Challenger explosion, 25 years later: Punky Brewster helped us deal - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 02-01-2011, 12:10 AM

Thanks. I thought it ran for two seasons in first-run syndication like Punky, but then I think SS had the longer primetime run of the two.

Marvo301 · 02-01-2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Thanks. I thought it ran for two seasons in first-run syndication like Punky, but then I think SS had the longer primetime run of the two.

Yep! Silver Spoons ran for 116 episodes. Punky Brewster ran for 88 episodes.

catlover79 · 02-01-2011, 12:07 PM

That sounds right - I looked it up and SS began in 1982, PB in 1984.

TMC · 01-29-2016, 02:22 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q-2ra1pXys

Burgess Meredith narrated this quaint one-hour television documentary on the first teacher to go to space that aired the week preceding the Jan. 28, 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

TMC · 08-24-2018, 08:17 PM

TMC · 02-11-2020, 04:03 AM

After watching recent DVD-R Hell recap by Brad Jones, I can't believe that Allen brought a "toy" M16 to class while dressing up like John Rambo. There's absolutely know way in hell in a post-Columbine/Sandy Hook/Stoneman Douglas world that a kid would be able to go freely to school with a gun like that.

And I never thought about the "plot hole" if you want to call it that about Buzz Aldrin talking to Punky but not to the other kids in her class (instead of coming to a stranger's apartment). I mean, they were deeply affected by the Challenger tragedy too. I also wonder if it really is that far fetched that Henry would be oblivious to what happened to the Challenger until Punky told him. Granted, there wasn't really any internet in 1986 and it's easy to assume that Henry doesn't normally watch a lot of TV during the daytime.

I do also wonder how an episode like this would go over today. As the video pointed out, when 9/11 happened about 15 years later, shows like Friends and Sex & the City were much more subtle (and not make an entire episode out of it while still trying to fit awkwardly it within its standard formula) when acknowledging a real like tragedy.

TMC · 12-05-2021, 07:13 AM

Was the Punky Brewster episode the only portrayal of the Challenger disaster in media of its time? I know that there was a made-for-TV movie that aired on ABC in 1990 called Challenger. That was the first real attempt by Hollywood at dramatizing the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. And many years later, GLOW addressed the Challenger disaster in the first episode of its third season.

TMC · 01-28-2026, 01:41 AM

I'm bumping this since today (January 28) is the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. Here are newspaper articles from around that time about the "Accidents Happen" episode of Punky Brewster, which of course, directly addressed the then recent tragedy.

TMC · 01-29-2026, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

I'm bumping this since today (January 28) is the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. Here are newspaper articles from around that time about the "Accidents Happen" episode of Punky Brewster, which of course, directly addressed the then recent tragedy.

The Punky Brewster episode about the Challenger disaster is brought up at the 1:12:45 mark.

02-01-2011, 12:10 AM	#16
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Thanks. I thought it ran for two seasons in first-run syndication like Punky, but then I think SS had the longer primetime run of the two.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

01-29-2016, 02:22 AM	#19
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,676	The Challenger disaster’s 30th anniversary: Watch the Christa McAuliffe documentary T https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q-2ra1pXys Burgess Meredith narrated this quaint one-hour television documentary on the first teacher to go to space that aired the week preceding the Jan. 28, 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

01-28-2026, 01:41 AM	#23
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,676	I'm bumping this since today (January 28) is the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. Here are newspaper articles from around that time about the "Accidents Happen" episode of Punky Brewster, which of course, directly addressed the then recent tragedy. Astronaut On Punky Brewster To Discuss Challenger Tragedy. - Page 4 The Evening Independent - Page 15 Episode Deals With Shuttle Tragedy. - Page 34 Kid's Show Tackles Feelings Sparked By Shuttle Disaster. - Page 98 Weekend Fare Features Comedy, Mystery, Special Punky Brewster'. Bangor Daily News - Page 143 'Punky Brewster Signs Astronaut. - Page 14 'Buzz Aldrin Will Discuss Children's Feelings About Shuttle ... - Page 13 ...To Talk About Shuttle. - Page 58 The Age - Page 41 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin To Guest Star On... - Page 4 Punky Features Astronaut. - Page 44 Aldrin To Talk With Kids. - Page 58 People - Page 18 Names/ In The News. - Page 4 'Flight Of The Dragons Airs Sunday.... - Page 4 Aldrin Explains Risks. - Page 2

02-01-2011, 12:07 PM	#18
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	That sounds right - I looked it up and SS began in 1982, PB in 1984.

08-24-2018, 08:17 PM	#20
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,676

02-11-2020, 04:03 AM	#21
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,676	After watching recent DVD-R Hell recap by Brad Jones, I can't believe that Allen brought a "toy" M16 to class while dressing up like John Rambo. There's absolutely know way in hell in a post-Columbine/Sandy Hook/Stoneman Douglas world that a kid would be able to go freely to school with a gun like that. And I never thought about the "plot hole" if you want to call it that about Buzz Aldrin talking to Punky but not to the other kids in her class (instead of coming to a stranger's apartment). I mean, they were deeply affected by the Challenger tragedy too. I also wonder if it really is that far fetched that Henry would be oblivious to what happened to the Challenger until Punky told him. Granted, there wasn't really any internet in 1986 and it's easy to assume that Henry doesn't normally watch a lot of TV during the daytime. I do also wonder how an episode like this would go over today. As the video pointed out, when 9/11 happened about 15 years later, shows like Friends and Sex & the City were much more subtle (and not make an entire episode out of it while still trying to fit awkwardly it within its standard formula) when acknowledging a real like tragedy.

12-05-2021, 07:13 AM	#22
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,676	Was the Punky Brewster episode the only portrayal of the Challenger disaster in media of its time? I know that there was a made-for-TV movie that aired on ABC in 1990 called Challenger. That was the first real attempt by Hollywood at dramatizing the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. And many years later, GLOW addressed the Challenger disaster in the first episode of its third season.