In the early ‘90s, Boy Meets World was a cash cow for Disney Channel for several years. Over a decade later, the channel is launching a spinoff, Girl Meets World, with leads Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel reprising their roles with a shift in their character dynamics, writes Debashine Thangevelo.
IN 1993, Ben Savage became Disney Channel’s blue-eyed boy when he was launched in Boy Meets World.
His character, Cory Matthews, was introduced as a prepubescent sixth-grader. As the series progressed, Cory’s passage into adulthood was marked by shameless adolescent shenanigans.
Now the series has inspired a spinoff, Girl Meets World, in which Cory and his love interest, Topanga (Danielle Fishel), are now married with a teenage daughter, Riley. Cory is also her science teacher.
When Boy Meets World ended, Savage bagged guest roles on other prominent TV shows and did a handful of movies along the way.
On being signed up for the spinoff series of his former hit show, he says: “It’s wonderful, and very interesting, too. When we announced that we were going to be working on the show as a continuation of Boy Meets World, the feedback we got from audiences on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook was unreal. The news exploded. People were really excited and they were very happy for us, so it’s thrilling to be back. Today, it’s a much different world out there and it’s a much different show, but we’re still going to provide some of the same lessons and values that we taught in the first series.”
So what can fans – new and old – expect?
“Boy Meets World was about Cory learning his way in the world. Girl Meets World is basically Riley’s journey in the world, although the show focuses on her parents, too. We are all navigating our way through this complicated world.
“The show is funny, sweet and good-natured. It teaches wonderful life lessons for kids, and I think people are really going to enjoy it,” he shares.
With this show providing an all-encompassing take on one family’s dynamics – albeit in a humorous light – it certainly provides ample scope for Savage and Fishel to channel their mature traits.
Savage adds: “Cory and Topanga are struggling to be good parents, so the adult viewers will be able to watch the show and identify with that aspect of the story. They will be able to look at the difficulties of being a parent, the difficulties of wanting to please your kids and wanting to be cool – but still having to lay down the law. It’s an interesting dynamic.”
Glee’s Jane Lynch is one of the guest stars in the show.
“We had a ball working with her,” he admits. “But there are a lot more guest stars lined-up for other episodes too.”
• Girl Meets World airs on Disney Channel (DStv channel 303) on Saturdays at 9.45am.