Pair an adorable kid with a crotchety old grump and you've got entertainment gold; for proof, you need look no further than Punky Brewster. In the (comparatively) innocent 80s, the story of a young girl being taken in by an older man tugged at the heart strings instead of setting off creepiness alarms.

Played by adorable and precocious Soleil Moon Frye, Punky was a little girl abandoned by both her parents and left with only Brandon the dog for company. The resourceful imp found an empty apartment to live in, making friends with other people in the building. Her situation became apparent to several building residents and photographer Henry Warnimont reluctantly agreed to let her stay with him temporarily. Henry grumbled and harrumphed but little Punky soon burrowed her way into the old curmudgeon's heart. Though the courts initially frowned upon the living arrangements, Henry eventually gained custody of Punky (and Brandon) and then adopted her (and Brandon).

Punky was brave, outspoken, insightful and clever, viewing every day as an adventure. Other than Brandon, she had friends like upstairs neighbor Cherie, geeky Allen and snobbish Margaux. Henry never lost his gruff demeanor but Punky could disarm his grumblings faster than you can say "adorable waif."

The series was a hit for a NBC and after four years it was heavily syndicated. It even spun off a successful animated version that featured all the Punky Brewster regulars.