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PEE-WEE HERMAN SHOW, THE (TV)

Summary

A stage show featuring Paul Reubens' character Pee-wee Herman, taped before a live audience at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles.

The show opens as Pee-wee appears and fetches various props from his "bag of tricks." Many of Pee-wee's friends come to visit him, including the local postman Mailman Mike, Jambi the Genie (a magic seemingly disembodied head kept in a box in Pee-wee's Playhouse), and a boy named Hammy and his sister Susan. Pterri, a pterodactyl, arrives and Pee-wee wishes he could fly like Pterri. Pterri works with Kap'n Karl, a crusty old sea captain and Pee-wee's friend, who also stops by, discussing his various sea adventures at the importance of proper hygiene ("A Sailor's Life"). Karl panics when Miss Yvonne, "the most beautiful girl in Puppetland" arrives at the Playhouse. After a brief interruption by Hermit Hattie, Miss Yvonne reveals that she has affections for Kap'n Karl and that it is her "secret wish" that he reciprocate her feelings. Miss Yvonne runs off after an encounter with Monsieur Croc and his computer dating service.

Pee-wee shows a clip of an old cartoon ("Balloon Land") before he brings a woman from the audience named Joan onstage and hypnotizes her with the aid of his hand puppet Dr. Mondo. Jambi reappears and Pee-wee talks to various figures in the spirit world before Jambi offers to grant Pee-wee one wish. Pee-wee wants to wish for the ability to fly, but he remembers Miss Yvonne's own desire and decides to wish that Karl returned her feelings for him. Jambi grants his wish. Mailman Mike returns to deliver Pee-wee's mail and talks him into eating some cookies addressed to someone else, as well as delivering a pair of hands to Jambi. Next, Pee-wee summons his next-door neighbors, the Jelly Donuts, to help him with a musical tribute to singer Sly Stone. Kap'n Karl returns and talks to Pee-wee about women before Yvonne returns and he is smitten with her. They leave together, completely ignoring Pee-wee.

Upset, Pee-wee sulks a bit before Mailman Mike returns to cheer him up with messages from his pen pals. Pee-wee then shows a portion of "Mr. Bungle," an educational film about proper manners. Yvonne returns and Pee-wee tells her that he gave up his wish for her, then runs off to be by himself. Distressed, Miss Yvonne and Hermit Hattie call everyone together and inform them of the situation. They decide to consult Jambi for help, and Karl notes that he already liked Miss Yvonne before Pee-wee made his wish, and thus Pee-wee still has a wish remaining. With help from the audience, Jambi recites his incantation and Pee-wee is granted the ability to fly; he is ecstatic ("Luckiest Boy in the World"). He flies off as he says he will "share all my luck with you. ("Volare Pee-wee")"

Details

  • NETWORK: HBO
  • DATE: November 30, 1980
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:58:32
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:18487
  • GENRE: Comedy
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
  • SERIES RUN: N/A
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Paul Reubens … Executive Producer, Director, Created by
  • Marty Callner … Producer, Director
  • Dawna Kaufman … Co-Producer
  • Molly Miles Stitzel … Associate Producer
  • Greg Sills … Associate Producer
  • Bill Steinkellner … Writer
  • Jay Condom … Music by
  • Paul Reubens … Cast, Pee-wee Herman
  • John Moody … Cast, Mailman Mike
  • John Paragon … Cast, Jambi the Genie
  • Tito Lariva … Cast, Hammy
  • Nicole Panter … Cast, Susan
  • Phil Hartman … Cast, Kap'n Karl
  • Lynne Stewart … Cast, Miss Yvonne
  • Edie McClurg … Cast, Hermit Hattie
  • Monica Ganas … Cast, Mrs. Jelly Donut
  • Brian Seff … Cast, Mr. Jelly Donut
  • Joan Leizman … Cast, Joan