Pee-wee Herman

{{Short description|American comedy character}} {{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} {{use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox character | name = Pee-wee Herman | image = [[File:Pee-Wee Herman (1988).jpg|220px]] | caption = Paul Reubens in character as Pee-wee Herman at the [[60th Academy Awards|1988 Academy Awards]] | first = '''Live performance: ''' [[The Groundlings]] (1977) '''Screen:''' ''[[Cheech and Chong's Next Movie]]'' (1980) | last = '''Live performance: ''' 10th Annual TV Land Awards (2012) '''Screen:''' ''[[Pee-wee's Big Holiday]]'' (2016) | alias = | gender = Male | occupation = [[Stand-up comedy|Stand-up comedian]], actor | title = | family = {{ubl|Herman Herman (father, deceased)| Honny Herman (mother)| Hermione Herman (sister)}} | spouse = | children = | relatives = | portrayer = Paul Reubens | creator = [[Paul Reubens]] [[Phil Hartman]] }}

'''Pee-wee Herman''' is a comedy character created and portrayed by the American comedian [[Paul Reubens]]. He starred in films and television series during the 1980s. The childlike Pee-wee Herman character developed as a stage act that quickly led to an [[The Pee-wee Herman Show|HBO special]] in 1981. As the stage performance gained further popularity, Reubens took the character to motion picture with ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]'' in 1985, toning down the adult [[innuendo]] for the appeal of children. This paved the way for ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]]'', an [[Emmy Award]]-winning children's series that ran on [[CBS]] from 1986 to 1991. Another film, ''[[Big Top Pee-wee]]'', was released in 1988.

Because of 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 [[Spike TV]]'s [[Spike Guys' Choice Awards|Guys' Choice Awards]] for the first time on television since 1992.<ref name="2007return">{{cite news |date=June 19, 2007 |title="Pee-Wee" Is Back In The Spotlight |work=[[CBS News]] |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pee-wee-is-back-in-the-spotlight/ |access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> 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 [[Tailor|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]].<ref name="Trebay">{{cite news |last1=Trebay |first1=Guy |title=Before There Was Pee-wee, There Was Pinky |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/style/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-pinky-lee.html |access-date=6 August 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 1, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web |last=Gross |first=Terry |author-link=Terry Gross |date=November 29, 2004 |title=Actor Paul Reubens, 'Pee-wee Herman' |url=https://www.npr.org/2004/11/29/4190544/actor-paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman |access-date=August 6, 2023 |work=[[Fresh Air]] |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> Also incorporated into the look were short black hair, pale skin with red [[rouge (cosmetics)|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.<ref name=VanityFair>{{cite web |last=Handy |first=Bruce |url=https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1999/9/return-from-planet-pee-wee |title=Return from Planet Pee-wee |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=September 1999 |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530230940/https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1999/9/return-from-planet-pee-wee |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.people.com/article/pee-wee-herman-netflix-movie-pee-wees-big-holiday-judd-apatow |title=Pee-wee Herman's Next Big Adventure? Netflix! |last=Adkins |first=Greg |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=24 February 2015 |access-date=18 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203082059/https://people.com/tv/netflix-to-air-pee-wee-hermans-new-movie-judd-apatow-producing/ |archive-date=2022-12-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Reubens |series=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon |date=29 October 2014 |url=http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/filters/guests/14206 |network=NBC |season=1 |number=151 |last=Fallon |first=Jimmy (host) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025043015/http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/filters/guests/14206 |archive-date=25 October 2014}}</ref>

===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 (reality)|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.<ref>{{cite episode|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQFrXvtxH5M |date=July 5, 1983 |title=Pee Wee Herman Takes Dave For A Drive In The Country |network=CBS |series=[[Late Night with David Letterman]] |access-date=2023-08-06}}</ref> 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, [[Effeminacy|effeminate]] mannerisms and [[Eccentricity (behavior)|quirky]] facial expressions. His age has never been explicitly stated; although, he once proclaimed on ''The Pee-wee Herman Show'', "I'm the luckiest boy in the world." [[David Letterman]] once said of the character, "What makes me laugh ... is that it has the external structure of a bratty little precocious kid, but you know it's being controlled by the incubus – the manifestation of evil itself."<ref>{{cite news |last=Grove|first=Lloyd |title=The Pearls of Pee-Wee|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/08/02/the-pearls-of-pee-wee/71e427df-d247-4101-9493-97a08bb4c7d1/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 2, 1985}}</ref> While the character is typically cheerful and flamboyant, Pee-wee has indeed displayed an aggressive side, including his vicious pool battle with Francis in ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]''. He also played vengeful tricks in the aforementioned film and occasionally threw childish tantrums on ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]].'' Reubens said that he felt Pee-wee "resets" after each adventure, his experiences only changing him slightly, and compared him to [[Dorothy Gale]] at the end of ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/paul-reubens-pee-wees-big-holiday-gotham-interview/|title=Paul Reubens on 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday', Why Joe Manganiello Is a 'Dork', and 'Gotham'|last=Radish|first=Christina|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date=March 26, 2016|access-date=March 27, 2016}}</ref>

