Editing Paul Reubens (section)

==Career==

=== 1977–1979: Comedy beginnings ===
In the 1970s, Reubens began performing at local comedy clubs. Starting in 1977, he made 14 guest appearances on ''[[The Gong Show]]'', four of which involved a boy–girl act he had developed with Charlotte McGinnis entitled ''The Hilarious Betty and Eddie''.<ref name="perplex" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |title=Paul Reubens Remembers Chuck Barris, Appearing on 'The Gong Show,' 'The Dating Game' |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/paul-reubens-chuck-barris-gong-show-dating-game-pee-wee-herman-1202014298/ |access-date=May 2, 2021}}</ref> He soon joined the [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]–based improvisational comedy team [[the Groundlings]]. He remained a troupe member for six years, working with Bob McClurg, [[Edie McClurg]], [[John Paragon]], Susan Barnes, and [[Phil Hartman]]. Hartman and Reubens became friends, and they often wrote and worked together on material.<ref name="reel">{{cite news |last=Wachs |first=Jeffrey |title=In the Playhouse with Paul Reubens |publisher=Reel.com |url=http://www.reel.com/reel.asp?node=features/interviews/reubens |url-status=dead |access-date=November 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050909020703/http://reel.com/reel.asp?node=features%2Finterviews%2Freubens |archive-date=September 9, 2005 }}</ref> In 1980, Reubens had a small part as a waiter in ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]''.

The character of "Pee-wee Herman" originated during a 1978 improvisation exercise with the Groundlings, where Reubens came up with the idea of a man who wanted to be a comic but was so inept at telling jokes that it was obvious to the audience that he would never make it.<ref name="bigger-Hurwitt">{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Hurwitt |work=[[San Francisco Gate]]|title=Much bigger than Pee-wee|date= January 7, 2007|access-date=October 10, 2008|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/07/PKGBUNACBV1.DTL&type=printable }}</ref> Fellow Groundling [[Phil Hartman]] afterwards helped Reubens develop the character while another Groundling, [[John Paragon]], helped write the show.<ref>{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Thompson |publisher=Jam! |title=The jerky guy |date=December 1, 1996 |access-date=October 10, 2008 |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/H/Hartman_Phil/1996/12/01/758979.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711225150/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/H/Hartman_Phil/1996/12/01/758979.html |archive-date=July 11, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Ernst |last=Tucker |work=Deseret News |title=Pee Wee's back on tour, so bring along your toys |date=May 9, 1984 |access-date=October 10, 2008 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LvoOAAAAIBAJ&dq=pee%20wee%20born%20the%20groundlings&pg=4982%2C3813932 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Despite being compared to other famous characters, such as [[Hergé]]'s [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]] and [[Carlo Collodi|Collodi]]'s [[Pinocchio]],<ref name="once future">{{cite news |first=Ruth |last=La Ferla|work=The New York Times|title= The Once and future Pee-wee|date=May 20, 2007 |access-date=October 6, 2008|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/fashion/20peewee.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all }}</ref><ref name="limelight">{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Lloyd |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |title=Pee-wee's back in the limelight |date=July 10, 2006 |access-date=October 11, 2008|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-10-et-peewee-story.html }}</ref> Reubens said that there was no specific source for "Pee-wee" other than a collection of ideas. Pee-wee's voice originated in 1970 when Reubens appeared in a production of ''[[Life with Father]]'', where he was cast as one of the most obnoxious characters in the play. For this role, Reubens adopted a cartoon-like way of speaking, which became Pee-wee's voice.<ref name="local boy">{{cite news |first= Hal|last=Lipper |work=St. Petersburg Times|title= Local boy makes good|date= November 25, 1985|access-date=October 6, 2008|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6d4MAAAAIBAJ&dq=milton%20rubenfeld&pg=5141%2C2412998}} {{Dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="playhouse again">{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Cuprisin |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |title=Pee-wee's back in the playhouse again |date=July 13, 2006 |access-date=October 10, 2008|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=466899 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Pee-wee's first name came from a one-inch Pee Wee brand [[harmonica]] Reubens had as a child, and the surname Herman was the last name of an energetic boy Reubens knew from his youth.<ref name="vanityfair">{{cite magazine|url=http://peeweestory.tripod.com/article/vf091999.html|title=The Pee-wee Herman Story|magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|first1=Bruce|last1=Handy|date=September 1999|access-date=February 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314153055/http://peeweestory.tripod.com/article/vf091999.html|archive-date=March 14, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="playhouse again" /> The original small, gray suit Pee-wee wore had been handmade for Groundlings Director and Founder [[Gary Austin]], who passed it on to Reubens. The origin of the red tie is less clear, as Reubens claimed that "someone" handed him the "little kid bow tie" before a performance.<ref name="small">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|title=Pee-wee's Small Adventure|date=July 13, 2006|access-date=October 6, 2008|url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1213754,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718132944/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1213754,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2006}}</ref><ref name="twenty">{{cite magazine |first=Brian M. |last=Raftery |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |title=Pee-wee Turns 20 |page=1 |date=September 1, 2006 |access-date=October 6, 2008 |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2006/09/01/pee-wees-playhouse-turns-20 |archive-date=August 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828180256/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1515978,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 1981–1984: ''The Pee-wee Herman Show'' ===
{{main|The Pee-wee Herman Show}}

