Amid the crowded, contentious field for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special one project has emerged as the early favorite: HBO's Pee-wee as Himself, a poignant tribute to Paul Reubens, the ingenious and enigmatic mind behind Pee-wee Herman. Blending an in-depth look at Reubens' personal journey with the offbeat humor and charm that made his iconic character a pop-culture phenomenon, the documentary looks poised to win over Emmy voters.

"He wanted people to believe that Pee-wee Herman was a real person," director Matt Wolf tells Gold Derby. "But on a deeper level, Paul was deeply protective of his privacy and anonymity." Herman became a household name through Tim Burton's debut film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, and the groundbreaking Saturday morning kids' show Pee-wee's Playhouse. But Reu

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