SERIES & MINI-SERIES batch2/20260907_121808

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## HEADING: SERIES & MINI-SERIES
'Wonder Years' - most promising TV pilot since 'L.A. Law' premieres Sunday

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300. By Joseph Walker
Deseret News television editor
I KNOW YOU'RE NOT going to believe this, but the best thing on television Sunday will come on after the Super Bowl. And so, I'm not referring to the NFL championship game's propensity for rambling heck, the prospect of the Denver Airways taking on the Washington Waterfowl is so boring in and of itself, the game will probably turn out to be the most exciting on record. Even so, it will probably have to go some in order to match the aesthetic excellence of the delightful post-Super Bowl slot. The Wonder Years (Sunday at 8:30 p.m. Ch. 4) was not originally targeted as the beneficiary of all the hyping ABC will doubtless do during the much-watched football game. That boor was intended for another new series called "China Beach," a five-hour drama that is sort of like "M*A*S*H" meets "Tour of Duty." But the network changed its mind soon after screening "The Wonder Years" pilot for television critics during the recent network press tour. I have to believe that the enthusiastic reaction from many critics on the tour was at least in part responsible for the decision.

301. The Wonder Years (CC) - Comedy-Drama Debut: For 12-year-old Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage), the '60s were a golden age for kids. In this pilot for a series scheduled for March, Kevin, as the now-adult narrator, reflects on his suburban youth, recalling humiliation by brother Wayne (Jason Hervey), his first day of junior high, his first love (Danica McKellar) and tragedy, Mr. Arnold (Dan Lauria). [Time approximates.] 1/11/88

302. After the funeral of Winnie's brother, the forces of love and death tear at Kevin (Fred Savage) as he dwells on thoughts of his first kiss with Winnie (Danica McKellar) and as he later begins sex-education studies at school. Paul: Josh Saviano 3/22/88

303. Kevin (Fred Savage) observes the power and authority that seem to come with being a male of the species, but he still hasn't a clue as to what his father (Dan Lauria) actually does for a living. Norma: Alley Mills. Karen: Olivia D'Abo. Wayne: Jason Hervey. Al: Ken Swafford. Pete: Gregory "Mars" Martin. 3/29/88

304. Kevin (Fred Savage) observes the simmering conflicts between his parents and but I intro friend
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ALL ABOUT
DISK

So what is "The Wonder Years"? Well, it's kind of hard to say. You see, it doesn't really fit into any of the firmly established programming genres - a mark on the plus side for creativity right off the bat. It's a half-hour comedy, but it is filmed with one-camera video instead of the traditional three-camera video tape technique for situation comedies. And there's no laugh track. Praise be.

And like the current spate of "dramadies" on TV like "Hooperman" and "Frank's Place," "The Wonder Years" has dramatic elements. But it is funnier than either of those shows, and less adult-oriented.

To name a show that most closely approximates "The Wonder Years" in style and tone I'll have to reach into the world of feature films, where Jean Shepherd's "A Christmas Story" has the same kind of witty, innocent, nostalgic charm - not to mention the same powerful voice-over narration.

The ABC series is set in 1968 in suburban America. "It's an interesting time and place," said series co-creator Carol Black, "because it represents the last time American kids were allowed to grow up with such innocence and naivete. Somehow, the world became a tougher place after that and American kids have never been the same since - even in suburbia."

Black and her creative partner Neal Marlens, co-creators of ABC's biggest current hit, "Growing Pains," both grew up during that period.

"I guess it's finally becoming acceptable for people our age to look back nostalgically at our youth," Marlens said. "It was a great time to be a kid. In a way it's too bad we all had to grow up so fast after that."

But Marlens and Black have found a way to go back and re-live those golden years through the eyes of Kevin Arnold, the 12-year-old hero of "The Wonder Years." As played by Fred Savage, young people will relate to his funny, poignant junior high exploits in this coming-of-age comedy. And adults will enjoy the show nostalgically, especially the sentimental insights expressed in the narration.

What I'm trying to say here is that this is the most promising series pilot I've seen since NBC screened "L.A. Law" for us a couple of years ago. But don't just take my word for it. Check out "The Wonder Years" for yourself right after the Super Bowl Sunday.

It's the best thing you'll see all night. Or all week. Or maybe even all year.

305. The Wonder Years VICE VERSA (1988) w/Fred Savage & Judge Reinhold
THE WONDER YEARS, Conclusion 5-12-88
WORKING Series Debut 10-8-89 w/Fred Savage thru 4-1-93

OK, wonderful—little B. Stick around after the script for missions of this series.

