Pee-wee Herman

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Pee-wee Herman
Paul Reubens in character as Pee-wee Herman at the 1988 Academy Awards
First appearanceLive performance:
The Groundlings (1977)
Screen:
Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980)
Last appearancePee-wee's Big Holiday (2016)
Created byPaul Reubens
Phil Hartman
Portrayed byPaul Reubens
In-universe information
GenderMale
OccupationStand-up comedian, actor
Family
  • Herman Herman (father, deceased)
  • Honny Herman (mother)
  • Hermione Herman (sister)

Pee-wee Herman is a comedy character created and portrayed by the American comedian

Emmy Award-winning children's series that ran on CBS from 1986 to 1991. Another film, Big Top Pee-wee
, was released in 1988.

Due to negative media attention following a scandal in 1991, Reubens decided to shelve his alter ego during the 1990s, but gradually resurrected it during the following decade. It was at that time that Reubens addressed plans to write a new Pee-wee film, Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie. In June 2007, Reubens appeared as Pee-wee Herman at the

Guys' Choice Awards for the first time on television since 1992.[1] After a lengthy hiatus, a third film, Pee-wee's Big Holiday, was released by Netflix
in 2016 and was the last time Reubens portrayed the character before his death in 2023.

Origin

In the 1970s, Reubens joined the Los Angeles–based improvisational comedy team the Groundlings and remained a member for six years, working with Bob McClurg, John Paragon, Susan Barnes and Phil Hartman. Hartman and Reubens became close friends, often writing and working on material together. Reubens wrote sketches, developed his improvisational skills and, with Hartman, he developed the Pee-wee Herman character.

In 1977, The Groundlings staged a performance in which its members created characters one might see in a comedy club. Reubens decided to play a guy that everyone immediately knew would never make it as a comic, partly because Reubens could not remember jokes in real life – he had trouble remembering punch lines and could not properly piece information in sequential order. Pee-wee Herman was born that night, his distinctive guttural "Ha Ha", followed by a low, "Heh Heh Heh" laugh became the character's

catch phrase
, as did his insult comeback, "I know you are, but what am I?"

Pee-wee Herman's signature gray glen plaid suit was originally a custom-made suit that Reubens had borrowed from the Groundlings director, Gary Austin; the small red bow tie was given to him by an acquaintance. Pee-wee's later checkered clothing and persona were largely lifted from manic 1950s children's TV host Pinky Lee.[2][3] Also incorporated into the look were short black hair, pale skin with red rouge and red lipstick.

The inspiration for the name came from a Pee-wee brand miniature harmonica and the surname of an energetic boy Reubens knew from his youth.[4] Reubens thought the name Pee-wee Herman was a name that sounded too real to be made up, and like a real name a parent would give a child that they didn't really care about.

Sometime in 1979, Reubens debuted his character on the television show The Dating Game, appearing three times.[5][6]

Character background and personality

Throughout his film and television programs, Pee-wee Herman's background has remained relatively ambiguous. During interviews, he has been portrayed as though he is a

real life stand-up comedian who expanded his career by playing himself in his films and TV series. This is echoed by the fact that a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
was awarded to Pee-wee Herman rather than Paul Reubens.

In both Pee-wee's Big Adventure and Pee-wee's Playhouse, the character surrounds himself with strange inventions and decorations and has no visible means of support, whereas Big Top Pee-wee depicts him as a farmer/inventor. During a July 1983 segment on Late Night with David Letterman, Pee-wee said he has a sister named Hermione who was a Girl Scout, his mother's name is Honny Herman, and his father's name is Herman Herman.[7] He went on to say that everyone in his family has a first name that begins with an "H" except for him. This was again stated during a 1988 special which elaborated that Pee-wee was raised in Florida.

Pee-wee is commonly portrayed as an impatient and fun-loving child with dainty,

The Wizard of Oz.[9]

1980–1992

The Pee-wee Herman Show

Paul Reubens auditioned for

Miss Yvonne characters). The stage show was popularized by HBO when The Pee-wee Herman Show
aired in 1981.

The show featured the writing and acting of Groundlings alumni

The Roxy Theatre
in Los Angeles, whereupon HBO filmed it and aired it as a special on September 11, 1981.

Following the success of The Pee-wee Herman Show, in the early and mid-1980s Reubens made several guest appearances on

Caroline's
in New York City.

