Gigante Herman

At Club Nokia this week PEE WEE Herman is HUGE.

A sold out crowd of beaming fans jump to their feet to give him a roaring ovation as he steps out onto the stage. IT'S PEE WEE, he hasn't changed! Same skinny little guy in a buzz cut, undersized grey suit, bow tie and white loafers. His fans erupt again in another riotous outburst as he asks them to follow him in the pledge of allegiance. Still more thunderous applause as the curtain parts to reveal the beloved set from a generation ago. It's Pee Wee's Playhouse, the way we remember it! It's all there--Chairry, the jigsaw puzzle red vinyl door, the bent yellow window frame, the singing flowers, the wild pastel and neon colors.


Whoa! The crowd screams with delight as each of their favorites joins Pee Wee. First Cowboy Curtis-- played originally by Lawrence Fishburne --- then Miss Yvonne, Jambi and all the familiar puppets big and small like Chairry, Pterri and Globey. It's a rollicking family reunion with a few stand-ins for those who couldn't make it. Mailman Mike has replaced Reba the Mail Lady and several new characters take a bow, foremost among them being the boricua- dancing electrician Sergio. Sadly, the Captain Carl character-- is noticeably absent--most likely in honor of the late Phil Hartman who played him originally.

There are vintage Pee Wee lines ("I know you are but what am I"), patented Pee Wee moves (his Tequila dance), along with contemporary references.

For the mostly 30-and 40-something Pee Wee fans it is a night rich in nostalgia, hilarity and elation.

Of course V and I would not have attended something like this. Especially not when SPIKE is showing re-runs every night this week of last year's Brock Lesnar-Randy Couture cage match.