Pee-wee Hail's Recognition of Phil Hartman's Adequate Portrayal in His Show
In a two-part documentary titled "Pee-wee as Himself," director Matt Wolf sheds light on the lesser-known aspects of Paul Reubens' life and career, including the man behind the man-child's rise to prominence – Phil Hartman. Although known for his role as a former Saturday Night Live cast member, Hartman played a pivotal role in the development of the beloved Pee-wee Herman character.
Reubens, a member of the Los Angeles-based comedy troupe The Groundlings, initially conceptualized the character of Pee-wee Herman, a childish aspiring comedian, clad in a gray suit and red bow tie. However, Hartman's collaboration proved instrumental in bringing the character to life, with the two writers penning the 1980 stage play "The Pee-wee Herman Show" together.
In addition to their stage collaboration, Hartman and Reubens worked together on the screenplay for the '80s classic "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and Hartman reprised his role as Captain Carl for the children's program "Pee-wee's Playhouse" during its first season. Despite their successful collaborations, their personal and professional relationship faltered when Hartman joined Saturday Night Live.
The HBO documentary also delves into the complex relationship between the two comedians, with Reubens recounting their estrangement and Hartman's feelings of being cheated out of fair credit and compensation for Pee-wee's Playhouse. However, in the full E! interview with Howard Stern, Hartman admits that he never took legal action against Reubens, citing his admiration for the performer's talent and later expressing regret for their estrangement.
The documentary's depiction of their strained relationship appears to have been edited for dramatic effect, as key moments of reconciliation were omitted following the 1991 arrest of Reubens for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater.
All in all, the HBO documentary sheds light on Hartman's significant role in the development of one of comedy's most unique performers and offers an in-depth exploration of Reubens' career highlights and lows.
Every day, the "daily blend" of entertainment news might cover the fascinating story of Phil Hartman's contribution to Paul Reubens' career, including their collaboration on the iconic character Pee-wee Herman, which was discussed in the recent HBO documentary "Pee-wee as Himself". In the realm of "movies-and-tv", Hartman's estrangement from Reubens and their eventual reconciliation after Reubens' arrest in 1991 have become key topics in the discourse of "pop-culture" and the lives of "celebrities".
