The lines between Paul Reubens and Pee-wee Herman were certainly blurred at times, mostly because an impish sense of humor lived in both, but Pee-wee was very much a childlike version of Paul. Before Pee-wee was brought to his playhouse, he was born where many delightful characters were born: The Groundlings.

The Los Angeles–based improv theater was responsible for incredible comics like Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, and Kristen Wiig, but in 1981, it decided to dip its toes into alternative comedy. When its 'Pee-wee Herman Show' became a huge hit, HBO shot a special that would soon give way to movies and a fever dream of a television show called Pee-wee's Playhouse.

The show ran Saturday mornings on CBS for five seasons, from 1986 to 1990, and also featured a young Hartman and Laurence Fishburne. However, there was also a cast of characters designed to amuse children in their wackiness. From a talking chair to a pterodactyl puppet, back down to a disembodied genie, the series was equal parts acid trip and learning experience. It would eventually earn 15 Emmys.

In March 2020, Paul Reubens was a guest on the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast where we got a peek behind the Pee-wee Herman curtain. It turns out the material that separated Paul from Pee-wee was still thin in some places. For example, every year on Conan's birthday Paul would send steadily send him animated gifs all day long. It's exactly what Pee-wee would do.

What was great about Pee-wee, and of course Paul himself, was the reminder that at any time you can be a kid again. Growing up doesn't mean growing out of the things you loved as a child. It doesn't matter what people think; if you want to put on a bowtie and ride your favorite bike around town then do it. And if someone throws an insult in your general direction because they don't understand the freedom that comes with being this goofy, simply look at them and say, "I know you are, but what am I?"