[[File:Paul Reubens 1984.jpg|thumb|upright|Reubens exploring [[Melrose Avenue]] in Los Angeles (1984)]]
Reubens auditioned for the ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' 1980–1981 season on the same day as comedian [[Gilbert Gottfried]]. Reubens told ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' hiring both was not an option because they were "the same type of performer", and he knew immediately Gottfried would get the job.<ref name="twenty" /> He also told the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' he believed that "the fix was in" because Gottfried was friends with one of the producers. Reubens was so angry and bitter that he decided he would borrow money and start his own show in Los Angeles using the character he had been developing during the previous few years, "[[Pee-wee Herman]]".<ref name="happy">{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Hartlaub |work=San Francisco Gate |title=Pee-wee may be heading back to his Playhouse. But for now, he's happy to be Paul Reubens. |date=January 24, 2007 |access-date=October 11, 2008 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article/article?f=/c/a/2007/01/24/PEEWEE.TMP |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209000602/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article/article?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F01%2F24%2FPEEWEE.TMP |url-status=dead }}</ref>

With the help of other Groundlings like John Paragon, Phil Hartman, and [[Lynne Marie Stewart]], Pee-wee acquired a small group of followers, and Reubens took his show to [[the Roxy Theatre]] where ''[[The Pee-wee Herman Show]]'' ran for five sellout months. He performed midnight shows for adults and weekly matinees for children, later entering the mainstream when [[Home Box Office|HBO]] aired ''The Pee-wee Herman Show'' in 1981 as part of their series ''[[On Location (TV series)|On Location]]''.<ref name="creator speaks" /> Reubens also appeared as Pee-wee in the 1980 film ''[[Cheech & Chong's Next Movie]]''.<ref name="perplex" /> He again appeared in 1981's ''[[Cheech & Chong]]'s [[Nice Dreams]]'';<ref name="BFI" /> the end credits of the film billed him as "Hamburger Dude". Reubens's act had mainly positive reactions and quickly acquired a group of fans, despite being described as "bizarre",<ref name="heart">{{cite news |first=Marylynn |last=Uricchio |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |title=Pee-wee pedals his way into your heart |date=August 9, 1985 }}</ref> and Reubens being described as "the weirdest comedian around".<ref>{{cite news |first=Rick |last=Sherwood |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |title=Today in preview |date=May 17, 1983 |access-date=October 10, 2008 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v00NAAAAIBAJ&dq=pee%20wee%20herman&pg=5827%2C3780669 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Pee-wee was both "corny" and "hip", "retrograde" and "avant-garde".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Rick |last=Sherwood |magazine=Time |title=The Prince of Prepuberty Grows Up |date=August 1, 1988 |access-date=October 10, 2008 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,968038,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511051739/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,968038,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2009 }}</ref>

