The Wonder Years (2021 TV series)

The Wonder Years is an American coming-of-age comedy television series developed by Saladin K. Patterson for ABC. Inspired by the 1988 series of the same name, 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. The series premiered as a fall entry in the 2021–22 television season on September 22, 2021.

This article is about the 2021 American television series. For the series it was inspired by, see The Wonder Years.

The Wonder Years
Genre
Created bySaladin K. Patterson
Inspired by
Starring
Narrated byDon Cheadle
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes9
Production
Executive producers
Camera setupSingle-camera
Production companies
DistributorDisney–ABC Domestic Television
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseSeptember 22, 2021 (2021-09-22) –
present (present)
External links
Official website

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.[2]

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, the apple of Dean's eye

Recurring

Guest

Episodes
No.Title [3]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [3]Prod.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Fred SavageSaladin K. PattersonSeptember 22, 2021 (2021-09-22)1EDT013.23[4]
2"Green Eyed Monster"Fred SavageMary FitzgeraldSeptember 29, 2021 (2021-09-29)1EDT022.69[5]
3"The Club"Fred SavageMax SearleOctober 6, 2021 (2021-10-06)1EDT032.45[6]
4"The Workplace"Shiri ApplebyMeredith Dawson & Kendra ColeOctober 13, 2021 (2021-10-13)1EDT052.72[7]
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"The Lock In"Molly McGlynnAmberia AllenOctober 20, 2021 (2021-10-20)1EDT062.08[8]
6"Be Prepared"Numa Perrier & Fred SavageBob DailyOctober 27, 2021 (2021-10-27)1EDT072.57[9]
7"Independence Day"Robert TownsendJacque Edmonds CoferNovember 3, 2021 (2021-11-03)1EDT042.23[10]
8"Science Fair"Matthew A. CherryYamin SegalNovember 17, 2021 (2021-11-17)1EDT082.47[11]
9"Home for Christmas"Fred SavageBob DailyDecember 1, 2021 (2021-12-01)1EDT092.18[12]
10"Lads and Ladies and Us"[3]TBATBAJanuary 5, 2022 (2022-01-05)TBATBD
11"Brad Mitzvah"[3]TBATBAJanuary 12, 2022 (2022-01-12)TBATBD
12"I'm With the Band"[3]TBATBAJanuary 19, 2022 (2022-01-19)TBATBD

Production
Actor Don Cheadle is the show's narrator

The Wonder Years was announced on July 8, 2020, when the ABC gave the project a pilot order with Fred Savage, the star of the original series, attached to direct and executive produce.[13] In January 2021, the pilot was confirmed, with production taking place in Atlanta, Georgia.[1][14][15] In March 2021, Saycon Sengbloh,[16] Elisha "EJ" Williams,[17] Dulé Hill, Laura Kariuki,[18] Milan Ray, Julian Lerner, and Amari O'Neil joined the cast,[19] with Don Cheadle announced to serve as the show's narrator.[20] On May 14, 2021, The Wonder Years was given a series order.[21][22] In July, Allen Maldonado was cast in a recurring role.[23]

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."[24]

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.[25] In November 2021, it was reported Richard Gant and Spence Moore II would also star.[26]

Release

In the U.S., the series premiered on ABC on September 22, 2021, airing on Wednesdays at 8:30 pm.[27][28] In Canada, the series aired on CTV.[29] The series is also set to premiere on Disney+ via the streaming hub Star as an original series in selected countries.[30][31] In Latin America, the series premieres as a Star+ original.[32]

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.[33]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 20 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10. 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."[34] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 75 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[35]

The pilot episode was given to critics to review the series ahead of its premiere, and TVLine's Dave Nemetz gave it 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."[36] 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."[37] The Hollywood Reporter's Angie Han had similar comments, writing that "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."[38]

Ratings
Viewership and ratings per episode of The Wonder Years
No. Title Air dateRating
(18–49)		Viewers
(millions)		DVR
(18–49)		DVR viewers
(millions)		Total
(18–49)		Total viewers
(millions)		Ref(s)
1 "Pilot" September 22, 20210.673.23TBDTBD1.826.40[4][39]
2 "Green Eyed Monster" September 29, 20210.502.69TBDTBDTBDTBD[5]
3 "The Club" October 6, 20210.472.45TBDTBDTBDTBD[6]
4 "The Workplace" October 13, 20210.542.720.130.680.673.40[7]
5 "The Lock In" October 20, 20210.392.080.170.680.562.76[8]
6 "Be Prepared" October 27, 20210.432.57TBDTBDTBDTBD[9]
7 "Independence Day" November 3, 20210.412.23TBDTBDTBDTBD[10]
8 "Science Fair" November 17, 20210.402.47TBDTBDTBDTBD[11]
9 "Home for Christmas" December 3, 20210.342.18TBDTBDTBDTBD[12]

