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Friday, December 23, 2011

TV The Eternal (and Eternally Bizarre) Brilliance of Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

Posted by David Schmader on Fri, Dec 23, 2011 at 10:17 AM

Here's a minute and 47 seconds that prove my subject line.

I cannot wait for the day when Paul Reubens, S. Epatha Merkerson, Grace Jones, and Van Dyke Parks (who composed the music) collaborate again.

Also, this aired during Christmas 1988, a few weeks after George Bush was elected president but a few weeks before he was sworn in.

Comments (18) RSS

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'Fruitcake' - priceless

Posted by Bhamjason on December 23, 2011 at 10:19 AM

Feliz Nablahblah!

Posted by Luckier on December 23, 2011 at 10:28 AM

Cheapskate Republicans can't even spring for a plane ticket to bring Grace Fucking Jones to the White House? Or did they just not want her to be seen coming in the front door?

Yeah, we're gonna make this thread bitterly political.

Posted by MacCrocodile on December 23, 2011 at 10:32 AM

I love that Pee-Wee Herman says "Duh!" to Grace Jones.

Posted by Bub on December 23, 2011 at 10:34 AM

4: He's weirdly prickly to all his guests! It's really odd and funny, and I bet kids love it. Why would kids care that Pee Wee got a visit from Frankie Avalon and Annette Funnicello, if he didn't trap them in the basement and feed them things to turn their teeth green?

Posted by David Schmader on December 23, 2011 at 10:42 AM

(His spin-on-a-dime prickliness is also completely in line with the behavior of a little kid lording over his own birthday party. He's brilliant.)

Posted by David Schmader on December 23, 2011 at 10:44 AM

Grace Jones is one of the most underrated performers of the 80's. Her albums are really terrific. People tend to be surprised by how good she is when when her songs shuffle in the mix.

Posted by Granny Smith on December 23, 2011 at 11:11 AM

Why does S. Epatha Merkerson need the "S"?

Is she worried she'd be confused with another Epatha Merkerson?

@7: there's typically only 2-3 good songs and substantial filler on them. the good songs are great.

Posted by Max Solomon on December 23, 2011 at 11:31 AM

I thought Pee Wee Herman was unwatchable back in the '80s. It's good to see my opinion hasn't changed much.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on December 23, 2011 at 11:40 AM

This is the kind of childrens television that makes America GREAT.

Posted by Sargon Bighorn on December 23, 2011 at 11:48 AM

You're missing an option on the poll.
#3 The nonexistent ideal of the office itself, aka an amalgam of George Washington, Lincoln, JFK, and Grover Cleveland.

Posted by SPG on December 23, 2011 at 11:50 AM

You can see Grace desperately trying to not make the dance routine too sexual. Then she looks at Pee Wee and the urge subsides.

Posted by Looking For a Better Read on December 23, 2011 at 11:52 AM

I hated PeeWee when it was first on TV. I watched some a couple years ago and realized I just didn't get it back then, PeeWee Herman is hilarious.

Posted by dwightmoodyforgetsthings

on December 23, 2011 at 12:11 PM

Cher, Oprah, Whoopi, Little Richard, Magic Johnson, Annette and Frankie, and if you're missing last names, the Del Rubio Triplets. My life was not complete until I added this to the family holidays. The next gayest holiday show might be Liza Minnelli in The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood. This is only a tiny bit of the results of Eric Burdon and the Animals (as the Wolf Pack) being on set and getting everyone stoned.
Youtube description: LIZA MINNELLI in rare perk singing "Ding-a-ling, I Feel SO ChRiStMaS-eY!" LIZA is feeling mighty Christmas-ey & has never been so perky as in this little ditty sung with Cyril Ritchard - best known as Capt. Hook- as the Big Bad Wolf in Drag.

Posted by bedipped on December 23, 2011 at 12:21 PM

..they just don't make shit like this anymores... whaaaaa.

Posted by reverend dr dj riz on December 23, 2011 at 12:33 PM

LOVED this show when I was a kid. I got my nephews the Pee-Wee's Playhouse Collection on DVD for Christmas because I am gunning for Greatest Aunt of All Time.

Posted by Re. on December 23, 2011 at 12:47 PM