He returned in 1954 with The Pinky Lee Show, an Emmy-nominated afternoon children's program that spawned later imitators such as Pee-Wee's Playhouse. It was followed each day by the popular Howdy Doody Show. He opened each show with his trademark theme song, "Yoo Hoo, It's Me!":
Yoo hoo, it's me,
My name is Pinky Lee.
I skip and run with lots of fun
For every he and she.
It's plain to see
That you can tell it's me
With my checkered hat
And my checkered coat,
The funny giggle in my throat
And my silly dance
Like a billy goat.
Put 'em all together,
Put 'em all together,
And it's whooooo?
(Audience): Pinky!