Customer Reviews

Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This best thing about this Christmas DVD is that it makes me feel happy and like a kid again. How can you not enjoy seeing Little Richard continually falling while trying to ice skate? Annete Funicello with green teeth? Whoopie Goldberg begging for work? Dinah Shore giddily singing without realizing she is annoying everyone? Pee-Wee and a group of Marines in a dance number? The answer is you can't help but enjoy every minute of it. This special just oozes fun and camp. But the real incredible thing is that it's all about something positive - selfnessness. And this moral is never beaten over your head or made overly sappy. It's simply part of the whole.

Pop this DVD in and kids as well as adults will eventually stop what they are doing to watch the amazing antics. Afterwards everyone will be full of Christmas cheer be it December or the middle of July. This is truly a SPECIAL Christmas Special.

From 1988 and broadcast just once, comes this gem from the mind of Paul Reubens. Released in 2004 along with the rest of the "Pee Wee's Playhouse" output, this stand alone special has been a yearly tradition in our household. Now we can retire our videotape for the DVD format.

The special features are limited, only two, and they are both commentaries. The first one features Paul Reubens, co-writer John Paragon (who also plays Jambi) and Lynne Marie Stewart who plays Miss Yvonne, the most beautiful lady in all of Playland. The second commentary features four of the puppeteers who certainly had a lot to do in the special. The insights and tidbits on both of these commentaries are a great bonus.

The show itself is fast paced and gives you a chance to visit with some old friends. Pee Wee's humor may not be for all, but if you enjoyed the series, you will certainly enjoy this special where holiday traditions are examined and lessons of the spirit of giving are learned.

The supporting cast includes members who have gone on to bigger things including Laurence Fishburne as Cowboy Curtis and S. Epatha Merkerson as Reba The Mail Lady (who is now a regular on NBC's "Law and Order" minus the dreadlocks). The guests include Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, Charo, The Del Rubio Triplets, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Whoopi Goldberg, Magic Johnson, Grace Jones, k.d. lang, Little Richard, Joan Rivers, Dinah Shore and Oprah Winfrey. Stars, music, fun, a great package.

The transfer is fresh from the masters with Dolby Digital sound and is close-captioned. Highly recommended if you want to catch the Christmas spirit.

It's not typical TV jokes that make this video so funny. It's just how ridiculous the whole thing is. You don't have time to stop and think as Pee-Wee welcomes a bizarre array of guests from Magic Johnson to k.d. lang, as well as all the Playhouse regulars. Who knew Little Richard could skate? Why was someone mailing Grace Jones to the White House? (Ronald Reagan was celebrating his final Christmas in office when this came out.) Why is Frankie Avalon making Christmas cards with a potato?

When Pee-Wee stops to point out the real meaning of Christmas, I was expecting a watered-down "time for giving and sharing" message, but he actually acknowledges the religious meaning. Talk about unexpected! So just forget about Pee-Wee's offscreen trouble, and enjoy the show.

Christmas specials are usually so boring & formulaic, but not this one! It's as insanely & surreally hilarious as the Saturday morning TV show, but it also has a good message about selflessness (without being preachy about it), plus even acknowledging the celebration of Jesus' birth as the origin of Christmas! My favorite part is when Grace Jones (!!) sings "Little Drummer Boy" while at the playhouse (probably the strangest rendition of that song I've ever heard or seen!), when she was misdelivered there! (She was actually being mailed to the WHITE House -- I didn't know Reagan was into that kind of music!) Hilarious year-round viewing!!

First VHS, then laserdisc, now DVD. I have 'em all, because it is just that good. (Cher, by the way, was not credited when the show originally aired, but does appear.)

From the opening sequence, when one of those military boys gooses Pee-Wee, to the final moment, where Dinah Shore sings to the Pee-Wee mannequin, this show is hilarious and touching through and through. kd lang and Grace Jones are delightful. But I think Charo's performance of "Feliz Navidad" is the stand-out. Brings a tear every year. All that, and a holiday message that resonates for kids and adults.

Truly a classic.

A couple months ago Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens along with puppeteers & others got together to do the commentary track for this Christmas Special...YEAH for the extras!!!
INSIDE SCOOP FROM FORMER PLAYHOUSE PUPPETEER: Better yet, the gang will be getting back together in the future for commentaries to go with the upcoming DVD release of the Playhouse-
Aarrrgggghhhhh!

This is one of the best things to come out of the '80s. The Pee Wee Xmas Special is that very rare program indeed. Weird, weird, weird, funny, charmimg, colorful, sweet and twisted. How did he do this. An XMAS special that features a man-boy, puppets, Grace Jones in a box, KD Lang, Dinah Shore, the Del Rubio Sisters, Frankie & Annette .... I mean, really! Buy and enjoy!!!!! La la la la, connect the Christmas dots ...

When this special first aired, it kept getting more and more incredible as the minutes went on. All the stars! All the music! From the opening production number till Dinah Shore's last notes - a completely entertaining show, and in this persons opinion, the very best hour of television ever. Nice to see Frankie and Annette together again. Power to Pee Wee!

This video is what inspired me to track down these ladies for undying worship. I actually worked for them in L.A. for a few years. Now, among the many sites I have designed for celebrities, The Del Rubio Triplets Wonderland! (http://www.thelimelight.com/delrubio.htm) was quite an escape, and was my first...please visit!

...AND BUY THIS VIDEO!

There's nothing like the "heavenly tonnations of The Del Rubio Triplets" singing "Winter Wonderland" to warm up to on the upcoming cold nights.

BRRRRR! Get that Hot Cocoa goin', the video, and a couch partner and you're in for a rockin' good time! END

This is one movie I will buy on DVD to replace my VHS version with. When you really need a good laugh and "Weekend At Bernie's" doesn't do it pop this show in. Be sure to pay close attention as Charo sings Feliz Navidad at how Pee-Wee dances (his feet are so funny). Whatta' pick me up no matter if it's Christmas or 4th of July! and do kids like it?? My 11 and 7 years olds watch it over and over and over. Are you a Pee-Wee fan?? "I know you are but what am I? ha ha"