When Pee-wee's fame started growing, Reubens started to move away from the spotlight, keeping his name under wraps and making all his public appearance and interviews in character while billing Pee-wee as playing himself; Reubens was trying to "get the public to think that that was a real person".<ref name="bigger-Hurwitt" /><ref name="creator speaks">{{cite news |first= Stone|last=Phillips |work= NBC News|title= Pee-wee Herman creator speaks out|date= April 5, 2004|access-date=October 10, 2008|url= https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4653913}}</ref> Later on he would even prefer his parents be known only as Honey Herman and Herman Herman.<ref name="local boy" /> In the early and mid-1980s, Reubens made several guest appearances on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'' as Pee-wee Herman which gave Pee-wee an even bigger following.<ref name="heart" /> During the mid-1980s, Reubens traveled the United States with a whole new ''The Pee-wee Herman Show'', playing at the [[Guthrie Theater]] in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]], [[Caroline's]] in New York City and, in 1984, in front of a full [[Carnegie Hall]].<ref name="reel" />

=== 1985: ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' ===
{{main|Pee-wee's Big Adventure}}
[[File:Pee-Wee Herman (1988).jpg|thumb|upright|Reubens as Pee-wee Herman at the 1988 Academy Awards]]The success of ''[[The Pee-wee Herman Show]]'' prompted [[Warner Bros.]] to hire Reubens to write a script for a full-length Pee-wee Herman film. Reubens's original idea was to do a remake of ''[[Pollyanna (1960 film)|Pollyanna]]'', which Reubens claimed was his favorite film. Halfway through writing the script, Reubens noticed everyone at Warner Bros. had a bike with them, which inspired Reubens to start on a new script with Phil Hartman.<ref>Paul Reubens, [[Tim Burton]], [[audio commentary]], 2000, [[Warner Bros.]]</ref> When Reubens and the producers of ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' saw [[Tim Burton]]'s work on ''[[Vincent (1982 film)|Vincent]]'' (1982) and ''[[Frankenweenie (1984 film)|Frankenweenie]]'' (1984), they chose Burton to be the film's director.<ref>{{cite book | author = Mark Salisbury; [[Tim Burton]] | title = Burton on Burton |page = 42 |publisher = Faber and Faber | year =2006| isbn= 0-571-22926-3 }}</ref> The film tells the story of Pee-wee Herman embarking on nationwide adventure in search of his stolen bicycle. The film went on to gross $40,940,662 domestically, recouping almost six times its $7&nbsp;million budget.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=peeweesbigadventure.htm|title=Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=April 6, 2008}}</ref> At the time of release in 1985, the film received mixed reviews, but ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' developed into a [[cult film]].<ref>Salisbury, Burton, p.50</ref>

=== 1986–1991: ''Pee-wee's Playhouse'' ===
{{main|Pee-wee's Playhouse}}

After seeing the success of ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'', the [[CBS]] network approached Reubens with an ill-received [[cartoon series]] proposal.<ref name="limelight" /> In 1986, CBS agreed to sign Reubens to act, produce, and direct his [[live-action]] children's program, ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]]'', with a budget of $325,000 per episode, the same price as a [[prime-time]] [[sitcom]],<ref name="creator speaks" /> and no creative interference from CBS; although CBS did request a few minor changes throughout the years.<ref name="av" /> After casting actors like [[Laurence Fishburne]] and [[S. Epatha Merkerson]], production began in New York City.<ref name="twenty" /> The opening credits of the show were sung by [[Cyndi Lauper]] (under the pseudonym Ellen Shaw).
''Playhouse'' was designed as an educational yet entertaining and artistic show for children and, despite being greatly influenced by 1950s shows Reubens watched as a child like ''[[The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show]]'', ''[[The Mickey Mouse Club]]'', ''[[Captain Kangaroo]]'', and ''[[Howdy Doody]]'', it quickly acquired a dual audience of kids and grownups.<ref name="once future" /><ref name="playhouse again" /><ref name="small" /> Reubens, always trying to make Pee-wee a positive role model, created a consciously moral show, one that would teach children the [[Golden Rule]].<ref name="small" /> Reubens believed that children liked ''Playhouse'' because it was fast-paced, colorful and "never talked down to them"; while parents liked ''Playhouse'' because it reminded them of the past.<ref name="small" />

