Adamantium
02-15-2018, 05:08 PM
This is a sneak preview of the episode guide I'm working on for "Boy Meets World."
Boy Meets World
Season 1: 1993 - 1994 (22 episodes)
Cast:
Ben Savage as Cory Matthews (22 episodes)
William Daniels as Mr. George Feeny (22 episodes)
Betsy Randle as Amy Matthews (22 episodes)
Will Friedle as Eric Matthews (22 episodes)
Rider Strong as Shawn Hunter (22 episodes)
Lee Norris as Stuart Minkus (19 episodes)
Lily Nicksay as Morgan Matthews (21 episodes)
William Russ as Alan Matthews (22 episodes)
Recurring Cast: (4 or more appearances during the run of the show)
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence (14 episodes)
Jason Marsden as Jason Marsden (2 episodes)
The Episodes
1. Pilot
Original Airdate: September 24, 1993
Written by: Michael Jacobs & April Kelly
Directed by: John Tracy
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris [ABSENT]
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Chauncey Leopardi as Nicholas Bornihay
Cynthia Mace as Evelyn
Krysty Moore as Vanessa Kincaid
Cory Matthews is an 11-year-old boy in the 6th grade. Things always seemed so simple but suddenly he doesn’t understand anything about his life. It starts when he gets detention in Mr. Feeny’s class for listening to a baseball game instead of paying attention to the discussion of Romeo and Juliet. It continues when his older brother Eric decides to take Heather Ralston to the upcoming baseball game instead of him. On top of it all, Mr. Feeny is Cory’s next door neighbor! Upset at the world, Cory decides to move out of his parent’s house and into his tree house in the back yard.
Cory thinks he’s got Mr. Feeny after he spots him from his tree house, eating alone with two table settings made up. During detention the next day, Feeny decides to make sure Cory learns a lesson. He gives a speech about love and its effects on people, which includes Amy and Alan’s love that has resulted in Cory. Back at home, Eric’s date with Heather didn’t go so well but Cory decides to be nice and help him out. Cory also moves back home and continues to not understand anything about his life for the next seven years!
- Although credited, Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus) does not appear in this episode.
- Continuity is not one of this show’s strong suits. We start off, though, with Cory and Shawn in 6th grade. They’re each 11-years-old. Eric is 15-years-old and is in the 10th grade.
- In the beginning, the idea was to let Cory have two best friends. Shawn was the main one but the other became a revolving door of “friends.” In the pilot episode, that friend slot is filled by Nicholas Bornihay (played by Chauncey Leopardi). This will be his one and only appearance on the show.
- The pilot episode features a different classroom set from the rest of the season.
2. On the Fence
Original Airdate: October 1, 1993
Written by: Jeffrey C. Sherman
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
DeJaun Guy as Ellis
It’s time for a water war and all of Cory’s classmates have top of the line water guns - even Minkus! Amy and Alan, however, don’t want to spend $50 for one, so Cory decides to get a job. Mr. Feeny hires him to paint some shutters - which he does - but since Cory spray painted them, the paint went through the shutters to the fence they were leaning against. Alan makes Cory repaint the fence but later on realizes that Cory should just be a kid and gives him permission to join Shawn, Minkus and Ellis in the water war.
- Although credited for the pilot, Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus) makes his debut appearance in this episode. Prior to “Boy Meets World,” Norris’ biggest credit was in the short-lived sitcom “The Torkelsons” as Chucky Lee Torkelson.
- The character of Minkus was originally named Stuart Lempke but it had to be changed since there was only one Stuart Lempke in Philadelphia. The rule is that if there’s only one person with that name in the place the show is set, it can’t be used for a TV show.
- Cory’s revolving door friend for this episode is named Ellis and is played by DeJaun Guy. Ellis appears in two episodes - though not consecutively.
- Eric gets a job as a box boy at Alan’s grocery store. In this episode we see both his first paycheck and him being exhausted working there.
