After just one season, which consisted of only six episodes, “The Wonder Years” became a huge hit. The show won an Emmy for Most Outstanding Comedy Series in 1988.
Savage also went on to become the youngest actor nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category. He was only 13 at the time and went on to be nominated again in 1990.
Friendly Competition
McKellar would often be up against her sister, Crystal McKellar, for parts including the role of Winnie Cooper. It was down to the two sisters, but ultimately Danica was chosen just one day before filming began.
Crystal had lighter hair at the time, so her sister was given the role simply because her hair color better complimented Savage’s. Don’t feel sorry for Crystal though, as she was given the recurring role as Becky Slater.
Karen Wore Hair Extensions
The actress who played Kevin’s older sister Karen was as far from her character’s persona as one could be. Olivia D’Abo was born in London before her family ultimately moved to Los Angeles.
On the contrary, her character, Karen, is an anti-war feminist whose wardrobe could fit the hippies of the time. To keep up with the look, D’Abo wore extensions to make her hair appear long and unkempt.
The Town Was a Mystery
No one actually knows where "The Wonder Years" took place. While it was written to be set in Burbank, California, the location is never confirmed in the series.
For this reason, many fans have tried to debunk the speculation by searching episodes for clues that could prove the show took place elsewhere. However, no one was able to find anything that narrowed down the setting to a city or even a general area.
Celebrity Appearances
Throughout the years it aired, many celebrities made appearances on "The Wonder Years". They were unknown at the time, but it helped boost their careers.
Some of the bigger names who’ve appeared in the series include Juliette Lewis, Jim Caviezel, David Schwimmer, Alicia Silverstone, Giovanni Ribisi, Robin Thicke, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and John Corbett. Even Savage’s younger brother, Ben Savage, made an appearance long before his days on "Boy Meets World".