I know you are, but what am I? The return of Pee Wee Herman

[Snowflake]

A friend sent me this, I do not have Variety, so I can't post a link.

Pee-wee Herman will return to the stage in a limited engagement run of "The Pee-wee Herman Show," starring Paul Reubens, on Nov. 8 at Hollywood's Music Box at the Fonda Theater.
The latest edition will include many of the original cast and crew. While reimagined, show will still be about a wish and include such characters as Miss Yvonne, Mailman Mike, Cowboy Curtis and Jambi the Genie, as well as Pee-wee's talking chair Chairry, Pterri the pterodactyl, robot Conky, Magic Screen and Randy.

"It's time," Reubens said in a statement. "My Pee-wee suit and red bow tie are at the ready -- and this is proof that white shoes are cool past Labor Day."

The original "Pee-wee Herman Show" bowed at the Groundlings in 1980 and was taped for an HBO special. Further TV appearances and a 22-city tour followed, as well as CBS' TV show "Pee-wee's Playhouse" plus the Tim Burton-directed movie.

[mousepod]

I am so there.

[Alex]

All praise the magic of make up but still I find the prospect of an approaching-60 Pee-Wee Herman a bit off putting.

[Chernabog]

I'm in. When are tickets on sale?

[innerSpaceman]

When, when, when?? Automatically IN.

[Snowflake]

On sale now!

go here (http://www.pitchengine.com/idpr/peewee-herman-returns-to-the-stage-/21198/)

[innerSpaceman]

Um, someone pick a date within by 1:00 pm, otherwise, I will get a pair for a date I pick and announce it here in the hopes it will work for others as well.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Perhaps a later date would be better than an early one, since he may be a bit rusty? (Yes, I'm considering going...)

[Snowflake]

Well, I am considering this, too. Lead and I shall follow!

[innerSpaceman]

I'm for later in the run.


Weekends will be more difficult to get tickets, but I assume that's the only thing that'll work?

[Snowflake]

I'm for later in the run.


Weekends will be more difficult to get tickets, but I assume that's the only thing that'll work?

no, I have time, so a weeknight will be doable for me.

[innerSpaceman]

I'll check back after lunch (2:00-ish) and see if there's a consensus yet.

[MouseWife]

This is sooo awesome!

I know so many people in my family that would just love to go. Only my younger son doesn't really know too much about Pee-Wee. The older kids, we watched the first movie sooo many times and the show on weekends.

I *hope* I am so there. :snap:

[innerSpaceman]

Do you think weekends will sell out if we leave it till tomorrow?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

WHY DIDN'T YOU PEOPLE TWEET ABOUT THIS! I don't check LoT very often at work.

[Snowflake]

WHY DIDN'T YOU PEOPLE TWEET ABOUT THIS! I don't check LoT very often at work.

Cause I don't tweet LSPE :-(

How about we wait until tomorrow and set up a poll (iSm??) then vote, then get tickies tomorrow?

[innerSpaceman]

Don't iSm me. I'm not a mod and can't revise this thread.


Gee, why am I not a mod anymore? Because of bullsh!t overreaction to a little joke.

But I'm not bitter. I just play one on TV when the subject is broached.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

This is sooo awesome!

I know so many people in my family that would just love to go. Only my younger son doesn't really know too much about Pee-Wee. The older kids, we watched the first movie sooo many times and the show on weekends.

I *hope* I am so there. :snap:Pee Wee's stage show was always much more adult than his movie and TV presence. Not sure what he's up to now, but also not sure how young the audience should be...

[Alex]

Were any of his shows not adult? I thought they all were (including the TV show and movies) targeted at stoners. Wasn't the great brilliance of Pee Wee Herman in his complete whooshing of un-ironic America?

[Ghoulish Delight]

The TV and movies were definitely G/PG, with the very occasional VERY obtuse PG-13 wink at the audience. His stage show, on the other hand, was downright blue.

[MouseWife]

Pee Wee's stage show was always much more adult than his movie and TV presence. Not sure what he's up to now, but also not sure how young the audience should be...

LOL Oh yeah, he was racy at times. Remember the first time we saw him was in a Cheech and Chong movie.