- This episode features the classic line by Cory, “Superman’s my father.”
3. Father Knows Less
Original Airdate: October 8, 1993
Written by: April Kelly
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Willie Garson as Lenny Spinelli
Thomas Brown IV as TV Announcer (voice only)
After Alan’s plans to take Cory to see The Blue Angels falls through, he decides to wake Cory up in the middle of the night to watch a no-hitter baseball game. The following day at school, Cory is so sleepy that he fails a test in Mr. Feeny’s class. Alan tries to talk to Mr. Feeny about letting Cory take a makeup test but to no avail. Both Cory and Alan are upset with Feeny and only Amy is able to understand all sides of the situation. Later on, Mr. Feeny and Cory have a conversation about Feeny’s childhood and his father not letting him stay up late with him, which ends with Mr. Feeny saying “It’s important that fathers spend time with their sons.”
- Willie Garson makes his first appearance on “Boy Meets World” as Lenny Spinelli, the co-manager at Alan’s grocery store. Garson will also appear as Lenny for the season one episode “The Father/Son Game” before returning to the show as two different characters. In season four’s “Janitor Dad,” Garson plays Mervyn, a customer at Alan’s wilderness store. In the season seven episode “It’s About Time,” he plays the Minister that marries Cory and Topanga. Fourteen years later, Willie Garson plays Topanga’s sleazy lawyer boss on the spin-off series “Girl Meets World.”
- Thomas Brown IV played Ronnie Thompson in the 1989 hit Disney film “Honey I Shrunk the Kids.”
- This episode was based off of a real-life experience by creator Michael Jacobs.
- In one scene, Eric is talking on the phone with Heather about how he gave her a hicky. This means, they worked things out since the pilot episode where they had a terrible first date. Go Eric!
- The title for this episode “Father Knows Less” is a play on the title “Father Knows Best,” which was a popular sitcom in the 1950s.
4. Cory’s Alternative Friends
Original Airdate: October 15, 1993
Written by: Patricia Forrester
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Marla Sokoloff as Paige
Megan Parlen as Barbara
Katie Jane Johnson as Hillary
Matthew Bartilson as Darren
Marty York as Larry
Sam Horrigan as Student #1
Chris Owen as Ned
- This is the first episode to feature Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence). She will remain a recurring guest star for the rest of this season before joining the cast in season two.
- Topanga was intended to be a one-time guest character but she was so beloved, that she came back.
- Cory’s revolving door friend in this episode is Larry played by Marty York. Larry makes three appearances, which is more than any of the other friends do but seems to have less screen time an episode than them.
- In this episode, Shawn has a sister, Stacy. She is never seen or mentioned again for the rest of the series.
- Shawn gets a bigger role in this episode because (according to Rider Strong) the original revolving door friend was fired before the episode was shot (what about Larry?). In fact, it was originally the friend that had a sister who gives Cory the hair straightener.
- Sam Horrigan makes two appearances on “Boy Meets World” as a random student. From 1996 to 1998, Horrigan played Quentin Kelly on the Brett Butler sitcom “Grace Under Fire,” replacing Jon Paul Steuer in the role.
- This episode features the first kiss for both Cory & Topanga AND Ben Savage & Danielle Fishel.
5. Killer Bees
Original Airdate: October 22, 1993
Written by: Susan Estelle Jansen
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
DeJaun Guy as Ellis
Nikki Cox as Heather Ralston
Gisele Mackenzie as Loudspeaker Voice
Branelle Dahl as Contestant #5
Laurel Diskin as Contestant #6
Thomas Brown IV as Announcer Ed (voice only)
Tom Kelly as Announcer John (voice only)
- This episode marks the second and last appearance of Cory’s friend Ellis, played by DeJaun Guy. So long Ellis, we hardly knew ye. Actually, in production order this is the second episode of the series to be shot. So technically, this is Ellis’ FIRST episode as well. Hello Ellis!
