Revisiting Nickelodeon’s wacky and groundbreaking ‘Weinerville Chanukah Special’ at 30

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Hanukkah, a holiday celebrated for eight days and with many different spellings, used to have very little on TV.

As a movie and TV buff, it’s amazing to see how Hanukkah is represented now – from Spider-Man to even shows like “New Girl”! But it wasn’t always like that. For years, there was very little beyond Ed Asner’s 1973 Hanukkah documentary and David Grover’s sing-along. Everyone talks about the “Rugrats” Hanukkah episode from 1996 as being the one that really kicked off Hanukkah specials for kids, but actually, Nickelodeon did one the year before with a really quirky show called Weinerville. It was the first half-hour special they ever did around the Festival of Lights!

Yes, there is a “Weinerville Chanukah Special.”

In the early 1990s, Nickelodeon was trying new things and decided to create a show with comedian Marc Weiner, who was known for his puppet work. The show evolved from a previous game show pilot called “That’s Not Fair,” originally intended for the Ha! Network (which later became Comedy Central). That pilot was based on a segment from Weiner’s comedy show, “Random Acts of Variety,” but test audiences were younger than the network hoped. Luckily, Nickelodeon was at the time searching for a comedian to fill a similar role to Soupy Sales, but for a 90s audience.

I was SO excited when Nickelodeon picked up the pilot! “Weinerville” finally premiered in 1993, and it was unlike anything else on TV. It kept that really unique look from Mark Weiner’s earlier work – you know, his head on different puppet bodies, those “Weinerettes” – but this time it was a whole city of puppets! They filmed it live in front of an audience, which was awesome, and people even got to compete in games after getting a “Weinerized” makeover. Plus, they’d show classic cartoons too! Honestly, the whole show was totally unconventional, even the time slot. Instead of the usual weekday afternoons or Saturday mornings, Nickelodeon gave “Weinerville” two whole hours on Sunday afternoons to air four brand new episodes back-to-back. It was amazing!

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The second season of “Weinerville” initially aired on weekday afternoons, but as Nickelodeon’s audience grew older, the show was shifted to weekday mornings before school. Creator David Weiner had originally proposed a short Hanukkah public service announcement. However, an executive gave him a Hanukkah storybook and asked him to create a special with his own unique take. After getting the green light to do it in the style of “Weinerville,” writer Scott Fellows – who also voiced the character Zip – took the lead in developing the special.

The result was a remarkably chaotic and unusual half-hour of children’s television, a standout from the 1990s. Filmed in October at a cabin in Killington, Vermont—about two months before its airdate— “The Weinerville Chanukah Special” combined fantastical elements like space aliens and musical numbers with a surprising sense of realism. This was achieved by featuring popular songs from artists like the B-52’s, Elastica, and Gloria Estefan—made possible by an agreement between Nickelodeon’s parent company, Viacom, and MTV regarding music licensing—and by including appearances from counterculture celebrities spanning comedy, music, and even wrestling, like WWF’s Diesel (Kevin Nash).

The story centers around two alien refugees, the Sektals (whose name is a playful backwards spelling of ‘latkes,’ a type of potato pancake). Actor Michael Gunst, who played one of them, remembers filming the project quickly over a few days with a small team. They’re fleeing Antidorkus, a tyrannical leader who uses a special ray – the ‘Keerg’ (a play on ‘Greek’) – to force his people to give up their culture and conform to his ways. The Sektals land near a ski lodge rented by a group called the “Weinerville” gang and desperately search for enough oil to power their spaceship and return home. Just when it seems they won’t succeed, a bit of Hanukkah magic intervenes, Antidorkus is defeated, and the day is saved. The story concludes with a Halloween party and a high-energy punk rock song about menorahs, inspired by The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated.”

The movie includes a song explaining the Hanukkah story, performed by David Johansen, a legendary figure in early punk music (appearing as Buster Poindexter). He plays Gonsah K’nocker, a wise older character, and sings a fantastic original song called “The Hammer Came Down.” Director Weiner recalls that getting Johansen involved was a stroke of genius, though he’s not sure who initially made it happen.

