Season 2

of the Punky Brewster series aired between 1985 and 1986.

Synopsis
The second season's February 2, 1986, episode introduced the first installment of a five-part storyline. In the five-part episode "Changes", Henry's downtown photography studio was destroyed in a fire and it seemed for a time that he would not be able to recover from the aftermath and resume his career. As a result of his stress, Henry ended up hospitalized for a bleeding ulcer.

During that time, Betty and Cherie made arrangements for Punky to stay with them until Henry recovered. Everyone's stability was halted when bureaucratic social worker Simon P. Chillings (guest star Timothy Stack) showed up, found out about Henry's condition, and deemed the worst: he found Betty unsuitable to care for Punky because Punky would not have her own room. Chillings also felt that Henry was unfit to be Punky's legal guardian in the long term due to his health, age, and uncertain financial future. Chillings made Punky a ward of the state yet again and she returned to Fenster Hall.

Punky's efforts to escape from Fenster included a trick pulled by Margaux, in which she dressed up and pretended to be Punky. Despite advocacy from Mike Fulton, Chillings placed Punky with a new foster family: the fabulously wealthy Jules and Tiffany Buckworth (Robert Casper and Joan Welles), the latter of whom did not take kindly at all to Punky's working-class playfulness. Things gradually returned to normal: Henry, back on his feet following surgery, opened up a glitzy new studio at the local mall; in the process, he reunited with Punky. At the conclusion of the story arc, Henry officially adopted Punky.

The final episode of the second season was notable for centering on the very recent, real-life Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Punky and her classmates watched the live coverage of the shuttle launch in Mike Fulton's class. After the accident occurred, Punky is traumatized; her dreams of becoming an astronaut are crushed. She writes a letter to NASA, and is visited by special guest star Buzz Aldrin. NBC cancelled the show soon after.

Trivia

 * T. K. Carter is added to the cast after Fenster Hall, part 2 and he doesn't return in Season 3.
 * This is the final season to air on NBC before moving to syndication starting with Season 3.

Cast & Characters

 * Soleil Moon Frye as Punky Brewster
 * George Gaynes as Henry Warnimont
 * Susie Garrett as Betty Johnson
 * Cherie Johnson as Cherie Johnson
 * T. K. Carter as Mike Fulton
 * Ami Foster as Margaux Kramer
 * Casey Ellison as Allen Anderson
 * Sandy as Brandon "the Wonder Dog"

Episodes

 * 1) The K.O. Kid
 * 2) Punky's Treehouse
 * 3) Cheaters Never Win
 * 4) Baby Buddies, Inc
 * 5) Tap Your Troubles Away
 * 6) The Perils of Punky, part 1
 * 7) The Perils of Punky, part 2
 * 8) Just Say No
 * 9) The Search
 * 10) Love Thy Neighbor
 * 11) The Gift
 * 12) Milk Does a Body Good
 * 13) Christmas Shoplifting
 * 14) Urban Fear
 * 15) Girls Will Be Boys
 * 16) Cherie Lifesaver
 * 17) Changes, part 1
 * 18) Changes, part 2
 * 19) Changes, part 3
 * 20) Changes, part 4
 * 21) Changes, part 5
 * 22) Accidents Happen