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”.
Inspired By ‘A Christmas Story’
Few people know that "The Wonder Years" was inspired by the classic holiday film, "A Christmas Story". The show’s creators were inspired by the movie’s coming of age story and chose to create one of their own.
In addition to some other similarities, the series also uses a similar narration style that helped it become a cultural phenomenon. Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie in "A Christmas Story", even makes an appearance in the last two episodes as Kevin’s roommate!
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.
It Premiered After the Super Bowl
The first episode of "The Wonder Years" premiered after the 1988 Super Bowl between the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos.
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!