In 1986, Reubens (billed as Paul Mall) was the voice of the ship's computer in ''[[Flight of the Navigator]]''. In 1987, Reubens provided the voice for the pilot [[Droid (Star Wars)|droid]] RX-24 a.k.a. Captain "Rex" in [[Star Tours]], a ''[[Star Wars]]''-themed [[motion simulator]] attraction at [[Disneyland]] and [[Disney's Hollywood Studios|Disney-MGM Studios]] at [[Walt Disney World]], and [[Disneyland Paris]].<ref name="perplex" /> He also reprised the role of Pee-wee Herman in cameo appearances in the film ''[[Back to the Beach]]'' and TV show ''[[Sesame Street]]'', the latter of which made a cameo in ''Playhouse''.<ref name="speaking">{{cite magazine |date=August 16, 1991 |title=Speaking Out |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/08/16/speaking-out-pee-wee/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421094851/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,315142,00.html |archive-date=April 21, 2009 |access-date=October 12, 2008 }}</ref>

Right after the success of ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'', Reubens began working with [[Paramount Pictures]] on a sequel entitled ''[[Big Top Pee-wee]]''. Reubens and George McGrath's script was directed by ''[[Grease (film)|Grease]]'' director [[Randal Kleiser]]. The film was not as successful as its predecessor, receiving mild reviews and doing just over one third as well in the box office,<ref>{{cite news|title=Big Top Pee Wee|first=Hal|last=Hinton|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 22, 1988 |access-date=October 13, 2008|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/bigtoppeeweepghinson_a0c8d9.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Big Top Pee-Wee (1988)|first=Caryn|last=James|work=The New York Times|date=July 22, 1988 |access-date=October 13, 2008|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DE1DA103FF931A15754C0A96E948260}}</ref> earning only $15&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Who killed Pee-wee Herman?|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 3, 1991|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/who-killed-pee-wee-241094/|url-access=subscription}}</ref>[[File:PaulReubens as Pee-Wee.png|thumb|Reubens giving an interview in character with [[Valeria Golino]] at the 1988 [[60th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]]]''Pee-wee's Playhouse'' aired from September 13, 1986, until November 10, 1990. Reubens had originally agreed to do two more seasons after the third, and when CBS asked Reubens about the possibility of a sixth season he declined, wanting to take a sabbatical.<ref name="twenty" /> Reubens had been suffering from [[Occupational burnout|burnout]] from playing Pee-wee full-time and had been warning that Pee-wee was temporary and that he had other ideas he would like to work on.<ref name="perplex" /> The parties agreed to end the show after five seasons, which included [[List of Pee-wee's Playhouse episodes|45 episodes]] and a [[Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special|Christmas Special]].<ref>{{cite news|title="Pee-wee's Playhouse" comeback aimed at adults|first=Christopher|last=Short|work=The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|date=July 20, 2006}}</ref> ''Playhouse'' garnered 22 [[Daytime Emmy Award|Emmy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Appelo |first=Tim |date=June 23, 2011 |title=Paul Reubens Reveals Status of Judd Apatow's Forthcoming Pee-wee Herman Movie |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/paul-reubens-reveals-status-judd-205183/ |access-date=August 1, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

=== 1992–2002: Public retreat and comeback ===
After his 1991 arrest (see below), Reubens kept a low profile, dedicating himself to writing and collecting a variety of things, "everything from fake food, to lamps",<ref name="creator speaks" /> although he did do some [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbing]] and took small parts in films such as 1992's ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' and [[Tim Burton]]'s ''[[Batman Returns]]'' (Reubens portrayed the [[Penguin (character)|Penguin]]'s father) and 1996's ''[[Matilda (1996 film)|Matilda]]'' and ''[[Dunston Checks In]]''. In 1993, he voiced the character Lock in another one of Burton's productions, ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michele |date=July 31, 2023 |title=Paul Reubens, Pee-wee Herman, Nightmare Before Christmas actor passes at 70 After Private Bout of Cancer – |url=https://www.themainstreetmouse.com/2023/07/31/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-nightmare-before-christmas-actor-passes-at-70-after-private-bout-of-cancer/ |access-date=August 1, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Pee-wee's Playhouse'' had already ended by the time Reubens was arrested. He cited an overworked crew and a decline in the show's quality in his decision against making a sixth season. The show's popularity and quantity of episodes had allowed for rerun broadcasts, but CBS canceled the reruns on July 29, 1991.<ref name="no contest" /><ref name="bigger-Stein">{{cite magazine |last=Stein |first=Joel |date=April 9, 2001 |title=Bigger Than Pee-wee |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999636-1,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204094217/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999636-1,00.html |archive-date=February 4, 2013 |access-date=October 12, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What Was On TV When Rugrats Started |url=http://www.rugratonline.com/1991tv.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011105094106/http://www.rugratonline.com/1991tv.htm |archive-date=November 5, 2001 |access-date=November 5, 2001 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Stuever |first=Hank |date=October 30, 2005 |title=Question Celebrity |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/25/AR2005102501369_pf.html |access-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref>

