#WhereAreTheyNow: Punky Brewster
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @SaintPepsi
When I was a kid I wasn't allowed to watch TV, in fact we didn't even get cable till after I went to college. My mom thought I would fall victim to the brain dead masses that rarely used their imaginations. (It may have been for the best because now I use my imagination a lot.) Still, I would sneak away to friend's houses and try and steal glimpses at those moving picture boxes.
It was with the greatest luck that I happened upon Punky Brewster in my youth. This was a show way before it's time I thought and brought back the innocence and lack of inbred hatred towards other races. Albeit I was always miffed at how the older gentleman was able to just adopt a little girl. Hey, it was a different time back then. Not to mention I always thought that guy looked like the guy that lived above the Fraggles in Fraggle Rock.
So, lets see where the cast of this energetic children's sitcom have found themselves. Starting of course with Soleil Moon Frye.
Soleil has kept herself very busy in fact bouncing from gig to gig and doing quite a few voice acting roles in-between. She found herself in all kinds of pop up roles in many different sitcom from Saved By The Bell to Friends. Her next major role, acting wise, came along with Sabrina the Teenage Witch in which she played Roxie King, and finally finding her place in The Proud Family.
She is now an avid tweeter and you can follow her @moonfrye.
Moving on to the best friend in the series Cherie Johnson. Who in the show was also named Cherie Johnson. I remember asking her why she had just went with her own name and recall her saying that it got a better response from her as a child actor. Makes sense to me. I had the great fortune to make Cherie's acquaintance through a friend in the business. If that's not a story as old as time. This woman is an inspiration. She takes the world in her hands and just runs with it. If she wants to do something she puts her mind to it and makes sure she follows through. After Punky Brewster she not only found herself in other roles but went on to write and produce a few movies. She recently wrote a book called Around the World Twice. Which I encourage you to look into. I know besides acting she has new and wonderful things to look forward in the future. When they say keep an eye on that person, they are going somewhere. Cherie is easily one of those people to watch. Not to mention being drop dead gorgeous. Just saying! Feel free to follow her on twitter at - @cheriejohnson75
Next up we'll look into the stoic father figure George Gaynes. This guy was on Matlock. I mean talk about taking me back. That actually was a show I watched with my folks. Always been a sucker for procedural law drama. He was the Editor in Chief for the show Dinosaurs. I realize I'm throwing out names of shows you young bloods have never heard of but this guy is epic piled on top of awesome. He was even in Police Academy. In any case he hasn't done much acting wise after 1999. I realize he's probably retired but man this guy had some awesomeness about him. He even played Henry Higgins on stage. Oh Goahawn! A true actor of the old days; he could sing, dance, act and make you laugh. To my knowledge he's not on twitter. Let's count our blessings that he's still with us ... wow!
So that's the three major roles ... Let's see how the supporting actors or a few of them at least have done. First up out of three I found Eddie Deezen. He played Eddie Malvin. Very funny guy and lets here it for all round awesome cinema NERD! You may better remember him as the nerd from Grease. Something, I have to assume almost everyone has seen. Still, he has had many more amazing roles. Mainly, as a voice actor and boy does he have a recognizable voice. This guy worked with Weird Al I mean come on totally awesome. So he was Mandark or Dexter's main nemesis. He was Ned in Kim Possible and played Know It All in The Polar Express. The man is a voice acting wizard.
Next up T.K. Carter who played Mike Fulton on Punky Brewster. This guy ened up in Thing which is still one of the scariest movies I have ever seen. Hands down. He was on several comedy shows such as Sinbad, and The Steve Harvey show. Furthermore, just to make me super jealous he acted side by side with the absolutely beautiful Keira Knightly in Domino. Looks like he tapped out with an appearance on Everybody Hates Chris. Still props to him for being in part of something that I still have nightmares about.
Lastly, one of my favorites Timothy Stack. He played Simon P. Chillings. This guy is famous for being himself. That's a hard reputation to gain but man he deserves it. Not only has he had many voice acting roles including Lampy as one of my favorite animated movies the Brave Little Toaster. He was in a series called Son of the Beach as Notch Johnson. He was in Night Court, Laverne and Shirley, and THE GOLDEN GIRLS. BETTY FUCKING WHITE!. Most recently, he appeared as himself in My Name is Earl. Funny guy check him out.
So that's what i got for the Punky Brewster where are they now thing. Cherie will probably tell me I forgot something but alas. I must work early tomorrow. I hope you enjoyed revisiting the past with me.
#nerdsunite