==1980–1992==

===''The Pee-wee Herman Show''=== {{main|The Pee-wee Herman Show}} Paul Reubens auditioned for ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' for the 1980–81 season but was not accepted into the cast. Instead, he started a stage show with the Herman character, which made one of his first appearances in the 1980 film ''[[Cheech & Chong's Next Movie]].'' He first plays a rude [[receptionist]] in the film, spewing obscenities at police and being arrested. The character is later introduced as Pee-wee Herman, approaching the stage just before disputing with the film's [[Cheech and Chong|title characters]] again. Shortly after the film, Reubens took Pee-wee to the real stage. Originally, Reubens imbued Pee-wee with sexuality that was later toned down as the character made the transition from raucous [[night club]] to children's television (though innuendo was still apparent, particularly between the [[Cowboy Curtis]] and [[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 [[Phil Hartman]] and [[John Paragon]], who would both reprise their characters on ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]].'' ''The Pee-wee Herman Show'' played for five sellout months at [[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 ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'' as Pee-wee Herman. These performances gave Pee-wee an even bigger following than he had with his HBO special. In 1983, Pee-wee Herman traveled the United States with ''The Pee-wee Herman Show'', making highly publicized stops at the [[Guthrie Theatre]] in [[Minneapolis]] and [[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''=== {{main|Pee-wee's Big Adventure}} [[File:Peewee's bike.jpg|thumb|One of the prop bicycles used in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure". On display in the Bicycle exhibit at the [[Carnegie Science Center]]]] While on the [[Warner Bros.]] lot, Reubens noticed that most of the people rode around on bicycles and asked when he would get his. Warner Bros. presented him with a refurbished 1940s [[Schwinn]]; Reubens then abandoned the Pee-wee Herman script he had been writing, which was to have been a retelling of ''[[Pollyanna]].'' He began writing about Herman's love for his bike and his efforts to locate it once it was stolen. Hartman, Reubens and [[Michael Varhol]] co-wrote the script for ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]'', basing the story loosely on [[Vittorio De Sica]]'s ''[[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 [[Saturday Night Live (Season 11)|198th episode]] of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' on November 23, 1985.<ref>{{Cite episode |series=[[Saturday Night Live]] |title=Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band |network=NBC |date=November 23, 1985 |season=11 |number=3}}</ref> [[Phil Hartman]], who would become an ''SNL'' cast member [[Saturday Night Live (Season 12)|the following year]], was credited for writing the "Pee-wee Herman [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] Special" sketch and appeared as a [[pilgrim]] in it.

===''Pee-wee's Playhouse''=== {{main|Pee-wee's Playhouse}}

The following year, Pee-wee (along with Hartman) found a home on the small screen with the [[Saturday morning cartoons|Saturday morning]] children's program ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]]'' on the American [[CBS]] network for the next five years ([[Shirley Stoler]], [[Johann Carlo]], [[Gilbert Lewis (actor)|Gilbert Lewis]] and Roland Rodriguez appeared only for the first 13 episodes before their characters were dropped or recast). The show starred Pee-wee living in his wild and wacky Playhouse, full of talking chairs, animals, robots and other [[puppet]] and human characters. The show became a hit, and during its time on the air, ''Pee-wee's Playhouse'' garnered 15 [[Emmy Award]]s.

Pee-wee also became the first guest on ''[[The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers]]'' on its October 9, 1986, premiere.<ref>{{cite episode |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flHMvB0zK4M |title=Pee-wee Herman |series=[[The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers]] |season=1 |number=1 |date=October 9, 1986 |network=Fox |access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref> During this time, Pee-wee would also be in an anti-[[crack cocaine|crack]] [[public service announcement]] (PSA) which was considered to be among the most classic anti-drug PSAs and pivotal to "[[The Thrill Can Kill]]" campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-16-ca-4251-story.html|title=Movie Theaters To Screen Anti-Drug Messages|first=Penny|last=Pagano|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 16, 1987|accessdate=May 23, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-09-23 |title=Nancy Reagan & Gary Coleman…and Clint Eastwood, Tom Selleck & Brooke Shields |url=https://carlanthonyonline.com/2011/09/23/hollywood-meets-washington-nancy-reagan-gary-coleman/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Carl Anthony Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/67404/watch-pee-wee-hermans-anti-crack-psa|title=Watch Pee-wee Herman's Anti-Crack PSA|first=Chris|last=Higgins|publisher=Mental Floss|date=May 23, 2025|accessdate=May 23, 2025}}</ref> The following year, he made a cameo appearance in the film ''[[Back to the Beach]].'' Reubens also filmed an insert for ''[[Sesame Street]]'' as Pee-wee, reciting his own version of the alphabet.<ref>{{cite episode|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeY7q6dP4w8 |title=Gordon brings Elmo and Miles to the zoo |series=[[Sesame Street]] |season=19 |number=8 |date=November 16, 1987 |network=PBS |access-date=2023-08-06}}</ref> In 1987, Pee-wee appeared on the hit primetime sitcom ''[[227 (TV series)|227]]'' alongside [[Marla Gibbs]] and [[Jackée Harry]].<ref>{{cite episode|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR4FMBSnqgo |series=[[227 (TV series)|227]] |title=Toyland |season=2 |number=15 |date=February 14, 1987 |network=NBC |access-date=2019-09-15}}</ref> The following year, a sequel to ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'', ''[[Big Top Pee-wee]]'', was filmed. That same year "Pee-wee" was awarded a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]<ref name=":0" /> and starred in ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McFarland |first=Melanie |date=2016-12-24 |title="Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special": The last great holiday variety show? |url=https://www.salon.com/2016/12/24/pee-wees-playhouse-christmas-special-the-last-great-holiday-variety-show/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=[[Salon.com]] |language=en}}</ref> 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 [[Masturbation|masturbating]] publicly in an [[Adult movie theater|adult theater]].<ref name="sympathy">{{cite magazine |first1=Mark |last1=Harris |author-link=Mark Harris (journalist)|first2=Ty |last2=Burr |author-link2=Ty Burr |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |title=The Pee-wee Herman scandal |date=August 16, 1991 |access-date=August 6, 2023 |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/08/16/pee-wee-herman-scandal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731182202/https://ew.com/article/1991/08/16/pee-wee-herman-scandal/ |archive-date=July 31, 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="no contest nyt">{{cite news |first=Larry |last=Rohter |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Pee-wee Herman Enters a Plea of No Contest |date=November 8, 1991 |access-date=August 6, 2023 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/08/us/pee-wee-herman-enters-a-plea-of-no-contest.html}}</ref><ref name="report">{{cite news|work=The Victoria Advocate |title=Reports says Pee-wee offered benefit |date=August 4, 1991 |access-date=October 12, 2008 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xocLAAAAIBAJ&pg=4829,843709 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728073738/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xocLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WFYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4829%2C843709 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 28, 2020 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="bigger">{{cite magazine |first=Joel |last=Stein |author-link=Joel Stein |magazine=Time |title=Bigger Than Pee-wee |date=April 9, 2001 |access-date=October 12, 2008 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999636-1,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204094217/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999636-1,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Hank |last=Stuever |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Question Celebrity |date=October 30, 2005 |access-date=October 12, 2008 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/25/AR2005102501369_pf.html}}</ref> 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 [[jumping the shark|had run its course]], which ultimately resulted in Reubens deciding against a sixth season. However, due to its widespread popularity, CBS elected to continue airing repeats of ''Playhouse'' in its Saturday morning schedule. The arrest was widely covered, and both the character Pee-wee and Reubens became the subject of ridicule. CBS stopped airing ''Playhouse'', [[Disney's Hollywood Studios|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.<ref name="sympathy" /> However, Disney's ''[[Star Tours]]'', which featured voicework from Reubens, remained unaltered.

