The Pee-wee Herman Show is a stage show developed by Paul Reubens in 1980. It marks the first significant appearance of his comedic fictional character, Pee-wee Herman, five years before Pee-wee's Big Adventure, and six years before Pee-wee's Playhouse. The show initially debuted as a midnight show February 1981 at the Groundlings theater, and was later moved to Los Angeles' Roxy Theatre, where the HBO cable network taped one of the shows and aired it as a special that year. This TV special was released on DVD by Image Entertainment July 18, 2006. This nightclub show had more adult humor than the later children's TV series.
In this very first Playhouse episode, Pee Wee's friends, including Cowboy Curtis and Miss Yvonne, are introduced when they come over to swim in the pool. Captain Carl would be there too... if he weren't lost! When he calls in a mayday, it takes Conky and Globey to locate him and guide him to the delicious Sandwich Islands. Speaking of delicious, Pee Wee makes Ice cream Soup for the gang when rain drives them back through the Playhouse "door".
It's no secret that today's secret word is "fun," 'cause Pee Wee just won a dinner for two at a Hawaiian restaurant! The question is -- who's he gonna take? The whole gang, including Captain Carl and Miss Yvonne, "lei"s on the guilt for poor Pee Wee. Even Cowntess the cow has bought a new Moo-Moo! What's Pee Wee to do? Throw his own wild luau, that's what -- and invite the entire Playhouse!
It's a rainy day outside, and Pee-wee does many things for the rest of the day: fly paper airplanes, get a call from Miss Yvonne (who won't make it due to the weather), build an indoor campfire, and tell a ghost story. Later, he gets bored and has Playhouse fever! Randy tries to cheer him up by letting him call strangers - such as a housewife who grows angry when Randy plays a prank phone call on her. Pee-wee then calls the same person whose husband turns out to be a police officer. The husband threatens to take Pee-wee in, but he lets him go after he learns his lesson. Now, Pee-wee's only hope for "help" is Jambi.
Today's secret word is really "little," but the gangs' eyes get really big when Pee-wee puts on a magic show and disappears! Captain Carl, Cowboy Curtis, Miss Yvonne, and the gang are amazed as Pee-wee makes use of his new talent at their expense, but when their hidden host can't make himself reappear, it'll take Jambi's magic to set things right!
Cowboy Curtis decides to have a cowboy-style snack (slow-cooked steak) and shows Pee-wee how to square dance. Pee-wee shows Curtis how to pogo, and Dixie gets her name on the "back" of her new jacket.
Miss Yvonne is willing to give a beauty makeover to the next person who steps into the playhouse, and it ends up being Mrs. Steve! Then, the Cowntess has a tea party. You'll have the "time" of your life!
Pee-wee is the maitre d', waiter and cashier while playing restaurant. Customer Captain Carl orders everything on the menu only to learn that all they have are peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches! Also, Dixie is having a particularly bad "day."
The ants are loose, the ants are loose! While Pee Wee is playing house with Miss Yvonne and the Playhouse Gang, the ants sneak out of their farm, go marching into the Dinosaur Family's home, steal a cake and get all over everybody and everything. "What" will Pee Wee do? The 'Ants In Your Pants Dance!
"Look" out because Mrs. Steve reports that there is a giant, one-eyed monster in town! He appears in the Playhouse, on the loose, and scares everyone! After Pee-wee makes the monster a snack, and Jambi grants Pee-wee's wish to understand the monster, the whole gang has a new friend! They even play a game of golf.
The fabulous Miss Yvonne just asked Cowboy Curtis out for a date -- and now he's as nervous as a prairie critter who's just been...um, asked out for a date by Miss Yvonne! To calm Curtis down, Cowntess the Cow suggests a little "date" role-playing -- and suddenly Curtis finds himself with "the most beautiful woman in Puppetland" -- Pee Wee? "Remember" the secret word and you'll have a "good" time!
Randy steals Mrs. Steve's crummy crab apples from her tree, and Mrs. Steve needs Pee-wee's help in finding him. Then, Pee-wee plays the hands game with Tito, and "there" are enough apples for everyone at snack time.
Get out your pencils and crayons, 'cause the gang at Pee Wee's Playhouse is sketching Pee Wee's favorite subject -- Pee Wee! The Playhouse Gang joins in the fun when Pee Wee-o assigns everyone a secret name-o. But then Pee Wee develops a severe case of shrunken head when Jambi the Genie's magic helps him out of the mouse hole -- and the entire gang wonders if he'll ever be "okay".
