There was only one Pee-wee Christmas Special.
But this is a loving lookback on all that was Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
Not only did CBS agree, they gave him a $325,000 per episode budget.
After 5 seasons and 45 episodes, Pee-wees Playhousehad won 15 Emmys, an Artios and a TCA Award.
Unfortunately, Gilbert Gottfried won the spot (I know, right?).
Instead, he was one of them; someone kids could connect with on their own level.
Now-a-days,Pee-wees Playhousehas become somewhat of a cult favorite among people who grew up with it.
It was odd and it was fantastic, both rolled into one.
Do we see a pattern here?).
For this Christmas special Pee-wees usual playhouse pals are visited by a multitude of famous friends.
The one who always sticks out in my mind is Cowboy Curtis.
Because hes played by Laurence Fishburne!
The first musical guest is Grace Jones.
As a kid, this lady had me somewhere between creeped out and fascinated.
While bemused, they oblige.
Its a quaint, if annoying little tradition in the playhouse.
Penny is a weird little girl made of clay with pennies for eyes.
She regales us with a childish tale of why she loves Christmas so much.
After Penny, we check back in with Annette and Frankie, who complain of being thirsty and hungry.
Pee-wee, ever so generous, gives them a tray with what looks like stale bread and water.
Ah, the diet of a medieval prisoner.
Before she can get past the second day of Christmas, Oprah Winfrey butts in on the other line.
When he returns to his call with Dinah, shes still singing the song!
Having never paused, shes already on the fifth day of Christmas.
At this point, Pee-wee slips out and replaces himself with a Pee-wee doll.
While everyone is enjoying all the Christmas Festivities, Santa shows up to the Play House.
I also enjoy the fact that Pee-wee is the one being taught the lesson.