Despite the negative publicity, many artists who knew Reubens, such as [[Cyndi Lauper]], [[Annette Funicello]], [[Zsa Zsa Gabor]] and [[Valeria Golino]], spoke out in his support.<ref name="sympathy" /><ref name="speaking">{{cite magazine |date=August 16, 1991 |title=Speaking Out |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/08/16/speaking-out-pee-wee/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401003729/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C315142%2C00.html |archive-date=2007-04-01 |url-status=live |access-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref> [[Bill Cosby]] defended Reubens, saying "Whatever (Reubens has) done, this is being blown all out of proportion."<ref name="sympathy"/> Other people who knew Reubens, such as ''Playhouse'''s production designer [[Gary Panter]], [[S. Epatha Merkerson]] and ''Big Top Pee-wee'' director [[Randal Kleiser]], also spoke out against the way Reubens was being treated by the media.<ref name="speaking" /><ref name="twenty" /> Reubens's fans also organized rallies of support after CBS canceled the scheduled reruns, with several dozens of "Pee-weeites" picketing in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.<ref name="sympathy" /><ref>{{cite episode |title=Pee-wee Herman |series=[[E! True Hollywood Story]] |airdate=June 21, 1998 |season=2 |number=42}}</ref> The general public also appeared to sympathize with Reubens – the TV [[newsmagazine]] ''[[A Current Affair (U.S. TV series)|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.<ref name="sympathy" /> 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.<ref name="Us Weekly">{{cite news|work=Us Weekly|title=The Us Weekly Interview: Paul Reubens|date=October 1999|url=http://www.paul-reubens.net/article/1999_10_the_us_paul_reubens/1999_10_the_us_paul_reubens.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729120441/http://www.paul-reubens.net/article/1999_10_the_us_paul_reubens/1999_10_the_us_paul_reubens.htm|archive-date=2009-07-29|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="bigger" />

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.<ref name="Horowitz">{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Josh |date=December 11, 2007 |title=Pee-Wee's Big Return? Paul Reubens Discusses Plans For ''Two'' Pee-Wee Films |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1576172/20071210/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230163910/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1576172/20071210/story.jhtml |archive-date=December 30, 2008 |website=MTV}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="twenty">{{cite magazine |first=Brian M. |last=Raftery |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |title=''Pee-wee's Playhouse'' Turns 20 |page=1 |date=September 1, 2006 |access-date=October 6, 2008 |url=https://ew.com/article/2006/09/01/pee-wees-playhouse-turns-20/ |archive-date=September 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909041455/https://ew.com/article/2006/09/01/pee-wees-playhouse-turns-20/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="once future">{{cite news |first=Ruth |last=La Ferla |work=The New York Times|title=The Once and Future Pee-wee |date=May 20, 2007 |access-date=October 6, 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/fashion/20peewee.html }}</ref><ref name="limelight">{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Lloyd |work=Los Angeles Times |title=Pee-wee's back in the limelight |date=July 10, 2006 |access-date=October 11, 2008 |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-10-et-peewee-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017070918/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-10-et-peewee-story.html |archive-date=2020-10-17 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=VanTine/> Reubens then avoided interviews and, according to a 1991 ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' article, had become weary of the character and wanted to explore new territory.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Huskey |first=Melynda |url=http://www.iath.virginia.edu/pmc/text-only/issue.192/pop-cult.192 |title=Pee-wee Herman and the Postmodern Picaresque |journal=[[Postmodern Culture]] |volume=2 |issue=2 |date=January 1992 |doi=10.1353/pmc.1992.0001 |s2cid=144293605 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=February 7, 2009 |access-date=July 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207171945/http://www.iath.virginia.edu/pmc/text-only/issue.192/pop-cult.192 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{cite episode|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xe_rl49e_s |season=7 |number=129 |title=Paul Reubens and Leelee Sobieski |series=[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]] |date=July 30, 1999 |access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref name=NPR/> A third Pee-wee movie was also suggested. During this time, Reubens stated both were actively being worked on.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

