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

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 | Girl | Foster Care | Absent Mother | Little Girl

Awards:

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

Cast

Soleil Moon Frye	...	Penelope 'Punky' Brewster / ... (88 episodes, 1984-1988)
Sandy	...	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	...	Margaux Kramer (53 episodes, 1984-1988)

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 (88 episodes, 1984-1988)
Gary Menteer	....	supervising producer (24 episodes, 1984-1987)
Rick Hawkins	....	producer (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
Michael Holt	....	associate producer (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
Liz Sage	....	producer (12 episodes, 1984)
Jerry Mayer	....	producer (1 episode, 1987-1988)

Series Original Music by
Rik Howard		(9 episodes, 1984-1985)
Bob Wirth		(9 episodes, 1984-1985)
Shuki Levy		(unknown episodes)
Haim Saban		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Sheila Hall		(12 episodes, 1984-1985)
Dick King		(3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Mike Beltran		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Casting by
Susan Bluestein		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Renee Rousselot		(2 episodes, 1985)

Series Art Direction by
Ken Johnson		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Costume Design by
Gene Doucette		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Makeup Department
Lois Kawasaki-Harriman	....	assistant makeup artist (84 episodes, 1984-1988)
Steve LaPorte	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jackie Masterson	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Louis Lazzara	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Chris Conte	....	senior unit manager (2 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jim Cox	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Thomas Klein	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Art Department
Dwight Jackson	....	assistant art director (4 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Sound Department
Tom Pearson	....	boom operator (88 episodes, 1984-1988)
Jeffrey C. Smith	....	audio (2 episodes, 1985)
Bill Levitsky	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John Nance	....	lighting director (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Arlene Alda	....	photographs (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Casting Department
Renee Rousselot	....	casting assistant (1 episode, 1984)

Series Editorial Department
Sheila Hall	....	editor: video tape (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Judy Hart-Angelo	....	composer: theme music (88 episodes, 1984-1988)
Gary Portnoy	....	composer: theme music (88 episodes, 1984-1988)
Frank Fitzpatrick	....	supervising music editor (19 episodes, 1984-1985)
James D. Young	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Sheila Lauder	....	production associate (5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Cheryl Alu	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Carl Binder	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Joyce Taylor	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1984-1985)
George Falardeau	....	technical manager (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Glen Garner	....	animal trainer (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Neil Lebowitz	....	story editor / executive story editor (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Carl McCarthy	....	stage manager (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
O. Tamburri	....	technical director (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
David Wader	....	stage manager (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Stephanie Elkan	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jeff Goodman	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Arnold Shapiro	....	video (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jim Evering	....	executive story editor / story editor (2 episodes, 1985)
R. Ruddell Weatherwax	....	assistant dog trainer (2 episodes, 1988)
Jim Cox	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
Tom Klein	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
Gordon Morris	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Don Talbot	....	technical manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Antena 3 Televisión (1995) (Spain) (TV)
• 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 (2004) (USA) (DVD) (season one)
• Shout! Factory (2005) (USA) (DVD) (season two)
• Shout! Factory (2006) (USA) (DVD) (season three)
• Shout! Factory (2008) (USA) (DVD) (season four)
• Shout! Factory (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-) (USA) (TV)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)
• Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep (VPRO) (1985-1987) (Netherlands) (TV)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | USA:TV-G | Australia:G (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, 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.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: During the opening credits you will occasionally see palm tree reflections in the windows. The series is set in Chicago, so that would be highly unlikely.

Quotes:

Theme Song:Maybe the world is blind / Or just a little unkind. Don't know / Seems you can't be sure, of anything any more / Although, you may be lonely and then / One day you're smiling again / Every time I turn around, I see the girl that turns my world around / Standing there / Every time I turn around / Her spirit's lifting me right off the ground / What's gonna be? / Guess we'll just wait and see.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Jonny Moseley/Outkast (#27.13)" (2002)

Another great 80's sitcom

To be honest like many others, I actually watched the cartoon as a kid first before I even KNEW that it was a live action TV show when they put it on the Family Channel. (Back before Fox bought it and then sold it to ABC)

When I finally got to see the live action show I figured it was based on the cartoon. Not that it mattered, I liked this much better. I don't think I really liked Glomer actually. Though when I saw the live version the first time I was curious as to where he was and relieved he wasn't there.

I would watch this religiously when it was on the Family Channel after school. This was a couple years after they stopped syndicating Small Wonder and it filled the void left by that loss.

I'm amazed at how Soleil Moon Frye turned out. She was a cute child who grew into a beautiful woman. She hardly looks the same!

She was on VH1's "I Love the 80's" (hich reminds me, I really do love the 80's.) last year and I finally caught it last month. When I saw her as an interviewee and read the little caption at the bottom and it said who she was, I was like, "Get out of here. That's her?" She was on an episode of Saved by the Bell a while ago (Ok, so it was over 10 years ago.) as Screech's gold digger girlfriend. (Oddly enough, it's not credited on IMDb.) and she still looked like she did as a kid. Amazing.

The father figure, George Gaynes, was perfect in his role.

If they put it on DVD, I would probably think about buying it, but I'd much rather take it one at a time on Nick at Nite. Now. If only they'd pick it up.