In this AP interview, Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) explains why he decided to resurrect the character, and plugs his brand new stage show. At first I was excited, and after watching this, I SUDDENLY WASN’T. How do you feel?
P.S. Bring back Billy Baloney!
I’m so going wearing a trenchcoat.
I love it! This was a great show for kids! My favorite childhood toy was a talking Pee-wee doll that I got for Christmas in 86.
Hah! He sounds a lot like Sen. Sherrod Brown
What a wanker. Literally.
I think the only thing I object to is him giving an interview in character. That was weird.
Wm.,
Remember “Chairy”? Remember “Word of the Day”? That show was mad crazy. A fond memory. I don’t think I’d want to see the new version though. It would just be resurrecting his (Reubens) schtick. It was great for its time, the late 80s as I recall.
yee haw! Life is worth living again.
His show was originally part of a theater act in LA before he became an MTV, then TV personality, if I recall.
Is this act going on the road?
Oh, Club Nokia, sorry helps to watch the vid…
I use to love this show, and also “Hey Vern It’s Earnest,” but yeah – I think this ship has sailed. I predict show closes early.
Mixed feelings here. I predict he will try real hard to do whatever he did back then – a characterization of himself, really – with a rocky start. When he just lets it happen, it will be good again, but different, like it should be. Like an old rock and roll group, grown up gracefully.
@8:
Reubens was a part of the legendary L.A. sketch group The Groundlings in the late ’70’s (a lot of “Saturday Night Live” alums were also Groundlings: Phil Hartman, John Lovitz, Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon come most immediately to mind). I first remember seeing the character in the second Cheech & Chong movie, which I believe came out in ’80 or ’81. I think the original stage show was around that same time.
Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho!
favorite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruEP8EAPR…
Ageism aside, there are all sorts of things that aren’t age appropriate. We give up our tricycles eventually, our skateboards later, pop fashion, mid-life crises and middle-aged angst. So I hope I’m not raining on anyone’s parade by saying that perhaps Paul Reubens may be a tad too old for Pee-Wee. Pee Wee’s persona is based on a certain degree of edged naivete. Naive younger people can be funny, but at 50 or 60 naivete seems sad and hopelessly silly.
Comedy – almost all of show business, really – is cruel in many ways; the freshness and success of one’s schtick is fleeting. Groucho’s wisecracking cynicism was hilarious when he was a younger man, but because that kind of comedy doesn’t lend itself to pathos, it didn’t work for him as we he aged. He seemed only to be a cranky old man. Will Pee Wee merely look like someone who has unwisely ignored the learning curve?
He’s a bit like Soupy Sales. And I like him! Just knowing he’s kinky makes it a little naughty.
The character was a lot fresher when it was done by Paul Reubens. Who’s this old washed-up Catskills guy?
If you squint just a little, you’ll see Jerry Lewis talking about his new Vegas spectacular.
@15 – I think you’re right. Part of what made the original Playhouse so good was the manic energy of the whole cast. Watching clips of this reincarnation made me think of the Bugs Bunny ether chase. Everything was just a bit slow and droopy seeming.
@ 15, good point.
if you’re not excited about you don’t love TV.
uh…i love that some of you are taking this so seriously.
bring this shit on! i can’t wait! i LOVED Pee-Wee’s Playhouse when i was a kid! he started out as a stand up comedian using that character, so it never has to “grow up!” that”s the beauty of creating a character like that.
Welcome back, Pee-Wee!!!
(the “in-character” interview was kind of odd, though.)