TV Talk: Punked by the new ‘Punky Brewster’

Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week.

It’s hard to imagine there’s much of a market for this “Punky Brewster” revival beyond nostalgic die-hards who watched the original as kids, tune in for the new pilot only to discover the comedy sophistication is on par with the ’80s series, and, since these viewers are now pushing 50, move on.

The original “Punky” ran just two seasons on NBC (then two more in first-run syndication) and while the title may be familiar to a certain demographic, it’s not like “Punky” was ever a ratings hit. What’s next, rebooting “It’s Your Move” (Jason Bateman has better things to do with his time)? “Small Wonder” (I guess it could happen)? “Silver Spoons” (probably not)?

Streaming service Peacock’s “Punky” revival, debuting Thursday on the Peacock Premium tier (only the first episode will be available on the free tier), finds former orphan Punky (Soleil Moon Frye) still living in the same Chicago apartment where she was raised by kindly but dour Henry, played in the original by George Gaynes, who died in 2016. The apartment set’s legacy goes unremarked upon but the unique design pattern on the doors is a giveaway.

Still spunky, Punky is now a single mother, albeit one who wears mismatched sneakers, just as she did as a child. Recently divorced from Travis (a grizzled Freddie Prinze Jr.), Punky’s raising a teen daughter and two sons. By the end of the pilot Punky takes in a Punky of her own – of course! — foster child Izzy (Quinn Copeland), who reminds Punky of herself as a 7-year-old. Punky meets Izzy through longtime friend Cherie (Cherie Johnson, reprising her role from the original series), who now works in social services.

The new “Punky” pays tribute to Henry in its opening scene as Punky tells his photo and her teen daughter, “I’m a funky Punky,” before going into a clichéd monologue about how “somewhere along the way I’ve lost myself. I miss me.”

Yeah, the dialogue by new “Punky” scribes Steve and Jim Armogida (“School of Rock”) is that bad and worse.

The plots are as predictable as an ‘80s sitcom — Punky and her daughter on first dates at the same time! – so if that’s still viewers’ jam 32 years after the original ended, the new show’s writers are happy to oblige.

The original series showed some restraint, keeping Punky’s mom, who abandoned her, off-screen for the show’s four-season run. Having exhausted all there is to say about 40-something Punky in its premiere, the revival grasps for something new and in so doing suggests restraint may be off the table.