Boy Meets World emerged as of the best TGIF comedies of all time, and its success eventually spawned a successful spinoff on Disney Channel, Girl Meets World. The offshoot ran for three seasons and launched the Grammy winner Sabrina Carpenter, who remains close to co-star Danielle Fishel today. The revival, which premiered in 2014, apparently got off to a rocky start, and not just because there were some creative issues involving the franchise's OGs. Fishel, Rider Strong, and more revealed that finding out about the show actually wasn't fun.

Girl Meets World sees Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga Matthews (Fishel) living in New York with their two kids, with Cory being a teacher and Topanga working as a lawyer. At the center of the show is their daughter, Riley (Blanchard), who comes of age alongside her friends. Aside from Savage and Blanchard, a lot of original Boy Meets World stars appeared from time to time, including Strong and Will Friedle, reprising their roles as Shawn Hunter and Eric Matthews, respectively.

Fishel, Strong, and Friedle -- who have been promoting their new documentary, Doc Meets World -- recently opened up about the beginnings of Girl Meets World. While talking to Parade, the trio looked back at their time on the spinoff, with Strong and Friedle revealing they weren't formally notified that the show was in development. As they explained, they found out in a less ideal manner:

• Rider Strong: We didn’t get the call. We found out about it in the press.
• Will Friedle: Nobody told us Girl Meets World was happening.
• Strong: It wasn’t a great experience. Finding out about Girl Meets World, at that time, it was not fun. And then, we were asked to be on the show. For me, it was just an opportunity to direct again and like, really take that seriously in that part of my creative life. I was not excited to act again.
• Friedle: I wasn’t either, and the only reason I went on is because that the deal was if I did a few episodes, I could write an episode.

Considering Strong and Friedle appeared on Girl Meets World several times and had some fun and important storylines, it’s surprising to know that they didn’t even know about the series until it was announced. It’s also understandable that they’d only want to sign on so they can direct or write an episode or two, especially if they weren’t particularly keen on reprising those characters. For Strong, at least, he didn’t think it was the right time to do the show despite signing on anyway:

Boy Meets World ended in 2000 after a seven-season run, and Girl Meets World premiered in 2014, not quite 15 years later. In hindsight, that time span does seems a bit short relatively speaking, and Strong isn’t the only one who felt like that. Fishel, who starred in all three seasons of the spinoff before it was canceled in 2017, voiced her own initial concerns about doing the series. Not only was she at a completely different place in life, but she was trying to think of the logistics of the timeline between the two series:

Even though it seemed a little too soon, the timeline does work out. Cory and Topanga have a middle school student daughter at the start of GMW, so the logic is sound. Nevertheless, I can understand the stars thinking a slightly long gap would've been more sensible. While the show could have come at a different time, Fishel went on to admit that she just couldn’t pass up that opportunity, so she put her other life on hold:

Ultimately, Fishel's instincts proved to be correct, as GMW did strike a chord with viewers at the time. Overseen by returning producer Michael Jacobs, the spinoff expanded on the BMW continuity and added new layers to the established characters. Not everyone from Boy Meets World was asked back, though, as cast member Maitland Ward has been candid about not receiving an invitation. Ben Savage has seemingly put that part of his life behind him.

Rider Strong, Danielle Fishel and Will Friedle have all been candid about the complexities of their relationships with both of the Meets World shows. Many of those thoughts have been shared on their Pod Meets World rewatch podcast. While they've been honest about their experiences making the shows not always having been positive, they also understand just how much the work itself means to people. With that, as a fan, I'm glad they participated in the spinoff, even if they didn't find out in the most optimal way.

Fans can watch both Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World with a Disney+ subscription, and see just how similar or different the two are.

I was one of the many kids who grew up watching Boy Meets World reruns (and “And Then There Was Shawn” has even been a rewatch of mine every Halloween). So, when Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong were among the alumnus that migrated to the spin-off, Girl Meets World, I was excited for any and every reunion. Since that offshoot ended, the two actors have been brutally open about their experiences on each set. With that, it's not surprising to hear them get real about being protective of the spinoff’s young cast while also dealing with creative issues.

The characters of Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence are integral parts of Girl Meets World (which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription), but the actors were actually passing the torch to Rowan Blanchard and a pre-“Espresso” Sabrina Carpenter. Yet the producers found every opportunity to bring back cast members for emotional and ridiculous reunions. Fishel and Strong spoke with US Weekly while promoting the new Boy Meets World documentary, Doc Meets World, at the Tribeca Film Festival, where Fishel recalled her spinoff experience:

Via their rewatch podcast, Pod Meets World, Fishel, Strong and co-star Will Friedle haven't shied away from talking about the episodes they felt are incredible, nor do they sugarcoat any episode they think is a clunker. It’s this honesty that I feel has made their podcast so successful. While they’re giving fun BTS stories, they’re also being honest about growing up as child actors. And sometimes those experiences, especially for Fishel, who was a young girl at the time, can be uncomfortable.

In hindsight, it now seems like Fishel and Strong's own experiences contributed feel so protective of their younger Girl Meets World co-stars. The pair talked about how they wanted to inspire confidence, but they also wanted to create an environment where the teens felt safe and comfortable. Strong backed up his co-star about the fun they had on set and the easy-going relationships they fostered with the younger cast members:

As a fan of the show, I hope those methods helped forged positive experiences for the then-up-and-coming actors. Several have actually spoken fondly about the adults they worked with, and even Sabrina Carpenter is still close with Danielle Fishel today. However, despite this, Fishel has spoken about creative struggles between the two generations and how this taught her a valuable lesson. She explained:

Michael Jacobs created Boy Meets World and its eventual spinoff, and the actors have spoken fondly of him on occasion. However, the stars have also been real about some issues they had with Jacobs' creative choices. While speaking to Us, Strong opened up about idolizing Jacobs as a kid but getting to know him more as a person when they reunited for the spinoff.

As for Strong and co.'s documentary, it chronicles the national tour they did for Pod Meets World, and the film was previously teased as a new post-podcast project. During which they’ve talked about their struggles, but they’ve also talked about their friendships. Despite often bringing up drama that went down, Fishel and Strong, along with Friedle, have also spoken positively about their time with their former co-stars on both shows.

Specific drama that has come up includes Maitland Ward bringing up old spats with Fishel, and Trina McGee blasting Ben Savage for his alleged behavior toward her on set. In recent years, Savage has also seemingly distanced himself from his former colleagues, and he chose not to join the podcast when they asked.

However, Rider Strong and Danielle Fishel have shared intriguing stories about showrunner Michael Jacobs, who they described as “a genius,” and William Daniels, who played everybody’s favorite teacher, Mr. Feeny. Even Fishel and Strong still share stories about what they learned from Daniels while on set. Given how the pair looked after their young castmates, I can imagine Daniels being proud of them.

Throughout its seven seasons, Boy Meets World has some very memorable storylines and episodes. Of course, while the TGIF sitcom remains beloved today, not every aspect of it necessarily holds up story-wise. Danielle Fishel -- whose character, Topanga Lawrence, goes through a lot on the show -- recalled how she particularly disliked Topanga’s weight-loss storyline. (And the actress really didn't mince words.)

Fishel has been open about her past body image issues and how a lot of those manifested while she was filming Boy Meets World. She previously recalled feeling like her body was a problem and, in addition to that, the writers conceived a storyline centering on Topanga’s weight, which was developed during the show's seventh and final season. In “She’s Having My Baby Back Ribs,” Topanga feels more self-conscious about her body as her husband, Cory, believes she’s pregnant.

Fishel dissected the episode on Pod Meets World with her co-stars and co-hosts Will Friedle and Rider Strong. While the trio went over one of the scenes, Strong pointed out how uncomfortable Fishel probably was filming it, but the actress admitted it was the one scene she really remembered because she was “super honest” with herself at that time. She recalled how she gained some weight throughout the course of the show as she got older and how she really felt about it all by the time she filmed that Season 7 episode:

In the '90s, Boy Meets World was known for presenting some very raw storylines, especially since the characters were coming of age (as the actors were as well). As a result, the series' writers tackled issues that kids, teens and young adults could identify with, such as body image. The aforementioned scene discussed on the podcast sees Topanga trying to fit into a pair of jeans, and Fishel explains why that portion bothers her the most:

In hindsight, while it can be important to show a storyline like this, it's evident that it can really have an impact on an actor like Fishel, whose personal experience aligned with it. What makes the situation more ironic is the fact that within the show, Topanga doesn't even have any need for concern (a point that ultimately comes up at the end of the episode). Fishel herself also apparently didn't see any reason to have such messaging and also said this of the jeans scene:

Considering Fishel was a young adult in the public eye who had been dealing with body issues, the storyline definitely could not come at a worse time. Even Strong admitted he could tell that Fishel wasn’t happy about it, leading her to say:

Danielle Fishel isn't the only actress who played a character on a '90s sitcom who dealt with body image challenges. For instance, Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber revealed in 2025 that the Full House episode that makes them uncomfortable is the one where DJ (played by Candace Cameron Bure) is on a strict diet for a birthday party to the point where she collapses.

