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The Wonder Years reboot announced: Centered on a black middle class family in 1960s Montgomery, Alabama by Lee Daniels and Fred Savage
- Thread starter ElectricBlanketFire
- Start date
A comedy about a black family, set in the 60's in Montgomery, Alabama?
That sounds like a very, very easy thing to fuck up, but it's a go big or go home premise, so best of luck to them.
That sounds like a very, very easy thing to fuck up, but it's a go big or go home premise, so best of luck to them.
Probably my favorite all time show. This existing takes nothing away from the memories I've already made. Hopefully it's done well and a new generation can feel like I did growing up with those beloved characters. The premise sounds great.
Wonder Years wasn't really a comedy in the traditional sitcom sense. It was a different tone.
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Two of the executive producers are black so I'm guessing they'll treat the premise with the respect it deserves.
And yeah...it certainly had comedic elements, but the original Wonder Years is much more drama to the point of it being depressing (and I love the show).
Is wonder years considered a comedy?
Anyway, premise sounds interesting. Definitely something that can be fucked up, but only really considering that the industry is dominated by white people and we've yet to see who's in the writers room on this one. Producers don't really mean much.
Yeah, it had its comedic moments, but it was pretty dramatic at times. More of a coming of age show than a comedy.
I think the shift in focus is a great idea, but I think it should be set in 1988. The Wonder Years wasn't about the 1960's as much as was about an adult looking back on a childhood that the target audience could also remember.
I'm down either way though.
I'm down either way though.
Huh.
So, both my parents lived this exact setting, so I'll be interested to see their take on it.
It shouldn't be tough to film on location because West Montgomery looks like it hasn't changed in literally 30 years.
The suburban stagnation is shocking.
So, both my parents lived this exact setting, so I'll be interested to see their take on it.
It shouldn't be tough to film on location because West Montgomery looks like it hasn't changed in literally 30 years.
The suburban stagnation is shocking.
I can't imagine The Wonder Years without that opening theme song. I'm going to guess they know it's not the same without it.
holy shit very excited for this, awesome idea if done right.
In the original we got to see all aspects of the 60s through kevin arnold's eyes, which diluted the more controversial aspects but still gave us all the drama. i hope they go the same route, and touch on all aspects of racism in america in the 60s, people need to be reminded of that history.
In the original we got to see all aspects of the 60s through kevin arnold's eyes, which diluted the more controversial aspects but still gave us all the drama. i hope they go the same route, and touch on all aspects of racism in america in the 60s, people need to be reminded of that history.
My first thought as well, hopefully they do a good job with it.
Yeah, i'm counting on Savage to pull it off, he directed some great It's always Sunny and Modern Family eps.
Does wonder years hold up today? I havent watched since it originally aired. My recollection was it would feel like a lot of shows today. It blended drama and comedy and walked a line between social awareness and general entertainment. I imagine though it would probably be a little slow and boring, but I am basing this all off of my memories as a child.
Yup.
I absolutely love the idea. I hope the adult voice we hear narrating is cool. Daniel Stern was simply amazing.
I think what's great about the show was how at least one character was relatable, and everyone was human. All flawed in their own way.
While I agree the theme song is iconic, I would like to see a different song, or maybe the song covered by someone else. And yes, I know it was already a cover. But shit, at this point, who doesn't prefer Joe Cocker singing over Ringo?
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My wife and I watched recently and it had more of an impact on me as an adult than a kid.
The only thing that sucked was Netflix couldn't use the original theme due to rights issues, so they had to use some awful knockoff.
Remember growing up as a kid watching this on Nick at Nite in the early, early 90s obsessively when they still did reruns of old shows after Nickelodeon was done. First exposure to what suburb living was supposed to be like as a kid who lived in a city. Recall thinking it seemed like nothing at all to what I experienced as a kid but was still a good show. Old intro was iconic
This is a really interesting point. The Wonder Years in many ways was meant to appeal to middle aged boomers. It mixed idealizing the 60s with criticizing the 60s. Is this show aimed at Boomers who want to make America great again? Or, is it aimed at middle aged people now who will tend to be less forgiving of the 60s which we mostly know from movies (that tend to be critical)? If the latter, I don't see how it could have the feel good nostalgia?
A show set in the 80s, with a black family, could definitely scratch the nostalgia itch, through music and entertainment, and the social difficulties of living under the Reagan administration and the continued systematic issues that the 60s failed to solve and in many ways exasperated.
lol idk why but I immediately thought John Legend - but only because he'd be a safe and "non-threatening" choice.
With Fred on board I'm trusting that this will be a great coming of age drama with bits of comedy like the original. The show had some great drama and emotion in it so I expect the same of this and with it taking place in Alabama in the 60s of all places I'm sure they are going to tackle some really tough subjects.
I realize the significance of the 60s, but wasn't the original Wonder Years largely capitalizing on Boomer nostalgia?
Who is this show targeting exactly? Not young people, I wouldn't think.
Who is this show targeting exactly? Not young people, I wouldn't think.
My thoughts exactly. Nostalgia played a big part, and it's so long ago that I question whether the writers can really capture that period accurately.
I'm happy that a show in that era is being created with a focus on a black family/cast... But how it this anything to do with The Wonder Years? Regardless, more shows with BAME representation is a big win :)
Funny enough, Stevie Wonder was my immediate thought. He's also "safe and non-threatening" but damn, I am excited to see what they choose.
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Given that it's ABC and the average audience member is in their late 50s/early 60s, Boomers would still be a target.
Maybe the Gen X'ers? Those that watched the Wonder Years, growing up?
mixed-ish (set in 1986) is covering a lot of that ground but it tends to be more overtly comedic.
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Could be trying to stand out among the 80s nostalgia boom.