The special also featured a guest appearance by Denny Dillon, reprising her role as Toby from the HBO show “Dream On.” Reflecting on the experience, Dillon fondly remembers the show’s “wonderful silliness,” believing that’s what made it work – its unpredictable nature and dedication to lighthearted humor. Laura Kightlinger also appeared and shared that the late Paul Weiner was highly respected among comedians. She recalls enjoying filming her scene, which involved holding real applesauce, and now recognizes the show’s quick pace as being particularly fitting for today’s audiences.

The Hanukkah special began with Marc Summers, best known as the host of the Nickelodeon game show “Double Dare,” reading the Hanukkah story. He was joined by Boney, a grumpy dinosaur skeleton from the show “Weinerville,” who offered a contrasting personality to the popular purple dinosaur, Barney.

Summers remembers that Boney was hilarious and could always make him laugh. He also describes Weiner as deeply religious, someone who was passionate about sharing Judaism and its traditions – something Summers considers quite forward-thinking for the time.

Summers recalls that Hanukkah was occasionally mentioned in the past, but usually without much explanation. However, Weiner always presented it with a unique perspective and a sense of humor. According to Summers, people often rely on stereotypes when they don’t fully understand Jewish traditions and holidays. Weiner, being knowledgeable and authentic, offered a genuine understanding of the holiday.

What sets “The Weinerville Chanukah Special” apart from thirty years of Hanukkah programs is its unique approach to celebrating the holiday – it doesn’t feel the need to compare itself to Christmas or explain Hanukkah through another holiday’s lens. The special confidently assumes everyone knows what latkes are and puts Hanukkah front and center. Interestingly, it premiered the same week as Shari Lewis’ “Lamb Chop’s Special Chanukah” on PBS. Having two Hanukkah musicals with puppets debut in the same week, after so many years without any, is remarkable. The enthusiastic critical response to “Weinerville” was also a pleasant surprise.

Critics loved the show, with The New York Times calling it “Wacky, no doubt. And absolutely charming.” and NF Mendoza of The Times describing it as “Fun and Vivid.” Even The Jewish Week acknowledged its energy, noting it was a “loud” and exciting take on Chanukah. According to Marc Weiner’s manager, Lee Kernis, Nickelodeon was very supportive and didn’t request many changes. The show was famously low-tech—the team even joked it was held together with superglue and Scotch tape—and Kernis believes this simple, resourceful approach was a key part of its appeal to Nickelodeon.

Though “The Weinerville Chanukah Special” only aired a few times in 1995, “A Rugrats Chanukah” – which premiered shortly after the last “Weinerville” episode – quickly became Nickelodeon’s signature Hanukkah program for years to come. Despite disappearing from television, “The Weinerville Chanukah Special” was shown at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York in 2000 and 2002. Later, through file sharing and streaming, it developed a dedicated fanbase throughout the 2010s, becoming a popular choice for Hanukkah segments on Christmas podcasts and a favorite topic for children’s television podcasts. Manny Oramas of the Nickelodeon podcast “Splat Attack” fondly remembers that the special introduced him to Hanukkah, and he considers it a classic.

Jeff Weiner remains involved in children’s entertainment, continuing to voice the characters of Map and Swiper in various versions of “Dora the Explorer.” He also crafts tote bags from recycled sails from the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater – a ship he sailed on for three years in the 1970s – to support the organization’s environmental efforts. His family continues a tradition of creative Hanukkah celebrations. His daughter, Rebecca, a chef and artist now living in Israel with her husband, Idan Chabasov (known as @ChallahPrince on Instagram), recently collaborated on an illustrated recipe for a challah menorah. This feels particularly special, as a young Rebecca appeared in the closing moments of his 1990s special, “The Weinerville Chanukah Special,” showcasing her own eco-friendly “Recyclorah.” Weiner plans to share the episode on his YouTube channel, WeinervilleTV, this Hanukkah. Even after 30 years, the special remains a remarkably energetic, puppet-filled, and imaginative take on the holiday – a truly unique and uninhibited creation.

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2025-12-15 14:33