As for Boy Meets World, the cast has been honest about their appraisal of the show, with many of those thoughts having been shared on Pod Meets World. For instance, Rider Strong was displeased with an alcohol-centric episode. The series still does have plenty of strong points but, as a fan, I can still appreciate Danielle Fishel and co. sharing their honest opinions on its shortcomings. On that note, know that BMW can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription.

Sabrina Carpenter is arguably one of the biggest pop stars in the world right now, so it’s hard to believe she got her start on Disney Channel over a decade ago. She starred as Maya Hart in the Boy Meets World sequel series Girl Meets World from 2014 to 2017, which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription. To this day, she remains close to Danielle Fishel, who reprised her role as Topanga Matthews, and even though it’s been close to a decade since the series ended, the women's bond has not diminished at all.

While Topanga was like a second mother to Maya on Girl Meets World, Fishel and Carpenter are like sisters in real life. The actress has shown much support to the singer over the years as her career has been blowing up, from seeing her open up for Taylor Swift to seeing her on SNL to even dancing to one of her songs on Dancing With the Stars. However, this is a two-way street, as the 26-year-old Grammy winner has become her “go-to” person for feedback. Fishel told People:

It’s sweet to know that Fishel feels comfortable enough to go to Carpenter for advice, and that Carpenter is always willing to give it out. The fact that the two of them can go to each other about stuff and are still close after all these years makes me happy. And a lot of times when Fishel goes to Carpenter, it’s really just a reminder that the Boy Meets World star already knows the answer:

Fishel and Carpenter’s friendship is my favorite thing to come out of Girl Meets World. It was clear that their characters were close on the show, and it’s even better knowing that they’re just as close in real life, even with so many years passing and the "Espresso" singer's career reaching new heights.

I also love how they both give each other advice and support all the time. When Fishel was competing on DWTS last fall and using one of her former co-stars’ songs, Carpenter sent a video cheering her on. Not surprisingly, the song she used was also the actual version, and not one covered by the DWTS band, so Carpenter was quick to clear the rights, once again showing that she will always be there for Fishel.

The only thing that would make what Fishel said even better is if the two worked together again. However, Carpenter seems to have put acting on the back burner for her singing career (though I wouldn't rule out the two working on a music video together). At the very least, their friendship is clearly not going anywhere, regardless of projects Carpenter or Fishel are busy doing. And I really hope that continues far into the future, and that the advice and support never stops.

Just because we’re in the midst of the 2026 TV schedule doesn’t mean we can’t also be in the middle of ‘90s nostalgia, from Lisa Kudrow making Friends references on The Comeback to Ben Affleck’s Super Bowl ad to this week’s news about that Animorphs reboot. Over on American Idol, the judges and contestants celebrated the era with a ‘90s Time Warp episode, leading to a social media-crushing post from a trio of sitcom queens led by Boy Meets World vet Danielle Fishel (who also hosts Idol's official podcast).

No stranger to leaning all the way back into ‘90s culture (for better and worse) in her co-created podcast Pod Meets World, Fishel teamed up with Full House and Fuller House’s Andrea Barber and The Wonder Years’ Danica McKellar to craft a ‘90s-infused post that sent Instagram (and perhaps yours truly) into a throwback, puppy-lovey tizzy. Check out the video below, which is set to the decade-defining tune of The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris.”

The comedic threesome tipped their metaphorical hats to the ‘90s roles that turned them each into eternal TV stars, and it’s amazing to see instant evidence of just how much each of them h as changed over the past 30 years or so, while also still essentially looking the exact same. I probably should have reached out to ask for beauty tips back in 1996, but that ship has likely sailed.

I gotta say, for all the '90s details seen in those photos, I think my favorite decade-specific detail is the see-through phone that's sitting on the table in front of the actresses. It's quite bizarre to see someone's cell phone lying next to it, too.

Understandably, the post garnered a slew of likes and shares, with several other celebs chiming in, including Barber's Full House chum Candace Cameron Bure, and the offiicial Goo Goo Dolls profile.

• CANDACE CAMERON BURE: Love it
• HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE: Awesome
• DAMON WAYANS JR: Oh come on 🥹😍🥰
• MIKE RUGA: This trio tho 🔥🔥🔥
• THE GOO GOO DOLLS: 💜💜💜

So many non-celeb comments as well, with a lion's of the responses being about childhood crushes that may or may not have dissipated over time. Which is to say, a lot of hornballs, both men and women. (Though mostly men.) Fishel has spoken about being perceived as a sex symbol as a teen, and the body issues that plagued her, but given that most of the comments are more sweet and innocent than salacious, hopefully they're received well.

I just want to shout out this comment for feeling as if it was removed directly from my brain and transcribed by Instagram.

• If you added Kelly Kapowski with Topenga and Winnie Cooper, would have been the Trifecta! - @jake005

Danielle Fishel later shared a post more directly tied to American Idol, in which she and the judges mouthed the words to dialogue from Ryan Murphy's horror comedy series Scream Queens. It's not exactly a '90s callbak, but the show did co-star Full House's John Stamos, so it counts.

All three of the actresses seen above are maintaining their busy careers. Andrea Barber, for example, is currently hosting the Full House rewatch podcast How Rude, Tanneritos alongside former co-star Jodie Sweetin, with the latest episode covering Season 6, Episode 14.

Fresh off of her Dancing with the Stars season, Fishel and her former co-stars Will Friedle and Rider Strong remain busy with Pod Meets World. And Danica McKellar, who turned 50 last year, recently celebrated the 38th anniversary of The Wonders Years premiere, and has kept busy in recent years starring in Christmas movies for Hallmark and Great American Family.

Alright now, ABC, how's about bringing TGIF back for a night of sitcom reunion specials?

Danielle Fishel was a preteen when she joined the cast of Boy Meets World, and we got to see her grow up on that show. Now, the actress has gotten candid about the difficulties of working on this sitcom, specifically recalling feeling like her “body was a problem” while they filmed the beloved comedy.

The Topanga actress has sadly dealt with body pressures that many young actresses have faced. In her interview with US Weekly, the former child star reflected on how she spoke on Pod Meets World about the beauty standards she dealt with during her early fame, and it’s heartbreaking:

It’s incredibly cruel how young girls are made self-conscious about their bodies instead of promoting a more positive outlook. As Danielle Fishel was talking about the prom episode, I always wondered why they put Topanga in such a conservative ensemble. The fact that it might have been to hide her arms is sad.

Fishel continued to speak about how her body changed while making Boy Meets World, and the unfair judgment she had to live with. The American actress continued to talk about why her body image struggles stopped her from enjoying filming the show’s final season:

I’m sure it also didn’t help that Season 7 had an episode where a self-pitying Topanga wanted to go on a diet after noticing weight gain.

Notably, Danielle Fishel also previously got candid about a “painful” episode that involved Topanga being harassed by her teacher, which wasn’t handled in the best fashion from the female lead's perspective. Over the years, she has been candid about the more turbulent times from making and growing up on this series.

As Season 7 was Boy Meets World’s last hurrah, you’d hope her only challenge would be having to say goodbye to a cast and crew she’d worked with during her childhood. However, the former Dish host spoke about other dreadful emotions she felt filming the final season, which explains why she never starred on another show shortly after:

It’s understandable why it’s hard to rewatch Season 7 when you know it was a very insecure time. If you’re self-conscious of your body and the people around you give you signs they notice the weight gain, it’s challenging to put your best foot forward.

This, unfortunately, wasn't Danielle Fishel's first rodeo in going through anxiety-inducing stress on set. As a young child, she dealt with harsh criticisms immediately after landing Topanga, where she was threatened to be replaced if she didn’t follow through with them.