- Nikki Cox (Heather Ralston) achieved fame in the mid-90s and has appeared in such shows as: “Unhappily Ever After”, “The Norm Show”, “California Dreams” and “Las Vegas”. She even starred in her own short-lived sitcom on the WB called “Nikki.”
6. Boys II Mensa
Original Airdate: October 29, 1993
Written by: Janette Kotichas Burleigh
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Jane Carr as Ms. Bertram
Marty York as Costumed Kid #1 (aka Larry)
Sam Horrigan as Costumed Kid #2
Dusty Gould as Costumed Kid #3
- Marty York (Larry) makes his second appearance on the show in this episode, though it’s brief.
7. The B-Team of Life
Original Airdate: January 28, 1994
Written by: Jeff Menell
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Ahmad Stoner as Harris Robertson
Hugh Dane as Coach
Phil Proctor as TV Voice
Robert Clotworthy as TV Voice
- The slot of Cory’s other friend for this episode is Ahmad Stoner (Harris Robertson). This is his only episode.
- Although this was the fifth episode to be produced, ABC aired it as the fourteenth. For this guide, we find it fits best as episode seven.
- Eric mentions that Heather dumped him. And thus ends Eric’s first (and only) semi-serious relationship on the show.
- Hugh Dane is best known as the security guard, Hank, on the long-running sitcom “The Office.” He returns to the “Meets World” franchise as Fish Store Phil in a 2015 episode of “Girl Meets World.”
8. Grandma Was a Rolling Stone
Original Airdate: November 12, 1993
Written by: John J. Strauss & Ed Decter
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris [ABSENT]
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Keri Russell as Jessica
Rue McClanahan as Grandma Bernice Matthews
- Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus) does not appear in this episode.
- Keri Russell shot to fame in the late ‘90s, starring as the title role on “Felicity.”
- Rue McClanahan is most famous for her role as Blanche Devereaux on the popular ‘80s sitcom “The Golden Girls.” She also guest-starred as the grandma in another sitcom by Michael Jacobs, “Charles in Charge.”
- In the scene where Eric “effortlessly tosses” a bag of mulch onto Mr. Feeny’s yard, you can see the fake grass move and the fake background swing slightly. This could be an error, or it could be the creator’s way of saying the world that Cory meets… is fake!
9. Teacher’s Bet
Original Airdate: November 19, 1993
Written by: April Kelly
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Lindsay Price as Linda
- This episode brings back Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence), who first appeared in episode #4 but hadn’t been seen since.
- Cory gets to be the teacher in this episode. In the 2014 spin-off series “Girl Meets World,” Cory has really become a teacher, and why not? He’s already got the experience.
10. Class Pre-Union
Original Airdate: November 26, 1993
Written by: Ed Decter & John J. Strauss
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Jim Abbott as Himself
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Christine Healy as Jane
Marty York as Larry
Brittany English Stephens as Stephanie
Kristopher Kyer, Lisa E. Wilcox & Matt Kirkwood as TV Voices
- This is Marty York’s third and final appearance as Cory’s friend Larry. After this, its pretty much decided that Cory works best with one best friend - Shawn Hunter.
11. Santa’s Little Helper
Original Airdate: December 10, 1993
Written by: Susan Estelle Jansen
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Tom LaGrua as Elf
- In this episode, Shawn’s father has lost his job and THAT’S why he’s poor. However, as the series goes on, it’s strongly implied that Shawn’s family has always been poor. That’s why he grew up in a trailer park. Maybe the producers liked having Shawn be more “less fortunate” than Cory in this episode and decided to change his back story for subsequent episodes.
12. The Father/Son Game
Original Airdate: December 17, 1993
Written by: Bill Lawrence
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Willie Garson as Lenny Spinelli
- Writer Bill Lawrence would go on to co-create the Michael J. Fox sitcom "Spin City" as well as create "Scrubs" and even "Cougar Town."
