i've been meaning to watch the pee-wee doc so this is timely. i love this line, so hilarious and true: "There he cavorts, a noodle in slicked hair and lipstick, okay as long as he stays limp." your conversation with mark svenvold resonated. i resist words like "prayer" and "meditation" but i like how he defines them for himself (sending thoughts to the universe, shifting grievance to acts of service). and that he acknowledged it was difficult. sharing this, you've passed on the gift, one i can only define as the comfort of recognition.
Thanks for this piece! As a Pee Wee kid, it's hard not to be totally fascinated by the documentary, but it does feel very specifically made for the target audience of me — mostly, I think it needed to be a long-ass miniseries in an OJ Simpson doc kind of way. A nice side effect of the doc is that my 4 year old is back on the Pee Wee train & watching the playhouse with glee. But man, I was struck by the way this sentence, unfortunately, could've come straight out of 2025: "There’s a whip-cracking tradition in this country of ruining public figures with sex scandals—unless they are rich and white and straight and can find a way, as has Donald Trump, to turn charges of rape and sexual assault into boosts to his public approval."
All you say here is true and interesting. The doc is strained, I think, by the struggle between Reubens and Wolf that isn't able to be made dramatically interesting for the film itself. I don't think Reubens can quite evaluate the cost to him of making some of the life choices he made re Pee-wee as a persona to live in publicly. For example, no one in the doc comments on the misogyny in the long kissing scene in the third film Reubens insisted on shooting between Pee-wee and his female "girlfriend."
We set our alarm clocks every Friday night for Pee Wee's Playhouse Saturday mornings. Sometimes six of us --all in our 30s, all in the film industry-whopped it up, hungover or not. He had a cult following.
I was so deeply moved by that documentary - both from the struggle it took to make it, and for the grave injustice done to Paul. I grew up with Pee-Wee - I was born in 1981, when he first popularized the character. It was my childhood, and one day he was there, and then we didn't hear from him again for years. I was old enough to understand the movie theater arrest, but I had completely forgotten that he was accused of pedophilia with no evidence save for some vintage gay magazines. Tragic and sad.
Pee Wee's Playhouse was the source of so many laughs and artistic inspiration during the 80's when I was in my 30s. As a fan, despite the legal issues, I found the documentary interesting.
JUST Love this Laurie! I especially enjoyed reading about your 'beatnik cafe' and your shared memory of "a taste or a smudge of happiness." Regarding Paul - - I rarely watch documentaries these days, but my husband and I have always enjoyed Pee-wee Herman, so we gave it a try. Not only was there some heart breakage, but we also discovered that we love Paul Reubens the artist as much as Pee-wee. I couldn't help but think of Brett Kavanaugh walking away as clean as a whistle and Paul, just looking to get off - not to offend or hurt anyone. Imagine how it would have turned out if he lived in Paris at that time. A useless thought, I know – in my dead father's words "the indignity of it all..."
Thx for sharing your throwback story which reminds us that times past were just as ugly in their own way as our present day. I had a different take on the documentary, which I found riveting, immensely moving, and a testament to the courage of both filmmaker and subject. I’ve never seen a subject address a camera as unflinchingly., at least not in a documentary. I thought Herman’s narrative breathtaking in its candor and insight and the dramatic irony of knowing how the story would end, tragic. He was blessed indeed to have parents who embraced and supported his differences, and he knew it. I can’t help wondering how that last interview session might have gone had he lived long enough to sit for it.
It’s a relief to watch peewee in all his tragicomic glory, especially up against all the neon slop served up for kids now …
The only point I disagree with is the portrayal of Ms piggy - she is no lecherous pig! She is a queer icon in a hetero paradigm! Much like peewee.
I just found this 45 in the stacks and it’s fun: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gafw_H3OE0
Joeski Love “Pee-Wees Dance”
i've been meaning to watch the pee-wee doc so this is timely. i love this line, so hilarious and true: "There he cavorts, a noodle in slicked hair and lipstick, okay as long as he stays limp." your conversation with mark svenvold resonated. i resist words like "prayer" and "meditation" but i like how he defines them for himself (sending thoughts to the universe, shifting grievance to acts of service). and that he acknowledged it was difficult. sharing this, you've passed on the gift, one i can only define as the comfort of recognition.
