First off, I wasn't sure where to place this thread. So if it's in the wrong place, I'm sorry. Anyways:

From what I know, Paul Rubens started the Pee-Wee character in an HBO special. It was just like "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" only an HBO version. It had Lynn Stewart as Miss Yvonne and Phil Hartman as Captain Carl. The special was a success and CBS began productions for the Saturday morning series. Other actors who came in the first season of thirteen episodes were; John Paragon as Jambi, Larry Fishburne as Cowboy Curtis, Shirley Stoler as Mrs. Steve, Johann Carlo as Dixie, Gilbert Lewis as The King of Cartoons (aka King Cartoon), Roland Rodriguez as Tito and S Epatha Merkerson as Reba the mail lady. Puppet characters included Conky 2000, Chairy, Randy, Globey, Pterri, Mr. Window, Cool Cat, Chicky Baby, Dirty Dog, Cowntess and Magic Screen.

The first season was shot in a warehouse in 1986. According to the E! True Hollywood Story, it was very hot and the actors were cranky. Paul Rubens and Phil Hartman, who both co-wrote the movie "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" got into a fight. The two, one time friends never spoke to one another again. Hartman, of course, died in 1998.

The second season saw the arrival of new characters. A lot of characters from season one were gone. Mrs. Steve, Dixie, Captain Carl and Tito were gone. William Marshall took over the role of The King of Cartoons in season two. Vic Trevino and Suzanne Kent joined the series as Ricardo and Mrs. Rene. Clockey and Floory also joined the playhouse in it's second year. The cast would remain the same until 1990. CBS and Paul Rubens agreed to end the show after forty-five episodes. The last episode aired in 1991. Shortly after, Paul Rubens was arrested for an incident in a movie theater. CBS immediately canceled the Summer reruns. Pee-Wee Herman was dead. The show returned to TV in reruns on FOX Family in the late nineties. It had a short run, however. 34 episodes were released on VHS. And as of November 16th, 2004 all forty-five episodes were released on DVD. In July of 2006, Cartoon Network added "Pee-wee's Playhouse" to it's Adult Swim lineup.

In 1988, a Christmas Special was made. It's also been released on both VHS and DVD.

Here's an episode guide:

1. "Ice Cream Soup" (1986)
2. "Luau for Two" (1986)
3. "Rainy Day" (1986)
4. "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" (1986)
5. "Just Another Day" (1986)
6. "Beauty Makeover" (1986)
7. "The Restaurant" (1986)
8. "Ants in Your Pants" (1986)
9. "Monster in the Playhouse" (1986)
10. "The Cowboy and the Countess" (1986)
11. "Stolen Apples" (1986)
12. "The Gang's All Here" (1986)
13. "Party!" (1986)
14. "Open House" (1987)
15. "Puppy in the Playhouse" (1987)
16. "Store" (1987)
17. "Pee-Wee Catches a Cold" (1987)
18. "Why Wasn't I Invited?" (1987)
19. "Tons of Fun" (1987)
20. "School" (1987)
21. "Spring" (1987)
22. "Playhouse in Outer Space" (1987)
23. "Pajama Party" (1987)
24. "Reba Eats and Pterri Runs" (1987)
25. "To Tell the Tooth" (1987)
-Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988)
26. "Dr. Pee-Wee and the Del Rubios" (1989)
27. "Fire in the Playhouse" (1989)
28. "Love That Story" (1989)
29. "Sick, Did Somebody Say Sick?" (1989)
30. "Miss Yvonne's Visit" (1989)
31. "Rebarella" (1989)
32. "Heat Wave" (1989)
33. "Chairry-Tee Drive" (1989)
34. "Let's Play Office" (1989)
35. "I Remember Curtis" (1989)
36. "Conky's Breakdown" (1990)
37. "Mystery" (1990)
38. "Front Page Pee-Wee" (1990)
39. "Tango Time" (1990)
40. "Playhouse Day" (1990)
41. "Accidental Playhouse" (1990)
42. "Fun, Fun, Fun" (1990)
43. "Camping Out" (1990)
44. "Something to Do" (1990)
45. "Playhouse for Sale" (1990)

Phil Hartman (Captain Carl) was murdered by his wife in a murder-suicide on May 28th 1998.
Shirley Stoler (Mrs. Steve) died of heart failure on February 17th, 1999.
William Marshall (The King of Cartoons) died of complications from Alzheimer's disease on June 11th, 2003.

