So Girl and I have been watching the first few episodes of Punky Brewster on Youtube. Why? If you haven't been paying attention here or here, I like my kids to like the things I used to like.
Girl loves this show, just like I did when I was in third grade. Also, very much like little me, she totally misses how thoroughly depressing this show actually is.
Like little me, Girl thinks Punky is awesome and funny and has a great sense of style. Since we started watching, I noticed that I have been subconsciously dressing my daughter in a very Punky-like fashion. I mean her shoes match, but I am do often dress her in loud colors with many layers (thankfully, she never wears brightly colored denim vests).
Anyhow back to the point, Punky Brewster is horribly depressing. It's the story about a little girl who's father left when she was a baby. She is then abandoned in a shopping center parking lot by her mom. She is living (suspiciously well-groomed for a homeless 7 year-old) in a vacant apartment when the world's grumpiest building manager discovers her and let's her stay with him in his very very messy apartment, and makes her eat TV dinners, stewed prunes and bran flakes. By the way, Girl is very adamant that Henry Warnimont reminds her of a certain guy, goes by the name Pelmo. Anyway throughout the episodes we've seen so far, Punky and Henry have had to fight to stay together because he is so old (60) and might croak any minute. She also has serious abandonment issues that have come up in almost every episode. I am not so sure that this show was actually meant for kids, because it really pushes the issue of how horrible the foster system is, and is by and large a really sad show. Granted we've only watched 8 episodes, but I think from what I remember it never stops.
Like I said though, Girl loves it. She misses most of the sad little abandon girl stuff and focuses on the awesome clothes, awesome bedroom, and general spunkiness of Punky. Though she was unhappy when Punky was taken away from Henry. She also asks where the mom is every episode.
Now I've got my doubts that any member of my family stuck around for this post, especially since they'd groan every time I wanted to watch Punky back in 1984.
9 comments:
Sorry, jerky, I delete all comments that are made with the sole intention of driving up traffic to your blog. Plus, your comment was totally beside the point. If you knew anything about me, you'd know that I don't really care about anyone’s religious affiliations, let alone those of a silly, fictious, television character from the 80's. I will mention, however, that although you seem to have meant it as an insult, the term “witch,” in my mind does not qualify as one. To quote the great Xander Harris, “witches they were persecuted, Wicca good, and love the earth, and women power, and I'll be over here.”
I read your whole post. I remember how much you loved Punky. The show was tolerable. (Though Margot was annoying.) What I couldn't stand was the Punky cartoon with Glomer. OK Punky friend?
If I am not mistaken the rhyme goes, sardines and herring are what NORMAL little girls are made of, and not Punky Brewster, and that is for sure.
But what are grumpy old Pelmo's made of I wonder?
Stop wondering, it's sugar and spice and everything nice, that's why all the little munchkins like me.
Oh, I was under the impression that it was spare parts, old farts, and the junk man’s grocery cart!
"Maybe the world is blind
Or just a little unkind..."
You are lucky Jane makes me play nice. A straight man couldn't feed me better lines then you.
The straight man is the brains behind the comedy team. You think I don't know that I've been setting you up? Who's on first?
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