1 of 1- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline 
Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman, Dies At 70
For a generation of kids, his "Pee Wee's Playhouse" was must see TV on Saturday mornings. Paul Reubens created and played the character on stage, TV and movies, before running into a sex scandal that brought much of it to an end.
Any hope for a huge comeback ended Sunday, when Reubens died from cancer, an illness he kept from his fans and the public. He was 70.
He left a final statement behind, which was released after his passing.
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” wrote Reubens in a statement posted to Instagram after his death. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”
Paul Reubens, Pee-wee Herman Actor, Dies at 70 After Private Bout of Cancer
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman, Dies At 70
I never really got the Pee Wee shtick, but I know a lot of people loved him. I'd also seen him in other bit roles and he was surprisingly good in them. He famously made a mini-comeback when, after the scandal involving indecent exposure at a movie theatre, he was invited back after some time out of the spotlight, to introduce the 1991 MTV Music Video Awards.
The crowd reaction was so welcoming, he almost wasn't able to stay in character.
- •
Thread Starter- BowmanvilleBob
- Member
Offline
Re: Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman, Dies At 70
Pee-Wee's Playhouse was a rare and very subversive kids' show for it's time. Pee-Wee taught kids it was OK to be silly and rude sometimes and, most importantly, not to get caught up in what other people thought of them. Stars like Phil Hartman and Laurence Fishburn were regular characters, and there was enough "adult" humour to allow people like me to enjoy it along with my kids. Reubens had his demons that he was often unsuccessful in battling, but like all of us, he was a flawed human being who tried to do his best. RIP Pee-Wee.
- Radiowiz
- Member
Offline
Re: Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman, Dies At 70
Paul Reubens also had a short life as a game show host.
I'm strictly guessing the Playstation & other home versions had a better life.
The TV version only lasted 6 episodes back in 2001:
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person.
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.
- Paul Jeffries
- Member
Offline
Re: Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman, Dies At 70
He also played one of the vampires in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie) in 1992. That same year he played Penguin's father in Batman Returns, a role he would reprise several years later in three episodes of FOX-TV's Gotham.
PJ
ClassicHitsOnline.com...The place where all the cool tunes hang out!
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman, Dies At 70
BowmanvilleBob wrote:
Pee-Wee's Playhouse was a rare and very subversive kids' show for it's time. Pee-Wee taught kids it was OK to be silly and rude sometimes and, most importantly, not to get caught up in what other people thought of them. Stars like Phil Hartman and Laurence Fishburn were regular characters, and there was enough "adult" humour to allow people like me to enjoy it along with my kids. Reubens had his demons that he was often unsuccessful in battling, but like all of us, he was a flawed human being who tried to do his best. RIP Pee-Wee.
Probably the most subversive kid's show ever on TV was in the late 60s, when H.R. Pufnstuf appeared for one short season on NBC. I'm still amazed this thing ever got on the air.
H.R. Pufnstuf: The Druggiest Kids' Show Ever
- •
Thread Starter- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman, Dies At 70
Did you know that Pee Wee Herman once did an FM radio show? It was a one-off, but he apparently harboured a life long desire to host a program on the radio. And a California station made it happen in 2021.
"Paul loved the idea of being an FM radio DJ” of the sort that dominated the airwaves during the FM radio revolution of the 1960s and ’70s, says Thorn. In fact, Reubens was so earnest about the gig that while recording the broadcast, Thorn says that he, fellow producer Julia Smith and Myers — who wrote much of the broadcast with Reubens — “had to remind Paul repeatedly that it was a comedy show,” adding, “It was very clear that this was a sincere career dream of his.”
Apparently the show was filled with a plethora of classic soul tunes, which the guest "disc jockey" favoured. If you're curious, it's still online here.
How Paul Reubens Brought Pee-Wee Herman Back One More Time — As a Radio DJ
- •
Thread Starter