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And most delicately and intriguingly, Paul Rubens provides his point of view about things that rarely were discussed by him during his lifetime, from his private life and sexuality to his infamous arrest on charges of public indecency. In covering all this ground, Rubens opens up his pack rat archive of personal photos and home movies.

Director Matt Wolfe interviews other people as well, such as Lorraine Newman, who worked with Rubens in the L.A. improv group The Groundlings, and directors Tim Burton and Judd Apatow, and several actors who appeared in the long-running CBS children's series Pee-Wee's Playhouse, including Lawrence Fishburne, Natasha Lyonne, and Esa-Petha Merkerson.

Director Matt Wolfe interviews other people as well, such as Lorraine Newman, who worked with Rubens in the L.A. improv group The Groundlings, and directors Tim Burton and Judd Apatow, and several actors who appeared in the long-running CBS children's series Pee-Wee's Playhouse, including Lawrence Fishburne, Natasha Lyonne, and Esa-Petha Merkerson.

Director Matt Wolfe interviews other people as well, such as Lorraine Newman, who worked with Rubens in the L.A. improv group The Groundlings, and directors Tim Burton and Judd Apatow, and several actors who appeared in the long-running CBS children's series Pee-Wee's Playhouse, including Lawrence Fishburne, Natasha Lyonne, and Esa-Petha Merkerson.

By the time Rubens took his Pee Wee character to Saturday morning TV in 1986, he says he knew exactly what he wanted to do. And Merkerson says she appreciated it.

By the time Rubens took his Pee Wee character to Saturday morning TV in 1986, he says he knew exactly what he wanted to do. And Merkerson says she appreciated it.

By the time Rubens took his Pee Wee character to Saturday morning TV in 1986, he says he knew exactly what he wanted to do. And Merkerson says she appreciated it.

I just felt right from the get-go, something that I could do that could be very important and very subliminal would be to just make the show very inclusive and not comment on it in any way.

I just felt right from the get-go, something that I could do that could be very important and very subliminal would be to just make the show very inclusive and not comment on it in any way.

I just felt right from the get-go, something that I could do that could be very important and very subliminal would be to just make the show very inclusive and not comment on it in any way.

Captain Kangaroo, Soupy Sales, Howdy Doody. You know, none of those shows did I see myself reflected. So that I had the opportunity to be a part of a show that young black kids would see and go, oh, there's an image of me here. That means a lot to me.

Captain Kangaroo, Soupy Sales, Howdy Doody. You know, none of those shows did I see myself reflected. So that I had the opportunity to be a part of a show that young black kids would see and go, oh, there's an image of me here. That means a lot to me.

Captain Kangaroo, Soupy Sales, Howdy Doody. You know, none of those shows did I see myself reflected. So that I had the opportunity to be a part of a show that young black kids would see and go, oh, there's an image of me here. That means a lot to me.

The Road to Pee Wee's Playhouse, an utterly brilliant TV show, is relayed by Pee Wee's alter ego in bursts of quick but clear developmental insights. The shows he watched as a kid...

The Road to Pee Wee's Playhouse, an utterly brilliant TV show, is relayed by Pee Wee's alter ego in bursts of quick but clear developmental insights. The shows he watched as a kid...

The Road to Pee Wee's Playhouse, an utterly brilliant TV show, is relayed by Pee Wee's alter ego in bursts of quick but clear developmental insights. The shows he watched as a kid...

I was absolutely transformed in such a strong way by so many things in early television. I wanted to jump into my TV and live in that world. My favorite kid shows were absolutely like Howdy Doody, Captain Kangaroo and the Mickey Mouse Club. His inspirations for the name Pee Wee Herman... I had a little harmonica, a little tiny harmonica this big that said Pee Wee on it. And I thought, Pee Wee.

I was absolutely transformed in such a strong way by so many things in early television. I wanted to jump into my TV and live in that world. My favorite kid shows were absolutely like Howdy Doody, Captain Kangaroo and the Mickey Mouse Club. His inspirations for the name Pee Wee Herman... I had a little harmonica, a little tiny harmonica this big that said Pee Wee on it. And I thought, Pee Wee.

I was absolutely transformed in such a strong way by so many things in early television. I wanted to jump into my TV and live in that world. My favorite kid shows were absolutely like Howdy Doody, Captain Kangaroo and the Mickey Mouse Club. His inspirations for the name Pee Wee Herman... I had a little harmonica, a little tiny harmonica this big that said Pee Wee on it. And I thought, Pee Wee.

And I knew this kid when I was little who was like this crazy, like really loud, nutty kid. And his last name was Herman. And I thought Pee-wee Herman sounds so weird. that it sounds real. It just didn't sound like a made-up name at all, like Cary Grant or like Rock Hudson or like a made-up name.