Pee-Wee Herman: Anarchic Queerness

‘‘Playhouse’’ flouted repressive ideas about sexuality too, in a sly way that still feels fresh. Almost from the moment Reubens became famous, cultural-studies scholars, feminist writers and queer theorists seized upon and celebrated this quality: In 1988 the academic journal Camera Obscura devoted a chunk of its May issue to essays analyzing Pee-wee. In The Village Voice 15 years later, the cultural critic Richard Goldstein hailed Reubens as an emblem of ‘‘anarchic queerness.’’ One of the greatest achievements of ‘‘Playhouse’’ was that it created a place where desires are not policed, otherness is not demonized, gender roles are juggled and erotic energies attach where they will: Pterri the Pterodactyl ogles Miss Yvonne’s breasts, Conky the robot enjoys a robot-nudie magazine, Pee-wee play-acts a date with Cowboy Curtis. In one ‘‘Playhouse’’ episode, a monster named Roger appears, scaring the Playhouse dwellers; Pee-wee fixes him a snack and strikes up a friendship. In another, Pee-wee loves a fruit salad so much he marries it, ceremony and all. Reubens told me, ‘‘I’ve had so much feedback from people saying, ‘I was so confused as a kid, and your show helped.’"

From a New York Times Magazine profile.

A bit silly he still won't say he's a fag, though.


Which is odd cause Pee Wee's Big Holiday looks pretty gay.


PS Pee-Wee's Big Holiday blah blah blah Netflix.

Randal Kleiser: The Penis Chronicles

The subtitle is “Every Man’s Journey.” There’s a song for the play that opens and closes it and the lyrics are “every man’s journey begins with a cry” and then “every man’s journey ends with a sigh,” which is when you die. We have characters ranging from a 16-year-old who’s being teased in the showers at the gym because he hasn’t gone through puberty and has a tiny dick and is using a penis pump to try to grow up. There’s a farm boy alone on the farm coming out and revealing how hard it is. There’s a guy who got HIV from his girlfriend and a male prostitute who was a Wall Street banker who decided it was more interesting to do that work. There’s a drag queen who uses money from tricks to send her little brother to summer camp. There’s just all kinds of drama and interesting stuff. There’s a thread running through it. They’re all connected in some way...

Randal Kleiser interview on Queerty.

Wish they'd do more of this sort of thing, and less pink fluff.

The legendary Randy has directed the play The Penis Chronicles on West Hollywood.

He also directed three of Fagburn's favourite films; Grease, Blue Lagoon and Pee-Wee's Big Top. 

Here he talks about their appeal to gay men - though tbh, I can't see it myself. 

Thought For The Day: Peter Robinson

It's very easy to sit at a desk criticising charitable acts. It's also easy to bake a potato; that doesn't mean it's wrong.

Peter Robinson, Lost In Showbiz, The Guardian; Ice bucket challenge: a celebrity wet T-shirt contest that has nothing to do with charity.



PS That might be it from me today.