NBC's The Blacklist Season 2 will see the guest appearance of actor Paul Reuben, who is better known for starring in the children's cult-classic ThePee-Wee Herman Show. This time, Reuben is trading in his kid-friendly alter-ego for a more sinister persona.
"We're forgoing the [Pee-Wee] bow tie and the bicycle, and it's going to be something totally different, and it's gonna be awesome," executive producer Jon Bokenkamp said to EW on Friday, Aug. 22. "I'd say he [Reuben] is gonna shake things up a bit when he enters Red's orbit."
Starting from episode 3, Reuben will star as Mr. Vargas the clean-cut mafia henchman who has an eye for every small detail. His job within the organized crime syndicate is to handle delicate matters. Bokenkamp also admitted that he had Reuben in mind during the process of creating Mr. Vargas.
"It started with the character," he explained. "We knew what he would feel like and sound like, and then as we started kicking around names. Paul's name came up as, 'Well, that would be cool. That will never happen, but we might as well ask.'"
With Blacklist returning this fall, NBC has already added a star-studded lineup of new characters to the show. During Comic Con International in late July, the network confirmed that former Weeds star Mary Louise Parker was coming onboard as Naomi Hyland.
On Aug. 14, Blacklist showrunners added yet another familiar face - namely Lee Tergeson who will play Naomi's husband Frank. The actor is better known for his portrayal of Americans villain Andrew Larrick.
Krysten Ritter from Breaking Bad will star as Rowan Mills, a disturbed analyst working for a data security company. She will appear at the start of Season 2. It is not clear whether she will stay on the show beyond the first episode.
The Blacklist Season 2 will premiere on NBC on Monday, Sept. 22 at 10/9c.
