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, teaches Little Richard how to ice skate, goes for a sleigh ride with Magic Johnson, commands Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello to make Christmas cards, receives a long phone call from Dinah Shore, even has more musical fun with k.d. lang, the Del Rubio Triplettes and Charo! Finally, Big Red arrives and announces that Pee-wee’s Christmas list was so big, he didn’t have enough presents for all the children of the world. Will Pee-wee follow his own advice and help others?

Christmas Special (1988)
  • Rating: (321 votes)
  • Runtime:49 minutes
  • Directors: Wayne Orr, Paul Reubens
  • Country:USA
  • Actors:
    Pee-wee Herman
    Paul Reubens
    Herself
    Annette Funicello
    Himself
    Frankie Avalon
    Herself
    Grace Jones
    Herself
    k.d. lang
    Herself
    Dinah Shore
    Himself
    Little Richard
    Herself
    Cher
    Del Rubio Triplette #1
    Eadie Del Rubio
    Magic Screen's Cousin
    Magic Johnson
  • Genres:Comedy, Family, Musical
  • Producers:
    Steve Binder
    producer  
    Thomas A. Bliss
    associate producer  
    Andi Copley
    coordinating producer  
    Prudence Fenton
    animation producer  
    Paul Reubens
    executive producer  
  • 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, teaches Little Richard how to ice skate, goes for a sleigh ride with Magic Johnson, commands Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello to make Christmas cards, receives a long phone call from Dinah Shore, even has more musical fun with k.d. lang, the Del Rubio Triplettes and Charo! Finally, Big Red arrives and announces that Pee-wee's Christmas list was so big, he didn't have enough presents for all the children of the world. Will Pee-wee follow his own advice and help others? Written by Dylan Self <robocoptng986127@aol.com>
Christmas Special
  • User's comment:The educational angle gets in the way of the comedy...though it is still bright and eclectic by moonspinner55

    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.


  • Quotes: Ms. Yvonne: Aren't you going to comment on my hair? Pee-wee: Wow! Christmasy! But what's the plant growin' out of it? Ms. Yvonne: It's mistletoe! You're always supposed to kiss somebody if they're standing underneath the mistletoe! This way, I'm assured hundreds and hundreds of kisses from everyone!
  • 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),

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