TVSquad

It's live-action, which might upset some of the cartoon purists out there, but heck, at least it isn't Saved by the Bell. Starting on July 10, Adult Swim will be airing episodes of Pee-wee's Playhouse, the hysterical multi-Emmy award-winning children's series featuring Paul Reuben as everyone's favorite idiot manchild. We've known for awhile now that Adult Swim was making plans to incorporate more live-action into its programming block, and while I would love to see more of an effort made to showcase original animated work, I'd be lying if I said I didn't think this was pretty damn cool. Then again, yet another part of me worries that once the thrill of nostalgia wears off I'll be pining once again for something new and original. My brain might have to shut down if it continues to argue with itself in this manner.

Paul Reubens created the popular character in 1978, and the show debuted in 1986. Adult Swim's airing of the series will coincide with its 20th anniversary. The series will air Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m. EST, and all forty-five original episodes will be shown, including the rare Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special. 

I've mentioned on this here blog o' television a number of times my love for Wonder Showzen, a send-up of Sesame Street-style children's programming that's paralleled only by South Park in its efforts to both make you laugh and thouroughly insult every sensibility you might have. Since it's buried in the dark catacombs of basic cable it's sometimes difficult to catch, but fear not, Pamela, for the first season of this mix of subversive cartoons and racist, drug-addled puppets will be available on DVD on March 28. Meanwhile, the second season is currently in production, and internet scuttlebut claims we'll be seeing new episodes sometime during the first quarter of this year. If you're a Wonder Showzen virgin, check out some clips on YouTube.