While growing up is demanding enough in real life, going through that transition on a TV show where you know all eyes are watching can’t be any easier. Fortunately, the Arizona native said that she can now look back on that uncomfortable time and laugh:

Quite the perks of having a throwback podcast. Those emotions that were hard to handle at the time can be taken into light now as an adult. I’m hoping that young actresses today are given stronger support systems on set that teach them to embrace body positivity.

You can’t help but feel bad for Danielle Fishel that she had to feel like her “body was a problem” while she was the star of one of the greatest TGIF comedies of all time. While her era had a lot to learn about body image and compassion, speaking openly today as an adult about body insecurities should remind people that we need to welcome different body types and that they’re all beautiful. You can revisit your favorite Boy Meets World episodes on your Disney+ subscription.

Boy Meets World is celebrating 26 years since its series finale this May, but March saw a pretty big celebration for a different reason. Beloved actor William Daniels, who played Mr. Feeney on the TGIF sitcom, turned 99 on Tuesday. While the Boy Meets World cast member is looking and sounding as good as ever, Daniels had a pretty morbid take ahead of turning a century old.

Daniels, who appeared on Dancing With the Stars last year alongside former co-star Danielle Fishel for a special dance, reflected on his life while speaking with People. He admitted how he’s feeling about turning 99, and was asked about turning 100 in 2027, but he’s not exactly looking forward to the big milestone:

Considering he is almost 100, it’s nice to see that Daniels still has a good sense of humor about his age, even if it is a bit morbid. Obviously, when the time does come, hopefully it never does, it is going to be one of the most heartbreaking things ever, so I can’t even imagine joking about it myself. But him being such a good sport about it does make up for it.

Even though he doesn’t want to turn 100, Williams definitely seems to be in a good place with everything. He’s also not slowing down when it comes to work and working out with a personal trainer. While Williams just appeared at his final out-of-town convention with wife, Bonnie Bartlett, that isn’t stopping him from still connecting with fans and attending conventions much closer to home:

Seeing how well Daniels is doing, especially at his age, makes me so happy. He’s still in a good mood, even though he’s pushing 100, and that’s all that anyone can really ask. It probably also helps that he’s been staying productive as much as he can, and his age hasn’t stopped him from partaking in some fun Boy Meets World reunions, whether at conventions or on Dancing With the Stars. If anyone out there seems ripe to live forever, Daniels would be in line for that honor. But being 99 in this day and age is definitely a gift that no one is going to take advantage of, especially since he and Bartlett, 96, are still going strong with their 75-year marriage.

Meanwhile, if fans can’t catch William Daniels at a convention or get his Cameo, they can always catch him on Boy Meets World. All seven seasons of the fan-favorite sitcom are streaming with a Disney+ subscription, along with all three seasons of the spinoff, Girl Meets World, on which Daniels reprised his role as Mr. Feeny on several occasions. And now knowing that Daniels is 99, it’s making me want to rewatch the show and not think about how morbid things could turn for him in the near future.

There’s a lot that has been written about Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s time on Full House, which feels a bit wild given the series ended when the two girls were like eight, and they didn’t return for the Fuller House spinoff decades later. However, they remained in the public eye for a series of popular movies for several years after that, and later went on to be fashion icons and businesswomen with The Row (and the now-defunct Elizabeth & James). So, there’s still a fascination with them as socialites despite their trajectory in Hollywood, and also I think because they became so famous so young.

Which is where the food piece comes in. For years, there have been rumors Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were motivated by food, and during a recent episode of “Pod Meets World” former Boy Meets World star Will Friedle seemingly confirmed the story. He noted he only spent a short amount of time with the girls on set, and they were very young at the time, but the whole thing was, as he put it, “weird.”

Rider Strong also confirmed he’d heard a similar “trained with food” story, and that he heard that’s why so many Full House shots of the girls are singles. They were simply looking over and waiting to “get a cookie” or other snack if they fulfilled their duties on the show.

This isn’t the first time the food thing has come up, either, leading more credence to Friedle's behind-the-scenes story.

Jodie Sweetin Admitted Both Girls Were Motivated By Food, But Ashley Was More Easy-Going

The other day, I was listening to a podcast where Jodie Sweetin was talking with Andrea Barber about the Olsen sisters when they all worked together on Full House. There had been rumors running around for years that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were incentivized with food on set, and Sweetin sort of alluded to it in an episode of “How Rude, Tanneritos.”

We’d previously covered when a fan asked, “Was there ever a point where the directors would favor working with one twin over the other?” The answer was Ashley was more into it, and was more easy-going when it came to working scenes. However, Sweetin went on to note they would really only fight when it came to scenes where there would be sweet treats doled out, and they both wanted the snacks.

It’s tough out there to be child actors, and Will Friedle and Rider Strong have also previously touched on this. Regardless, the girls’ agent, Michael Pagnotta, has said they had complete autonomy over where their careers went as they got older, noting it was the Olsens decision when they bailed “on all the entertainment stuff.” Ultimately, at the end of the day, they are in a place now with their lives and careers where they can do what they want, but the public fascination has not subsided, and it may be a long time before it will.

This past weekend, WWE Survivor Series 2025 was held in San Diego, and fans were out in full force. Of course, when it comes to wrestling events, it’s also not uncommon to see a few famous faces in the crowd. Among the attendees was actually Danielle Fishel, the fan-favorite actress best known for her role as Topanga Lawrence in the beloved TGIF sitcom Boy Meets World. Fishel seemed hyped to be at the event, and she was also sporting a sweet shirt, which she’s since confirmed was an excellent nod to BMW.

It appears Danielle Fishel rolled up to Survivor Series wearing a T-shirt that bore the likeness of the late, great wrestler Big Van Vader (also known mononymously as Vader). Fans of Boy Meets World may remember that years ago, Vader – whose real name was Leon Allen White – appeared on a handful of episodes of the teen sitcom. Fishel took to Instagram to confirm her tribute to the WWE Hall of Famer following Survivor Series and, in the process, she also nodded at another famous wrestler BMW welcomed back in the day:

One of the goofiest BMW guest stars, Vader appeared in several episodes as Francis “Frankie” Stecchino Sr, who was essentially an exaggerated version of Vader himself. The father of Cory Matthews and Shawn Hunter’s imposing but empathetic friend Frankie Jr., Stecchino Sr. wanted his son to forsake poetry and become a wrestler. White wasn’t the only notable wrestler to remain on the show as Mick Foley appeared in his “Mankind” persona later in the show’s run. Check out Fishel’s celebratory post involving the pair below:

As noted in the post above, Danielle Fishel greatly appreciates professional wrestling, having gotten into it decades ago. It’s cool to read her thoughts about just how “lucky” she’s been to be present for some major in-ring moments over the years. As can be seen, Fishel also shouted out a host of wrestling personalities like Charlotte Flair and Liv Morgan, and she received some love from some notable talent and media personalities:

• 🥹❤️🫶🏻 - Charlotte Flair
• So happy you got to go!! And I agree there is nothing like watching your kids as they watch in awe at the wonder of WWE! - Trish Stratus
• It was great meeting you this past weekend. It's still a highlight for me! 'One of us! one of us!' 🙌🏽 - thewrestlingclassic
• 🥶🥶🥶🥶 - chancelemarie_

I love the former child star’s appreciation for wrestling and, as a sitcom fan, I also enjoy how she continues to honor the legacy of her ABC show. Fishel still has genuine affection for her uniquely named Topanga as well as Boy Meets World as a whole and even paid homage to Mr. Feeny during her recent stint on DWTS. She also currently co-hosts the Pod Meets World rewatch podcast with co-stars Rider Strong and Will Friedle. On that show, the trio share behind-the-scenes tidbits and weigh in on whether episodes are great or clunky.

Danielle Fishel’s love for the show is infectious as is her admiration for Big Van Vader. What’s unfortunate is that Vader – who died at the age of 63 due to pneumonia in 2018 – isn’t around to see how much love he still receives. Nevertheless, I’d like to think his legacy won’t be forgotten by Fishel, fans and professional wrestlers alike. And I surely won’t forget his humorous on-screen antics from BMW.

Those who want to check out Vader’s episodes of Boy Meets World can grab a Disney+ subscription and stream them.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Dancing with the Stars Season 34 episode "Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Night." Stream the episode with a Disney+ subscription, and read at your own risk!

