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 January 14, 2008: New year, new season coming up, old year done, old season done. It's hard to believe Unhooking Henry has come up already, but that it has. Even going bi-weekly couldn't hold off the inevitable. Hmm, what am I going to do with a season hiatus? December 31, 2007: If last time's review provided details that I completely missed, this time's provides little to miss. Bonus points go out for naming the clip show "Remember When", which has to be the best truth-in-advertising since Wendy's trotted out "Where's the beef?" at mostly McDonalds. Now I don't know whether I'm nostalgic or hungry. Maybe both. December 19, 2007: The second-ever review edit has happened, as the ever-keen members of the forum informed me that there was quite an omission in the review of "Help Wanted"! Thanks to the kind help, the page is now updated, complete with some screenshots to show exactly what I didn't see. December 17, 2007: No drugs this week; I'm full of Christmas cheer. No, that is not code. Rather, it's my favouritemost (?) time of year and I want to spread some not-so-ill wishes amongst my areas of interest. Help Wanted didn't make it too easy on me, but I gave it some passes and some points for trying. At this rate, I might even not jump on the poor fools arguing about audio quality on the forum! Probably not... December 3, 2007: Christmas is soon to come, but Santa came early to Punky Brewster with... a restaurant? So Long, Studio, Hello, Fine Dining. That makes about as much sense as the review, unfortunately. It's been proofread a few times, but it was a long few days, and I'm writing this on low-grade painkillers. Anyone who's ever wanted documented proof about how drugs affect your grammar, now's the time. All I can hope for is some good typos. November 19, 2007: I could talk about This Spud's For You in this space, but I'll save the vitrol for the review itself. Instead, look up. That's right, Season Four now has an official release date and official cover art. Punky gets to finish its run on DVD, I get to finish my run here. And as a bonus, we get to watch and see why, why, why the series ended with a dog wedding. November 5, 2007: Don't even bothering asking what happened there. I had to find a new forum, and then I got injured and spent two weeks on the shelf. So no new look yet because the forum alone took forever and a day to re-establish and work the kinks out of. The forum links on the main pages have been fixed, the other ones will get changed with the look. Repeat: If you click a forum link on a page not affected by this week's update, you WILL get a 404 error from 6te. The ones on this page and others updated to reflect the new review have the right address. With that out of the way, talking about Punky's Porker almost seems anti-climactic. Not so at all. Read and see more. September 24, 2007: The first of the bi-weeklies is Tangled Web, which seems to have caused a spiral of analyzing the site's review method, as well as a spiral of recycling. For instance, I recycled the current layout because I've been gone all weekend and decided against spending most of tonight in the FTP client, deleting directories and stream-lining layouts. I'm still deciding what the place will look like post-cleanup too. So I guess it comes down to laziness. That'll shock you. September 9, 2007: This week's review is of The Anniversary, which is a bit important, but it's going to have to take a back seat in this blurb because I have to make some changes around here. For one, the reviews are going to be on a bi-weekly schedule (as opposed to weekly). There's not much of a point to keeping up weekly reviews at this point with the fourth season still being around six months from release and eight episodes left to review in Season Three. For two, as opposed to what you would think from a longer interval, the reviews are going to be a bit shorter. The filler in the last few reviews has been atrocious, and it's better to just cut that out. For three, I will be trimming the site down a bit over the next week or so. The Soleil gallery will stay, and the reviews and bios obviously, but the extra material is never going to be updated at this point and the Columns are just very long versions of things I write on the forum. And no one really cares about the links, half of which are probably dead anyway. I don't even remember all of what's in there. So where's this all coming from? After my review of "My Fair Punky", the forum "lit up" (hah) with response, most of it not approving of how I had judged the episode and roundaboutly accusing me of being jaded or burned out. Well, I AM burned out. I've done very little to hide that I haven't approved of Season Three in general, and I'm still deciding whether or not to buy Season Four. I probably will, because I finish what I start and there are some decent-looking episodes in the bunch. But come on. Does it really compare to the first season and the high watermark that was set? I had the opportunity recently to sit down with my sister and re-watch virtually the entire first season. I wasn't wincing through that. I didn't complain about "oh, Punky shouldn't be doing THAT". No, I loved