wee's playhouse had a great plot, and was funny. Talking furniture, and goofy characters were fun to watch, and I will never forget the entertainment the Pee Wee provided me with! BRAVO, Herman!

How much fun was this show? If you didn't like it, I feel a bit sorry for you. I know I can't help but "SMILE" everytime I think of this show, and PeeWee in particular. I had no favorite characters, nor storylines - i just let it take me away, and let it stand on its own merits. Isn't it a shame that, altho it wasnt that long ago, it seems like it was a simpler time?

From those of us fans, WE MISS YOU, PAUL! PeeWee was the best, and my life is better for having seen and enjoyed the experience.