"Punky Brewster" (1984) TV series 1984-1988

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Creator:

David W. Duclon
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

16 September 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy

Plot:

Punky Brewster is a show about a girl named Penelope "punky" Brewster. She is abandoned with her dog...

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Child Abandonment | Cult TV | Optimism | Single Parent

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Soleil Moon Frye	...	Penelope 'Punky' Brewster (88 episodes, 1984-1988)
Brandon	...	Brandon the Wonder Dog (88 episodes, 1984-1988)
George Gaynes	...	Henry Warnimont (86 episodes, 1984-1988)
Cherie Johnson	...	Cherie Johnson (85 episodes, 1984-1988)
Susie Garrett	...	Betty Johnson (84 episodes, 1984-1988)
Ami Foster	...	Margeaux Kramer (53 episodes, 1984-1988)

(more)

Series Directed by
Art Dielhenn		(43 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gary Menteer		(16 episodes, 1987-1988)
Deveney Kelly		(9 episodes, 1988)
David W. Duclon		(4 episodes, 1987)
Joanie Rhodes		(4 episodes, 1987)
Jim Cox		(4 episodes, 1988)
Judi Elterman		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Writing credits
David W. Duclon		(16 episodes, 1984-1987)
Deborah Serra		(13 episodes, 1987-1988)
Cheryl Alu		(12 episodes, 1986-1988)
Neil Lebowitz		(10 episodes, 1984-1988)
Rick Hawkins		(10 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jim Evering		(7 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gary Menteer		(5 episodes, 1984-1987)
Liz Sage		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Carmen Finestra		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Mike Marmer		(4 episodes, 1987-1988)
Barry Vigon		(3 episodes, 1985)
Dorothy Van		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Stephanie Mathison		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Paul L. Friedman		(2 episodes, 1987)
Bill Idelson		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Produced by
David W. Duclon	....	executive producer (5 episodes, 1984-1987)
Gary Menteer	....	supervising producer (5 episodes, 1984-1987)
Rick Hawkins	....	producer (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Michael Holt	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1984)
Liz Sage	....	producer (2 episodes, 1984)
Jerry Mayer	....	producer (1 episode, 1987-1988)

Series Original Music by
Rik Howard		(6 episodes, 1984-1985)
Bob Wirth		(6 episodes, 1984-1985)
Shuki Levy		(unknown episodes)
Haim Saban		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Sheila Hall		(11 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Casting by
Susan Bluestein		(1 episode, 1984)

Series Art Direction by
Ken Johnson		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Gene Doucette		(1 episode, 1984)

Series Makeup Department
Lois Kawasaki-Harriman	....	assistant makeup artist (88 episodes, 1984-1988)
Maggie Jackson	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Steve LaPorte	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Louis Lazzara	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
William Cole	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Bill Levitsky	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Joe Ralston	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Jeff Smith	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Arlene Alda	....	still photographer (1 episode, 1984)
John Nance	....	lighting director (1 episode, 1984)

Series Casting Department
Renee Rousselot	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Mike Beltran	....	editor: video tape (1 episode, 1984)
Dick King	....	editor: video tape (1 episode, 1984)
Sheila Hall	....	editor: video tape (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Frank Fitzpatrick	....	supervising music editor (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
Judy Hart-Angelo	....	composer: theme music (6 episodes, 1984-1985)
Gary Portnoy	....	composer: theme music (6 episodes, 1984-1985)
James D. Young	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
R. Ruddell Weatherwax	....	assistant dog trainer (2 episodes, 1988)
Jim Cox	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
Stephanie Elkan	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jim Evering	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
George Falardeau	....	technical manager (unknown episodes)
Carmen Finestra	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Glen Garner	....	animal trainer (unknown episodes)
Jeff Goodman	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Tom Klein	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
Sheila Lauder	....	production associate (unknown episodes)
Neil Lebowitz	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Gordon Morris	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Rick Oxford	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Don Talbot	....	technical manager (unknown episodes)
Joyce Taylor	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Barry Vigon	....	executive script consultant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Coca-Cola Telecommunications (1987-1988)
• Lightkeeper Productions (1984-1986)
• NBC Productions (1984-1986)