During the mid-1990s, Reubens played a recurring role on the TV series ''[[Murphy Brown]]''. The role earned him positive reviews and his only non-Pee-wee [[Primetime Emmy Award|Emmy]] nomination, for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series]]. He appeared six times on the show between 1995 and 1997. Afterward, Reubens began working on an [[NBC]] [[television pilot|pilot]] entitled ''Meet the Muckles'', a show that would be based on ''[[You Can't Take It with You (play)|You Can't Take It with You]]''. The project got stuck in [[development hell]] and was later dropped when Reubens's ideas grew too elaborate and expensive, although [[Philip Rosenthal]] blamed NBC's negative response on Reubens being on a "blacklist".<ref name="vanityfair" />

By 1999, Reubens had given several interviews as himself and made public appearances while promoting the film ''[[Mystery Men]]'', the first being on ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'' that year.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jancee |last=Dunn |work=Time Out New York |title=All Blown Up |date=April 5, 2001 |access-date=October 12, 2008 |url=http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~paulreubens/magazine/allbrownup/paulreubensallbrownup.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510095721/http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~paulreubens/magazine/allbrownup/paulreubensallbrownup.htm |archive-date=May 10, 2009 }}</ref> He also starred in [[Dwight Yoakam]]'s Western ''[[South of Heaven, West of Hell (film)|South of Heaven, West of Hell]]'', portraying a rapist and killer. In 2001, Reubens had his first extended television role since ''Playhouse'', as the host of the short-lived [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[game show]] ''[[You Don't Know Jack (game show)|You Don't Know Jack]]'', based on [[You Don't Know Jack (franchise)|the video game series of the same name]]. It was cancelled after six episodes due to low ratings.<ref>{{cite news |first=Verne |last=Gay |work=[[Newsday]] |title=Do you know Jack? |date=June 21, 2001 |access-date=October 12, 2008 |url=http://www.amarillo.com/stories/062001/ent_knowjack.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604005901/http://amarillo.com/stories/062001/ent_knowjack.shtml |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Reubens played a flamboyant hairdresser turned drug dealer in [[Ted Demme]]'s 2001 drama ''[[Blow (film)|Blow]]'', which starred [[Penélope Cruz]] and [[Johnny Depp]]. His performance was praised and he began receiving scripts for potential film projects.<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Vercammen |title=A long way from Pee-wee Herman |date=April 10, 2001 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=October 12, 2008 |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/10/paul.reubens/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219205048/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/10/paul.reubens/index.html |archive-date=February 19, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="prison">{{cite news |first=Jessica |last=Hundley |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |title=Herman's hermit |date=May 26, 2001 |access-date=October 12, 2008|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/may/26/features | location=London}}</ref>

=== 2004–2008: Cameos and guest appearances ===
Reubens made cameos and guest appearances in numerous projects. He played Rick of the citizen's patrol on the popular [[Comedy Central]] series ''[[Reno 911!]]'', which gained him a small role in the 2007 film ''[[Reno 911!: Miami]]''.<ref name="grown up">{{cite news |first= Shawn|last=Hubler |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|title= Pee-wee's all grown up|date= April 4, 2007|access-date=October 10, 2008|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/199144}}</ref> In 2006, he appeared in the second music video of [[the Raconteurs]]' song "[[Steady, As She Goes]]". The video has the band engaging in a comical [[soapbox car]] race, with Reubens playing the bad guy who sabotages the race.<ref>{{cite news |work= NME|title=Hollywood star guests in new Raconteurs video|date= June 14, 2006|access-date=October 13, 2008|url= https://www.nme.com/news/the-raconteurs/23333}}</ref>

