DVD Capsule Review

Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (2004)

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Credits

DVD Release Date: Oct 19, 2004; With: Paul Reubens

B+

By Steve Daly

Steve Daly

Steve Daly is a senior writer at EW, and also author of EW.com's Money Shot column

You want name guests? Pee-wee's got 'em. This droll CBS special, spun off from Paul Reubens' wickedly imaginative Saturday-morning show, is practically nothing but guests — and what a great, witty list it is. Magic Johnson meets Magic Screen. Cher stands near Chairy. Other pop-ins include Charo singing ''Feliz Navidad''in a red sequined minidress and matching Santa hat, Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello being made to tend Pee-wee's card list, Grace Jones done up like Tutankhamen singing ''Little Drummer Boy,''the UCLA men's chorus posing as a military chorale — and the best bit of all, a couple of beefy construction workers (played by nobody famous) building a new Playhouse wing made entirely of fruitcakes. How gay-friendly can you get?

EXTRAS Two less-than-fabulous commentaries by Reubens and his collaborators that are mainly from the oooh-I-love-this-scene school.

Posted Dec 20, 2004

More

Video Commentary Videos for the season | Jeff Unger
DVD Review The Pee-wee Herman Show (Jul 18, 2006) | J.P. Mangalindan
DVD Review Big Top Pee-Wee (Jul 06, 2004) | Ty Burr
All About Paul Reubens
Television News ''Pee-Wee's Playhouse'' turns 20 | Brian M. Raftery

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