Friday, August 15, 2008

Flashback Friday!

Anyone wanna take a stab at guessing the number one children's television program exactly 20 years ago? My brother and I loved this one:


"Come on in, and pull yourself up a chair!" Yes, it's Pee-Wee's Playhouse!

It was campy, trippy, wacky, wonky, nutty, and barrels of fun. Plus, it had one of the best theme songs ever--I love me some Cyndi Lauper! Oh, and let's not forget Laurence Fishburne as "Cowboy Curtis." Did y'all know Laurence wasn't always a bada$$?

And before anyone brings it up, let's keep the perspective, people. Nineteen eighty-eight was before Pee-Wee became a household joke for "feeding the ducks" in public. If you have to ask, you obviously don't know. I'll not clue you in. And yeah, I said that...er, wrote that.

Happy weekend, y'all! Or, as is sung in Pee-Wee's theme, "Let the fun begin, it's time to let down your hair..." Woo-woo!
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Oh, this makes me so happy--my truly fabulous friend, Debbie, has made it possible for bloggers to do some world travelling, virtually speaking. Check out her new site, Blog Around The World. It's great fun. And, oh yeah...she also asked me to be a guest poster today at her new little corner of the blogosphere. What an honor! And also, how terrifying! Thanks for trusting me, Debbie...you remain my Fairy Blogmother, as always.

33 comments:

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Hey Lula! Loved the guest post over at Traveling! Too funny. Oh, and Pee Wee? *yuck*

Caroline said...

LOVED me some Pee Wee. Um, that doesn't sound so "child-friendly", but seriously, he was great, until he "fed the ducks" in public. I also loved Pee Wee's Big Adventure - his movie where he loses his bike and travels all over the country to find it. I always liked Tina at the Alamo. There HAS to be a basement in the Alamo!! Great Post Lula!

Unknown said...

My mom wouldn't let me watch Pee Wee

Lula! said...

Oh, Lizzy--poor you. I loved Pee-Wee. You know, until he messed with his own mojo in that movie theater, he was always pretty harmless. You need to watch a few episodes of the show--or, better yet, the movie. Embarrassingly enough I have it memorized!

Caroline--YEAH! I love Jan Hooks as Tina, too!

Heather said...

Lula, we so missed you last night! You'll have to read my post for all the details, but let's just say that all my BFF's are in agreement: we love us some Edward! And I dedicated a Washington Apple martini to you :)

Angie's Spot said...

I MEVER realized the Cyndi Lauper did the theme song for PWP! That's so funny!

I'm off to check BATW to see your international debut. Woo hoo!!

Heathahlee said...

I loved Pee Wee before all the yucky stuff. I still quote things from the movie, and Large Marge still scares the daylights out of me! : )

Mama Dawg said...

Oh, Pee Wee. How I loved you!

Unknown said...

LOL...what a flashback! Of course I was too old to be watching that show...

Tamie said...

y'know, amazingly enough, i think that i have seen a total of 2 pwph episodes...deprived childhood, eh? i always thought it was kind of wierd and stupid (sorry to all the devoted fans) but my hubby watched it and was a fan....do you think that it would be successful with today's kids?

sassy stephanie said...

Oh my...memories. How about the quest to find his bike? I loved the PW Herman dance on the bar.

Vicki said...

All I remember is his dance. I did that on a bar once.

Live.Love.Eat said...

Hmmm, never did much care for Pee Wee but I still like YOU :)

Hey, do you think you can email me how you post the You Tube video on your blog. I tried last night & just couldn't do it.

Unknown said...

LOL!!!

That's the first time I've ever watched 'Pee Wee'. We never got that show in NZ :-)

Debbie said...

You know what scares me? I was 25 in 1988....so nope I missed out on all that is Pee Wee until you know "the incident" and then I only saw him in mug shots. CAAAARRREEEEPY Cat.

Sydney said...

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you won't be a stranger!

CaraBee said...

I loved PeeWee. My husband and I still quote the movie from time to time. And who could forget the Tequila dance!

Ronnica said...

I have no idea why I never watched this show, but I'm so glad I didn't. I guess my parents just knew.

Marrdy said...

I'm a wee bit older than you but I did love watching Pee Wee with my brother and sister. Plus loved Pee Wee's Big Adventure. And what about Twisted Sister right in the middle. Classic!

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

All the kids in my town watched Pee-Wee! What a hilarious flashback!! Watching the opening to the show now though makes me think it's like the Wiggles on crack--I'm amazed my mom didn't go insane! :) I never knew Cyndi Lauper did the opening either--I love her!
Loved your post on Blog Around the World!!

Swirl Girl said...

Pee Wee's Playhouse was not for kids. We watched it in college after a good game of quarters and several tokes on the hookah.

Sorta like they do now with Sponge Bob ...don't they? Please tell me little kids aren't watching that show.

Melissa said...

The likelihood that we were separated at birth is becoming more and more apparent. This was one the our Saturday morning rituals. Chocolate chip pancakes or our choice of cinnamon toast and cheese toast ala mom and PeeWee's Playhouse. It's just doesn't get much more nostalgic. You are truly one of the most insightful, intelligent and interesting people I know.(Am I laying it on a little thick? I don't think so.) You have just gone to a whole new level in my book of names.
The movie PeeWee's Big Adventure was played so much in our quaint little home of Boca Raton that we wore it out. Large Marge and all the editing issues....gold classic.

Pinky Roth said...

I never cared too much for him, but you as a child did...

Mom

Heather said...

I was too old for Pee Wee when he came out, but I did watch his movie.

EB asked me the other day what cartoons I watched as a kid and I said, "Sesame Street, Electric Company, Tom and Jerry, and Speed Racer."

Those were the only kid shows we got.

angela | the painted house said...

I used to tape PeeWee's Playhouse while we were at church on Saturday mornings. I loved it...unless some unfortunate event screwed up the timer and I was left, er, PeeWeeless...which wouldn't be such a bad thing for Mr. Ruebens.

Loved the Big Adventure and knew it verbatim. Nerd.

Sissy said...

I have to admit that I never liked Pee Wee. One was his name, second was his weird friends and third, he just seemed too weird for me. I think men in makeup talking to children do that to me...so I wasn't surprised about that later incidents.

Megan said...

pee wee SCARES ME!!!!! ahhhh... hi i thought i would visit your blog! love it! soooo cute and original. hope you don't mind me visiting you!

Rhea said...

I have never been able to stand PeeWee. NEVER. Not as a child and not now. He drives me NUTS. I know, weird, right? I don't know anyone else who has this problem. Just me. ugh

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Look at all the people that didn't like Pee Wee! I thought the show was genius. And I watched it in college. And then with the kids when I was a nanny. It was just so funny. I remember screaming for the word of the day. So...can you get these on DVD??

Trooper Thorn said...

I thought it was a great show: funny for the kids, a parody for the adults. My kids now love "Pee Wee's Big Adventure."

KristiLU said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vicki said...

I didn't mention how I love your gene pool, wading pool, floatie comment. That was awesome and clever :)

Unknown said...

omg!! I can't believe that I actually never missed a Saturday of Pee-Wee!! LOL! I wonder what my kids would think of this. I don't think I would even let them watch it. But it was good times back then.