Amazon.com video review:
In the mid-1980s, Saturday morning television was turned upside down by the brash arrival of Pee-wee Herman (comedian Paul Reubens) and his dreamlike
playhouse. What sets Pee-wee apart from the rest of the Saturday morning
pack is his universal appeal to kids, teens, and adults. Kids love the bright
cartoony colors, the word of the day (accompanied by screams whenever
anyone utters it), and the animated residents of the playhouse; teens find in him
a hip icon; and adults savor the sophisticated humor, sunny
double-entendres, and Pee-wee's way
with kids--he never condescends, teaches valuable lessons, and has fun
doing it. This collection of the first 16 episodes includes the first show,
in which Pee-wee remodels his playhouse, along with Pee-wee catching a cold,
attending a Hawaiian luau, and throwing a party, Miss Yvonne's (Lynne Stewart)
temporary stay at the playhouse, and more. Cultural-savvy viewers will
recognize the Playhouse characters who went on to later fame: Cowboy
Curtis (Oscar nominee Laurence Fishburne), Captain Carl (Saturday Night
Live's Phil Hartman), Mail Lady Reba (Law and Order's S. Epatha
Merkerson), and in a guest appearance, Jimmy Smits as an all-important TV
repairman. Unlike most TV series, this one has aged wonderfully, and
Pee-wee's humor and understanding of how to entertain and teach children make
this a perennial favorite for kids, parents, and even grown-up Gen-Xers.
--Mark Englehart
