Punky Brewster/WMG

"Perils of Punky" was meant to be the final episode
Given the very dark tone of the episode. It is possible the original version ended with Punky Brewster dying.
 * Doubtful. NBC wouldn't kill off a character in a show whose demographic is primarily children.

Punky's mom and dad were jailed soon after for abandoning her.
Chicago may be a big city, but anyone who'd abandon a child should be and will be apprehended.

Punky liked Allen more than she'd been letting on.
Why else would she cry when Allen departed in season 3 ("Divorce, Anderson Style")?
 * She probably thought he'd become a Nurikabe again.