THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 6, 1996 TAG: 9605040045
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
IF YOU'VE BEEN wondering what's become of that nice Fred Savage since his ABC series, ``The Wonder Years,'' signed off in 1993, you've come to the right place.
I'm here today to tell you that Savage is 19 now, a sophomore at Stanford U., living in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon frat house and acting again - but only when classes are in recess.
During his break at mid-term last winter, Savage starred in a film for NBC, ``No One Would Tell,'' which airs tonight at 9.
The cute, sensitive Kevin Arnold from ``The Wonder Years'' is no more. Tonight, Savage plays a high school jock with a dark side. He beats on women.
Kevin, how could you?
``I wanted to play someone who is totally different from Kevin Arnold. I want to use this role to be my transition from child actor to adult,'' said Savage when he talked to TV writers long distance from Stanford.
After the conversation, Savage hurried back to the frat house to cram for a test in economics. His major is English. He's also taking accounting.
One day, perhaps, Savage will take control of his finances. He's earned thousands, if not a million, from doing ``The Wonder Years'' on ABC and in syndication, where it is popular.
For now, his parents look after his money. They've set up a checking account for him at Stanford.
When ``The Wonder Years'' signed off in 1993, Savage dropped out of show business, returning to high school and then enrolling at Stanford. He wanted to be a normal kid again.
``To get back into the flow of everyday things,'' is how Savage put it. Today, said Savage, he is just another student at Stanford. For a week or two after enrolling, Savage was the celebrity on campus.
``There were stares and finger-pointing. But that didn't last long,'' he said. ``It's been months since I heard anyone mention television to me. My professors never comment on `The Wonder Years.' ''
You mean the profs at Stanford don't want to know what Winnie was really like?
Some kids who make it big in show business before they're 18 say that's enough of the bright lights. They choose a life away from the cameras. While Savage is taking off four years to earn a degree, he intends to stay with acting and eventually be a producer or director.
``The wealth of stories, characters and events I find in studying literature will help me when I return to the creative community full time,'' Savage said. He won't consider another series until after Stanford.
He refuses to be a guest star on ABC's ``Boy Meets World,'' which stars his 15-year-old brother, Ben.
It's Ben's moment in the sun to enjoy alone, said Savage.
When Savage and co-star Candace Cameron of ``Full House'' were filming ``No One Would Tell'' on location, Savage got a surprising reaction from people who watched, including the crew. ``They told me they felt a little betrayed because I was playing somebody so different from Kevin, somebody who loses control with terrible consequences.''
In Savage's TV film, you will see that the awkward, gawky years have come and gone for the star of ``The Wonder Years.'' At 19, Savage is all grown up and a little on the husky side, a nice-looking kid who doesn't have much acting range.
Savage as the high school wrestling champion is charming and popular with his classmates one moment, and then he's an out-of-control nut case. There is a reference to an abusive father in the script, but we never learn for sure what makes this character tick.
``It was liberating, even exhilarating to play someone so out of control,'' said Savage. ``He's this nice, in-control guy one minute, and then we see him as somebody who loses it.''
Sounds like what happens at a frat house keg party. by CNB