"Pee-wee's Playhouse" (1986) TV series 1986-1991

Directors:

Steven Johnson
Guy J. Louthan

Writers:

Rob Bragin (writer)
Phil Hartman (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

13 September 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy | Musical

Plot:

Pee-Wee Herman and his friends have wacky, imaginative fun in his unique playhouse.

Plot Keywords:

Playhouse | Pee Wee | Cowboy | King | Mail Carrier

Awards:

17 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

George McGrath	...	Globey / ... (34 episodes, 1986-1990)
Alison Mork	...	Chairry / ... (29 episodes, 1986-1990)
Paul Reubens	...	Pee-wee Herman / ... (22 episodes, 1986-1990)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (45 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

BRB Entertainment Inc.

Trivia:

It is rumored that the concept for the show actually came from Andy Kaufman with his co-writer Bob Zmuda, who dubbed it "Andy's Funhouse," based on Kaufman's experiences doing children's birthday parties and performing for children. In an Onion AV Club interview Reubens refuted this rumor, stating, "I've heard that a lot, but I don't know where that came from, actually. Andy had 'Andy's Funhouse' around the same time. I saw it performed - I was this huge Andy Kaufman fan. But no, we were just both doing kids' shows. When I look back at them now, I think what Andy did wasn't really similar to what I did."

Quotes:

[recurring line]
Pee-wee: I love that story.

Movie Connections:

Featured in TV's Illest Minority Moments Presented by Ego Trip (2004) (TV)

Only now do you realize the power of the dark side!

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.*