The Wonder Years (2021 TV series)

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This article is about the 2021 American television series. For the series it was inspired by, see The Wonder Years.
The Wonder Years
File:The Wonder Years (2021 Reboot) logo.jpg
Genre <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Created by Saladin K. Patterson
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Narrated by Don Cheadle
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 22
Production
Executive producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Camera setup Single-camera
Production company(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Release
Original network ABC
Original release September 22, 2021 (2021-09-22) –
present (present)
Chronology
Related shows The Wonder Years
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

The Wonder Years is an American coming-of-age comedy television series developed by Saladin K. Patterson that premiered on ABC on September 22, 2021. Inspired by the 1988 series of the same title, it stars Elisha "EJ" Williams as Dean Williams, and follows his life as he grows up in Montgomery, Alabama, in the late 1960s. Don Cheadle lends his voice as the narrator for the series as the adult counterpart of Dean. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, which will premiere on June 14, 2023.[2] The first season is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Premise

The Wonder Years is set in the late 1960s and takes a nostalgic look at the Williams family, Black middle-class residents of Montgomery, Alabama, through the point of view of imaginative 12-year-old Dean.[3]

Cast

Main

  • Elisha "EJ" Williams as Dean Williams
  • Dulé Hill as Bill Williams, Dean's father
  • Saycon Sengbloh as Lillian Williams, Dean's mother
  • Laura Kariuki as Kim Williams, Dean's sister
  • Amari O'Neil as Cory Long, Dean's friend
  • Julian Lerner as Brad Hitman, Dean's friend
  • Milan Ray as Keisa Clemmons, Dean's friend who he has a secret crush on

Recurring

  • Caleb Black as Norman
  • Allen Maldonado as Coach Long, a baseball coach
  • Milan Marsh as Charlene
  • Charity Jordan as Vivian Long
  • Andrew Tull as Hampton
  • Sami Bray as Future Karen

Guest

Episodes

No.
overall		 No. in
season		 Title [4] Directed by Written by Original air date [4] Prod.
code		 U.S. viewers
(millions)
1 1 "Pilot" Fred Savage Saladin K. Patterson September 22, 2021 (2021-09-22) 1EDT01 3.23[5]
Dean organizes the first integrated baseball game between his team and his friend Brad's team. The Williams family and their friends deal with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and Dean gets his heart broken.
2 2 "Green Eyed Monster" Fred Savage Mary Fitzgerald September 29, 2021 (2021-09-29) 1EDT02 2.69[6]
3 3 "The Club" Fred Savage Max Searle October 6, 2021 (2021-10-06) 1EDT03 2.45[7]
4 4 "The Workplace" Shiri Appleby Meredith Dawson & Kendra Cole October 13, 2021 (2021-10-13) 1EDT05 2.72[8]
Dean spends the day at his mother's office. Lillian is an accounting executive with a master's degree. Dean finds new appreciation for how hard his mother works, despite the fact that her co-workers generally do not. At the end of the episode, she is promoted over Coach Long (who also works in the office).
5 5 "The Lock In" Molly McGlynn Amberia Allen October 20, 2021 (2021-10-20) 1EDT06 2.08[9]
6 6 "Be Prepared" Numa Perrier & Fred Savage Bob Daily October 27, 2021 (2021-10-27) 1EDT07 2.57[10]
7 7 "Independence Day" Robert Townsend Jacque Edmonds Cofer November 3, 2021 (2021-11-03) 1EDT04 2.23[11]
8 8 "Science Fair" Matthew A. Cherry Yamin Segal November 17, 2021 (2021-11-17) 1EDT08 2.47[12]
9 9 "Home for Christmas" Fred Savage Bob Daily December 1, 2021 (2021-12-01) 1EDT09 2.18[13]
10 10 "Lads and Ladies and Us" Ken Whittingham Jacque Edmonds Cofer January 5, 2022 (2022-01-05) 1EDT11 2.41[14]
11 11 "Brad Mitzvah" Fred Savage Yael Galena January 12, 2022 (2022-01-12) 1EDT10 2.54[15]
12 12 "I'm With the Band" Victor Nelli Jr. Jordan Black January 19, 2022 (2022-01-19) 1EDT12 2.14[16]
13 13 "The Valentine's Day Dance" Victor Nelli Jr. Brett Melnick February 2, 2022 (2022-02-02) 1EDT13 2.36[17]
14 14 "Country Dean" Fred Savage Bob Daily February 23, 2022 (2022-02-23) 1EDT14 2.24[18]
15 15 "Black Teacher" Fred Savage Amberia Allen March 2, 2022 (2022-03-02) 1EDT15 2.25[19]
16 16 "The Sleepover" Shiri Appleby Jordan Black March 16, 2022 (2022-03-16) 1EDT16 1.99[20]
17 17 "Jobs and Hangouts" Aisha Tyler Jacque Edmonds Cofer March 23, 2022 (2022-03-23) 1EDT17 2.04[21]
18 18 "Goose Grease" Ken Whittingham Yael Galena April 6, 2022 (2022-04-06) 1EDT18 1.97[22]
19 19 "Love & War" Numa Perrier Kendra Cole April 13, 2022 (2022-04-13) 1EDT19 2.01[23]
20 20 "Bill's New Gig" David Robert Jones Dioverd Danny Batista April 20, 2022 (2022-04-20) 1EDT20 1.88[24]
21 21 "Where No Dean Has Been Before" Ken Whittingham Bo Zenga May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) 1EDT21 1.84[25]
22 22 "Love, Dean" Saladin K. Patterson Yamin Segal May 18, 2022 (2022-05-18) 1EDT22 2.05[26]