Dancing with the Stars Season 34 is in the back half, and it's reaching a point at which every elimination is going to feel brutal. That said, it was a little more painful if you were a fan of Boy Meets World, as Danielle Fishel was eliminated not long after judge Carrie Ann Inaba was criticized for giving her harsh treatment.

Inaba has been in the fan crosshairs throughout the 2025 TV schedule, as viewers found her scores this season to be quite harsh for some competitors. This includes Fishel, who was eliminated last night with the second-lowest score of the night, which echoed comments made by her former BMW co-stars. Additionally, as a viewer myself, I think I know who the actors are referring to.

Boy Meets World Stars Called Out Carrie Ann Inaba And Accused Her Of Playing Favorites

It's fair to say that Rider Strong and Will Friedle have a bias when it comes to their thoughts on Danielle Fishel. The two actors shared their views during an episode the Pod Meets World podcast. Both felt the judges were too harsh, but it was Friedle who singled out Carrie Ann Inaba, and alleged she played "favorites":

This opinion definitely isn't exclusive to Will Friedle. Some DWTS fans also called out Carrie Ann Inaba for a lower score given to Sexiest Tattooed Man Alive winner Dylan Efron the week prior.

The comments appeared to reach Inaba, who apologized to Danielle Fishel after her performance. She also gave her a "9" despite comments from judges about the performance going awry. Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli each gave an "8," in comparison, and Inaba's score only matched that of guest judge Flava Flav.

Who I Think Carrie Ann Inaba's Alleged Favorites Are

There's a growing discussion among fans about whether Carrie Ann Inaba has favorites in Dancing With The Stars Season 34. While I've pointed out previously that her scores don't particularly indicate favoritism, she does tend to compliment specific competitors more than others.

Elaine Hendrix received a lot of praise for her return to the dance floor following an injury, but I would say Inaba has championed and praised her performances for a while before that. Hendrix had quite a turnaround, and it's possible that fan sympathy paired with praise from judges played a factor.

Whitney Leavitt was another contestant whom Carrie Ann Inaba consistently gave higher scores than the other judges. Coincidentally, Danielle Fishel made headlines for an alleged confrontation with Leavitt onstage, which she later clarified was not what it seemed to be. Perhaps this is who the Pod Meets World hosts were thinking of when it comes to favorites, but we can only speculate.

Dancing with the Stars continues on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. As more stars leave, I have to wonder who is going to end up at the finale, especially after this latest elimination that seemed to shock quite a few people.

When Danielle Fishel finally gave the “ fastest yes” to Dancing with the Stars, I had a feeling she wasn’t going to incorporated her Boy Meets World past into the show somehow. In fact, as Season 34 of DWTS plays out amid the 2025 TV schedule, the “Dedication Night” will have William Daniels joining her on the dance floor as a tribute to his Mr. Feeny character. But that’s not all! Fishel is now revealing who else from the cast of BMW will be part of the big night, and I’m getting all of the nostalgic feels.

Just when I was already prepped for Williams Daniels to make his debut on DWTS, Danielle Fishel revealed she tapped other Boy Meets World cast members joining in her “Dedication Night” dance. Fishel took to Instagram to reveal that other alums like Will Friedle and Trina McGee would be joining in the fun. Check out a full list below:

• Betsy Randle (Amy Matthews)
• William Russ (Alan Matthews)
• Bonnie Bartlett (Lila Bolander-Feeny)
• Alex Désert (Eli Williams)
• Matthew Lawrence (Jack Hunter)
• Will Friedle (Eric Matthews)
• Trina McGee (Angela Moore)

This is such a sweet lineup of stars and, as a fan of the classic TGIF show, it makes my heart full. Also, fortunately, my wish came true for William Daniels’ wife, Bonnie Bartlett, to accompany him. As Bartlett played the teacher-principal’s future wife— and the two have been together off-screen for over seven decades—it wouldn’t be a true Mr. Feeny tribute without her.

It’s also exciting that Matthew Lawrence and Will Friedle are also taking part in the Boy Meets World theme song dance. The duo had a great budding chemistry as pals Eric and Jack. I’m hoping for a very comedic dynamic between them in the dance routine.

I’m also truly happy that Trina McGee will be there to show some moves of her own. When Fishel first announced Daniels would be joining her on DWTS, McGee was cheering her on. So it’ll be nice to see the two actress who played on-screen besties Topanga and Angela reunite for such an occasion.

As for who won’t be joining, Fishel said in her Instagram caption that Rider Strong, who played Shawn Hunter, will be working out of town. Ben Savage, who played Cory Matthews, also wasn’t featured in the set of images. Since the Boy Meets World spinoff, Girl Meets World, aired its finale in 2017, the former child star has been charting a different path outside of Boy Meets World. He ran for Congress in 2023 and is expecting his first child with his wife this fall. Hopefully, Savage will still be watching the Mr. Feeny tribute on his TV screen.

Given William Daniels' Mr. Feeny was a teacher to the younger characters on the show, there’s no better way to tribute him than by having many of the actors who played his students there to dance with Daniels. Interestingly enough, up to this point, DWTS had Danielle Fishel flashing back to her time on the show and, now, her history is catching up to her in a big way.

Make sure to watch the Boy Meets World cast reunite for “Dedication Night” on Dancing with the Stars, which airs tonight at 8/7c on ABC. This nostalgic episode will also be available for next-day streaming with a Hulu subscription or a Disney+ subscription.

Since finally saying yes to Dancing with the Stars, Danielle Fishel has been bringing her A-game for Season 34 during the 2025 TV schedule. The actress is paired with Pasha Pashkov and, although the training has been brutal, she seems to be having a lot of fun on the ballroom floor. And that's not just because she’s preparing to dance to a song by pal and former co-star Sabrina Carpenter. She’s also been flashing back to her Boy Meets World days.

Fishel was just about 11 or 12 years old when she landed the role of Topanga Lawrence on Boy Meets World back in 1993. The show certainly taught her a lot about the industry at a young age, and she's been candid about the experiences she had -- both on and off camera -- during that time. Apparently, she’s taken some of what she’s learned with her to the ballroom, too, as Fishel opened up to People about the similarities between DWTS and BMW, specifically when it comes to the amount of pressure she's under:

Being a contestant on DWTS isn't easy. Between the rehearsals, the live shows and the uncertainty of whether someone will make it to another round, it can be pretty intimidating. Even though Fishel is certainly feeling the pressure, it seems to be nothing she hasn’t dealt with before. It may have been a while since she’s performed live, she's still working in front of a live audience (albeit in a different way) and that rush of adrenaline can certainly hit a person.

Boy Meets World has stayed close to Danielle Fishel’s heart over the years. She recently revealed that she still has an original crew jacket from one of the early seasons, and it still fits her. Plus, she still participates in the Pod Meets World rewatch podcast alongside former co-stars Will Friedle and Rider Strong. With that show, the three actors constantly look back at their time on the '90s sitcom and support one another, which is always nice to see.

As for Dancing With the Stars, Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov managed to survive last week’s double elimination and make it to TikTok Night for this week. They will be dancing to Sabrina Carpenter’s hit “Manchild,” which isn’t so much a surprise as Fishel has previously said that dancing to a Carpenter song was her first request. I'm excited to see the routine that they've come up with.

The pressure is on for Fishel the farther she gets in the competition, but it’s nothing she hasn't quite faced before. Whether or not she’ll survive TikTok Night remains to be seen, but tune in on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and or with a Disney+ subscription to cheer her on! Coincidentally, you can also use that same streaming membership to check out all seven seasons of Boy Meets World.

If you grew up in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, Boy Meets World was top of the charts as one of the greatest TGIF comedies out there. With over 150 episodes and seven seasons, Cory, Topanga, Shawn and Co. made some excellent youth programming. But during the show’s run, there were some bad episodes, including one that the former stars recently deemed to be a clunker. The best friend storyline, involving the aftermath of one of the most heartbreaking TV character deaths, Chet Hunter’s, absolutely fell flat.

The Season 6, Episode 15 plot (which you can stream with a Disney+ subscription) is the one Rider Strong, Danielle Fishel, and Will Friedle discussed not liking on Pod Meets World. It followed the infamous road trip Shawn was determined to take after his dad died. Cory tags along, and the two stop at a truck stop that Shawn's dad frequented while on the road in hopes of closure. While he does gain a bit while meeting a waitressing girl music group, it all felt out of place. Strong also noted that the subplot between Eric, Rachel, and Jack didn’t save anything, as he said:

Each time I’ve watched that episode of Shawn trying to find peace, I’ve felt the same way. The random diner, the aspiring girls and their performance, and the forced secondary story love triangle all feel out of place.

