The first episode of “The Wonder Years” premiered after the 1988 Super Bowl between the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos.
The Series Was Revolutionary
Not only is "The Wonder Years" a cult classic, but it was also a revolutionary addition to the television industry. Using a narrator rather than a laughing track was practically unheard of at the time.
Additionally, it was the first sitcom to film using a single-camera setup. Prior to the show, a three-camera setup was the standard.
Casting Kevin
Casting the lead role of Kevin proved to be easier than expected. While casting a child is never easy, producers Carol Black and Neal Marlens sought the assistance of several casting directors.
Of the five directors consulted, all recommended Savage for the part. At the time he was best known for his role in "The Princess Bride".
Dialogue Was Taken From Life
It wasn’t uncommon for writers of "The Wonder Years" to add tidbits to the script that they’d overheard the kids saying on set. They even used Savage’s friendship with McKellar to better develop Kevin and Winnie’s onscreen relationship. This added authenticity to the show as they used phrases kids were using at the time.
One example McKellar gave in an interview was a conversation she had with Savage about a boy she was crushing on. It seems that Savage asked if she "liked him" or if she "liked him, liked him". Their conversation ended up inspiring a scene on the show!
Reason for a Lengthy Split
Kevin and Winnie’s on-and-off relationship was essential to the show’s storyline. But their lengthy split between season 3 and 4 was written in for a specific reason.
See, McKellar had a growth spurt that left Savage in her shadow on set. The couple was separated just long enough for Savage to have his own growth spurt and catch up to McKellar.