I saw Pee-Wee Herman in a Theater and he completely behaved himself!

[bienville]

O.K. This was about a week and a half ago, just now getting around to starting a Thread about it.

In a word . . . WOW.
I saw the revival production of The Pee-Wee Herman Show at the Nokia Theater in L.A. last week. I fully expected to enjoy it, but didn’t fully appreciate what I was in for.

In anticipation of the show, I was completely in my head: “Hey, that’s cool that he’s doing that show”, all this from my perspective as a performer, myself, “Yes, I’m glad to see him doing a new live show with that character. He really created something special with that character, really impressive- the cultural impact- really quite iconic. Yes, this will be a good show. I look forward to experiencing a live performance from someone so talented.”

The second he walked out on stage, my primary port of reception immediately dropped from my head to my heart- and my heart is where I stayed for the remainder of the 90minutes.

Wow. He was right there! That guy on stage- that is Pee-Wee Herman!!!
He stepped out, in front of the curtain, greeted the audience, and had us all stand as he lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. He then stepped off stage and the curtains opened on that set- that set! The script is based on the 1981 Roxy Show that was filmed for HBO- but the set is the set from the Saturday Morning Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. It’s that set- right in front of us! Chairy, Conky the Robot, Clocky, Magic Screen, the Fish, the talking windows- they were all onstage! And soon enough we were given the Secret Word, “Fun”- whenever you hear the Secret Word, scream real loud!!!

His performance was excellent- he truly hasn’t lost that character. I had seen him a week or two earlier on the Conan O’Brien show and thought his performance left a little to be desired. Not so for the stage show- he was spot on! So funny! So sharp!

Again, the script was based on the original 1981 Pee-Wee Herman Show- but from the character list above, you’ll note that more than just the set design was brought in from the Saturday mornings T.V. show. The 1981 plot had new gags written into it, new characters, and updated cultural references.

In the 1981 show, Miss Yvonne was in love with Captain Carl- wishing that he would like her, really like her. There was a choice not to recast Captain Carl- which I think was a good choice. For it to have been anyone other than Phil Hartman would have been too sad. Though, to have one of the new characters fill this role wouldn’t have been quite satisfying either. The decision was to have Cowboy Curtis substitute for Captain Carl- Cowboy Curtis had to be newly cast, but this wasn’t as sad as a newly cast Captain Carl would have been.

ORIGINAL Miss Yvonne! ORIGINAL Mailman Mike! ORIGINAL Jambi!!!
Cowboy Curtis was played by Phil LaMarr, who played Hermes on Futurama- being a Futurama fan, I was satisfied with this replacement (although, no cite, I heard that Laurence Fishburne made a surprise appearance at one performance- may just be something someone made up and others wanted to believe, I would love if anyone could verify that).

Songs from the 1981 show as well as new songs. A new character “Bear” is a guy in a bear suit and Pee-Wee can’t stand him (I hate mute characters! I hate Charades! And I hate Guessing games!). Another new character, Sergio, comes to fix the phone and ends up talking Pee-Wee into upgrading the phone and getting on the internet- so, Sergio sticks around for the whole show poking his head in from the wall, the floor, the ceiling to give Pee-Wee updates.

I was such a fun show- a great experience to share with a large audience. Everyone really did scream real loud whenever the Secret Word was spoken. Everyone joined in Jambi’s chant to fulfill Pee-Wee’s wish. It was so much fun! One of the best experiences of live entertainment ever!

[mobo85]

I agree that Pee-Wee was a little off on his Conan appearance. But I was surprised when I saw the iPad video he did for Funny or Die- other than a few noticable and not-at-all-surprising wrinkles, he looks and sounds exactly the same. Paul Reubens may have aged, but Pee-Wee Herman hasn't- which is appropriate given as he's basically a child in a grown man's body.

I've heard nothing but good things about this show and am hoping Pee-Wee goes on the road or to an NYC venue. It sounds like a lot of FUN.

[ZipperJJ]

Wow, I hope he takes this on the road, too. There are a lot of people all across the country that have fond memories of watching Pee Wee on Saturday mornings that would pay to see this show, just like a rock show!

[aceplace57]

Behaved himself? Pee Wee was always a class act on stage.

His masturbating charge was a private matter. no pun intended.

I think Pee Wee got trapped on tv. Pee Wee was created when Rubins was with the Groundlings. Pee Wee was meant for adults. Rubins always used double entendre in the Pee Wee character. He gets on tv and suddenly they turn him into Captain Kangaroo.

[mobo85]

Originally Posted by aceplace57

Behaved himself? Pee Wee was always a class act on stage.

On stage, yes. The same can't be said about all his visits to a theater, however.