As far as I know, these are the only late cast members.

Wasn't ABC Family, Fox Family before? Anyway...there you have it. I remember watching PWP when they reran it in the late 90's. That was the last time I saw PWP.

Originally posted by PZelda
Wasn't ABC Family, Fox Family before?

That's right. Before it was ABC Family it was Fox Family. Before that, for many years it was "The Family Channel." Before that it was CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network). That's why Pat Robertson's "The 700 Club" airs still. He made a deal that with all the channel changes, that program must air.

Theme song lyrics

Come on in, and pull yourself up a chair (like Chairy!)
Let the fun begin, it's time to let down your hair!
Pee-wee's sure excited,
'cause all his friends have been invited (that's you!)
To go wacky, at Pee-wee's Playhouse!

There's a crazy rhythm, comin' from Puppetland (what's that?)
Dirty Dog, Cool Cat, and Chicky Baby are the Puppet Band (yeah!)
He's got a couple of talkin' fish,
and a genie who'll grant a wish -
Golly, it's cuckoo at Pee-wee's Playhouse!

Globey's spinnin', Mr. Window's grinnin',
'cause Pterri's flyin' by (hello!)
The Flowers are singin', the Picture Phone is ringin',
and the Dinosaur family goes, "Hi!"
Mr. Kite's soarin', Conky's still a snorin',
there's the flashing Magic Screen,
The Cowntess is so classy, Randy's kinda sassy -
A nuttier establishment you've never seen!
Spend the day with Pee-wee and you'll see what we mean! (Come on!)

Get outta bed, there'll be no more nappin'! (Wake up!)
'Cause you've landed in a place where anything can happen
Now we've given you fair warnin'!
It's gonna be that kind of mornin'
For bein' wacky!
For getting nutty!
Golly, it's cuckoo!
At Pee-wee's Playhouse!

Did anybody catch that sun tea disclaimer on the dvd? I had no clue that may be unsafe.

I'm enjoying the episodes I've watched so far on the dvd. I knew Tito wasn't on the show during the entire run, but I always thought he was in more episodes than he was. Seems like they got Ricardo to take Tito's place and Mrs. Renee took Mrs. Steve's place. And the kids Elvis, Cher and Opal, they cracked me up. It's been so long since I've seen the show, I didn't realize/remember that those characters were just in season one. I'll watch the entire five seasons to refresh my memory before deciding which season was my favorite.

Originally posted by vashti1999
Did anybody catch that sun tea disclaimer on the dvd? I had no clue that may be unsafe.

I'm enjoying the episodes I've watched so far on the dvd. I knew Tito wasn't on the show during the entire run, but I always thought he was in more episodes than he was. Seems like they got Ricardo to take Tito's place and Mrs. Renee took Mrs. Steve's place. And the kids Elvis, Cher and Opal, they cracked me up. It's been so long since I've seen the show, I didn't realize/remember that those characters were just in season one. I'll watch the entire five seasons to refresh my memory before deciding which season was my favorite.

I'm the opposite. I don't remember those characters at all. My sister was a fan of the show before I was. So I must have gotten into it during it's last season or so. Being a Phil Hartman fan, I wish Captain Carl had lasted longer. He was funny, escpecially in "The Restaurant" episode. I used to collect their action figures. I had:

Pee-Wee Herman
Miss Yvonne
Cowboy Curtis
The King of Cartoons
Ricardo
Pterri
Jambi
Cool Cat, Chicky Baby and Dirty Dog
Randy
Globey
Magic Screen

The only ones I didn't have were Reba (Which I recently bought on Ebay just for the heck of it), Chairry and the actual playhouse. I looked everywhere for it, but could never find it.

Out of all those action figures, the only one I still have is Pee-Wee. All the others (Sadly) broke over the years.

I had no idea until a few years ago that it was Cyndi Lauper singing the theme song. Must've been a favor to Paul because Pee-Wee also did a cameo on the song "911" off Cyndi's True Colors album that came out around the same time the series premiered (fall 1986)

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
I had no idea until a few years ago that it was Cyndi Lauper singing the theme song.

Just checked the end credits of a season two episode on the dvd. It says the theme song vocal is by Ellen Shaw. I don't if Cyndi Lauper ever did it, I hadn't heard about her doing it. I'll have to check other seasons to see if there was a change.

