MovieChat Forums > Punky Brewster (1984) Discussion > If Punky aired in the 2000s....

If Punky aired in the 2000s....

posted 16 years ago by FredGailey
19 replies | jump to latest

what topics would you like to see covered? I'd like to see a 9/11 episode from a kids perspective. It was an event very complex and intense and no program really took the initiative to relate to chidren concerning what occurred. I think it could have been done tastefully and with the sensitivity of the Challenger episode. Also, a cyber safety episode would be good considering the rise in online predator crimes against children.

"The fewer suspects the less work for me. My ideal is a 40 hour week."

[–] bass_desires 16 years ago

If they aired this nowadays, there wouldn't be a show because Henry would not have been allowed to adopt Punky.

[–] Muggle423 16 years ago

Can I ask why wouldn't Henry be allowed to adopt Punky nowadays? I'm just curious. Is it because he's a single old guy?

[–] bass_desires 15 years ago

Pretty well. You hit the nail on the head there, pal. Not to mention that his income probably isn't high enough to support a child, and they generally look for functioning couples to adopt to, rather than single parents.

[–] jlfratilla 11 years ago

Hhhmmm . . . I disagree. Henry was technically not allowed to foster and adopt Punky in the show, as it stands. The only reason he was allowed to do it was because he and Punky had formed a relationship prior to her entering the system. The relationship made it difficult for the social workers to keep Punky at the group home, and so they made a special arrangement with Henry. Considering the fact that social workers will opt to place children with their grandparents before finding younger foster parents, I don't see why this special situation with Punky and Henry would not be possible, anywhere -- especially considering the overcrowding of the foster care system.

[–] AcidRaina 16 years ago

Its funny you mention that because 'The Wool Cap' reminded me of a modern day version of 'Punky Brewster' in many ways.

"Living our maggot lives, dreaming of becoming flies."

[–] shoopies 15 years ago

i dont thin k it matters wether your married or not. its if yo u can suport a child thats the important thing.

[–] branenj001 14 years ago

It's funny that one of their big arguments back then for not wanting Henry to adopt Punky was that he was an older gentlemen. It's funny because Punky would be in her 30s now and the guy who plays Henry is still alive and kickin somewhere. Maybe not so much kickin lol but he certainly would have been still spry enough when she went off to college and became a self sufficent adult.

[–] FloatingOpera7 14 years ago

Right. I'm exactly 30 years old...I was an 80's kid like Punky...being an 80's kid means that we had to have turned 18 sometime in the 90's...I was born January 1, 1980. I turned 18 on January 1, 1998. Punky was born in the late 70's (I think 1977 or 1976). She is 33 right now. This means that if the show was "real" Henry really would have had no problem caring for her as a teen in high school in the 90's and then send her off to college. She would already be an out of college adult in her 20's in the 2000's. It's not like Henry was all that old on the show. He was older, but not like 90. He could have definitely lived to see Punky become adult.

But this show was about childhood so they would never have shown her going through all the stuff and angst teens go through. The charm of the show was in her being a kid.

But yeah, realistically, Henry was a great parent and his age was not a problem. Some older people make better parents than younger ones. I've seen some really really bad parenting by people in their 20's or age 30, 31, 32.... I am 30 right now and I know a few former high school students who are married and have some kids and formed their famlies in their 20's and unfortunately in their teens and are on Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, love the new movies of today and act younger and seem to relate with not only their kids but also today's teens. It's kinda of weird.

[–] sparklestar84 13 years ago

I've noticed that too and it is weird. It's okay for parents to be youthful, but I see a lot of parents trying to be friends to their kids rather than parents, and that doesn't seem right.

Anything I could have said I felt somehow that you already knew

[–] sexykitten0814 12 years ago

I strongly disagree Henry would not be allowed to adopt Punky if this aired today. If anything, adoption laws and procedures in most states have actually become more open minded, especially when it comes to adopting children in foster care. Look how much easier it is for a single parent or a gay couple to adopt now. With the large number of kids in the system who lack a stable home and loving family, people are seeing now more than ever that an unconventional family is far better than none, especially if they're willing to take what few others want.