13. Once In Love with Amy
Original Airdate: January 7, 1994
Written by: Ken Kuta
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
14. She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
Original Airdate: January 14, 1994
Written by: April Kelly
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Krystee Clark as Nebula Lawrence
Breanne O’Donnell as The Girl (aka Hilary)
- In this episode, Topanga has an older sister, Nebula Stopthewar Lawrence, played by Krystee Clark. Nebula is never seen or mentioned again. Clark, however plays a different character in a season two episode “The Wrong Side of the Tracks.”
- Keep an eye on Breanne O’Donnell ("The Girl"). She returns in episode #21. “Boy Meets Girl” as the first girl Shawn gets a crush on.
15. Model Family
Original Airdate: February 4, 1994
Written by: John J. Strauss & Ed Decter
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Jason Marsden as Jason Marsden
Kelly Packard as Tracy
Stephanie Dicker as Erin
Matt Kirkwood as Photographer
Kristopher Kyer as Mall Announcer
Kathy Ireland as Alexis
- This is the first episode to feature Jason Marsden (also named Jason Marsden in the show). He will remain a recurring character throughout season two before departing the series without explanation.
- Much like their characters, Jason Marsden and Will Friedle are best friends in real life, too.
- Kelly Packard makes a couple more appearances on “Boy Meets World.” She reprises her role of Tracy for #18. “It’s a Wonderful Night” and plays a new character, Candy, in the season two episode “The Thrilla’ in Phila’”.
- Packard is probably best known for her role as Tiffani Smith on the ‘90s Saturday morning sitcom “California Dreams” and for her time on “Baywatch.”
16. Risky Business
Original Airdate: February 11, 1994
Written by: Ken Kuta
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Thomas Brown IV as Sports Announcer (voice only)
Trevor Denman as Track Announcer (voice only)
17. The Fugitive
Original Airdate: February 25, 1994
Written by: Jeffrey C. Sherman
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
- This is a character defining episode for Shawn Hunter.
- In this episode Cory says that both he and Shawn are 12. However, Cory doesn’t turn 12 until two episodes later, “Kid Gloves.” I guess he’s just rounding up.
18. It’s a Wonderful Night
Original Airdate: March 11, 1994
Written by: Susan Estelle Jansen
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Jason Marsden as Jason Marsden
Don Gibb as Tony
Kelly Packard as Tracy
Stephanie Dicker as Erin
Kristopher Kyer, Kevin Thompson & Lisa E. Wilcox as TV Voices
- Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus) does not appear in this episode.
- Will Friedle and Rider Strong wanted to write an episode together. They pitched an idea for Mr. Feeny having to babysit Cory and Morgan but Michael Jacobs already had that plot in the works. For the record, THIS is that episode.
19. Kid Gloves
Original Airdate: March 25, 1994
Written by: Jeff Menell
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
- The silver gloves Alan gives to Cory in this episode are in turn given by Cory to his son Auggie in a 2016 episode of "Girl Meets World."
20. The Play’s the Thing
Original Airdate: April 29, 1994
Written by: Ed Decter & John J. Strauss
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Ryan Tomlinson as Spear Carrier
21. Boy Meets Girl
Original Airdate: May 6, 1994
Written by: Janette Kotichas Burleigh
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Breanne O’Donnell as Hilary
Gisele Mackenzie as Narrator Voice
Gil Stratton, Jr. as TV Announcer
22. I Dream of Feeny
Original Airdate: May 13, 1994
Written by: Mark Fink
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay [ABSENT]
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Janet Carroll as Nurse Jill
Juliette Jeffers as Karen Chase
- Lily Nicksay (Morgan Matthews) does not appear in this episode.
- This is the final episode to feature Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus) as a cast member. His departure is not mentioned in the show until he shows up once more as a guest star in the season five finale.
