Parents' Guide to

Punky Brewster

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Heartwarming '80s sitcom celebrates family bonds.

TV NBC Comedy 1984
Punky Brewster Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 3 parent reviews

dvdgirl
dvdgirl Adult
October 19, 2019
age 7+

Cute

Cute show .

This title has:

Great messages
goodgirl
goodgirl Adult
July 6, 2015
age 7+

Cute little show

Punky Brewster is about a little girl with a positive attitude , and she looks on the bright side which is cool. she also has her own fashion which makes her an indivual. I was born in 1985 and the show came out in 1984 but watching the dvds its a cute show. a clean show with no bad stuff or profanity.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When her mom abandons her at a shopping mall, young Penelope "Punky" Brewster (Soleil Moon Frye) is left to fend for herself. She discovers a vacant space in an apartment building and takes up residence there with her faithful canine companion, Brandon, and quickly befriends her upstairs neighbor, Cherie (Cherie Johnson). But she's soon discovered by the building's curmudgeonly manager, Henry Warnimont (George Gaynes), who surprisingly hits it off with free-spirited Punky. Their mutual affection eventually inspires him to become her foster parent, giving her the stable family life she's always craved.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (1):

Modern-day girls may take one look at Punky and veto the show solely for its outdated sense of fashion (mismatched shoes, gaudy colors, and that trademark handkerchief tied around one leg), but if they're willing to take a chance on it, there are plenty of good messages about individuality and tolerance to be gleaned.

It isn't flashy or set to a downloadable soundtrack, but PUNKY BREWSTER tells a feel-good story about realistic characters and relatable problems, and it makes us rethink what it means to be a family. As content goes, there's very little to worry about here, but the show does touch on some serious issues (child abandonment and a parent's illness, for example) that might raise concerns for kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what defines a family. How has society's definition of family changed through the years? How expansive is your family? Are there non-biological relationships that you consider to be family?

  • Talk about comedy. What makes a show funny to you? Does a show's humor change when it's viewed through the lens of time? Is it harder to relate to shows that are years old? If so, why?

  • Kids: How do you express your individuality? What kinds of things do you hold dear to your heart? How do you let people know what you value? What makes you special?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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