The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway

I've been looking forward to seeing this ever since it was announced that HBO was going to tape the show and sell it on DVD and Blu-ray for the masses who couldn't see it live.It's a quality production and the cast is great. It was nice to see a lot of the original actors resprise their roles (i.e. "Jambi", "Miss Yvonne", and "Mailman Mike")It's just like watching a "live" episode of Pee-Wee's Playhouse (sort of like "the lost episode", if you will).My only real problem with it, is that some of the story elements are cribbed from Pee-Wee's original HBO special from way back in 1981. --> The Pee-Wee Herman Show - Live at the Roxy Theater Sure, there are a some new characters added and the story is tweaked a bit for an updated audience, but the end result is the same as his last stage production... 30 years ago.I expected something different after all that time and all the different stories that were played out on the TV series.That's not to say that this production isn't fun. I was laughing at quite a lot of it (mostly just the new material, though) and I've always enjoyed Pee-Wee, so I don't regret buying this at all.I was just expecting this to be a totally brand new production with a new story.If you are a fan of Pee-Wee and loved watching the Playhouse on Satruday mornings, then I would still recommend getting this.But if you're kind of a passive fan and you've seen the original HBO special he did (that predates the Playhouse), then you might want to see about renting or borrowing this instead of spending money to own it.

This is a interesting releaseyou get the complete Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadwayalong with a commentary with Paul Reubens and the CastThe HD pictures looks amazing but, some close-ups are too close and you see Pee-Wee looking old to say the leastbut, it's a nostalgic trip to a much better time how you swallow the pill that's given to you is entirely up to youI enjoyed it for what it was this isn't a blu-ray you are gonna pop in once a year!It's cool to be able to see this for those who couldn't attend this broadway show on home video (Hopefully The Book of Mormon on Broadway comes to blu ray!)If you are a fan of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure or Pee-wee's Playhouse this show will give you a big smile and bring you bag to a different time and place and that can be priceless................ 9/10

I have always been a Pee Wee fan and even enlightened my own kids to his movies and show. When we read about his Broadway show (and were visiting New York) there was no way we were going to miss him live!! And the show lived up to every one of our high expectations! Yes, the cast is older, but no less wonderful. The show features some current pop-culture, but mostly lets you relive Pee Wee in all his glory. I felt like I was a guest in the Playhouse!I understand this was aired on HBO a few times, but I don't have HBO! :( I am so thrilled that it is being released on DVD/Blu-Ray and you better believe I have pre-ordered!!There is lots of tongue-in-cheek/double entendre stuff here (and Pee Wee's abstinence ring!), but my 11 year old twins laughed the entire time, even if they didn't "get" the jokes the same way we older folks did.Pee Wee fans: this is absolutely not to be missed!

I must admit that as someone who recorded the original Pee Wee Herman Show on Betamax when it played in February 1981 (when I was age 10), and who watched it no less than 100 times, I was a bit partial. This was just as much fun! I was especially happy to see the original Miss Yvonne and Jambi, and how well Paul Reubens has aged. The funniest part is that this is a redux of a 30-year old show which at the time was a throwback to 30 years earlier in the 1950's, yet it's just as entertaining as ever. Featuring much of the original soundtrack (which has aged well), they also added some great new scenes like the dancing chair and singing flowers (the King of Cartoons intro is classic Broadway entertainment and he is larger than life). Cowboy Curtis filled in wonderfully for the late, great Captain Carl (Phil Hartman). This is must-see material for any Pee-Wee fan!

I grew up with Pee Wee. He was an idol of mine, I don't think I would be the same if it wasn't for him. I own every episode of the Playhouse on DVD and his 2 movies, plus the original play that started it all. The only thing I didn't like about it was how the script was changed to make it "dated". The original play could be watched at any time to any generation and it would make sense. The new play brings in the internet and other technologies/jokes that date it to right now, so when I watch this again ten years from now it'll feel dated.

Good movie

Hilarious and nice to see he brought back most of the original actors. We gave copies as Christmas presents.

I love Pee Wee, but the constant cutting makes it unwatchable. I don't think the director held any shot for more than 2 seconds. Completely unnecessary and butchers the show.

Paul Reubens Pee-Wee Herman character goes back to the late 1970s when he was part of The Groundlings comedy troupe (which included John Paragon and Phil Hartman), with possibly the first public appearance being in the 1980 movie "Cheech and Chong's Next Movie" (a role with more than a touch of "Mr Bungle" about it!), followed that year by his popular stage show "The Pee Wee Herman Show" which proved so successful he was eventually given his own movie, "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" and followed by his own Saturday morning TV series "Pee Wee's Playhouse" that toned down the more adult side of "The Pee Wee Herman Show" and introduced a whole bunch of mostly puppet characters to the mix. A hugely successful enterprise, it drew on vintage American kids' TV such as Captain Kangaroo and Howdy Doody but giving it a modern twist, with design coming from a mix of avant garde comic book artists and animators. Pee-Wee seemed to be able to do no wrong until in 1991 five seasons in he (or rather Paul Reubens) was arrested in an adult movie theatre, trial by media followed and Pee-Wee and to a large extent Paul Reubens dropped out of public sight, seemingly for good.So in 2009 when Pee-Wee's return to the stage was touted, our "boy" was getting close to his 60s, a forgotten loner and rebel, could he really give us something of the calibre which we had been used to, or would we see a cheap, sordid cash-in on faded glory? This DVD shows you get neither, this takes the original Pee-Wee and takes it up a notch. Sure Pee-Wee is looking a little older, and there is a split second when Miss Yvonne (the most beautiful woman in Puppetland) comes on, a little plump and comfortably into her 60s, but this is immediately shattered with her glamourous style and flirtatious spiel. Cowboy Curtis has kept his youth thanks to a new actor taking the reins left vacant by the Larry Fishburne and Phil LaMarr plays the role seamlessly. Jambi does not appear to have aged at all as you would probably expect from a genie. Despite his age, Pee-Wee has never shown more energy, and the show has a frenetic pace that leaves younger and fitter members of the audience struggling to keep up.The plot is the same as the original "The Pee-Wee Herman Show" - Pee-Wee wishes to fly, but gives the wish he is granted away so that Miss Yvonne can get Cowboy Curtis to "really like her" (in the original it was Captain Carl played by the late Phil Hartman who was the object of Miss Yvonne's affections, and there are some moments when Cowboy Curtis seems to be channeling Captain Carl, watch out for them ;) ). But this has been merged with the full array of puppet (and human) characters from the Playhouse (as well as a few new ones) fleshing out the action and adding some real substance. What you get is "The Pee-Wee Herman Show" and "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" all in one. The puppetry is particularly slick (at the end you see the cast come back including the puppeteers who outnumber the humans!) especially if you know that most of the voices are played by the human characters who once off set are immediately watching on monitors and providing voiceovers, and there is a new very clever scene when the Playhouse is plunged into darkness and there is plenty of suggestive humour as the characters grope (an aptly chosen word!) around in the darkness! There is so much attention to detail and not a moment goes by where you are not grinning, even on repeated viewings.I can't recommend this highly enough, it is the most entertaining and funny DVD I own and I love it so much I'm thinking of marrying it. If there is one thing I am disappointed about it is the fact that this is a region 1 DVD - if HBO only intend to release it in the US surely it would have been more sensible to make it a region-free DVD?*** Update *** I have upgraded my copy after doing some online research and finding bluray is all region. I get the box in my sweaty little mitts and there it is on the back, regions ABC!!! Very exciting! I put it in and get "this disc will not play in this region". Feel like I have been tricked!!! So the answer is the bluray will not play in Europe unless you have an all-region/region A player.

I purchased this DVD because of the great young actor starring in it... Drew Powell. He is an amazing actor, and person.The show is amazing, the DVD is a must to have in your collection.