Why The Wonder Years is the greatest television show ever made

I scoff in the face of Lost-o-philes, True Blood-ies, SATC fanatics, and all other tv fans.  Nielsen ratings are a total sham.  Let me tell you about the greatest show of all.  It's a little show, about a little suburb, and it's called The Wonder Years.

TWY (so I don't have to keep typing it) helped us all grow [up], because we got to watch Kevin Arnold and the gang make every mistake we were destined to make, but he made it first. And he made it better. And the [excellent] voice of [Daniel Stern] said exactly what we wanted to say but couldn't articulate.  We wanted to be taller than Kirk McCray, we wanted to sock Kevin in the stomach a la Becky Slater, and we knew that we'd know someday what it's like to love someone and realize you have to let them go like Kevin let Winnie go.

Almost every episode makes me cry, and whether they're tears of joy or sorrow, they're always genuine. Because I know what Kevin or Paul or Carla or Winnie or Norma or Jack, or even Wayne, was feeling every time.  We all know the chicken dance we played with the phone the first time we wanted to call our crush.  We may not know the pain of losing a sibling like Winnie lost Brian Cooper, but we know sadness, and we know it better because TWY prepared us for it.

Another great aspect of my favorite show is the soundtrack.  Oh, the soundtrack.  So many golden oldies it's ridiculous.  Who doesn't hear "Turn, Turn, Turn" and think of Kevin and Winnie frolicking in Harper's Woods?

And then there's the best part about The Wonder Years:  I WAS ON IT!  Season 3 Episode 14. The Valentine's Day Massacre. I play young Carla.  Do my tired ego a favor and watch it.