Strong’s co-hosts jumped in to agree. First was Fishel, who’s been in the mix of the continuing Maitland Ward drama, saying that the whole thing needs some serious TLC and attention, saying:

She’s not wrong. There were some episodes later in the show that really took wild angles, including the turbulent Fred Savage episode. And for Shawn to run away from his loved ones, like how his dad continually did, feels so fake. Then, for him to try and find solace with strangers is the nail in the coffin for me.

Friedle then summed both his co-stars' thoughts up aptly by sharing that he doesn’t even register it as a real BMW ep. Instead, he revealed that he believes it to be a special Disney put on for the real-life girl group Nobody’s Angel’s launch. He thought the whole thing was messy and could’ve been two separate things instead of one weird ad, as he said:

Absolutely a spot-on opinion by the Eric Matthews actor. It seemed like the classic Philadelphia-based show was trying to aim for a collab of sorts to announce the musical trio’s name, but it certainly didn’t succeed. (I'm glad to have the Abbot and Always Sunny special to make up for this trainwreck).

While I will always be down for a rewatch of most Cory and Shawn adventures, this clunker doesn’t make the list. Presumably, like the Boy Meets World stars, I think we’re all glad the story didn’t expand past the 30-minute time slot.

You know when some good relationships on television make you want to squeal the moment you see them? Yeah, these are the relationships down below. Sure, we can spend some time watching the best rom-com movies, but what about several seasons of build-up to a relationship that makes it all worthwhile? Here are some couples that define “goals.”

Chandler And Monica (Friends)

Chandler and Monica are the couple from the Friends cast, and I will not be asking any other questions about it at this time. Ross and Rachel were what people talked about, but these two? I love them. They are defined as “goals” based on how much they love each other, even if they didn’t have the typical start. Friends-to-lovers is one of the best.

Ian And Mickey (Shameless)

There was a time when Ian and Mickey were literally all I saw on my Tumblr feed back in the early 2010s. The Shameless cast featured plenty of great relationships, some healthy and others…not so healthy, but Ian and Mickey were a relationship that made it until the end. There’s nothing quite like them.

Rebecca And Jack (This Is Us)

The This Is Us cast defined my time in college when the show was airing, and Jack and Rebecca were the blueprint for how I wanted my future marriage to go. I have never seen two people just so in love with each other on TV, but also portray such a realistic marriage.

Corey And Topanga (Boy Meets World)

I think Corey and Topanga were the couple for the '90s kids. I didn’t grow up watching Boy Meets World, but I know from many that watching these two grow into teenagers and then young adults was one of the best aspects of this series. And honestly, I love that for you.

Jim And Pam (The Office)

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Sure, there were moments between Jim and Pam in later seasons that felt a little out of character, but these two were the defining relationship from The Office cast. We were all on the edge of our seats at the beginning of the series when these two were just friends, and we wanted them all to get together.

Leslie And Ben (Parks And Recreation)

Leslie and Ben from the Parks and Recreation cast are the perfect example of a relationship that took its time but blossomed beautifully. Ben was the type of person who always let Leslie shine and never tried to dim her light, which is something that I love about them. They always supported each other no matter what.

Marshall And Lily (How I Met Your Mother)

There have been so many relationships that have come and gone in How I Met Your Mother, but you want to know what one of the best was? Obviously, Marshall and Lily. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as many warm fuzzies as I did watching these two.

Stefan And Caroline (The Vampire Diaries)

Team Stefan and Team Damon? Nah, Elena was always going to pick Damon and me, but Stefan and Caroline? Perfect, excellent. There are absolutely no notes on that couple because, honestly, they were better suited for each other. Sorry.

David And Patrick (Schitt’s Creek)

I’m pretty sure watching David and Patrick in Schitt’s Creek altered my brain chemistry because I don’t think another TV couple has stood out the same as them. The Schitt’s Creek cast is filled with memorable characters, but watching the progression of their relationship throughout its five seasons was something that I will always adore. These two loved each other so much.

Luke And Lorelai (Gilmore Girls)

Look, I know that we’re all here for Team Jess or Team Dean or whoever we’re rooting for with Rory, but to me, as an adult woman now, I like Luke and Lorelai’s relationship a heck of a lot more. It feels more mature, more natural, and less dramatic. Please, give me this rather than the craziness of teenage romance.

Nathan And Haley (One Tree Hill)

The definition of high school sweethearts that somehow worked out. They definitely had their moments of doubt throughout the nine seasons of the show, but these two loved each other so much and ended with a happily married life with two children, which is all you can really ask for in most teen drama romances out there.

Phil And Vivian (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

I’m sure you weren’t expecting to see Phil and Vivian on this list because The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air isn’t really known for its romances. But honestly, Phil and Vivian are the perfect couple. They complement each other perfectly, know when to be each other’s rock or to stop the other from making a poor decision, and took care of Will as well as their biological family in the perfect way. I have no complaints.

Santana And Brittany (Glee)

The Glee cast is filled to the brim with couples, so much so that it’s hard to keep up with them. But my personal favorite was always Santana and Brittany. Not only was their relationship a great stepping stone for many lesbian/bisexual relationships on TV back in 2010, but it’s really one of the few that made it to the very end of the series. They were best friends turned lovers turned to something really real, and it ended with them getting married!

Randall And Beth (This Is Us)

“Perfectly imperfect” is a phrase that I still use to this day, ever since Randall uttered it to Beth in This Is Us. These two exemplify what it means to not only marry your best friend, but also marry a partner. They will stand by each other, support each other, and when someone is messing up, they will make them own up to it. There’s no sliding, and that’s what a genuine relationship should be like.

Jess And Nick (New Girl)

New Girl is one of those shows where relationships come and go, but there are always a few that stick the landing for the long haul. Jess and Nick were one of those, and we rooted for them, watching them fall in love, fall apart, and then fall back in love all over again.

Uncle Jesse And Aunt Becky (Full House)

I mean, of course, I have to put Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky. I feel like Full House literally never would have been the same without them. Their relationship started very early on, and it’s always fun to rewatch episodes of the show and watch them fall in love with each other time and time again.

Anthony And Kate (Bridgerton)

While I do love the specialness of Penelope and Colin and the steaminess of Daphne and Simon, there’s just something about Anthony and Kate that gets me going every time. These two, a classic enemies-to-lovers romance, clearly love each other so much by the time the season ends and Season 3 rolls around.

Claire And Jamie (Outlander)

Outlander, in general, is one of the best Starz shows, but a big reason is Claire and Jamie. Their love has transcended literal timelines. I don’t know how you can get more perfect than that.

Mitch And Cam (Modern Family)

I think when it comes to couples in Modern Family, Mitch and Cam are the perfect example of how two people work so well together, and to the outside, people wonder how the heck they function with how crazy they are. But throughout the several seasons of the show, there’s no denying that these two love each other dearly.

Lucy And Ricky (I Love Lucy)

I can’t have a relationships list without putting the OG’s here. Lucy and Ricky are the definition of “goals.” They were the first people on television to show you how in love with each other they are, no matter the amount of shenanigans that they may put the other through. You can’t get better than these two.

Phil And Claire (Modern Family)

I always see Phil and Claire as the much calmer couple of Modern Family, which is saying something because they still have their fair share of hilarious moments in their household of three kids. But what I love about Phil and Claire is that there is evident respect there, and Phil will support Claire no matter what and stand up for her, while Claire will do the same, regardless of what others think. They’re a team, through and through.

Killian And Emma (Once Upon A Time)

God, there are so many couples in Once Upon a Time, but I think the one we always return to is Killian and Emma. Whether it’s their steamy chemistry or their genuinely emotional story, they are an amazing romance with plenty of fantasy aspects that I just love.

Willow And Tara (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

As someone who loves looking back on legendary relationships that paved the way for others, I know there’s no one better to bring up than Willow and Tara. The couple was a significant landmark for LGBTQ+ representation in television and showed two people who clearly loved each other.

Kev And Veronica (Shameless)

These two were freaky, don’t get me wrong – but they were also freakishly in love with each other. Kev and Veronica stood by each other, and when someone dared to threaten the other, it was on sight. They would fight anyone to protect their love and their relationship, and no matter what, always strived to make time for the other.

