Set 20 Years Earlier
Each episode of “The Wonder Years” took place almost exactly 20 years prior to its release date.
For example, the first episode premiered on January 31, 1988, and was set in the summer of 1968. This practice continued throughout the entire series!
Fans Were Disappointed With the Ending
Many fans were disappointed with the series ending, specifically with the fact that Kevin and Winnie didn’t end up together. However, this was done intentionally to mirror real life as few people end up with their first love!
As we all do, the characters have fond memories from their adolescence, but it’s only natural for people to grow apart as they discover who they are.
They Aired The Beatles’ Ed Sullivan Appearance
"The Wonder Years" was the first sitcom to show footage from The Beatles’ appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show".
Unfortunately, the footage wasn’t used in the show very well and the overall episode was considered mediocre at best. It was so bad that the head of New World Entertainment, Jon Feltheimer, demanded his money back from producer Bob Brush.
Wayne Arnold Was Labeled a Brat
In 2005, TV Guide released a list of “TV’s 10 Biggest Brats” and guess who made the list? Despite being off the air for over a decade, Wayne Arnold was voted into the number seven spot!
This is likely more of an insult to Hervey’s brother, as he largely based the character off of him.
The Arnolds Loved Their Potatoes
Many episodes throughout the series feature the family at the dinner table. Nearly all of these scenes show a potato dish on the table and is often mentioned by someone in the family.
Was this a running joke with the crew or did one of the show’s writers just really like potatoes? We may never know!