Sick? Did Somebody Say Sick?
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| “Sick? Did Somebody Say Sick?” | |
|---|---|
| Pee-wee's Playhouse episode | |
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| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 4 |
| Guest stars | Bernard Fox |
| Written by | Max Robert |
| Directed by | Paul Reubens John Paragon |
| Production no. | 404 |
| Original airdate | September 30, 1989 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Love That Story" | "Miss Yvonne's Visit" |
Sick? Did Somebody Say Sick? is the 29th episode of Pee-wee's Playhouse.
Jambi the Genie isn't feeling so good. So Pee-wee calls a wish doctor. When Dr. Jinga-Janga arrives, he diagnoses that Jambi is suffering from Mekka-Lekka-Hi-Mekka-Hinyitis.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
[edit] Pee-wee Steps Out
Pee-wee is seen hurrying across the playhouse to the refrigerator in the kitchen. He looks in, only to find that it's empty, except for a sleeping box of baking soda and a sole ice cube playing a blues-type number on a harmonica. "I forgot to buy groceries!" Pee-wee cries. He tells the audience that he has to run to the store and he'll be right back. He hurries out the door.
[edit] Randy's Playhouse
Suddenly, Randy comes down. He greets everyone and says that while Pee-wee stepped out momentarily, he would take over as host. He says that it's time for "Randy's Playhouse".
Randy's first order of business is to figure out what the secret word is. He flips the switch on Conky to bring him to life, but doesn't unplug him. Conky says that he's ready to assist... Randy?! Randy just asks what's today secret word. "Don't you think we should wait for Pee-wee?" Conky asks. "No, I don't think," Randy says. He asks what the secret word is again. A piece of cardstock appears from Conky's midsection. Randy removes it and displays the secret word on the card stock for the audience to see. The word is GO. Randy asks what they're supposed to do when they hear the secret word. Everyone, of course, says, "Scream!" But Randy says that that's wrong, because it's his playhouse right now. He says everything about whenever anyone says the secret word for the rest of the day, but then can't decide what they should do instead of scream. Then he hears Roosevelt the dog barking. This gives Randy an idea and says that whenever anyone says the secret word for the rest of the day, instead of screaming, they should bark like a dog!
He tries it out on Pterri: "Hey, Pterri! Do you know where Pee-wee went?" "No, I don't," the green pterodactyl replies. "Where did he go?" He had said the secret word, but instead of screaming, everyone barks like a dog, just as Randy said they should. Randy then challenges Pterri to a race across the playhouse to his nest at the other end. He accepts the challenge. Randy says, "Ready... set..." but then rises and then lands on the nest. "I win! I win!" he gloats. Pterri flies over and accuses him of cheating. "You didn't even say, 'go'!" he adds. Everyone barks again. Randy just says, "Sucker!" He then rises and lands on Chairry, telling the viewers that it's now time to "jump on the furniture". He lands on Chairry's seat and bounces on her repeatedly. "I don't think I like 'Randy's Playhouse'!" Chairry shouts angrily. "If you don't like it, then why don'tcha just go?!" Randy replies. Everyone barks, even Chairry.
Randy stops bouncing and tries to figure out what to do next. Magic Screen says that what he should do next is apologize to Pterri and Chairry for being mean to them. Randy just decides that it's time to mess around inside Magic Screen. He appears inside, much to the screen's consternation. He then removes some connect-the-dots and sings the connect-the-dots song, but doctored so that it had Randy's name in the song. The dots form the bar doors of a jail cell. "Hey, what is this, a prison?!" Randy yells. "Lemme outta here!" "No!" Magic Screen shouts back. "Not until Pee-wee comes back!" Randy cries that he will go crazy. At last, the cell door opens and Randy is free. He is catapulted from the screen and lands on Chairry, like what happens to Pee-wee whenever he plays connect-the-dots.
[edit] Apology
But the seat of Chairry feels unusual, rather bumpy and gray. Randy asks Chairry if she just got reupholstered. But then he looks and sees... Pee-wee! Randy hastily tells the audience, "Well, that's all the time we've had for 'Randy's Playhouse'. See ya later, boys and girls, I gotta go!" Pee-wee hears everyone barking instead of screaming. Pee-wee grabs Randy as he ascends and brings him back and demands to know what's all this about with everyone barking like a dog. Randy stumbles over his words, trying to explain.
Then Roosevelt comes over and barks in Pee-wee's face, as if he's trying to explain. "What's that, Roosevelt?" Pee-wee says. Every time Roosevelt barks, Pee-wee translates what he is saying, quite expertly: "Randy's been teasing everybody? What? HE UNPLUGGED CONKY AND GOT THE SECRET WORD?! And now everyone has to bark whenever they hear it?!?" Roosevelt barks approvingly and Randy calls him a stool pigeon. Pee-wee looks at Randy and says, "You wrecked the whole show. Way to go!" Everyone barks. Randy says that he didn't mean any harm.