Boy Meets World
Season 1: 1993 - 1994 (22 episodes)
Cast:
Ben Savage as Cory Matthews (22 episodes)
William Daniels as Mr. George Feeny (22 episodes)
Betsy Randle as Amy Matthews (22 episodes)
Will Friedle as Eric Matthews (22 episodes)
Rider Strong as Shawn Hunter (22 episodes)
Lee Norris as Stuart Minkus (19 episodes)
Lily Nicksay as Morgan Matthews (21 episodes)
William Russ as Alan Matthews (22 episodes)
Recurring Cast: (4 or more appearances during the run of the show)
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence (14 episodes)
Jason Marsden as Jason Marsden (2 episodes)
The Episodes
1. Pilot
Original Airdate: September 24, 1993
Written by: Michael Jacobs & April Kelly
Directed by: John Tracy
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris [ABSENT]
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Chauncey Leopardi as Nicholas Bornihay
Cynthia Mace as Evelyn
Krysty Moore as Vanessa Kincaid
Cory Matthews is an 11-year-old boy in the 6th grade. Things always seemed so simple but suddenly he doesn’t understand anything about his life. It starts when he gets detention in Mr. Feeny’s class for listening to a baseball game instead of paying attention to the discussion of Romeo and Juliet. It continues when his older brother Eric decides to take Heather Ralston to the upcoming baseball game instead of him. On top of it all, Mr. Feeny is Cory’s next door neighbor! Upset at the world, Cory decides to move out of his parent’s house and into his tree house in the back yard.
Cory thinks he’s got Mr. Feeny after he spots him from his tree house, eating alone with two table settings made up. During detention the next day, Feeny decides to make sure Cory learns a lesson. He gives a speech about love and its effects on people, which includes Amy and Alan’s love that has resulted in Cory. Back at home, Eric’s date with Heather didn’t go so well but Cory decides to be nice and help him out. Cory also moves back home and continues to not understand anything about his life for the next seven years!
- Although credited, Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus) does not appear in this episode.
- Continuity is not one of this show’s strong suits. We start off, though, with Cory and Shawn in 6th grade. They’re each 11-years-old. Eric is 15-years-old and is in the 10th grade.
- In the beginning, the idea was to let Cory have two best friends. Shawn was the main one but the other became a revolving door of “friends.” In the pilot episode, that friend slot is filled by Nicholas Bornihay (played by Chauncey Leopardi). This will be his one and only appearance on the show.
- The pilot episode features a different classroom set from the rest of the season.
2. On the Fence
Original Airdate: October 1, 1993
Written by: Jeffrey C. Sherman
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
DeJaun Guy as Ellis
It’s time for a water war and all of Cory’s classmates have top of the line water guns - even Minkus! Amy and Alan, however, don’t want to spend $50 for one, so Cory decides to get a job. Mr. Feeny hires him to paint some shutters - which he does - but since Cory spray painted them, the paint went through the shutters to the fence they were leaning against. Alan makes Cory repaint the fence but later on realizes that Cory should just be a kid and gives him permission to join Shawn, Minkus and Ellis in the water war.
- Although credited for the pilot, Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus) makes his debut appearance in this episode. Prior to “Boy Meets World,” Norris’ biggest credit was in the short-lived sitcom “The Torkelsons” as Chucky Lee Torkelson.
- The character of Minkus was originally named Stuart Lempke but it had to be changed since there was only one Stuart Lempke in Philadelphia. The rule is that if there’s only one person with that name in the place the show is set, it can’t be used for a TV show.
- Cory’s revolving door friend for this episode is named Ellis and is played by DeJaun Guy. Ellis appears in two episodes - though not consecutively.
- Eric gets a job as a box boy at Alan’s grocery store. In this episode we see both his first paycheck and him being exhausted working there.
- This episode features the classic line by Cory, “Superman’s my father.”
