Do we let the legal system decide in a courtroom what's obscene and what's not obscene? I didn't want be in a situation where there was a possibility I could got to jail for something that's that material.
I mean, that just seemed insane to me. Early on in the investigation, word leaked out that Reubens had possessed home video of teenage boys engaging in sexual acts, but late last year, his attorneys proved that the tape was never part of collection -- the product they believe of a mix-up in the LAPD evidence room. The plea is not without penalty. For the next three years, Reubens must register his address with the sheriff's office and he cannot be in the company of minors without their parents' permission.
That's pretty intense. I mean for someone who loves kids, that's just sad. Ironic is probably too mild a word, you know?
I don't think so. I don't think I've ever led my life in that way, ever. One thing I want to make very, very clear, I don't want anyone for one second to think that I am titillated by images of children. It's not me. You can say lots of things about me. And you might. The public may think I'm weird. They may think I'm crazy or anything that anyone wants to think about me. That's all fine. As long as one of the things you're not thinking about me is that I'm a pedophile.
Because that's not true. Two, it's a little harder. Especially when the allegation involves minors and sex. I'm as guilty as the next person at looking at like, where there's smoke there's fire. Until you've been in a situation where the police come in your house, and look at things that you view as percent innocent, and view them in a completely different way, I don't think you necessarily understand everything to this story.
Today, at age 51, Reubens is pondering his next moves, putting the finishing touches on a script for a new Pee-Wee movie, and wondering just how forgiving or forgetful the American public will be this time around. I'm a big believer in the happy ending. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the s and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In Reubens put up a show about a character he had been developing during the last few years.
Pee-wee became an instant cult figure and for the next decade Reubens would be completely committed to his character, doing all of his public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee. In any case, his Pee-wee character would remain dormant for almost two decades, even if Reubens did not.
The run, which drew positive reviews, had an ulterior motive: Reubens hoped it might help him get another film off the ground. And it did. After seeing the show, Judd Apatow approached Reubens with the possibility of producing a third Pee-wee movie. First Universal Pictures, where the project was set up, passed after several years of development. In it, Pee-wee emerges from prison to become an unlikely yodeling star; then moves to Hollywood and becomes a movie star; then he develops a severe pill and alcohol addiction that turns him into a monster.
Apatow had no interest in making that movie and instead urged Reubens to collaborate on something more in step with the upbeat Big Adventure. Reubens had a hard time making it. He remembers repeatedly clashing with Apatow over how Pee-wee looked on camera. It looks like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? But then Reubens saw what modern-day postproduction de-aging technology could do. Undoubtably he could. But the question remains: even if Paul Reubens achieves that happy ending, will it be the one he wants?
The men in our poll were more likely to forgive and forget than the women, and among people under 30, support for Reubens was especially strong. So it seems possible that Pee-wee may not have to retire that red bow tie after all, but if he should decide to call it quits, he can take heart in the fact that an astounding 96 percent of the American public knows his name.
With that kind of fame and infamy, he can always run for office. The Pee-Wee Herman scandal. Save FB Tweet More. Pee Wee's Playhouse. TV Show. Does He Have a Future? By Mark Harris and Ty Burr.
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