WONDER YEARS, THE: WALK OUT (TV)
Summary
One in this series about Kevin Arnold, a young boy growing up in the suburbs during the late 1960s, whose experiences, thoughts, and reactions are recalled by the adult Kevin, who narrates and makes wry observations throughout. In this episode, Kevin admits that he and his family have "stopped paying attention" to the relentless, depressing news coverage of the Vietnam War. At school, no one volunteers to be homeroom representative to the student council, and Kevin finds himself in the job against his will. At the meeting, which is mostly "organized whining," the impassioned Mark Hooper suggests a walkout protesting the war, and "cool teacher" Mr. Tyler seems to support the idea. Paul and Kevin end up on the walkout committee, though their first meeting is less than focused. When talk finally turns to the plan, however, the students have trouble planning the logistics, and Mr. Diperna arrives to inform them that they will all face disciplinary action if they leave class during school hours.
Mark wants to fight the rule, and when Mr. Tyler challenges them to describe precisely why they are against the war, Kevin and the others find that they have strong opinions about the violence and the draft after all. Paul suggests starting a petition drive, and he and the others soon collect over four hundred signatures supporting the walkout. Mr. Diperna stands firm, however, citing the school handbook, and Mr. Tyler says that they will have to choose whether to break the rules for a good cause or not, explaining that opposition is the only way to test one's morals. Kevin frets about the negative impact on his permanent record, and is even more doubtful when Mr. Tyler is absent on the day of the walkout. He worries that he cannot go through with it, but then discovers that the entire student body has opted to break the rules, and he joins them, marveling at the remarkable sight of so many teens standing up for peace. Includes promos and commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: March 7, 1989 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:16903
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1988-1993
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - 7-Up soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Comtrex cold medication
- TV - Commercials - First magazine
- TV - Commercials - Flex shampoo
- TV - Commercials - Ford Aerostar automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Fruit of the Loom underwear
- TV - Commercials - Jeep automobiles
- TV - PSA - Partnership for a Drug-Free America
- TV - Promos - "Anything But Love"
- TV - Promos - "Coach"
- TV - Promos - "Roseanne"
- TV - Promos - "The Wonder Years" upcoming episode
CREDITS
- Neal Marlens … Executive Producer, Created by
- Carol Black … Executive Producer, Created by
- Bob Brush … Co-Executive Producer
- Steve Miner … Supervising Producer, Director
- Jeffrey Silver … Producer
- Caroline Baron … Associate Producer
- Matthew Carlson … Writer
- W.G. Snuffy Walden … Music by
- Fred Savage … Cast, Kevin Arnold
- Dan Lauria … Cast, Jack Arnold
- Alley Mills … Cast, Norma Arnold
- Olivia d'Abo … Cast, Karen Arnold
- Jason Hervey … Cast, Wayne Arnold
- Danica McKeller … Cast, Winnie Cooper
- Josh Saviano … Cast, Paul Pfeiffer
- Melissa Clayton … Cast, Karen
- Linda Hoy … Cast, Mrs. Ritvo
- Raye Birk … Cast, Mr. Diperna
- Michael Manasseri … Cast, Mark Hooper
- Denis Arndt … Cast, Mr. Tyler
- Paul Harkins … Cast, Rusty
- Lindsay Price … Cast, Lori
- David Bryan Markus … Cast, President
- Kyle Thompson … Cast, Boy #1
- Brandon Crane … Cast, Boy #2
- Robin Thicke … Cast, Boy #3
- Sean DeVeritch … Cast, Boy #4
- Tanya Fenmore … Cast, Girl #1
- Misty McCoy … Cast, Girl #2
- Sheila Pinkham … Cast, Strange Woman