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

Creator:

Paul Reubens
(more)

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:

Friend | Pee Wee | Playhouse | Cowboy | King

Awards:

17 wins & 46 nominations

Cast

Paul Reubens	...	Pee-wee Herman / ... (45 episodes, 1986-1990)
George McGrath	...	Globey / ... (34 episodes, 1986-1990)
Alison Mork	...	Chairry / ... (29 episodes, 1986-1990)

Series Directed by
Stephen R. Johnson		(12 episodes, 1986)
Paul Reubens		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bill Freiberger		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
George McGrath		(23 episodes, 1986-1987)
Paul Reubens		(8 episodes, 1986-1987)
Max Robert		(7 episodes, 1986-1987)
John Paragon		(2 episodes, 1986)
David Steven Cohen		(2 episodes, 1990)
Rob Bragin		(unknown episodes)
Phil Hartman		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Larry Jacobson	....	producer (45 episodes, 1986-1990)
Paul Reubens	....	executive producer / producer (4 episodes, 1986-1990)
Richard Gilbert Abramson	....	executive producer / producer (3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Prudence Fenton	....	animation producer / senior animation producer (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Andrea Miller	....	associate producer / co-coordinating producer (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Steve Binder	....	producer (2 episodes, 1987)
Thomas A. Bliss	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1987)
Bruce Golin	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Sonny Grosso	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Frank Saperstein	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Mark Mothersbaugh		(37 episodes, 1986-1990)
Danny Elfman		(4 episodes, 1986-1987)
Todd Rundgren		(4 episodes, 1986)
The Residents		(4 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mark Snow		(2 episodes, 1990)

Series Cinematography by
David Lewis		(21 episodes, 1988-1990)
Daryl Studebaker		(13 episodes, 1986)
Peter Smokler		(10 episodes, 1987)

Series Film Editing by
Les Kaye		(14 episodes, 1986-1987)
Joe Castellano		(13 episodes, 1986)
Paul Dougherty		(13 episodes, 1986)
Doug Jines		(13 episodes, 1986)
Howard Silver		(13 episodes, 1986)
Billy Fox		(unknown episodes, 1987-1988)
Karen Tessler		(unknown episodes, 1989-1990)
William Flicker		(unknown episodes)
Richard Schwadel		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Marcia Shulman		(1 episode, 1986)
Diane Dimeo		(1 episode, 1987)
Ann Ross		(1 episode, 1990)

Series Production Design by
Ric Heitzman		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Gary Panter		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Wayne White		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jimmy Cuomo		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Sydney J. Bartholomew Jr.		(1 episode, 1986)
Jeremy Railton		(1 episode, 1987)

Series Set Decoration by
Nancy Greenstein		(1 episode, 1986)
Ric Heitzman		(1 episode, 1987)
Gary Panter		(1 episode, 1987)
Jeremy Railton		(1 episode, 1987)
Paul Reubens		(1 episode, 1987)
Wayne White		(1 episode, 1987)
Nancy Deren		(unknown episodes)
Deborah Madalena-Lloyd		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Alvin		(13 episodes, 1986)