Pee-wee tells him solemnly that he owes everyone in the playhouse a sincere and formal apology. "Isn't that a severe punishment?" Randy asks. Pee-wee just orders him to apologize. Randy reluctantly apologizes, "I'm sorry, everybody." Pee-wee says, "No, you're very, very, very sorry." "I'm very, very, very sorry," Randy says. "AND you promise you'll never, ever, ever, never do it again," Pee-wee adds. Randy asks him to repeat that again and he repeats what was just said. Pee-wee asks him if he swears. "Only when I'm mad," Randy says. "RANDY!!" Pee-wee shouts. "Oh, alright, I swear," Randy says. Pee-wee says that that's better and now he can go. Everyone barks again and Randy ascends.
[edit] Groceries
Pee-wee decides to show the audience what he bought at the store. First he shells out a bunch of bananas. He promptly starts acting like a monkey. One of the fish watches and starts acting a monkey too. "What are you supposed to be?" the other fish asks. "I'm a sea monkey!" the fish replies. They both laugh. Pee-wee, meanwhile, pulls out more groceries: two bottles of milk and another of lemonade. He just can't resist saying jokingly, "From a corner, fudge is made!" Next he pulls out a carton of eggs, which look like Easter eggs. Finally, he pulls out an extremely long loaf of French bread.
[edit] Paris, France
Chandelier tells Pee-wee that the bread smells so magnifique that it makes her homesick for Paris. Pee-wee says that that's in France. Globey, meanwhile, points out France to Pee-wee on his side. Pee-wee asks Chandelier what it's like. She says it's the most beautiful city in the world. She would love to show him around the City of Lights. Pee-wee says he'd love to go. Everyone barks. Then he says, "I mean, I wish you could show me Paris."
Jambi's box opens and Jambi replies, "Wish? Did somebody say 'wish'?" Pee-wee says he did because he wishes he and Chandelier could travel to Paris. Jambi says, acting like a game show host, "Well then, pack your bags, Pee-wee Herman, because you and Chandelier are going on a glorious, all-expenses-paid trip to Paris!" Pee-wee and Chandelier cheer. Jambi then says an incantation for this occasion: "Mekka-lekka-hi, mekka-hiney-ho, off to Paris the two of you go!" Everyone barks.
[edit] What the...?
Jambi proceeds to grant the wish, but surprisingly, nothing happens. Pee-wee looks around and says, "Paris looks just like the playhouse." He notices Globey and adds, "And that Frenchman looks exactly like Globey." Globey replies, "That's because I am Globey and you're still in the playhouse." Pee-wee asks Jambi what just happened and he replies, "Nothing. That's the problem." "I WANT PARIS!!" Pee-wee shouts in a spoiled tone. So Jambi tries again. Still nothing. Pee-wee asks Jambi if he's feeling okay. "How do I look?" Jambi asks. He makes crazy faces and acts all crazy. "Not so good, Jambi," Pee-wee says. "I'll have to call the wish doctor." He hurries to the Picturephone and enters. This, however, is never shown.
[edit] Dr. Jinga-Janga
Pee-wee sits in the Picturephone (the curtain this time depicting the ocean) and looks up "Wish Doctor" in the Puppetland phone directory. He sees an ad for "Dr. Winslow J. Jinga-Janga" and reads it: "Dr. Jinga-Janga. Specializing in all types of genie-ology. 24-hour emergency service. All major credit cards welcome. Se habla español. 555-5555." He then proceeds to dial the number.
He gets in contact with Dr. Jinga-Janga's office. A man appears on the screen. "Is Dr. Jinga-Janga in?" Pee-wee asks. "In what?" the man asks. "The office," Pee-wee says. "Just a moment, I'll check," the man says. The screen goes black with the words "Please stand by" written on it and Muzak-style music plays in the background. A moment later, the man comes back on. "Yes, he is," he says. Pee-wee asks if he can speak with him and the man replies he may. Then Pee-wee questions the man if he is Dr. Jinga-Janga. "Just a moment, I'll check," the man says again. Again, the screen goes black with the words "Please stand by" written on it again and Muzak-style music plays in the background once more. A moment later, the man comes back online again and says yes, he is Dr. Jinga-Janga. Pee-wee says he needs his help. Dr. Jinga-Janga looks at Pee-wee and says that he doesn't look like a genie. Pee-wee says he's calling for his friend Jambi. Dr. Jinga-Janga says that he's sorry, but he's booked up for the next 200 years. Pee-wee should call back then. Without warning, the line is cut off.
Disappointed, Pee-wee leaves the Picturephone booth. Suddenly, he meets up with Dr. Jinga-Janga himself right in front of him. He says that all his bookings for the next 200 years had been canceled. Pee-wee then points the way to the patient for the doctor. Dr. Jinga-Janga disappears in his spot and reappears next to Pterri. He says that Pterri, whom he temporarily mistakes for Jambi, looks terrible. "You're no centerfold yourself," Pterri replies. Pee-wee shows the doctor the patient's location. Pee-wee then knocks on Jambi's box to summon him. The doors open and Jambi's face is covered in yellow spots and asks in a very weak tone of voice, "Wish? Did somebody say wish?". Pee-wee stands there, traumatized.