References
  1. "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production – The Wonder Years". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  2. Petski, Denise (May 18, 2021). "ABC New Series Teasers: 'Queens', 'The Wonder Years', 'Abbott Elementary', 'Maggie' – Watch". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  3. "The Wonder Years (2021) – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  4. Porter, Rick (September 23, 2021). "TV Ratings: 'Wonder Years' Scores Decent Start for ABC". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. Porter, Rick (September 30, 2021). "TV Ratings: 'Masked Singer' Edges 'Survivor' for Demo Lead". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  6. Metcalf, Mitch (October 7, 2021). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 10.6.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  7. Berman, Marc (October 14, 2021). "Wednesday Ratings: CW Season Openers Barely Resonate; 'The Wonder Years' and 'CSI: Vegas' Reboots Continue to Flounder". Programming Insider. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  8. Berman, Marc (October 21, 2021). "Wednesday Ratings: 'Chicago' Trio Leads NBC to Victory; CBS' 'Survivor' Tops Night in Adults 18-49". Programming Insider. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  9. Metcalf, Mitch (October 28, 2021). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.27.2021 Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  10. Metcalf, Mitch (November 4, 2021). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.3.2021 Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  11. Metcalf, Mitch (November 18, 2021). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.17.2021 Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  12. Metcalf, Mitch (December 3, 2021). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.1.2021 Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  13. Andreeva, Nellie (July 8, 2020). "'The Wonder Years' Reboot With Black Family In Works At ABC From Saladin K. Patterson, Lee Daniels & Fred Savage". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  14. Otterson, Joe (January 29, 2021). "'Wonder Years' Reboot Among Three ABC Comedy Pilot Orders". Variety. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  15. White, Peter (January 29, 2021). "'The Wonder Years' Reboot Scores ABC Pilot Order Along With Regina Hicks' Sorority Comedy & 'Maggie' From 'Life In Pieces' Team". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  16. Andreeva, Nellie (March 4, 2021). "'The Wonder Years': Saycon Sengbloh To Star In ABC Reboot Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  17. Petski, Denise (March 15, 2021). "'The Wonder Years': Elisha 'EJ' Williams To Play The New Kevin Arnold In ABC Reboot Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  18. Petski, Denise (March 18, 2021). "'The Wonder Years': Dulé Hill To Star In ABC Reboot Pilot; Laura Kariuki Also Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  19. White, Peter (March 24, 2021). "'The Wonder Years': Milan Ray, Julian Lerner & Amari O'Neil Join Cast Of ABC Reboot Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  20. Andreeva, Nellie (March 26, 2021). "Don Cheadle Set As Narrator Of ABC's 'The Wonder Years' Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  21. Goldberg, Lesley (May 14, 2021). "'Wonder Years,' 'Queens' Among Four ABC Series Orders". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  22. Andreeva, Nellie; White, Peter (May 14, 2021). "'The Wonder Years', 'Queens', 'Maggie' & 'Abbott Elementary' Picked Up To Series At ABC". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  23. Cordero, Rosy (July 29, 2021). "'The Wonder Years': Allen Maldonado Joins Cast Of ABC Revival As Recurring". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  24. Cordero, Rosy (August 26, 2021). "'The Wonder Years': Dulé Hill And E.J. Williams Talk Challenge Of Reenacting Painful Moments From History". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  25. Cordero, Rosy (October 26, 2021). "'The Wonder Years' And 'Home Economics' Get Full Season Orders From ABC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  26. Hatchett, Keisha (November 2, 2021). "The Wonder Years Adds Richard Gant as Gramps, All American's Spence Moore II as Dean's Vietnam Vet Brother". TVLine. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  27. Andreeva, Nellie (May 18, 2021). "ABC 2021-22 Schedule: 'Big Sky' On Thursday & Comedy Block In Fall, 'Black-Ish' Farewell In Midseason". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  28. Pedersen, Erik (July 15, 2021). "ABC Fall Premiere Dates: New 'Wonder Years' & 'Queens' Join 'Grey's Anatomy', 'Good Doctor', 'Bachelorette', 'Goldbergs' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  29. "The Wonder Years, The Big Leap, and The Cleaning Lady Lead New CTV Series for 2021/22 Season". The Lede (Press release). Bell Media. June 3, 2021. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  30. "Disney+ stellt kommende Inhalte für Star vor". Cashys Blog. June 4, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  31. Palmer, Roger (June 4, 2021). "Disney Confirms More New & Exclusive Shows Coming To Star On Disney+". What's on Disney Plus. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  32. "Star+ presenta una propuesta unica de streaming que combina todo el deported de ESPN con los estrenose exclusivos de las series, peliculas y comedias animadas mas aclamadas por el publico adulto". Star+. July 15, 2021. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021 – via Disney Press Pack.
  33. "Theme Song from ABC's 'The Wonder Years' Reboot Released". Film Music Reporter. November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  34. "The Wonder Years: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  35. "The Wonder Years: Season 1". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  36. Nemetz, Dave (September 15, 2021). "The Wonder Years Review: ABC Reboot Takes Us on a Nice, Safe Nostalgia Trip". TVLine. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  37. D'Addario, Daniel (September 15, 2021). "New 'Wonder Years' Depicts '60s Turbulence, as Told by Don Cheadle: TV Review". Variety. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  38. Han, Angie (September 15, 2021). "ABC's 'The Wonder Years': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  39. Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (October 13, 2021). "TV Ratings: Primetime Premiere Week Numbers Can Give Insight on Future Performance". Variety. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
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