In 1998, [[Freeform (TV channel)|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. [[Eastern Time Zone|ET]] starting on that date.<ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Matthew |url=http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=10954 |title='Pee-wee's Playhouse' Comes To Adult Swim In July |website=Toonzone |date=June 5, 2006 |access-date=February 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014164749/http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=10954 |archive-date=October 14, 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.mac.com/thekingpaul/iWeb/Site/Chiller%20Theatre%20Oct.%202006.html |title=Chiller Theatre Oct 2006 |website=Chiller Theatre |date=October 2006 |access-date=February 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012215344/http://web.mac.com/thekingpaul/iWeb/Site/Chiller%20Theatre%20Oct.%202006.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref>

At [[Spike TV]]'s 2007 [[Spike Guys' Choice Awards|Guys' Choice Awards]] in June, Reubens appeared on TV as the Pee-wee Herman character for the first time since 1992.<ref name="2007return"/> 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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts |first=Soraya |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2011/01/17/2011-01-17_peewee_herman_gets_drunk_on_saturday_night_live_for_digital_short_with_andy_samb.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209170352/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2011/01/17/2011-01-17_peewee_herman_gets_drunk_on_saturday_night_live_for_digital_short_with_andy_samb.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2011 |title=Pee-wee Herman gets drunk on 'Saturday Night Live' for Digital Short with Andy Samberg |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date=January 17, 2011 |access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref>

On February 1, 2012, Reubens appeared as Pee-wee on Bravo's ''[[Top Chef (season 9)|Top Chef: Texas]]'' and served as guest judge.<ref name="TopChef">{{cite news |date=2 February 2012 |title=Pee-wee Herman returns to the Alamo on 'Top Chef: Texas' [video] |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/02/pee-wee-herman-returns-to-the-alamo-on-top-chef-texas.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203053749/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/02/pee-wee-herman-returns-to-the-alamo-on-top-chef-texas.html |archive-date=2012-02-03}}</ref> 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 [[Alamo Mission|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.<ref name="TopChef" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Pee-wee-s-big-S-A-adventure-1743988.php|title=Pee-wee's big S.A. adventure|date=6 August 2011|website=mysanantonio.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio/still-claiming-pee-wee-30-years-later-the-alamo-actually-has-two-basements/Content?oid=2458505|title=Still Claiming Pee-wee 30 Years Later: The Alamo Actually Has Two Basements!|first=Kiko|last=Martinez|date=August 4, 2015|work=San Antonio Current}}</ref>

===Proposed films=== {{Update|section|date=December 2018}}

====''Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie''==== ''Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie'' is a proposed film allegedly greenlighted by [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref name="happy"/> 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)|''Time'' magazine]] reporter Dennis Van Tine.<ref name=VanTine>{{cite magazine|last=Van Tine |first=Dennis |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1213754,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718132944/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1213754,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 18, 2006 |title=Pee-wee's Small Adventure |magazine=Time |date=July 13, 2006 |access-date=February 6, 2007}}</ref> Filming was expected to start in early 2007.

According to Reubens, the story will focus on the characters from the [[Pee-wee's Playhouse|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).<ref name=Carroll>{{cite web |last=Carroll |first=Larry |title= 'Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie' Is Incoming, And We've Got Story Details |url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/12/09/pee-wees-playhouse-the-movie-is-incoming-and-weve-got-story-details/ |website=MTV |access-date=August 10, 2013 |date=December 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510223301/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/12/09/pee-wees-playhouse-the-movie-is-incoming-and-weve-got-story-details/ |archive-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Topel |first=Fred |title=Paul Reubens Says New Pee-Wee Movie is Ready to Cast |url= https://www.mandatory.com/fun/188533-paul-reubens-says-new-pee-wee-movie-is-ready-to-cast |work=[[CraveOnline]] |access-date=August 10, 2013 |date=May 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Schulman |first=Michael |title=Pee-wee Redux |url=https://www.newyorker.com/talk/2010/01/18/100118ta_talk_schulman|magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |access-date=August 10, 2013 |date=January 18, 2010}}</ref> Reubens said that, although he feels confident that he can still portray Pee-wee himself, he would optionally cast [[Johnny Depp]] if needed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tyler |first=Josh |title=Johnny Depp To Replace Reubens As Pee-wee Herman? |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Johnny-Depp-Replace-Reubens-Pee-wee-Herman-7187.html |website=CinemaBlend |access-date=August 10, 2013 |date=December 13, 2007}}</ref> He said "My second option is to have Johnny Depp play Pee-wee."<ref name=Horowitz/> He said he spoke to Depp himself and that the actor asked for time to think about it.<ref name=Horowitz/>

During the 2011 [[San Diego Comic-Con|Comic-Con]] in San Diego, Reubens told [[MTV]] that he hoped to have [[Justin Bieber]] make a cameo appearance toward the end of the movie.<ref name=Schwartz>{{cite web |title=Justin Bieber's Next Big Adventure: Pee-wee Herman's Movie? |last=Schwartz |first=Terri |date=July 22, 2011 |url= https://www.mtv.com/news/lo49yz/justin-bieber-pee-wee-herman |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230806180853/https://www.mtv.com/news/lo49yz/justin-bieber-pee-wee-herman |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 6, 2023 |website=MTV |access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref> He also stated that filming of the movie had not started yet, but hoped to begin filming in the next couple of months.<ref name=Schwartz/><ref name=Horowitz/>

