If you were a kid growing up in the late ‘80s, you probably learned a lot about history and related to the universal struggle of growing up portrayed in “The Wonder Years.” Set in the ‘60s, the series followed Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage) as he experienced first loves and heartbreaks that are still reached compelling decades later.
If you’re an adult now, you’ll want to revisit the show on DVD, and if you’re Kevin Arnold’s age in the 21st century, you can experience what we went through all over again. The complete series is finally available on DVD for the first time, with all the correct music licensed, which I understand was the big holdup.
The five season set also has several discs full of bonus features, complete interviews with the cast and creators, and further discussions amongst them. Exploring the bonus features taught me a lot more about “The Wonder Years,” so below I’ll share the 10 things I learned from the “Wonder Years” Complete Series DVD, and trust me there’s so much more to find in the DVD set.
The Wonder Years on DVD
-
1. 'The Wonder Years' Began As a Movie
Series creators Neil Marlens and Carol Black shared that they first conceived of “The Wonder Years” as a movie about growing up in the ‘60s.
When they realized it would work better as a TV show, they turned the script into a pilot and expanded the outline for future episodes.
-
2. Kevin and Winnie’s 1st Kiss Was Really Their First Kiss
When Kevin Arnold kissed Winnie Cooper, that was really the first time Fred Savage and Danica McKellar had ever kissed anyone.
It was take six that was used, when Savage improvised stroking McKellar’s hair. The actors admit they had a crush on each other the first year, but after that became like brother and sister.
-
3. The Kids Liked the Set Food
Many scenes in “The Wonder Years” were set around the Arnold family dinner table. To most seasoned actors, set food is vile as it’s been sitting around under hot lights for take after take.
Jason Hervey and Fred Savage admitted they liked the set food and looked forward to eating it. They finished their plates.
-
4. Winnie Was Only Supposed to Be In One Episode
The character of Winnie Cooper was listed as a guest starring role in the pilot. In fact, the only reason McKellar was allowed to audition was that it would only be a single episode. Her mother wanted her to have a normal childhood.
The rest is television history as Winnie Cooper became Kevin Arnold’s number one love interest for five seasons.
-
5. The Writer’s Strike Saved 'The Wonder Years' From Executives
The first season of “The Wonder Years” crammed six episode scripts in before the 1988 Writer’s Guild of America strike began.
When the strike ended, Marlens and Black were so rushed to write the second season that they didn’t have time to add executive notes to scripts or reshoot scenes at their suggestion. The strike actually protected the artistic integrity of “The Wonder Years.”
-
6. The Adult Cast Was Usually Acting Opposite Tape -
We all know that child actors have limited hours they’re allowed to work because of protective labor laws and school demands. Even with the kids banking up to nine hours of schoolwork on a Monday, “The Wonder Years” would shoot as much as they could with the young actors’ and then film the rest after they released them.
This meant Dan Lauria and Alley Mills were often acting to pieces of tape. Mills shared that in scenes with three young characters, she’d often forget which piece of tape represented which actor. Kevin and Winnie’s big “I love you” scene was even shot with the two actors separate!
-
7. The Writers Paid Attention To The Real Kids
One of the most memorable scenes in “The Wonder Years” to me is when Winnie starts talking about whether someone likes Kevin or likes him likes him.
Boy, we’ve all been there. McKellar shared that this was a real conversation she had on the set the week before, and it magically appeared in the following week’s episode.
-
8. Dan Lauria Was the Vietnam War Consultant
Actor Dan Lauria was actually a military veteran himself, so when it came to showing news footage of the Vietnam War on the Arnold family television, he advised the producers whether they were screwing up the timeline.
-
9. Arye Gross Was the Original Narrator
I’m sure I would have noticed had I binge-watched “The Wonder Years” back then, but week to week I never noticed that Daniel Stern only took over in the second episode.
The producers were concerned about a scheduling conflict he might have with a movie, but after the pilot episode, they realized he was the right narrator for Kevin Arnold’s life. Stern shared if he had to re-record an episode’s narration a third time, he got a $1000 bonus.
-
10. There Were Plans for a Sixth Season
Dan Lauria shared that a sixth season would have seen Wayne Arnold take over his father’s business. A few more tidbits about the future of the Arnold family are revealed in the bonus features.
