A Classic Reborn: The Wonder Years (2021)

 History has shown us that when Hollywood decides to remake classic properties with African-American characters, the results have not been good.

1982: ABC commissions The New Odd Couple, with Ron Glass & Demond Wilson in place of Tony Randall & Jack Klugman. However, this lasted one season for the following reasons:

*--Glass was fresh off an 8 year run on Barney Miller, which was readily available in syndication.

*--The original Odd Couple was in syndication as well, as was Wilson's earlier hit, Sanford & Son.

Ballgame over.

2005: A urban remake of Jackie Gleason's legendary The Honeymooners hits theatres, with Cedric The Entertainer as Ralph. That there hasn't been a sequel in the 16 years since should tell you something. Later that year, Universal decides to reboot Kojak, with Ving Rhames ("Striptease", "Mission: Impossible") filling Telly Savalas' gumshoes. Another bomb.

2013: Undaunted, Universal tries again, and places a new version of Ironside on NBC, with Blair Underwood (ex-L. A. Law) in the wheelchair. It's gone by Thanksgiving.

2021 brings a new perspective to the 1988-93 series, The Wonder Years, with the focus shifting to an African-American family. The new Wonder begins in the spring of 1968, as Dean Williams (newcomer Elisha Williams) is turning 12, and his family---and the entire African-American community, for that matter, comes to grips with the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis. The producers were able to acquire archived footage from CBS of Walter Cronkite confirming the reports of Dr. King's death.

Don Cheadle ("Space Jam: A New Legacy", "Avengers: Endgame") narrates as Dean's adult self. The supporting cast also includes Laura Kariuki, fresh from Black Lightning, and Dule Hill (ex-Psych). Original series star Fred Savage is an executive producer, and directed the opener.

Check the trailer:

ABC has placed the new Wonder on Wednesdays, where the original series also aired. That, too, doesn't always work. If you're wondering why the new series is coming from 20th Television, co-executive producer Lee Daniels is coming off the Fox series, Empire, also from 20th Television.

Rating: A-.