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Pee-wee as Himself – Season 1, Episode 1 Part One

Play trailer Pee-wee as Himself – Season 1, Episode 1 Part One Aired May 23, 2025 Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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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" makes 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.
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Pee-wee as Himself — Season 1, Episode 1

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Cast & Crew

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Matt Wolf

Director

Matt Wolf

Executive Producer

Josh Safdie

Executive Producer

Benny Safdie

Executive Producer

Ronald Bronstein

Executive Producer

Eli Bush

Executive Producer
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Pee-wee as Himself — Season 1, Episode 1

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Episode Info

Synopsis 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" makes 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.
Director
Matt Wolf
Executive Producer
Matt Wolf, Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Kyle Martin, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 23, 2025