Punky Brewster sequel series starring Soleil Moon Frye is in the works

[TMC]

https://deadline.com/2019/06/punky-b...cp-1202626648/

Frye, who is now 42, is set to reprise her 1980s NBC kids sitcom role as Penelope "Punky" Brewster, a bright young girl who was abandoned by her family and is taken in by a foster dad. Frye played Punky for four years -- two seasons on NBC from 1984 to 1986 and in syndication for two seasons from 1987 to 1988. UCP is producing the multicamera comedy in which Frye plays Punky as a single mom of three children who is trying to get her life back on track when she meets a young girl who reminds her of young self. Punky Brewster earned three primetime Emmy nominations, including two for Outstanding Children's Program. It also spawned the animated series It’s Punky Brewster, which ran for two seasons and earned a daytime Emmy nomination. Steve and Jim Armogida will write and executive produce the sequel series, with Frye also serving as executive producer. No word yet if any other original Punky Brewster stars will be involved. Punky's foster dad, played by George Gaynes, died in 2016 at age 98.

[Wildchats]

This show should have happened in the early 2000s or late 1990s. When George Gaynes and Betty Johnson were still alive.


Punky is single? That's sad.


My guess it will focus around her and her 3 kids and she probably meets an orphan and adopts her or something. It says it's hybrid, so it won't be filmed with an audience but it will have a laugh track. My guess, the original wasn't either because of the dog being in so many scenes. My guess is they will have a descendant of Brandon's and Brenda's like they did on Fuller House with Comet Jr Jr Jr and they named him Cosmo. Punky probably has one of his great great great great great great grandchildren living with her as a puppy or something now, and the dog will do tricks just like Brandon did.


They have a lot to address if they want to do it right.


1. Punky's Place: Did it close? Is it still open?
2. The apartment. What happened to it? Does she still live there? Cheri across the hall?
3. Mrs. Johnson and Henry's deaths, because it's obvious they both passed
4. Cheri, Margeux and Alan and what became of them
5. What became of Mike
6. Did Punky ever go into space or pursue being an astronaut?
7. What happened in high school, college, and post college with the girls
8. How long did Brandon live until?
9. They should have guest stars like the kid who took Brandon and then returned him and became Punky's friend, Spud and Linda guest star and what became of them


10. DID PUNKY EVER FIND HER MOM?! I think this one would really need to be addressed. Hopefully she did, as her Mom would be in her 60's/70's now.





I think a good way to bring the show back would be as follows:



Maybe Punky still lives in the old apartment (yet it went condo in the 1990s and has been renovated and like new). She moved back in with Henry and took care of him after she got divorced or whatever. Then Henry passed. She went to college as did Cheri and Margeux. Cheri got married and had a family. Maybe she's single or still married herself. Maybe she moved back in to take care of her grandmother and is single with kids like Punky. Now, both Henry and Mrs. Johnson have passed. Maybe that same apartment across the hall is empty and Punky is the building manager now and finds the girl hiding in there and a lot like her. Maybe she adopts her? Punky's family have a descendant of Brandon's, a puppy golden retriever who does a lot of tricks. Maybe Margeux married that guy she liked in middle school or someone else. Maybe she took over as owner of the apartment building? I think Punky's Place might have closed by now, unless it's still open and that's Punky's job and her oldest kid works at it or something...Alan moved back to Chicago when he went to college. Maybe he and Cheri married?! Or maybe not...Mike became a principal in the school Punky went to and owner/manager of Fenster Hall.

[glickmam]

Originally Posted by Wildchats

This show should have happened in the early 2000s or late 1990s. When George Gaynes and Betty Johnson were still alive.


Punky is single? That's sad.


My guess it will focus around her and her 3 kids and she probably meets an orphan and adopts her or something. It says it's hybrid, so it won't be filmed with an audience but it will have a laugh track. My guess, the original wasn't either because of the dog being in so many scenes. My guess is they will have a descendant of Brandon's and Brenda's like they did on Fuller House with Comet Jr Jr Jr and they named him Cosmo. Punky probably has one of his great great great great great great grandchildren living with her as a puppy or something now, and the dog will do tricks just like Brandon did.


They have a lot to address if they want to do it right.


1. Punky's Place: Did it close? Is it still open?
2. The apartment. What happened to it? Does she still live there? Cheri across the hall?
3. Mrs. Johnson and Henry's deaths, because it's obvious they both passed
4. Cheri, Margeux and Alan and what became of them
5. What became of Mike
6. Did Punky ever go into space or pursue being an astronaut?
7. What happened in high school, college, and post college with the girls
8. How long did Brandon live until?
9. They should have guest stars like the kid who took Brandon and then returned him and became Punky's friend, Spud and Linda guest star and what became of them


10. DID PUNKY EVER FIND HER MOM?! I think this one would really need to be addressed. Hopefully she did, as her Mom would be in her 60's/70's now.