it. As someone who is attempting to watch through the entire series and give an honest look at what I thought of a series I loved watching as a toddler and have unexpectedly re-discovered, I have to take these things into account. Yeah, it's a kid's show. Yeah, it's probably not really worth THAT much effort at the end of the day. Hey, I made my choice. That doesn't mean I'm going to pull the punches when it starts to stink. So, do we understand each other now? August 20, 2007: My Fair Punky ended up looking a little more like a sociology paper than a review, but it gets to the point I had stuck in my head. So, that's a success, though I fear I may have read too much into this. In other words, it's just like every week. I don't even know why I brought this up. August 13, 2007: Everyone is dating this week in the Treehouse, except of course for Punky. And Cherie. All right, all of the adults. The ones actually on the show, that is. I need better ideas for the front page blurb. The Matchmaker is up, go read that instead. It's 90% more readable than this, I swear. August 6, 2007: "Fighting City Hall" sounds a bit like an action movie made by a low-budget independent, but I swear that it's the title of this week's episode. So instead of Henry bearing arms and quoting a McBain movie, he's squeaking like a girl and getting dissed by Punky. Doesn't sound fair, does it? July 30, 2007: It's time for one of the three most influential episodes in Punky history. So of course, it's a shorter review than usual. Doesn't that just make perfect sense? OK, no, it doesn't. Just read "The Metamorphosis" then, because I swear that there's a reason. July 23, 2007: Yes, I phoned this in. Yes indeed, I phoned this in. So if you're going to blame me for being slack in reviewing It's A Dog's Life, then I can't do anything about it. Because it's true. It just happens to be an average episode in between "Best Friends" and boobs, what am I supposed to do? Juggle? July 15, 2007: As the forumers know, last week's update fell off the map when my disc starting spazzing halfway through the episode and refused to show me the rest. So, looks like the Buffalos are on permanent migration then. This week, we pick up with Best Friends, which a lot of you will remember as the "Cherie Sotta" episode. Fried gold. July 1, 2007: Half a day early, because I am Canadian and feel the need to celebrate our independence with explosive devices and sleeping in tents. While I re-accquaint myself with the June 25, 2007: You know, one would think that I completely hate the new season with the reviews that have been coming up lately. Well, hate is a strong word. Be my guest. Just read the review for Open Door, Broken Heart: Part 1 before you go accusing me of seasonism. You can't prove that that's not a word any more than you can prove that I'm biased against anything that isn't a banana. June 18, 2007: And so, just after this year's Father's Day, I hereby post an episode review of an elderly mother going to a home. Okay, I didn't exactly plan for this holiday. Then again, I don't do much for it in the real world, so I'm consistent. Er, just read up on Hands Across The Halls now before this preview blurb goes all the way into the toilet. June 11, 2007: Anyone who came here around the normal update time saw the equivalent of a "Work In Progress" sign claiming more work. Sorry about that, just tweaking things a bit. The fact is, Divorce Anderson Style is an episode that deserves a good, detailed review. One of the regulars will leave, I'll get my "that's why I'm doing this" episode in before I'm subjected to more lip-syncing pop groups. Everyone's happy. EVERYONE'S HAPPY. June 4, 2007: Crap, I forgot that I had written my return to the site as being the last week in May as opposed to the first week in June. Whoops. Nonetheless, regular updates resume. Tons of Fun trying to find me on the forum these days (technical problems on my end), but at least the site goes on. April 23, 2007: Okay, the missed week was not the best way to set a precedent for Season Three. Then again, maybe I just couldn't work up a terrible amount of enthusiasm for Punky's Big Story. My review seems to indicate that, anyway. The bigger story may be why I'm choosing to write like there's a split personality who writes the reviews. Maybe he's the crazy one. April 9, 2007: Holy crap, it's a new season! I honestly didn't think that the site would last this long, and I wasn't 100% sure that I'd even get to watch this season back when the Treehouse started (rights issues, y'see). Despite both of those factors: Reading, Writing, And Rock & Roll kicks off Season 3 at Punky's Treehouse. Let's see if I can take less than a year and a half to get through this one... April 2, 2007: The site updates dropped off the map for a couple of weeks there, heh. Why's that? Well, if you read the forum you'd know. That's right, I'm still proudly self-shilling. However, we're back to close the second season with Accidents Happen, an episode review where I waffle like an iron. So, 50% less cutting sarcasm; wait until next week for the full dose.  