Pee-Wee Herman Returns To Hollywood
By Peter Sciretta/Aug. 10, 2009 4:18 pm EST
Some people may remember that before Pee-Wee Herman began his kids television show Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, the character was created while Reubens was at The Groundlings. After being turned down by Saturday Night Live in 1980, Reubens created an adult stage show titled The Pee-Wee Herman Show. I remember watching a version of this show which aired on HBO in the mid- 1980’s, and was shocked at the raucous comedy which was only hinted at ever-so-slightly in the Tim Burton movie, and to a lesser extent, the children’s show. So Pee-Wee is indeed returning to where everything first began. You can watch a clip from the 1981 HBO show below.
This new version of The Pee-wee Herman Show is being billed as “Re-imagined, re-invented, and nuttier than ever.” But the press release says that it is"still about a wish," and will include the characters Miss Yvonne, Mailman Mike, Cowboy Curtis and Jambi the Genie, as well as Pee-wee’s talking chair, Chairry, Pterri the pterodactyl, robot Conky, Magic Screen, Randy, and many more. Many of the show’s original artists, both on stage and behind the scenes are involved in this re-imagined production. I find it somewhat doubtful that Laurence Fishburne will reprise his role as Cowboy Curtis , and Phil Hartman, who played Captain Carl, is obviously no longer with us.
Here is information about Pee-Wee and the original show, thanks to the press release:
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, August 11 at 8 am at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and by phone at 800-745-3000.
