Boy Meets World was an
AmericanTelevision is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television and the majority of households have more than one.-Television channels and networks:...
television sitcom that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by
Ben SavageBennett Joseph "Ben" Savage is an American film and TV actor and child star of late-1980s and early-1990s.Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
, who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
, part of the network's
TGIFTGIF was the slogan of a family-friendly prime time programming block on the ABC network. The slogan comes from the initials of the popular phrase Thank Goodness It's Friday...
lineup.
Boy Meets World was produced by Michael Jacobs Productions, Touchstone Television and distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
The first of 7 seasons begins with Cory Matthews and Shawn Hunter as two Philadelphia students who would rather be anywhere than in uring the second season, when Cory and Shawn start high school, they meet Mr.
Boy Meets World was an
AmericanTelevision is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television and the majority of households have more than one.-Television channels and networks:...
television sitcom that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by
Ben SavageBennett Joseph "Ben" Savage is an American film and TV actor and child star of late-1980s and early-1990s.Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
, who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
, part of the network's
TGIFTGIF was the slogan of a family-friendly prime time programming block on the ABC network. The slogan comes from the initials of the popular phrase Thank Goodness It's Friday...
lineup.
Boy Meets World was produced by Michael Jacobs Productions, Touchstone Television and distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
6th grade-12th Grade
The first of 7 seasons begins with Cory Matthews and Shawn Hunter as two Philadelphia students who would rather be anywhere than in uring the second season, when Cory and Shawn start high school, they meet Mr. Jonathan Turner, an unconventional English teacher, who is the sometimes-enemy of Mr. Feeny, the new principal. Shawn becomes cool and popular at school, but still keeps his friendship with the less popular Cory. Shawn’s mother, Virna, deserts Shawn and his father, Chet, which upsets Shawn greatly. Chet then leaves to find Virna, and Shawn moves in with Mr. Turner. During the third season, Cory begins dating Topanga Lawrence, a girl who, in the first season, was mocked by Cory and Shawn. A common continuity error throughout the later seasons show that Cory and Topanga had loved each other since they were toddlers.
Later in the fourth season, it is now explained that Eric told Cory that girls had
cootiesCooties is a non-scientific term in North American English used by children for an imaginary "disease" or condition said to infect through contact, often with someone being accused of being dirty or a child of a different gender. The term may have originated with references to lice, fleas and other...
, which ended their close friendship. The couple breaks up later in the season but get back together a few months later, when Cory follows her to Disney World to win her back. Eric graduates high school and takes a year off to figure out what he wants to do with his life. Cory and Eric then spend the summer on a road trip. When they return, their father, Alan, decides to quit his job and open a sporting goods store, with Eric as his partner. Topanga’s mother is transferred to Pittsburgh, which is over 300 miles from Philadelphia. The news devastates Cory, but Topanga runs away from her new house and returns to Philadelphia. Topanga’s parents decide that she can live with her Aunt Prudence in Philadelphia until she graduates.
Later that school year, Mr. Turner gets into a severe motorcycle accident in which he almost dies. The next year, Eric moves out of his parents’ house and begins college at Pennbrook University. He moves into an apartment with Jack, who turns out to be Shawn’s half-brother. Shawn moves in with them, but he has nothing in common with Jack, which causes a lot of tension. A new student, Angela Moore, moves to Philadelphia and she and Shawn begin dating. Over winter break, the students go skiing on a school trip. Cory sprains his ankle and Lauren, a ski-lodge employee takes care of him. The two kiss, but Cory lies to Topanga, and tells her nothing happened. When Topanga finds out that he lied, they break up. Cory, upset about the breakup gets drunk and is arrested, along with Shawn. The two agree never to drink again, but Shawn breaks the promise and shows up at school drunk. With the help of Angela and Jack, Shawn realizes that
alcoholismAlcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions. In common and historic usage, alcoholism is any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, despite health problems and negative social consequences...
runs in his family and that he needs to stop drinking while he still can.
Cory and Topanga reunite and attend prom together, where they are named King and Queen. On prom night, Cory's mother Amy announces that she is pregnant. Mr. Feeny decides to retire at the end of the school year and decides to move to
WyomingWyoming is a state in the Western United States. The majority of the state is dominated by the mountain ranges and rangelands of the Rocky Mountain West, while the easternmost section of the state includes part of a high elevation prairie region known as the High Plains. While the tenth largest...
