Pee-Wee Herman comes to HBO

As Chairy might say, today's secret word is HBO. On Tuesday,the network announced that early next year it will broadcast "The Pee-Wee Herman Show," a Broadway production based on Paul Reubens’ original stage production, “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” and his Emmy-winning Saturday morning TV series, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” Airing three decades after Reubens made his debut on the channel with “The Pee-wee Herman Show," the special will reunite Mailman Mike, Cowboy Curtis, Miss Yvonne and other Playhouse characters loved by kids and child-like adults.

“Before his hit series and movies, HBO introduced Paul Reubens’ Pee-wee Herman to a national audience in the ‘Young Comedians’ series, followed by the groundbreaking 1981 special,” noted Nancy Geller, HBO's senior vice president of original programming, in a statement.  “It’s thrilling to have Paul back on the network, and it will be a blast to return to Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”

Lately, Reubens has experienced a comeback of sorts, appearing on “30 Rock,” “Family Guy” and the Todd Solondz movie “Life During Wartime.” Writer-director Judd Apatow recently announced that he and Reubens are developing a new movie based on Pee Wee. And now HBO? Wait, we just said the secret word. Everybody, scream!

-- Melissa Maerz

Photo: Paul Reubens as Pee-Wee Herman. Credit: Charles Sykes / Associated Press

Comments

[rejaye]

omg- I remember the secret word! I used to watch "Pee-Wee's Playhouse!" That seems like so long ago, and wow, it was. I also love to watch the movie "Pee Wee's Big Adventure"- there is no other scene like the one with Large Marge.

[billyjinsa]

"Pee -Wee Herman comes to HBO". Really. The Los Angeles Times. What a terrific editing staff you have! Given "Mr. Herman's sordid FL XXX movie theater arrest incident and his reported huge collection of erotica that he refuses to discuss in any interviews, don't you THINK you could have come up with a better headline?! Bring the kids to the show, folks! Ewwwwwwww!" ;-p

[Kelly]

My daughters and I have always loved Peewee! So he made a mistake big deal. He's still one of the most inventive funny guys around. Good luck Peewee!!

[Pinky]

I think that this is great. I love Pee-Wee and have always thought he got a bum wrap on that whole XXX movie theater "incident". Everyone watches porn. In my opinion those pointing fingers saying what he did was soooo terrible, they are usually the freaky porn addicts. I'm just saying.

[Alex]

The first line is incorrect in two ways. It was Conky (the robot) that gave out the secret word - not chairry (which is also misspelled). Apparantly, the writer isn't a fan of the show. Glad to see it coming back though!