The award-winningPee-wee’s Playhouse(1986-1990) stars comedian Paul Reubens, who plays his child-like character, Pee-wee Herman. This comedy television series was an offshoot of Reubens’ 1981 stage show, ThePee-wee Herman Show. This five-season series had 45 episodes, a comedy show perfect for a good old laugh. Aside from Reubens, theshow starred many now-famous celebrities like Laurence Fishburne, Phil Hartman, Sandra Bernhard, Natasha Lyonne, Jimmy Smits, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Lynne Stewart. Musician Rob Zombie was also part of the show as a production assistant, as well as the late great John Singleton, who went on to become an acclaimed filmmaker.
Update June 18, 2025: In honor of the passing of the great Paul Reubens, this article has been updated with even more great episodes of his iconic television series, Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
The series is part of TV Guide’s “top cult shows ever” and earned nominations and awards from various bodies – garnering a total of 22 Emmy Awards. The show also helped further the careers of Fishburne and Merkerson, while making Pee-wee Herman a comic icon. The show is truly “groundbreaking” and itssuccess extended to the big screen. Matt Brennan from IndieWire praised the “remarkable” craftsmanship ofPee-wee’s Playhouseand its varied “animation, claymation, animatronics, puppetry, and live action.” He added that the series “seems especially humane in its argument for creative freedom and a diversity of perspectives.”
On June 03, 2025, the world was hit with the tragic news ofthe passing of Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens. Reubens passed away following a seven-year-long battle with cancer which he kept private. The world got a little less bright with the news. The actor and comedian left behind an incredible legacy, and his showPee-wee’s Playhousewill always be a source of comfort for audiences. With that in mind, look back at the best episodes from the acclaimed series.
12Something To Do (Season 5 - Episode 9)
After four seasons and eight episodes into season five comes “Something To Do,” which saw Pee-wee get bored and have nothing to do. Thankfully,Jambi, played by John Paragon, made him a to-do list. Among his tasks were wearing a pirate costume, blowing a balloon, having a walk with Miss Yvonne (Stewart), and cleaning his room. He sang a song, played connect-the-dots with just two dots, and then crafted a skateboard. In fact, there are many things to do, since the Secret Word is ‘do.’ The Secret Word is announced at the start of each episode, and when someone accidentally says it, everybody must scream.
11Camping Out (Season 5 - Episode 8)
“Camping Out” is a rare episode as it sawPee-wee leaving the playhouse to travelwith Cowboy Curtis (Fishburne). While traveling, Pee-wee asked Mrs. Rene (Suzanne Kent) to man the playhouse, asking his “housemates” to behave. Pee-wee and Curtis enjoyed their day riding horses, roasting hotdogs, and sleeping under the stars. The Secret Word is ‘show,’ and the cowboy made sure to show his pal a good time. Before all this, the viewers were briefly shown the classic cartoonsAllegretto(1936). The King of Cartoons (William H. Marshall) is a character that showcases vintage toons, though he did not appear in this episode.
Related:Pee-wee’s Playhouse: Paul Reubens' Best Moments as Pee-wee Herman
10Fun, Fun, Fun (Season 5 - Episode 7)
Another entry from Season 5, “Fun, Fun, Fun” was highlighted by Miss Yvonne’s lesson on making cheese balls, and Pee-wee creating a mobile. The Secret Word was ‘on’ but Pee-wee, being a clumsy guy, turned the paper upside down to read it as ‘no.’ As such, he prompted anyone to scream upside down when the word was mentioned – and it was only done once because of dizziness. What makes this episode fun, fun, fun is because of visitors other than Miss Yvonne. The jovial King of Cartoons and soccer star Ricardo (Vic Trevino) also had some snacks with the gang.