In 2007, Reubens attended his own tribute at the [[SF Sketchfest]], where he talked about his career with [[Ben Fong-Torres]].<ref name="tribute" /> He also signed with NBC to make a pilot on a show called ''Area 57'', a [[Situation comedy|sitcom]] about a passive-aggressive alien,<ref name="grown up" /> but it was not picked up for the 2007–2008 season.<ref>{{cite news|work=Variety|title=NBC pickups|date=January 29, 2007|access-date=October 13, 2008|url=https://variety.com/2007/tv/news/nbc-pickups-1117958301/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912125126/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117958301.html?categoryid=1300&cs=1|archive-date=September 12, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Reubens did, however, appear on the hit NBC series ''[[30 Rock]]'' as an [[Inbreeding|inbred]] Austrian prince, a character [[Tina Fey]] created for him.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sandy|last=Cohen |newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Paul Reubens and Pee-Wee Herman Are Back|date= June 19, 2007|access-date=October 13, 2008|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/19/AR2007061901103.html}}</ref> He also made three guest appearances on [[FX (TV network)|FX]]'s series ''[[Dirt (TV series)|Dirt]]'' playing a washed-up, alcoholic reporter named Chuck Lafoon. This time he was recommended for the role by ''Dirt'' star and close friend [[Courteney Cox]]. Cox's husband, [[David Arquette]], then cast Reubens for his directorial debut, the 2007 film ''[[The Tripper]]''.<ref name="return again" />

In June 2007, Reubens appeared as Pee-wee Herman at the [[Spike TV]]'s [[Guys Choice|Guys Choice Awards]] for the first time since 1992.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 19, 2007 |title="Pee-Wee" Is Back In The Spotlight |work=[[CBS News]] |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pee-wee-is-back-in-the-spotlight/ |access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref>

Reubens also had small parts dubbing or making cameos in a series of [[Cartoon Network]] projects such as the 2006 television film ''[[Re-Animated]]'', the [[animated cartoon]] series ''[[Chowder (TV series)|Chowder]]'', ''[[Tom Goes to the Mayor]]'', and ''[[Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!]]''.

In 2008, Reubens was slated to appear as homeopathic antidepressant salesman [[List of characters in Pushing Daisies#Alfredo Aldarisio|Alfredo Aldarisio]] in the third episode of ''[[Pushing Daisies]]'', but the role was recast with [[Raúl Esparza]].<ref>{{cite web |website=IGN|title=Pee-wee Pushes Daisies|date= August 22, 2007|access-date=October 13, 2008|url= http://tv.ign.com/articles/814/814612p1.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Ernio |last=Hernandez |work=Playbill |title=Broadway's Esparza Keeps Chenoweth Company on "Pushing Daisies" |date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=October 13, 2008 |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111939.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204104935/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111939.html |archive-date=December 4, 2008 }}</ref> Reubens instead appeared in the role of [[List of characters in Pushing Daisies#Oscar Vibenius|Oscar Vibenius]] in the series' 7th and 9th episodes.

Also, during 2008, Reubens did a [[Public service announcement|PSA]] for Unscrew America, a website that aims to get people to change regular [[light bulbs]] for more energy-efficient ones in the form of [[Compact fluorescent lamp|CFLs]] and [[LED lamp|LED]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Nicole |last=Walter |publisher=Green is Universal |title=Unscrew America |date=February 21, 2008 |access-date=October 13, 2008 |url=http://blogs.nbcuni.com/greenisuniversal/2008/02/unscrew_america.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619170504/http://blogs.nbcuni.com/greenisuniversal/2008/02/unscrew_america.html |archive-date=June 19, 2008 }}</ref> He also appeared in [[Todd Solondz]]'s ''[[Life During Wartime (film)|Life During Wartime]]''.<ref>{{cite news |first= Adam|last=Fogle |work=The Palmetto Scoop|title=Pee-wee's Big SC Adventure|date= April 16, 2008|access-date=October 10, 2008|url= http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2008/04/16/pee-wees-big-sc-adventure/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080522132118/http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2008/04/16/pee-wees-big-sc-adventure/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 22, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Ben|last=Child |work=The Guardian|title=Todd Solondz's Happiness 'sequel' features Pee-wee Herman|date= August 28, 2008|access-date=October 10, 2008|url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2008/aug/28/toddsolondzslatesttobehap | location=London}}</ref>