[Larry Mudd]

Originally Posted by aceplace57

He gets on tv and suddenly they turn him into Captain Kangaroo.

I'm not sure if you mean "network TV" or if you never saw the HBO special (which was pretty adult-oriented) but even Pee Wee's Playhouse had plenty of sly jokes for adults. It's been years, but wasn't Jombie's rapid departure on receipt of a pair of hands from the Saturday morning show?

[gaffa]

Originally Posted by Larry Mudd

I'm not sure if you mean "network TV" or if you never saw the HBO special (which was pretty adult-oriented) but even Pee Wee's Playhouse had plenty of sly jokes for adults. It's been years, but wasn't Jombie's rapid departure on receipt of a pair of hands from the Saturday morning show?

Unless they repeated it, I saw that joke on the HBO special.

[ZPhobiaZ]

Originally Posted by mobo85

On stage, yes. The same can't be said about all his visits to a theater, however.

I think you are confused. Pee-Wee Herman is not a real person, he is a character played by Mr. Paul Ruebens.

When performing the character of PeeWee Mr. Ruebens kept it clean. What happened in the dirty movie house was Mr. Ruebens being himself, and should have no bearing on how you'd expect the character to behave.

That should only be judged by Mr. Rueben's professional conduct, which has always been exemplery.

[mobo85]

I was just playing along with the joke in the thread title. I have nothing but respect for both Mr. Reubens and Mr. Herman, and given some of the reviews I've read about the show, some of the jokes in the show show that both of them are able to laugh at that unfortunate incident as well.

[aceplace57]

I always liked the sly adults jokes that Reubens slipped in.

A lot of actors have gotten in trouble without killing their careers. Hugh Grant got busted with a prostitute. He kept making movies. A lot of actors survived drug charges and kept working.

Reubens gets busted and it nearly destroyed his career. I think it's because he was identified so strongly with making a kids show. It was shocking to see Reubens mug shot looking like a street person. It took years for him to get work. I remember he took a small role on Murphy Brown and that was the beginning of his comeback.

Originally Posted by Larry Mudd

I'm not sure if you mean "network TV" or if you never saw the HBO special (which was pretty adult-oriented) but even Pee Wee's Playhouse had plenty of sly jokes for adults. It's been years, but wasn't Jombie's rapid departure on receipt of a pair of hands from the Saturday morning show?

[Astroboy14]

I'd definitely go see this show if it ever came to San Diego!

I re-watched Pee Wee's Big Adventure a couple of weeks ago, and it was just as funny as when it first came out. "Tell 'em Large Marge sent you!"

[Thudlow Boink]

Thanks for posting this, bienville.

[The Tooth]

Pee Wee's Big Adventure was one of three DVDs I picked up when I got a player (Star Trek II and Blue Velvet being the other two), and it really is a fine film. It's silly, but not necessarily for kids. I like Paul Reubens in everything I've seen him in and I'm glad he can still bring it. His death scene in Buffy is cinematic gold.

[MOIDALIZE]

I want to meet just so I can give him the Pee-Wee handshake, which is like a regular handshake except you stroke the recipient's thumb.

[Rigamarole]

Isn't he like, really old? I mean, he was creepy when he was middle-aged, but now I can't even imagine the horror.

[Fear Itself]

Originally Posted by Rigamarole

Isn't he like, really old? I mean, he was creepy when he was middle-aged, but now I can't even imagine the horror.

What do you consider middle-aged? Reubens is 57.

[Dinsdale]

Man, this is one of the few acts I WOULD NOT MISS if it came through Chicago. Watching Pee Wee with my kids on Saturday mornings is one of my fondest memories of their childhoods. I wish we had hung onto my daughter's little set of Pee Wee PJs!

[Rigamarole]

Originally Posted by Fear Itself

What do you consider middle-aged? Reubens is 57.

Well we can put it this way: with an average male life expectancy of 75.6 years, 57 is well past the middle.

[caligulathegod]

One of my favorite gags from the Saturday Morning show was when Cowboy Curtis spent the night at the Playhouse and needed a new pair of boots.

Jambi: One pair of cowboy boots coming up! What size?
Cowboy Curtis: Uh, size 12, double E.
Pee-wee: Boy, big feet.
Cowboy Curtis: Well, ya know what they say.
Pee-wee: No. What?
Cowboy Curtis: Big feet, big boots!


There was another one where there was a fire in the playhouse, and a firefighter showed up and he and Miss Yvonne were flirting, and he said "You have to have a smoke detector," and she said "I have one in my bedroom, above the bed.

I miss that show.

[bienville]

A highlight from the new show is Pee-Wee's abstinence ring.