Distributors

• Coca-Cola Telecommunications (1987-1988)
• Columbia Pictures Television (1988-1995)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001-2002)
• Columbia TriStar Television (1995-2001)
• NBC Enterprises (TV) (non-USA)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1984-1986) (USA) (TV)
• Shout! Factory (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-) (USA) (TV)
• Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep (VPRO) (1985-1987) (Netherlands) (TV)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (including commercials) (88 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:TV-G | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Metromedia Square - 5746 W. Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Coca-Cola Telecommunications

Trivia:

During the second season, several of the interiors of the set were altered. The beige couch from the first season was replaced with a blue plaid couch. The bathroom and the hallway were altered, and the front door of Henry's apartment was changed as well.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Margeaux Kramer: Peasants!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Space Travellers (#5.1)" (1992)

Punky Power

I remember Punky Brewster, this was another gem that came under the helm of former NBC executive Brandon Tarkitkoff. I'm a guy and I used to watch it religiously as a kid during it's first few years on NBC. No I'm not ashamed to admit that I liked this goofy girl targeted show, hey I was just a little kid myself. Punky Brewster first aired in 1984 (that year of the 80's were everything seemed to happen), regularly clocking in on every Sunday night. And not only did I have a crush on both Solei Moon Frye and Cherie Johnson, but I loved their bright primary color schemed clothes and the non-condescending (to children), informative story lines. The series also perfectly captured the mood and feel of the mid 1980's. You can watch these early episodes and tell it was from that 1984 and 1985 time period. When the father Henry tries to get Punky to go to sleep and tells her something along the lines of, "but I let you stay up to watch Silver Spoons AND Knight Rider!", it will bring warm feelings and a smile to the face of everyone who had a childhood in the 80's. Apparently there was a real Punky Brewster, a childhood friend of Brandon Tartikoff's that made a guest appearance in one episode. Punky's dog was even named "Brandon", which was an in-joke that I somehow understood even as a child.

There was some stupidity here and there, such as one episode where Henry asked Punky's friend Allen for advice on performing CPR on a girl in critical condition. Henry's an adult, so why is he consulting a 7 year old boy for life saving medical advice? Even if he didn't know CPR himself, he could get help instead of relying on a small child. I wouldn't think about stuff like this as a kid, but today it seems more absurd. Like cartoons of the era, the series tried to empower children and give them more weight and wisdom then they would usually have in the real world.

But I have to say I did not like the later years of Punky. Once the show left NBC and went into cheapo syndication, it lost a lot of the magic and charm. The series no longer seemed to be about grumpy old Henry (played wonderfully by George 'Police Academy' Gaynes), and both his and Punky's adjustments to a non-traditional family. Instead all became about Punky, Punky, Punky. When it was on NBC, Punky Brewster was a show that could be watched by most people and of both genders. But the late 80's years had Solei Moon Frye inevitably getting older and lose a lot of her cuteness/innocence. The quality of writing seemed to go down when it was off NBC as well. Punky and the other girls turned into mean spirited, gossiping, boy crazy pre-teens. The kid who played Allen (the only recurring male child) had no room in such a show and was subsequently booted. I really liked Allen too, because I remember that kid being my male eyes into world of Punky.

The show degraded into a primarily chick targeted TV show, which resulted in a heavy loss of it's male audience as well as whatever adult audience it had. I guess they couldn't avoid Solei Moon Frye and the other girls getting older, but I wish more of an attempt was made to keep the series a bit more balanced with the Henry storyline. Still, for anyone that spent most or all their childhood years in the 1980's, Punky Brewster is an important part of pop culture lore for us. High school kids in the 80's had "The Breakfast Club" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", but elementary school aged children had Punky Power.