I think a good way to bring the show back would be as follows:



Maybe Punky still lives in the old apartment (yet it went condo in the 1990s and has been renovated and like new). She moved back in with Henry and took care of him after she got divorced or whatever. Then Henry passed. She went to college as did Cheri and Margeux. Cheri got married and had a family. Maybe she's single or still married herself. Maybe she moved back in to take care of her grandmother and is single with kids like Punky. Now, both Henry and Mrs. Johnson have passed. Maybe that same apartment across the hall is empty and Punky is the building manager now and finds the girl hiding in there and a lot like her. Maybe she adopts her? Punky's family have a descendant of Brandon's, a puppy golden retriever who does a lot of tricks. Maybe Margeux married that guy she liked in middle school or someone else. Maybe she took over as owner of the apartment building? I think Punky's Place might have closed by now, unless it's still open and that's Punky's job and her oldest kid works at it or something...Alan moved back to Chicago when he went to college. Maybe he and Cheri married?! Or maybe not...Mike became a principal in the school Punky went to and owner/manager of Fenster Hall.

I don't think Mike would have owned Fenster Hall. Fenster Hall, like many of the orphanages around Chicago, were largely owned by the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services.

[JamesG]

"Saved by the Bell", "Punky Brewster" Reboots Set for NBCU’s Peacock Streaming Service
by Patrick Hipes
September 17, 2019


NBCUniversal’s newly named Peacock streaming service will feature several original series, the company said Tuesday, including a pair of reboots from the vaults: a newly unveiled "Saved by the Bell" with original castmembers including Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez, and "Punky Brewster", which returns original star Soleil Moon Frye as a grown-up version of her former character.

The titles were unveiled along with several other original offerings set for the April 2020-launching service this morning including a rebooted "Battlestar Galactica" that will be executive produced by Sam Esmail.



Frye is set to reprise her role as the titular character, an orphan who is being raised by a foster father (George Gaynes).

In the multi-camera/hybrid reboot, Punky (Frye) is now a single mother of three trying to get her life back on track when she meets a young girl who reminds her a lot of her younger self.

https://deadline.com/2019/09/saved-b...ck-1202736699/

[TMC]

Punky Brewster reboot reunites Punky and Cherie Johnson

Johnson is joining the Peacock sequel series pilot to reprise her character, also named Cherie Johnson, who was Punky's best friend on the 1980s NBC sitcom. On the Punky Brewster reboot, Soleil Moon Frye's Punky is a single mother of three trying to get her life back on track when she meets a young girl who reminds her of herself. According to Deadline, "Johnson will once again play Cherie, best friend of Punky since they were kids. In fact, they’re more like sisters. To Punky’s kids, she’s Aunt Cherie. Her life-long friendship with Punky inspired her to become a social worker, helping orphaned kids." Johnson, now 43, continued acting after Punky Brewster, including a recurring role on Family Matters.

[JR1]

Wonder if any of the then-kids from the show will pop up.

[TMC]

Freddie Prinze Jr. joins Punky Brewster revival pilot as Punky's ex-husband

If NBC Universal's Peacock picks up Punky Brewster to series, Prinze will recur. He'll appear in the pilot as Travis, a working musician who is constantly in and out of town. Travis remains a great dad with lingering chemistry between him and Punky.

Soleil Moon Frye says getting back into character as Punky Brewster has been "happening really naturally"

For her HBO Max pilot, Frye recently tried on outfit that her children's character would've loved. "It was never something that five years ago I would have worn," she explained, "but that inner-Punky believes in herself and believes in her strength and is so confident in who she is."

[JamesG]

"Punky Brewster" Revival Rounds Out Cast with Four Series Regulars
by Denise Petski
October 28, 2019


Quinn Copeland (Waitress the Musical), Lauren Donzis (No Good Nick), Oliver De Los Santos (Occupation: Rainfall) and Noah Cottrell (Skyscraper) are set as series regulars opposite Soleil Moon Frye, in Peacock’s "Punky Brewster" pilot from UCP and Universal Television.




Copeland’s Izzy is a street-smart, headstrong and adorable Punky-like girl for a new generation. Recently abandoned by her mother, Izzy tries to hide her vulnerability, but finds a kindred spirit in Punky (Frye).

Donzis will play Hannah, Punky’s fashion-forward teenage daughter, who often feels like she’s the parent and Punky’s the kid.

De Los Santos and Cottrell will play Punky's adopted sons, Daniel and Diego, who are 10 and 12 years old. Even though they are brothers, they are complete opposites except when it comes to annoying their older sister, Hannah (Donzis).

https://deadline.com/2019/10/punky-b...rs-1202770593/

[Wildchats]

It sounds like they are trying to make it good for the true fans of the original. However they would have to address all aspects I mentioned in a previous post.

What became of Mike, Henry, Mrs. Johnson, the girls when they went to high school and college if they went to college, if Punky pursued Space, what happened to Punky’s Place, Aunt Larleen, Spud, Allen, Brandon and Brenda and their offspring, and the biggest of all, if Punky found her mom. Like Fuller House easily Punky has an offspring of Brandon’s living with her and her kids. I wouldn’t doubt that. Maybe she’ll call him Henry? Maybe Warnimont? Or another name beginning with a B?

