See the 1988 classic with live music and performances to benefit fire relief
For those of us who were sitting around the television in 1988, Christmas at Pee Wee’s Playhouse was certainly unlike anything that we had ever seen. That year, holiday specials ran rampant over broadcast TV, and they harked back to earlier times like the 1970s. John Denver, Anne Murray and the reconstituted Brady Bunch all had big prime-time shows that December. Even black and white classics like It’s a Wonderful Life and the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol were broadcast over the air as if that was completely normal.
Critics seemed to lose their minds at the absurdity of a wacky children’s host creating a prime-time network special. This was best left to old timers like Bob Hope. Pay no attention to the fact that Paul Reubens was an avant-garde artist from CalArts who had spent years in the Groundlings comedy troupe perfecting his now world-famous alter ego.
The world began to understand the complexity behind Pee-wee Herman’s character when HBO aired their documentary Pee-wee as Himself this spring, two years after the actor’s death.
Cher and Paul Reubens in Christmas at Pee Wee’s PlayhouseCredit: Photo courtesy © Herman World, Inc.
Following his big screen breakout in two big theatrical Pee-wee releases and the runaway success of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, CBS invited Paul Reubens to create a holiday show. He filled it with cutting-edge artists like Grace Jones and throwbacks from his childhood like Little Richard, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. All that plus Oprah, Cher and the Del Rubio Triplets! Merry Christmas! Miss Rene even drops by to gift Pee-wee eight fruitcakes for Hanukkah.
On December 27, you can see Christmas at Pee-wee’s Playhouse up on the big screen at the historic Alex Theater in Glendale as a benefit show with a live concert and lots of in-person special guests. Plus, proceeds help AnimAID, providing aid to animation professionals affected by the California wildfires, and Saturday Morning Cartoons United, a non-profit celebrating legacy animation.
Christmas at Pee Wee’s PlayhouseCredit: Photo courtesy © Herman World, Inc.
The immersive fan experience, endorsed by Reubens’ estate, is emceed by DJ Lance Rock of Yo Gabba Gabba, features a DJ set by iconic artist Shepard Fairey, the Bob Baker Marionettes and a rollicking musical performance by the voice of Spongebob Squarepants himself Tom Kenny with his band the Hi-Seas. The show kicks off with the independent short Potato Face by acclaimed artist Jim McKenzie.
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A one-time pop-up store in the theater’s forecourt will include interactive installations and Pee-wee collections by NECA and Kidrobot. What better way to end the year than to keep the holiday fun going with Pee-wee, Miss Yvonne, Jambi, Chairry and the whole playhouse gang.
Christmas at Pee Wee’s PlayhouseCredit: Photo courtesy © Herman World, Inc.