. Topanga is accepted to
YaleRapidMiner is an environment for machine learning and data mining experiments. It allows experiments to be made up of a large number of arbitrarily nestable operators, described in XML files which are created with RapidMiner's graphical user interface...
, but Cory doesn’t want her to leave him. At graduation, Topanga tells Cory that she decided not to go to Yale because she wants to be with him—then she proposes. The couple's parents are upset that they got engaged so young, but Cory and Topanga decide to elope. However, at the last minute, they decide that they want to get married “the right way,” in front of family and friends.
College
Shawn, Cory, Topanga, and Angela join Jack and Eric at Pennbrook. Rachel McGuire, a new student from
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
, moves in with Eric and Jack, causing tension as both boys have crushes on her. Angela and Shawn break up due to his claim that they should meet new people, and, despite Cory’s efforts, decide to stay just friends. They eventually are brought back together by way of Angela's father during his visit to the college, recruiting students for his R.O.T.C. program of basic training in the army. Mr. Feeny returns to take some classes, but then is offered a teaching job at the university. During their freshman year, Stuart (played by Ben Savage's brother
Fred SavageFredrick Aaron Savage is an American actor, director and producer of television and film.He is best known for his role as Kevin Arnold in the television series The Wonder Years....
), one of their professors, hits on Topanga, causing Cory to shove him through a glass door at the Student Union. Cory is almost expelled, until the Dean finds out what the motivation for the shove was.
In the series finale, Cory, Topanga, Shawn and Eric all head to New York where Topanga was offered a dream internship at a law firm. Jack and Rachel join the Peace Corps in Guatemala. It is unknown what happens to Angela when she returns from her trip from Europe.
Main Characters
- Cornelius "Cory" Matthews (Ben Savage
Bennett Joseph "Ben" Savage is an American film and TV actor and child star of late-1980s and early-1990s.Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
) is neurotic and a slacker during high school. Cory's "slacker" tendencies diminish, and his neuroses increase, along with his pessimismPessimism, from the Latin pessimus , isa state of mind which negatively colors the perception of life, especially with regard to future events. Value judgments may vary dramatically between individuals, even when judgments of fact are undisputed. The most common example of this phenomenon is the...
and paranoiaParanoia is a thought process heavily influenced by excessive anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs concerning a perceived threat towards oneself. In the original Greek, παράνοια simply means madness...
. Despite his trademark neuroses and paranoia, Cory's actually the most idealistic of his friends. Cory married Topanga Lawrence, his "first true love," late in the series. He had his first kiss with Topanga in the episode, 'Cory's Alternative Friends.' His actual name is Cornelius, as revealed in the last episode. Cory strives to make sure that he and his friends will always be together throughout life, and his nature is to intervene when others find it unnecessary. He is madly in love with Topanga, but still finds other girls attractive and is put in troubled situations when he is with other women. Cory stands for what he believes in, no matter who he is defending it from, whether it is his mother, Mr. Feeny, or Topanga. As described later in the series, his faith towards love is that it "never dies."
- George Feeny (William Daniels
William David Daniels is an American actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild . He is known for his performances as John Adams in 1776, as Mr. Feeny in ABC's Boy Meets World, the voice of KITT in Knight Rider, and winning two Emmy Awards for the role of Dr. Mark Craig in St...
) is a constant mentor to Cory and his friends. He first appears on the show as their school teacher, principal, and neighbor, and eventually toward the later years, their college professor. He later marries the Dean of Pennbrook, Lila Bolander (played by William Daniels' real-life wife Bonnie BartlettBonnie Bartlett is an American television and film actress. Her career spans over 50 years, with her first major role being on a 1950s daytime drama, Love of Life. She is best known for her 1980s Emmy Award-winning role as Ellen Craig on the popular medical drama series St. Elsewhere...
). Originally, Mr. Feeny tried to keep a traditional teacher-student relationship with the other characters. This proved impossible, and in the series finale, Shawn says, "Oh, you know we're your favorites." Cory then adds, "C'mon Feeny. You haven't even spoken to another student in seven years!" At this final moment in the show, it is revealed that Mr. Feeny's care for Cory, Shawn, Topanga, and Eric in the last seven years is what the quotes, lessons, and devotion toward others in the show revolve around.
