For my money, "Pee-wee's Playhouse" was one of the greatest TV shows ever, and tied for first place (with "The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle") for greatest Saturday morning show ever.
And now, we have reason to believe that this DVD may be one of the greatest packages ever released. As he said in this New York Times article, Paul Reubens waited a long time for this DVD release:
"To produce it, he had to wait several years for the home video rights to "Pee-wee's Playhouse" to revert back to him. (The original company he licensed them to, MGM Home Entertainment, released the show on VHS in 1996 but opted not to publish it on DVD.) He then spent nearly two more years poring over packaging and box art that he felt lived up to the series's eye-popping visual standards."
Could the show that appealed to two starkly different demographics be the show that unites us? The VHS version has passed the Wal*Mart test, so maybe the idea isn't so far-fetched (assuming Mr. Reubens hasn't loaded the DVD extras with swears and naked ladies).
I say, "Americans unite!" Let's rally around something we can all believe in: great TV that teaches kids without being boring or insipid! Get your red & blue butts out on November 16th and buy the Pee-wee DVDs!
Wait, better yet, buy 'em at Wal*Mart on Amazon and make me some book-buying money!
xxx
c
UPDATE 1/17/08: I've got both sets; the shows are absolutely as wonderful as I'd remembered, and collected, they're a dream.
UPDATE 2/9/2011: I'm serious about buying them on Amazon. Look, they come in one BIG set now!