From 2009 to 2011, Reubens voiced [[Bat-Mite]] in ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]''.<ref>{{cite news |first= Steve|last=Fritz |work=Newsarama|title=Animated Shorts – The Voice of CN's Batman Talks Season 2|date= March 26, 2008|access-date=June 1, 2009|url= http://www.newsarama.com/tv/090326-animated-shorts.html}}</ref>

=== 2009–2023: Revival and later work ===
In January 2009, Reubens hinted that negotiations were under way for his stage show to come back,<ref name="swindle" /> and in August the return of ''The Pee-wee Herman Show'' was announced.<ref>{{cite news | first=David | last=Ng | title=Paul Reubens revives Pee-wee Herman for new stage show | date=August 11, 2009 | work =Los Angeles Times | url =http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/08/paul-reubens-revives-peewee-herman-for-new-stage-show.html | access-date = August 12, 2009 }}</ref> Reubens said he felt Pee-wee calling, "I just got up one day and felt like I'm gonna come back, that was it."<ref>{{cite news | title=Paul Reubens revives Pee-wee Herman for new stage show | date=December 10, 2009 | publisher=[[Access Hollywood]]| url =http://www.accesshollywood.com/the-twilight-saga/pee-wee-herman-taylor-lautners-playing-me-in-the-movie_articletab_26506 | access-date = December 11, 2009 }}</ref> The show is also a way to "introduce Pee-wee to the new generation that didn't know about it", preparing the way for Reubens's main project, the ''Playhouse'' film.<ref>{{cite news | first=Mike | last=Cidoni | title=Pee-wee Herman's big comeback | date=December 12, 2009 | agency=Associated Press | url =https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gm5-WLoBPq8xv2s7oJUB6wyxey8AD9CH5E280 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20091217034816/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gm5-WLoBPq8xv2s7oJUB6wyxey8AD9CH5E280 | url-status =dead | archive-date =December 17, 2009 | access-date = December 12, 2009 }}</ref> Before this comeback, Reubens's present age and shape had been pointed out as a possible issue, since Pee-wee's slim figure and clean skin have been one of his trademarks. But after appearing for the first time since 1992 as Pee-wee at Spike TV's 2007 Guys Choice Awards, Reubens had remained optimistic and had jokingly said he's no longer nervous about being young Pee-wee again thanks to digital retouching.<ref name="twenty" />

[[File:SXSW 2016 - John Lee, Judd Apatow, Paul Reubens and Ted Sarandos (25778520661).jpg|thumb|[[John Lee (producer)|John Lee]], [[Judd Apatow]], Reubens and [[Ted Sarandos]] at the premiere of ''[[Pee-wee's Big Holiday]]'' in 2016]]
The show was originally scheduled to begin November 8 and continue until the 29th at [[The Fonda Theatre|the Music Box Theatre]] in Hollywood. Due to high demand, the show moved to [[The Novo by Microsoft|Club Nokia]] at LA Live and was scheduled to run between January 12 and February 7, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |first= David|last=Ng |work=Los Angeles Times|title=Pee-wee Herman moves to Club Nokia, pushes back show dates|date= October 6, 2009|access-date=December 11, 2009|url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/10/peewee-herman-moves-to-club-nokia-following-high-ticket-demand.html}}</ref> To promote the show, Reubens once again gave interviews in character, appearing as a guest on ''[[The Jay Leno Show]]'', ''[[The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien]]'' (as well as O'Brien's subsequent [[The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour|Legally Prohibited Tour]]), and ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'', among others. A [[Twitter]] account, a [[Facebook]] account, and a new website were made for Pee-wee after the show changed venues.<ref>{{cite news |first= John|last=Adams |work=NBC Los Angeles|title=Pee-wee Herman makes Los Angeles his new playhouse|date= December 7, 2009|access-date=December 11, 2009|url= http://www.nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/television/Pee-wee-Herman-to-Headline-Nokia-78637357.html}}</ref>

