The Wonder Years - TV-PG

Nostalgic coming-of-age sitcom still charms.

TV Rating: TV-PG Network: ION, Syndicated Cast: Fred Savage, Dan Lauria, Danica McKellar Genre: Comedy
Available on: DVD

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this hit '80s sitcom series tells the story of main character Kevin Arnold's childhood, beginning with his tween years in the late 1960s. The events are told from both his adult and childhood perspectives, thanks to the show's trademark narration. The series focuses on Kevin's relationships with family, friends, dates, and so on -- many of which are impacted by the tumultuous political, social, and economic factors of the era. While early episodes are mostly pretty tame, later seasons do include some drug references (marijuana) and stronger sexual innuendo/scenarios.

Families can talk about nostalgia in the media. How accurate do you think TV shows and movies that look back on the past -- particularly the recent past -- are? Do people in general have a tendency to idealize certain parts of history? Families can also talk specifically about life in America during the 1960s and '70s. What was it like growing up in that era? How have events like the Vietnam War and the hippie counterculture movement impacted American life today? Which of today's events do you think will have as lasting an effect on future generations?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Melissa Camacho

THE WONDER YEARS offers a funny, nostalgic look at a boy coming of age during of one of the most tumultuous times in American history. Set in the late 1960s and early '70s, the show was an Emmy-winning hit when it ran on ABC from 1988-1993; it still airs in syndication and is available on DVD.

Amusingly narrated in voice-over by adult baby boomer Kevin Arnold (Daniel Stern), the show is structured as a flashback to Kevin's day-to-day life from 1968, when he's 11, until his junior year of high school in 1973. His story is told from his point of view both as an adolescent (as portrayed by Fred Savage) and as an adult.

Kevin's youth is spent in middle-class suburban America with his family, including his Korean War veteran dad Jack (Dan Lauria), homemaker mom Norma (Alley Mills), hippie older sister Karen (Olivia d'Abo), and annoying older brother Wayne (Jason Hervey).

When he's not at home, Kevin spends most of his time with best friend Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano) and Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar), the girl next door. Together they face the trials and tribulations associated with growing up -- including braving a first kiss, starting (and surviving) high school, and getting a driver's license. Kevin also spends a lot of time understanding his on again/off again romance with Winnie while struggling with his changing relationships with his family.

Overall, the series is lighthearted, but it also contains its fair share of both thoughtful and dramatic moments, which usually present themselves when the events in Kevin's life are touched by the social, political, and economic upheavals of the era. Conflicts between Jack and Karen are frequent as the elder Arnold's traditional middle class values collide with her hippie counterculture ideals. This tension -- in addition to concerns about the draft, losing neighborhood children in Vietnam, and putting a man on the moon -- create a backdrop for a world that Kevin and his friends must try to make sense of while growing into adulthood.

Fans may enjoy fellow 1960s-themed series American Dreams (available on DVD) or the similarly structured Everybody Hates Chris.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content The focus is primarily on teenage crushes and includes hugging and kissing. Later episodes include more sexualized content. These references aren't explicit but do include discussion of virginity, pregnancy, and living together without being married. In one specific episode, Kevin touches a girl's breast while making out with her. When two main characters do have sex at the end of the series' run, nothing graphic is visible.
Violence Occasional pushing and shoving, usually between Kevin and Wayne.
Language Wayne calls Kevin "butthead" on a regular basis. Other words include "damn," "hell," and "jackass."
Message
	Social Behavior Family arguments and adolescent problems and issues are frequent, but harmony usually prevails in the end. Typical adolescent self-centeredness is highlighted throughout the show. Karen's hippie lifestyle often clashes with her parents' middle-class values. The Arnolds and most of their friends and neighbors are Caucasian and middle class. African-American and Asian characters are occasionally visible, but references to diverse populations are made within the context of the late-'60s/early-'70s setting (eg. African-Americans are referred to as "negroes").
	Commercialism Brand-name references to products like Pepsi and Fresca. News clips and scenes from popular TV shows of the time, such as I Dream of Jeannie, are visible. Music from the era is also featured, ranging from Motown to classic rock (including the show's theme song, "With a Little Help from My Friends").
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Beer and other alcoholic beverages are occasionally visible, as are cigarette and cigar smoking. In one episode, Kevin gets drunk -- and sick as a result. Later episodes also contain occasional references to marijuana.