March 12, 2007: The Changes are done. Wait a second, the Changes are done?! Jeez, it feels like I've been writing about that story arc for years. But in any case, the review of Part 5 is up, and thus the whole shebang is finished. Wow, time flies. March 5, 2007: Even start typing and have nothing to type? Here's Part 4 of Changes. Enjoy! February 26, 2007: Changes Part 3: Hey Look, Our Forum's Back! So that's one hurdle jumped, but I still have a review to get to. So take a look at that, and I'll go answer the seemingly five million threads that have been bumped since the action started again. No, this is not a subliminal message. Trust me, there's nothing subliminal about it. February 20, 2007: Amidst some, er, server activity at 6te, the week's update is a bit late. I'd tell everyone to cool their heels in the forum while you're waiting anyway, but it seems that's a bit later in coming back. So, click through the Changes saga in one of the couple of different ways for the blurb of the week while I pull up my place to talk about February 12, 2007: This week kicks off A Month of Changes at the Treehouse, as I review the (mostly) final episodes of the current season. I'm going to break tradition here and not directly link the review this time, because I want you to go to the Review Index and have a look at the banner and the introduction to the story arc that it links to. A huge five-part story, the halfway point in the series, AND a strong indication that the Season Three reviews are almost upon us are good reasons to get hyped, I'd say. February 5, 2007: I didn't do any shilling in this week's review, don't worry. What I did do is make a conscious decision to defend the episode that nostalgia sites love to laugh at. Okay, it's deserved, but I didn't need to force anything on my end. See what I mean in Cherie Lifesaver. JOIN THE FORUM JOIN THE FORUM JOIN THE FORUM JOIN THE FORUM January 29, 2007: Look ma, I can update on time! After being a day late two weeks ago and missing last week altogether, it probably looked like Fall 2006 all over again in here. Hah, no way, not when I've got the "Changes" mega-event coming up soon. So, the site will go on, with the less funny of the two episodes before that point. In fact, Girls Will Be Boys is downright mean-spirited sometimes. The upside? Forum shout-outs and semi-useless trivia. And really, isn't that what the Internet is all about? January 17, 2007: Whoops, forgot something, without which I'd be terminally bugged on the forum. I almost forgot the bio of Betty Johnson. Heck, for a while, I even forgot that the section existed. Man, for all of this trouble in keeping up with a weekly review, remind me never to go into journalism. January 16, 2007: Yeah, 16th. Yeah, I know I'm a day late. Well, maybe you should just consider that I have a life, or maybe I should consider not leaving the review until evening and having stuff come up that I completely forgot about like a jackass. At any rate, read about Urban Fear. That title sounds like an NBC report. About ice storms and crashed watermelon trucks. January 8, 2007: Maybe I'm too bored and jaded too still be doing these reviews. Maybe after all of this time and all of the break time, you just can't go back to watching and trying to critique sitcoms from over 20 years ago. Then again, maybe the last episode just sucked, because I didn't have anywhere near the same kind of problem with Milk Does A Body Good. Granted, I didn't go on for like twenty pages with this one, but I'm sure I can get a lot of feedback about that being a GOOD thing. January 1, 2007: It's a New Year, so what better thing to than, y'know, actually update? Actually, there's a good reason that updates suddenly dropped into the toilet at the end of July; no power at my house. No electricity makes it very hard to update things via computer, and under the circumstances, reviewing 20-year-old TV shows wasn't the biggest thing on my mind. I've actually been back to the status quo for a couple of months now, but it's takes time after something like that to get used to lights that actually light and not writing a word for three months. It's like when you fall off a cliff and have to spend like a year learning to walk again. Except, trying to write again isn't as cool since you can't point to huge scars from jagged rocks, or brag to everyone about how a cliff fall couldn't kill you. Anyways, the site's future is steady now. I got Season 3 about a week after the power dropped out, so I should have it nice and watched by the time this site rips through the rest of Season 2. And by the time Season 3 winds up, Season 4 will probably at least announced, so the amount of downtime shouldn't be much unless I just up and say "Screw it" again like I did last year. Oh, and I promised updates. Here's The Gift. It's not a very good gift; kind of like pulling the orange out of your stocking and finding out someone ate half of it. At least it's short. July 30, 2006: Yes, I know I went MIA last week. Do you know how long and how many fans it takes to reconstitute liquified flesh? Moving right along, though, here's the call to Love Thy Neighbour. I guess it's appropriate that I'm late with it, then, because this "Hallowe'en" episode aired on November 17th. That's not Hallowe'en where I come from. July 16, 2006: Me room on fire, me room is