====''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 (film)|Valley of the Dolls]]'' Pee-wee" because "it has things certainly inspired by, if not outright lifted from, that movie".<ref>{{cite news|last=Hurwitt |first=Sam |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/much-bigger-than-pee-wee-2625429.php |title=Much bigger than Pee-wee |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=January 7, 2007 |access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref> Reubens described the film's plot to MTV:

{{blockquote|text=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 Presley|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.<ref name=Horowitz/>}}

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]]''.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |last=Itzkoff |first=Dave |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/paul-reubens-on-pee-wee-hermans-next-big-adventure-a-new-movie/ |title=Paul Reubens on Pee-wee Herman's Next Big Adventure: A New Movie |work=The New York Times |date=July 1, 2010 |access-date=July 6, 2010}}</ref>

In 2013, Reubens reported that Pee-Wee will soon return with a new film which he plans to start shooting in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fischer |first=Russ |title=Paul Ruebens Says Director Chosen for Pee-Wee Herman Movie, Hopefully Shooting in 2014 |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/paul-ruebens-says-director-chosen-for-pee-wee-herman-movie-hopefully-shooting-in-2014/ |work=[[/Film]] |access-date=August 10, 2013 |date=August 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kane |first=Tyler |title=Pee-wee Herman Expected to Make TV, Film Return |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/08/pee-wee-herman-expected-to-make-tv-film-return.html |work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]| access-date=August 10, 2013 |date=August 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130810013108/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/08/pee-wee-herman-expected-to-make-tv-film-return.html |archive-date=August 10, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Zeitchik>{{cite web |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |title=After 'Smurfs 2', Paul Reubens looks to a Pee-wee-filled '14 |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-pee-wee-herman-paul-reubens-smurfs-20130806,0,344020.story |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=August 10, 2013 |date=August 6, 2013}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite web |title='Pee-wee's Playhouse' Reboot? Paul Reubens Says Pee-wee's Returning to TV in 2014 |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/07/pee-wees-playhouse-reboot_n_3721428.html |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=August 10, 2013 |date=August 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Zeitchik/> 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."<ref name=Zeitchik/> In 2014, it was announced that the film would be on [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |title=Pee-wee Herman Movie Produced by Judd Apatow Heading to Netflix |url=https://www.thewrap.com/pee-wee-herman-movie-produced-by-judd-apatow-heading-to-netflix-exclusive/|work=TheWrap |access-date=December 22, 2014 |date=December 22, 2014}}</ref>

===''The Pee-wee Herman Show'' revival=== Paul Reubens confirmed in a January 2009 interview with ''[[Swindle Magazine|Swindle]]'' magazine that there are indeed negotiations under way for the Pee-wee Herman stage show to return.<ref name="swindle" />

In late 2009, Reubens began promoting his new live stage show. He appeared in character as Pee-wee on [[Late night television in the United States|late night]] programs including ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/12/09/pee-wee-herman-jimmy-kimmel/ |title=Pee-wee Herman visits Jimmy Kimmel's playhouse |work=[[EW.com]] |date=December 9, 2009 |access-date=2010-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214221840/http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/12/09/pee-wee-herman-jimmy-kimmel/ |archive-date=2009-12-14}}</ref> ''[[The Jay Leno Show]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/23/pee-wee-herman-on-leno-pa_n_295607.html |title=Pee-wee Herman On Leno: Paul Reubens Talks Abstinence, First Recording (Video) |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=September 23, 2009 |access-date=2010-01-23}}</ref> 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<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Robin Williams and Barry Manilow |series=The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien |series-link=The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien |network=NBC |date=2010-01-21 |season=1 |number=144}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Wete |first1=Brad |title=Conan O'Brien invites Pee-wee Herman over to air out his balloon |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/06/03/conan-obrien-pee-wee-herman/ |access-date=6 August 2023 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=June 3, 2010}}</ref>

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 theatre|Broadway]] in New York at the [[Stephen Sondheim Theatre]] on November 11, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/139704-Pull-Up-a-Chairry-The-Pee-wee-Herman-Show-Is-Heading-to-Broadway |title=Pull Up a "Chairry": ''The Pee-wee Herman Show'' Is Heading to Broadway |date=May 20, 2010 |website=[[Playbill]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015115210/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/139704-Pull-Up-a-Chairry-The-Pee-wee-Herman-Show-Is-Heading-to-Broadway |archive-date=2012-10-15 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Much like the original stage show, the new production revolved around Pee-wee's desire to fly. It had 11 actors, 20 puppets and marked the show's first production since 1982. It 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peewee.com/new/show.html |title=The Pee-wee Herman Show |website=peewee.com |access-date=2010-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301132606/http://www.peewee.com/new/show.html |archive-date=2010-03-01}}</ref> Reubens cited his desire to make a film version of ''Pee-wee's Playhouse'' and expressed a desire to "introduce Pee-wee to the new generation that didn't know about it".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/11/peewee-herman-makes-a-com_n_388489.html |title=Pee-wee Herman Makes a Comeback |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=September 23, 2009 |access-date=2010-01-23 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091213004543/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/11/peewee-herman-makes-a-com_n_388489.html |archive-date=2009-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=della Cava |first=Marco R. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/2010-01-05-peewee05_ST_N.htm |title=Pee-wee Herman reopens the playhouse for L.A. stage show |work=[[USA Today]] |date=January 5, 2010 |access-date=2010-01-23 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100108140708/https://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/2010-01-05-peewee05_ST_N.htm |archive-date=2010-01-08}}</ref>