- Eric Randall Matthews (Will Friedle
William Alan "Will" Friedle is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his comedic roles, most notably the underachieving elder brother Eric Matthews on the long-running TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
) is the elder brother of Cory. He begins the show as a suave, popular young man, who constantly dates, in contrast to Cory's dorkier image. Eric's character changes mid-series from cool elder brother to psychotic elder brother, when he's made more of the comic relief. Eric often plays off his hero and mentor, Mr. Feeny. Though Eric and Feeny are not originally seen as having a close relationship, the two develop a bond. Eric often tells Mr. Feeny "you know I'm your favorite!" Although Eric appears to have a looser grasp of reality later on and demonstrates an ambiguous moral compass throughout the series, he still holds true that friendship should never cease and he cares very deeply for the feelings of others. When the gang has a falling out after a series of pranks, it is he that pushes for everyone to make up. He cherishes family and finds it essential to happiness and satisfaction. A common, recurring theme is that Eric is far smarter and savvier than he appears and has hidden, untapped potential, and is often impressing his friends and family who underestimate him. He ultimately ends up moving to New York along with Cory, Shawn and Topanga, following his graduation from college.
- Shawn Patrick Hunter (Rider Strong
Rider King Strong is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Shawn Hunter on the 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World.-Early life:...
) is Cory's best friend who lives in a trailer park. Shawn takes more risks than Cory and has more of a bad boy image that leads to him having a number of different girlfriends. He also often gets into a large amount of trouble, and often sees himself as worthless trailer trash, though Cory helps him through it. He deals with his mother leaving him and his father leaving to going to find her, resulting in him staying in other homes. He eventually resents his father until they reunited shortly before his death. But no matter the situation, Shawn always remembers that he is Cory's best friend, whether he has emotional problems, whenever he hangs out with the larger crowd, or whenever Cory is having problems. Of all the characters of the show, Shawn is the most prone to depression and has had bouts with alcoholism. His relationship with his half-brother, Jack Hunter, is often a tense one, as they have very little in common. In the finale, Shawn is invited to go with Cory and Topanga to New York where Topanga has an opportunity for an internship. Shawn is the only character other than Cory to appear in all 158 episodes.
- Topanga "Tippy" Lawrence Matthews (Danielle Fishel
Danielle Christine Fishel is an American actress who is best known for her role as Topanga Lawrence on the 1990s TV sitcom Boy Meets World. She later appeared in National Lampoon's Dorm Daze and its sequel, and was a spokesperson for NutriSystem...
) is Cory's main love interest. She is initially a hippieThe hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world. The word hippie derives from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district...
vegetarian who sits at the table with the other "weird kids." In the first season, she has a huge crush on Eric, while Shawn pushes the issue that the crush is for Cory. In the episode, 'Cory's Alternative Friends,' she gives Cory his first kiss. She eventually matures into a smart overachiever and her beliefs about the environment and other topics were less emphasized. Although Topanga is admitted to Yale UniversityYale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut, and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Yale has produced many notable alumni, including five...
, she decides to attend Pennbrook College with Cory and their friends. She proposes to Cory during their high school graduation, and they marry during their sophomore year of college, after which the show attempts to put them in stereotypical marriage problem situations. In her relationship with Cory, Topanga is generally the realist to Cory's idealist, being more plagued by doubts and insecurities about their relationship.
- Alan Matthews (William Russ
-Early life:Russ was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and is the son of a naval officer. He attended the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the Michigan Cheer team, which was all male at the time.-Career:...
) and Amy Matthews (Betsy RandleBetsy May Randle is an American actress best known for her role as Amy Matthews on Boy Meets World which lasted seven seasons. She grew up in the suburb of Glenview. She is a graduate of New Trier High School and the University of Kansas. She is married to film editor John Randle and they have...
) are Cory and Eric's parents, who often provide guidance to their children. Alan has a quick temper, though when it shows up, usually through consultation with his wife Amy, he often apologizes afterward for words spoken in anger. Alan is originally the manager of the Market Giant supermarket. Eventually, he becomes disillusioned with his standard "9-5" job that he had worked for so many years, and quits without discussing it with his family first. Amy proclaiming that she will, in turn, "make a major decision that affects the entire family without consulting with him first" purchases a sporting goods and outdoor supply store that is up for sale, which Alan takes over, and re-names Matthews & Sons. The two tend to be a little biased with their children, as Alan sometimes coddles and over protects Eric, and is firmer with Cory, and Amy is firmer with Eric and more 'Motherly' to Cory.
