A new documentary airing on HBO tonight will serve as the definitive portrait of Paul Reubens and his comedic alter-ego Pee-wee Herman.
“Pee-wee as Himself” was primarily filmed prior to Reubens’ death in July 2023 and includes voice recordings done the day before he passed. The comedian, 70, died following a private battle with cancer. The candid documentary will reportedly show Reubens and director Matt Wolf sparring over creative control, something Reubens wanted more of despite ceding the director’s chair to Wolf.
The doc, a 2025 Sundance Film Festival selection, traces Reubens’ comedic origins as he left his Florida hometown for California, began performing with the storied Groundlings improv group, and created the character he would become known for: Pee-wee Herman. It will also discuss the effects that his 1991 public indecency arrest at a porno movie theater had on his career going forward.
Ultimately, in this set of emotional final interviews, Reubens reflects on his life as a closeted gay man who made the decision to conceal his private life entirely behind the Pee-wee Herman persona.
‘Pee-wee as Himself’ streaming release date:
“Pee-wee as Himself” premieres tonight, May 23, at 8 p.m. ET. The two-part documentary will air back-to-back on HBO linear premium cable channel with the episodes dropping on the Max streaming service at the same time.
How to watch ‘Pee-wee as Himself’:
If you don’t have HBO through traditional cable, you’ll need a Max subscription to watch “Pee-wee as Himself.”
Max, which you can subscribe to via Prime Video, starts at $9.99/month with ads and costs $16.99/month ad-free.
That’s not the only way to subscribe, though. Sling TV is among the best value for money among live tv streaming services, thanks to some great offers. You’ll need Sling’s Blue plan with a Max add-on to watch HBO live. And when you subscribe to Max through Sling, the money-saving never stops! You’ll get 50% off your first month, plus $5 off your bill every month after that.
‘Pee-wee as Himself’ episode guide:
Both parts of “Pee-wee as Himself” will air back-to-back tonight, May 23.
- Part One (8:00-9:40 p.m. ET): “Part one details Reubens’ childhood and desire to be an actor, inspired by such television shows as “Howdy Doody,” “Captain Kangaroo,” and“I Love Lucy.” He finds acceptance at CalArts, where he hones his performance art skills. At the Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings, Reubens creates the alter ego of Pee-wee Herman and puts on a live late-night show that becomes a cult sensation and evolves into a popular tour. The hit 1985 film “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” made him a global sensation. Subsuming himself into the character of Pee-wee, Reubens hides his personal life, and recognizes too late that fame makes for a complicated companion.”
- Part Two (9:40-11:20 p.m. ET): “Reubens’ profile continues to grow with an Emmy®-winning weekly Saturday morning television show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which unabashedly celebrates diversity and nonconformity. The episode explores the casting, production design, and creative process of the show that ran for five seasons. Reubens talks candidly about his fame as a pop culture icon and the lows he endured as he faced rumors, vilification, and the vitriol of the media. Reemerging as a cult figure with cameo roles in films and TV shows, a Broadway revival of his Pee-wee stage show, and a final Pee-wee film, Reubens refuses to have his legacy be defined by media scandals based on false rumors. He shares final words with the public, reinforcing his lifelong dream to bring joy, creativity, and acceptance to everyone.”
‘Pee-wee as Himself’ trailer:
Who will appear in the ‘Pee-wee as Himself’ documentary?
In addition to footage from over 40 hours of interviews and over 1,000 hours of archival material, the following people sat for interviews that will be featured in the documentary: Reubens’ sister Abby Rubenfeld; artists Gary Panter and Wayne White; actors Lynne Stewart, John Moody, Alison Mork, Natasha Lyonne, S. Epatha Merkerson, Laurence Fishburne, Debi Mazar, David Arquette, Laraine Newman, and Cassandra Peterson; and filmmakers Tim Burton and Judd Apatow.
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