Pee-wee's 2010 stage show received positive reviews from various Los Angeles–based publications, including the ''[[Orange County Register]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Hodgins |first=Paul |url=http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/pee-230264-wee-reubens.html |title=Pee-wee's back, and he brought his pals |work=[[Orange County Register]] |date=January 21, 2010 |access-date=2010-01-23}}</ref> ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''<ref name="McNulty">{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Charles |date=January 21, 2010 |title=Theater review: 'The Pee-wee Herman Show' at Club Nokia |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/culture-monster-blog/story/2010-01-21/theater-review-the-pee-wee-herman-show-at-club-nokia |access-date=2010-01-23}}</ref> and ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Spindle |first=Les |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/the-pee-wee-herman-show-theater-review-1004060955.story |title=The Pee-wee Herman Show – Theater Review |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=January 21, 2010 |access-date=2010-01-23 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100124020700/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/the-pee-wee-herman-show-theater-review-1004060955.story |archive-date=2010-01-24}}</ref>

To promote his Broadway show, Pee-wee Herman [[List of WWE Raw guest stars|guest starred]] on the November 1, 2010, edition of ''[[WWE Raw]]'' at the [[Nassau Coliseum]]. During the program, he participated in backstage antics and had an in-ring confrontation with [[Mike Mizanin|The Miz]] and [[Kevin Kiley Jr.|Alex Riley]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HodeKpTOHI |title=Raw: Pee-wee Herman gets confronted by The Miz |date=November 1, 2010 |website=[[WWE]] |access-date=2023-08-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Pee-wee won a [[Slammy Award]] for Guest Star Shining Moment of the Year on December 13, 2010, for his appearance.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/what-happened-pee-wee-herman-visited-wwe-raw-remembering-actor-s-iconic-moments |date=August 1, 2023 |title= What happened when Pee-wee Herman visited WWE RAW? Remembering the actor's iconic moments! |website=sportskeeda |access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref> Pee-wee Herman returned to WWE at [[WrestleMania XXVII]] in a segment with [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] and [[Gene Okerlund]] in which he admitted to being [[John Cena]]'s number one fan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_48996.shtml |title= CALDWELL'S WWE WRESTLEMANIA 27 PPV RESULTS 4/3: Complete "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Rock hosting, Cena-Miz, Taker-Hunter for The Streak |date=April 3, 2011 |last=Caldwell |first=James |access-date=April 3, 2011 |website=PWTorch.com}}</ref>

===''Pee-wee's Big Holiday''=== {{Main|Pee-wee's Big Holiday}} After Reubens started giving interviews again after his 1991 arrest, he talked about the two scripts he had written for future Pee-wee Herman films. Reubens once called his first script ''The Pee-wee Herman Story'',<ref name=VanityFair/> describing it as a [[black comedy]]. He also referred to the script as "dark Pee-wee" or "adult Pee-wee",<ref name="av">{{cite news |first=Tasha |last=Robinson |url=https://www.avclub.com/paul-reubens-1798209839 |title=Paul Reubens |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=2006-07-26 |access-date=2008-10-12 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815155256/http://www.avclub.com/content/node/50982 |archive-date=2008-08-15}}</ref> with the plot involving Pee-wee becoming famous as a singer after making a hit single and moving to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], where "he does everything wrong and becomes a big jerk".<ref name=Horowitz/> Reubens further explained the film has many "''[[Valley of the Dolls (film)|Valley of the Dolls]]'' moments".<ref name="prison"/> 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.<ref name="av"/>

The second film, a family friendly adventure, is called ''Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie'' by Reubens,<ref name="happy">{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Hartlaub |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Pee-wee-may-be-heading-back-to-his-Playhouse-But-2654898.php |title=Pee-wee may be heading back to his Playhouse. But for now, he's happy to be Paul Reubens |date=2007-01-24 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|access-date=2015-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803081748/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article/article?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F01%2F24%2FPEEWEE.TMP |archive-date=August 3, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Thomas K. |last=Arnold |url = https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-11-08-pee-wee_x.htm |title = Back to Pee-wee's Playhouse |work=[[USA Today]]|date =2004-11-08 |access-date = 2008-10-12 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205111757/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-11-08-pee-wee_x.htm |archive-date=February 5, 2013}}</ref> and follows Pee-wee and his ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse|Playhouse]]'' friends on a road-trip adventure, meaning that they would leave the house for the first time and go out into "Puppetland". All of the original characters of the show, live-action and puppets, are included in Reubens' script. The story happens in a fantasy land that would be reminiscent of ''[[H.R. Pufnstuf]]'' and ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]''.<ref name=Horowitz/> In January 2009, Reubens told [[Gary Panter]] that the rejected first script of ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' (which they co-wrote) could have a movie deal very soon, and that it would be "90 minutes of incredible beauty".<ref name="swindle">{{cite news |first=Gary |last=Panter |url = http://swindlemagazine.com/icons3/paul-reubens/ |title = Icons: Paul Reubens |work=Swindle Magazine |date =2009-01-28 |access-date = 2009-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129222004/http://swindlemagazine.com/icons3/paul-reubens/  |archive-date=2009-01-29}}</ref> In December 2009, while in character, Reubens said this film is "already done, the script is already fully written; It's ready to shoot." Most of the film will take place in Puppetland and [[Clay animation|claymation]] might be used.<ref name=Carroll/>

Reubens said one of the two films opens in prison.<ref name="prison">{{cite web|first=Jessica |last=Hundley |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/may/26/features |title=Herman's hermit|work=[[The Guardian]] |date=25 May 2001 |access-date=2015-03-26}}</ref> He also said that using [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] for "updating" the puppets' looks could be an option, but it all depended on the budget the films would have.<ref name="av"/> Reubens once mentioned the possibility of doing one of the two as an animated film along the lines of ''[[The Polar Express (film)|The Polar Express]]'', which uses [[Motion capture|performance capture]] technology, incorporating the movements of live actors into animated characters.<ref name="exclaim">{{cite news|first=James |last=Keast |url=http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/questionaire.aspx?csid1=65 |title=Questionnaire |work=[[Exclaim!]] |date=2007-12-01 |access-date=2008-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005050241/http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/questionaire.aspx?csid1=65 |archive-date=October 5, 2008 }}</ref> 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.<ref name=Horowitz/>

