Second arrest
Reubens was arrested again in 2002 in connection with an investigation involving child pornography, which coincided with an unrelated child pornography case involving actor Jeffrey Jones. Public news stories concerning his case cast doubt upon the suggestion that Reubens intentionally acquired child pornography, as he stated that he was a collector of "erotic artwork" and that he had a sizable collection of vintage erotica with samples dating back to the 18th century. On March 22, 2004, child pornography charges against him were dropped after he pleaded guilty to a separate "misdemeanor obscenity" charge.
According to NNDB.com, "The DA waited 364 days (one day before the statute of limitations would have run out) and then alleged that some of it was 'child pornography' -- decades-old physique poses, old art photos, and yellowed nudist magazines. Some of the nude photos were of minors -- when the pictures were taken, but most of the models would have been dead of old age before Reubens was born. All of the photos, Reubens maintained, were legal when they were first published. Again, though, he settled. The charges were reduced to 'obscenity', and Reubens pleaded guilty and paid a $100 fine in exchange for probation." [1]
Said Reubens: "Personally, I think we're living in a very scary time. Do we let the legal system decide in a courtroom what's obscene and what's not obscene? I didn't want to be in a situation where there was a possibility I could go to jail... I mean, that just seemed insane to me."
"One thing I want to make very, very clear, I don't want anyone for one second to think that I am titillated by images of children. It's not me. You can say lots of things about me. And you might. The public may think I'm weird. They may think I'm crazy or anything that anyone wants to think about me. That's all fine. As long as one of the things you're not thinking about me is that I'm a pedophile. Because that's not true."
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Current activity
Reubens resides in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, California.
In a 2004 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Reubens said that he was working on a few television and movie ideas, and that Hollywood, he hopes, has not seen the last of Reubens or his alter ego, Pee-wee. Reubens has also stated a strong possibility of a Pee-wee's Playhouse movie on an NPR interview with Terry Gross on December 27, 2004. A third Pee-wee movie was also suggested. Both, said Reubens, are actively being worked on, but no dates or official announcements were made as of this date.
Reubens reprised his role as Lock in the video game The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge.
Reubens directed the second music video version of the Raconteurs song Steady, As She Goes. It showed the band in a comical soapbox car race.
In early June 2006, Cartoon Network began running a promo during its Adult Swim lineup. The promo consisted of a black screen with the text, "Remember This?" displayed, while the beginning of the Pee Wee's Playhouse theme song played in the background. The commercial then faded to the text "Coming July 10 2006." A later press release and many other promos confirmed that the show's 45 original episodes would air on the block Monday to Thursday at 11 P.M.(EST) starting on that date.
In the July 10, 2006 TV Guide, Reubens says that he's delighted that Cartoon Network's Adult Swim will be airing the original series, plus the Christmas Special, and that when he was asked by the network, he said, "Of course!" He feels that the show will be a perfect fit. Also mentioned were the two new Pee-wee feature films, with one being a more "adult-oriented" film, "A 'Valley of the Dolls' Pee-Wee." The other is a movie that delves more into the visitors of the Playhouse, like Miss Yvonne and Cowboy Curtis. Reubens is prepared to don the tight gray suit once again.
On July 11, 2006, Reubens made a rare talk show appearance to promote Pee-wee's Playhouse on The Late Show with David Letterman, and made mention that a script was completed for a Pee-wee's Playhouse Movie which would take the characters from the 80's television show out of the playhouse for the first time and into the real world. In a Time magazine interview, Reubens said production would start early next year for the film.[2]
On July 13, 2006, Reubens made an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. When Conan O'Brien compared a Pee-wee doll to his own Conan action figure, Reubens held the Pee-wee doll and called the Conan figure a "little shrimp" in the Pee-wee voice. Conan later produced a Pee-wee suit and tried to convince Reubens to wear it, though Reubens only tried wearing the pants over the clothes he was already wearing. Reubens then did his famous dance as the Max Weinberg 7 performed "Tequila". Though he ultimately didn't appear in character as Pee-wee Herman, he came significantly closer than any other moment in the nearly 15 years since his last official Pee-wee appearance. He also appeared in VH1's The Best Week Ever on July 14, 2006.
On July 30, 2006, Reubens makes a guest appearence on Reno 911! as an enforcement officer.
