Punky Brewster

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Punky Brewster
Cast of "Punky Brewster", starting from the bottom-right going counter-clockwise: Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster), Casey Ellison (Allen Anderson), George Gaynes (Henry Warnimont), Susie Garrett (Betty Johnson), Cherie Johnson (Cherie Johnson), Brandon (Brandon, the Wonder Dog), and (center) Ami Foster (Margeaux Kramer)
Format	Situation Comedy
Run time	approx. 0:24 (per episode)
Creator	David W. Duclon
Starring	Soleil Moon Frye as Punky Brewster George Gaynes as Henry Warnimont Susie Garrett as Betty Johnson Cherie Johnson as Cherie Johnson Ami Foster as Margeaux Kramer Casey Ellison as Allen Anderson Brandon as Brandon, the Wonder Dog T.K. Carter as Michael "Mike" Fulton
Country	USA
Network	NBC
Original run	September 16, 1984 – May 27, 1988
No. of episodes	88

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 stopped airing in 1996.

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 Chicago photographer Henry Warnimont (George Gaynes), 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 with her grandmother Betty Johnson (Susie Garrett). 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 quashed. In the end, however, her schoolteacher and Henry, along with guest star Buzz Aldrin, both tell her that she should still follow her dreams.

It's Punky Brewster!, an animated spin-off 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.

Seasons one and two are currently available on DVD in Region 1.

External link

• Punky Brewster at the Internet Movie Database