1. Pilot

Complete story — includes the ending

Kevin Arnold ( Fred Savage ) and his friends Paul Pfeiffer ( Josh Saviano ) and Winnie Cooper ( Danica McKellar ) are enjoying the summer of 1968, before heading to the newly renamed Robert F. Kennedy Junior High School. The first day for Kevin is tough. One teacher remarks about his experience with Kevin's older brother Wayne ( Jason Hervey ) and assumes Kevin will be as much of a problem. Later at lunch, after being teased by Wayne and his friends over his anticipated relationship with Winnie, Kevin gets into trouble with Principal Diperna, who catches him leaving the cafeteria with an apple, against a school rule which states food must remain in the cafeteria. In defiance, Kevin subsequently hurls the apple back into the cafeteria. Norma ( Alley Mills ) and Jack ( Dan Lauria ) are called in for Diperna's disciplinary session with their son. Just as Kevin is about to face punishment from his parents, they hear tragic news upon returning home – Winnie's brother Brian was killed in action in the Vietnam War. Guest-starring: Bentley Mitchum as Winnie's older brother Brian Cooper, who scolds Wayne for bullying Kevin; Raye Birk in his first appearance as principal Mr. Diperna. Robert Picardo in his first appearance as Kevin's physical education teacher Coach Cutlip. Arye Gross provided the voice of adult Kevin Arnold during this episode's original post- Super Bowl XXII broadcast. The voiceover was re-recorded by Daniel Stern when he assumed the role for the remainder of the series. In 2009, TV Guide ranked this episode #39 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes.