For an entire generation, Pee-wee Herman was an integral part of their childhood. The character — created by Paul Reubens — made his big-screen debut in Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure before landing the award-winning Pee-wee’s Playhouse TV series. Now Franchise Detours takes a tour through Pee-wee Herman’s “trilogy” of cinematic adventures.
On this episode, Lauren Carey of the Beer’d Al Podcast joins the show to talk about 1985’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, 1988’s Big Top Pee-wee, and 2016’s Pee-wee’s Big Holiday. We’ll discuss how each film essentially reinvents the character, why the middle chapter might be less beloved, and whether Reubens’ long-awaited return to Pee-wee left us wanting more.