Paul Reubens: I Still Am Pee-Wee Herman

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 30th 2009 01:52PM

Most people know Paul Reubens for one role: Pee-wee Herman. In the latest issue of Details Magazine, he opens up about his constant obsession: "I am constantly hoping that, like, I'm still relevant at all." It makes sense. The 57-year-old actor is about to don the skinny suit again to perform as Pee-wee for the first time in 19 years -- starring in an elaborate live show. He just hopes people will come. "What I'm trying to prove now is that I still have it, I'm still around--I still am Pee-wee Herman, and Pee-wee Herman is still funny." he said.

Reubens made waves and sent fans into a tizzy when he announced he was bringing his brilliant Pee-Wee character back to the stage. The good vibes were short-lived, however, as the opening was pushed back from November to January. Fans quickly grew disappointed with not only the delay, but also the tedious ticket exchange process they had to go through for the rescheduled dates.

Reubens, always a man of the people, quickly issued a statement saying he would look into the matter, and that he'd like to meet with his fans who were affected so he could "grovel to them in person." Paul's Details Interview Below:

On channeling his character Pee-wee Herman again: "I always loved being that character... I could feel the love."

What he does on his time off: "I have no life outside of writing my show right now."

On his past headlines: "All this stuff that happened--the quote-unquote treatment I received--was not an inducement to come back to work. To wait for somebody to give me permission to have a career wasn't going to happen, you know? ... It's a drag to have tabloid baggage. It's weird to have your career be a footnote to that, especially when you love what you do. I'm not giving people that power anymore."

Does he still have his Emmys? "Are you kidding? I don't know where they are. They're in storage somewhere."

Tags: paul reubens, PaulReubens, Pee-Wee Herman, Pee-weeHerman

Comments

(190)

Friday 30 October

By jack

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

welcome back PeeWee..always liked your character and PeeWee's Big Adventure truly a classic..always will remember the bar scene trying to talk on the phone and the Tequila dance

Monday 02 November

By Lindsay

Yesss, I remember that, that was so funny =D

Tuesday 03 November

By joyce2443

Vote down Vote up Report this

im with you Jack welcome back PeeWee!!!!!

By Jack

I remember the show as well funny love that Tequila Dance I used work at Shoprite on the overnight. We used to listen to the oldies best of time. Welcome back Pee-wee hell everyone make a mistake in life I had my share of bad luck and Stupid mistake.

By ketket21

Luv Pee Wee!!! YAY HE'S BACK!!! :-)

Friday 06 November

By joseph

paul reuben is a great actor !!!!! every movie he has been in is great. who cares what he does in his free time. i will watch anything he does. he is a actor. dont write him of for something we all do. i cant wait to see his new stuff.

By smkmnm

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

i loved the tequila dance as well and the movie.. I grew up with pee wee. Its cool that he wants to comeback and see if he still has what it takes to make ppl laugh but have you ever watched the reruns? Yeah, they're dumb and maybe thats why he's funny....

By chuckie

Loved PeeWee, even the watered-down commercial TV version (the original HBO special was much raunchier and much funnier). Saw Paul doing the schtick on one of the late night talk-fests a few weeks ago and, I'm sorry to say, he's just too old to pull it off now (pun intended).

Let it rest and move on buddy.

By Reena

I agree...I saw that same late night talk show and thought the same thing. He's way too old to be dressing up like Pee Wee (the make up actually made him look pretty creepy too!) - he should really focus on acting because I do believe he has the ability. I've seen him in a couple of films and he was pretty good. Give up on Pee Wee and be yourself!

By GeraldR5

Welcome back, Pee Wee! We missed you! And we're still a big angry that some overzealous police were able to put a major dent in your career. It was a totally victimless event in a setting where no unwilling people were present. Your private life is, and should be yours. You make me happy with your wonderful talent!!!

By gobluespartyon

Welcome back Pee-Wee I was a big fan of Pee-Wee's Play House. 21 agos 1988 I was Pee-Wee for Halloween and at Mapel Hill Mall they all chanted It's Pee-Wee and someone else was Pee-Wee also.

By richard

Pee Wee you never should have stopped.. Nobody really was offended. We would have ALL just switched to the what other network would have accepted your show. Even if it was Spice or something. Can't wait to see your new show.

By CeCe

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You are entitled to your opinion even if you are wrong. And you are!

By brdbrns3

remember when pee wee was doing cocaine under the table in the cheech and chong movie?

By Dori

A side of pee-wee I wish TO NEVER see again. It was weird seeing him do that. :( I only saw him that the wacky pee-wee Herman, not the cocaine addicted fool. lol. I hope he does come back, old or not, there is only ONE Pee-Wee that that is him :)

By rock_a_roo

I'm The Hamburger Man

OMG, the Hamburger Dude at the chinese restaurant! That was one of the funniest bits ever put on film! LMAO just thinking about it.

By Brad

Pee-wee could be in character until he's four hundred years old. It's great and classic. What happened to him should never have been made an issue... he wasn't a pedophile. The born-again nutjobs had their way and the media blew this thing open and ruined what would most likely been many years of great entertainment.

By Spike

The "born-again nutjobs" had nothing to do with it. It was the news starved mainstream press whose sole purpose in life is to tittilate and sensationalize. They are hacks with no value to society. The "born-agains" couldn't care less about this.

By Fred

If Pee Wee Herman ever reads this, I want you to know I will never forget the fabulous line from your movie, "The Alamo doesn't have a basement!".

Page 1 of 10