In 1984, Pee-wee Herman sold out New York City's Carnegie Hall. Reubens said his appearances on David Letterman's show made Pee-wee a star.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure

Carnegie Science Center

While on the

The Bicycle Thief. The film was directed by Tim Burton, his feature film debut, and scored by Danny Elfman. It was released on August 9, 1985, and, while receiving mixed reviews, performed well at the box office and became a cult film
. Reubens was the originator of the "Pee-wee dance" in the movie, and he had performed it publicly many times prior to making the film.

Pee-wee hosted the

the following year, was credited for writing the "Pee-wee Herman Thanksgiving Special" sketch and appeared as a pilgrim
in it.

Pee-wee's Playhouse

The following year, Pee-wee (along with Hartman) found a home on the small screen with the

Emmy Awards
.

Pee-wee also became the first guest on

Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special.[15] The program included various celebrity guests, including Oprah Winfrey, Cher, Whoopi Goldberg, Grace Jones, Little Richard and Joan Rivers
among others.

Reubens' 1991 arrest

In July 1991, while visiting relatives, Reubens was arrested in Sarasota, Florida, for masturbating publicly in an adult theater.[16] Detectives would periodically visit pornographic theaters and observe the audience, arresting those engaged in what these detectives considered indecent exposure. Three other men were also arrested that night on similar charges.[17][18] Reubens' infamous mug shot, which did not depict the clean-cut look Reubens had shown for the last decade, shocked the public, and many thought that the show had been canceled due to the arrest.[19][20] In reality, the show had been canceled in 1990 due to a combination of multiple complaints of overworked crew members and a feeling that the Pee-wee character had run its course, which ultimately resulted in Reubens deciding against a sixth season. However, due to its widespread popularity, CBS elected to rerun Playhouse in syndication. The arrest was widely covered, and both the character Pee-wee and Reubens became the subject of ridicule. CBS stopped airing Playhouse and Disney-MGM Studios suspended from its studio tour a video that showed Pee-wee explaining how voice-over tracks were made and Toys "R" Us removed Pee-wee toys from its stores.[16] However, Disney's Star Tours, which featured voicework from Reubens, remained unaltered.

Despite the negative publicity, many artists who knew Reubens, such as

A Current Affair received "tens of thousands" of responses to a Pee-wee telephone survey, with callers supporting Reubens with a 9-to-1 majority.[16] He remained in a state of shock for weeks and was haunted by the arrest for several years, refusing to give interviews or appear on talk shows.[24][19]

At the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards, Reubens made his first public appearance after the arrest. Taking the stage in costume as Pee-wee, he asked the audience, "Heard any good jokes lately?" and received a standing ovation.[25] Reubens responded with, "Ha, that's so funny I forgot to laugh!" Pee-wee appeared once more in 1992, when he participated in a Grand Ole Opry tribute to Minnie Pearl.[22][26][27][28] Reubens then avoided interviews and, according to a 1991 Rolling Stone article, had become weary of the character and wanted to explore new territory.[29]

1999–2023

Portrait of Pee-wee Herman by Jim McDermott

Appearances and television returns

During the filming of Mystery Men, Reubens appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1999 in one of his first out-of-character interviews.[30] It was also on that interview that Reubens first announced plans to start writing a new Pee-wee movie. In a 2004 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Reubens also mentioned his hope that Hollywood has not seen the last of Pee-wee. Reubens later stated a strong possibility of a Pee-wee's Playhouse movie on an NPR interview with Terry Gross on November 29, 2004.[3] A third Pee-wee movie was also suggested. During this time, Reubens stated both were actively being worked on.[citation needed]

In 1998,

Fox Family aired reruns of Pee-wee's Playhouse. On July 10, 2006, Cartoon Network began airing Pee-wee's Playhouse during its Adult Swim lineup. The show's 45 original episodes were planned to air on the block Monday to Thursday at 11 p.m. ET starting on that date.[31]
Later on in August 2006, Adult Swim started airing Pee-wee's Playhouse at 12 a.m. ET.

In October 2006, Reubens made a public appearance, dressed as Pee-wee at Chiller Theatre Expo, an East Coast fan convention, with Pee-wee's Playhouse co-star, Lynne Marie Stewart. There he signed pictures and other memorabilia, and posed for photographs with fans.[32]

At

Guys' Choice Awards in June, Reubens appeared on TV as the Pee-wee Herman character for the first time since 1992.[1] On August 5, 2007, at a showing of Pee-wee's Big Adventure in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Reubens made an appearance on stage before the show, bringing with him almost the entire cast of the film to uproarious applause and a standing ovation. E. G. Daily (Dotty), Judd Omen (Mickey), Diane Salinger (Simone), Daryl Keith Roach (Chuck, the bike shop owner), and Mark Holton
(Francis) were all present.