Well, we did let the kids watch him waaaaaaay back when. Now, they are pretty grown up. The 15 year old.....well....maybe he should try and get the jokes? :D I'd definitely be up for a question and answer time after. Ha, I'd probably be the one being enlightened, eh?

I never saw a stage show. Just the movies and the t.v. shows. We still quote him a lot. Just like Ahnold from the Terminator. Just...can't....stop....

Did you say stoners?

[mousepod]

$68.50 a pop for the front balcony and orchestra! I think I'll pick up a pair in person and avoid the ticketmaster charges.

[innerSpaceman]

Don't know about the rest of you kids, but since Pee Wee's Playhouse was a staple of our morning routine after being up all night on LSD, I can assure you the show was completely targeted at the druggies. ;)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

As GD says, there's a difference between the druggie allure of children's television shows and the sexual content of his old stage shows.

[Alex]

Oh, sure. I didn't mean to say that there was anything "adult" about the TV show and movies in the sense of sexual content or even adult themes.

I just don't think they were making them for children. If kids were entertained as well, then that was a good byproduct.

Personally, when I was a kid I didn't care for his show. It wasn't until I was well into my teens that it started to click (and I wasn't even using drugs to enhance it). Never did like the movies much, though (haven't seen them since living in the dorm, though, when screenings were always accompanied by a very thick...intoxicating haze that kept me away so it may be negative associations).

[Ghoulish Delight]

Whereas I liked it as a kid but found it kinda juvenile through most of my teen years, only appreciating it for its sentimental value, though that might be attributed to the fact that I watched it so much that I knew every episode by heart.

[blueerica]

Mecca-lecca-high-mecca-hiney-ho...

[lashbear]

I just had to watch the Breakfast scene from Pee wee's Big Adventure. Love that music.

[innerSpaceman]

Danny Elfman's first score. Rarely been as brilliant (though it was derivative). Tim Burton's first movie. Both were launched on quite the ride (often together).





On the other hand ... it wa the end of the Pee Wee train. Next movie sucked. The Orlando Mastabatorium was just the icing on the cake left in the rain.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

On the other hand ... it wa the end of the Pee Wee train. The TV show came after the movie, which was a pretty big deal for my generation. Saw the movie once as a kid but saw the show every week...

[Ghoulish Delight]

Danny Elfman's first score.
Well, there was Forbidden Zone.

[blueerica]

The TV show came after the movie, which was a pretty big deal for my generation. Saw the movie once as a kid but saw the show every week...

Oh my gosh, I must have watched that movie close to 60 times in my life, most of it when I was a kid. I thought it was the greatest. It's pretty much the reason I was pee-my-pants stoked to go see it at the Cemetery, and even more excited to see much of the remaining cast reunited on stage.

I, too, watched the show every Saturday... loved Phil Hartman... loved it all!!!

Ugh, is it on DVD or Blu-Ray? Must find out.

Oh, and I'm totally jealous that he'll be on stage. I've always wanted to see his stage act.

[katiesue]

Since I'm pretty much stuck with weekends, and Saturday being more convenient, I jumped the gun and got Tix for Saturday, November 28th at 7 PM. Anyone else in?

[innerSpaceman]

I wish I had the time to go into Hollywood during box office hours.

As it is, thru the ticketbastard site, and as I expected, there were only really crappy seats available for Saturday (the 28th).



So, with it seeming to me like availability is fading fast, I decided to pursue an "every man for himself" policy. Sorry.


Weeknights are crappy for me, so I opted for a compromise Friday night, November 27, at 10:00 pm.


Pretty decent seats, Table 22, with is the 3rd row orchestra, second table in on the stage left side. I mention the specific info because I bought out a table of four, even though I need only 2 tickets. I don't particularly want to roll the dice with strangers ... so if anyone (or 2) are interested in attending that Friday night showing with me and my guest, please let me know.

[mousepod]

We got ours for the 25th (the night before Thanksgiving).

[MouseWife]

I actually don't think I'll be doing this BUT

I loved Pee-Wee's Big Adventure but never got into The Big Top {isn't that what it was?}.

{That all sounds so nice, though...}

[Kevy Baby]

Additional dates through December 19

[CoasterMatt]

The only thing cooler than this show, is seeing Kevy back on the board.

[innerSpaceman]

Bah, just got notice that the shows have been CANCELLED.



Well, kinda rescheduled for dates in January 2010, at a different and much less intimate venue, i.e., the Nokia Theater at L.A. Live south of Downtown L.A.



I've never been there, but it's a huge auditorium compared with a small theater with nightclub seating. Oh well, if I exchange the tickets, I won't have to buy out a table just so I won't be sitting with strangers ... perhaps I can end up with some $ back. The exchange starts tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., but I haven't decided if I'm going to bother.

[katiesue]

I just got the notice as well. It kind of sucks moving to a bigger venue but I will go anyway. Anyone want to pick a date and maybe we can go the same night? Saturday's are what work for me but I can possibly work out a Friday.

[innerSpaceman]

I could go for that. Although I doubt we could manage seats together, we could still hang out before / after, and maybe grab a fine bit to eat.


Pick a Date! Right now, my calendar's totally free in January.


And remember, anytime you say or type "January," Scream Real Loud!

[katiesue]

January 23?

[innerSpaceman]

ok! (did you scream?)

[katiesue]

Totally - didn't you hear me?

[CoasterMatt]

I screamed. Hopefully, the authorities aren't on their way (again).

[mousepod]

I'm trying to get our tickets exchanged for Jan 16, but I haven't been able to get through the clusterfvck that is Ticketmaster phone lines. So annoying.

[katiesue]

I've been hitting redial for the last 19 minutes. So annoying. They're the ones that changed the venue/dates. You'd think they'd make it easier.

[Snowflake]

That totally sucks. Not only for the PITA in changing your tickets, but because the venue will not be intimate. Obviously good ticket sales have done this, but why not schedule another set of shows????

Bah :(

[innerSpaceman]

Yep, this sucks, plain and simple. I would rather they have just cancelled the show. But to put it in a much less desirable venue and then make it difficult for ticket holders to exchange for that venue just plain sucks.


I'm not going to be redialing all day, so this is likely a no-go for me.







(What really blows is I was giving a pair of the tickets I purchased to an old friend for their 50th birthday Friday, and now I'll have to scramble to come up with some other gift. But ... yes, better this happen BEFORE I gave the gift than after.)

[mousepod]

Just checked the Ticketmaster website... there are multiple shows on the weekend days... and the prices range from $49.50 to $65.00. I think the people who bought tickets for the Fonda are going to be unhappy no matter what.

[katiesue]

cancel, redial, cancel, redial, cancel, redial, cancel, redial, cancel, redial

[mousepod]

Just hit 100 redials.

[katiesue]

I'm in - and yay it's voice recognition voice mail hell.

[katiesue]

someone finally picked up only to transfer me to Customer Service - hello isn't that what I was already on hold for?

I need to leave the office in the next 5 mins. This is rediculious.

[mousepod]

Still trying to get through.

[katiesue]

I have to hang up - I'm already 15 mins late. Hopefully I can get through in a couple of hours.

[innerSpaceman]

I'm gonna try again a little later, too.


This may be naive and wrong of me .... but I tend to put the blame for these type of things on the artist. Not satisfied with the Music Box take and moving to a venue with 8 times the seating. Greed. Fvcking over your fans. I'm pissed at Pee Wee.

And it's as if Paul Reubens is jerking off all over me in a dark Orlando theater.

[katiesue]

Finally got through. 10 mins on hold to get to an operator. Then I'm on with her after she takes my info for almost 10 minutes with "just a minute mam" and typing noises in the background. Then she puts me on hold for another 5 minutes. Finally comes back on. They cancell the previous tickets (minus the $4.50 ticket cancellation free of course, because you need to pay because they moved it) and I got new ones for Jan 16th the 8 PM show. I have no idea if these seats are suckage or not - off to look for a map of the venue.

Really craptacular way to handle this and lovely of them to allow you to pay for it as well.

[mousepod]

I finally got through. There were no floor seats left for the evening of the 16th, so I asked for the 15th. They had seats. They took my credit card number, and as they started processing the order... they hung up on me.

[katiesue]

I "think" we got floor seats. Section 103, Row F, Seats 6 & 7

[Ghoulish Delight]

They fvcking charged you?!?!

[katiesue]

yes - $4.50 cancellation fee on the first set of tickets. Then their usual fees on the re-booking.

