It seems like such a long time since I’ve seen anything new from Paul Reubens when it comes to his Pee-Wee Herman character other then a rewards show so very long ago when Reubens came out on stage and asked the audience, “Heard any good jokes?” Someone shouted an inaudible joke that was obviously aimed at Reubens then recent legal troubles. “That’s so funny I forgot to laugh,” was his reply. Its his ability to roll with the punches, after all Reubens never really stalled out starring in films like Blow and various Tim Burton films while Pee-Wee was shelved, that makes The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway so much fun. It was great seeing Pee-Wee back.

The show is actually somewhat of a reprisal of Reubens The Pee-Wee Herman Show (1981) as well as his cult favorite kids show Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. Mind you most people will be drawn to this release due to Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, maybe even tempted to bring their kids in for the experience, but this isn’t Pee-Wee’s Playhouse per se. There is a bit of an adult element as well as a surprising political curve that Right Wingers might have an issue with. In any case it does have its nostalgic effect, what with the entire cast of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse on board in some incarnation or other, see Futurama’s Phil LaMarr as Cowboy Curtis (originally played by Laurence Fishburne). Other hilarious elements of the show are the made for TV products that pop up (The Bump It, Sham-Wow, etc), Reubens ability to stretch a joke that might otherwise have been unfunny by any other actor, and some new features from familiar characters in the cast. The show does have its moments of drag but for the most part its transportation for most adults to a happier carefree time in their lives. Definitely worth checking out.

QUALITY:
I’ve watched quite a few live BD recordings and they all often fall victim to the usual suspects. You have to keep in mind that there is going to be some picture quality issues because it’s a live show, lighting is unnatural, and the filming of the feature is unconventional as camera angles and shots will be limited. Still, The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway looks pretty fantastic. There are a few soft looking shots but colors pop, detail is fantastic when characters are in frame (not most wide out shots). It might not be perfect but its one of the better live recordings on Blu-Ray that I’ve seen in awhile. Audio comes at you with a Uncompressed PCM Stereo track that captures the live feel of the show and allows room for dialogue, audience response, and music from the show to play well together without stepping all over one another.

BONUS FEATURES:
The only bonus feature on the disc is an audio commentary track featuring Paul Reubens & Cast!