On January 15, 2011, Reubens appeared on Saturday Night Live as Pee-wee in an extended and well-received segment depicting Andy Samberg and Pee-wee getting drunk, taking a ride on a mechanical bull, doing the tequila dance and ambushing Anderson Cooper in an alley way with a chair.[33]

On February 1, 2012, Reubens appeared as Pee-wee on Bravo's

Top Chef: Texas and served as guest judge.[34] Part of the contestants' challenge was to ride a bike, similar to Pee-wee's, while gathering ingredients through San Antonio to prepare and serve a special lunch for Pee-wee at the Alamo. The use of The Alamo is a reference to Pee-wee's film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, where his stolen bike is allegedly hidden. While taping the Top Chef episode on the Alamo complex, author and Alamo spokesman Tony J. Caridi led Reubens on a guided tour of the basement on the Alamo grounds, which is used to store gift shop merchandise.[34][35][36]

Proposed films

Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie

Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie is a proposed film allegedly greenlit by Paramount Pictures.[37] Reubens's third scripted movie, written at the same time as his adult-oriented Pee-wee script, was announced in late summer 2006. He first announced he had finished the script on Late Show with David Letterman, and later revealed further details to Time magazine reporter Dennis Van Tine.[28] Filming was expected to start in early 2007.

According to Reubens, the story will focus on the characters from the television show finally leaving the playhouse and venturing off into Puppetland and beyond (the playhouse characters had rarely left their home in the TV series).[38] The characters from the playhouse will be on an epic adventure to look for a missing character from the playhouse. Reubens stated this will be a "road" movie.[39][40] Reubens has said that, although he feels confident that he can still portray Pee-wee himself, he would optionally cast Johnny Depp if needed.[41] He said "My second option is to have Johnny Depp play Pee-wee."[25] He even claims that he has spoken to Depp himself and that the actor asked for time to think about it.[25]

During the 2011 Comic-Con in San Diego, Reubens told MTV that he hopes to have Justin Bieber make a cameo appearance toward the end of the movie.[42] He also stated that filming of the movie has not started yet, but hopes to begin filming in the next couple of months.[42][25]

The Pee-wee Herman Story

Years before working on his Playhouse film script, Reubens had written a script for "the dark Pee-wee film", but "not really very dark", entitled The Pee-wee Herman Story. At a Groundlings reunion in 1999, Reubens even joked about the rating of the movie being "probably PG-13 or even R" but in a 2007 MTV interview stated that this was not the case. He called it a "Valley of the Dolls Pee-wee" because "it has things certainly inspired by, if not outright lifted from, that movie".[43] Reubens described the film's plot to MTV:

It's basically the story of Pee-wee Herman becoming famous as a singer. He has a hit single and gets brought out to Hollywood to make musical movies, kind of like they did with Elvis. It all kind of goes downhill from there for Pee-wee. He turns into a monster. He does everything wrong and becomes a big jerk.[25]

It was because of the adult situations of this script that Reubens sat down and started writing the Playhouse movie script. At first, Reubens was going to do the adult Pee-wee movie first, but within a few months, Reubens announced that it was very likely that the Playhouse movie would be made first.

A third idea came about to make a reality-based Pee-wee film like those in the 1980s. In 2010, Reubens announced he is working on making this version with Judd Apatow, who wrote and directed the films Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.[44]

In 2013, Reubens reported that Pee-Wee will soon return with a new film which he plans to start shooting in 2014.[45][46] While promoting his voice role in The Smurfs 2, Reubens told the Los Angeles Times on the long-gestating project, saying the film has funding, a finished script, and a director lined up.[47] Reubens was said to be developing a new TV show, which he commented would potentially be an update on the popular Pee-wee's Playhouse. He added that a more detailed announcement was "imminent".[48][47] Reubens said, "Short of something unforeseen like the studio going out of business, I think it's very likely both these projects will happen next year."[47] In 2014, it was announced that the film would be on Netflix.[49]

The Pee-wee Herman Show revival

Paul Reubens confirmed in a January 2009 interview with

Swindle magazine that there are indeed negotiations under way for the Pee-wee Herman stage show to return.[50]

