His hyperkinetic nerdiness was irresistible to millions of children. Pee-wee Herman was a grownup version of little brother: winsome, goofy, capable of saying dumb things and beatifically happy with the panorama of this world. When Pee-wee talked to inanimate objects, like chairs, they talked back, which, as everyone under 10 knows, is just what they are supposed to do. This man-boy with the tight suit, googly eyes and lipsticked mouth was not every parent's cup of tea: add a leer and the little guy could pass for the emcee of a Berlin nightclub, circa 1935. But few had any qualms about...
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