3. Father Knows Less
Original Airdate: October 8, 1993
Written by: April Kelly
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Willie Garson as Lenny Spinelli
Thomas Brown IV as TV Announcer (voice only)
After Alan’s plans to take Cory to see The Blue Angels falls through, he decides to wake Cory up in the middle of the night to watch a no-hitter baseball game. The following day at school, Cory is so sleepy that he fails a test in Mr. Feeny’s class. Alan tries to talk to Mr. Feeny about letting Cory take a makeup test but to no avail. Both Cory and Alan are upset with Feeny and only Amy is able to understand all sides of the situation. Later on, Mr. Feeny and Cory have a conversation about Feeny’s childhood and his father not letting him stay up late with him, which ends with Mr. Feeny saying “It’s important that fathers spend time with their sons.”
- Willie Garson makes his first appearance on “Boy Meets World” as Lenny Spinelli, the co-manager at Alan’s grocery store. Garson will also appear as Lenny for the season one episode “The Father/Son Game” before returning to the show as two different characters. In season four’s “Janitor Dad,” Garson plays Mervyn, a customer at Alan’s wilderness store. In the season seven episode “It’s About Time,” he plays the Minister that marries Cory and Topanga. Fourteen years later, Willie Garson plays Topanga’s sleazy lawyer boss on the spin-off series “Girl Meets World.”
- Thomas Brown IV played Ronnie Thompson in the 1989 hit Disney film “Honey I Shrunk the Kids.”
- This episode was based off of a real-life experience by creator Michael Jacobs.
- In one scene, Eric is talking on the phone with Heather about how he gave her a hicky. This means, they worked things out since the pilot episode where they had a terrible first date. Go Eric!
- The title for this episode “Father Knows Less” is a play on the title “Father Knows Best,” which was a popular sitcom in the 1950s.
4. Cory’s Alternative Friends
Original Airdate: October 15, 1993
Written by: Patricia Forrester
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Marla Sokoloff as Paige
Megan Parlen as Barbara
Katie Jane Johnson as Hillary
Matthew Bartilson as Darren
Marty York as Larry
Sam Horrigan as Student #1
Chris Owen as Ned
- This is the first episode to feature Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence). She will remain a recurring guest star for the rest of this season before joining the cast in season two.
- Topanga was intended to be a one-time guest character but she was so beloved, that she came back.
- Cory’s revolving door friend in this episode is Larry played by Marty York. Larry makes three appearances, which is more than any of the other friends do but seems to have less screen time an episode than them.
- In this episode, Shawn has a sister, Stacy. She is never seen or mentioned again for the rest of the series.
- Shawn gets a bigger role in this episode because (according to Rider Strong) the original revolving door friend was fired before the episode was shot (what about Larry?). In fact, it was originally the friend that had a sister who gives Cory the hair straightener.
- Sam Horrigan makes two appearances on “Boy Meets World” as a random student. From 1996 to 1998, Horrigan played Quentin Kelly on the Brett Butler sitcom “Grace Under Fire,” replacing Jon Paul Steuer in the role.
- This episode features the first kiss for both Cory & Topanga AND Ben Savage & Danielle Fishel.
5. Killer Bees
Original Airdate: October 22, 1993
Written by: Susan Estelle Jansen
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
DeJaun Guy as Ellis
Nikki Cox as Heather Ralston
Gisele Mackenzie as Loudspeaker Voice
Branelle Dahl as Contestant #5
Laurel Diskin as Contestant #6
Thomas Brown IV as Announcer Ed (voice only)
Tom Kelly as Announcer John (voice only)
- This episode marks the second and last appearance of Cory’s friend Ellis, played by DeJaun Guy. So long Ellis, we hardly knew ye. Actually, in production order this is the second episode of the series to be shot. So technically, this is Ellis’ FIRST episode as well. Hello Ellis!
- Nikki Cox (Heather Ralston) achieved fame in the mid-90s and has appeared in such shows as: “Unhappily Ever After”, “The Norm Show”, “California Dreams” and “Las Vegas”. She even starred in her own short-lived sitcom on the WB called “Nikki.”