In late 2009, Reubens began promoting his new live stage show. He appeared in character as Pee-wee on late night programs including Jimmy Kimmel Live!,[51] The Jay Leno Show,[52] and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Pee-wee would also return for a cameo on the penultimate episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien as host[53] and during O'Brien's stop at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour.[54]

Original plans for a November 2009 stage debut were scrapped when demand for tickets prompted a move to a larger theater. The Pee-wee Herman Stage Show: The Return opened on January 12, 2010 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles for a limited four-week schedule. The show moved to Broadway in New York at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on November 11, 2010.[55] Much like the original stage show, the new production revolves around Pee-wee's desire to fly. It boasts 11 actors, 20 puppets and marks the show's first production since 1982. The show has employed many of the same set artists and the musical composer from Pee-wee's original stage show as well as some of the original cast members, including Lynne Stewart as Miss Yvonne, John Moody as Mailman Mike and John Paragon as Jambi the Genie.[56] Reubens cited his desire to make a film version of Pee-wee's Playhouse as reasoning for the show and expressed a desire to "introduce Pee-wee to the new generation that didn't know about it".[57][58]

Pee-wee's 2010 stage show has received positive reviews from various Los Angeles–based publications, including the

To promote his Broadway show, Pee-wee Herman

Alex Riley.[62] Pee-wee won a Slammy Award for Guest Star Shining Moment of the Year on December 13, 2010, for his appearance.[63] Pee-wee Herman returned to WWE at WrestleMania XXVII in a segment with The Rock and Gene Okerlund in which he admitted to being John Cena's number one fan.[64]

Pee-wee's Big Holiday

Ever since Reubens started giving interviews again after his 1991 arrest, he has talked about the two scripts he has written for future Pee-wee Herman films. Reubens once called his first script The Pee-wee Herman Story,[4] describing it as a black comedy. He has also referred to the script as "dark Pee-wee" or "adult Pee-wee",[65] with the plot involving Pee-wee becoming famous as a singer after making a hit single and moving to Hollywood, where "he does everything wrong and becomes a big jerk".[25] Reubens further explained the film has many "Valley of the Dolls moments".[66] Reubens thought this script would be the first one to start production, but in 2006 Reubens announced he was to start filming his second script in 2007.[65]

The second film, a family friendly adventure, is called Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie by Reubens,

claymation might be used.[38]

He has said that one of the two films opens in prison.[66] He has also said that using CGI for "updating" the puppets' looks could be an option, but it all depended on the budget the films would have.[65] Reubens once mentioned the possibility of doing one of the two as an animated film along the lines of The Polar Express, which uses performance capture technology, incorporating the movements of live actors into animated characters.[68] Reubens approached Pee-wee's Big Adventure director Tim Burton with one of the scripts and talked to Johnny Depp about the possibility of having him portray Pee-wee, but they both declined.[25]

In June 2010, it was announced that Paul Reubens was working with Judd Apatow on a new Pee-wee Herman feature film set up at Universal Pictures, with Reubens and Paul Rust set to write the script.[69] In an October 2014, interview with Rolling Stone, Reubens gave an update on the status of the film, saying: "It's been months and months of being right on the verge of being announced…I thought something was going to go public yesterday, actually, and that you'd be the first person I'd be talking about this with. But I'm thinking there will be something made public very soon. It's going to get made shortly after the new year. I wish I could tell you about it right now, because…I mean, it's amazing. It's going to be amazing. It think it first got leaked four years ago or so that the movie was going to be made, and ever since then it's just been stalling and stalling. So I'm really ready for this to happen. But I'm not kidding: It's very imminent."[70]

In a November 2014, interview with The A.V. Club, Reubens explained why the film took so long to be made, saying: "I think part of what happened with this project is it got leaked probably a year and a half or two years before we really wanted anyone to know about it. I was doing a Q&A somewhere, and I said I was writing a movie with a guy named Paul Rust, and the next day a journalist called my manager and said, "Paul Rust is someone very associated with Judd Apatow, can you confirm Judd Apatow is involved in the project?" The whole thing got leaked and we had just started. We didn't have a script yet or anything, so the script took a year and – I don't really know the answer. I think two years of it was like premature information out there, and then the last two years it's just been very, very slow to get the right people involved, and we now have such an amazing company involved, and that's the really big announcement that hasn't been made yet."[71]

