Barnes & Noble

Have yourself a Pee-wee little Christmas with the long-awaited DVD debut of this very nice and only a little bit naughty 1988 Christmas special. Pee-wee Herman, his pals, and playmates deck the Playhouse with holiday cheer. The eclectic, all-inclusive guest list includes Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, Grace Jones, Cher, Magic Johnson (who knew he was Magic Screen's cousin?), k. d. lang, Charo, Zsa Zsa Gabor, campy 1950s sister act the Del Rubio Triplets, and Little Richard (on skates!). Dinah Shore phones in a rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Joan Rivers also offer season's greetings. It wouldn't be Christmas at the Playhouse without a mistletoe-bedecked Miss Yvonne, vintage holiday-themed animation from the King of Cartoons, and a claymation winter wonderland scene inside the Playhouse icebox. Meanwhile, the Dinosaur family engages in Hannukah festivities. But will Pee-wee's massive gift list drain Santa's toy supply for the rest of the world's children? Not likely, as it wouldn’t be a Christmas special without someone having the greed chastened out of him -- such as Pee-wee! As warm as hot chocolate and as nutty as a fruitcake, Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special not only ranks among the all-time greats of the genre, it takes the crown for inspired eccentricity. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

The secret word is "Happy New Year" as Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) and the Playhouse gang hold a Christmas party. Things threaten to get out of hand fairly early as the increasingly disappointed Pee-Wee receives one fruitcake after another. When he complains that he didn't get anything he really wanted, our hero learns an important lesson about sharing from none other than Santa Claus. Among Pee-wee's special guests are singers k.d. lang, Grace Jones, Dinah Shore, and the Del Rubio Triplets, "Beach Party" perennials Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon (who'd recently costarred with Pee-wee in the theatrical film Back at the Beach), the outrageous Little Richard (on ice-skates!) and such pop-culture giants as Oprah Winfrey, Charo, Cher, Joan Rivers, Magic Johnson, and even Zsa Zsa Gabor. Pee-wee Herman's Christmas Special first aired December 21, 1988 on CBS. Hal Erickson

Product Details

• UPC: 014381251524
• Source: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
• Region Code: 0
• Language: English
• Time: 48:00
• Sales Rank: 1,766

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