- Joshua Gabriel Matthews (unknown babies) is the youngest of the Matthews siblings and Eric's, Cory's and Morgan's younger brother.
- Angela Moore (Trina McGee) is Shawn Hunter's first major girlfriend who debuts in the second episode of the fifth season, albeit briefly. Angela is witty and passionate about causes and people, and enjoys things for their artistic value. Shawn is seen breaking up with Angela due to his two week rule of dating. Later, he finds a purse a girl had lost, and falls in love by the contents of the bag due to common interests. She becomes his girlfriend throughout the rest of the 5th season. In season 6, Shawn breaks up with Angela in order to 'meet new people' and remain friends. He soon regrets his decision, although he does not tell Angela that he is still in love with her. Angela and Shawn return to each other early in the seventh season, brought together by way of Angela's father Sgt. Moore. Prior to the two part season finale, Sgt. Moore stops by to visit and ask her to come with him to Europe for a year, where he's been reassigned to. Angela is undecided, and concludes that she will ultimately stay if Shawn wants her to. Conflicted by her wanting to be happy and his own selfishness, Shawn decides it is best to let Angela go spend time with her father, long denied to both of them.
- Jack Hunter (Matthew Lawrence
Matthew William Lawrence is an American actor known for his leading role in the movie Cheats with Trevor Fehrman and his role of Jack Hunter on the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World from 1997 to 2000.-Early life:...
) is Shawn's half-brother who debuts in the fifth season premiere. Jack was born to Chet and an unknown woman, but she took Jack and left for a richer man when Jack was young. Jack tries to make amends to Shawn, as they never were officially acquainted before. Shawn alienates Jack primarily because he never returned to meet Shawn, and also because Jack has a richer father. Though Shawn believes Jack is selfish because Shawn wrote to him everyday for a year after he found out he had a brother and never received a response, Jack admits that his mom was keeping the letters from him, and Shawn realizes that Jack wants a brother more than anything as well. The two bond and move in with Eric in an apartment. Jack is often paired as the straight man and occasional rival to Eric, as the two are opposites in many ways (Jack being serious and ambitious while Eric is wacky and lazy) The two ultimately become best friends.
- Rachel Kimberly McGuire (Maitland Ward
Maitland Ward is most commonly known as Rachel McGuire from the hit prime time series, Boy Meets World....
) is the love interest of Eric and Jack after she moves in with them, though Eric realizes he is competing more for the sake of competing, rather than due to any genuine feelings for her. She dates Jack for a relatively short period of time before joining the Peace Corps with him.
- Morgan Matthews (Lily Nicksay
Lily Nicksay is a child-actress most famous for her role as Morgan Matthews during the first two seasons of Boy Meets World. Her other television credits include Judging Amy, The Guardian and 8 Simple Rules...
/Lindsay RidgewayLindsay Elizabeth Ridgeway is a former American child actress in film, television, and theater. She is a voice actor in several animated shows like Totally Spies! and plays the character Britney....
) is the daughter of Alan and Amy Matthews, younger sister of Eric and Cory and the older sister of Joshua. She is originally a cute little sister, though she disappears for a season. When she comes back Cory responds "Long time no see!" to which she answers "that was the longest time out I've ever had!". With the introduction of a new actor in the role came a shift in personality as Morgan became a more sarcastic character who delights in making fun of her brothers, especially Cory. Though all of the Matthews family (except Cory and Eric) gradually fade into the background as the series goes on, this is by far the most evident with Morgan.
- Jonathan Turner (Anthony Tyler Quinn
Anthony Tyler Quinn is an American actor best known for his role as Jonathan Turner on Boy Meets World from 1994-1997.-Selected filmography:*No Greater Love – Jeff...
) and Eli Williams (Alex DésertAlex Désert is an American actor and musician most known for his roles in the TV series The Flash, Becker, and Boy Meets World...
) are two friends who become teachers while Cory and his friends are in high school. The two teach English and Film, respectively. There is often a focus on their single bachelor life of dating, partying, and socializing that they experience outside of their teaching. Turner's more laidback approach to teaching often clashes with Mr. Feeny's more traditional methods, and the students easily identify with the hip, HarleyHarley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
-riding teacher. He is serious about being a teacher though, to the point that Cory describes him as "Feeny with an earring". Turner introduces Eli, who becomes the media arts teacher. He sometimes finds teaching and reaching out to students to be a difficult chore, something that Turner helps him out with. In the episode "Cult Fiction" Turner gets in a motorcycle accident that almost kills him. That is the last episode in which he appears.
