The Original ‘Wonder Years’ Cast Is Taking Over ABC’s Comedy Lineup in October
ABC is paying homage to The Wonder Years—the ’80s and ’90s classic—in honor of its reimagining of the beloved drama that premieres this fall.
The network announced that its Wednesday comedy lineup will be taken over by original cast members on October 13. It all begins with Dan Lauria (Jack Arnold) guest-starring on The Goldbergs, followed by a nod to the iconic theme song originally covered by Joe Cocker in The Wonder Years. Then, Fred Savage (Kevin Arnold) pops up on The Conners, followed by a Danica McKellar (Winnie Cooper) appearance on Home Economics.
This won’t be the first time ABC has done one of these fan-favorite “cast takeovers.” In 2019, a “Cast from the Past Week” combining movies and television reunited actors and behind-the-scenes talent from Blues Brothers 2000, Castle, Charmed, Cheers, Crazy Rich Asians, The Drew Carey Show, Girlfriends, House, Think Like a Man, and Wet Hot American Summer.
The new version of The Wonder Years features Don Cheadle narrating as adult Dean Williams, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Dean Williams, Dulé Hill as Bill Williams, Saycon Sengbloh as Lillian Williams, Laura Kariuki as Kim Williams, Julian Lerner as Brad Hitman, Amari O’Neil as Cory Long, and Milan Ray as Keisa Clemmons. It takes a nostalgic look at a Black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama, through Dean’s eyes.
ABC has also released a new trailer introducing Dean, who’s trying to figure out life as a 12-year-old, his family, and his friends. Watch it below.
Lee Daniels, Saladin K. Patterson, Savage, and Marc Velez serve as executive producers on the new comedy. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios. The pilot episode is written by Patterson and directed by Savage.
The Wonder Years, Series Premiere, Wednesday, September 22, 8:30/7:30c, ABC
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Classics are called classics for a reason. Leave them alone and stop trying to recycle shows. Come up with originals that give us characters we can love and can root for to succeed. Seems to me that Hollywood has gotten pretty lazy lately.
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I like HOME ECONOMICS
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O
Already too politically correct
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Same title, new story. Stop acting like it will diminish the original. Everyone has a story to tell and some of us want to listen. No one is forcing you to tune in. I'd rather Watch this than reality tv shows that are staged for ratings.
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G
Why reboot a classic. Man they gonna mess it all up.
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Brodie Lee I can tell you are a millennial baby
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I think this is a great idea, why not show people of color in the same light as everyone else, maybe finally it will show were all very much alike.
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G
What else is new?
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Writers think a remake will work?
Leave the classics alone!!!!!!!
That’s why they’re classics.
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Maybe I'll watch this come Fall...
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O
WTF ABC? A black family for the wonder years? All you are doing is losing viewers like myself. It's already to much when all you see is black commercials or white and black commercials. Enough already ALL LIVES MATTER...PERIOD.
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I think people posting negative comments about the reboot are “White Karens” wanting to complain about something.
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I don’t get it , I guess there are no new ideas in Hollywood. Times sure are a changing. I wont not be watching ! Why Black , why not Oriental ?
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Rugs are Oriental. People are Asian
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