Fran And Mr. Sheffield (The Nanny)

I’m pretty sure that if you’ve ever read any rom-com novel, then these two are who you picture when you think of the nanny and the billionaire falling in love. But what I love about Fran and Mr. Sheffield is that it’s not an instant lust between them. It’s more of a relationship built on respect and friendship before love was even considered.

Jake And Amy (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast features some hilarious characters, but personally, I always came back for Jake and Amy. I always saw them as rivals-to-lovers, but it feels so real watching them turn from competing with each other to becoming friends to going on dates and so much more.

Jane And Rafael (Jane The Virgin)

These two are in a strange situation, considering they didn’t even know each other when Jane fell pregnant accidentally. But watching their relationship grow organically throughout the show’s seasons is always something that I love to view.

Rick And Michonne (The Walking Dead)

When you think of couples who would literally kill for each other, I can think of no better than Rick and Michonne. Not only are they one of the best Walking Dead relationships, but there was a whole spinoff series dedicated to them finding their way back to each other after years apart. Now that is true love right there.

Poussey And Soso (Orange Is the New Black)

It hurts to even write about Poussey and Soso because it feels like they weren’t given enough time together in Orange is the New Black, but from what we were able to see, they really did work well together. Poussey was the kind of friend that Soso needed, and that blossomed into something brighter between the two of them before it was snuffed out. I needed so much more.

Morticia And Gomez (The Addams Family)

I mean, talk about a man who is obsessed with his woman. In any iteration of The Addams Family, Gomez always loves Morticia, but of course, we have to put the OG here from the 1960s TV series because these two were so in love that they ruined our expectations for all real-life romances.

Glenn And Maggie (The Walking Dead)

Yeah, I’m sad even writing about these two because the way it ends is something I don’t like to think about. But for the five seasons that we got with these two together, they were a light in the darkness that was the world of The Walking Dead. They loved each other, protected each other, and stood by the other until the very end.

Hopper And Joyce (Stranger Things)

God, I visibly remember screaming when these two finally got together in Stranger Things because it was just so apparent that they were into each other. Hopper literally risked his life for Joyce, and she risked hers to save him, and I love them together.

This just makes me want to revisit all of these television shows and watch these couples all over again. I’m in need of some cute TV romances. It's time for a binge-watch.

The 1990s gave us all-time great sitcoms like Home Improvement and Friends, iconic crime dramas like Law & Order and Oz, and so many other legendary shows considered “must-see TV” by millions of people week in and week out. And while those shows gave us unforgettable characters, side-splitting and shocking moments, and jokes that are still being told decades later, they also had some outrageously nonsensical or head-scratching moments.

That said, here’s one ridiculously unrealistic thing about 32 ‘90s TV shows…

There's No Way Danny Tanner Could Afford That House (Full House)

There’s so much ridiculousness going on with Full House, but one question that remains just as baffling now as it did decades ago is “How did Danny Tanner afford a historic house in the heart of San Francisco?” The math just doesn’t work when you have a local news anchor and a pair of part-time jingle writers paying the mortgage and other expenses for an ever-growing household.

Mr. Feeny Teaches The Main Characters Through Multiple Grades And Several Schools (Boy Meets World)

There’s nothing wrong with Mr. Feeny on Boy Meets World; in fact, William Daniels’ take on the beloved teacher and neighbor was one of the show’s greatest strengths. However, this educator stays with Corey Matthews and his friends through middle school, high school, and college. The guy was either teaching above his level or dumbing it down early in his career to spend more time with those kiddos.

Steve Urkel Cloned Himself (Family Matters)

Let’s face it, Steve Urkel was a mess on Family Matters. This guy built outrageous machines, destroyed the Winslow house countless times, and went to space, but the most unrealistic thing he ever did was clone himself. Not only does human cloning not exist, but his clone, Stefan Urquelle, was just too cool (and not in a good way).

There's No Way Tim Taylor Could Survive All Those 'Tool Time' Mishaps (Home Improvement)

You’ve heard of cats having nine lives, but what about TV show hosts from Detroit? How many do they have? Well, Tim “The Toolman” Taylor must have had at least 50 on Home Improvement because he survived being crushed, electrocuted, burnt, you name it.

The Midnight Society (A Group Of Kids) Is Able To Meet In The Middle Of The Night (Are You Afraid Of The Dark?)

The various stories told during Are You Afraid of the Dark? were intense and fantastical and terrifying at times, but that’s not the unrealistic part. Instead, what’s up with “The Midnight Society,” the group of kids and teenagers who would sneak out of their houses in the middle of the night to tell scary stories in the woods? Where are the parents?

Monica's Apartment (Friends)

Sure, it is later revealed there was a loophole that allowed Monica to have a cheap apartment in Manhattan throughout Friends, but this whole rent-control aspect is so unrealistic.

That Time Scully Had An Alien Baby (The X-Files)

The X-Files was one wild show where anything and everything could happen. But what about when Scully got pregnant with the help of aliens? Yeah, this is a show that doesn’t live within the constraints of reality, but this is a stretch.

The Gang's Extracurricular Activities Go Unnoticed By Red Forman (That '70s Show)

Red Forman is a no-nonsense and tough-as-nails father who doesn’t seem like a guy who would like to be tricked, lied to, or misled… especially in his own home. Are you honestly saying he didn’t know what Eric and his friends were up to down in the basement? Really?

Jack McCoy's Success Rate (Law & Order)

Law & Order is one of the great crime/legal dramas in the history of TV, but the one thing that’s always been baffling (especially during the show’s glory days) is Jack McCoy’s success rate in the courtroom. This guy is constantly collecting wins in high-profile cases, so much so that it seems too good to be true.

The ER Doctors Are Jacks Of All Trades (ER)

ER will forever be remembered as one of the most popular medical dramas to ever grace the small screen, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t have its problems. The biggest of those has to be the fact that some of the doctors were jacks of all trades. Sure, they are in the emergency room at a trauma center, but they were all like five doctors in one at various points throughout the series.

The Way The Teenagers Talk About Politics, Cinema, And Poetry (Dawson's Creek)

Have you gone back and watched Dawson’s Creek? What’s up with the cast of teenagers shooting out dialogue that sounds like it was an AI-generated version of a first-year English major’s diary? They talk about politics, cinema, poetry, and music like they’re adults, not sappy teenagers living in a fictional Massachusetts town.

The Dancing Baby (Ally McBeal)

The CGI dancing baby from Ally McBeal became one of the biggest memes of the ‘90s when the popular legal drama series introduced the uncanny youngster. Though the baby can be seen as the manifestation of Ally’s inner turmoil, the thing looked so bad, so random, and so out of place.

Dr. Mark Sloan's Uncanny Ability To Solve Crimes (Diagnosis: Murder)

There were so many oddball crime shows in the ‘90s in the wake of Murder She Wrote. One of the most absurd has to be Diagnosis: Murder, which saw Dick Van Dyke play a doctor that – you guessed it – helped solve homicide cases. But here’s the thing: he was better at it than the detectives who do this every day of the week.

Angel Grove Constantly Being Destroyed And Rebuilt (Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers)

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, one of the best kids shows for those who grew up in the ‘90s, was absolutely bonkers looking back. But you know what’s crazier than teenagers turning into masked fighters to take on a witch from the Moon? Well, it has to be the fact that Angel Grove gets destroyed and rebuilt like nobody’s business each episode, and no one seems to notice.

Zack Morris Being Able To Graduate Despite Never Being In Class (Saved By The Bell)

Zack Morris, pretty much the king of Bayside High, did everything he could at school to not going to class, and he was mostly the class clown when he was in class. But somehow, someway, he was able to graduate with his friends and go on to college. Maybe, he should have been held back; we at least wouldn’t have had to sit through Saved by the Bell: The College Years.

Warden Leo Glynn Not Being Canned Or Sent To Prison Himself (Oz)

Anyone who’s watched a single episode of Oz knows that the prison at the center of the landmark HBO series wasn’t the best place to be. Despite riots, inmates sneaking in guns, inmates trapping people behind walls, and all sorts of madness, Oswald Pentitentiary Warden Leo Glynn kept his job. Make that make sense.