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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Spangler|first=Todd|url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/apatow-developing-pee-wee-herman-pic-1118021268/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914093925/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118021268.html|url-status=live|archive-date=2012-09-14|title=Apatow Developing Pee-wee Herman pic|date=2010-06-30|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=2012-10-06}}</ref> 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. I 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."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fear |first=David |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/paul-reubens-on-pee-wees-playhouse-20141020?page=4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023015911/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/paul-reubens-on-pee-wees-playhouse-20141020?page=4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2014 |title=Paul Reubens on Rescuing and Remastering 'Pee-wee's Playhouse' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2014-10-20 |access-date=2015-03-26}}</ref>

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{{snd}}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."<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams |first=Erik |url=https://www.avclub.com/article/paul-reubens-new-pee-wee-herman-movie-and-being-lu-211319 |title=Paul Reubens on the new Pee-wee Herman movie and being "the luckiest boy in the world" |work=The A.V. Club |date=2014-11-10 |access-date=2015-03-26}}</ref>

On December 22, 2014, it was announced that the film would premiere exclusively on [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Marianne |last=Zumberge |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/judd-apatow-produced-pee-wee-herman-movie-heads-to-netflix-1201385808/ |title=Judd Apatow-Produced Pee-wee Herman Movie Heads to Netflix |work=Variety |date=2014-12-22 |access-date=2015-03-26}}</ref> 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 (producer)|John Lee]] directing, and Reubens and Paul Rust writing the screenplay.<ref>{{cite news|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/pee-wee-hermans-big-holiday-movie-coming-to-netflix-1201440343/|title='Pee-wee's Big Holiday' Movie Coming to Netflix|date=2015-03-01|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=2015-02-24}}</ref> On March 11, 2015, [[Tara Buck]] joined the cast of the film.<ref name="deadline1">{{cite web|last=Hipes |first=Patrick |url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/tara-buck-pee-wees-big-holiday-netflix-1201390134/ |title='True Blood's Tara Buck Cast In 'Pee-Wee's Big Holiday' Netflix Movie |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=2015-03-11 |access-date=2015-03-26}}</ref> [[Principal photography]] began on March 16, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://peewee.com/2015/03/17/day-two-filming-pee-wees-big-holiday/ |title=DAY TWO FILMING 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |website=Peewee.com |date=2015-03-17 |access-date=2015-03-26}}</ref> On April 8, 2015, [[Joe Manganiello]] joined the cast.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bacle |first1=Ariana |title=Joe Manganiello joins 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday' |url=https://ew.com/article/2015/04/08/pee-wee-big-holiday-joe-manganiello/ |date=April 8, 2015|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=May 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410054840/https://ew.com/article/2015/04/08/pee-wee-big-holiday-joe-manganiello/ |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On April 19, 2015, Jessica Pohly was cast in the film.<ref name="variety1">{{cite news|first=Dave |last=McNary |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/pee-wees-big-holiday-jessica-pohly-cast-netflix-1201475452/ |title='Pee-wee's Big Holiday': Jessica Pohly Joins Cast of Netflix Movie |work=Variety |date=2015-04-19 |access-date=2015-05-10}}</ref>

The film released on March 18, 2016 on [[Netflix]] to positive reception.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pee_wees_big_holiday/|title=Pee-wee's Big Holiday|date=2016-03-18|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=2016-03-21}}</ref><ref name="Scheduled-release">{{cite news|url=http://blog.netflix.com/2015/08/why-youll-see-some-high-profile-movies.html|title=Why You'll See Some High Profile Movies Leave Netflix US Next Month|date=August 30, 2015|work=[[Netflix]]|last1=Evers|first1=Joris|access-date=31 August 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20151121004509/http://blog.netflix.com/2015/08/why-youll-see-some-high-profile-movies.html|archive-date=2015-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thewrap.com/pee-wees-big-holiday-sets-netflix-premiere-date-video/|title=Pee-Wee's Big Holiday' Gets Netflix Premiere Date|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=January 19, 2016|work=[[TheWrap]]|access-date=January 19, 2016}}</ref> The film was the last time Reubens portrayed the character before his death in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Mike |date=2023-07-31 |title=Paul Reubens, Comic Mastermind Behind the Madcap Pee-wee Herman, Dies at 70 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/paul-reubens-dead-pee-wee-herman-1235547913/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Honors== [[File:Peewee250.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|Reubens in 1985 receiving ''[[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 [[Emmy Award]]s nominations. As pictured, in 1985 he received ''[[Harvard Lampoon]]''{{'s}} Elmer Award for lifetime achievement in comedy. In 1988, Pee-wee Herman was awarded a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]; under the category of motion pictures, it can be found at 6562 Hollywood Blvd.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19880721&id=dJwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=1362,2561511&hl=ja|title=Pee-wee gets star on Walk of Fame|date=July 21, 1988|newspaper=[[Lodi News-Sentinel]]|agency=[[United Press International|UPI]]|via=[[Google News]]|access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> At the 2012 [[TV Land Awards]], he won the [[Pop Culture]] award.<ref>{{cite news|last=Moraski|first=Lauren|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tv-land-awards-honor-murphy-brown-laverne-shirley-and-one-day-at-a-time/|title=TV Land Awards honor 'Murphy Brown', 'Laverne & Shirley' and 'One Day at a Time'|date=April 16, 2012|work=[[CBS News]]|quote='In Living Color' went home with the groundbreaking award, while Paul Reuben's 'Pee-wee Herman' series scored the pop culture award of the night.|access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/dt/pee-wee-herman-rolling-stone-magazine/RS619--620-RS.html |title=Pee-wee Herman Rolling Stone Magazine at Wolfgang's Vault |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814192513/http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/dt/pee-wee-herman-rolling-stone-magazine/RS619--620-RS.html |archive-date=2009-08-14 |website=WolfgangsVault.com |access-date=July 23, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.

