Get Out of Bed: 'The Pee-Wee Herman Show' on Broadway Debuts on HBO
by Elizabeth Sexton
According to critics, it's so good, you'll want to marry it.
"It" is the Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway which makes an HBO debut Saturday March 19.
The live show reunites Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee) with the beloved Playhouse crew, including Miss Yvonne, Mailman Mike, Cowboy Curtis, Jambie the Genie, Pterri, Conky and Chairy. Like the Emmy-winning Saturday morning television show, the live production has been hailed as a similar phenomenon "where anything can happen."
The New York Times calls it "yummier than chocolate" and according to the New York Post, "the audience screams for joy."
Today's Secret Word is "Comeback"
With tremendous followings on Facebook and Twitter, Pee-wee Herman (bowtie and all) is experiencing a remarkable renaissance. Judd Apatow, writer-director-producer, recently announced that he will be developing a new feature film with Reubens based on the character.
Pee-wee, the character, sprung from an improvisation number Reuben did in 1978 with the L.A. based group, The Groundlings. Fellow Groundling, Phil Hartman would later help Reuben develop the character.
Interestingly, Reuben did not initially think of the character as one for children. However, in the mid 1980's he began forming Pee-wee into a positive role model and worked to make the show morally positive while paying attention to issues like racial diversity. Reubens also took caution about what he would endorse or associate with Pee-wee. Junk food and candy bars were off the list, and as a long-time smoker, he went out of his way to never be photographed with a cigarette. He even tried to create his own sugar-free cereal "Ralston Purina Pee-wee Chow," but the project died after a blind test.
In 1991, Reubens was seen in a different light after being arrested for indecent exposure in an adult theatre. After keeping a low profile, Reubens emerged for a comeback as the flamboyant hairdresser turned drug dealer in "Blow." Today, Reubens popularity grows. The Broadway show's opening night took in $3,000,000 of advanced ticket sales, and eventually the production had to move to a new theatre to meet demand.