Piling on Pancake Mountain

When Houstonist was growing up, You Can’t Do That On Television was sadly the edgiest kids/pre-teen show around. While we got a kick out of seeing a young Alanis Morissette watch as a cast member gets covered with green slime (which happened everytime a cast member said “I don’t know), looking back, it was a pretty stupid show.

Nowadays, the kids have it better. Sure, the stupid shows aimed towards kids far outnumber the smart, creative ones, but there are alternatives – like Pancake Mountain. Based in Washington D.C. and created by filmmaker Scott Stuckey, the show is headed by Rufus Leaking, a goat puppet, and other characters. Many indie-rock bands perform regularly on the show (including Arcade Fire, Guster, Bright Eyes), along with special guests like Juliette Lewis and Henry Rollins – not your usual guest stars. The Washington Post called it “A sort of slapstick Sesame Street that combines Pee-wee's Playhouse silliness with the inspired lunacy of Monty Python's Flying Circus, the program also boasts an ultra-hip and ever-expanding musical guest list." Sounds like our kind of show!

Stuckey brings some of his Pancake Mountain crew to Houston this weekend for an all ages live performance at Aurora Picture Show. While it’s unlikely that Rollins or Lewis will show up, you’ll still be able to see the puppets, funny skits, and short films. When we have kids, we’re going to ban the disturbing Wiggles and make them watch something like Pancake Mountain, so we can enjoy ourselves, also.

Pancake Mountain
Aurora Picture Show
800 Aurora Street
Saturday, Jan. 13 @ 10 a.m.
Sunday, Jan. 14 @ 3 p.m.