The Wonder Years (season 1)
| The Wonder Years (season 1) | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | January 31 – April 19, 1988 |
| Season chronology | |
The first season of The Wonder Years aired on ABC from January 31, 1988 to April 19, 1988.
Episodes
- Fred Savage, Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, Olivia d'Abo, Jason Hervey and Josh Saviano were present for all episodes.
- Danica McKellar was absent for 1 episode.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Steve Miner | Neal Marlens and Carol Black | January 31, 1988 | B88003 |
|
Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage) and his friends Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano) and Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar) are introduced during the summer of 1968 as they are about to enter the newly renamed Robert F. Kennedy Junior High School. The first day for Kevin was tough. At least one teacher remarked about what a problem Kevin's older brother Wayne (Jason Hervey) had been, and assumed the same of Kevin. Later at lunch, after being teased by Wayne and his friends over his anticipated relationship with Winnie, Kevin attempted to leave the cafeteria with an apple in front of principal Diperna (leaving the cafeteria with food was prohibited). As Diperna confronted him; Kevin, already angry from Wayne's teasing over Winnie, hurled the apple back into the cafeteria. Kevin's parents were called in for Diperna's disciplinary session with Kevin; and just as Kevin was about to be punished when he and his parents returned home, horrible news is received--Winnie's brother Brian had been killed in action in the Vietnam War. Part one of two. Guest-starring: Bentley Mitchum as Winnie's older brother Brian Cooper, who scolds Wayne for bullying Kevin; Raye Birk in his first appearance as principal Mr. Diperna. In 2009, TV Guide ranked this episode #39 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes.[1] | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Swingers" | Neal Marlens and Carol Black | Carol Black and Neal Marlens | March 22, 1988 | B88101 |
|
Picking up where the pilot left off, Brian Cooper's funeral is being held; and even at Brian's funeral, all Kevin can think of is Winnie. Meanwhile at school, in the boys' physical education class, Coach Cutlip (Robert Picardo) begins the much-anticipated sex education; but after becoming quickly bored, Kevin and Paul want to learn about sex beyond the classroom. So at Wayne's suggestion, Kevin and Paul go to the local bookstore to purchase a copy of Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask). But out of fear of embarrassment because of an attractive store clerk, Kevin and Paul decide to shoplift the book, but luckily don't get caught. Later, when Kevin's mother Norma (Alley Mills) walks in on the boys squabbling with Wayne over the book, she scolds Kevin for supposedly snooping into her dresser drawers (indicating that she has a copy of the book as well). Part two of two. Guest-starring: Robert Picardo in his first appearance as Kevin's physical education teacher Coach Cutlip. Recurring guest: Bentley Mitchum in his final appearance as Brian Cooper's ghost in Kevin's imagination, giving Kevin friendly advice on being involved with Winnie. Inaccuracy note: This episode is set in 1968, but the book Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex was not published and released until 1969. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "My Father's Office" | Jeffrey Brown | Carol Black and Neal Marlens | March 29, 1988 | B88102 |
|
After Kevin asks him about what he does at work, his father Jack Arnold (Dan Lauria) brings Kevin to work with him at NORCOM (Jack's employer); and Kevin learns more about his dad by spending a day at his office. After witnessing severe disciplinary action from Jack's boss over the incompetence of Jack's subordinates, Kevin realizes why his dad returns home from work in a nasty mood most of the time. Absent: Danica McKellar as Winnie Cooper. Note: In 1997 TV Guide ranked this episode number 29 on its "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time" list.[2] | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Angel" | Art Wolff | Carol Black and Neal Marlens | April 5, 1988 | B88103 |
|
Kevin's older sister Karen (Olivia d'Abo) is now a hippie who doesn't communicate with her parents anymore. The tension is worsened when she brings home her new boyfriend Louis (John Corbett), also a hippie who angers Jack with his anti-war sentiments. Kevin also takes an immediate dislike to Louis; and in the end, Kevin's inclinations about Louis turn out to be true, as it is revealed that Louis had been cheating on Karen, leaving her in tears. Guest-starring: John Corbett as Karen's boyfriend Louis; Wendel Meldrum in her first appearance as Kevin's English teacher Miss White (although uncredited). | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Phone Call" | Jeffrey Brown | A. Scott Frank | April 12, 1988 | B88104 |
|
Kevin is smitten with cute classmate Lisa Berlini (Kathy Wagner), and decides that he will call her later that night. Meanwhile, Paul tries to find out if Lisa likes Kevin by consulting the junior high grapevine. After a day of cowering (he fakes an illness to cut school), and watching coverage on TV of the Apollo 8 astronaunts and their bravery during their mission in space; Kevin attempts to call Lisa again, but decides to put it off until after dinner. At dinner, to help give himself additional courage, Kevin asks Norma about the time Jack first called her. Later, after Jack scolds Wayne for teasing Kevin about calling Lisa, Kevin finally works up the courage to call Lisa and break the ice. Lisa answers and she and Kevin have a friendly chat as the episode fades out. In a subplot, the Arnolds gather around the TV to watch the Apollo 8 transmit live pictures of the Earth from the moon. Guest-starring: Kathy Wagner as Lisa Berlini. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Dance with Me" | Arlene Sanford | David M. Stern | April 19, 1988 | B88105 |
|
Kevin, by way of in-class note-passing, asks Lisa Berlini to the Fall Dance and she accepts; but soon after, when Brad Gaines asks her, she decides to go with him instead of Kevin. When Kevin confronts her about this, a guilt-stricken Lisa (after struggling to find the right words to say) explains to Kevin that she just wants to be friends. Meanwhile, while having lunch with Winnie and Paul; Kevin, still dejected from Lisa's rejection, feels himself falling back in love with Winnie (after he listens to Winnie read off the week's lunch menu in a romantic-sounding near-whisper) and asks her to the dance, but she already has a date for the dance with new boyfriend Kirk McCray (Michael Landes). In retaliation, Kevin tries to make Winnie jealous at the dance by dancing with another girl; but he fails, as Winnie doesn't seem fazed by it. Winnie does, however, finally feel sorry for Kevin and she ends up dancing with him after all. Guest-starring: Michael Landes in his first appearance as Winnie's new boyfriend Kirk McCray; Krista Murphy in her first appearance as Paul's new girlfriend Carla Healey; Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Brad Gaines. Recurring guest: Kathy Wagner in her final appearance as Lisa Berlini. She would only be referenced to in Episode 44, "Cocoa and Sympathy" ("The Lisa Berlini Poll"). Side note: The role of Brad Gaines was played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who would soon become Bayside's mischievous, scheming ladies' man Zack Morris on Saved by the Bell. | ||||||
References
- ↑ "TV Guide's Top 100 Episodes". Rev/Views. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
- ↑ TV Guide Book of Lists. Running Press. 2007. p. 185. ISBN 0-7624-3007-9.