I am somewhat surprised but not really how well Pee-Wee's Playhouse holds up

[matt_zimmer]

Even back in the eighties the show was really retro which definately helps in keeping it fresh even today. I love the show and think it makes a perfect fit on Adult Swim.

I have heard a LOT of complaining on Toon Zone and AI that the show doesn't fit on CN ESPECIALLY AS as it isn't animated AND was originally made for Saturday morning. I've even heard comparison's with AS's loopy decision to air Saved By the Bell a couple of months ago. But to paraphrase Eric Cartman "So help me God if you EVER compare Pee-Wee to Saved By the Bell again I will kill you where you stand". Pee-Wee was one of the coolest and most creative shows to come out of the eighties period, while Saved was a trashy kidcom on the same wavelength as Small Wonder. Seriously people who compare the two need to be kicked squared in the noots. Also the show has just enough animated bits in my mind to justify it being on CN.

One quibble on AS's decision to air Pee-Wee: they have actually chopped down the theme somg quite a bit. The extended theme was one of the absolute best things about the show back in the day and it kills me that the version AS plays is so choppily editted and short. It reminds me of the short shrift Disney gave the Tale Spin theme on The Disney Afternoon in that not hearing the whole awesome theme is actually kind of painful.

Comments

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

The pissing people off thing was a nice touch about Saved but they aired it for too long for it to be considered a funny joke. Timing is everything in comedy and AS took it WAAAAAAY too far. I have a sneaking suspicion Saved got great ratings and that's the reason they kept airing it, which isn't funny, but sad.

[90scartoonman.livejournal.com]

Pee Wee and Saved By The Bell are too very different animals, but I don't think you're giving Saved By The Bell enough credit. That show was funny! Kidcom? Maybe, but it had the kind of humor that really appealed to its audience. Fun characters, and many episodes taught valuable lessons without getting preachy (cheesy, yes, but preachy, not often).

Pee Wee holds up great, though. I own Pee Wee's Big Adventure and watch it from time to time. I know Playhouse is very different, but you gotta love the wacky.

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

Saved By the Bell is awful. I cannot be diplonatic about this. I truly believe it is one of the worst Saturday morning series ever made and is single-handedly responsible for NBC dropping their cartoon line-up.

[90scartoonman.livejournal.com]

Hm, this inspires me to do a future post, but in any case, you are entitled to your opinion. I'm just a little sad that you found neither Screech nor Urkel to be funny.

And it took NBC a while to drop its cartoon line-up. When Saved By The Bell first premiered, it was on after The Smurfs or something. To my recollection, it wasn't until the late 90's when the whole TNBC thing happened (although I guess you CAN blame that on SBTB, I don't think that should affect how one would view the show's quality).

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know it took NBC a while to dump it's cartoons but SBTB WAS the catalyst. And to be honest, I always thought it's quality was REALLY low.