Can We Talk About The Serial Killers And Supernatural Phenomena (Picket Fences)

Remember Picket Fences, the CBS drama series about life in a seemingly quiet small town filled with serial killers, supernatural phenomena, and a variety of other strange and distressing occurrences? This show had it all, except for maybe a realistic view of the world. Pure madness.

Ranger Cordell Walker Is Seemingly Bulletproof (Walker, Texas Ranger)

Insert Chuck Norris joke here. Seriously, his titular character from Walker, Texas Ranger was pretty much the bulletproof cowboy. Between the dodging bullets, scores of roundhouse kicks, and other heroics, it seems like it’s all too good to be true.

Bike Cops Do What Normal Officers Can't (Pacific Blue)

Pacific Blue, a show that was often the lead-in for Monday Night Raw on Monday nights, followed bicycle cops as they went about their days. But here’s the thing, they often pulled off feats (and bike stunts) that normal cops couldn’t match.

The Lifeguards Do Way More Than Save People At The Beach (Baywatch)

The last time we checked, lifeguards watched over the beaches for drowning swimmers, shark attacks, and missing kids. But if you watch Baywatch, you’ll see them do that plus defeat terrorists, help out in wrestling matches, and run on the beach in slow-motion. Not very realistic, right?

No One Thinks Angels Interfering In Everyday Life Is Odd (Touched By An Angel)

Everybody’s grandma’s favorite show, Touched by an Angel, followed a group of three heavenly visitors who helped people back on Earth make incredible decisions that mostly saw them take a more righteous path. But the fact that angels could interfere in people’s lives and not cause a stir (or end with a trip to the mental ward) is hard to believe.

Will Gets Into Princeton After Solving A Rubik's Cube (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

Though he ended up not going to the Ivy League institution, the fact that Will received an offer to attend Princeton in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is just wild. But you know what’s crazier? It wasn’t the “Fresh Prince’s" charisma that impressed his interviewer, but instead his skill with a… Rubik’s Cube.

All Kinds Of '90s Tech And Luxuries In The Age Of The Dinosaur (Dinosaurs)

Okay, Dinosaurs was a meta deconstruction of the sitcom format with a family of dinos in place of the standard nuclear family. But, the thing that has always been so wild is the fact that the Sinclair family has all kinds of modern tech – TVs, radios, construction equipment, you name it, and it’s there.

Dylan's Dad Dying In A Car Bomb Explosion (Beverly Hills, 90210)

What started as a show about uber-rich kids living in one of the most exclusive zip codes in the world turned into a wild exploration of pretty much every TV genre by the time it was all said and done. One of the most insane plotlines in Beverly Hills, 90210 was the one involving Dylan’s dad being blown up in a car bomb explosion, which would lead to the character played by the late Luke Perry trying to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Unaccompanied Minors Going On With Their Lives (Party Of Five)

Though the eldest of the five Salinger siblings in Party of Five was technically an adult, Charlie wasn’t that responsible, leaving his younger (and underage) brothers and sisters to do a lot of the heavy lifting.

The School/Band Balance Is Not Sustainable (California Dreams)

Do you remember the ‘90s teen comedy California Dreams? No? Well, imagine Saved by the Bell, but the main characters also have to balance school with being in a successful rock band. Somehow, they’re able to balance both worlds while not getting too stressed out or falling behind. Anyone who has been in a band before knows this is a dream.

How Is Al Bundy's Family Not In Serious Debt? (Married... With Children)

Before Married… with Children jumped the shark, it gave TV viewers some of the funniest (and most uncomfortable) moments. But one thing that has always been baffling is the fact that Al Bundy was able to have a decent-sized house, raise two kids, and have a shopaholic wife by working at a shoe store. How did they not go into debt?

How Did The Family Afford That Disney Trip? (Step By Step)

Despite being one of the greatest TGIF comedies, Step by Step was a show with a lot of problems. Not to harp too much on finances, but how did that massive family afford to go on an all-inclusive trip to Disney? How many people was that again?

How Many Moral Dilemmas Can One Family Face And Overcome? (7th Heaven)

The Camden family had one moral dilemma after another over the course of 7th Heaven’s 11-season run, so much so that it got exhausting by the time the show ended in 2007. At times, it felt like this family had a black cloud hanging over them or was placed under some kind of curse.

The Origins Of Alex Mack's Powers (The Secret World Of Alex Mack)

The Secret World of Alex Mack was a massive ‘90s Nickelodeon show about a young girl who gains some wild powers after coming in contact with a mysterious substance. How does she come in contact, exactly? Well, she is nearly hit by a truck containing the stuff in a company town owned by her father’s employer. What year is this again?

The Whole ‘High School On A Demonic Portal' Aspect Of The Show (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Everyone loves Buffy the Vampire Slayer here, so no judging. One thing that’s always been so funny about the show is the fact that Sunnydale High School was built over the Hellmouth, a literal portal to a demon realm. Why not just close the school down?

Kel's Constant Destruction Has No Consequences (Kenan & Kel)

Following the success of All That, Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell got their own show: Kenan & Kel. It’s impossible to count how many times Kel’s character caused massive amounts of damage to houses, stores, restaurants, and schools, facing little to no consequences.

In the ‘90s, Maitland Ward rose to prominence as a TV actor, thanks to her role on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. She then arguably reached another level of fame when she joined the cast of Boy Meets World, playing Rachel McGuire. While Ward retired from mainstream projects in 2007, she's since built a career as a pornographic film actress. As the star's adult film career continues, she's getting sharing her feelings about the media coverage of her professional shift.

Ward spoke with People earlier this year and, during the conversation, she spoke about the “empowerment” she feels, thanks to her adult film career. As she put it, she's being treated “with more respect now.” The BMW alum subsequently took to Instagram to express her contentment with her porn career “being written about":

In many circles, adult films are still taboo, but there has been something of a wider acceptance. As for Maitland Ward, she seems to relish the opportunity to talk about her career. That may be particularly gratifying, given that she told People that she was initially told that fans wouldn't accept her new career path. However, that now seems to be far from the case. Ward has even revealed that some Boy Meets World alums have been “supportive” of her porn career like Will Friedle, Trina McGee and Ben Savage.

From the look of it, Maitland Ward’s transition into the adult entertainment industry has been a smooth. She made her debut in the film Drive, which was well-received and earned Ward Best Supporting Actress at the AVN Awards. From there, she continued to make a name for herself, even starring in the award-winning pornographic drama series Muse.

Her film and TV credits aside, Ward was also able to create her personal brand on OnlyFans, where she receives six figures a month. Not only is that lucrative, but she also believes the platform helps her to better connect with her audience.

It’s understandable why Ward is so about her porn career. She previously opened up about being “sexualized” on the Boy Meets World set, as she had to take part in risque scenes that she didn’t realize were innuendos at the time. Ward told People that she’s felt the most comfortable on a porn set because no one is shy about having tough conversations. With a greater autonomy, she also feels like she has more confidence and the ability to control the narrative around her work.

All in all, it's great that Maitland Ward has found a sense of fulfillment and is spreading positivity. It's possible that there are plenty of fans who didn't expect her to dive into the adult film industry, but it's hard to argue with the success and sense of empowerment she's found as a result of her career shift. And, of course, those who are nostalgic for her sitcom days can still stream episodes of Boy Meets World using a Disney+ subscription.

We know them, we love them, and most of the time, we love to hate them. Regardless of how any of us feel about the iconic, troublesome teens that round out the fabric of Hollywood’s youth-centric media, they’ve left their signature messy marks. This list covers the big hitters, the unmistakable part-of-pop-culture adolescents who derailed monumentally (dependent on their character and world, not all misguided minors are created equal). Each calling card of these chaotic characters has a few things in common–they’re lost and faced with conflict–but how they solve their issues leads to many more issues than solutions. Buckle up and grab your favorite nostalgic mix tape/playlist; we’re in for a bumpy ride.

Jim Stark and Buzz Gunderson - Rebel Without a Cause

This is by far one of the most influential movies that jumpstarted the teen genre and it’s big thanks to Jim Stark (James Dean) and Buzz Gunderson (Corey Allen). When gang leader Buzz and new-in-town Jim agree to a “chickie race,” that’s when things go up in smoke. Jim is left to face the fallout.

Marissa Cooper - The O.C.

You could probably make a case for most of The O.C. kids, but Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) undoubtedly tops them all. Coop’s undoing was a monolith and started on the wings of her parents' divorce. It led to underage drinking, tumultuous relationships, petty theft, and eventually to her passing away after a car crash at the end of Season 3.

