Epatha Merkerson, later of TV's "Law And Order," and Laurence Fishburne, Orpheus in the "Matrix" movies. That's why.īIANCULLI: Other regulars on "Pee-wee's Playhouse" included S. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) Because we're hungry. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) Because we are making grilled cheese sandwiches. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) Because we want the cheese to melt. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) Because if it does, then the bread will burn. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) So the bread doesn't stick to the pan. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) Now, first thing, I'm going to put some butter - boop, boop (ph) - in my frying pan. In addition to the puppets, talking props and cartoons, there were human co-stars, too, including Jimmy Smits, who played a robot repairman, and Natasha Lyonne, now of the Peacock series "Poker Face," who was a regular "Playhouse" visitor at age 6, playing an inquisitive kid named Opal. And any time anyone unknowingly said that secret word, everyone else, including viewers at home, were supposed to yell real loud. There was a genie, a disembodied head who granted wishes and a robot who printed out the day's secret word. MARK HOLTON AND PAUL REUBENS: (As Francis Buxton and Pee-wee Herman) I know you are, but what am I? I know you are, but what am I?īIANCULLI: A year later, Reubens was on Saturday morning television as the host of a gloriously imaginative series called "Pee-wee's Playhouse." It ran for five seasons and was set in a world populated by a talking chair, talking windows, small dinosaurs who lived in a mouse hole, dancing ice cubes in the freezer and a puppet jazz band. HOLTON: (As Francis Buxton) You're an idiot. HOLTON: (As Francis Buxton) You're a nerd. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) I know you are, but what am I? HOLTON: (As Francis Buxton) Then you're crazy. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) I wouldn't sell my bike for all the money in the world, not for a hundred billion million trillion dollars. HOLTON: (As Francis Buxton) My father says everything's negotiable, Pee-wee. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) It's not for sale, Francis. ![]() HOLTON: (As Francis Buxton) What's so funny, Pee-wee? HOLTON: (As Francis Buxton) No - your bike. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) A new brain. HOLTON: (As Francis Buxton) So guess what I want? REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) Good for you and your father. HOLTON: (As Francis Buxton) Today is my birthday, and my father said I can have anything I want. REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) Hello, Francis. MARK HOLTON: (As Francis Buxton) Morning, Pee-wee. (SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE") Reubens starred as Pinocchio in a wonderful episode of Shelley Duvall's "Faerie Tale Theatre," then got his big break in 1985 by teaming with young director Tim Burton on a movie called "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," which presented Pee-wee in all his childlike glory, whether he was playing with toys, riding his bike or trading insults with the neighborhood bully, played by Mark Holton. He introduced his Pee-wee Herman character in 1977 and mounted a full-length on-stage showcase, "The Pee-wee Herman Show," that was captured as an HBO special in 1981. It's fun time.īIANCULLI: Paul Reubens was an early member of the Groundlings, the LA improv comedy troupe whose members also included Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig. PAUL REUBENS: (As Pee-wee Herman) It's fun time. (SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE")ĪLISON MORK: (As Magic Screen) Hey, Pee-wee. On today's show, we remember Reubens and Pee-wee by listening back to interviews with him and some of the cast members of his hit children's TV series "Pee-wee's Playhouse." ![]() Paul Reubens, the character actor and comic who created and embodied the charmingly childish character of Pee-wee Herman, died of cancer Sunday at age 70.
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