Documentarian Matt Wolf on ‘Pee-wee as Himself’

Episode notes

What’s it like to work with Pee-wee Herman?

You probably know what it’s like to watch Pee-wee – whether it’s Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure or his 2016 Netflix movie. It’s a unique, kind of magical experience. A world where anything can happen – you talk to a chair, or maybe dance and sing with Little Richard.

But what was it like to work with Paul Reubens? The man behind Pee-wee. 

Pee-wee as Himself is a beautiful, touching documentary about one of the most talented and unique voices of our time. He died in 2023. 

In the documentary Paul gets to tell his own story through interviews. It also features conversations with people who worked with him over the years. He was a perfectionist. Working with Paul was complex and could encompass a wide range of emotions. It was exciting, stressful, and at times bizarre. 

We’re joined by filmmaker Matt Wolf. He talks about what made Paul Reubens a dream subject for a documentary and how he got Paul to open up about difficult topics. Plus, Jesse talks about his own experience working with Paul on the Pee-wee Herman Radio Hour for public radio station KCRW.