Production

File:Don Cheadle - 2018.jpg
Actor Don Cheadle is the show's narrator

The Wonder Years was announced on July 8, 2020, when ABC gave the project a pilot order with Fred Savage, the star of the original series, attached to direct and executive produce.[27] In January 2021, the pilot was confirmed, with production taking place in Atlanta, Georgia.[1][28][29] In March 2021, Saycon Sengbloh,[30] Elisha "EJ" Williams,[31] Dulé Hill, Laura Kariuki,[32] Milan Ray, Julian Lerner, and Amari O'Neil joined the cast,[33] with Don Cheadle announced to serve as the show's narrator.[34] On May 14, 2021, The Wonder Years was given a series order.[35][36] In July, Allen Maldonado was cast in a recurring role.[37]

At a Television Critics Association panel discussion in August 2021, crew members revealed that the series would tackle major events from 1968, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. When asked about casting Maldonado, whose character at the time was speculated to be Afro-Latino like Maldonado, writer and executive producer Saladin K. Patterson said they "wanted to represent the diaspora of Blackness for sure. And some of that is in appearance and looks but some of it is just in the background and those individual stories that come from those mixes of cultures. He certainly fits into that tableau that we want to set."[38] The first season was originally given a 9-episode order. On October 26, 2021, the first season was expanded to a full season of 22 episodes.[39] In November 2021, it was reported Richard Gant and Spence Moore II would also star.[40]

In May 2022, Savage was fired from his roles as executive producer and director after allegations of inappropriate conduct, including "verbal outbursts and inappropriate behavior".[41] Seven days later, ABC renewed the series for a second season.[42] On March 24, 2023, ABC announced that the second season will premiere on June 14, 2023.[43]

Release

In the U.S., the series premiered on ABC on September 22, 2021, airing on Wednesdays at 8:30 pm, with availability the next day on Hulu.[44][45] In Canada, the series aired on CTV.[46] The series premiered as an original series in selected countries on Disney+ via Star on June 1.[47][48][49] In Latin America, the series debuted on Disney+ as a Disney+ exclusive.[50] On November 8, 2021, Hollywood Records made the show's theme song available to stream and download. The song is written by Roahn Hylton and Jacob Yoffee and features vocals by Scotty Granger.[51]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 24 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Sweetly nostalgic without sacrificing substance, The Wonder Years captures the magic of the original while adding necessary nuance and context to its tale of Black life in America."[52] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 75 out of 100 based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[53]

The pilot episode was given to critics to review the series ahead of its premiere. In their review for Variety, Daniel D'Addario said that while parts of the 22-minute pilot felt "rushed," its focus on the time period made "its characters' relationships feel vivid and real against the backdrop of changing times." In his final points, D'Addario gave positive feedback to the cast and said "the pilot's final insight is nicely communicated."[54] The Hollywood Reporter's Angie Han had similar comments, writing, "the series manages to invoke nostalgia for bygone days while also remaining relatively clear-eyed about the challenges of that period ... and it accomplishes this while delivering the cozy appeal of the best family sitcoms."[55] Jen Chaney of Vulture stated The Wonder Years succeeds both at honoring its source material and providing something on its own, stating the series is one of the few reboots that is handled with "care, intelligence, and clear intention," writing, "This is what a smart reboot does: It builds upon what came before and honors the legacy of the original while doing something new and different. It seeks to illuminate and not just re-create. It proves that sometimes something worthwhile can be shaped out of the familiar, as long as the process is in the right hands. And The Wonder Years is certainly in some good ones."[56]

Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian gave the series a grade of 4 out of 5 stars and found it to be a charming and funny reboot, praising the humor and the characters, writing, "Happily, The Wonder Years has been done with care and innovation, and taps into the nostalgic appeal of the original late 80s/early 90s sitcom, while carving out a new path."[57] Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media rated the series 4 out of 5, praised the depiction of positive messages and role models, citing integrity and dignity, and applauded the diverse representations across the characters.[58] Dave Nemetz of TVLine gave the pilot episode a "B," praising The Wonder Years for its vintage soundtrack, comedic tone, and focus on minorities for a story set in the 1960s. Nemetz summarized the series as "a decent enough remake, but one that lacks the groundbreaking verve of the original and pulls its punches a bit."[59]

Ratings

No. Title Air date Rating/share
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)		 Ref(s)
1 "Pilot" September 22, 2021 0.67 3.23 TBD TBD 1.82 6.40 [5][60]
2 "Green Eyed Monster" September 29, 2021 0.50 2.69 TBD TBD TBD TBD [6]
3 "The Club" October 6, 2021 0.47 2.45 TBD TBD TBD TBD [7]
4 "The Workplace" October 13, 2021 0.54 2.72 0.13 0.68 0.67 3.40 [8]
5 "The Lock In" October 20, 2021 0.39 2.08 0.17 0.68 0.56 2.76 [9]
6 "Be Prepared" October 27, 2021 0.43 2.57 TBD TBD TBD TBD [10]
7 "Independence Day" November 3, 2021 0.41 2.23 TBD TBD TBD TBD [11]
8 "Science Fair" November 17, 2021 0.40 2.47 0.17 0.63 0.57 3.09 [12]
9 "Home for Christmas" December 3, 2021 0.34 2.18 0.10 0.62 0.44 2.79 [13]
10 "Lads and Ladies and Us" January 5, 2022 0.44 2.41 TBD TBD TBD TBD [14]
11 "Brad Mitzvah" January 12, 2022 0.50 2.54 TBD TBD TBD TBD [15]
12 "I'm With the Band" January 19, 2022 0.40 2.14 TBD TBD TBD TBD [16]
13 "The Valentine's Day Dance" February 2, 2022 0.48 2.36 TBD TBD TBD TBD [17]
14 "Country Dean" February 23, 2022 0.38 2.24 TBD TBD TBD TBD [18]
15 "Black Teacher" March 2, 2022 0.33 2.25 TBD TBD TBD TBD [19]
16 "The Sleepover" March 16, 2022 0.30 1.99 TBD TBD TBD TBD [20]
17 "Jobs and Hangouts" March 23, 2022 0.31 2.04 TBD TBD TBD TBD [21]
18 "Goose Grease" April 6, 2022 0.33 1.97 TBD TBD TBD TBD [22]
19 "Love & War" April 13, 2022 0.34 2.01 TBD TBD TBD TBD [23]
20 "Bill's New Gig" April 20, 2022 0.31 1.88 TBD TBD TBD TBD [24]
21 "Where No Dean Has Been Before" May 11, 2022 0.29 1.84 TBD TBD TBD TBD [25]
22 "Love, Dean" May 18, 2022 0.33 2.05 TBD TBD TBD TBD [26]

Accolades

<templatestyles src="Screen reader-only/styles.css" />Awards and nominations received by The Wonder Years
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Hollywood Critics Association Awards August 13, 2022 Best Broadcast Network Series, Comedy The Wonder Years Nominated [61]
NAACP Image Awards February 26, 2022 Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Elisha "EJ" Williams Nominated [62]
Outstanding Performance by a Youth Nominated
February 25, 2023 Outstanding Comedy Series The Wonder Years Nominated [63]
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Dulé Hill Nominated
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series) Elisha Williams Nominated
Peabody Awards June 6–9, 2022 Entertainment The Wonder Years Won [64]

References

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External links

  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.
  • The Wonder Years at IMDbLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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