Minor Characters
- Stuart Minkus (Lee Norris
Lee Michael Norris is an American actor, best know for his role as Marvin "Mouth" McFadden on The CW's One Tree Hill.-Early Life:...
), is the resident genius and nerd in Cory's sixth grade class. He is the one constantly obsessed with grades, he has a crush on Topanga, and is often made fun of by Cory and Shawn. He is never seen again after season one until their high school graduation, where Stuart makes a cameo appearance with the rest of the class where he says he's been "on the other side of the school" this whole time.
- Chet Hunter (Blake Clark
Blake Clark is an American stand-up comedian, actor and veteran of the Vietnam War. Other than his acting, he is best known for his deep, gravelly voice....
), is Shawn and Jack's wayward, irresponsible father. Though he loves both his sons and his wife, he can't seem to hold on to any of them and often takes to the road and vanishes for months at a time. In Season 2, when his wife Virna runs off, Chet leaves Shawn with the Matthews family (and then Jonathan Turner) to go and track her down. The two are reunited again in Season 4, and Virna eventually returns as well - though only for a short time. In Season 5, Virna's gone again and Shawn moves into an apartment with Eric and Jack, leading Chet to disappear again. He returns in Season 6, seen hustling some students at Pennbrook. He's reunited with Shawn and Jack, but a matured Shawn is now resentful of what a poor excuse for a father Chet was. During a heated confrontation Chet suffers a massive heart attack, and Shawn and Chet manage to make amends before Chet passes away. Following Chet's death, Cory and Shawn take a road trip – winding up at a diner Chet frequented and was very popular at. In the final season, Shawn discovers that Chet had been hiding the fact that Virna was never Shawn's mother in the first place, and Shawn was in fact the son of a stripper he'd had a brief affair with. Chet appears as a ghost three times since his death. Once when Shawn takes a solo road trip after visiting the diner. Then when Shawn visits his grave and he has a brief chat with him about his mother. The third time was in the series finale, however this time, nobody could see or hear him. In this appearance, he is complaining that Jack is turning down his stepfather's money, but then expresses pride that he is joining the Peace Corps. He also pinches Rachel, which she clearly feels.
- Jason Marsden (Jason Marsden
Jason Christopher Marsden is an American screen and voice actor largely known for numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series.-Early life:...
) is Eric's best friend from the age of three. He is often more calm than Eric, and can either be his voice of reason or the one who gets him into trouble. Jason often appears jealous of Eric's greater success with women. The two go their separate ways after high school, presumably due to Eric's taking a year off rather than going to college right away, and his role in Eric's life is eventually replaced by Jack.
- Harvey "Harley" Keiner (Danny McNulty/Kenny Johnston) is a bully who leads Frankie "The Enforcer" Stechino (Ethan Suplee
Ethan Suplee is an American film and television actor best known for his roles as Seth Ryan in American History X, Harry Knowles in Fanboys, Frankie in Boy Meets World, and Randy Hickey in My Name Is Earl.-Early life:...
), a large boy who acts as muscle and enjoys poetry and is the (fictional) son of real-life professional wrestler Big Van Vader, and Joey "The Rat" Epstein (Blake SennettBlake Sennett is the lead guitarist for indie rock band Rilo Kiley and the lead singer/lead guitarist for his alt-rock side project the Elected. Blake attended La Jolla High School with his Rilo Kiley bandmate Pierre De Reeder...
), who is much smaller and talkative. Harley, though he appears and acts like a typical 1950s greaser always speaks with strangely proper grammar. He is eventually sent to "juvenile boot camp". Following Harley's departure, Frankie and Joey latch onto the popular Eric to be their new ringleader, but as Eric finds the two annoying and irritating he devises a plan to pawn them off on a new boss.
- That new ringleader turns out to be Griffin "Griff" Hawkins (Adam Scott
Adam Scott is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role of Palek in the HBO drama Tell Me You Love Me and the supporting role of Derek Huff in the 2008 comedy Step Brothers, starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. He currently stars in the Starz original series Party Down...
