Fred Savage is Officially The Little Engine That Could

If you were to tell me that the same kid who played Kevin Arnold on The Wonder Years would be picked to host a new Ricky Gervais created game show on ABC there’s zero chance I’d have believed you.  But that’s exactly what’s happening.  According to THR

The Wonder Years grad will return to ABC and host the Disney-owned network’s Ricky Gervais game show Child Support, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Picked up to series in October, the show (formerly known as Five to Survive) will feature grown-up contestants answering 10 questions for a chance to win a cash prize. If the adult can’t answer a question correctly, he or she can turn to a group of five kids (ages six to nine) who have been asked the same question. Gervais will exec produce and ask the kids the questions. 

Honestly, when The Wonder Years ended did anyone realistically think Savage would continue his career in show business?  He was a gawky looking teen who lost all of that childhood flare that made him so lovable in the first place.  When around 2 year passed for Savage after the show ended I officially thought he was done.  But then all of a sudden a couple more years passed, he wasn’t so awkward looking anymore, and he landed a starring role on the sitcom Working in 1997, which by the way I think was way ahead of its time.

While that may not seem like a big deal, it is.  Why?  Because it was that foray into TV again that made him one of the better TV show directors for almost the next 20 years.  He’s directed multiple episodes of shows like Hannah Montana, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Modern Family and even 2 Broke Girls.

Then he came back as an actor starring in The Grinder with Rob Lowe which I happen to think was a pretty funny show.  Now Savage does the voice over for every single Honda commercial on the air and he’s doing this game show.  Seriously, I could have never predicted this.   Savage is one of the most unassuming guys who’s career has been nothing short of successful since 1988.   He’s also got a net worth of $18 million.  Not bad Fred, not bad.

Hence why I’m officially calling Fred Savage the little engine that could.