Interview: Soleil Moon Frye and Cherie Johnson on the return of ‘Punky Brewster’ [VIDEO]

Punky Power is back.

Few television shows are more synonymous with growing up in the 80’s than Punky Brewster. The show originally aired from September of 1984 ending in March of 1986 only to return in syndication from October of 1987 to May of 1988. What drew families to show was how willing show creator David W. Duclon was willing to tackle the tough issues facing children within the framework of a family program with such a young protagonist.

The original show was about an elderly man named Henry (George Gaynes) who took in a foster child named Punky Brewster (Soleil Moon Frye) and how this unlikely pair ultimately formed a bond that was never to be broken (kind of the ‘girl’ version of Diff’rent Strokes). These two couldn’t have been more different but through love they formed a family. Through the course of this we are introduced to her friend Cherie (Cherie Johnson) and this dynamic pair were a part of our childhood.

Fast forward to 2021 and Punky Brewster is back on the Peacock network with a continuation that’s less a reboot than a look into where these characters are now raising Punkys of their own and also co-starring Freddie Prinze, Jr. We were lucky enough to sit down with Both Frye and Johnson and discuss how the show is staying true to its legacy while still remaining relevant in 2021.

Punky Brewster returns on February 25.

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Dewey Singleton

I'm a member of Critics Choice, Hollywood Critics Association, and The Society of Professional Journalists. I am also on Rotten Tomatoes. My bylines include @awardswatch, @deweysmovies, @awardsradar, @weliveentertainment, @bleedingcool, and @insessionfilm. I am married to @sgitw and have two sons.

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