“Pee-wee Herman, the comic creation of actor/writer Paul Reubens, would often toss taunts of the schoolyard into his casual conversation. It was one of the character’s go-to bits.
“”Why don’t you take a picture? It’ll last longer!”
“”That’s my name! Don’t wear it out!”
“And, most iconically,
“”I know you are, but what am I?”
“Of course, when it came to Pee-wee himself, with his tight gray suit, red bow tie, crew cut, rouged cheekbones and ruby-red lips, “What am I?” was the real question – it was the one he posed merely by existing.”
Read more at NPR