[Ghoulish Delight]

That's bloody extortion.

[katiesue]

Totally - not to mention two plus hours entirely wasted on trying to reach them in the first place.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Special place in hell.

ETA: Seriously, in your shoes this is the point I'd start contacting media outlets. Fine, ticketmaster charges for their services. Fine, they charge a lot for their services. But to charge YOU because the venue changed? Now they've created a model where they can drum up some profit by occasionally getting acts to switch venue. They make service charge + cancellation for anyone who cancels, service charge+cancellation+2nd service charge for anyone who exchanges. That's a massive ripoff, I can't believe they get away with it.

[Snowflake]

Special place in hell.

ETA: Seriously, in your shoes this is the point I'd start contacting media outlets. Fine, ticketmaster charges for their services. Fine, they charge a lot for their services. But to charge YOU because the venue changed? Now they've created a model where they can drum up some profit by occasionally getting acts to switch venue. They make service charge + cancellation for anyone who cancels, service charge+cancellation+2nd service charge for anyone who exchanges. That's a massive ripoff, I can't believe they get away with it.

The local ABC affiliate in the Bay Area has a "7 on your side" consumer complaint line, this is totally worth talking to the media about. The reporter/advocate attempts to fix the ripoff for the consumer and causes bad press for the bad merchant/service provider. Do any of the LA/San Diego stations have such a thing. How about the LA Times?

I'm with GD on this, not only a massive ripoff, but a perfect model to continue to do the same, now that they've done it to you, once.

[mousepod]

800+ tickets to 32 "cancelled" shows...

[katiesue]

Hmm how are they going to work this out?

In a statement, Reubens said: "To the fans who already bought tickets, I apologize for the inconvenience of the venue and date changes and am arranging for you to come backstage and say hello!" here (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/10/peewee-herman-moves-to-club-nokia-following-high-ticket-demand.html)

And if you read the comments a ton of people took forever to get through and it looks like a lot of them were told nothing was avaliable.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, not only am I not bothering ... having read here that there might be a cancellation charge, I think I'll simply dispute the charge with my credit card company.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Werd

[BarTopDancer]

What a train wreck!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Remember kids, whenever you hear the words "service charge", scream real loud!

[katiesue]

Just got back from the show. It was great. Club Nokia is really a pretty small venue. Our seats had a bit of an obstructed view so we missed a couple of things but it wasn't bad.

As a "make up" for the ticket fiasco we got to attened what was billed as a meet and greet. What is ended up being was PeeWee coming back on stage and having a little Q&A session. He asked what was good/bad. Told us about what had been cut or changed. I think he was out for about 45 mins to an hour. He came down into the audience for a bit. I guess earlier shows they'd done a line up kind of thing where you could get a quick photo or whatnot. They changed the format and I acutally think I liked it better. Learned all kinds of interesting stuff and it wasn't at all hurrried. PeeWee was very gracious and apologized multiple times for the ticketmaster debacle.

And the show was awesome. Definately worth it.

[BarTopDancer]

Had a blast. Much thanks to KS for kidnapping me. Or more appropriately to Maddie for deciding she had better things to do.

Really like Club Nokia (which is different then the huge Nokia venue) and it's a venue I'd attend concerts at. I'm not sure there is a really bad seat.

I enjoyed the QA format better than the meet-&-greet format. He mentioned the venue change was due to technical capabilities of each venue. It's put on in "play" format.

I don't think it's sold out, so if you can get tickets... DO IT.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

thanks for the report - truly wish we could go.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

As a "make up" for the ticket fiasco we got to attened what was billed as a meet and greet. What is ended up being was PeeWee coming back on stage and having a little Q&A session.Was it "Pee Wee" or Paul Reubens who did the Q&A? (I.e., was he in character?)

[katiesue]

He kind of went back and forth. Depending on the question.

[mousepod]

We went last Friday. I think that the Q&A with Paul Reubens was as exciting as the show (and the show was pretty darn good).

[katiesue]

I definately agree.

[Snowflake]

:cool:
Pee-Wee is heading to the Great White Way (http://news.yahoo.com/s/playbill/20100520/en_playbill/139704)!

[innerSpaceman]

Wow. I guess I can say I saw him when.



(Not the movie deal he was hoping for, but not bad)