), who is a smooth-talking freeloader who used his wits and charm to weasel his way out of many an obligation and punishment. Harley (played by original actor Danny McNulty) is reprised in season 3 in an episode where he confronts Griff. Though Frankie is commanded by Harley to beat up Griff, Frankie declares himself to no longer be a "lackie" and convinces Joey to do the same and thereafter neither Harley nor Griff are seen again. After vanishing in Season 4, Frankie and Joey return in season 5 for the season finale, Graduation Mathematically, the two of them have been held back their senior year five times, since they were initially seniors when Cory started High School, three seasons earlier. As Joey is excited to get "outta High School" and into the "real world," Frankie suggest that they become criminals. They decide to become "the Cory and Shawn of the underworld." The two were last seen receiving their High School diplomas at the end of the season.
Episodes
| Season | Ep # | First Airdate | Last Airdate |
|---|
| Season 1 |
22 |
September 10, 1993 |
May 13, 1994 |
| Season 2 |
23 |
September 23, 1994 |
May 19, 1995 |
| Season 3 |
22 |
September 22, 1995 |
May 17, 1996 |
| Season 4 |
22 |
September 20, 1996 |
May 2, 1997 |
| Season 5 |
24 |
October 3, 1997 |
May 15, 1998 |
| Season 6 |
22 |
September 25, 1998 |
May 14, 1999 |
| Season 7 |
23 |
September 24, 1999 |
May 5, 2000 |
DVD releases
The first three seasons were released on DVD by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and
Touchstone PicturesTouchstone Pictures, established in 1984, is one of several alternate film labels of The Walt Disney Company. Its releases typically feature more mature themes than those that are released under the Walt Disney Pictures banner....
in 2004 and 2005. Releases of future seasons were put on hold due to lackluster sales; however, on August 4, 2008, Lionsgate announced that they have purchased the rights to the entire series and may release seasons 4-7 on DVD, as well as re-release seasons 1-3 on DVD, as they have been discontinued by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment..
| Season | Ep# | Release Date | Bonus Features | Distributor |
|---|
| 1 |
22 |
August 24, 2004 |
Commentary; Season Four episode |
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment |
| 2 |
23 |
November 23, 2004 |
Audio and video commentaries |
Touchstone PicturesTouchstone Pictures, established in 1984, is one of several alternate film labels of The Walt Disney Company. Its releases typically feature more mature themes than those that are released under the Walt Disney Pictures banner....
/ Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment |
| 3 |
22 |
August 23, 2005 |
Interactive trivia game |
Touchstone PicturesTouchstone Pictures, established in 1984, is one of several alternate film labels of The Walt Disney Company. Its releases typically feature more mature themes than those that are released under the Walt Disney Pictures banner....
/ Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment |
| 4 |
22 |
TBA |
|
unknown |
| 5 |
24 |
TBA |
|
unknown |
| 6 |
22 |
TBA |
|
unknown |
| 7 |
22 |
TBA |
|
unknown |
Theme music and introductions
Boy Meets World used five theme songs and a number of opens over seven years. The final theme, written and performed by Phil Rosenthal , remained for the fifth through seventh seasons, though the visuals changed from Seasons 5 to 6 to include
Trina McGee-DavisTrina McGee-Davis is an American actress best known for playing Angela Moore on Boy Meets World....
as
Angela Moore (when she moved from guest star to regular cast member in Season 5) and
Maitland WardMaitland Ward is most commonly known as Rachel McGuire from the hit prime time series, Boy Meets World....
as
Rachel McGuire (added as a regular cast member in Season 6).
ABC FamilyABC Family is an American cable television network currently owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a division of The Walt Disney Company. ABC Family offers contemporary and inclusive programming, including series, movies, events, and enhanced ABC encore presentations...
was the first network since
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
to show all the accurate introductions for all seven seasons. For the
syndicatedIn broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows to multiple individual stations, without going through a broadcast network. It is common in countries where television is scheduled by networks with local affiliates, particularly in the United States...
and
Disney ChannelDisney Channel is a cable television channel specializing in television programming for children through original series and movies as well as third party programming. It is marketed to mostly children; however, in recent years the diversity of viewers has increased with an older audience,...
broadcasts, a slightly modified version of the Season 4 theme is used for Seasons 1-4, however the opening credits for Seasons 5-7 were the original style.
