Pee-Wee Herman
Starting in 1981, alternative format shows began to be added to the theatre's regular line-up. The first one was "The Pee-Wee Herman Show" created and co-written by Paul Reubens as a showcase for his Pee-Wee Herman character, which he created in Groundlings workshops and revues. Pee-Wee and his friends (played by and co-written by other Groundlings like Phil Hartman, Lynne Marie Stewart, John Paragon, Edie McClurg, and John Moody) started performing Saturday at midnights, after the regular revues. Quickly, the show became a huge LA hit, transferred to The Roxy Theatre on Sunset Blvd, and was filmed for an HBO special. In the following years, Pee Wee became a pop culture icon, spawning films, toys, and a children's television show. An updated revival of that original stage show (with many of the original Groundlings reprising their roles) had a successful run on Broadway in 2011, which was filmed for another HBO Special.
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