CULT FAVORITE PANCAKE MOUNTAIN SHOW RETURNS AND HOSTS A DANCE PARTY WITH WET LEG AT THE LEGENDARY 9:30 CLUB
 Creator Scott Stuckey with Puppet Rufus Leaking
Washington, D.C. — Pancake Mountain, the original punk-rock kids’ dance party cable-access show based out of D.C., is back.
From its start in 2004, Pancake Mountain stood out for pairing kids with some of the biggest names in music—from The White Stripes, Arcade Fire, Tegan and Sara, Eddie Vedder, David Yow, Shirley Manson, The Melvins, Jenny Lewis, Henry Rollins, Reggie Watts, Katy Perry and countless others. Some of the show’s earliest episodes were filmed at the iconic 9:30 Club, transforming the venue into a joyful collision of music, comedy, and dance—all guided by the show’s famously charismatic curmudgeon of a puppet host, Rufus Leaking, who quickly became a fan favorite.
What began as a small creative local TV experiment among friends quickly grew beyond its local roots. National press outlets including Rolling Stone, Spin, The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post praised the show’s playful mix of music and mischief, cementing Pancake Mountain as a cult favorite. The show’s audience grew exponentially after a short stint on digital PBS.
When platforms like YouTube arrived, the series found a global audience, with clips from two decades ago shared online among enthusiastic viewers. Those episodes are now available on the Pancake Mountain Youtube channel, serving as a document of the show’s comic, educational and digital evolution. That enduring love signaled to the creators that it was time to bring the show back for a new generation. “Kids need creative outlets, and that’s what Pancake Mountain has always been about — giving them great music and funny, weird sketches that actually speak to their sensibilities,” says creator Scott Stuckey. “We’ve been thinking a lot about how to bring the show back in a way that fits today’s media landscape without just adding to the dreaded ‘doom scrolling’ parents are dealing with. Social media is where kids are, but Pancake Mountain is designed to be more than just something to watch — it’s a destination that’s also a call to action. We want kids to come to the show, see something cool, and then be inspired to go out and do it in the real world. That’s what the Dance Parties are about, and that’s what our skits are about.”
Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg
Now, after years on the West Coast, the creators of Pancake Mountain are returning to D.C. to pick up where they left off—with new dance parties, new skits, and new characters ready to join the fun. The Grammy-Award winning indie darlings Wet Leg recently performed a special Pancake Mountain dance party at the 9:30 Club, keeping alive the show’s mission: to create a space for kids, parents, and fans to come together in the spirit of community, creativity, and pure exuberance. The high-energy clip went viral almost instantly upon its release.
Since things are so uncertain in D.C. right now, it is clearly a time for Rufus to come back and shake things up. There’s never been a time in our history where emphasizing critical thinking, empathy, and the celebration of joy are so vitally important. We are thrilled to be back in our hometown of D.C. But make no mistake, this show will be going on the road—taking Rufus and the team anywhere we can to spread the raucous, joyous and spirited mission of Pancake Mountain.
Wet Leg link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZF-UgXM9Do
Wet Leg with Pancake Mountain Kid Dancers
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