Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

Rating:
Summary: A holiday tradition in our household makes its DVD premiere
Review:
From 1988 and broadcast just once, comes this gem from the mind of Paul Reubens. Released in 2004 along with the rest of the "Pee Wee's Playhouse" output, this stand alone special has been a yearly tradition in our household. Now we can retire our videotape for the DVD format.

The special features are limited, only two, and they are both commentaries. The first one features Paul Reubens, co-writer John Paragon (who also plays Jambi) and Lynne Marie Stewart who plays Miss Yvonne, the most beautiful lady in all of Playland. The second commentary features four of the puppeteers who certainly had a lot to do in the special. The insights and tidbits on both of these commentaries are a great bonus.

The show itself is fast paced and gives you a chance to visit with some old friends. Pee Wee's humor may not be for all, but if you enjoyed the series, you will certainly enjoy this special where holiday traditions are examined and lessons of the spirit of giving are learned.

The supporting cast includes members who have gone on to bigger things including Laurence Fishburne as Cowboy Curtis and S. Epatha Merkerson as Reba The Mail Lady (who is now a regular on NBC's "Law and Order" minus the dreadlocks). The guests include Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, Charo, The Del Rubio Triplets, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Whoopi Goldberg, Magic Johnson, Grace Jones, k.d. lang, Little Richard, Joan Rivers, Dinah Shore and Oprah Winfrey. Stars, music, fun, a great package.

The transfer is fresh from the masters with Dolby Digital sound and is close-captioned. Highly recommended if you want to catch the Christmas spirit.


Rating:
Summary: Excellent special
Review: Christmas "specials" of TV shows are usually a ho-hum affair. We see someone being selfish with a huge Christmas list, but by the end of the show, they suddenly become holier-than-thou and completely selfless.

Does that happen in Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special? Yes. But unlike most Christmas specials, the message actually gets out this time. Not only that, it's extremely entertaining.

Most of the guest stars are nice, but in some ways, there are too many. The show doesn't suffer, but the stars disrupt the flow of the special in some cases.

Oh, and to the reviewer below, Cher is indeed in the special. Odd she isn't mentioned on the box but whatever.

Rating:
Summary: Mmmmmmm!! CHRISTMASY!! HA HA!!
Review: Christmas specials are usually so boring & formulaic, but not this one! It's as insanely & surreally hilarious as the Saturday morning TV show, but it also has a good message about selflessness (without being preachy about it), plus even acknowledging the celebration of Jesus' birth as the origin of Christmas! My favorite part is when Grace Jones (!!) sings "Little Drummer Boy" while at the playhouse (probably the strangest rendition of that song I've ever heard or seen!), when she was misdelivered there! (She was actually being mailed to the WHITE House -- I didn't know Reagan was into that kind of music!) Hilarious year-round viewing!!

Rating:
Summary: A holiday tradition!
Review: First VHS, then laserdisc, now DVD. I have 'em all, because it is just that good. (Cher, by the way, was not credited when the show originally aired, but does appear.)

From the opening sequence, when one of those military boys gooses Pee-Wee, to the final moment, where Dinah Shore sings to the Pee-Wee mannequin, this show is hilarious and touching through and through. kd lang and Grace Jones are delightful. But I think Charo's performance of "Feliz Navidad" is the stand-out. Brings a tear every year. All that, and a holiday message that resonates for kids and adults.

Truly a classic.

Rating:
Summary: A Christmas Special for the Whole Family!
Review: I bought this video about 6 years ago and we've watched it every Christmas since. It's a great show that not only kids loved, but adults enjoyed it too. Paul Reubens was a genius with this show and this special was evidence of that. It has classic guests such as: Charo, Cher, k.d. lang, Little Richard, Grace Jones, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah, Dinah Shore, Joan Rivers, Magic Johnson, Frankie Avalon, Del Rubio Triplets, and Annette Funicello. My favorite line is from Pee-Wee himself: "While the stockings were hung by the chimney with care and I hope everything on my list will be there." We watch this special every Christmas Eve along with the I Love Lucy Christmas Special.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Classic!
Review: I remember seeing this for the first time on TV when I was a kid and my mother taped it on VHS for me because I'd watch it literally year-round. As fate would have it, the tape didn't survive a hard fall on the tile, so I thought I'd never see this special ever again..until now. This is more than a great talent in one of his finest moments, but this is a piece of my childhood. I for one will go out at this moment and snatch up a copy. You should too.

Rating:
Summary: This is a must-have Christmas special!
Review: In addition to your "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," you must own this. If nothing else, the scene where Charo tries to teach Pee Wee how to give holiday greetings in Spanish is absolutely hilarious and by itself worth the money. That and the part where he calls Dinah Shore on his video phone.


Rating:
Summary: Magically ridiculous
Review: It's not typical TV jokes that make this video so funny. It's just how ridiculous the whole thing is. You don't have time to stop and think as Pee-Wee welcomes a bizarre array of guests from Magic Johnson to k.d. lang, as well as all the Playhouse regulars. Who knew Little Richard could skate? Why was someone mailing Grace Jones to the White House? (Ronald Reagan was celebrating his final Christmas in office when this came out.) Why is Frankie Avalon making Christmas cards with a potato?

When Pee-Wee stops to point out the real meaning of Christmas, I was expecting a watered-down "time for giving and sharing" message, but he actually acknowledges the religious meaning. Talk about unexpected! So just forget about Pee-Wee's offscreen trouble, and enjoy the show.

Rating:
Summary: A must have for any PeeWee Fan!
Review: Not much to say that has not already been said. It is great fun to be able to share PeeWee with my kids now. My friends and I watched it all through college. The Christmas Special will now be one of our Holiday traditions to watch as a family! huh huh

Rating:
Summary: Holiday Fun!
Review: Pee Wee's Holiday bash is not to be missed! Tons of fun for children and especially little queens who will ooh and ahh over the likes of Cher, Grace Jones, Dinah Shore, Charo, kd lang, Annette Funicello, Joan Rivers and a fat Oprah Winfrey!

Great songs are included with "Feliz Navidad" "Little Drummer Boy" and Pee Wee & Mrs. Rene's rendition of the Draedel song! And who knew the dinosaur family was jewish???