6. Boys II Mensa
Original Airdate: October 29, 1993
Written by: Janette Kotichas Burleigh
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Jane Carr as Ms. Bertram
Marty York as Costumed Kid #1 (aka Larry)
Sam Horrigan as Costumed Kid #2
Dusty Gould as Costumed Kid #3
- Marty York (Larry) makes his second appearance on the show in this episode, though it’s brief.
7. The B-Team of Life
Original Airdate: January 28, 1994
Written by: Jeff Menell
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Ahmad Stoner as Harris Robertson
Hugh Dane as Coach
Phil Proctor as TV Voice
Robert Clotworthy as TV Voice
- The slot of Cory’s other friend for this episode is Ahmad Stoner (Harris Robertson). This is his only episode.
- Although this was the fifth episode to be produced, ABC aired it as the fourteenth. For this guide, we find it fits best as episode seven.
- Eric mentions that Heather dumped him. And thus ends Eric’s first (and only) semi-serious relationship on the show.
- Hugh Dane is best known as the security guard, Hank, on the long-running sitcom “The Office.” He returns to the “Meets World” franchise as Fish Store Phil in a 2015 episode of “Girl Meets World.”
8. Grandma Was a Rolling Stone
Original Airdate: November 12, 1993
Written by: John J. Strauss & Ed Decter
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris [ABSENT]
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Keri Russell as Jessica
Rue McClanahan as Grandma Bernice Matthews
- Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus) does not appear in this episode.
- Keri Russell shot to fame in the late ‘90s, starring as the title role on “Felicity.”
- Rue McClanahan is most famous for her role as Blanche Devereaux on the popular ‘80s sitcom “The Golden Girls.” She also guest-starred as the grandma in another sitcom by Michael Jacobs, “Charles in Charge.”
- In the scene where Eric “effortlessly tosses” a bag of mulch onto Mr. Feeny’s yard, you can see the fake grass move and the fake background swing slightly. This could be an error, or it could be the creator’s way of saying the world that Cory meets… is fake!
9. Teacher’s Bet
Original Airdate: November 19, 1993
Written by: April Kelly
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Lindsay Price as Linda
- This episode brings back Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence), who first appeared in episode #4 but hadn’t been seen since.
- Cory gets to be the teacher in this episode. In the 2014 spin-off series “Girl Meets World,” Cory has really become a teacher, and why not? He’s already got the experience.
10. Class Pre-Union
Original Airdate: November 26, 1993
Written by: Ed Decter & John J. Strauss
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Jim Abbott as Himself
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Christine Healy as Jane
Marty York as Larry
Brittany English Stephens as Stephanie
Kristopher Kyer, Lisa E. Wilcox & Matt Kirkwood as TV Voices
- This is Marty York’s third and final appearance as Cory’s friend Larry. After this, its pretty much decided that Cory works best with one best friend - Shawn Hunter.
11. Santa’s Little Helper
Original Airdate: December 10, 1993
Written by: Susan Estelle Jansen
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Tom LaGrua as Elf
- In this episode, Shawn’s father has lost his job and THAT’S why he’s poor. However, as the series goes on, it’s strongly implied that Shawn’s family has always been poor. That’s why he grew up in a trailer park. Maybe the producers liked having Shawn be more “less fortunate” than Cory in this episode and decided to change his back story for subsequent episodes.
12. The Father/Son Game
Original Airdate: December 17, 1993
Written by: Bill Lawrence
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Willie Garson as Lenny Spinelli
- Writer Bill Lawrence would go on to co-create the Michael J. Fox sitcom "Spin City" as well as create "Scrubs" and even "Cougar Town."