dire, feeling hot, hot hot. However, updates come regardless or rain, sleet, snow, gloom of night, or whether the owner has melted into a pool of liquid flesh. So while Punky and Mike do The Search for a pair of missing mothers, I'll make my own journey for a stronger fan and maybe some iced raspberry lemonade. All while, ironically, I've spent the past couple of hours looking at sun-shapes. July 9, 2006: Do you like scary movies? This episode vaguely resembles them. Do you like wonderfully cheesy effects work? The Perils of Punky is right up your alley. Do you like peanut butter? Silly question, everyone does. July 2, 2006: And so, one day removed from a rather lousy Canada Day (Happy birthday Canada: I ain't going to your parties any more!), I'm here to open a can of whoopass on a tap dance. For the people who liked Tap Your Troubles Away, you might want to go read a forum or surf YouTube or something. When I say "no punches pulled", I mean it. June 25, 2006: I don't have nearly as much to say as the monolith I posted last week. So: Go read. Baby Buddies, Inc. up. Much fun it brings. Today's grammar brought to you by machine translation tools. June 18, 2006: So, it's been a while, hasn't it? Last time I updated this place, it was Easter. That's kind of shameful. Having some big elaborate reason would be nice, but I don't have it. All I have is that my usual bad attention span caught up with me, and then I had to move. So I don't even really have a good reason why I was gone so long, just a promise of more updates. Whoot. Anyways, the changes to the place are small, but there are a couple. First, Season Three is a reality, on pre-order for most, and Season Four is just as tangible, so the episode lists are up for them and Season Three will even start getting some reviews after the batch for Two is done. They could have been started in August, but I could be just a doink who messed up his own schedule. So the fall is a more likely time to see Season Three fully hit this place. Second, note the banner below the newsblurb. This place was created (as The Cheeseblogger) and converted primarily because of that forum. Heck, I even had to write up that partial retraction to I Love You, Brandon thanks to that place. (Curses that swarthy meister30; curse him, I say!) So the place needs perhaps a little more due than a link back on the Links page. And yes, I can make it semi-official. I don't own the place, but I say I can swing a semi-officialdom. Though it may be more interesting to watch if I'm wrong. Third, the update cycle has changed slightly. Reason being: The day indicated means, "around midnight Enough about the site's backstage workings, though. There is a review. Go read it. I promise that it's not completely covered in writing rust. Apr. 16, 2006: It's Easter, and there's lots of colourful things around. I don't have a cool tie-in Easter episode like with Yes, Punky, There Is A Santa Claus, but this one does have a brightly coloured treat being unwrapped. And hey, it even, by some odd coincidence, has the same name as this very web site. How 'bout that? Alright, it's Punky's Treehouse. Have fun. Apr. 9, 2006: I realize that I'm a few months too late to announce the first review of Season Two, but The KO Kid does mark the beginning of the Treehouse's regular coverage. And hopefully, we can stretch this out until Season Three gets here; whadya say? Incidentally, do check out that (not-so-)new Gallery section up yonder. Do not, however, get used to the layout; that's just temporary. After the lion's share of the pics are up, I'll be converting it, since it's not technically part of the Treehouse but a subsidary of the Soleil Moon Frye & Off Topics Forum (y'know, the one I've had linked down in the box for like six months now). It'll still be accessible through the front page, though, so don't worry about not being able to find it. Mar. 19, 2006: Punky's Treehouse hits a milehouse today, as with the review of "Fenster Hall", I now have a full season in the can. I have no idea how to celebrate this besides maybe a victory yell and a roast beast, so just read the review. I'll start the roast. Mar. 12, 2006: "Gals and Dolls, oh don't you love crazy Gals and Dolls...". Alright, read that before I turn this page into a rendition of a musical I've never seen. Or worse, before I attempt to sing "Tomorrow" with doubtlessly awful results. And while you're running, run to the Bios, and read up on everyone's favourite goofball. Since I don't plan on writing about Steve Martin anytime soon, though, just read Allan's. Mar. 5, 2006: Look right here; it's a nearly late review of Punky Brewster's Workout. Then after that, pop over to Bios and read up on Margaux Kramer, star of stage, screen, and her own imagination. It's a double bill of "hey, ya wanna be in home movies?", today on the Treehouse! Feb. 25, 2006: Yes, it's Saturday and not Sunday. Yes, there's no update for last Sunday. Nice to see that the eyes work. For this week, though, we're back on track. I give the usual run-down to I Love You Brandon, and then we go on to give you the life and times of best friend/sidekick/token chipmunk Cherie Johnson. So that way, everyone's happy, except for those who aren't Punky fans. To