Punky Brewster

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Template:Infobox television Punky Brewster was a popular sitcom 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.

Image:Punky brewster piano lesson.jpg

1 Trivia
2 Theme song
3 Spin-off
4 External link

Penelope "Punky" Brewster (played by Soleil Moon Frye) is a warm, funny and bright girl, orphaned by her parents at the age of 7. Punky's father walked out on her family. Soon later, Punky was abandoned by her mother who took her to a Chicago supermarket and disappeared. Punky was alone with her only companion, and faithful dog, Brandon.

Afterwards, Punky discovered a vacant apartment in a building managed by photographer Henry Warnimont (George Gaynes), an older bachelor. Punky quickly became friends with Cherie Johnson (Cherie Johnson), a young girl who lived upstairs in Henry's building with her grandmother Betty Johnson (Susie Garrett). Once Henry discovers Punky in the empty apartment adjacent his, he hears her story. The relationship between the two blossoms, and Henry eventually adopts Punky.

Her other friends are geeky Allen Anderson (Casey Ellison) and stuck-up rich girl Margeaux Kramer (Ami Foster).

Probably one of the most memorable episodes was built around the 1986 Space Shuttle 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, along with guest star Buzz Aldrin, both tell her that she should still follow her dreams.

The show also launched the Just Say No anti-drugs campaign, following from an episode where older children offer Punky drugs.

Seasons one and two of Punky Brewster are currently available on DVD in Region 1. Season three will be released on July 25, 2006.

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Trivia

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's dog Brandon is named for Tartikoff.

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.

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Theme song

The theme song for Punky Brewster is "Every Time I Turn Around", written by Judy Hart Angelo and Gary Portnoy. It is sung by Portnoy. The duo also wrote the theme song to Cheers (which Portnoy also sang).

The lyrics begin:

Maybe the world is blind

Or just a little unkind.

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Spin-off

Image:Punky brewster cartoon.jpg It's Punky Brewster!, an animated spin-off with the original cast appeared on Saturday mornings. The cartoon was produced by Ruby-Spears Productions. It ran from 14 September 1985 to 5 September 1987, for a total of 26 episodes.

This series included the addition of one new animal character known as the Glomer; a creature that came from a world at the end of the rainbow. The Glomer had various magical powers and one of them was the ability to transport Punky and her friends, Margaux, Cherie, and Allen, to any part of the Earth instantly.

Lyrics

I ran to the end of a rainbow's eye

There wasn't any pot of gold...

Punky Brewster

Come on it's just a fantasy, you know-uh-oh

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