And it was an awesome role on a show with amazing cult appeal right from the very beginning. I think it was a bold and brilliant career move personally.
And before that, he was on The Gong Show multiple times.
In fact, here is a secret not known to many. That many of the acts were Gong Show employees, and he was one of them. He appeared on the show as a contestant at least 14 times, winning at least twice.
Larry Fishburn was great as Cowboy Curtis. Is it a Oscar award winning performance? No, but he will always be remembered from my childhood tv shows. You are never better than the current job you are working right now. Do your best always, jobs don't last forever.
Pee wee got arrested later on for jerkin it in a porn theater. For minute everything he had touched somehow became perverted. Has nothing to do with the show.
Yeah which wouldn't even bat an eye compared to what people get away with and keep careers going now. Even people in jail. R Kelly still sells great.
There wasn't even a victim in this crime, he was the only one hurt from it.
Also certain he was recognized and the person reporting him was looking for a spotlight.
Wouldn't call on the dozens of other dudes doing the same there.
Yea I mean the damaging part that had no basis in reality at the time was that he was a pedo because he did a kids show and had the like indecent exposure. I loved that show I'd get high and watch it in high school but everyone at the time it happened would literally refer to that show as the pedo guys show. He like kinda got fucked for a bit.
Why would this be shameful? Him as Cowboy Curtis, Phil Hartman as Captain Carl, S. Epatha Merkerson as Reba the Maillady, Natasha Lyonne as one of the Playhouse gang, plus a gaggle of guest appearances from folks like Sandra Bernhard and Jimmy Smits. Plus Cyndi Lauper sang the intro song and Mark Mothersbaugh composed it.
All of this wrapped up into a wildly successful show that appealed to kids, teens, and adults alike, won 15 Emmys, and most people look fondly upon going so far as calling it “genius.”
I dunno, it seemed like everyone was having fun making Peewee’s Playhouse. One of my fav Cowboy Curtis lines “You know what they say about big feet?….Big boots!”
When off my all time favorite movies. It was years before I knew it was a very young lawrence fishburne In the boat. I think it was his first major role
I get that, I'm just saying that most actors don't make it unless they do random cameos or small roles until they get their name out there. He started before that if you really want to be specific.
I loved Pee Wee’s playhouse. I do remember seeing an episode as an adult and shocked that Laurence Fishburne was in it. He’s got nothing to be ashamed of but his character was pretty cheesy.
I thought I saw something that said Fishburne was proud of it later...
I know the guy who does the voice of Hermes for Futurama, Phil LaMarr, stepped in for the live stage revivals of Pee Wee's Playhouse (I think there was something with scheduling that Fishburne couldn't do it), and did a great job...
I’m ☠️. I used to love Pee Wee’s playhouse. I don’t understand why he gets such a bad wrap. He had one incident that didn’t involve anyone else or any kids or anything in a theatre in Florida. Unless I am missing something. I enjoyed the documentary.
Interestingly, Pee Wee's Playhouse used a lot of cutting edge technology. My dad worked in for ABC TV. A lot of the techs would watch the show for the technology they used. It has more behind the screen cred than people think.
He was also in the best nightmare on elmstreet, boys in the hood, and apocalypse now before that shit! He ain't embarrassed of shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiìtttttt, succa!
It was a sleazy adult movie theater that was playing porn, where it wasn’t unexpected for people to jerk off (not that that makes it legal or right). It’s not like he whipped it out in a family establishment playing something like Forest Gump.
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u/LetUsSpeakFreely 15h ago
Why would he feel ashamed? It was a step on his ladder to success.