Whether you were a fan of the original or not, it’s likely you could use some of Punky’s trademark “Punky Power” these days. And if you have never seen the show, you’re in for a treat as you discover what makes Punky so special. Here’s everything we know about the Punky Brewster reboot.
When is the Punky Brewster reboot release date?
All 10 episodes dropped Feb. 25.
Where to watch and stream the new Punky Brewster reboot
The new 10-episode season is streaming on NBC’s Peacock, which is free with commercials.
Is there a Punky Brewster reboot trailer?
Yes! The first trailer offers a sneak-peek inside Punky’s spunky, fun blended family.
What was the original Punky Brewster about?
Punky Brewster ran for four seasons from 1984 to 1988, the first two on NBC and the second two in syndication. A foster kid with a totally unique sense of style, Punky Brewster (Frye) faced some difficult circumstances in her young life, as she was abandoned first by her father and then her mother, and doesn’t have a home. When building manager Henry (George Gaynes) finds her in an empty apartment in his building, he takes her in. The young Punky, who wears bright clothes, pigtails and has a penchant for donning different shoes on each foot, melts the gruff older man’s heart, and he eventually adopts her in the show’s second season. The show also focuses on Punky’s pals, including her BFF Cherie (Cherie Johnson) and her dog, Brandon. Punky Brewster was totally appealing for kids, but also addressed some serious topics such as drugs, the aftermath of the Challenger space shuttle disaster—which Punky, like many kids of the ’80s, watched explode live with their class—and the dangers of suffocation inside old refrigerators (which was not traumatizing for kids at all…).
What is the Punky Brewster reboot about?
Frye returns as Punky, now a mom of three who’s trying to get her Punky Power back after a recent divorce. She’s still on good terms with her ex—maybe too-good terms, as the trailer definitely leaves an opening for reconciliation. Punky is now also a professional photographer like her dad was; and like Henry, takes in another child, Izzy, who is in the foster system and in need of a place to say. The show filmed during the pandemic with safety protocols in place.
Are any of the other original Punky Brewster cast members returning?
In addition to Frye reprising her role, Johnson returns as Punky’s best friend. Gaynes, though, passed away in 2016 at the age of 98. Brandon the dog will also be missed—although the trailer does show the family has another pooch. No word yet on if the original theme song, “Every Time I Turn Around,” will return as part of the new show’s opening.
Who else is in the Punky Brewster reboot cast?
Freddie Prinze Jr. plays Punky’s ex-husband and co-parent. Fun fact: Frye hosted a teen show, Girl Talk, with Prinze’s now real-life wife, Sarah Michelle Gellar, in 1989. But, she told PEOPLE Now in 2019, she had never met him before. “He was so wonderful,” she said about his casting on the show. “He just has this calm about him and this depth which is just really amazing.” Oliver De Los Santos, Noah Cottrell and Lauren Donzis play Punky’s children, with Quinn Copeland as the foster child the family takes in. In addition, Frye announced on Instagram that her longtime friend Seth Green would be guest-starring.
Will Punky still wear her crazy outfits?
It looks like Punky’s toned down her style a bit, but she does wear different color Chuck Taylors in one scene in the trailer. “Still works!” she says.
What has Soleil Moon Frye been up to since the original show aired?
Frye guest-starred on shows including Friends throughout the 1990s, and costarred with her good friend Melissa Joan Hart (who also auditioned for the Punky Brewster role) on Sabrina the Teenage Witch from 2000 to 2003. After having kids, Frye opened a children’s boutique, The Little Seed (now online), and released parenting and crafting books. Frye has something in common with her rebooted Punky character, as she just split from her husband, producer Jason Goldberg, at the end of 2020. Frye told Parade in 2013 that Punky will always be special to her. “I have so many incredible memories of Punky, and I really hold her so close to my heart,” she told us. “She will always be a part of me, she was a true trendsetter. I loved that she really was such a style icon. I look at so many designers today and their inspiration of Punky in the mismatched shoes and colorful ’80s experience. I just love her. She was old school before old school was old school! She was hip-hop! She’s all about expressing individuality.”
How to watch old episodes of the OG Punky Brewster
They’re also streaming on Peacock! Can’t wait for the new Punky Brewster? Try some of these Peacock
