The Pee-wee Herman Show

Infobox Television
show_name = The Pee-wee Herman Show


format = Comedy
runtime =
creator = Paul Reubens
starring = Paul Reubens
Phil Hartman
executive_producer =
country = USA
network = HBO
first_aired = 1981
last_aired =
location = Roxy Theater
num_seasons =
num_episodes =
list_episodes =
Aired Night =
website =
imdb_id =
tv_com_id =

"The Pee-wee Herman Show" is a stage show developed by Paul Reubens in 1980. It marks the first significant appearance of his comedic fictional character, Pee-wee Herman, five years before "Pee-wee's Big Adventure", and six years before "Pee-wee's Playhouse". The act initially took place at the Groundlings theater, but in time it was moved to the Roxy Theater where the HBO cable network taped one of the shows and aired it in 1981. This show was consideredWho|date=August 2008 more racy and suggestive than the children's TV series. But as Reubens has stated, by today's standards, it's rather light.Fact|date=August 2008

Development

The roots of that stage show were in 1981 when Reubens was one of 22 finalists to be chosen as a regular on "Saturday Night Live" (the famous first season of an all-new cast, and one of five seasons without Lorne Michaels as a producer). Reubens lost to actor Gilbert Gottfried and thought his career was over. According to Reubens, he was about to return home when he came up with the idea of a stage show featuring the character he premiered back in 1977, Pee-wee Herman. That year, the character had made his first appearance to a national (but mostly adult) audience when he made a cameo in "Cheech & Chong's Next Movie". With $3,000 (mostly money wired from his parents), and help from 60 people working for him (including his fellow Groundling Phil Hartman), Reubens created the show.

Plotline

"The Pee-wee Herman Show" begins with the same routine that Reubens did as Pee-wee when he premiered the character four years earlier (before he started to tell jokes). Pee-wee appears with a paper bag full of different toys which he shows to the audience.

Vinyl record

Originally released in 1981, a vinyl 12" one-sided hand silk-screened picture disc was released of the performance by Fatima Recordz. The cover features a drawing of Pee-wee by Gary Panter, who would later win three Emmy Awards for his set design on "Pee-wee's Playhouse".

Silk-screening was done by Richard Duardo but the design of the sleeve and of the album was done by Gary Panter. The paper sleeve states that it was recorded at the Roxy Theater, L.A. June 1981. All music composed and arranged by Jay Condom except as noted.

Tracks

# Pee-wee's Playhouse
# Good Morning Song (Lyrics Paul Reubens)
# A Sailor's Life (Music & Lyrics Reubens & Hartmann)
# Most Beautiful Woman in Puppetland
# Ballad of Hermit Hattie (Composed Edie McClurg)
# Rub The Top of Jambi's Box (Lyrics John Paragon)
# I Gotta Go Be By My Self/ Call Me Ms.Bungle
# He's Gonna Get His Wish - His Way - Whats He Wants
# Luckiest Boy In The World (Lyrics Reubens & Bill Steinkellner)
# Volare Pee-wee (Vocal John Paragon)

Cast

* Pee-wee Herman - Paul Reubens
* Mailman Mike - John Moody
* Jambi - John Paragon
* Hammy - Tito Larriva
* Mr. & Mrs. Jelly Donut - Brian Seff, Monica Ganas
* Captain Carl - Phil Hartman
* Miss Yvonne - Lynne Marie Stewart
* Joan - Joan Leizman
* Hermit Hattle - Edie McClurg
* Salvador Sanchez - Ivan Flores
* Cowboy Curtis - Laurence Fishburne