Tournament Round One: Seinfeld vs. Punky Brewster (1984)

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Seinfeld is proof that if a network sticks behind a low rated but high quality show, it can become a smash hit. Seinfeld's ratings started to improve when it was given a Cheers lead-in on Thursday nights. When Cheers ended Seinfeld replaced it as the 9PM anchor. It kept rising and is a rare show that ended its run on top and wasn't cancelled. Seinfeld aired 9 seasons total from 1989-1998 on NBC. That includes a total off year in the 1990-1991 season when NBC hadn't fully committed to it yet. Stand up comic Jerry Seinfeld played himself, with Jason Alexander as his best friend George Costanza. Michael Richards was Jerry's eccentric neighbor across the hall Cosmo Kramer. The pilot lacked a strong female character. When it returned several months later, Julia Louis-Dreyfus had joined the cast as Elaine Benes. Seinfeld had its core cast of four, but it also had a deep bench of strong recurring characters, plus memorable guest appearances like the Soup Nazi. Wayne Knight was Kramer's friend Newman who hated Jerry. Newman was also a horrible mailman, hiding bags of mail he was too lazy to deliver. Both Jerry and George's parents were regular recurring characters, as well as Elaine's bosses Mr. Peterman (John O'Hurley), Mr. Pitt, and Mr. Lippman. When George worked for the New York Yankees a faceless portrayal of George Steinbrenner was often seen, as well as his direct boss Wilhelm. In season 7 Heidi Swedberg played George's fiancee Susan Ross. He quickly regretted becoming engaged to her but couldn't break it off. That is until the season 7 finale where cheap George killed her with poisoned wedding invitations. A bunch of recurring and guest characters came back for the Good Samaritan trial in the series finale to testify against Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer. They were sentenced to one year in jail. Series finale was even more of a smash than regular episodes, fourth highest rated finale of all time with 76.3 million viewers behind only M*A*S*H, Cheers, and The Fugitive.

Soleil Moon Frye was charming as Punky Brewster, an orphan who had been hiding in a building owned by Henry Warnimont (George Gaynes). He reluctantly takes Punky in to his apartment, later adopting her. Susie Garrett was their neighbor Mrs. Betty Johnson, whose granddaughter Cherie (Cherie Johnson) was Punky's best friend. Stuck up Margaux Kramer (Ami Foster) was their rich friend, calling people beneath her peasants. Casey Ellison was another friend Allen Anderson who left after the NBC era. In season 1 Eddie Deezen played George's handyman Eddie Malvin. In season 2 T.K. Carter was Punky's teacher Mike Fulton. Punky Brewster aired its first two seasons on NBC from 1984-1986. Network head Brandon Tartikoff based this show on a real Punky Brewster he had strong feelings for. He even turned himself into a dog named Brandon who follows Punky around on the show. Even with this being a pet project of his, NBC cancelled Punky Brewster in 1986. It remained cancelled during the 1986-1987 season, then was brought back for two more seasons. But this time they aired in first-run syndication instead thru 1988.

[AMackII]

Seinfeld for the win

[Heenan Fan]

I can't vote for Punky because she had breast reduction surgery. Sacralidge where I come from.

[Fallon97]

Punky Brewster

[RetroGuy2000]

PB for me.

[Copley84]

for me Punky Brewster is best.

Walgreenslistens

[icecream]

Originally Posted by Copley84

for me Punky Brewster is best.

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[icecream]

Seinfeld defeats Punky Brewster 8-3 and will advance to the 2nd round.