It's party time at the Playhouse and you're invited! The whole gang is here: Cowboy Curtis, Captain Carl, Reba the Mail Lady and the lovely Miss Yvonne! You'll want to join in the Hokey-Pokey, yell when you hear the secret word ("this") and play pin the tail on the...Globey.
Today in the "Playhouse," Pee-wee tricks his friends into doing all of his chores by pretending that work is fun. The gang meets some new friends while renovating the "house." Reba arrives in time to deliver Clocky while the Playhouse gang uncovers Floory and meets Mrs. Rene for the first time.
Cowntess, just back from a world cruise, is showing some of her home movies from the trip. Globey teaches Pee-wee how to say "hello, my name is Pee-wee" in French and Chinese! When a lost puppy appears at the Playhouse door, no one can figure out who the owner is. Pee-wee develops a strong case of puppy love and decides to keep him and name him Aloysius. However, Reba comes "over," and it's obvious just whose dog it is.
Pee-wee and Cowboy Curtis take a leap into Magic Screen where they enjoy some mighty fine handcart ridin' until a train chases them back into the waiting arms of Chairry! Then, Cowboy Curtis sings a song with "more" of the secret word in it than you could scream at. Finally, Cowboy Curtis and Miss Yvonne go shopping at Pee-wee's "department store" where they decide to buy Chairry!
Today the secret word is "out," but Pee-wee is stuck in when he overdoes it and comes down with a cold! It's lovely Nurse Yvonne and ultra-health conscious Ricardo to the rescue with some good advice and chicken soup for their sick and cranky friend. In no time, Pee-wee's back to his old self again to join in the Playhouse fun.
Nothing bugs Pee-wee's flowers more than having a caterpillar in their flower box until Magic Screen shows how a caterpillar can turn itself into a beautiful butterfly. The caterpillar's not the only uninvited creature around when Cowntess has a birthday party and invites practically "all" of Puppetland except Pee-wee! Is she mad at him or just being moody?
Today, Pee-wee gives everybody "That Certain Feeling" by lip-synching to one of his old records. Later, while Pee-wee is out with the Playhouse Gang, Cowboy Curtis comes over and sings to the flowers, and Miss Yvonne does a wild clog dance. Tensions mount when the gang ends up with two "cool" ice cream desserts, and they have to choose which to eat. Of course, they could just eat them both!
Learning is "easy" when your teacher makes it fun. No one can make it more fun than Pee-wee, especially when he turns the Playhouse into a schoolhouse! The Playhouse Gang are his students, Magic Screen is his blackboard, and Globey is, well, his globe. Pee-wee makes history exciting when he teaches about Christopher Columbus and the Declaration of Independence. Sit back, laugh, and learn!
As the Spring season comes to "begin," Pee-wee plants a seed, and it grows quickly (courtesy of Clockey). Also, the King of Cartoons presents his wife, "The Queen of Cartoons," and his son, "The Prince of Cartoons." Also, when Pee-wee doesn't make the baseball team, Ricardo shows him that there are other sports he can try.
Aaaaugh! The secret word is "zyzzybalubah," and that can only mean one thing! The entire Playhouse, including Reba, is sucked into space, transported to a strange planet, and taken over by an odd, lonely alien! Yvona, an alien from the planet, is trying to escape the unfriendly Zyzzybalubah, but Pee-wee teaches him how to be polite and make friends. Reba teaches Pee-wee how to whistle, and she sings a song.
Guess who's having a pajama-party sleepover? That's right, it's Pee-wee along with his co-hostess, "the most beautiful woman in Puppetland," Miss Yvonne! Jambi's got a head for pajama fashion when he gives Cowboy Curtis a Wild-West pair of P.J.s! Wacky Roger, the Monster, keeps an eye on things as Pee-wee decides that, since he loves his fruit salad so much, he's going to marry it! "Watch" for the secret word!
Pee-wee wants a letter mailed, so he asks Jambi to make Reba appear at the Playhouse. This makes Reba mad because it's her day off. Pee-wee convinces her to stay for an imaginary breakfast of oatmeal and potatoes. Meanwhile, Pterri disappears when Pee-wee sends him to his nest for being naughty. The Playhouse gang blames themselves for Pterri's punishment until Pterri comes back - from hiding underneath the bed! Watch, "now," and you'll have a "Pterri-fic" time!