Originally posted by vashti1999
Just checked the end credits of a season two episode on the dvd. It says the theme song vocal is by Ellen Shaw. I don't if Cyndi Lauper ever did it, I hadn't heard about her doing it. I'll have to check other seasons to see if there was a change.

I have an MP3 of Cyndi singing the theme song, and it sounded like how I remembered it from tv, so I thought it was her who sang it on tv as well

Does anyone know if the Pajama Party episode aired intact during its original run? I was surprised hearing Cowboy Curtis say that he sleeps in the nude. Thought that was a bit more risque than usual. And where was he when Pee-Wee married the fruit salad? (yes, Pee-Wee got married to a bowl of fruit salad.) It was funny when everyone was saying goodnight to each other and Pee-Wee told them to shut-up. :lol: I love this show.

Originally posted by TVAdam
Here's an episode guide:

1. "Ice Cream Soup" (1986)
2. "Luau for Two" (1986)
3. "Rainy Day" (1986)
4. "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" (1986)
5. "Just Another Day" (1986)
6. "Beauty Makeover" (1986)
7. "The Restaurant" (1986)
8. "Ants in Your Pants" (1986)
9. "Monster in the Playhouse" (1986)
10. "The Cowboy and the Countess" (1986)
11. "Stolen Apples" (1986)
12. "The Gang's All Here" (1986)
13. "Party!" (1986)
14. "Open House" (1987)
15. "Puppy in the Playhouse" (1987)
16. "Store" (1987)
17. "Pee-Wee Catches a Cold" (1987)
18. "Why Wasn't I Invited?" (1987)
19. "Tons of Fun" (1987)
20. "School" (1987)
21. "Spring" (1987)
22. "Playhouse in Outer Space" (1987)
23. "Pajama Party" (1987)
24. "Reba Eats and Pterri Runs" (1987)
25. "To Tell the Tooth" (1987)
-Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988)
26. "Dr. Pee-Wee and the Del Rubios" (1989)
27. "Fire in the Playhouse" (1989)
28. "Love That Story" (1989)
29. "Sick, Did Somebody Say Sick?" (1989)
30. "Miss Yvonne's Visit" (1989)
31. "Rebarella" (1989)
32. "Heat Wave" (1989)
33. "Chairry-Tee Drive" (1989)
34. "Let's Play Office" (1989)
35. "I Remember Curtis" (1989)
36. "Conky's Breakdown" (1990)
37. "Mystery" (1990)
38. "Front Page Pee-Wee" (1990)
39. "Tango Time" (1990)
40. "Playhouse Day" (1990)
41. "Accidental Playhouse" (1990)
42. "Fun, Fun, Fun" (1990)
43. "Camping Out" (1990)
44. "Something to Do" (1990)
45. "Playhouse for Sale" (1990)

so outside of the Xmas special, there wasn't any Pee-Wee in 1988?

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
so outside of the Xmas special, there wasn't any Pee-Wee in 1988?

That's how it looked to me. I went through every episode, just watched the ending credits to see the year on each show.

In the commentary for the Christmas Special, Paul Rubens had said that they filmed the X-Mas show in November of 1988. Something about an actor's strike. So they didn't do that many shows that season.

I still can't tell where the seasons separate. I know that

1-13 is season 1
14-25 is season 2
26-whatever is season 3 (I know that because Paul Rubens said the Del Rubio episode was the third season premiere.)

Originally posted by TVAdam
1-13 is season 1
14-25 is season 2
26-whatever is season 3 (I know that because Paul Rubens said the Del Rubio episode was the third season premiere.)

Watching this episode right now. It's obvious this ep is part of a new season since the opening credits are different, but it's weird that they'd split seasons between volumes. The second volume starts off with the last two eps of season 2.

And it's numbered disc 6 instead of disc 1, as if they expect you to buy both volumes and own the complete set (makes sense though).

That's how it looked to me. I went through every episode, just watched the ending credits to see the year on each show.

In the commentary for the Christmas Special, Paul Rubens had said that they filmed the X-Mas show in November of 1988. Something about an actor's strike. So they didn't do that many shows that season.

I still can't tell where the seasons separate. I know that

1-13 is season 1
14-25 is season 2
26-whatever is season 3 (I know that because Paul Rubens said the Del Rubio episode was the third season premiere.)