Philadelphia references
It is one of many television shows to take place primarily in the
PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth-most-populous city in the United States.In 2008, the population of the city proper was estimated to be over 1.4 million, while the metropolitan area's population of 5.8 million made it the country's fifth-largest...
area, and makes multiple local references. These include Cory's love for the
PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and are the defending World Series champions. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern...
and Morgan always wearing a
Philadelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
jacket. Eric mentions that he and his father always talk about the
EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
,
76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association .-Syracuse Nationals:...
,
FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
, and
PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and are the defending World Series champions. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern...
, the four major sports teams in Philadelphia, and his attempts to get into
Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
— finally ending with Cory and most of the cast attending Pennbrook, an institution that appears to be a
pasticheA pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre that is a "hodge-podge" or an imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
of Swarthmore,
PennThe University of Pennsylvania is a private research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and is one of several institutions that claims to have been the first university in America...
,
Saint Joseph's UniversitySaint Joseph's University is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.The school was founded in 1851 as Saint Joseph's...
, and other Philadelphia-area colleges.
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|
| 1994 The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best New Television Series |
Boy Meets World |
Nominated |
| 1994 The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Actress Under Age Ten in a Television Series |
Lily NicksayLily Nicksay is a child-actress most famous for her role as Morgan Matthews during the first two seasons of Boy Meets World. Her other television credits include Judging Amy, The Guardian and 8 Simple Rules...
|
Nominated |
| 1994 The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Actor (Leading Role) in a Television Series |
Ben SavageBennett Joseph "Ben" Savage is an American film and TV actor and child star of late-1980s and early-1990s.Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
|
Nominated |
| 1994 The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Youth Comedian |
Rider Strong Rider King Strong is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Shawn Hunter on the 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World.-Early life:...
|
Nominated |
| 1995 The year 1995 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1995.For the American TV schedule, see: 1995-96 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Young Actor in a TV Comedy Series |
Will Friedle William Alan "Will" Friedle is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his comedic roles, most notably the underachieving elder brother Eric Matthews on the long-running TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
|
Nominated |
| 1995 The year 1995 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1995.For the American TV schedule, see: 1995-96 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Young Actor in a TV Comedy Series |
Jason Marsden Jason Christopher Marsden is an American screen and voice actor largely known for numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series.-Early life:...
|
Nominated |
| 1996 The year 1996 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1996.For the American TV schedule, see: 1996-97 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Young Actress in a TV Comedy Series |
Danielle Fishel Danielle Christine Fishel is an American actress who is best known for her role as Topanga Lawrence on the 1990s TV sitcom Boy Meets World. She later appeared in National Lampoon's Dorm Daze and its sequel, and was a spokesperson for NutriSystem...
|
Nominated |
| 1996 The year 1996 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1996.For the American TV schedule, see: 1996-97 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Young Actress in a Guest Starring Role |
Erin J. Dean |
Nominated |
| 1996 The year 1996 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1996.For the American TV schedule, see: 1996-97 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Young Actor in a Guest Starring Role |
Justin Thompson Justin Willard Thompson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1996 to 1999 and the Texas Rangers in 2005....
|
Won |
| 1997 The year 1997 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1997.- Events :*January 1 - The U.S...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Supporting Young Actress in a TV Comedy Series |
Danielle Fishel Danielle Christine Fishel is an American actress who is best known for her role as Topanga Lawrence on the 1990s TV sitcom Boy Meets World. She later appeared in National Lampoon's Dorm Daze and its sequel, and was a spokesperson for NutriSystem...
|
Nominated |
| 1997 The year 1997 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1997.- Events :*January 1 - The U.S...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Supporting Young Actor in a TV Comedy Series |
Rider Strong Rider King Strong is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Shawn Hunter on the 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World.-Early life:...
|
Nominated |
| 1997 The year 1997 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1997.- Events :*January 1 - The U.S...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Young Actor in a TV Comedy Series |
Ben SavageBennett Joseph "Ben" Savage is an American film and TV actor and child star of late-1980s and early-1990s.Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
|
Nominated |
| 1998 The year 1998 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1998.For the American TV schedule, see: 1998-99 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Young Actor in a TV Comedy Series |
Ben SavageBennett Joseph "Ben" Savage is an American film and TV actor and child star of late-1980s and early-1990s.Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
|
Nominated |
| 1998 The year 1998 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1998.For the American TV schedule, see: 1998-99 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
YoungStar Award |
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Comedy TV Series |
Ben SavageBennett Joseph "Ben" Savage is an American film and TV actor and child star of late-1980s and early-1990s.Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
|
Nominated |
| 1998 The year 1998 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1998.For the American TV schedule, see: 1998-99 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
YoungStar Award |
Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy TV Series |
Danielle Fishel Danielle Christine Fishel is an American actress who is best known for her role as Topanga Lawrence on the 1990s TV sitcom Boy Meets World. She later appeared in National Lampoon's Dorm Daze and its sequel, and was a spokesperson for NutriSystem...
