I saw the "The Pee-wee Herman Show" from 1981, and was shocked at how people laughed wildly at every little thing, when the show itself had very little funny bits to it. It was a huge disappointment, and it seemed as though the people in the crowd were largely high or drunk.
Here, a large portion of the material is the same, from Pee-wee's wish to fly, to his using it on Miss Yvonne and Cowboy Curtis (previously Kaptain Karl but his role is replaced by Cowboy Curtis, as Phil Hartman died. Phil LaMarr fills in place of Laurence Fishburne), and yet somehow it comes off much better, with some of the lame bits being funnier this time around, if not due to slight changes in content, then the method of delivery.
There's lots of surprisingly witty or absurdly brilliant bits, matched with Reubens' expert timing and delivery, makes this a great show, made more fantastic by how old and seemingly dated the characters and setting is, and with the ability of Paul Reubens to update it ever so slightly, while remaining true to its base.
Odd note; IMDb listing has John Moody credited as Mailman Mike. I don't remember if he was in the 1981 version, but... IMDb has John Moody as a black man, and the Mailman Mike here is a white man.
New character Sergio nearly stole the show.
Here, a large portion of the material is the same, from Pee-wee's wish to fly, to his using it on Miss Yvonne and Cowboy Curtis (previously Kaptain Karl but his role is replaced by Cowboy Curtis, as Phil Hartman died. Phil LaMarr fills in place of Laurence Fishburne), and yet somehow it comes off much better, with some of the lame bits being funnier this time around, if not due to slight changes in content, then the method of delivery.
There's lots of surprisingly witty or absurdly brilliant bits, matched with Reubens' expert timing and delivery, makes this a great show, made more fantastic by how old and seemingly dated the characters and setting is, and with the ability of Paul Reubens to update it ever so slightly, while remaining true to its base.
Odd note; IMDb listing has John Moody credited as Mailman Mike. I don't remember if he was in the 1981 version, but... IMDb has John Moody as a black man, and the Mailman Mike here is a white man.
New character Sergio nearly stole the show.