#98: Pee-Wee Herman’s Indecent Exposure

The most surprising thing about Paul Reubens’s 1991 arrest wasn’t what he got busted for — namely, exposing himself in a Florida adult movie theatre — but what he was watching at the time: an XXX film called Nurse Nancy. Huh? Wasn’t Reubens gay? What was next? News that Pee Wee Playhouse’s Chairy was a tranny?

Legally, the incident was no biggie: Reubens pleaded no contest and was fined $135. Professionally, it was a different story. Reubens’s arrest sparked public outrage, since he was known primarily as the host of the kid-friendly Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. And the incident seemingly marked the death-knell for his once-beloved character. The show was immediately yanked from the air, and Pee-Wee Herman dolls were tossed from toy-store shelves.

But a Pee-Wee comeback might be on the horizon. A big-screen version of Playhouse has reportedly been greenlighted by Paramount, with a projected 2009 release. Ruebens’s next stint at a movie theater is bound to go better than his last.