On November 11, 2010, the show relocated to New York City for a limited run at the [[Stephen Sondheim Theatre]], selling over $3&nbsp;million in advance tickets.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The New York Times| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/theater/31peewee.html | title=Candy-Colored Bow-Tied Redemption |access-date= October 28, 2010 | date = October 28, 2010 | first = Dave | last = Itzkoff }}</ref> An extra performance was taped for the [[HBO]] network on January 6, 2011, and debuted March 19.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Playbill |url=http://www.playbill.com/playblog/2011/01/pee-wee-herman-show-tapes-for-hbo-jan-6/ |title='Pee-wee Herman Show' Tapes for HBO Jan. 6 |access-date=March 30, 2011 |date=January 6, 2011 |first=Thomas |last=Peter |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314124250/http://www.playbill.com/playblog/2011/01/pee-wee-herman-show-tapes-for-hbo-jan-6/ |archive-date=March 14, 2011 }}</ref>

From 2012 to 2013, Reubens contributed his voice talents to the animated series ''[[Tron: Uprising]]'' as Pavel.<ref>{{cite web |title=TRON: Uprising Coming to Disney XD in 2012 |date=November 6, 2010 |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=71470 |publisher=ComingSoon.net |access-date=January 11, 2011 |archive-date=December 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224104010/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=71470 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2014, Reubens appeared in [[TV on the Radio]]'s music video for "[[Happy Idiot]]".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Minkser|first1=Evan|title=TV on the Radio's "Happy Idiot" Video Stars Paul Reubens (aka Pee-wee Herman) and Karen Gillan|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/56905-tv-on-the-radios-happy-idiot-video-stars-paul-reubens-aka-pee-wee-herman-and-karen-gillan/|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=September 30, 2014|access-date=April 14, 2017}}</ref>

In February 2015, [[Netflix]] acquired the rights to produce a new Pee-wee film entitled ''[[Pee-wee's Big Holiday]]'' with Reubens and [[Judd Apatow]] producing the film, [[John Lee (producer)|John Lee]] directing, and Reubens and [[Paul Rust]] writing the screenplay. The film released on March 18, 2016, on [[Netflix]] to positive reception.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pee_wees_big_holiday/|title=Pee-wee's Big Holiday|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=March 18, 2016|access-date=March 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Evers|first1=Joris|title=Why You'll See Some High Profile Movies Leave Netflix US Next Month|url=http://blog.netflix.com/2015/08/why-youll-see-some-high-profile-movies.html|access-date=August 31, 2015|publisher=[[Netflix]]|date=August 30, 2015|archive-date=September 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901033918/http://blog.netflix.com/2015/08/why-youll-see-some-high-profile-movies.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/pee-wees-big-holiday-sets-netflix-premiere-date-video/|title=Pee-Wee's Big Holiday' Gets Netflix Premiere Date|publisher=[[TheWrap.com]]|first=Joe|last=Otterson|date=January 19, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2016}}</ref>

Reubens went on to reprise his role as pilot droid Rex in [[Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge]], a ''Star Wars''-themed land that opened at [[Disneyland]] and [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] at [[Walt Disney World]] in 2019. Reubens previously portrayed the character in the original [[Star Tours]] attraction in 1987 and ''[[Star Wars Rebels]]'' in 2014. In Galaxy's Edge, the former Star Tours pilot droid RX-24 – "Rex" – has been reprogrammed into DJ R-3X, the house DJ of a bar and restaurant called Oga's Cantina.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/weve-been-to-star-wars-galaxys-edge-and-life-will-never-1832878349|title=We've Been to Star Wars Galaxy's Edge and Life Will Never Be the Same|date=February 28, 2019|publisher=[[io9]]|access-date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=February 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228055048/https://io9.gizmodo.com/weve-been-to-star-wars-galaxys-edge-and-life-will-never-1832878349|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://d23.com/galaxys-edge-announcements/|title=Everything You Need to Know About Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge |date=February 27, 2019|publisher=Disney Parks Blog|access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>

Reubens also voiced Ivor in ''[[Minecraft: Story Mode]]'', which he claimed to be among his favorite voice acting roles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HVEdCYKwOM|title= Minecraft: Story Mode - Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman) Interview|website=[[YouTube]] |date=June 4, 2016|access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref>