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Episode 70 2 Oct 91 "The Lake"

w: Mark Levin

d: Michael Dinner

Click for Transcript

"On the Arnolds' lakeside vacation, an impatient Kevin begins the fifth season yearning for freedom to follow his heart after he meets a wide-eyed girl (Lisa Gerber) at the drive-in theater."

Cara episode! The Arnold/Pfeiffer family trip in Summer 1971 starts quite boring. The fathers are only interested in fishing and Debbie has again her eyes on Kevin. Since Paul has got his contact lenses, he has more self-confidence. But then Kevin sees a wild-looking girl on the back of a Ford pickup truck. They both drink coke and their eyes meet. Then the truck drives off. When Wayne takes Wart, Paul and Kevin to the drive-in theater ("Planet of the Apes"), he drops Kevin and Paul. There is the strange girl again. The boys approach her and she offers Kevin her cigarette. Her name is Cara and she lives just half a mile away. After a few words she has to leave with her brother but asks Kevin to come back the next night. Kevin and Paul go to meet her. They ask Cara whether she knows a girl with whom Paul could spend some time. But Paul refuses to go with Lori, Cara's dumb ultrablonde friend. Kevin and Cara spend a wonderful time at the lake. They meet the next days. But when his last night at the lake arrives, his dad wants him to stay for dinner. Kevin says "no", leaves and has a difficult time to say good-bye to Cara - expecting that they will not meet again. But see episode 92 in which we learn that he will receive a Christmas card from her but does not write back. [no Winnie]

Remark: The relation between Kevin and Winnie is unclear at this moment. She had broken up with him in episode 58 and they had met again in episode 66.

Remark:  The prop department actually made Paul’s “Red Chief” condom package (by Kyle Gittins, from "Prime Time Live" on ABC).

Remark:  There was a line which never made it into the episode. After Paul hold the rubber in Kevin’s face:
KEVIN: "You don't have to rub it in my nose".
PAUL: "No, it's not for your nose, it's for your -"
KEVIN: "Enough, Paul!"
The producers probably thought that was too much. Yet they decided to leave in the final  scene where Cara puts Kevin’s hand on her ... heart (by Kyle Gittins, from "Prime Time Live" on ABC).

Music:
Muddy Waters: "Mannish Boy"
The Turtles: "Happy Together"
Jackson Browne: "Jamaice Say You Will"
Bobby Fuller Four: "I Fought The Law"

Lisa Gerber             Cara
John C. Moskoff         Alvin Pfeiffer
Stephanie Satie         Ida Pfeiffer
Torrey Anne Cook        Debbie Pfeiffer
Scott Menville          Wart (real name Dave Wirtschafter, Wayne's friend)
Brad Hunt               Billy (Cara's brother)
Robin Lynn Heath        Lori (Cara's friend)
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Episode 71 9 Oct 91 "Day One"
w: Denise Moss & Sy Dukane

d: Daniel Stern

Click for Transcript
Click for German Transcript on Kyle's Site

"High school isn't all it's cracked up to be for Kevin: he's trailed by a pesky nerd (Adam Sneller), gets off to a bad start with a teacher (Scott Jaeck) who boasts of meeting Spiro Agnew, and is humiliated by Wayne."

Kevin's first day in McKinley High School. Stuart Carpizian keeps annoying him, Mr. Botner has it in for him and Winnie tries to make him feel alright. Kevin sets himself up as class clown. When his teacher makes him rewrite his paper, he later tries to take it out on Paul in a game of backyard basketball, and he loses. Wayne and Wart are giving Kevin the "scrub" treatment. Good ending with spiral note paper.

Remark: In episode 30, Adam Sneller was spotted sitting at the cafeteria lunch table when Hobson was giving Kevin flack about his dad's car.  Adam later played Stuart Carpizian in episode 71 (by Dennis Barron).

Music:
The Byrds: "Eight Miles High"

Scott Jaeck             Mr. Arlo Bottner (Kevin's teacher)
Adam Sneller            Stuart Carpazian
Scott Menville          Wart
Josh Berman             Harold Gruntner
Josh Peden              Callio
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Episode 72 16 Oct 91 "The Hardware Store"
w: Craig Hoffman
d: Ken Topolsky
"Fed up with low pay, dull work and a strict employer (Al Ruscio) at a hardware-store job, Kevin hopes to nail down a job at the mall, where the social scene is hopping."

Kevin gets his first job at Harris & Sons Hardware Store. He wants to get a job at the mall so he can meet girls like Robby who works at the take-out counter in the mall. So he asks the store owner Mr. Harris to give him a raise. He gets it but quits nevertheless. He feels guilty because Mr. Harris has taught him many things and was over all very nice to him. [no Winnie]

Music:
Bachman Turner Overdrive: "Takin' Care of Business"
Hal Kemp and His Orchestra with vocal by Maxine Gray: "Pennies from Heaven"

Al Ruscio               Mr. Harris
Josh Blake              Robby (classmate)
Gloria Manos            Mrs. Harris (the store owner's wife)
Michael Bacall          Lewis (classmate)
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Episode 73 23 Oct 91 "Frank and Denise"
w: David Greenwalt
d: David Greenwalt

 
Click for German Transcript
Denise the Grease and Frank the Stank seem to be created for eachother. In Mr Lemkur's literature class Kevin gets very nervous because Denise is desirable. She is not the smartest girl, thinks his name is Calvin. But she likes him because he understands Keates' poetry. Frank grabs Kevin. Denise breaks up with the stupid mechanic Frank and kisses Kevin. But Kevin gets the couple back together because they are the perfect fit. [no Winnie]

Music:
The Platters: "Only You"
Tim Hardin : "If I Were Carpenter" 

Amy Hathaway            Denise (Lavelle)
Noah Blake              Frank ("The Stank" Stanavukovic)
Michael Bacall          Lewis (classmate)
Parker Jacobs           Purdle the Turtle (classmate)
Roy Brocksmith          Weird Mr. Lemkur (teacher for english)
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Episode 74 30 Oct 91 "Full Moon Rising"
w: Mark B. Perry
d: Ken Topolsky

Click for Transcript
Click for German Transcript

The guys are getting itchy feet - for a car. Dumb Ricky Halsenbach is the first to turn 16 because he has repeated 3rd grade. When Ricky somehow manages to get his license, Kevin, Purdle, Randy and Ricky go "cruising for chicks". Unfortunately, Cindy, the girl Kevin broke a date with, finds him at "Zesty's", the drive-in restaurant - with Kevin's "cousins". Kevin's "raincheck" with Cindy is revoked - permanently. The guys argue while driving around, and get mooned by some guys in a Mustang. They decide to moon the next available victims - Kevin's parents - and Purdle does (to moon = showing the naked behind). (Episode starts with excerpts from "Rebel without a Cause" and has the "Jeopardy" theme in it) [no Winnie]

Music:
Ronny and The Daytonas: "Little G.T.O."
M. Griffin: "Jeopardy/Think Music"
Beethoven: "Symphony no.9"
Mort Stevens / The Ventures: "Theme from Hawaii 5-O"

Scott Nemes             Ricky Halsenbach (classmate)
Michael Tricario        Randy Mitchell
Heather McComb          Cindy
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Episode 75 6 Nov 91 "Triangle"
w: Sy Rosen
d: Daniel Stern

 
Click for German Transcript
Wayne gets a girlfriend, Sandy. She is really nice looking and smart. Kevin does not understand why she is with such a jerk. Wayne gets better at school, even better as Kevin at least in typing class. After Kevin gets rejected by all girls including Alice, Sandy approaches him behind Wayne's back. She kisses him, they kiss and kiss again. But when she breaks up with Wayne and wants to be with him, he cannot betray his brother. [no Winnie]

Music:
Sonny & Cher: "I Got You Babe"
Bread: "If"
Christie & or Creedence Clearwater Revival: "Green River"
The Band or Miriam Makeba: "I Shall Be Released"

Carla Gugino            Sandy (Tyler, 11th grade)
Scott Nemes             Ricky Halsenbach
Parker Jacobs           Purdle the Turtle (classmate)
Michael Ensign          Mr. Finora (teacher for typing)
Lindsay Sloane          Alice (classmate)
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Episode 76 20 Nov 91 "Soccer"
w: Mark Levin
d: Thomas Schlamme
Kevin cannot get into the football school team. In the bus he meets Nick who carries something Kevin does not know - a soccer ball. So he goes out for the newly founded soccer team and sees the biggest assembly of nerds. When he kicks the ball by accident, the team gets enthusiastic and wants him. Kevin sees his chance for success. So he asks the coach who is only sitting around and interested to get his juice. Later at home Kevin's dad tells him that this was the famous football coach of 1957, Pops the Bear. During the following days Kevin activates the team because Pops does not do anything. But their only hope for the first match is a rain-out because the other team is just too good. At halftime Kevin's team is already 11:0 behind. He makes a speech. They play better but have forgot to change sides. It starts to rain; they play on and lose 19:0 in the end. [no Winnie]

Remark: See Andrew Mark Berman's biography for an anecdote.

Music:
James Brown: "Get up Off That Thing"
Rossini: "Wilhelm Tell Overture"

Brice Beckham           Nick (Bett, soccer team)
Andrew Mark Berman      Chuck Coleman (soccer team)
Trenton Teigen          Andy (Collin, soccer team)
Ryan Holihan            Leigh (Fitzpatrick, soccer team)
Paul Dooley             Pops (McIntyre, soccer coach)
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Episode 77 4 Dec 91 "Dinner Out"
w: Gina Goldman
d: Bryan Gordon
Click for Transcript 
Click for German Transcript
In former days Mr Arnold was always very happy on his birthdays. He did like the celebration, the presents and the cake. But now his 43rd birthday is approaching (on Nov 6, 1971) and this time he is very grumpy. He and Karen are still not talking over her boyfriend Michael, whom they have met six month ago (see episode 67). Mrs Arnold and Michael try to mediate between them. Kevin has a hard time to find a really good present and decides to pay for a nice dinner. The Arnold family goes to a fancy restaurant, where Karen and Michael (necktie and shaven!) arrive on a motorbike. All they do is quarrel: Karen has turned into a hardline vegetarian and speaks of "dead cows". Michael hits Mr Arnold's weak points -his work and golf. Wayne's present is a cheap tie that is not even wrapped. When Mrs Arnold gives her present -a photo album-, things seem to change. But Karen's present -a toolbox selected by Michael- gets rejected. Everybody gets angry and leaves. Karen comes back home later at night, gives her dad a hug and makes him 'King for a day'. See episode 90 for the future of the relation between Karen and Michael.  [no Winnie]

Remark:  In the German version of this episode it was said that Jack Arnold would turn 43 and that he was born on Nov 6, 1928.  However, Tim Mottaz told be that the US version had a discrepancy, talking about the 43rd birthday and 1927.

Music:
"Happy Birthday"
"Back to the House"

David Schwimmer         Michael (Karen's boyfriend)
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Episode 78 11 Dec 91 "Christmas Party"
w: Sy Dukane & Denise Moss
d: Jim McBride
 
Click for German Transcript

In former times the Arnolds have thrown annual Christmas parties for all the neighborhood. In 1971, however, Jack is busy with work and Norma with college as well, and there is some tension in the household. Kevin and Wayne decide they don't want to attend the party, but Jack insists they do. Kevin tries to make plans with his friends. Randy's family is going skiing, Ricky's family is going to rescue his sister from a commune, the Cooper's are participating in a vigil against the Viet Nam war, and the Pfeiffer's are going to see Alvin's mom in Florida. Kevin is unhappy that no one but his parent's friends will be there. At the party, Jack gets upset because one of his friends has shown up with a woman half his age. Later, Mr. Ermin goes into the basement to smoke some marijuana, and gets caught by all the Arnold's. "After years of sowing it, growing it, and mowing it...Mr. Ermin, king of lawn-care...had decided to smoke it - in our basement." Jack and Norma argue outside about it, and Kevin and Wayne overhear them. Jack sends Kevin and Wayne to the store. When they return, they expect the worst - only to find Jack and Norma cuddling on the couch. Kevin goes to his room, and happily thinks about the old parties and the good times. Excellent ending - the camera shoots the crack of light under Kevin's door -  "My parents never did throw another Christmas bash. And that was OK, I guess. But I still think about those parties. What they stood for. The time before TV dinners and two-car families. And grass was green and we were young...And those nights when I'd lie awake in my bed...Watching the light dance under my door." Sounds of a happy party can be heard and shadows change under the door. The camera pans back across a younger Wayne and Kevin. "And listening for my father's laugh.". [Winnie appears for the first time after episode 69 but only for 30 sec; she will be back in episode 85].

Goof:  Has anyone ever noticed (as it has always annoyed me) that Episode 78 "Christmas Party" the whole episode is based around the annual Christmas party the Arnold's would hold but there are two previous Christmas eps that do not even mention the fact. But especially the first christmas ep where they want the colour TV they definitely are not making arrangements for a christmas party during this one. I have been meaning to mention this for a long time but finally (watching it Christmas eve and the fact I got back from holidays today) decided to share it with everyone (by Kirk Golding).  But they will have one in episode 103 (by Peter Reynders).

Remark:  The Wonder Years Christmas episodes: Second season: episode 9, forth season: episode 55 (with Cutlip!), fifth season: episode 78, sixth season: episode 103. The first season started after Christmas, the third season had no Christmas episode.

Music:
Brenda Lee: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
Gene Autry: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Boston Pops Orchestra (?): "Sleigh Slide"   (composed by Leroy Anderson) (when the guests come in)
Mel Torme: "The Christmas Song" (last scene)

Ben Slack               Mr. (Ed) Ermin (neighbor)
Candice Azzara          Mrs. Ermin (neighbor's wife)
David Selburg           Lou (guest)
Carol Mansell           Jeanne
Kimberley Kates         Carol (Bill Foster's girlfriend)
Parker Whitman          Bill (Foster, guest)
Scott Nemes             Ricky Halsenbach
Michael Tricario        Randy Mitchell
Marty Zagon             Mr. (Al) Wannamaker (guest)
Patrick O'Brien         Mr. Santa (guest)
Lorna Scott             Mrs. Santa (guest)
Roger Nolan             Mr. Weisman (guest)
Anne Marie Gillis       Mrs. Weisman (guest)
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Episode 79 18 Dec 91 "Pfeiffers' Choice"
w: Mark B. Perry
d: Ken Topolsky
The Pfeiffers and the Arnolds have been always more than just neighbors. But now tensions develop. Paul goes to a private school. Paul's father, normally a poor optician, gets a heap of money from beach real estate speculation. He buys a new color TV, ride-on mower and a swimming pool. On the other side the Arnolds have an old crummy TV and a dammaged lawn mower. When they get invited to Alvin Pfeiffer's fancy country club, Kevin's dad cannot handle it. And Kevin hits Paul's forehead intentionally with a tennis ball. Kevin's mum saves the situation with a toast on their long lasting friendship. At this moment the Pfeiffers get the message that their money is lost thru flooding. Later that night Paul and Kevin get together. The narrator tells us that Paul will eventually leave prep school and join Kevin's high school. [no Winnie]

Remark: When both families meet at the country club, all the Pfeiffers wear glasses and the Arnolds don't.

Goof:  In episode 22 Kevin is using a new Toro rotary lawnmower, but in episodes 57, 79 and 80, Jack Arnold has an old power reel lawnmower.  Also, in #79, the Pfeiffers buy a John Deere riding lawnmower.  The 1972 JD lawn tractor would not look like the one they used in that episode....

Music:
Harper's Bizarre: "59th Street Bridge Song"

John C. Moskoff         Alvin Pfeiffer (Paul's father)
Stephanie Satie         Ida Pfeiffer (Paul's mother)
Torrey Anne Cook        Debbie Pfeiffer (Paul's sister)
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Episode 80 8 Jan 92 "Road Test"
w: Craig Hoffman
d: Thomas Schlamme
Click for Transcript
Click for German Transcript

Kevin is doing well in driver's ed in contrast to Alice Pedermeir. But he cannot parallel park. When pretty Jessica (Alicia Silverstone) accepts his proposal for a date, he signs up and spends a long afternoon in the DMV office waiting for his driving test, but nervously bails out at the last minute. He lies to his family about getting his temporary license. Jack and Norma get him a cake, and give him his own set of keys to the car. He has trouble sleeping afterward, thinking he's never gonna be able to drive a car, and feeling guilty about lying. He goes out late at night to practice in Jack's car, and runs over the lawnmower he forgot to put away. Jack runs outside in his bathrobe to see what is going on. Kevin confesses about not being able to park, and not getting his license. He give his set of keys back to Jack. Jack hands them back, and teaches Kevin to park that night. Later, we are told, Jack takes an afternoon off to go with Kevin to get Kevin's license, then grounds him for a month. [no Winnie]

Remark: Episode #80...No seat belts or shoulder straps are in use by the driver education instructor or the students in the car.  That was a no-no.  I have taught driver ed for thirty plus years (by Amanda Olson).

Remark: At the driver's license office, a woman holds a pair of license plates numbered "DBS 755".  These are from the driver's ed car Kevin was driving (by Kyle).

Remark: Kevin causes another car accident in episode 106.

Music:
"Mary Had a Little Lamb"

Michael Gregory         Coach Meecham (driver-ed teacher)
Lindsay Sloane          Alice (Pedermeir, will become Chuck's     
                          girlfriend)
Josh Berman             Harold Grutner (does also driver-ed)
Troy Fromin             Slovoski
Andrew Berman           Chuck (Coleman)
Alicia Silverstone      Jessica (Thomas, is in Kevin's        
                          biology course)
Patricia Coleman        Examiner
Jose Rey                Clerk
Jane Dulo               Woman
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Episode 81 15 Jan 92 "Grandpa's Car" (copyright 1991)
w: Mark Levin
d: Michael Dinner
Grampa is late arriving at the Arnold's - he has gotten in an accident. His driver's license has been taken away, but Albert refuses to accept it. Kevin makes him promise not to drive. Albert drives to the store in the morning, anyway - which angers Jack, and makes Albert defensive. Albert threatens to drive home, then suggests that Kevin drive him. Kevin reluctantly agrees, and off they go - "for about a block-and-a- half." Albert makes Kevin pull over, and Albert starts to drive off, excitedly. A little later, Albert pulls a wild U-turn and drives off to a diner for some pie. On the road again, Albert stops "at every mart and landmark, every fruit-stand and roadside museum known to man - not to mention a few that weren't". Back on a residential road, Albert starts to reminisce - "It was crazy. The guy kept rambling on and on about every detail of his life - and I was held there - captive." Albert starts to confuse some details, and gets distracted, nearly hitting a car. Kevin is now "fed up" after having spent most of the day with Albert. "You could have gotten us killed! You're lookin' out the window, tellin' stories...not watchin' the road!" They argue about his accident the day before. "For the first time, this man, who'd always been a Hercules to me, didn't seem quite the same. For the first time, my grandfather seemed...old". They continue to Albert's house, and Albert asks Kevin to make him an offer on for the car. Albert asks for $1 - "Is it a deal? Or do you want to haggle with me?" Kevin agrees. "It was the hardest thing I'd ever seen Gramps do." Kevin asks how
Albert will get around. Albert says "Oh, well, the town's close. I got cabs, I got busses...I got feet - and I got a fine grandson who'll drive me around when I come to visit." Kevin drives home. "Some gifts are simple. Some come at a price. Some you buy for a buck...and last a lifetime. I guess everybody remembers their first car. I know I remember mine. Not because it was my first car...but because it was my grandfather's last." (for the fate of that car see episode 94). [no Winnie]

Remark:  When Norma is pleading with Grandpa to wear his glasses, she calls him Albert.

Goof: In the beginning of episode 81 (granpa's car') they show a young Kevin in his grandpa's car (family homevideo). At one point the car drives away. In the reflection of the rear window, you can clearly see the camera and 2 men, 1 of which wear black sunglasses (by GWL).

Music:
Benny Goodman: "Sing, Sing, Sing"
M. Roza and W. Schumann: "Citizens (dum-de-dum-dum) Drive Safely"
Patsy Cline: "Crazy"

David Huddleston        Grampa Arnold
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Episode 82 29 Jan 92 "Kodachrome"
w: Gina Goldman
d: David Greenwalt

 
Click for German Transcript
Teachers were mostly boring and not interesting at all. Miss Shaw is the exception. She is young, anti-authoritarian, black, has just graduated and really enjoys her job. Although "Ivanhoe" is on the plan, Miss Shaw choses "The Catcher in the Rye". Felicia is puzzled and asks always questions whether the board knows it and so on. Miss Shaw wants to introduce a new system: no grades, just passed and not passed. When the principal, Dr. Valenti, talks to her seriously, she lets the students choose their own grades in English 2A. The students first think it is cool. But then they discover that not everyone can get an A. Miss Shaw invites Kevin for a capuccino and tell him about the fascination for her job. Next day Dr. Valenti takes her out of the class. She does not want to change her style ("It is not worth it") and leaves. Mr. Raply, the replacement, is the old style again. Kevin does not know whether to blame the system or Miss Shaw because she has not faught the battle. [no Winnie]

Goof:  When Miss Shaw gets in her car to leave the school after resigning, the windshield is clear when the car is shown again there is a sticker on the windshield which appears to be from Jiffy-Lube.  It appears in the upper right hand corner of the windshield as your looking at the car from the outside (by Branford).

Music:
Joni Mitchell: "Both Sides, Now"

Lanei Chapman           Miss Shaw (teacher English 2A)
Richard Fancy           Dr. Valenti (senior high school principal)
Claude Earl Jones       Linzer (senior high-school janitor)
Scott Nemes             Ricky Halsenbach
Michael Tricario        Randy Mitchell
Josh Berman             Harold Gruntner (classmate, also in English 2A)
Wendy Cooke             Felicia (classmate, also in English 2A)
Ted Hayden              Mr. Raply (replacement teacher for Miss Shaw)
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Episode 83 5 Feb 92 "Private Butthead"
w: Sy Rosen
d: Nick Marck
Click for Transcript

The episode starts with pictures from Vietnam and tells us that most of the people suppress any idea about this war. Wayne has to sit his SAT's again to get into college. His first score was only 312. In addition his dad often criticizes him for being clumsy and lazy. Wayne, Kevin and their dad tile the roof. Kevin also faces future when his tutor, Mrs. Ruebner, asks him about his college plans. He thinks only about "cars, girls, sports and girls", which is not a good base for a college education. Wayne is fed up and leaves school together with his friend Wart to sign up for the army. Kevin's parents freak out and want to talk him out of it. Wayne, however, is serious about his decision and gives all his valuable to Kevin. Jack meets Wayne at the Army testing station, and apologizes for not being a better father to Wayne.
Here is some of what Jack says.
JACK: I haven't prepared you for anything.
(He shrugs and shakes his head slightly. He looks down and sighs.)
JACK: You've been lookin' for my help...
(Jack frowns, then shrugs and shakes his head slightly.)
JACK: I don't know where I've been.
(Jack pauses, then looks down.)
JACK: I, uh...
(Jack looks at Wayne.)
JACK: I wanted so much more for ya.
But Wayne fails the fitness test and only Wart leaves for Vietnam. [no Winnie]

Remark: Kevin's SAT score will be 1240 and Winnie's 1482, see episode 112.

Remark: Kevin reads an issue of MAD magazine with the cover "MAD Mischief Scores" when Wayne enters his room to hand over his things.

Remark: Wart will come back from Vietnam in episode 94 and will have become mad.

Remark: We see Jack wearing his southern football sweatshirt. Dan Lauria went to Southern Connecticut State College in New Haven, CT, where he played football.  He is seen wearing this shirt in several episodes (by Branford).

Music:
Joan Baez: "Forever Young"

Scott Menville          Wart (real name Dave Wirtschafter, Wayne's friend)
Pat Crawford Brown      Mrs. Ruebner (Kevin's tutor)
Joseph Whipp            Mr. Quaranta
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Episode 84 12 Feb 92 "Of Mastodons and Men"
w: Mark Levin
d: Thomas Schlamme
High school boys behave like prehistoric humans. They look for food, set traps fashion primative tools, and hang out in groups. Kevin's tribe consists of Ricky, Chuck and Paul. On the other side there is the civilized world in the form of Julie Aidem, a really cute girl, who he has dated now for two weeks. Her father is wonderful, but dominated by his wife. There are also three daughters, including Julie, and an annoying doggy named Pooh-Pooh. Julie pays too much attention to Kevin so that his football friends, the tribesmen, get jealous. He feels that he will end up like Julie's poor father. After they were dating for three weeks, Julie asks him to announce at her family dinner that they are going steady. Kevin walks over to Julie's home and meets Mr Aidem in his garage. Julie's father tells him about his old dog, Duke, which ran away the very night he had asked his wife to marry him. Sometimes he feels that this dog is calling him. At the dinner, Kevin stands up, says that he cannot take anymore and leaves. A few days later Kevin meets Mr Aidem who tells him that Julie has a boyfriend. Kevin feels a certain affection to him but is happy about his decision. Finally he sees the ghost of Mr Aidem's dog which looks at him. The dog fades out as it runs down the street. [no Winnie]
Lyman Ward              Ben Aidem (Julie's father)
Wendy Cox               Julie Aidem
Sandy Faison            June Aidem (Julie's mother)
Scott Nemes             Ricky Halsenbach
Andrew Mark Berman      Chuck (Coleman)
Pamela Gordon           Mrs. Herrelson (biology teacher)
Carly Elman             Janey Aidem (Julie's sister)
Jennifer Gaynor         Jennifer Aidem (Julie's sister)
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Episode 85 26 Feb 92 "Double Double Date"
w: Sy Rosen & Mark B. Perry
d: Peter Baldwin
Click for Transcript
Click for German Transcript on Kyle's Site

Like all other boys, Kevin likes the full-bosomed Swedish exchange student Inga. In the library he sees her together with his ex-girlfriend, Winnie. He asks her to bring him together with Inga, although not expecting any success. Winnie wonders whether his taste is really "so Swedish" but arranges it. Just when Kevin starts to admire Winnie for her selflessness, she asks him for the new guy, Matt Stevens, who is once again quite dumb. When all four meet at lunch, it seems that Winnie and Matt fit as well as Kevin and Inga. Matt asks Winnie to go with her to the spring dance and Kevin follows him with his question to Inga. So there is a double date. Already before the event tensions develop between Kevin and Winnie and grow at the dance. When Matt asks Inga for a dance, Kevin thinks the evening is ruined anyway and dances with Winnie. During that dance they find out that both Inga and Matt are dull and therefore the perfect match. The emotional bond between Kevin and Winnie seems to be stronger than ever. So they rush away, drive as fast as possible, stop, kiss and consider a new beginning. The narrator tells us that it has not been the right time for it and robs us of nearly any illusion about their relation. [the first but mind-blowing appearance of Winnie after episode 69 and a short scene in episode 78]

Quote: Narrator = Adult Kevin about Winnie: "She was my ex-neighbour, my ex-girlfriend, my ex-, well, just my ex."

Remark: In episode 85, Kevin and Winnie dance together. They dance to the same music (The Stylistics: "You Are Everything") that Winnie danced to with Roger at Paul's party (episode 58), when Kevin is *sort of* with Madeline (by Peter Reynders and Alex).

Music:
The Troggs: "Wild Thing"
The Archies: "Sugar, Sugar"
Wilson Pickett or The Commitments: "Mustang Sally"
The Stylistics: "You Are Everything"
Percy Sledge: "When a Man loves a Woman"

Shevonne Durkin         Inga Finnstrom
Jason Renfro            Matt Stevens
Scott Nemes             Ricky Halsenbach
Jason Ross-Azikiwe      Mr. Peel
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Episode 86 11 Mar 92 "Hero"
w: David Greenwalt
d: Stephen Cragg
McKinley finally has a good basketball team, thanks mainly to the star player, Bobby Riddle. Kevin has gotten on a first-name basis with him because their lockers are next to each other. Chuck, Winnie, Paul and Kevin have been going to the games, and "hanging out" afterwards at a diner. Jack, who is doing some frustrating reports for work, gets upset because Kevin gets a "D" on a test. The team makes it to the regional finals. Jack finally takes Kevin's advice to see a game, much to Kevin's dismay. Kevin is embarrassed to be seen at the game with him, and they sit apart from Chuck, Winnie and Paul. During half-time, Kevin gets mad at Jack for "talking strategy" with Paul and Chuck. Jack thinks the other team may use a better defense on Bobby in the second half. Jack's prediction comes true, and McKinley loses the game. Kevin tries to console Bobby, but irritates him instead and gets told off, with Jack watching. Afterwards at a diner, Kevin apologizes for the game, and his bad test score. Jack tells Kevin "it's hard being a hero" - but referring to himself, not Bobby. The narration tells of Kevin not remembering the score of the game, but remembering sitting there drinking coffee with the only hero he ever knew - his dad. (Written by Kyle)

Remark: There is only one scene in which Winnie talks. So we do not know in which way her relation with Kevin goes on. This is disappointing after the development in the last episode in which the narrator has told she was his ex-girlfriend.

Goof: If you notice in the state championship game, the playing floor has a (2); 3point arc's. This game was played in 1972, there were no 3pt. field goals in that year, they will not be a part of the game for years to come. Why were there (2) arcs? You might ask. One was for the pro basketball, and one for college (by Jerry Dempsey).

Goof: During the Regional Finals, the time remaining on the scoreboard is shown in tenths of seconds.  This game was supposed to take place in 1972.  Tenths of seconds were actually not shown on scoreboard before the late 1980's (by Bill O'Hara).

Music:
Aaron Copland: "Fanfare for the Common Man"  (the solo trumpet melody)

James Caviezel          Bobby Riddle (basketball player)
Andrew Mark Berman      Chuck Coleman
[Bar]
Episode 87 18 Mar 92 "Lunch Stories"
w: Sy Dukane & Denise Moss

d: Ken Topolsky

Click for Transcript

Click for German Transcript on Kyle's Site

"On a day in the life of Kevin's lunchroom crowd, Chuck (Andrew Berman) eyes a potential date, Ricky (Scott Nemes) is agitated over an unfinished assignment, while Kevin takes a walk on the wild side with a group of juvenile delinquents."

The lunch in the cafeteria at Kevin's highschool is always an important social event. You can figure out who is popular and who is not -the lower class is Jimmy, Joey and Neal. They ask Kevin to skip classes and see the movie "The Devil and Miss Jones". But they get caught by Dr. Valenti. Winnie asks Kevin to donate blood. He says "yes" because "After all, this was the love of my life, potentially. The future mother of my children, potentially. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do for her."  Chuck is in love with Sheila and after three months he asks her for a date and gets rejected. Wayne tries to win $20 for getting Maniac's first name - that is the long-haired weirdo nobody talks to. It is Florence, but he threatens to kill Wayne if he tells. Ricky writes an essay in a hurry, but gives it in the end to Alice.

Remark: From the two short scenes with Winnie we get the idea that Kevin's relation to her could be one-sided. Winnie appears again short in episode 92 and real big in episode 93.

Remark: In this episode Wayne was excluded from the army because of psoriasis.  However, when he is shown with his shirt off in episode 94, there are no signs of the skin disease (by Dennis Barron).

Music:
The Rivingtons: "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" (1962)
Henry Mancini: "Peter Gun Theme"

Andrew Mark Berman      Chuck Coleman 
Richard Chaim           Nebbish
Richard Fancy           Dr. Valenti
Eric Foster             Neal Pemish
Troy Fromin             Slovosky
Seth Green              Jimmy Donnelly
Laurel Moglen           Sheila McCaffry
Scott Nemes             Ricky Halsenbach
Jean Sincere            Nurse
Demian Slade            Joey Spinoza
Lindsay Sloane          Alice Pedermeir
Richard Stay            Maniac
[Bar]
Episode 88 25 Mar 92 "Carnal Knowledge"
w: David Greenwalt
d: Nancy Cooperstein
"The complications of love and life unfold for Kevin through Paul (Josh Saviano), a man now older and wiser after a visit from the daughter of a family friend."

Chuck has discovered a newpaper ad for the movie "Carnal Knowledge" starring Ann-Margret. Ricky and Kevin do like the idea to watch a "sex" movie. But Paul reminds them that they are not 17 yet. When Kevin drives Paul home, he tries to convince him to join his friends. But Paul tells him about a family dinner scheduled that very night and about Beth who will attend it and studies the interesting subject of marine biology. At home, Kevin's mother suggest to her husband to watch this movie. Kevin gets nervous and solves the problem by talking his dad into a John Wayne TV movie. Kevin drives over to change Paul's mind but meets Beth who knows what is going on and show it by mentioning Jack Nicholson who is in "Carnal Knowledge". While Paul stays at home, the others decide to sneak into the theatre and get thrown out. Things turn out better for Paul: Beth, the daughter of his mother's friend, and seduces him. Later the night Paul walks over to Kevin to talk about his disturbing experience. But Kevin gets uptight, because he thinks Paul does not need him anymore and is a traitor. Next day in school, Paul does not want to talk about it and Kevin is so stupid to give Chuck and Ricky a hint about Paul. The evening Kevin goes to Paul's house and apologizes for his behavior. They drive to the airport and see Beth's plane leaving. [no Winnie]

Remark: See article about this episode.

Remark: Despite the title, "Carnal Knowledge" was a good movie; Ann-Margret got nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress in this movie in 1971.

Goof:  When Kevin and Paul are riding home from school the back window is open.  But when there is a cut away and they go back the window is closed, then they cut away again and come back it is open again (by Bill Barnes).  During this same driving scene, there are several later model cars parked in the neighborhood (by Tony Gomez).

Goof:  It was clearly stated that the movie was shown on a Friday night. However, Kevin asks Paul the next day about "last night".  So is there school on Saturdays? (by Leonard Itkin).

Music:
The Four Seasons: "Walk Like a Man"
Claude Debussy: "Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un faune" (when the boys are in the theatre)

Scott Nemes             Ricky Halsenbach
Andrew Mark Berman      Chuck Coleman 
John C. Moskoff         Alvin Pfeiffer (Paul's father)
Kawena Charlot          Beth (Paul Pfeiffer's first affair)
Stephanie Satie         Ida Pfeiffer (Paul's mother)
[Bar]
Episode 89 8 Apr 92 "The Lost Weekend"
w: Sivert Glarum & Stephen Jenkins (teleplay), Rob Cohen (story)
d: Arthur Albert
"With his parents away, Kevin plans to play by the house rules, until a poker game with the guys ends up a blowout party and total chaos."

For the first time ever Kevin's parents leave their sons alone at home for the weekend. Wayne goes to a drink-out and Kevin invites the gang (Paul, Chuck, Randy, Ricky) to a cardgame. It becomes boring and Chuck and Ricky call all the people they know to come to the party. This way Kevin throws the mother of all parties. The party ruins the house and surprisingly Wayne takes the blame. Kevin washes his brother's car in return. [no Winnie]

Remark: Ricky calls Alice Pedermeir who will become Chuck's girlfriend later, see episode 110. This is the first time Alice is mentioned

Remark: Chuck shows a fake ID in the liquorstore. The licence says: "Richard Piedmont. 303 Grant Av. Culver City, IA 02266. Valid from /1/71-1/1/72." The zip code is actually Boston, Massachussetts - not IA ="Iowa" and Culver City is in California, see where.htm (by Kyle Gittins).

Music:
John Fred and His Playboy Band: "Judy in Disguise"
The Mitch Miller Chorus: "Colonel Bogy March"
Sly and the Family Stone: "I Want To Take You Higher"

Scott Nemes             Ricky Halsenbach
Andrew Mark Berman      Chuck Coleman 
Michael Tricario        Randy Mitchell
Lindsay Sloane          Alice Pedermeir (classmate)
Eric Bruskotter         Football Player
Sarah Dammann           Pretty Girl
Jeremy Davies           Guy (Eddie Horvath)
Jeff Garvin             Furman
Michael G. Hagerty      Clerk
Dylan Lawrence          Teenager
Andrew Shue             Burnout
[Bar]
Episode 90 22 Apr 92 "Stormy Weather"
w: Denise Moss & Sy Dukane
d: Ken Topolsky
"Fallout in the nuclear Arnold family comes with a surprise late-night return home by Karen (Olivia d'Abo) after a fight with boyfriend Michael (David Schwimmer), and results in a meltdown with Kevin and Wayne over new living arrangements."

Karen comes back home in the middle of a rainy night. She moves back in, which brings Kevin and Wayne back together into their old room (see episode 64). She has had a fight with her boyfriend, Michael (see episode 67 and 77). Kevin, Wayne and their dad drive over to him to get Karen's stuff. The place is a mess and Michael sits in the middle of it eating pizza and drinking beer. When Michael expresses his sadness, Mr Arnold tells him that he has been against this type of relation from the very beginning. As a response Michael mentions the reason for the fight: He had asked Karen to marry him and she did not want to go the traditional way. Michael camps on the Arnold front yard and does not get discouraged by a thunderstorm. Karen is finally convinced and proposes to him ten days later by herself. See following episode for the wedding. See article about this episode. [no Winnie]

Goof:  After Karen gets home and Norma says that someone has to talk with her, Jack says: "I'll do it". Notice that he is not using a wrist watch, and when he comes out of the house he is wearing it! Perhaps he put it before getting out, but I do not think so. The sequences seems to be continuous and he wouldn't care to put a watch on (by Alexandre Gushi).

Music:
Linda Ronstadt: "Desperado"

David Schwimmer         Michael (Karen's boyfriend)
[Bar]
Episode 91 29 Apr 92 "The Wedding"
w: Mark B. Perry
d: Peter Baldwin

Click for German Transcript on Kyle's Site

"Goodbyes to the family don't come easy for Karen and Michael (Olivia d'Abo, David Schwimmer), who forgo a traditional wedding for a hippie "life celebration" outdoors, performed by a turbaned maharishi (Gerry Bednob)."

After Karen has asked Michael to marry her (see episode 90), preparations have to be made for the ceremony. Karen drives the Arnold family and Michael over to the church. Her father feels uncomfortable in the VW van. When they talk to the pastor, her Mum takes over in her overprotective way. She wants to have a traditional wedding. In the end Karen has it her way - outdoor hippie Hindu style. The couple will move to Alaska because Michael has found a job there. Karen cannot tell her parents. But they see "Alaska or Bust" on the wedding cake. [no Winnie]

Remark: Karen leaves the series and will only appear again in the very last episode 115.

Remark: See article about the wedding.

Remark: When everyone leaves the church after the pastor asks what type of ceremony they want, Wayne seems to be left behind. He does not leave with the others (by Kyle).

Music:
Traffic: "You Can All Join In"
Paul Stookey: "Wedding Song"

Gerry Bednob            Maharishi
Tara Ellsion            Earth Mother
Frank Lloyd             Rainbow
Karen Massey            Wind
David Schwimmer         Michael (Karen's boyfriend)
[Bar]
Episode 92 6 May 92 "Back to the Lake"
w: Mark Levin
d: Michael Dinner
Click for Transcript

"Summer-vacation plans turn to dust for Kevin (Fred Savage), who reluctantly takes a job chopping onions at a Chinese restaurant, then calls in sick and heads for the lake to recapture old memories." Remark: This TV guide summary is wrong: Kevin never called. Paul did.  Although Kevin told Paul they were "gonna call in sick",  then pulled a U-turn, I doubt that is what Paul told Mr. Chong, based on Paul's conversation given in the transcript. And finally, they went to the lake first, then called (by Kyle Gittins).

Summertime has always been fun. But now everybody has a job. Wayne works at his father's place, NORCOM, in shipping.  Paul gets Kevin a job with him at Chong's Chinese restaurant - chopping onions. Winnie has a job in the evenings as a waitress. So Kevin finds Cara's Christmas card (see episode 70) gets the idea to go see Cara. He hangs a U-turn on the way to work, and takes Paul with him. After hanging out at the abandoned drive-in, they meet Cara by accident, working in a store. She is abrupt with Kevin when he tries to kiss her later that night, and walks home. After sleeping in his car that night, Paul and Kevin are headed home, but meet Cara as they get gas. Kevin feels bad about the night before, and wants to explain to Cara that he has "a life, and a girlfriend, and" - she beats him to it. She has a boyfriend, and is sorry she didn't tell him earlier. Kevin is both saddened and relieved. Cara kisses him on the cheek and asks him to send her a Christmas card (he never does, the schlub). Kevin returns to Winnie, with a much better attitude. [two short appearances of Winnie]

Remark:  The Chinese Chef spoke a Korean word, "palli, palli" to Kevin. It means "make it faster" (by Wonju Cho). Some people, however, understood "falli, falli."

Remark: Having lived in the east and the west, I have never met an easterner who travelled the I-anything. You go on "The 95" or "280" or "The Thruway" or "The 91". As far as I can remember, putting the letter 'I' before an interstate number is a western idiom. If Paul and Kevin were easterners on their way to scope out RISD, Yale or Amherst, they might have travelled  "The 91" or "91" but not likely "I-91" (by Mark).

Remark: The song "Home" by Karla Bonoff was not released until 1977 but the show takes place in 1972 (by BRANFORD).

Goof: Paul tells Kevin to go down I-91. There is an almost full screen shot of an I-91 direction sign. Kevin sees it and does a u-turn across the median. I-91 is in the northeastern U.S.  It goes through New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut--all of which are 2000 miles away from California, the state that issued Wayne his driver's license. There is also an SR-91 south of Los Angeles which goes from Riverside, CA, to the beach.  It is called Beach Freeway in the western and Riverside Freeway in the eastern part.  It is about 60 miles long (by Peter Reynders).  For more information about the location question click here.

Goof: As Kevin stretches out for the night in his Oldsmobile and begins to regret having made the trip, the narrator (Daniel Stern) mispronounces Cara's name.  He calls her "Care- A," when in fact the character's name the entire show, as well as her earlier appearance, had been pronounced "Car- A."  If the narrator is supposed to be the adult Kevin, it certainly is odd that he pronounce the girl's name different from the young Kevin, right? (by Quentin Parker).

Music:
Tools and The Maytals: "Pressure Drop"
Frankie Avalon: "Venus"
Karla Bonoff: "Home" (from the 1977 Columbia Records album "Karla Bonoff")

Lisa Gerber             Cara
Michael Paul Chan       Chinese Chef (Mr. Chong)
Thomas Kirk Trutner     Customer
George Sacks            Driver
[Bar]
Episode 93 13 May 92 "Broken Hearts and Burgers"
w: Craig Hoffman
d: Ken Topolsky
"Kevin (Fred Savage) regrets mishandling another situation with Winnie and, in clips from past episodes, reflects on other miscues that left him a wiser fellow."

In the pretitle sequence Kevin goes to order dinner at the counter and the blond waitress eyes him off with the words 'I put the relish on the side'. But Winnie is waiting for him at the table and gets really envious because they are together again. Kevin walks over to his friends at the other table. Ricky tells him that he must talk to her. But at that moment Kevin remembers all the confusion that he has gone through with Winnie (long excerpts from episodes 1, 10, 17, 23, 36, 37, 46, 58, and short from others) and with Becky Slater (episode 11), Lisa Berlini (episode 6) and Madeline (episode 51). Wayne offers to help (Kevin remembers episode 2 as shown as a flash) but screws it up. Winnie slaps Wayne in the face. But when Kevin finally stops Winnie on the parking lot, she changes her mind and gives him an endless kiss in front of the diner.

Remark: Karla Bonoff's song "Wild Heart of the Young" was recorded in 1982, ten years after the show took place (by Robbie Johnston).

Remark: "Broken Hearts and Burgers" was filmed at "Smokey Joe's" in Studio City, CA (by John Ladd).

Music:
Tymes or Renato Russo: "Somewhere"
Ringo Starr: "You're Sixteen"
Van Morrison: "Brown Eyed Girl"
Karla Bonoff: "Wild Heart of the Young"

Andrew Mark Berman      Chuck (Coleman)
Eric Buskotter          Bully
Dah-Ve Chodan           Locker Girl (only from episode 1)
Julie Condra            Madeline (only from former episodes)
Sarah Dammann           Waitress
Elyse Eberstein         Melissa Bemil (only from episode 37)
Crystal McKellar        Becky Slater (only from former episodes)
Laura Mooney            Girl
Scott Nemes             Ricky (Halsenbach)
Julie Payne             Mrs. Falcinella (only from former episodes)
Michael Tricario        Randy (Mitchell)
Kathy Wagner            Lisa (only from former episodes)

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