Series Makeup Department
Karen Reuter Fabbo	....	co-key makeup (42 episodes, 1986-1990)
Eric Gregg	....	wigs (13 episodes, 1986)
Sally Hershberger	....	hairdresser / key hair stylist (13 episodes, 1986)
Sharon Ilson	....	makeup artist (13 episodes, 1986)
Jerry Masone	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Production Management
Jim Riche	....	production manager (13 episodes, 1986)
Richard Quan	....	animation production manager (13 episodes, 1989-1990)
Howard G. Malley	....	executive in charge of production (10 episodes, 1987)
Jim Michaels	....	post-production supervisor (9 episodes, 1987)
Ken Winber	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1988)
George H. Cook	....	production manager (unknown episodes)
Rick Finn	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)
April Lee Grebb	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Troy Miller	....	executive in charge of production (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jim Czarnecki	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1986)
Peggy Jacobson	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1986)
Benita Allen	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1987)
Curtis Collins	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1987)
Thomas Schellenberg	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1987)
Robert Loeser	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1990)
Neil Kinsella	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes, 1989)
Greg Ciaccio	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Joan Cunningham	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Craig Edwards	....	model builder (13 episodes, 1986)
Edie Robinette-Petrachi	....	painter (13 episodes, 1986)
James Higginson	....	property master (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Dorne Huebler	....	animation art director (unknown episodes)
Kevin Ladson	....	prop production assistant (unknown episodes)
Andrew M. Siegel	....	on-set assistant property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Peter Cole	....	dialogue editor / re-recording mixer / ... (23 episodes, 1987-1990)
Ken Dahlinger	....	sound effects editor / sound effects / ... (22 episodes, 1987-1990)
Steve Kirklys	....	supervising sound effects editor / supervising mixer / ... (22 episodes, 1987-1990)
John Walker	....	sound effects editor / sound mixer (21 episodes, 1988-1990)
Bo Harwood	....	production sound mixer (20 episodes, 1989-1990)
Troy Smith	....	re-recording mixer (20 episodes, 1989-1990)
Chris Trent	....	dialogue editor / dialogue mixer / ... (20 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ken Hahn	....	re-recording mixer (13 episodes, 1986)
Rolf Pardula	....	sound mixer (13 episodes, 1986)
Dana Mark McClure	....	production sound mixer / sound mixer (13 episodes, 1987-1989)
Philippe Desloovere	....	sound effects supervisor / supervising sound editor (11 episodes, 1986)
Bill Marino	....	sound effects supervisor / supervising sound editor (11 episodes, 1986)
Greg Teall	....	sound effects editor (11 episodes, 1988-1989)
Debbie Pinthus	....	boom operator (7 episodes, 1987)
Brett Vail	....	sound assistant (4 episodes, 1990)
Chuck Fitzpatrick	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Sal Denaro	....	puppet maker (13 episodes, 1986)
Jimi Udel	....	special effects art director (12 episodes, 1986)
Prudence Fenton	....	special effects director (unknown episodes)
Steve Koch	....	puppet builder (unknown episodes)
John Palmer	....	special effects foreman (unknown episodes)
Don Waller	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Patrick Clancey	....	visual effects compositor (20 episodes, 1989-1990)
Reid Paul	....	visual effects director of photography (12 episodes, 1986)
Spencer Cook	....	stop motion animator (unknown episodes)
Scott Milne	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Suzanne Smith	....	model maker (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	electrician (45 episodes, 1986-1990)
Alex Aurichio	....	first assistant camera (13 episodes, 1986)
Jeffrey M. Hoffman	....	camera operator (13 episodes, 1986)
Ethan Phillips	....	camera operator / gaffer (13 episodes, 1986)
Vincent E. Toto	....	animation camera operator (13 episodes, 1988-1990)
Steven R. Monroe	....	assistant camera (12 episodes, 1989-1990)
Dave Carroll	....	key grip / dolly grip (10 episodes, 1986)
Liz Dory	....	assistant camera (10 episodes, 1987)
David Tolsky	....	second assistant camera (8 episodes, 1986)
Peter Nelson	....	assistant camera (6 episodes, 1986)
Elana Kolker	....	second assistant camera (5 episodes, 1986)
Claudia Raschke	....	second assistant camera (5 episodes, 1986)
Howard Krupa	....	dolly grip first unit (3 episodes, 1986)
John R.A. Benson	....	camera operator: motion control (unknown episodes)
Tom Keefer	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Gary Molyneux	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Gay E. Riedel	....	best boy electric (unknown episodes)
Mark H. Weingartner	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Spencer Cook	....	stop motion animator (13 episodes, 1986)
John Lindauer	....	animation director (12 episodes, 1989-1990)
Phil Trumbo	....	animation director / director: opening titles (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Stephen Holman	....	painter (2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Scott Beauchemin	....	animation editor (unknown episodes)
Prudence Fenton	....	animation director / animator (unknown episodes)
Glenn Lazzaro	....	animation editor (unknown episodes)
April March	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Don Waller	....	animator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Ann Ross	....	extras casting (1 episode, 1990)
Darren Sefton	....	extras casting (1 episode, 1990)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lisa Grace Erndt	....	wardrobe supervisor (1 episode, 1986)
Candis Heiland	....	wardrobe supervisor (1 episode, 1986)
Sandy Berke Jordan	....	wardrobe supervisor (1 episode, 1987)
Milton G. Mangum	....	wardrobe supervisor (1 episode, 1987)

Series Editorial Department
Kathy Siegel	....	post-production supervisor (11 episodes, 1987-1988)
Cheryl Campsmith	....	on-line editor (10 episodes, 1987)
Steve Kirklys	....	supervising editor (10 episodes, 1989)
Paula Stein	....	post-production coordinator (8 episodes, 1988-1990)
Chris Howe	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Mark Mothersbaugh	....	composer: main and end title music / composer: title theme (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Will Urban	....	composer: additional music (2 episodes, 1986)
Peter Cole	....	music editor (unknown episodes)
Joe Delia	....	composer: additional music (unknown episodes)
Scott Thunes	....	composer: additional music (unknown episodes)
Dweezil Zappa	....	composer: additional music (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Peter Nissen	....	production assistant (13 episodes, 1986)
Robert D. Tucker	....	production assistant (13 episodes, 1986)
Rick Ashman	....	production assistant (10 episodes, 1986)
Walker Fenton	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1990)
Yvonne Ramond	....	first assistant accountant (unknown episodes, 1989)
Jonathan Berman	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Dorne Huebler	....	title designer (unknown episodes)
Adam Lichtenstein	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
John Singleton	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Rob Zombie	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Matt Chaikin	....	special thanks (1 episode, 1987)
Scott E. Chester	....	special thanks (1 episode, 1987)

Production Companies

• Pee Wee Pictures
• Broadcast Arts Productions (in association with) (1986)
• BRB Entertainment Inc.
• Binder Entertainment
• Grosso-Jacobson Productions
• Heron Communications (videotape version)

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1986-1991) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Fox Family Channel (1998) (USA) (TV) (repeats)
• Hi-Tops Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 1-4)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Aardman Animations  claymation

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:

Pee Wee Pictures

Trivia:

It is often assumed that the main reason for the cancellation of the series was Paul Reubens indictment for obscenity for an incident in an adult theater in Florida, but in fact Reubens and CBS had mutually agreed to end the show in 1991. CBS did, however, choose not to air the reruns of episodes they had planned for August of that year, and the final network telecast was 27 July 1991.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Jambi:Your wish is granted. Long live Jambi!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Strongbad_email.exe: Disc Five (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Pee-wee's Playhouse Theme

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.*