Christmas Special (1988) (TV)

Directors:

Wayne Orr
Paul Reubens

Writers:

John Paragon (writer)
Paul Reubens (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Musical

Plot:

Pee-wee Herman and pals are celebrating Christmas in the Playhouse in their own creative ways: Pee-wee makes a list for Santa Claus 1 1/2 miles long...

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Santa Claus | Snow | Cameo | Christmas Gift

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Paul Reubens	...	Pee-wee Herman
Annette Funicello	...	Herself
Frankie Avalon	...	Himself
Grace Jones	...	Herself
k.d. lang	...	Herself
Dinah Shore	...	Herself
Little Richard	...	Himself
Cher	...	Herself
Eadie Del Rubio	...	Del Rubio Triplette #1
Magic Johnson	...	Magic Screen's Cousin
Elena Del Rubio	...	Del Rubio Triplette #2
Zsa Zsa Gabor	...	Princess Zsa Zsa
Milly Del Rubio	...	Del Rubio Triplette #3
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Herself
Oprah Winfrey	...	Herself

Also Known As:

Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse (USA) (alternative title)
Pee-Wee Herman's Christmas Special (USA) (complete title)
Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

49 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Binder Entertainment

Trivia:

The choir of Marines was actually the Men's Choir of UCLA (in marine uniforms). The producers had hoped to book the actual Marine Corps choir, but they were unavailable at the time of filming.

Quotes:

Dinah Shore: [to the tune of "12 Days of Christmas"] On the 500th day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...

Movie Connections:

Features Christmas Comes But Once a Year (1936)

Soundtrack:

Christmas in the Playhouse

The educational angle gets in the way of the comedy...though it is still bright and eclectic

Watching Pee-wee Herman's Christmas special 21 years after it first aired, many thoughts go through the viewer's mind as to what transpired in comedian Paul Reubens' life and career up to this point--and what has happened since (indeed, in his DVD commentary, Reubens is soft-spoken and even contrite concerning the past two decades). Reubens' creation was originally a naughty one-act for grown-ups, his material laced with innuendo, so it has always stumped me why he chose to be a kiddie entertainer. Apparently, his heart was really in it, and the results are there on the screen...yet when hunky construction workers are seen building the fruitcake room, one may sense a wink and a nudge from the old days. Many guests join Pee-wee at his Playhouse to help usher in the Christmas cheer, including a fleeting Cher, a colorful Little Richard, a tormented Frankie Avalon & Annette Funicello, a very young k.d. lang, a scarily elegant Grace Jones, a saucy Charo, and all of Herman's friends from his weekly television program (including co-writer John Paragon as Jambi, with incredible make-up). It's very light and easy, obviously put together rather quickly, and lacking a bit in high-end laughter. Pee-wee's newfound penchant to be educationally sound detracts from the fun, as does the proverbial meaning-of-Christmas speech which comes off a little heavy. Still, it moves along at a merry pace, Pee-wee is occasionally a funny jerk, and the celebrities all seem remarkably in step with the fanciful humor at hand.