If you’re in the mood to shake up your usual holiday routine, this might be your sign. Pee‑Wee’s Playhouse: Christmas Special is one of those things you throw on “just to see,” and suddenly everyone in the room is laughing, quoting lines, and wondering why you don’t watch this every year. It’s goofy, warm, and totally unpredictable — the kind of fun that feels better when it’s shared. And the best part? It’s free on Tubi right now, so inviting it into your holiday plans is as easy as pressing play. Consider this a very friendly nudge to start a new tradition.
Runtime: 48 minutes
Rating: TV‑PG
Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family, Music, Holiday
Release Date: December 21, 1988
Audio: English
Subtitles: English
Directors: Wayne Orr, Paul Reubens
Welcome to the Weirdest Christmas Party on TV
Forget the snowy cabins and quiet carols. Pee‑Wee’s Playhouse: Christmas Special crashes into the holidays like a one‑man parade powered by tinsel, rubber chickens, and unfiltered joy.
This isn’t a Christmas story in the usual sense. There’s no big lesson wrapped in a bow and no tidy ending where everything magically lines up. Instead, Pee‑Wee Herman throws an open‑house holiday bash, and anything — and anyone — can happen. And does.
Airing in 1988, the special captures the Playhouse at its most joyful and unhinged, surrounded by celebrity guests who fully commit to the fun.
What Happens (Sort Of)
Pee‑Wee is preparing for Christmas. That’s the plan.
Then the Playhouse does what it always does: it fills up with talking furniture, surprise guests, musical numbers, and comedic chaos. Friends drop in. Celebrities show up. Songs break out without warning. The day zigzags instead of following a straight line — just like Pee‑Wee himself.
The secret of the special is that “keeping things under control” was never the goal. Christmas here is loud, silly, overstuffed, and deeply happy.
A Guest List That Feels Like a Fever Dream
The celebrity lineup is legendary, and somehow everyone understands the assignment.
Appearing in the Playhouse:
Whoopi Goldberg
Magic Johnson
Oprah Winfrey
Grace Jones
k.d. lang
Little Richard
Joan Rivers
Dinah Shore
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Cher
Frankie Avalon
Charo
Some guests sing. Some joke. Some simply exist in complete contrast to the surroundings — which only makes everything funnier.
The Regulars You Know and Love
Pee‑Wee Herman (Paul Reubens), childlike ringmaster of the whole operation
Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne), the calm presence surrounded by everything but calm
The talking chairs, walls, clocks, and assorted Playhouse residents are also in top form, reacting to the madness as if this is all perfectly normal — because, to them, it is.
Songs, Noise, and Musical Surprises
Music is everywhere in this special, popping up in delightful and bizarre ways. Performances swing from sincere to silly to completely unexpected. Grace Jones brings her signature intensity. Little Richard turns the energy dial past eleven. k.d. lang adds warmth and style.
It feels less like a formal concert and more like a jam session that keeps getting interrupted by jokes, props, and Pee‑Wee’s excitement.
Why It Still Works
Even decades later, the special feels fresh because it never tried to be slick or trendy. It commits fully to imagination. It treats kids like they can keep up and adults like they deserve to laugh freely.
Under all the noise, there’s a sweet idea quietly doing the work: Christmas is better when everyone brings their own version of joy.
Who Should Watch This
Anyone tired of standard holiday specials
Families who enjoy silly, fast‑moving humor
Viewers who love practical sets and big personalities
Adults chasing a little late‑1980s TV magic
People who believe Christmas shouldn’t be quiet
Final Word
Pee‑Wee’s Playhouse: Christmas Special feels like being invited to a party where nothing matches, everyone is welcome, and no one cares if things get weird — as long as it’s fun.
It’s loud. It’s playful. It’s gloriously unapologetic.
And once you step into the Playhouse for Christmas, you kind of never forget it.
Merry everything. And remember: if something strange happens, that’s probably the point.
