Punky Brewster - Legacy

Legacy

Punky Brewster was a result of dividing television audiences by the time it was created. With more programming options, networks had to gear shows toward specific groups. Punky Brewster was one such instance, the intended (or, if not, the given) audience being younger viewers. Just over a year following the show's cancellation, NBC launched another youth-oriented series, Saved By The Bell, for Saturday mornings. Nickelodeon also launched a children's sitcom that year, a western comedy entitled Hey Dude. Both were successful, and by the 1990s, both NBC and Nick were producing multiple comedy shows for children and teenagers. By the 2000s, a third contender, Disney Channel, also entered the field. While NBC has since stopped its youth-based comedies, both Nick and Disney continue the practice.