Punky Brewster
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Punky Brewster was a popular children's television comedy show in the 1980s. The show was run on NBC from 1984 to 1986 and again in first-run syndication from 1987 to 1988. Overall, there were a total of 88 episodes produced. The show had an extended life in reruns until it was cancelled in 1994.
The title character was named after a childhood crush of then-NBC programming chief Brandon Tartikoff. The real-life Punky was tapped to play a teacher in one episode.
Punky Brewster (real first name Penelope), a warm, funny and bright orphan girl, was adopted by photographer Henry Warnimont, an older bachelor who enjoyed the energy Punky's presence provided him. Punky's rambunctious, faithful dog Brandon was named after Tartikoff. Punky quickly became friends with Cherie Johnson (Cherie Johnson), an African-American girl who lived in Henry's building. Her other friends were geeky Allen Anderson (Casey Ellison) and stuck-up rich girl Margeaux Kramer (Ami Foster).
Punky Brewster was played by Soleil Moon Frye. Fred Gwynne auditioned to play Henry, but lost to George Gaynes. Gaynes later became well-known as the elderly, bumbling commandant in the Police Academy movies.
Probably one of the most memorable episodes was built around the 1986 Challenger disaster, in which Punky hears about the deaths and her dreams of being an astronaut are nearly squashed. In the end, however, her schoolteacher and Henry both tell her that she should still follow her dreams.
It's Punky Brewster!, an animated spinoff with the original cast, as well as a hairy bearded magical creature called Glomer, appeared on Saturday mornings from Ruby-Spears in the mid-1980s.
Many children were heavily impressed and even traumatized by the episode "The Perils Of Punky". This is a double episode in which her friends turn into evil demons, and she confronts an evil spirit deep in the heart of a cave.
Seasons one and two are currently available on DVD in Region 1.
External links
- Punky's place; Punky Brewster fan site (http://punkybrewster.television-series.com/press.html)
- PunkyBrewster.net - the definitive Punky Brewster website (http://www.punkybrewster.net)de:Punky Brewster