Pee-wee Herman — Comedian Amanda Marks

You Were a Weird Child of the 80's When... / July 6, 2016 by Amanda Marks

Spoiler Alert: I'm the weird child

You considered Pee-wee Herman a teen heartthrob.

You sent ALF fan mail.

You thought everyone else had a foil ball collection just like Pee-wee Herman...and you.

Your game of house got really heated when you found out your best friend's pretend dad worked for Crest and yours worked for Colgate.

Your game of house got really heated when you found out your best friend's pretend boyfriend was Pee-wee Herman, when he was already your pretend husband.

The outfit you wore for our brother's bar mitzvah was Pee-wee chique.

You wrote a list about being a weird child of the 80s and most of it was about Pee-wee Herman.

Follow me on li.st/mallofamanda

Pee-wee is the Mother of Invention / February 3, 2015 by Amanda Marks

There are a few things I've been known for throughout my life: My Jew-fro, being a Beastie Boys fanatic and my ability to watch TV in bulk. But evidently, I have a group of childhood friends who'd add liking Pee-wee Herman to the mix. It was 1986, when Pee-wee's Playhouse premiered. The show was the impetus for my humor and a career in kids' television. Almost 30 years later, it still remains one of my top ten favorite shows.

I was thrilled when Pee-wee's Playhouse became available on Netflix, so I could introduce it to my kids. And as I watched the pilot with them, I had a revelation just how before the times Paul Reuben was. You often hear how science fiction inspired inventions, but Pee-wee should get credit for 'seen it here first.' The following characters and Pee-wee moments perhaps also have a hand in inspiring the technology and terminology we use today.