13. Once In Love with Amy
Original Airdate: January 7, 1994
Written by: Ken Kuta
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
14. She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
Original Airdate: January 14, 1994
Written by: April Kelly
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Krystee Clark as Nebula Lawrence
Breanne O’Donnell as The Girl (aka Hilary)
- In this episode, Topanga has an older sister, Nebula Stopthewar Lawrence, played by Krystee Clark. Nebula is never seen or mentioned again. Clark, however plays a different character in a season two episode “The Wrong Side of the Tracks.”
- Keep an eye on Breanne O’Donnell ("The Girl"). She returns in episode #21. “Boy Meets Girl” as the first girl Shawn gets a crush on.
15. Model Family
Original Airdate: February 4, 1994
Written by: John J. Strauss & Ed Decter
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Jason Marsden as Jason Marsden
Kelly Packard as Tracy
Stephanie Dicker as Erin
Matt Kirkwood as Photographer
Kristopher Kyer as Mall Announcer
Kathy Ireland as Alexis
- This is the first episode to feature Jason Marsden (also named Jason Marsden in the show). He will remain a recurring character throughout season two before departing the series without explanation.
- Much like their characters, Jason Marsden and Will Friedle are best friends in real life, too.
- Kelly Packard makes a couple more appearances on “Boy Meets World.” She reprises her role of Tracy for #18. “It’s a Wonderful Night” and plays a new character, Candy, in the season two episode “The Thrilla’ in Phila’”.
- Packard is probably best known for her role as Tiffani Smith on the ‘90s Saturday morning sitcom “California Dreams” and for her time on “Baywatch.”
16. Risky Business
Original Airdate: February 11, 1994
Written by: Ken Kuta
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Thomas Brown IV as Sports Announcer (voice only)
Trevor Denman as Track Announcer (voice only)
17. The Fugitive
Original Airdate: February 25, 1994
Written by: Jeffrey C. Sherman
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
- This is a character defining episode for Shawn Hunter.
- In this episode Cory says that both he and Shawn are 12. However, Cory doesn’t turn 12 until two episodes later, “Kid Gloves.” I guess he’s just rounding up.
18. It’s a Wonderful Night
Original Airdate: March 11, 1994
Written by: Susan Estelle Jansen
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Jason Marsden as Jason Marsden
Don Gibb as Tony
Kelly Packard as Tracy
Stephanie Dicker as Erin
Kristopher Kyer, Kevin Thompson & Lisa E. Wilcox as TV Voices
- Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus) does not appear in this episode.
- Will Friedle and Rider Strong wanted to write an episode together. They pitched an idea for Mr. Feeny having to babysit Cory and Morgan but Michael Jacobs already had that plot in the works. For the record, THIS is that episode.
19. Kid Gloves
Original Airdate: March 25, 1994
Written by: Jeff Menell
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
- The silver gloves Alan gives to Cory in this episode are in turn given by Cory to his son Auggie in a 2016 episode of "Girl Meets World."
20. The Play’s the Thing
Original Airdate: April 29, 1994
Written by: Ed Decter & John J. Strauss
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Ryan Tomlinson as Spear Carrier
21. Boy Meets Girl
Original Airdate: May 6, 1994
Written by: Janette Kotichas Burleigh
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Breanne O’Donnell as Hilary
Gisele Mackenzie as Narrator Voice
Gil Stratton, Jr. as TV Announcer
22. I Dream of Feeny
Original Airdate: May 13, 1994
Written by: Mark Fink
Directed by: David Trainer
Cast:
Cory Matthews: Ben Savage
Mr. George Feeny: William Daniels
Amy Matthews: Betsy Randle
Eric Matthews: Will Friedle
Shawn Hunter: Rider Strong
Stuart Minkus: Lee Norris
Morgan Matthews: Lily Nicksay [ABSENT]
Alan Matthews: William Russ
Guest Cast:
Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Janet Carroll as Nurse Jill
Juliette Jeffers as Karen Chase
- Lily Nicksay (Morgan Matthews) does not appear in this episode.
- This is the final episode to feature Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus) as a cast member. His departure is not mentioned in the show until he shows up once more as a guest star in the season five finale.