‘Pee-wee Herman’ premiere: Hasselhoff, Arquette, Tomei, Samberg and more flock to the L.A. after-party

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Talking chairs, dancing bears and the residents of Puppet Land rose once again in Los Angeles on Wednesday night as comedian Paul Reubens resurrected his character Pee-wee Herman for a limited-run production of ‘The Pee-wee Herman Show’ at Club Nokia.

A slew of celebs showed up to mark the occasion, including Ellen Page, Andy Samberg, David Arquette (dressed in tribute to the bubbly bow-tie aficionado), Marisa Tomei, Thomas Jane and ‘SNL’ Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers.

[CLICK HERE for an opening-night photo gallery.]

After familiar faces including Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis and Jambi the Genie were trotted out, a post-party crowd sipped cocktails above the complex while Reubens greeted old friends and new supporters such as David Hasselhoff with daughter Hayley, ‘The West Wing’ star Allison Janney, comedian Drew Carey, and original ‘90210’ heartthrob Luke Perry.

Tomei seemed thrilled by Reubens’ return, chatting with him at length, along with new beau Logan Marshall-Green.

‘We’ve had incredible audiences during our previews, so tonight’s our big opening. I think it’s really ready. I think we’re ready for everybody,’ Reubens told the Insider.

The last incarnation of the character was on ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse,’ which from 1986 to 1990 owned the airwaves and commanded a huge space in popular culture. But after a 1991 arrest for indecent exposure, Reubens shelved Herman until, well, Wednesday night.
The show will run through Feb. 7, and given the star following and a whole new generation unfamiliar with the Pee-wee universe -- it seems another big adventure isn’t far off. Reubens has a completed script for another Herman feature, ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Movie.’

-- Matt Donnelly

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