After Pee-wee gains control of himself, he tells Jambi that Dr. Jinga-Janga the wish doctor will help him. The doctor tells Pee-wee not to give Jambi any false hopes. He then starts to see what's troubling him. He finally detects "green faces with yellow spots". He learns that Jambi has to see a doctor. Pee-wee says that he is the doctor. "I am?" Dr. Jinga-Janga says. "Oh, yes, yes, I am!" He laughs and then adds, "And don't you forget it!" He then proceeds to take Jambi's pulse. He looks at his watch, but then says that his watch is broken. He asks Pee-wee what time it is. Pee-wee then asks Clocky the same question. Clocky replies that it's time for a Penny cartoon.
[edit] Mekka-Lekka-Hi-Mekka-Hinyitis
After the Penny cartoon ends, Dr. Jinga-Janga tells Jambi to just get some rest, he'll be just fine. Jambi thanks him and the doctor replies, "Off you go!" Everyone barks at the secret word.
Then Dr. Jinga-Janga takes Pee-wee aside to talk to him. He tells him that he has a very sick genie on his hands. Pee-wee says that he thought he said that he would be okay. "What did you expect me to tell him? The truth?" the doctor replies. Pee-wee asks what's wrong with Jambi. Dr. Jinga-Janga replies that Jambi is suffering from "Mekka-Lekka-Hi-Mekka-Hinyitis". "Oh, no!" Pee-wee cries. "Not Mekka-Lekka-Hi-Mekka-Hinyitis! Say it's anything but Mekka-Lekka-Hi-Mekka-Hinyitis!" He then asks, puzzled, "What is Mekka-Lekka-Hi-Mekka-Hinyitis?" The doctor explains that, in layman's term, he's suffering from genie burnout. He says that the strain and pressure of granting wishes can become a burden to anyone, even a genie. Pee-wee asks what he can do. Dr. Jinga-Janga tells him to start by telling Jambi how much he appreciates what he does for him. Pee-wee says he does so whenever he is granted a wish. Dr. Jinga-Janga says that that's fine, but that may be the only time he does something like that. He says that a word of kindness or thanks can make anyone feel better, not just when they do something for someone else. Pee-wee should let Jambi know how much he appreciates him and like him for what he is. Pee-wee then says he understands no matter how much we love each other, we sometimes forget to tell them that we love and appreciate them. Dr. Jinga-Janga says to just do that and anyone can feel better just like magic. Pee-wee thanks him and says that that's good advice for anyone.
Suddenly, they hear beeping. It's Dr. Jinga-Janga's cell phone. He has another emergency: someone has his genie stuck in a bottle. He asks Pee-wee the direction to Egypt. After being given an affirmative answer, the doctor leaves (or rather, he disappears into thin air).
[edit] The King of Cartoons
The flowers then let Pee-wee know that the King of Cartoons is coming. He shows up with a fancy bowl full of chicken noodle soup for Jambi, because he had heard about Jambi's sickness. Pee-wee takes the bowl of soup and goes to deliver it to Jambi. But first he tells the king that he wants to let him know just how much he appreciates him and the cartoons he brings to the Playhouse. The king is pleased to hear to this, as it makes him feel wonderful. With that, he shows the cartoon.
[edit] Cured
When the cartoon ends, Jambi is drinking the soup through a straw. Pee-wee asks how it is. Jambi replies that it's "really chicken-y and noodle-y." Jambi apologizes for not showing Pee-wee Paris. Pee-wee doesn't care about Paris anymore; he'll always have Paris. He really cares more about Jambi. Pee-wee wants Jambi to be his genie whether he can grant wishes or not. Suddenly, all the yellow spots disappear from Jambi's face disappear. Jambi suddenly feels better. He comments that the chicken noodle soup works wonders. Pee-wee, smiling, goes to his scooter's place. He turns the crank on the statue arm and the hidden door rises, releasing his red scooter. He mounts the scooter and puts on the helmet. Jambi calls out to Pee-wee that he feels fine now. He then asks if Pee-wee still wants his wish. Pee-wee says he already got his wish: Jambi's all better. He then says to the audience, "And I want to let you know how much I appreciate each and every one of you, too. I'd love to stay, but I really have to... GO!" Everyone barks again one last time. Pee-wee then 'scoots' out, and the supposedly locked door swings open, and he flies out of the playhouse, passing Mount Rushmore on his way, as always. The end credits roll.
[edit] Trivia
- Featured cartoon: To Spring (1936). It was also shown as the cartoon played in Puppy In the Playhouse.
- The ocean liner in the Penny cartoon is called the S.S. Pee-wee.
- The Queen of Cartoons from Spring is mentioned, but not their son, the Prince of Cartoons.
- Magic Screen uses her dot-kinesis powers to form a jail cell, which is something Pee-wee never used.
- Bernard Fox plays Dr. Jinga-Janga, the "wish doctor", in both a spoof of and a homage to his most famous TV role, Dr. Bombay, the warlock physician ("witch doctor") that was a recurring character on the classic sitcom Bewitched.
- The is the only time the general secret word rules are changed to have other auditory stuimuli instead of screaming.