whom I say, "What are you doing here?!" Also, official announcement; Bios are now going to be part of the weekly update, as well as pieces for other sections once we get through those. Rather than, you know, my current approach of, "Hey, I haven't updated that section in two months! Rush!" And if you made it this far, congratulatons and get yourself a drink. Feb. 12, 2006: And yay, another Valentine's Day is almost upon us. I didn't really plan for My Aged Valentine to be reviewed today, but it seems to have happened anyway. Given the review that I've given it, though, I'm not sure whether that's a good thing... Feb. 5, 2006: Today, we review Henry Falls in Love, Part 2: Brother Act. Make all of the "family show" puns you want. I'll just laugh at that huge frizzy haircut that Meeno has. I guess the balding gene has its advantages after all. Jan. 29, 2006: See what happens when you rile Henry up? He kicks your engaged butt to the curb. Okay, maybe not quite, but Henry Falls In Love, Part 1 does see him lay down some Punky law. And then Punky runs away on him. It's like if the Punky Brewster writers tried The Twilight Zone-style trick endings. Jan. 25, 2006: Meet Henry. He's a spry 60-year-old with a sharp sense of humour. Warning: must be at least tolerant of sunny little girls. Jan. 22, 2006: First of all, take notice of the shiny new "Bios" button. Punky's already up, so have a look. Also, it's that time of the week, and it's Punky's week to be in the record business. And Andy Gibb's chance to get into character. And Henry's chance to sing about salami. Would I lie? Jan. 16, 2006: In case you haven't heard yet, look here. I hardly need to say the official Punky's Treehouse reaction, do I? Jan. 15, 2006: I have no cute pun on the name "Bye Bye My", mostly because I already used a couple in the review. So, with the A-material gone, I find myself in way over my head. See, this episode is an absolute breeding ground for bad puns. Jan. 8, 2006: Dog Dough Afternoon has nothing to do with Dog Day Afternoon, and thank goodness for that. That is one episode of Punky Brewster we do not need. Then again, you could argue that we didn't need one about Punky's boobs either, but history added enough irony to keep that one nice and hilarious. Jan. 6, 2006: Remember that section I used to have. I think it was...uh, what was it; col...ums? Well, I actually wrote something for it, for once. At the going rate, look for the next one at the end of March. What, y'all want a link? Alright, fine. Jan. 1, 2006: Some people party on New Year's; I post updates. Anyways, cue the Andy Gibb fans, 'cause Miss Adorable is walking along the stage. And, surprisingly, not in mismatched heels. Also, Margaux sings, Punky jumps through hoops to get this party started, and every male within 25 feet will see a faint pink glow over the entire thing. Dec. 25, 2005: Why close for the holidays? I don't post that often anyways. Anyways, the Two Weeks of Christmas winds up on the big day itself. Yes, Punky, There Is A Santa Claus, and he left a lovely little episode that I like to fanboyish excesses. The only thing to wonder about now, is what in the bloody heck am I going to do next year? Dec. 18, 2005: Part 1 of Christmas On Punky Brewster is this week, with the review of Christmas Shoplifting. Which means, yes, I'm veering out of order again. And not just for an excuse to use the Season 2 box art again, either. Dec. 15, 2005: An update, and it's not Sunday either. Anyways, an update of one-and-a-half songs in the Christmas MIDI section (hidden away in that "Other Things" button maybe three people are going to click on) is occuring. OK, it's technically two, but I feel calling a 45-second version of one song could get me hit with false advertisement. Dec. 11, 2005: And now, Total Work Exhaustion Theater brings you a neat collection: Go to Sleep/A Visit to the Doctor. And then, disappearance for the rest of the week. Ah, the holidays. On the other hand, the forumers are going to faint with relief when they realize that I finally did something this week without referencing THAT show. Wink. Dec. 3, 2005: If you'll indulge me for just a second: "What's tonight?" "Parent's Night, Parent's Night, PARENT'S NIGHT!" "Oh...when is that?" "...tonight, tonight, TONIGHT!" Nov. 27, 2005: I'm still not sure how I did it, but Take Out To The Ballgame is up on time. I'm sure you're expected no less than 8,000 baseball references. Well, no. I'd rather hit myself with a bat than get that lazy. Kind of like Henry's up-close-and-personal relationship in this episode, eh? Nov. 25, 2005: More Paintchops! Yay! Nov. 21, 2005: Other Things gets an update. Seeing as how I have about 15 various homemade joke graphics hanging around, I don't see why they shouldn't get some space. Also, I have a feeling I'm going to neglect the heck out of that section for a while anyway, so let's start ahead. Nov. 20, 2005: The Cheeseblogger is dead; long live Punky's Treehouse! Let's face it, the random column-based concept is being done by many other deserving web sites, so let's focus on something that needs a representative. The review update of the week adds "Walk Pool/Gone Fishing" to the mix. Say hello to them, they're quite decent. |