WONDER YEARS, THE: HEART OF DARKNESS {SECOND SEASON PREMIERE} (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, as a result of the stress of middle school, Kevin begins to suffer nightmares about venturing into a dark cave. He observes that one’s coolness is determined by how one spends the fifteen minutes before homeroom, and is dismayed that Winnie, who recently dumped him for an eighth-grader, Kirk McCray, is “ascending” and hanging out with the popular kids rather than with himself and Paul. In class, resident “bad boy” Gary Cosay asks Kevin for answers to a quiz, and Kevin provides them, much to Paul’s surprise. They are caught and punished, but Gary seems unconcerned, forging their parents’ signatures for them on the detention slips. That night, Kevin has the nightmare again. The next day, at school, Paul guesses that Winnie became a “snob” when she got contact lenses. Gary arrives and asks Kevin to keep some contraband in his locker for him, explaining that he sometimes camps out in the woods overnight when he has problems with his “old lady,” and he invites Kevin and Paul to come along. They agree, ignoring Winnie when she greets them.
Kevin’s nightmares continue, and he lies to Norma about staying overnight at Paul’s house. In the woods, Gary offers them beer and cigarettes, which they accept. They discuss girls and Gary’s casual attitude about dating cheers Kevin up slightly about his break-up with Winnie. Gary then suggests that they go explore a nearby cave, which disturbs Kevin, and he is not encouraged when he discovers it is really a storm drain. As they explore the dark passages, Gary tells Kevin and Paul about various urban legends about people who met their death in the tunnels, and a frightened Kevin tries to argue against the illogical tales. Gary attempts to frighten them with ghostly noises, and Kevin soon becomes angry and leaves with Paul, and they head for home. Kevin’s nightmares end, and he and Paul make up with Winnie when she comes by the next day, telling her that she looks far smarter with her glasses. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 30, 1988 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:52402
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1988-1993
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Buick automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Cadillac automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Chex Snack Mix cereal
- TV - Commercials - Disney educational toys
- TV - Commercials - Energizer batteries
- TV - Commercials - Eveready flashlights
- TV - Commercials - Sudafed cold medication
- TV - Promos - "China Beach"
- TV - Promos - "Hooperman"
- TV - Promos - "My First Love" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Tequila Sunrise" motion picture
CREDITS
- Neal Marlens … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Carol Black … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Bob Brush … Co-Executive Producer
- Steve Miner … Supervising Producer, Director
- Jeffrey Silver … Producer
- Caroline Baron … Associate Producer
- 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
- Breckin Meyer … Cast, Gary Cosay
- Michael Landes … Cast, Kirk McCray
- Donnie Jeffcoat … Cast, Kirk's Friend
- Shantel Cropper … Cast, Cool Girl
- Linda Hoy … Cast, Mrs. Ritvo