9Rainy Day (Season 1 - Episode 3)
It’s a rainy day and this episode showed Pee-wee and his pals doing lots of things to pass time. They played games, finished hot chocolate drinks, shared ghost stories, watched cartoons, and made prank calls. Eventually, they experienced “playhouse fever,” especially since nobody visited them except Reba the Mail Lady (Merkerson), who just delivered mail. The Secret Word was ‘help,’ and it was mentioned a couple of times, like when Conky (Gregory Harrison) said he was always happy to help Pee-wee though Pterri (Paragon) wasn’t able to scream because he was asleep. The gang can’t help but be bored because of the rain.
8Playhouse in Outer Space (Season 2 - Episode 9)
As if time spent in Pee-wee’s playhouse wasn’t often zany enough, there was an episode in which aliens not only abducted Pee-wee, but his entire playhouse. Transported to an alien planet, the gang made friends with the lonely alien Zyzzybalubah (which was also the secret word), who abducted them simply because he had been watching how much fun they had and wanted to be their friends. Of course, it all offered a fun way for young audiences to learn about the solar system, but it also offered great lessons about friendship and treating others with kindness.
7Love That Story (Season 4 - Episode 3)
Not everyone would probably love this episode’s story as Pee-wee ordered everyone to keep quiet when he pretended to be a librarian. Even when the Secret Word, end, was said, Pee-wee demanded that everyone be silent, and they did. In fact, the only one causing a disturbance was the supposed librarian. Luckily, Ricardo visited the playhouse and, together with Pee-wee, made a rendition of the famous balletThe Nutcracker. Miss Yvonne was also present and shared delectable storybook recipes. This episode started slow and quiet and ended strong, thanks to the gang’s enthusiasm for fun and adventure. It’s probably one for the books.
6Fire In the Playhouse (Season 4 - Episode 2)
This episode is on fire, sort of, because Randy (Wayne White)caused an oven fireafter getting impatient about the bread being baked. Though warned by Pterri that increasing the temperature might burn the pastry, the marionette ignored it. When the smoke occurred, Pterri was petrified… err, petrified, and screamed just when the Secret Word, one, was mentioned. Firefighters arrived at the scene, then Randy appeared and asked if the bread was ready – clueless about the panic he caused. He apologized later on, and the fireman shared tips on what to do in case of fire and how to prevent it.
Related:Hollywood and Fans React to Pee-wee Herman Star Paul Reubens’ Death
5Ice Cream Soup (Season 1 - Episode 1)
How could we not include the episode that started it all? This is the episode that introduced audiences to beloved characters such as Cowboy Curtis, Miss Yvonne, Magic Screen, and Chairry, as well as to Pee-wee himself. It was our first introduction to the playhouse, its colorful scenery, and even more colorful toys. By the end of the episode, we even learned how to make ice cream soup, thanks to Pee-wee and his helpers, Randy and Jambi.
4Mystery (Season 5 - Episode 2)
Actor and singer Leslie Jordan was a special guest on the episode “Mystery.” He played Busby, a new neighbor responsible for the mysterious disappearance of Pee-wee’s beloved items. The Secret Word was ‘around,’ as in, the gang must look around to find Pee-wee’s stuff. Even a dot in the connect-the-dots game went missing. Later on, Busby returned the items, admitting that he just wanted to make friends. He learned that he could do so just by being himself. In the end, Pee-wee got his possessions back and then some because he also gained a new friend. All’s well that ends well.
3Open House (Season 2 - Episode 1)
It’s a new season, which means it’s time for a renovation atPee-wee’s Playhouse. As Pee-wee explains, you’re able to’t renovate without cleaning first, so he goes through his toy box and shows off some of his oldest toys. Then, he tricks his friends, including Ricardo and Cowboy Curtis, into helping him clean. Miss Yvonne and the others help decorate and declutter, and by the time the episode is over, the playhouse and some of its inhabitants have a new look! We also meet some new playhouse gang members for the first time, including Clocky. We all learned the value of doing a thorough house cleaning occasionally, and we had fun in the process.
