PEE-WEE’S SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Today’s secret word is “cancer”. A certain rad chap who is far more rap-savvy than I has brought to my attention that Lil Wayne’s “Ball Hard” is a poisoned chalice for its namedrops, with references to Tina Turner, Sinead O’Connor… and Pee-wee Herman. Paul Reubens had been active as a comedian since the 70s, making several guest appearances on The Gong Show before joining LA-based comedy troupe the Groundlings. He struck a friendship with Phil Hartman, and the two funnymen created Reubens’s nasal bowtied manchild alter ego. He unsuccessfully auditioned for Saturday Night Live, but was able to find an audience with popular theatre show The Pee-wee Herman Show that paid homage to kitschy 50s kiddy TV like Howdy Doody.
Pee-wee’s popularity grew from there, and Reubens’s public appearances throughout the 80s were always in character as Pee-wee. He appeared in Cheech & Chong movies and guest starred on Late Night with David Letterman before searching for his stolen bike in cult classic film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Tim Burton’s feature-film directorial debut that solidified Pee-wee’s international stardom. He retooled his adult-geared stage play into the child-friendly TV form of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which retained much of the cast of his play such as fashionista Miss Yvonne and disembodied head wishmaker Jambi the Genie.
The Pee-wee empire came crashing down after Reubens was caught having a wank in a porno theatre in 1991, and further scandal came in 2002 when his colossal collection of vintage erotica, typically purchased in bulk, was discovered to have some CP. Reubens retired Pee-wee for some time, though remained active as an actor with film roles including bit parts in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Batman Returns, and TV turns including an Emmy-nominated recurring spot on Murphy Brown. Pee-wee was revived in the early aughts and had one last film in 2016. Reubens died aged 70 from a private cancer (CANCER!) battle, and was a unique for Song to the Siren.
Paul Reubens
27 August 1952 – 30 July 2023, aged 70
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 + 👻 = 11 POINTS