It's an indisputable truth that Boy Meets World was one of the most popular, most influential television shows of the '90s - if not, of all-time! Impressionable kids and teens (myself included) would eagerly anticipate each week's episode. The wisdom laid down from Mr. Feeny, the unbreakable bond between Cory and Sean, the consistently hilarious zingers from older brother, Eric...everything about this show was absolute perfection. Sure, the more recent adaptation of the series, Girl Meets World, didn't work out like the original but that was to be expected. I mean, how is anyone supposed to top the epic greatness that is Boy Meets World. We love this show so much (obviously) and we couldn't wait to learn more about it. The following are some seriously interesting factoids about this classic sitcom...
1. When the show shifted its focus on to Cory's "college years," there was an episode in which Ben Savage's real-life brother, Fred Savage, played a professor. Nicely done!
2. The parts of Alan & Eric Matthews (Cory's father and brother) were originally played by Matt McCoy and Harry Barandes, respectively. It was only after they shot the pilot that producers replaced them with William Russ and Will Friedle.
3. If you think you've recognized the high school used in Boy Meets World, you'd be right! This same school was also used in many popular movies, such as Pretty In Pink, Transformers, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
4. Though this cast is chock-full of memorable characters, the only ones to appear in every single of the 158 episodes are Rider Strong and Ben Savage.
5. The character of Mr. Feeny eventually marries Dean Bolander, played by the always-talented Bonnie Bartlett. Did you know that William Daniels (Mr. Feeny) is actually married to Bonnie in real life. It's true! How cool is that?!
6. You may be surprised to learn that Topanga was only supposed to serve as a low-level antagonist - used in only a few scenes here and there. But the overwhelming reception she kept getting week after week forced writers to broaden the role. Who knows what the series would've been like without such a change...
7. While most actors have to audition for any/every role they acquire, Maitland Ward (who played Rachel McGuire on the show) never had to try out - not even once. Way to go Maitland!
8. Speaking of auditions, Rider Strong was the absolute first person to try out for the role of Shawn Hunter and that's all the producers needed to see. Looks like these producers know perfect casting when they see it, huh?
9. If you pay close attention to the dialogue in the show, the origin story of how Topanga first met Cory always seems to change. The locations, the times - they never match up. Weird, yet super interesting...
10. Famed character actor Willie Garson appears a number of times throughout the series - but as three different people! Once as Mervyn, once as Leonard Spinelli and, once as the man who conducts the wedding ceremony between Cory and Topanga.
11. Speaking of "multiple roles," the role of Topanga's father was recast multiple times during the show's seven season run. In order, the actors were: Peter Tork, Michael McKean, and Mark Harelik. Her mother was also played by separate actresses: Marcia Cross and Annette O'Toole.
12. The Disney Channel banned three episodes of Boy Meets World: "Prom-ises, Prom-ises," "If You Can't Be with the One You Love...," and "The Truth About Honesty." They weren't allowed to be aired because of their discussion of pre-marital sex and teen drinking.
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