[–] Felixthecat34213 10 years ago

Yeah I think it really depends on your background check and your finances more than anything these days. I'm sure they prefer to have married couples adopt, just because society sees people like that as more stable for a child. However, plenty of single people adopt all the time, so I don't really understand why it would be a problem.

I also find it odd that social workers would have no problem sticking a kid with grandparents (or older foster people who run foster homes), but a problem with an older guy who wants to adopt a younger kid.

Someone could take a social worker to court on the grounds of age discrimination more easily today.

Overall, I think a child needs both young and older adults in their life. Just because older generations bring a completely different experience and perspective of the world than one's parents. I'm stunned by people who choose to live so far away from a child's grandparents. It's really important for a child to spend time and learn from older people. My grandmother used to babysit me while my mother went to work, I learned a lot of things from her. Not just baking and homemaking, but about her life experiences. Exposing children to different types of people is the only thing that really allows them to become more open minded.

[–] Popcorngal (4347) 4 years ago

So true. Kids need discipline, guidance, and boundaries as well.

[–] bijinius 9 years ago

Dude...Even "South Park" almost didn't go there. A Melba Toast show like "Punky Brewster" wouldn't have mentioned the events of September 11th, 2001, even if the makers were 100% guaranteed an Emmy. It was just too big a thing for a silly SITCOM, especially one for kids to tackle.

[–] sarah-103 9 years ago

A Melba Toast show like "Punky Brewster" wouldn't have mentioned the events of September 11th, 2001

I disagree. The show was capable of handling another serious tragedy, The Challenger Explosion, quite well. "Seasame Street" has done episodes dealing with death and tragedy.

"Forget reality, give me a picture"-Remington Steele

[–] pioneergrrrl (2389) 7 years ago

They might have gone more into her background....like her getting counseling...etc, Even with Henry she might have had issues to work through with the rough start to life. She just lives with him and does not apparently have ptsd...etc

I think also more would have been done to find Punky's mom and at least trying to start/restart some kind of services for her before just placing her with the first person who finds her.

[–] pioneergrrrl (2389) 5 years ago

Sesame street kinda tried to touch on 9/11 from a kids perspective--they had elmo visit a firehouse and learn not to be scared of who they are/what they do when a fire happens @ Hoopers store---which is supposed to be set in NYC. Media has become much more fragmented (more channels, online channels and social media) since Challlenger that it is difficult to keep track of what does air though.

When Punky Brewster aired there were much fewer broadcast channels, online viewing did not exist (which can also be done @ a library/college-university for free).

[–] pioneergrrrl (2389) 5 years ago

Well for whatever reason

https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/04/entertainment/punky-brewster-reboot/index.html

I can't see this working now....even with Frye herself involved. Number one.....there is a lot less 'sugarcoating' re the social service system's holes/shortcomings than in the 1980's....it's not going to look anywhere near as wholesome, upbeat and quirky.

Number two prior reboots even with former stars failed.....Murphy Brown?? Frye's big claim was that she had a spin off cartoon with a magical troll creature who probably needed a litterbox.

[–] VIDEOSTOREVANDAL (313) 5 years ago

MURPHY BROWN WAITED TO LONG.BERGEN IS JUST TOO OLD TO CARRY THE SHOW.PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER "REBOOT" WITH FORMER STARS HAS BEEN A HIT OR DONE WELL.

[–] pioneergrrrl (2389) 5 years ago

Murphy Brown got cancelled--at least this incarnation.

I think they could have actually had a shot if they had 'redone' it by just focusing on her son Avery and his liberal friends now trying to balance out working @ the conservative-leaning Wolf Network....called it something like inside the Den. Yes I would have watched it.

Yes I knew this version specific was going to bomb immediately when it was announced.....Bergen etc look like corpses. Network morning show hosts IRL are vibrant energetic and happy. The network needed to stidy GMA, Today...etc to see how they look before trying to convince us otherwise.

And I was sad having been a loyal follower of Murphy even in elementary school!! Watched it w my mom. They went out of their way to trash this needlessly.

They should have gone back and studied star trek TGN....etc and realized those shows spun off in their own right BC they had new cast. The new cast could and did go in exciting new plot directions.