Henry’s presence would be easiest with photos. Photos of him, photos of the cast when they were on the show, et. Punky brining up flashbacks and maybe imitating him with his touching or stern way of saying her name when he explained things. Mrs. Johnson remembered with Cherie going “in the words of Grandma, rest her soul, “Oh, my lord!” I think that will easily bring the presence of she, Henry and Brandon, especially with photos. Calling Brandon’s latest offspring Warnimont would be nice because maybe he was born just after Henry passed as a special tribute to him.

I think the apartment building should be and still is there in Punky’s life. It should be. It would be Margeaux’s now. Her Dad owned it and now he’s retired and he passed it down to her so she can show up anytime!!!! Punky could be building manager after Henry passed and lives in her old apartment which has been updated to “Today” with many renovations after Margeaux took it over and made it modern and up to date in the 2010s. Punky’s daughter could work at Punky’s place with a friend or friends. If Margeux isn’t there she could be in France and visits at times.

One time characters like Aunt Larleese and Paula and her brother (Cherie’s family members) might be nice to see. I know the actor who played the boy with the drunk dad passed. Seeing Linda again from Punky’s school would be nice. Most others have passed away, like the majority of the women who lived in the apartment building and others. Maybe Eddie can make an appearance. Spud would be okay to see as well. I don’t think many would reprise their roles but these ones are some that could.

Like Fuller House, they should dedicate the Pilot episode at the end, in memory of Susie Garrett and George Gaynes and the dog who played Brandon.

[Wildchats]

So what's going on with the reboot? Is it happening? Did Peacock pick it up and how many episodes will it get?

I saw from online posts they filmed the pilot, it takes place at the old apartment, Henry has passed on and Punky lives there now with her kids and is divorced and Cheri is a social worker. Not being on TV and on online platform, I would guess it gets a small amount of episodes per season it releases. What I've seen online when it comes to sitcoms is 13 episodes (Fuller House/Disjointed/One Day At A Time), or two part releases, where they release 8 episodes and 8 more later in the year (Fuller House), or 10 and 10 (The Ranch). Yet those are all Netflix shows... Or is Peacock going to film a few episodes and release them on a weekly basis or all at once, after a season has completed?

[glickmam]

Originally Posted by Wildchats

Maybe Eddie can make an appearance.

I don't think so. Eddie Malvin was specifically written out of the original series in the first place because his actor, Eddie Deezen, had a very hard time remembering his lines. In fact, it's partly the main reason why Deezen generally only appears in voiceover roles, so he can always have a script in front of him to read.

[Wildchats]

I doubt the show will be as long running in episode number than the original series. It got a 10 episode season 1. The original ran 4 seasons and got 88 episodes?


This is lucky if it matches or slightly goes over the 4 season run of the original.


Girl Meets World got 3 seasons (Boy Meets World ran for 7?)
Fuller House got 5 seasons (Full House Ran for 8 and almost got a 9th)
Punky ran for 2 actually, the last 2 were in syndication, and has not has much of re-runs than the other 2 series'.
All of these original series are avail on DVD now.

I wonder how many Punky Brewster Reboot will get on Peacock? If I had to guess I'd say 3-4. The least it will get is 2. I'm sure the first season will at least gain interest in the fans. I just hope they answer the questions we all need answers to, especially if she found her mom and what happened to Punky's Place, and an episode with Margeaux and Alan in season 1.

[TMC]

Peacock gives Punky Brewster sequel a series order

Soleil Moon Frye will officially reprise her 1984-1988 childhood sitcom role in the Punky Brewster revival series. She'll be joined by Cherie Johnson, returning as Punky's best friend, and Freddie Prinze Jr., who guest-stars in the pilot as Punky's ex-husband. Peacock has given the sequel series a 10-episode order. “I am beyond thrilled and honored to be bringing Punky back!” Frye said in a statement. “I’m grateful to our NBCUniversal Content Studios and Peacock family and to our incredible team of creators, writers, producers, cast and crew that have put their hearts into this journey every step of the way. It is with great love for the amazing people who were such a pivotal part of creating the Punky magic that I will do my very best to honor their memory as we once again share Punky with the people that love her and a new generation discovering her for the first time. To our incredible fans who have stood by us, thank you for believing in me and I will do my best to make you proud. I love you. Punky Power forever!”

[TMC]

Originally Posted by glickmam

I don't think so. Eddie Malvin was specifically written out of the original series in the first place because his actor, Eddie Deezen, had a very hard time remembering his lines. In fact, it's partly the main reason why Deezen generally only appears in voiceover roles, so he can always have a script in front of him to read.

What about getting Ami Foster and/or Casey Ellison to guest star? Looking up looked up their credits though, Ellison hasn't acted since 2002, but as been working behind the scenes, while Foster she hasn't acted since 1994, and has left the business entirely.

[JamesG]