E. Oliver Whitney is a senior editor at ScreenCrush. When not talking Game of Thrones theories or waiting for the next Terrence Malick film, Oliver is probably having an SVU marathon. Oliver was formerly an entertainment editor at Huff Post and has written for Variety, New York magazine, Indiewire, Moviefone, and Backstage.
E. Oliver Whitney
The Queerness of Pee-wee Herman, From the Closet to Netflix’s ‘Big Holiday’
Pee-wee Herman has long existed in a queer space, though one only subliminally alluded to. Paul Reubens’ feminine boyish persona, oscillating between effeminate gay man and asexual man-child, has long played with ideas of gender expression that comment on an underlying queerness. From the drag queen genie Jambi in Playhouse to Pee-wee’s episodes of crossdressing, from his makeup and exaggerated feminine gestures to the fluctuating inflections of his comical voice, Pee-wee has been deconstructing gender and sexuality norms all along while disguising it as campy comedy. Yet Pee-wee never directly acknowledged the queerness of his imaginative universe and even struggled with embracing it, as an early episode of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” shows. In the Season 2 episode “Pee-wee Catches a Cold,” the host reveals the daily secret word as “Out,” and then immediately falls ill, as if weakened by the idea of being out to the world. But after a 28 year absence from the big screen, Pee-Wee is finally coming out.
Jennifer Lawrence Is Not Thrilled In First ‘Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2′ Clip
The first clip from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 has arrived, along with Katniss’ first set of orders. In the new clip, which was released to celebrate the first advanced ticket sales for the film, Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss is grouped into her new squad. Meet the Star Squad, comprised of Katniss, Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Finnick (Sam Claflin) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson).