PEE-YOO'S PLAYHOVEL

PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE
CBS 1986-1990

Pee-Wee Herman was the brain-child of comedian Paul Reubens who did the character for many years, initially as a parody of kiddie-show hosts, then for a movie that continues to have cult status, and as host of an actual Saturday Morning TV show. Then a scandal killed his career in 1991, and later he was arrested for possession of child pornography.

A MAD PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES AT PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE
MAD #273, September 1987
a: Al Jaffee

One of the only times there's no writers' credit on a MAD piece. Must have been written by the staff. Some of the characters are real, some are MAD creations, as well as MAD background regulars Arthur the Plant and the apteryx.. To see which are which and the names of the characters, watch the video clip at the top.

Pee-Wee reading his MAD parody.

PEE-YOO'S PLAYHOVEL
Cracked #228, July 1987
w & a: Bob Fingerman

The show had a secret word and any time anyone said it all the characters and the audience at home were supposed to scream. A robot named Conky would present it.

Three kids that hung out there were the Playhouse Gang (Natasha Lyonne, Shawn Weiss, Diane Yang)

Dixie the Cabbie (Johann Carlo) would come in to introduce the King of Cartoons (Gilbert Lewis) who showed a minute of a public-domain 30s cartoon. Reba the Mail Lady (S. Epatha Merkerson) was always confused by the happenings of the playhouse. Jambi the Genie (John Paragon) granted a wish at the end of every program chanting “Meka-Lekka-Hi-Mekka-Hiney-Ho”

Pee-Wee always introduced a claymation cartoon character Penny had pennies for eyes and gave a lesson.

Pee-Wee showed the Cracked parody when he was a guest on The Tonight Show.

The scandal that killed the character involved Reubens being caught in his hometown masturbating in an adult theater. It was joke fodder for months. My opinion is he meant to be caught because he was tired only being known as Pee-Wee Herman and this was his only way out.

The ad parody is from Cracked #270, March 1992.