In our news the other about Pee-wee's Playhouse on DVD, we gave you info about how the two separate box sets would break down the five-season run of the show. But we didn't have a precise episode listing yet. Now Image Entertainment has provided that to us. Here's a copy-and-paste from their communications:
- Pee-wee's Playhouse - Volume #1: Seasons 1-2 (550 minutes)
Ice Cream Soup, The Gang's All Here, Luau for Two, Party, Rainy Day, Open House, Now You See Me, Now You Don't, Puppy in the Playhouse, Just Another Day, Store, Beauty Makeovers, Pee-wee Catches a Cold, The Restaurant, Why Wasn't I Invited, Ants in Your Pants, Tons of Fun, Monster, School, Cowboy and the Cowntess, Spring, Stolen Apples, Playhouse in Outer Space. Includes 2 Never-Before-Seen Lost Episodes!
- Pee-wee's Playhouse - Volume #2: Seasons 3-5 (575 minutes)
Pajama Party, I Remember Curtis, Reba Eats and Pterri Runs, Conky's Breakdown, To Tell the Tooth, Mystery, Dr. Pee-wee and the Del Rubios, Front Page Pee-wee, Fire in the Playhouse, Tango Time, Love That Story, Playhouse Day, Sick, Did Someone Say Sick?, Accidental Playhouse, Miss Yvonne's Visit, Fun, Fun, Fun, Rebarella, Camping Out, Heat Wave, Something to Do, Chairry Tee Drive, Playhouse for Sale, Let's Play Office. Includes 6 Never-Before-Seen Lost Episodes!
When we posted the above cover art in our last news item, we said, "They *might* be the finished designs, but to us they look more like they're early temp art perhaps, and not the final version."
That comment I wrote resulted in an upset e-mail from the designer of the packages, who says, "I took a little offense at your comment about it looking like early temp art. Those are final designs (with maybe Mr Reubens being softened around the edges, etc)."
I've responded to the gentleman privately, but wanted to share that with readers and apologize publicly if what I wrote was misunderstood. As I explained to him, the designs are great in my eyes, as well as my wife's (who is one of the biggest fans of Pee-wee Herman you'll ever meet). What Gord and I noted, though, was the lack of a DVD logo (like you'll see on Image's Starhunter 2300 cover in the lower left), studio logos, and writing in the corners or edges that explains more about the contents ("24 episodes, including 2 never-before-seen!") which we've all become used to seeing on our DVD packaging. So, we hedged our bets against declaring these to be "final" covers, and in the process we ticked off the designer.
And possibly Mr. Reubens as well. The designer explains about the package design: "Believe me, I went many different rounds before he picked that simple design.....The thin packs are much more 'boisterous!' " Well, we're never going to criticize simple, clean designs...and Image has certainly gone that route before. So, just to be clear to everyone: the above pictures represent the final cover art, according to the designer, and we like 'em.
Now, watch them change and we'll look totally stupid! Ah, well.
**UPDATED**
The art designer has sent us a 3-D version of the covers, and we'll all concede that the DVD logo I mentioned above has now been added to the front of these designs. But with this swiveled view you can also see the spines, which contain the Image logo we were also wondering about. Each also contains a cool pic of Pee-wee riding his scooter. Again, we're pleased with the designs, and more importantly we're going to be ecstatic at the episodes contained inside those boxes. We can't wait to sit down and enjoy these! For now, though, here's that alternate look at the packaging:
  
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