Punky Brewster - You just KNEW this show had to come to DVD!...

...and indeed, it will finally arrive on DVD this summer! This press release came across earlier today from Shout! Factory, who is releasing this on June 1st. Even included are episodes of the animated spin-off It's Punky Brewster...this sounds like it will be a fantastic package! Read on:

SPUNKY PUNKY WILL TURN YOUR FROWN UPSIDE DOWN WHEN SHOUT! FACTORY DEBUTS SEASON ONE OF TV SITCOM ON DVD

PUNKY BREWSTER

Punky-Powered Four-Disc DVD Set Includes 23 Episodes Plus New Cast And Crew Interviews, And Episodes From Spin-Off Animated Series, Available On June 1st



LOS ANGELES, CA - Shout! Factory brings back the best of wholesome family television entertainment with the release of the complete first season of Punky Brewster on DVD. Seven-year-old "Punky" challenged goliath "60 Minutes" in the ratings race when the half-hour situation comedy debuted on NBC in 1984, proving American audiences were ready for child-friendly evening programming. Now the effervescent orphan Punky (Soleil Moon Frye), the dour old building manager Henry (George Gaynes), the best friend Cherie (Cherie Johnson), the stuck-up classmate Margaux (Ami Foster), and the huggable Golden Retriever Brandon return to brighten living rooms as a four-disc DVD set, available June 1st for $34.98 (suggested retail price).

The Punky Brewster: Season One four-disc DVD set includes all 23 episodes which aired during the 1984-1985 television season, four episodes of the animated spin-off "It's Punky Brewster" and new interviews with actors Johnson and Foster, creator/executive producer David W. Duclon ("Eve") and writer Barry Vigon ("Martin"). Notable guest stars during this first season include Andy Gibb (two episodes) and Dody Goodman.

Punky Power lives on in the very first collection of episodes from the hit TV show, "Punky Brewster." Soleil Moon-Frye stars as the abandoned little girl with an indomitable spirit who, with her faithful dog Brandon (named after NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff), brings light and laughter into the life of a grumpy, old building manager (George Gaynes). Both a touching portrait of her makeshift family and a joyful ride through her childhood adventures, "Punky Brewster" was a 1980s benchmark in fun, innocent television for kids.

About Shout! Factory: Shout! Factory is a multi-platform integrated entertainment company that was started by Richard Foos -- co-founder of Rhino Records, Bob Emmer - former Warner Music Group and Rhino executive and Garson Foos - former Rhino executive. It focuses on audio music catalog development and home video/DVD projects and television properties. Conceived as a broad-based retro pop culture entertainment label, Shout! Factory video and DVD projects range from live music and music documentary programs to offbeat special interest titles ranging from animation to sports content. Shout! Factory DVDs and CDs are distributed by Sony Music Entertainment.



• Punky Brewster - Season One
• Street Date: June 1, 2004
• Price: $34.98 SRP
• Sound: English Stereo

Wow, we're definately excited here! This show was the brainchild of Brandon Tartikoff, who (as mentioned above) was the source of the name of Punky's pet dog. Tartikoff reportedly knew in his youth a real-life "Punky", and thought it made for a great name for a TV series. He not only got the person's permission to use that name, but also got her to have an uncredited cameo on the show as one of Punky's teachers (source: TVTome.com).

We'll be on the lookout for further updates as well as cover art for this, so stay tuned for more. This is a set we all *knew* would have to make it to DVD sooner or later, and we feel lucky that it turned out to be sooner. Well, I feel lucky. Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya...Punky?