Pee-wee has to eat his words when he tells the gang how important dental hygiene is and, then, develops an ow-some toothache! Since Jambi is taking a head-turning vacation at Mount Rushmore, Pee-Wee is forced to face his greatest fear - the dentist! He's so afraid, it'll take Miss Yvonne's coaxing just to get him to go. When he finally does make "it," Pee-wee learns that visiting the dentist is nothing to grit his teeth over and can actually be fun.
It's the wildest holiday ever when some V.I.P.'s (Very Important Persons) stop by to wish Pee-wee a V.M.C. (Very Merry Christmas)! Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon are off the beach and on Pee-wee's floor making Christmas cards, Magic Johnson joins Pee-wee for a wild sleigh ride in the Magic Screen, and Dinah Shore sings the "12 Days (or so) of Christmas!" Joan Rivers, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg wish Pee-wee a merry Christmas and a happy new "year." Pee-wee shows Little Richard how to ice skate, and Charo, K.D. Lang, the Del Rubio triplets, and Grace Jones perform fun yuletide carols! However, Pee-wee's got a problem larger than his mounting fruitcake collection when perhaps the M.I.P. (Most Important Person), Santa Claus, drops by to tell him that his Christmas wish list is just too long, and no one else will get presents if he doesn't shorten it! Will he keep the gifts, or will he help Santa deliver?
When Reba isn't feeling too "well," Pee-wee tells her to be patient because he's going to be her doctor. With the help of Chandelier, Magic Screen, and Pterri, Pee-wee takes an X-ray and her temperature before removing a splinter from her finger! Then, the Del Rubio Triplets stop by but not for long because their "Boots Are Made For Walkin'!"
When Pee-wee and Miss Yvonne decide to bake bread to make peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches for snack time, Randy decides to break the rules and change the temperature on Miss Yvonne's baking bread to 700 degrees! Though Pee-wee's been dreaming of Miss Yvonne, she develops a sizzling crush on the four-alarm Fireman Frank when he arrives to share the cold hard facts of fire safety! Listen for the secret word, - you know the "one" - and you'll have a red-hot time.
What's your favorite story? You're sure to hear it when Pee-wee and the gang start telling tales! Pee-wee and Ricardo put a new spin on The Nutcracker, Miss Yvonne tells a wild story in hula, and, when Magic Screen gives Pee-wee magic beans, they lead him into a giant adventure! Miss Yvonne's delicious storybook recipes and the secret word "end" up the fun.
Randy's got the whole Playhouse barking at the word "go" - today's secret word. However, Pee-wee has bigger concerns. Jambi is sick, so Pee-wee has to call a genie-ologist! It's Dr. Jinga-Janga to the rescue, but he's got a wacky bedside manner that may just be worse than Jambi's disease - Mecca Lecca Hi Mecca Heinyitis!
While her house is being painted, Miss Yvonne accepts an invitation to stay at the Playhouse. Perfumey as she is, Miss Yvonne is a stinker of a houseguest! Since Pee-wee's too "nice" to ask her to leave, he has to get a little help from Jambi to get her house painted lickety split. Now, the Cowntess wants to stay over while her barn is painted. What will Pee-wee do?
The laughs and fun never "stop" when Pee-wee, Miss Yvonne, and the Playhouse crew pretend to take a plane trip around the world. Reba has to steal Miss Yvonne, who's the plane's stewardess, away for some girl talk because she's got a date. With Pee-wee and Miss Yvonne acting as chaperones, Reba and her date take in a drive-in movie - Playhouse style!
There's a heat wave today "here" at the Playhouse. Judge Pee-wee is set to "hear" the arguments in a trial pitting Miss Yvonne against Mrs. Rene after they both wear the same one-of-a-kind dress.
Pee-wee has lost the Cowntess' pencil sharpener! While he searches to find it, he and the rest of the gang collect things from the Playhouse that they don't use anymore so that he can give them to charity. "Wait" until you see what the secret word is!
Pee-wee and Miss Yvonne are playing office and taking turns as boss and secretary. But when it's time for Miss Yvonne to be the boss, Pee-wee takes his break. Later on, Cowboy Curtis stops by with a new friend: a cactus who decides "that" it's fun to stick around.
