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)

Monday 02 November

By Tina

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At least some of us on here have healthy sex lives and know how to have fun!! :-)

By socalbud

Yahoo hope they put your show back on. IM 57 yrs old and I watched pee wees play house haha

By Josh

Tequila!

By Eva

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He's creepy and should not be around children.

By fkurtin

Thanks Tina, you are special because you understand humor. What about that old bike he used to ride??cool huh

My adult kids and I recently watched Pee Wee's Big Adventure on TV. It was funny when they were small kids and even funnier now. Loved the bike! Did you ever see his more mature version of his Playhouse that he started out with in clubs? Hilarious! The late Phil Hartman was one of the actors on it as well as one of the writers.

By blablabla

This idiot is to be trusted with your childrens minds...???? Welcome to obamaland...the home of mediocraty, incompetance and endless insanty.

By michaelper2

Why is it everyone commenting on a subject has to bring President Obama into the discussion? Pee Wee Herman is the pervert and nothing makes him more than the twisted unfunny pervert that he is. Just because he wears silly makeup and a tight polyester suit does not mean he is more than a buffoon. If he were a Black man he would be getting called kinds of names and blamed for every crime since the US was formed. The police should take him, Roman Polansky and Woody Allen and put them in San Quentin and let the inmates show them how to treat perverts. President Obama has nothing to do with this phoney, perverted imbecile being back in Hollywood.

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ya Tina ,I also have adult children who I had to watch it with, and I enjoyed the hell out of it always. Loved that one woman whose boobs were always ready to pop out, I still tease my 28 yr old son that he had a crush on her, and he still turns red,lol

Lawrence Fishbourne as Cowboy Curtis was great also.

By JT

Eva I think your creepy and you shouldn't be on AOL. Give the guy a break that happen 20 or more years ago. Everyone make a mistake in their life time.

Tuesday 03 November

By Nina Taylor

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I've known Paul since he was a college student and worship his genius. He's a very talented actor, but has always put Pee Wee first. My kids adored his show and we all look forward to him returning to stage. Wish there were some tix left to buy! Guess we'll have to wait until he comes to SF or NYC...

Wednesday 04 November

By butcherbaby

nina, if you are still in touch with him, let him know he still has *many* adoring fans! i first heard of him in the early 80s, when i saw the cable tv airings of his early stage show, and i agree- PURE GENIUS! i still have my red bow-tie shaped ticket from the Grahmans Chinese Theatre premiere of "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" and can still remember how excited me, my brother, and his girlfriend were just driving into LA to buy them, let alone at the premiere itself.
i hope his new show brings him the renewed success he very much deserves. you go, Pee Wee/Paul!

By Mike

Paul (PEE WEE)
I want to thank you for creating and acting as the best comedy character that has been on TV since Red Skeleton! Saturday night live never could compare to your comedic genious! The way you transformed into the male youth was incredible! I use to spend Saturdays with my kids and watch Pee Wees Playhouse! It was mandatory!! There are very few people that are blessed with awesome talent and you are one! If you ever bring your show anywhere near St Louis I will be there!
Welcome back into our lives
Mike V.

ya cowboy Curtis,I almost forgot, since my real name is Kurt,my kids used to tease me by calling me that, ha that just tickled my funny bone and some memory cells too. Thank you Tina, I'll be texting my son tonight to tease him

Remind him of Miss Yvonne and her big boobs, lol!

By Teri

Pee Wee is one funny man.. I loved him then and love him now.. Welcome back we missed you

Monday 09 November

By mary

Pee Wee had the greatest thing going until he became Pee Wee the Pervert. I had underlying thoughts that he was a pervert with the jokes about looking up Miss Yvonne's dress and suggestive double entendre sex talk that the kiddies didn't catch. Yes, there are many men doing ungodly things in "bookstores", many of them married men getting "serviced" by other men.

My daughter grew up with Pee Wee Herman and had the whole Pee Wee Playhouse set. She and the neighbor kids had hours of fun simulating Pee Wee’s Playhouse TV antics. After the first Pee Wee bust, the kids all knew that Pee had done something bad. I saw my daughter and the neighbor kids playing with the Playhouse set one day and the neighbor boy said “I’m Pee Wee the Pervert”. We originally thought this would absolutely become a collector’s item. After the whole pervert fiascos it's nothing more than a dust collector. Such a shame too, another great talent wasted due to lack of discipline and immorality.

By Chris

This article isn't totally accurate. The show sold out pretty quickly and the venue was moved to a larger theater and a longer run, to accommodate the fans.
Pee Wee is the best. I have front row seats!

By ANGELO

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HEY PEE WEE GO TAKE A PEE , GOOD LUCK PECKER HEAD

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