|
Won |
| 1999 The year 1999 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1999.For the American TV schedule, see: 1999-00 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Young Actor in a Guest Starring Role |
Jarrett Lennon |
Won |
| 1999 The year 1999 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1999.For the American TV schedule, see: 1999-00 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Kids Choice Awards |
Favorite Television Show |
Boy Meets World |
Nominated |
| 2000 The year 2000 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2000.For the American TV schedule, see: 2000-01 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
YoungStar Award |
Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy TV Series |
Danielle Fishel Danielle Christine Fishel is an American actress who is best known for her role as Topanga Lawrence on the 1990s TV sitcom Boy Meets World. She later appeared in National Lampoon's Dorm Daze and its sequel, and was a spokesperson for NutriSystem...
|
Nominated |
| 2000 The year 2000 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2000.For the American TV schedule, see: 2000-01 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Young Artist Award The Young Artist Awards also known as the 'Hollywood Young Artist Award' are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation. Started in 1980 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press member Maureen Dragone, they were envisioned specifically as awards to be presented to talented young people in...
|
Best Performance: Young Actor in a Guest Starring Role |
J.B. GaynorJ.B. Gaynor is American teen actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Young Eddie in Grounded for Life. Gaynor was born in Harbor City, California, to John and Mary Gaynor. J.B. decided to pursue an acting career growing up watching his sister, Jennifer. Jim Carrey and John Travolta have...
|
Won |
| 2000 The year 2000 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2000.For the American TV schedule, see: 2000-01 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Kids Choice Awards |
Favorite Television Friends |
Ben SavageBennett Joseph "Ben" Savage is an American film and TV actor and child star of late-1980s and early-1990s.Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
, Rider StrongRider King Strong is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Shawn Hunter on the 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World.-Early life:...
|
Won |
| 2000 The year 2000 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2000.For the American TV schedule, see: 2000-01 United States network television schedule.-Events:...
|
Kids Choice Awards |
Favorite Television Show |
Boy Meets World |
Nominated |
Trivia
- In an episode of Family Matters, a fellow TGIF series, Steve Urkel
Steven Quincy Urkel , generally known as Steve Urkel, is a fictional character on the ABC/CBS comedy sitcom Family Matters, portrayed by Jaleel White...
says to Laura that he got a chain letter in the mail and says he will send it to his friend in Philadelphia, Cory Matthews. However, there was no crossover between Family Matters and Boy Meets World.
- In the episode "And Then There Was Shawn", one of the kids in detention was named Kenny, who was the first victim. Eric screams "Oh my god, they killed Kenny!", which is a reference to South Park's running gag. Eric also imitates Eric Cartman in some episodes as well.
- On the series, Shawn's older half-brother is Jack. In real life, Shawn's protrayer Rider Strong is older by a few months than Jack's protrayer Matthew Lawrence.
- It is also referenced that Shawn Hunter's favorite band is the Counting Crows
Counting Crows is a rock band originating from Berkeley, California. The group gained popularity in 1994 following the release of its debut album August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones". The band's influences include Van Morrison, R.E.M., Mike & The Mechanics,...
.
Syndication
Boy Meets World reruns began airing on syndication on September 8, 1997. Then on the
Disney ChannelDisney Channel is a cable television channel specializing in television programming for children through original series and movies as well as third party programming. It is marketed to mostly children; however, in recent years the diversity of viewers has increased with an older audience,...
after the show ended in 2000. However, the show was removed from the Disney Channel's lineup in 2007.
ABC FamilyABC Family is an American cable television network currently owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a division of The Walt Disney Company. ABC Family offers contemporary and inclusive programming, including series, movies, events, and enhanced ABC encore presentations...
also aired the show. In August 2007, ABC Family stopped airing Boy Meets World.
External links