Okay I now have the information on the different seasons. So turns out Volume 1 of the DVDs is the complete First and Second seasons. Volume 2 is really the complete Third, Fourth and Fifth seasons.

Season 1 - (13 episodes)
1. “Ice Cream Soup”
2. “Luau for Two”
3. “Rainy Day”
4. “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t”
5. “Just Another Day”
6. “Beauty Makeover”
7. “The Restaurant”
8. “Ants in Your Pants”
9. “Monster in the Playhouse”
10. “The Cowboy and the Cowntess”
11. “Stolen Apples”
12. “The Gang’s All Here”
13. “Party!”

Season 2 - (10 episodes)
14. “Open House”
15. “Puppy in the Playhouse”
16. “Store”
17. “Pee-wee Catches a Cold”
18. “Why Wasn’t I Invited?”
19. “Tons of Fun”
20. “School”
21. “Spring”
22. “Playhouse in Outer Space”
23. “Pajama Party”

Season 3 - (2 episodes & Christmas Special)
24. “Reba Eats and Pterri Runs”
25. “To Tell the Tooth”
“Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special”

Season 4 - (10 episodes)
26. “Dr. Pee-wee and the Del Rubios”
27. “Fire in the Playhouse”
28. “Love That Story”
29. “Sick, Did Someone Say Sick?”
30. “Miss Yvonne’s Visit”
31. “Rebarella”
32. “Heat Wave”
33. “Chairry-Tee Drive”
34. “Let’s Play Office”
35. “I Remember Curtis”

Season 5 - (10 episodes)
36. “Conky’s Breakdown”
37. “Mystery”
38. “Front Page Pee-wee”
39. “Tango Time”
40. “Playhouse Day”
41. “Accidental Playhouse”
42. “Fun, Fun, Fun”
43. “Camping Out”
44. “Something to Do”
45. “Playhouse for Sale”

I'm assuming they aired a lot of reruns during the seasons (especially season three) because ten episodes a season isn't that much.

26-whatever is season 3 (I know that because Paul Rubens said the Del Rubio episode was the third season premiere.)

I rewatched the commentary of the Christmas Special. Turns out I misunderstood what he said. Paul Rubens said it was the fourth season premiere. And that season three was cut short due to a writer's strike.

why did Pee wee hermen sell the playhouse and who 2 where did he move 2

why did Pee wee hermen sell the playhouse and who 2 where did he move 2

For those who haven't seen episode #45. "Playhouse for Sale", this post contains spoilers. But at this point, I don't think many people care if I give away the ending, lol.

********************************************************
The whole final episode has Miss Yvonne at the Playhouse, with Pee-wee gone. She finds a sign in the window that says "For Sale." Naturally, she panics thinking Pee-wee is selling the Playhouse. this results in a series of flashbacks. In the final scene of the episode, Pee-wee returns to the Playhouse. Miss Yvonne confronts him. He asks where the other part of the sign went. Turns out the sign said "Lemonade For Sale" but the Lemonade part fell off. He stated that he would NEVER sell the Playhouse. THE END

It's a pretty lame final episode. Besides the flashbacks, Pee-wee and Miss Yvonne are the only live action characters in the episode. There's not even a cartoon from The King of Cartoons.

ok now that is lame i thought he sold the playhouse there it was lemonade think i saw it before but it is pretty lame.and of course if u see the big adventure movie he moves in2 a regular house stil got the bike and no playhouse so confusing.

I was just recently channel surfing and I found pee wee's playhouse on Adult Swim:lol:
where it belongs

Movle Snack employee "Do you want butter on your popcorn, Pee Wee?"
Pee Wee "No thanks just a hole in the bottom, please, ha ha"

I don't know why there were only two episodes in the show's third season, but the real answer was that it may have been that way due to the 1988 Writer's Guild of America Strike.

Does anybody remember Pee-wee Play House airing on ABC Family I think at 6:30 am Central Time.

