This morning My Special Man Friend ("MSMF") was reading an article about Pee-wee Herman and the 35th anniversary of the 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure. I was never much of a fan of Paul Reuben's show, Pee-wee's Playhouse and don't own any of his movies on DVD. Oddly a few years back I went to a Pee-wee Herman art event in Los Angeles and commissioned an artist to do a small Large Marge piece. I love it.
As I said I'm not big on the film, otherwise I'd own it, but I enjoy the silliness at times and of course love the Large Marge part. It's so ridiculous. Sadly when MSMF mentioned the article was about Pee-wee Herman the first thing that came out of my mouth was, "didn't he get arrested for exposing himself or indecent exposure or something like that?" Of course MSMF responded with a "baby!" But I mean, what? Didn't he though?
The question MSMF had for me in return is a good one and that was, should someone like Reuben be forever plagued by one mistake? On the one hand I think to myself, of course not. On the other I think, well, he was a fucking kids tv and movie personality. What the hell was he thinking going to an adult theater to begin with let alone fondling himself and getting slapped with an indecent exposure arrest? It's also not the only incident involving Reuben and an adult theater or being found in possession of erotic collectibles, some of which were of young men. While I don't agree with celebrities or anyone in the social limelight being hounded and required to live up to the expectations of every fan or viewer, where is the separation? When is it okay to have a public life as well as a private life? Or is it?
Sadly it seems for most celebrities that once a certain level of exposure or success is achieved their life is no longer their own. And that goes for their thoughts, words, and deeds. There's a constant level of scrutiny and an expectation of angelic, better-than-you-or-I-am mentality. I can be a total piece of shit human but my kid's role model better not be. What the all too frequent media frenzies just go to prove is that people of power or influence, on the field or in the studio, are just as fucking normal and stupid as the rest of us. They cheat on their spouses, they gamble, get arrested, do drugs, and/or turn into power hungry ego maniacs. The recent Ellen DeGeneres, is she or isn't she mean debate, is a silly example of what I'm saying. Seriously, are we in high school? Who gives a shit if Ellen isn't nice? It's a shame she isn't but is it really that surprising?
Pee-wee Herman and Paul Reuben turned into overnight pariahs after his arrest in 1991. Though the end of Pee-wee's Playhouse was already planned, many of Reuben's future scheduled projects and events as the wacky character were permanently shelved. It was almost 18 years later before Pee-wee Herman would come back to life. So did the punishment match the crime, as MSMF asked? In Reuben's case, I don't think so. It's unfortunate though it's also a shame that he didn't practice better sense when it came to his actions. Do people just think that they're not going to get caught or that they can just click their fingers and make it all go away? Unfortunately, the later holds the majority truth. Even Reuben's said he'd hold a children's benefit for the sheriff's office if the whole arrest incident 'went away.' That's pretty sketchy.
It's too bad Large Marge wasn't in the theater seat next to Reuben. She could've scared him into going home and finishing himself off in privacy.
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