Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

Dear Erica,

The date was December 21, 1988. The place was Pee Wee's Playhouse. What monumental event took place at this time and place, you ask? Well, it was not just any old Christmas special. No, no. This is when the GAYEST television event of all time found its way into homes all over the world!


Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special!!!

Let's look at the mondo huge cast of kick-ass guest stars: Joan Rivers, Zsa Zsa Gabor, k.d. lang, Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Grace Jones, The Del Rubio Triplets, Charo, Dinah Shore, Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Magic Johnson, Little Richard and Cher. CHER, people. She shows up, albeit for just a second, to reveal "today's secret word" (which is "year" by the way). If that's not the gayest thing you've ever heard, then I'd like to know what is. No, really. There's nothing gayer. Were Paul Lynde still alive, you know he would have been at this party too.

There is just so much to enjoy about this campy, wacky, silly holiday extravaganza that I have no idea where to begin. At the beginning, I suppose. A military choir, looking like a gay mens chorus aboard the HMS Pinwheel, sings a peppy, disco, wackadoodle theme song that gets things started with a bang. Then begins the onslaught of gay icons coming through the door, one after another, bringing their wonderfully entertaining antics into the playhouse.

k.d. lang sings a truly bizarre and rousing rendition of Jingle Bell Rock. The Del Rubio Triplets muck up the lyrics to Winter Wonderland, at one point singing "to face on the fray the plans that we may." Charo and her huge bassooms perform Feliz Navidad. Dinah Shore goes on and on and on and on and on and on with The Twelve Days of Christmas. Pee Wee barks rudely at Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, in some of the funniest comedy bits. Little Richard lands flat on his ass while skating on a sheet of ice. Magic Johnson takes a spin with the Magic Screen. Not to mention, the entire gang of regulars, including Miss Yvonne, Reba the mail lady, Mrs Renae, Cowboy Curtis, Jambi, Pterri, Conky and all the rest, are on hand to jam the entire playhouse with Christmas glee.

Amid all this craziness is Pee Wee himself, who somehow manages to capture exactly what it's like to be a child at this time of year.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"
He may be wacky and a little bit crazy, but he's also got a humongous heart that welcomes anyone and everyone into his playhouse. Perhaps we all could learn a thing or two from this kid!

Till next time,
Bradley