Kevin (Fred Savage) is in trouble. His mom's no help, she just watches him work with his father then gives Kevin a better idea about the old man tick. It's nicely done. Series executive producer Neal Marlens wrote the script. (7:30 PM 4) 3/29/88

Last week on The Wonder Years, Kevin worked up the nerve to phone 12-year-old goddess Lisa Berlini (Kathy Wagner). Tonight, in a winning episode written by Danica Stern (the younger brother of the show's off-camera narrator Daniel Stern), that Kevin asks her to a school dance—and she dumps him for a basketball star. That's not the worst of it either: his second choice, Winnie, is going with a 13-year-old superpunk who has long hair, glasses—and chest hair. How can Kevin compete with that? (7:30 PM 4) 4/12/88

The Wonder Years returns for a second season with more of the honest, heartwarming comedy that earned this sitcom last season's Emmy. Tonight, while Winnie (Danica McKellar) becomes popular with the in-crowd, ascending "like an angel into junior-high heaven," not-so-popular Kevin (Fred Savage) and Paul (Josh Saviano) become "two lost souls forever locked outside the gates." (8 PM 4) 11/30/88

Matthew Carlson's script for tonight's The Wonder Years contains just enough comedy to leaven an otherwise poignant slice-of-life family drama. Dan Lauria and Alley Mills as Kevin's parents, Jack and Norma Arnold, are in the forefront as Jack gets all fired up when Norma takes a ceramics class at the local community college. (8 PM 4) 2/1/89

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306. WONDER YEARS (CC) It's all quiet on the romantic front until Kevin (Fred Savage) agrees to help Kirk (Michael Landis) patch up his problems with Donna (Danica McKellar). Eric: Donnie Wayne: Jason Hervey. Paul: Josh Saviano 1/18/89

307. WONDER YEARS (CC) 2/1/89 Kevin (Fred Savage) feels the shifting sands of time toppling his world after his mother (Alley Mills) enrolls in a pottery class, and his piano teacher (Ben Stein) lectures on the devastation of earthquakes. Jack: Dan Lauria. Studying the piano strikes Kevin (Fred Savage) as an unbearable chore that takes him away from his first love, football. But when his piano teacher (Maxine Stuart) compliments his feel for the notes, it's music to Kevin's ears. Ronald: Joseph Dammann. 2/8/89

308. WONDER YEARS (CC) 2/15/89 Brotherly love doesn't come easily for Kevin (Fred Savage) when the ever-obnoxious Wayne (Jason Hervey) interferes with Kevin and Paul's science experiment involving hamsters. Paul: Josh Saviano. 2/15/89

309. WONDER YEARS (CC) 2/22/89 Kevin (Fred Savage) develops a crush on his English teacher (Wendel Meldrum), who persuades him to play Robert Kennedy in the school production, a role that inspires Kevin to new emotional highs. Jack: Dan Lauria. Paul: Josh Saviano. Young Martin Luther King Jr.: E'Lon. Wayne: Jason Hervey. [Repeat]

310. WONDER YEARS (CC) 3/1/89 Paul's lack of basketball talent begins to affect his friendship with Kevin (Fred Savage), who determines to help Paul (Josh Saviano) bounce back. Cutlip: Robert Picardo. Miller: Gary Bayer. Harris: Dustin Diamond. [New day and time.] 2/28/89

311. WONDER YEARS (CC) 3/7/89 Elected to the student council—over Mr. Ed and Ringo Starr—Kevin (Fred Savage) bucks the system by organizing a protest against the war in Vietnam. Tyler: Denis Arndt. Michael Manasseri: Diperna: Rave Birk.

312. WONDER YEARS (CC) 3/14/89 For Kevin (Fred Savage), his breakup with Becky (Crystal McKellar) gives new meaning to the phrase "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Winnie: Danica McKellar. Miss White: Wendel Meldrum. Paul: Josh Saviano. Norma: Alley Mills. Carla: Krista Murphy. Kirk: Michael Landes.

Some of the finest ensemble acting on television this season has been turned in by Fred Savage, Danica McKellar and Paul Saviano—the youngsters on The Wonder Years. Tonight, Kevin (Savage) is bummed out at having to take piano lessons. (8 PM 4) 2/8/89

Anyone who ever grew up with a brother or a sister should be able to relate to tonight's episode of The Wonder Years. Matthew Carlson's script goes for (and gets) its share of laughs while taking a tiny tug on the heartstrings. The fraternal friction between 15-year-old Wayne (Jason Hervey) and 12-year-old Kevin (Fred Savage) intensifies until the younger boy explodes. (8 PM 4) 2/15/89

A sensitive and sentimental rerun of The Wonder Years has Kevin taking a role in a school drama about the civil-rights movement. Even though he hates plays, he does it in part to help "raise people's consciousness about racial oppression" and because "theater is a form of political expression," but mostly because he has a major-league crush on the author/director, his knockout 28-year-old English teacher. (8 PM 4) 2/22/89

The Wonder Years moves to a new day and a new time. With humor and pathos, tonight's show recalls "one of the most grueling rituals of childhood"—choosing sides for gym-class basketball games. (7:30 PM 4) 2/28/89

Kevin gets involved in politics in a big way on The Wonder Years tonight. First, he gets himself elected to the student council and then, in his first official act, organizes a protest against the Vietnam War. (7:30 PM 4) 3/7/89