You always share with me and readers here the great GIFT of your compassionate engagement with the stack and with Richard and me. We❤️ you.
❤️back atcha
Thanks for this piece! As a Pee Wee kid, it's hard not to be totally fascinated by the documentary, but it does feel very specifically made for the target audience of me — mostly, I think it needed to be a long-ass miniseries in an OJ Simpson doc kind of way. A nice side effect of the doc is that my 4 year old is back on the Pee Wee train & watching the playhouse with glee. But man, I was struck by the way this sentence, unfortunately, could've come straight out of 2025: "There’s a whip-cracking tradition in this country of ruining public figures with sex scandals—unless they are rich and white and straight and can find a way, as has Donald Trump, to turn charges of rape and sexual assault into boosts to his public approval."
All you say here is true and interesting. The doc is strained, I think, by the struggle between Reubens and Wolf that isn't able to be made dramatically interesting for the film itself. I don't think Reubens can quite evaluate the cost to him of making some of the life choices he made re Pee-wee as a persona to live in publicly. For example, no one in the doc comments on the misogyny in the long kissing scene in the third film Reubens insisted on shooting between Pee-wee and his female "girlfriend."
We set our alarm clocks every Friday night for Pee Wee's Playhouse Saturday mornings. Sometimes six of us --all in our 30s, all in the film industry-whopped it up, hungover or not. He had a cult following.
Yes! A great comment. xxL
We had his laugh pegged. And his body language! Over and out, gotta re-visit the funhouse on YouTube when I should be working. I blame you, Laurie.
Blame accepted.
Ok ok ok. I’m going to view Pee Wee ! I can’t get away from him with all the social jamboree!
“Okay as long as he stays limp.” So much in a single phrase.
I love your assessment of the Pee Wee character’s sexuality.
I always felt bad for Reubens.
Me too. xxL
I was so deeply moved by that documentary - both from the struggle it took to make it, and for the grave injustice done to Paul. I grew up with Pee-Wee - I was born in 1981, when he first popularized the character. It was my childhood, and one day he was there, and then we didn't hear from him again for years. I was old enough to understand the movie theater arrest, but I had completely forgotten that he was accused of pedophilia with no evidence save for some vintage gay magazines. Tragic and sad.
Yes, all true. He was accused without a scintilla of evidence of having child pornography, not of pedophilia.
true - though people conflate the two (that's a whole other ball of wax).
Yes, tragic. It is heartbreaking.
Pee Wee's Playhouse was the source of so many laughs and artistic inspiration during the 80's when I was in my 30s. As a fan, despite the legal issues, I found the documentary interesting.
JUST Love this Laurie! I especially enjoyed reading about your 'beatnik cafe' and your shared memory of "a taste or a smudge of happiness." Regarding Paul - - I rarely watch documentaries these days, but my husband and I have always enjoyed Pee-wee Herman, so we gave it a try. Not only was there some heart breakage, but we also discovered that we love Paul Reubens the artist as much as Pee-wee. I couldn't help but think of Brett Kavanaugh walking away as clean as a whistle and Paul, just looking to get off - not to offend or hurt anyone. Imagine how it would have turned out if he lived in Paris at that time. A useless thought, I know – in my dead father's words "the indignity of it all..."
Thank you!
I'd never heard of Pee-wee, but can taste the hypocrisy of the moral panic.
And love the conversation with Mark Svenvold and his take on prayer.
Thank you for this read. My dauhter grew up with PeeWee and she is a better person bcz of him. She just also watched the documentary.
Wonderful!
You are a treasure, Laurie Stone. I miss Paul Reubens. I send wishes for ease to Mark and to you.
Thank you.
Thx for sharing your throwback story which reminds us that times past were just as ugly in their own way as our present day. I had a different take on the documentary, which I found riveting, immensely moving, and a testament to the courage of both filmmaker and subject. I’ve never seen a subject address a camera as unflinchingly., at least not in a documentary. I thought Herman’s narrative breathtaking in its candor and insight and the dramatic irony of knowing how the story would end, tragic. He was blessed indeed to have parents who embraced and supported his differences, and he knew it. I can’t help wondering how that last interview session might have gone had he lived long enough to sit for it.
Be interesting to see an interview with Wolf about that.
Reubens cut ties with Wolf, as he had with other partners he'd worked with. The film was unfinished not because Reubens died.