Judd Apatow

The Queerness of Pee-wee Herman, From the Closet to Netflix’s ‘Big Holiday’
The Queerness of Pee-wee Herman, From the Closet to Netflix’s ‘Big Holiday’
The Queerness of Pee-wee Herman, From the Closet to Netflix’s ‘Big Holiday’
Pee-wee Herman has long existed in a queer space, though one only subliminally alluded to. Paul Reubens’ feminine boyish persona, oscillating between effeminate gay man and asexual man-child, has long played with ideas of gender expression that comment on an underlying queerness. From the drag queen genie Jambi in Playhouse to Pee-wee’s episodes of crossdressing, from his makeup and exaggerated feminine gestures to the fluctuating inflections of his comical voice, Pee-wee has been deconstructing gender and sexuality norms all along while disguising it as campy comedy. Yet Pee-wee never directly acknowledged the queerness of his imaginative universe and even struggled with embracing it, as an early episode of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” shows. In the Season 2 episode “Pee-wee Catches a Cold,” the host reveals the daily secret word as “Out,” and then immediately falls ill, as if weakened by the idea of being out to the world. But after a 28 year absence from the big screen, Pee-Wee is finally coming out.
‘Pee-wee’s Big Holiday’ Review: The Secret Word Is ‘Nostalgia’
‘Pee-wee’s Big Holiday’ Review: The Secret Word Is ‘Nostalgia’
‘Pee-wee’s Big Holiday’ Review: The Secret Word Is ‘Nostalgia’
Judd Apatow knows a thing or two about manchildren. He’s built an entire career chronicling the exploits of immature boys straining for maturity against the pull of their juvenile urges. Apatow’s latest producing effort, though, presents an entirely different sort of overgrown kid: Pee-wee Herman, who’s less of an adult with the impulses of a child as a child in the body of an adult...
SXSW 2015 Film Lineup Includes New Films From Will Ferrell, Amy Schumer, Melissa McCarthy and More
SXSW 2015 Film Lineup Includes New Films From Will Ferrell, Amy Schumer, Melissa McCarthy and More
SXSW 2015 Film Lineup Includes New Films From Will Ferrell, Amy Schumer, Melissa McCarthy and More
The dust has barely settled from the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, and already we’ve got a look at the lineup for the 2015 South by Southwest Film Festival. After an initial announcement that included opening night film ‘Brand,’ about comedian Russell Brand,’ things have filled out really nicely with a ton of promising-sounding selections.
‘The Simpsons’ to Produce 20-Year-Old Script By Judd Apatow
‘The Simpsons’ to Produce 20-Year-Old Script By Judd Apatow
‘The Simpsons’ to Produce 20-Year-Old Script By Judd Apatow
Exactly 22 years ago, director Judd Apatow ('This is 40,' 'Knocked Up') wrote a script for 'The Simpsons' that was never used (which is not surprising since, at the time, Apatow had no credits and was still a struggling comedian). But now that Judd Apatow is Judd Apatow, 'The Simpsons' are producing the long lost script, which will air next year.