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.
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!
How Jack Arnold Became a Veteran
It was actor Dan Lauria’s idea to present his character, Jack Arnold, as a Korean War veteran. As a vet himself, he was able to bring a realistic edge to the role and give it more overall dimension.
His time in the war mentioned several times throughout the series, and Karen went off to college, he presented her with his old duffle bag from the service. Additionally, there are often scenes from the war being played on the television in the background while the family eats dinner.
The Narrator Is a Famous Bandit
Actor Daniel Stern may be best known for being part of the infamous Wet Bandits in the "Home Alone" franchise. However, he also made a significant contribution to "The Wonder Years".
As the narrator of the show, Stern portrayed the adult Kevin Arnold. He wasn’t the narrator originally chosen for the job, however. Actor Arye Gross was originally chosen and narrated the pilot episode. It was later re-recorded with Stern’s voice for the premiere.