Okay, so I was watching "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" the other day, and I thought to myself, Pee-wee Herman really makes the world a better place for everyone.
He was a hero to all of us who felt we were different from our peers growing up. He taught us to be tolerant and to be ourselves no matter what. The world may have looked at him like he was crazy or weird at times, but he didn't give a fuck!
Was he the ultimate Queer Icon? Has he become a forever twink or an asexual Hero?
“But what? Everyone I know has a big But...? C'mon, Simone, let's talk about your big 'But'."
- Pee-wee Herman, Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Pee-wee dances and sings. He laughs and cries. At one point in the film, he even crossdresses.
If you aren’t familiar with the scene, it features Pee-wee riding down the road in the passenger seat of a convertible, an escaped convict at the wheel.
When the pair pull up to a road block, Pee-wee puts on a bubbly show for the officer in pretending to be the convict’s girlfriend. He even goes so far as to model his outfit for the cop. There isn’t a hint of shame in his demeanor. The convict gives him elevator eyes as they pull away.
From that point on, I never saw my queerness as a point of shame.
But it is deeper than that. Pee-wee does more than simply break down barriers revolving around sexuality and identity. He shatters the notion of identity altogether.
There is something asexual about his vibe. His persona isn’t really centered around being gay or straight, black or white, male or female, old or young—he is unmistakably himself; purely happy and free.
The bottom line is that social norms don’t apply to Pee-wee. And if they don’t have to apply to him, then why should they apply to me? Thank you PEE-WEE.
“You don't wanna get mixed up with a guy like me. I'm a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
- Pee-wee Herman, Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Pee-wee taught us that it was okay to like the shit you like, and to be cool with the world around you. He isn't just a character—he is a fuckin' life lesson.
He taught us all something important about each other and the world: do what makes you happy and fuck anyone who shits on your life party.
He taught us to accept people who look, sound, and think differently than what we are used to. That being weird isn’t weird at all. Visitations from queer icons like Grace Jones, Elton John, Cher, Little Richard, and Joan Rivers were common on the show. He similarly had no problem hanging out with bikers, strippers, or circus folk.
My definition of growing up changed because of him. I mean…yeah, I still had to get a job and pay my bills, but Pee-wee taught me that it is always ok to laugh and have fun or buy meaningless things like that Pepperoni Pizza backpack.
Put simply, Pee-wee has made sense to me since the moment I first saw him, and since then I have thought, "If he can be himself, then so can I, bitch.”
I wore that bloody shirt, I bought that toy, and I made that crazy film. He is forever young; forever twink.
Anyway, this shout-out goes to Pee-wee Herman. You really taught the world something, whether they knew it or not. That you could be different and still be loved, wanted, and needed. You found your truth just to help us find ours. Thanks Pee-wee, you are the shit! You being you helped us all to be us. You are an asexual global treasure, bitch!
“I know you are, but what am I? Infinity!”
- Pee-wee Herman, Pee-wee's Big Adventure
I did, however, just think—who does Pee-wee fuck? Does he do crazy shit in the bedroom with bicycle horns in his partner’s faces? Does he have life size human dildos? Does he do that crazy ass laugh when he shoots? Does he say, "I know you are, but what am I?" as he is fucking his partners? Does it even matter?
Shit just got weirder or hotter, I don't know. And yeah…I know he (Paul Reubens) jerked off in a porn movie theater. But so what? Who cares?
That’s like saying he went to a candy store to buy candy. That’s what they were there for.
If anything, I thought he was cooler because he was in that porn theater. When I heard the news, I was like, oh shit—he nasty! I wonder what Porno he was watching! I hope a video surfaces one day.
Pee-wee’s new movie “Pee-wee's Big Holiday” was just released on Friday, March 18th! We are excited as fuckkkkkkkk!
It looks like it will be a lot of weird-ass fun. I hope kids watch it today and then learn the same shit we did from Pee-wee. Like how to be a Forever Twink.
The film is directed by John Lee, who has also directed a lot of shows for Adult Swim (The Heart, She Holler, Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter, Delocated, Xavier: Renegade Angel). So this movie has some funny street cred, bitch. It’s not as boot leg as you think
Other movies and TV shows Paul Reubens is in:
The Blues Bothers
Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie
227
Back to the Beach
Batman Returns
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Matilda
Murphy Brown
Doctor Dolittle
Mystery Men
Blow
Tim and Eric
Adventure Time
Robot Chicken
Portlandia
The Blacklist
Gotham
Eddie Ray works in Production at Adult Swim. He writes and directs films, movie reviews and loves Halloween. You might also know him as the voice and writer of Sparkle Hooves.