When Pee-wee finds Cowboy Curtis' magic lasso, it spurs some great memories for the Playhouse gang. Included are the times Cowboy Curtis showed Pee-wee his fantastic rope tricks, sang "The More Song," got some new boots courtesy of Jambi, played hide-and-seek with Pee-wee, and prepared for a date with the lovely Miss Yvonne. "Remember" the secret word, and you'll have a wildly wonderful time.
When Pee-wee's robot, Conky 2000, breaks down, the Playhouse gang suddenly doesn't feel so "great." When Pee-wee tries to fix the sick robot, Conky winds up in a million pieces! What'll Pee-wee do, now? Call the Authorized Conky Repairman - that's what. Will the repairman be able to fix their pal, or will lovelorn Miss Yvonne wrench him away first?
Everyone better start looking "around" because some of Pee-Wee's favorite possessions are missing! When Miss Yvonne offers to take his suits to the cleaners, Pee-Wee can't find them. Soon, he discovers that his spoon, cereal bowl, and even his connect-the-dots are gone! When the culprit is revealed, Pee-Wee discovers more than just his treasured possessions; he discovers a new friend and a valuable lesson about being yourself!
Pee-wee's revving up the presses to print the Playhouse's first newspaper! The Playhouse crew starts researching their articles with the five "W's" and "H": who, what, when, where, why, and "how." When Pee-wee puts the paper to bed, and then goes to bed himself, sneaky Randy changes everyone's stories to lies! How will the Playhouse pals live it down?
Mrs. Rene is learning how to tango! With a rose in her mouth and Pee-wee's magic footprints on the floor, she dances up a storm until Pee-wee dips her right out the Playhouse door! Cowboy Curtis remembers his first and last whirl on rollerskates, and Jambi helps Pee-wee relive the whole show with a replay that goes by all too "fast."
Because Cowboy Curtis, Miss Yvonne, and Cowntess all have to work, Pee-wee and the Playhouse crew create a special holiday: "Playhouse Day!" To celebrate, they decorate a tree, the Playhouse, and even the King of Cartoons! When they find out it's an official holiday, Cowboy Curtis, Miss Yvonne, and the Cowntess take the day off. After all, it is the fun "thing" to do!
Mrs. Rene stops by to give Pee-wee a letter from a faraway "place" - Japan! It's from Oki Doki, a young Japanese man who soon appears at the Playhouse door. By introducing Pee-wee to sushi, origami, and Gamara, Oki proves that he has a lot to share about his homeland, and Pee-wee has a lot to learn!
Miss Yvonne teaches the gang how to make cheese balls, and Pee-wee makes a mobile. The fun goes "on" and on!
Pee-wee goes on a camping trip with Cowboy Curtis and leaves Mrs. Rene to house-sit the Playhouse. Pee-wee and Cowboy Curtis ride horses, roast wieners, and sleep under the stars. Curtis does his best to "show" Pee-wee a good time, and Pee-wee thinks Curtis is lucky to be a cowboy!
Pee-wee can't figure out what to "do" today, so Jambi gives him a to-do list which includes blowing a big balloon, dressing up as a pirate, and going for a walk with Miss Yvonne. The list also mentions cleaning up Pee-wee's room.
Miss Yvonne pays a visit to the Playhouse, yet Pee-wee is nowhere to be found. Miss Yvonne finds, instead, the words "For Sale" in front of the Playhouse abode. Shocked and confused, Miss Yvonne and everyone else try to remember all the better times that the Playhouse has gone through. Watch for today's secret "word." However, when Pee-Wee arrived to the playhouse about the "For Sale". But Pee-Wee realized that he is NOT selling the playhouse and has another sign that reads "LEMONADE". So the sign would had said. "Lemonade For Sale".
Subversive humor and childlike wonder based on both Reubens' original stage show, "The Pee-wee Herman Show," and the Emmy-winning Saturday morning TV show, "Pee-wee's Playhouse."
Show creators talk about the making of the iconic Pee-Wee's Playhouse opening title sequence.
Writers discuss the creative process inventing episodes of Pee-Wee's Playhouse.
From animation to sets, wardrobe and makeup, a look behind the scenes creating the look of Pee-Wee's Playhouse
Making the music of Pee-Wee's Playhouse.
Members of the cast reminisce about working on Pee-Wee's Playhouse
The voices, arms and entire bodies performing the non-human inhabitants of the Playhouse
From the ant farm to the dinosaur family to Penny, animators talk about the myriad of animated shorts appearing in Pee-Wee's Playhouse.
Making the Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
