For many people, the sound of Joe Cocker's gritty voice crooning "With a Little Help From My Friends" brings back strong memories -- not of Woodstock and the real 1960s, but of grainy faux-home movies of backyard cookouts, kids playing ball in the streets and a family goofing around. As the theme song for The Wonder Years, it set the perfect tone for a TV series that was nostalgic for a time and place, and yet universal.
After many years of legal wrangling, the acclaimed 1988-1993 series has finally made its way to DVD with a 26-disc set from Star Vista ($249.95).
The Wonder Years was a unique series at the time, a half-hour comedy-drama hybrid that garnered instant critical acclaim. It won 22 Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award and still turns up on "best TV series of all time" lists. It also struck a chord with audiences of all ages.
Whether a viewer lived through the late 1960s and early 1970s or not, it's easy to identify with protagonist Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage), a typical suburban 12-year-old navigating the socio-political minefield of junior high with his best friend Paul (Josh Saviano) and falling in love with the tomboy-turned-glamour girl next door, Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar).
At home, Kevin spars with his obnoxious, bullying big brother Wayne (Jason Hervey) and puzzles over the changes in his hippie sister Karen (Olivia d'Abo). Karen is constantly at odds with Jack (Dan Lauria), their gruff, traditional father, while cheery homemaker Norma (Alley Mills) tries to keep the peace.
For six seasons, the series follows Kevin and his friends and family as their lives and the world around them change. The adult Kevin (voice of Daniel Stern) narrates, remembering a tough but caring teacher, his first kiss, a disastrous piano recital and an unfortunate square dance partnership that led to a lifetime of regret.
Not many shows are capable of being really "real," but The Wonder Years achieves it. It's funny without resorting to body-function humor, moving without getting maudlin and wise without being preachy. While it's not as good later in the series, it never really runs off the rails.
Even better, it's full of complex, easily identifiable, lovable characters, none of whom are perfect. They make mistakes and hurt people but they're also capable of kindness, love and surprising insight. In other words, they're people you know.
People who grew up watching The Wonder Years or who saw it as adults and appreciated its sensitive, insightful storytelling and nostalgic depictions of 1960s suburbia, have been anxious for DVDs ever since the phenomenon of TV on DVD took off. For years, it was the No. 1 most-requested series at TVshowsonDVD.com. Yet there was nothing. Most conventional wisdom said it would never get a DVD release.
What held it up? One word: music.
In addition to that theme song, The Wonder Years packed every episode with period music -- something that added immensely to the viewing experience, to the point that the soundtrack was almost another character.
But that also led to major complications. DVDs weren't on the horizon when the show was filmed, so getting the original music for the DVDs required new contracts and licensing agreements.
Then Star Vista acquired the rights to the show and got to work on the legal tangle. To boil it down, they managed to get approval for 96 percent of the music from the series. Where they weren't able to use the original songs, they've found approximate replacements. Thankfully, the effects aren't jarring -- no canned muzak.
When it comes to bonus features, they've gone all-out with this one. Let's start with the packaging. The discs are kept in two notebooks, each with a "composition book" with detailed episode guide, photos and trivia. There's also a hard-cover "yearbook" full of photos. All this comes in a little metal locker complete with magnets for decorating.
As for the on-disc bonus content:
• In honor of the DVD release, the entire main cast was brought together for a reunion and they take part in several lively round-table discussions.
• Extensive interviews with main and guest cast, creators, directors, writers, producers, crew members and critics.
• A long list of featurettes on: music, fan favorite episodes, romances, teachers, the show's creation, the Arnold family, Kevin and Winnie, Kevin and Paul, the final episode, growing up on set and guest stars who went on to become big names.
• A farewell set tour/home movie with commentary filmed at the end of Season 5.
• Outtakes from Kevin and Winnie's first kiss.
• A brief personal- and series-related letter reading by Mills.
It's an extensive collection with plenty of meaty content for fans to dig through.
Individual season sets ($19.95) with some of the bonus content are also being released. The Wonder Years Experience ($299.95) includes a CD and Kennedy Junior High memorabilia.
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Style on 10/26/2014