Actually, it was at 6:00 AM, and this is when the channel was known as Fox Family (ABC Family didn't come until Nov. 2001). Oh, and count me in as another boardie who was a fan of "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" growing up for sure.

thanks I throught it was still ABC Family and I also throught it was 6:30 am

I remember this show. I remember; the first one was a special on HBO. We didn't have cable then; but at the time I was staying in a motel that had free HBO. Then I rember about a year later, a local station, and later, PBS reran the show. Then when "PEE WEES PLAYHOUSE" started, I used to record it (on a VCR of course. This was the 80s!!!:lol: :lol: )

http://peewee.com/2015/06/09/rip-gilbert-lewis-aka-the-first-season-king-of-cartoons-on-pee-wees-playhouse/

Pee-wee Herman writes: "I'm sad to report that Gilbert Lewis passed away recently. Gilbert is the actor who played the King of Cartoons in the first season of Pee-wee's Playhouse, back in 1986 when it was filmed in New York City. His part was recast because of expense when we moved the production to California."

To this day, "P-w's P" still is fresh and full of life. It never tires. This show had great writing and actors. It was bright and cheery and just plain fun!

I own the new Blu-ray set and I absolutely love it. The HD picture is outstanding.

Yeah that's Lawrence Fishburne as Cowboy Curtis back before he was well known and still going by Larry Fishburne. I've heard that since he's become a big movie star he refuses to talk about being on the show and apparently won't even list it in his TV/movie credits. And talk show hosts are forbidden to ask him about it, but who knows. Maybe he's embarrassed, as he should be. I guess I'm the only who's seen it and who's definitely not a fan. I was in my late teens when the show ran originally and I would watch an episode here and there and I always thought it was stupid and unfunny. I also always thought Pee Wee Herman seemed kind of pervy (and to a lesser extent the show as a whole, I just got this yucky vibe from it), and since we all know what he was infamously arrested for obviously I was right. One of the worst "children" shows ever.

Ed.

A 24-hour Pee-wee's Playhouse marathon aired on IFC on Thanksgiving Day. And starting on November 24, IFC will air Pee-wee's Playhouse every Saturday morning.

I first heard about this on this entry (http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2018/11/fri-yay-appreciation-for-mike-schurs.html) on the Sitcoms Online Blog.

A 24-hour Pee-wee's Playhouse marathon aired on IFC on Thanksgiving Day. And starting on November 24, IFC will air Pee-wee's Playhouse every Saturday morning.

I first heard about this on this entry (http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2018/11/fri-yay-appreciation-for-mike-schurs.html) on the Sitcoms Online Blog.

I don’t get IFC but at least I own the Blu-ray set. I watch it from time to time. Pee-wee is still as iconic now as he ever was.

They now have Funko Pops:

https://i.postimg.cc/N086JtzP/FE848572-02-EB-423-A-9910-8-BB9038-DC7-D4.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/cJDRyhdQ/4-EE6-E903-34-DB-4-E5-C-9377-83-C96-EE62112.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tJ6W6HW5/0-BE8-D8-FC-7-EE5-4-ACB-9611-A2-B9-A2777283.jpg

I was a fan of Pee Wee's Playhouse from the beginning and watched it every Saturday morning. It was very avant-garde.

Saw the marathon, but not every single episode.

IFC has permanently removed the show from their lineup.

That's terrible! It was one of the last great Saturday morning shows that was also surreal and very funny. I always liked the mix of live action, animation and puppets. Pee Wee's Playhouse was one of the most avant garde Saturday morning kids shows of all time.

That's terrible! It was one of the last great Saturday morning shows that was also surreal and very funny. I always liked the mix of live action, animation and puppets. Pee Wee's Playhouse was one of the most avant garde Saturday morning kids shows of all time.

It was removed a few days ago, but there’s still some episodes on IFC's website if you want to see them.

Pee Wee's Playhouse will be returning to the schedule starting on Monday, July 20th.

Pee-Wee's Playhouse was my favorite show when I was a little girl and it used to make me giggle and giggle everytime I would watch it because it was so funny. Of course every time the secret word was said Mom and I would scream it along with Pee-Wee and his friends. And I admit you don't see kids shows like Pee-Wee's Playhouse being made anymore because Pee-Wee's Playhouse had it all comedy cartoons jokes and funny songs. Perhaps you remember the Claymation cartoon Penny and Pee-Wee's mailbox who would yell "MAIL"? because that alone made Pee-Wee's Playhouse really funny. Too bad Pee-Wee's Playhouse got cancelled due to Paul Reuben's troubles but at least Paul Rueben had made himself big as a voiceover artist starring in Disneyland/Walt Disney World's Star Tours and in cartoons as well
Bestie