On December 22, 2014, it was announced that the film would premiere exclusively on Netflix.[72] On February 24, 2015, Netflix announced the film would be titled Pee-wee's Big Holiday with Apatow and Reubens producing the film, John Lee directing, and Reubens and Paul Rust writing the screenplay.[73] On March 11, 2015, Tara Buck joined the cast of the film.[74] Principal photography began on March 16, 2015.[75] On April 8, 2015, Joe Manganiello joined the cast.[76] On April 19, 2015, Jessica Pohly was cast in the film.[77]

The film released on March 18, 2016 on Netflix to positive reception.[78][79][80] The film was the last time Reubens portrayed the character before his death in 2023.[81]

Honors

Harvard Lampoon
's Elmer Award for lifetime achievement in comedy

The Pee-wee Herman character has received various honors, particularly during his peak fame in the late 1980s.

During the original run of Pee-wee's Playhouse, the series garnered 22

Pop Culture award.[82]

In popular culture

The character appeared on three covers of Rolling Stone, including issue 493 (February 1987), 614 (October 1991) with a cover story of "Who Killed Pee-wee Herman?", and finally 619/620 (December 1991) for the 1991 Yearbook.[83]

In the film Flight of the Navigator (1986), directed by Randal Kleiser, who would later direct Big Top Pee-wee, Pee-wee's characteristic laugh is uttered several times by the Trimaxian Drone (Max, voiced by Reubens), after he "contracted" emotions and 1980s knowledge from David. This persona, speaking in altered pitch similar to Pee-wee's, persists for the rest of the movie, a stark contrast to Max's original HAL 9000-esque tone.

Shortly after Reubens's 1991 arrest, Jim Carrey impersonated Pee-wee Herman on the FOX sketch comedy series In Living Color. Later, rapper Eminem imitated Herman in the song "Just Lose It", copying his trademark laugh and even dressing as the character in the music video. Eminem later also mentioned Herman in "Ass Like That".

While the Pee-wee Herman character had not originally been intended for a child audience, during the mid-1980s Reubens started forming him into the best role model he possibly could, making of his TV program a morally positive show that cared about issues like racial diversity, the four

blind test.[22][28][4]

During this time, he began successfully building a Pee-wee franchise with toys, clothes, and other items, generating more than $25 million at its peak in 1989.[84] Reubens also published a book as Pee-wee, titled Travels with Pee-wee (1989).[85]

In early 2007,

Nike SB released a style of sneakers called Grey/Heather Dunk High Pro SB that use a grey and white color scheme with red detail inspired by the colors of Pee-wee's trademark suit, and an illustration on the insole suggesting Reubens's theater arrest.[86]

Filmography

Year Title Notes
1979 The Dating Game
1980 Cheech and Chong's Next Movie
1981 The Pee-wee Herman Show TV special
1982 Madame's Place Episode #1.34
Lily for President
1984 Cheeseball Presents TV movie
"Reggae Christmas" Bryan Adams music video
1985 Saturday Night Live Host
Episode: "Pee-wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band"
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Rock 'n' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
42nd Golden Globe Awards
1986–1990 Pee-wee's Playhouse Appeared in every episode
1987 Back to the Beach
It's Howdy Doody Time
227 Episode: "Toyland"
Dolly Episode #1.1
1988 1988 Academy Awards Presenter of the award for Best Live Action Short Film
Big Top Pee-wee Nominated –
Kid's Choice Award
for Favorite Movie Actor
Sesame Street Episode: "Put Down the Duckie"
Moonwalker
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program
1991 1991 MTV Video Music Awards Opened the show
2007
2007 Spike Guys' Choice Awards
2010 The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Episodes: #1.113, #1.144
Pee-wee Gets an iPad! Funny or Die short[87]
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Episode #18.105
Pee-wee Goes to Sturgis
WWE Raw Episode: "2010 Slammy Awards"
Saturday Night Live Episode: "Gwyneth Paltrow/Cee Lo Green"
2010–2011 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Episodes: #1.330, #1.373, #1.408
2011 The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway TV movie
Nominated –
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special
Conan Episode: "Everybody Wang But Don't Chung Tonight"
WrestleMania XXVII
2012
Top Chef
Episode: "Bike, Borrow & Steal"
2012 TV Land Awards
Winner of Pop Culture Award
2016 Pee-wee's Big Holiday A Netflix Original Film (final film role)

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External links