Paul Reubens, the comedian behind Pee-wee Herman, is set to receive a definitive portrait with his new HBO documentary “Pee-wee as Himself”. Filmed before Reubens’ passing in July 2023, the two-part documentary explores his comedic origins and the creation of Pee-wee Herman. The film also delves into the effects of Reubens’ 1991 public indecency arrest on his career.
The documentary features emotional final interviews with Reubens, who reflects on his life as a closeted gay man hiding behind the iconic character. “Pee-wee as Himself” premieres tonight on HBO at 8 p.m. ET and will also be available to stream on Max starting the same time.
Featuring over 40 hours of interviews and 1,000 hours of archival material, the documentary includes appearances from Reubens’ sister Abby Rubenfeld, artists Gary Panter and Wayne White, actors Lynne Stewart, John Moody, and Laurence Fishburne. Filmmakers Tim Burton and Judd Apatow also contribute to the documentary.
Viewers can watch “Pee-wee as Himself” on HBO or through the Max streaming service, which starts at $9.99/month with ads and costs $16.99/month ad-free. Alternatively, subscribers to Sling TV’s Blue plan with a Max add-on will get 50% off their first month and $5 off their bill every month after that.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/05/23/entertainment/hbo-debuts-new-documentary-about-pee-wee-herman-how-to-watch