In the film ''[[Overboard (1987 film)|Overboard]]'' (1987), the Joey Proffitt character, played by [[Jeffrey Wiseman]], frequently talked in Pee-wee's voice and did his characteristic laugh several times during the film. Although it wasn't intended in the original script, since the film's director, [[Garry Marshall]] allowed his cast to improvise, Wiseman was allowed to speak in Pee-wee's voice.

Shortly after Reubens's 1991 arrest, [[Jim Carrey]] impersonated Pee-wee Herman on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|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 [[Food pyramid (nutrition)|food groups]], and the dangers of making [[prank call]]s, but in a manner not overly preachy.<ref name=VanTine/> Reubens was also careful about what should be associated with Pee-wee. Being a heavy smoker, he went to great lengths never to be photographed with a cigarette in his mouth. He even refused to endorse [[candy bar]]s and other kinds of [[junk food]], while trying to develop his own sugar-free cereal, "Pee-Wee Chow", a product that would have been produced by [[Ralston Purina]]; Pee-Wee Chow never made it to market after failing a [[blind test]].<ref name="twenty"/><ref name=VanTine/><ref name=VanityFair/>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1991-08-14 |title=One Man's Misfortunes Makes a Fortune for Stores |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1991-08-14-9108140310-story.html/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Reubens also published a book as Pee-wee, titled ''Travels with Pee-wee'' (1989).<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.amazon.com/Travels-Pee-wee-Herman/dp/B00112USBC |title=Travels with Pee-wee |date=January 1989 |access-date=October 16, 2008 |via=Amazon}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 August 2006 |title=Pee Wee Herman Dunks SB |url=http://www.nicekicks.com/511/nike/nike-sb/pee-wee-herman-dunks-sb/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903073758/https://www.nicekicks.com/511/nike/nike-sb/pee-wee-herman-dunks-sb/ |archive-date=2006-09-03 |website=Nice Kicks}}</ref>

==Filmography== {{See also|Paul Reubens#Filmography}} {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | 1979 | ''[[The Dating Game]]'' | |- ! scope="row" | 1980 | ''[[Cheech and Chong's Next Movie]]'' | |- ! scope="row" | 1981 | ''[[The Pee-wee Herman Show]]'' | TV special |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 1982 | ''[[Madame's Place]]'' | Episode #1.34 |- | ''Lily for President'' | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 1984 | ''Cheeseball Presents'' | TV movie |- | "Reggae Christmas" | [[Bryan Adams]] music video |- ! scope="row" rowspan="4" | 1985 | ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' | Host Episode: "Pee-wee Herman/[[Queen Ida|Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band]]" |- | ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]'' | |- | ''Rock 'n' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular'' | |- | [[42nd Golden Globe Awards]] | |- ! scope="row" | 1986–1990 | ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]]'' | Appeared in every episode |- ! scope="row" rowspan="4" | 1987 | ''[[Back to the Beach]]'' | |- | ''It's Howdy Doody Time'' | |- | ''[[227 (TV series)|227]]'' | Episode: "Toyland" |- | ''[[Dolly (1987 TV series)|Dolly]]'' | Episode #1.1 |- ! rowspan="5" scope="row" | 1988 | [[60th Academy Awards|1988 Academy Awards]] | Presenter of the award for [[Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film|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 |- ! scope="row" | 1991 | [[1991 MTV Video Music Awards]] | Opened the show |- ! scope="row" | 2007 | [[Spike Guys' Choice Awards|2007 Spike Guys' Choice Awards]] | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="6" | 2010 | ''[[The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien]]'' | Episodes: #1.113, #1.144 |- | ''Pee-wee Gets an iPad!'' | ''[[Funny or Die]]'' short<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiDHUNiurqY |title=Pee-wee Gets An iPad! |publisher=[[Funny or Die]] |via=[[YouTube]] |date=2010-02-11 |access-date=2016-03-17}}</ref> |- | ''[[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" |- ! scope="row" | 2010–2011 | ''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon]]'' | Episodes: #1.330, #1.373, #1.408 |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3" | 2011 | ''[[The Pee-wee Herman Show|The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway]]'' | TV movie Nominated – [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special]] |- | ''[[Conan (talk show)|Conan]]'' | Episode: "Everybody Wang But Don't Chung Tonight" |- | ''[[WrestleMania XXVII]]'' | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2012 | ''[[Top Chef (season 9)|Top Chef]]'' | Episode: "Bike, Borrow & Steal" |- | [[TV Land Awards|2012 TV Land Awards]] | Winner of Pop Culture Award |- ! scope="row" | 2016 | ''[[Pee-wee's Big Holiday]]'' | A Netflix Original Film (final film role) |}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{sister project links|d=Q3374172|c=Category:Pee-wee Herman|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}} * {{Official website}} * [http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/viewItem.do?ark=21198/zz0002shbw Image of Pee Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) posing with a stuffed monkey on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California, 1984.] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, [[Charles E. Young Research Library]], [[University of California, Los Angeles]].

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