Danny Zuko - Grease

Like many other ensembles, you could make a pick mostly anyone from the Grease cast, but Danny Zuko's (John Travolta) issues bled into everyone else’s. Not to mention, he strung Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) along until the very end of the movie.

Serena van der Woodsen - Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl is another show where you could argue a good case for any of the characters being the biggest saboteur. But like Marissa Cooper, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) just can’t shake off trouble in most things she does. The thought of old her and Georgina Sparks together really sounds like they’d top the list together.

Veronica Sawyer - Heathers

Heathers and Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) were ahead of the curve. When awkward loner Veronica gets invited to join the school’s most popular group, she quickly realizes it’s not the place for her. After befriending new kid Jason Dean (Christian Slater), they accidentally kill one of the Heathers. This sets off an entire killing spree that wreaks havoc on Westerburg High School.

Dawson Leery - Dawson’s Creek

Even though he may have been seen more as a golden boy during his reign, Dawson (James Van Der Beek) caused some major damage in his day. We literally have a separate list showcasing all the times Leery was the worst character for his loved ones to be around. If he'd only been supportive of Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) going to Paris, who knows what could've been?

Cady Heron - Mean Girls

Tina Fey’s wildly quotable Mean Girls needs no introduction or explanation. With Cady (Lindsay Lohan) coming to terms with attending a public high school in the US after growing up in Africa, she is a poster child for this list. As she explores her new reality, she gets lost for a moment amid girl world drama, which leads to multiple friend, family, and relationship troubles.

Rue Bennet - Euphoria

The Max ‘teen’ jewel-encrusted drama juggernaut holds another ensemble of lost and morose students. However, Rue Bennet (Zendaya) and her substance abuse issues are the focal point. It's upended friendships, caused familial stresses, multiple times over, causing Rue to lie, steal and hurt everyone in the East Highlanders.

Chris Hargensen - Carrie

Stephen King’s Carrie is another classic high school staple that helped push the envelope on what fictional teen worlds could hold. Popular girl and bully, Chris Hargensen (Nancy Allen) makes Carrie’s (Sissy Spacek) life a living nightmare. Hargensen continues down a downward spiral that leads to the bone-chilling but iconic prank that happens at the dance (which has some truly grim consequences).

Tim Riggins - Friday Night Lights

If you know anything about this NBC network TV classic, you either love or hate Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch). While he was a regular womanizer, heavy partier, not to mention that he sabotaged himself and the team with some regularity, he straightened up.

Dallas ‘Dally’ Winston - The Outsiders

Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Outsiders is a quintessential coming-of-age story. Even though the whole gang is rough and tumble, along with any of the ‘Socs,’ Dally (Matt Dillon) is the most troubled. With an already tumultuous background, Johnny’s death sends him on to make poor decisions for himself and his friends.

Cory Matthews - Boy Meets World

Surprising, I know. The more classic choice from Boy Meets World may be Shawn Hunter, but Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) sparked plenty of trouble in his time (like fellow do-gooder, Dawson Leery). Throughout the 7 seasons, he caused more rifts between his family, friends and Topanga than anyone else.

Billy Loomis & Stu Macher - Scream

Naturally, any teen in any scary movie generally has some baggage that leads to strife in one way or another. Youths like Billy (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu (Matthew Lillard) are different, though, they are intentionally motivated to terrify and harm their fellow classmates and the people of Woodsboro. Unfortunately for them, their plans backfire on them gravely.

Lucas Scott - One Tree Hill

Like the aforementioned teen network drama shows of the mid and late ‘00s, any character is up for debate. Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray), the main protagonist, puts on a good show of commotion for everyone in his life. Being a serial heartbreaker while being unloyal and manipulative to others lands him this particular title.

Jennifer Check - Jennifer’s Body

Jennifer’s Body, again, isn’t filled with average adolescents, and especially not Jennifer (Megan Fox). While she and longtime friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) head out for a semi-average night of Jennifer-approved fun, all goes awry. We find out that Jennifer has turned into a demon feasting on the male teens of Devil’s Kettle, WY. After the friends face off, Needy gets pinned for the murders and gets taken to an insane asylum.

Rachel Berry - Glee

The destined-for-greatness Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) typically stopped at nothing to get what she wanted, regardless of the consequences. While the fictional NYADA darling had moments of hope and promise, her ego and ambition always seemed to cause more harm than good. (Any Ryan Murphy-created teen could do, though.)

Seth - Superbad

The 2007 classic was the first Seth Rogen-Evan Goldberg project, and it immediately put them on the map. The semi-biographical Superbad revolves around characters with the same names and pretty typical senior tropes. Of the fictional duo Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera), and their pal, Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), the first of the trio creates the most trouble for their celebratory evening. While the trio make up, along with the girls (Emma Stone, Martha MacIsaac), before graduation.

Rory Gilmore - Gilmore Girls

“Why did you drop out of Yale?” Even though Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) is one of the more unusual fictional high schoolers on the list, her dropping out was monumental for the world of Gilmore Girls. Even Lauren Graham didn’t like the storyline because of the turmoil it created between Lorelai and Rory. Not to mention, her sleeping with Dean, missing Lorelai's graduation and later on, being more lost than ever in her 30s.

Donnie - Donnie Darko

Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) isn’t your typical troublesome, drama-filled teen, even though his choices in one reality lead to serious consequences. His present ED signifiers (Emotional Disturbance) present Donnie as something else, but we eventually come to realize he's an anti-hero of sorts. As he comes to realize that there are multiple timelines at play, he chooses to fix it to save Gretchen Ross' (Jena Malone) life. And with his developed powers, he returns to the day when it all went awry, which leads to his destiny--death.

Archie Andrews - Riverdale

Archie of The CW’s Riverdale was one of the many, much darker TV reboots out there. And though all the drama has always hinged on the red-headed football hero regardless of genre, the TV show really packs Archie with a punch. To be fair, he also found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time quite frequently–it’s how he reacted to them that gives him the top spot for the searching students of Riverdale High.

Kathryn Merteuil & Sebastian Valmont - Cruel Intentions

Another young and terrifying twosome is Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Philippe). The oddball step-siblings wager a bet that involves innocent and new Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon). Through the scheme, the group of students is faced with continuing drama until a very sad end.

Valerie Malone - Beverly Hills, 90210

Though there was plenty of actual drama on the set of Beverly Hills, 90210, Valerie Malone (Tiffani Thiessen) wasted no time sowing seeds of chaos. Arriving in Season 5 with a lot of baggage in the form of family trauma, Malone was immediately set up to be in trouble. She dated many of the guys and regularly feuded with the girls.

Max Fischer - Rushmore

As one of the many stylized Wes Anderson films, Rushmore was one of his earliest. Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is a love-drunk student determined to date his teacher and will stop at nothing to achieve it. After an array of mishaps and his fellow acquaintance, Blume (Bill Murray), hitting it off with her, Max loses it. He leaked the affair publicly and temporarily burned bridges with both of them.

Willow Rosenberg - Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Willow’s (Alyson Hannigan) rise to raising hell for Buffy and co. may be a slow burn, but once she hits it, things get wild. While her use of telepathy, manipulation and struggling to keep her magic in check kick off the season, Tara’s death sets Willow into overdrive in trying to destroy the world.

PJ & Josie - Bottoms

Gen Z coming-of-age comedies come in all shapes and sizes, including Emma Seligman’s Bottoms. The satirical take on the high school experience is wild, especially with PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri). The BFF’s hatch a fight club for girls so they can talk to cheerleaders they have crushes on. Needless to say, a lot of drama goes down, including a car blowing up.

Mona Vanderwaal - Pretty Little Liars

Honestly, most characters from the 2010 series have a fair shot here. But Mona (Janel Parrish) is the reason for all of the mystery and torment. She is who sparks the series because of her grudge against the main friend group. Eventually, she becomes one of them, and even more trouble ensues.

Laura Palmer - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

In my opinion, there’s no list about misguided high schoolers complete without Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). The character was cemented into pop culture in David Lynch’s cult show, Twin Peaks, but the less popular prequel movie shows her tragic undoing. Her last days are filled with traumas relating to her drug addiction, web of lies and darker spirits. Warning, this movie isn't for the faint of heart.

DeGrassi: The Next Generation

DeGrassi: The Next Generation is maybe the only title on the list in which each character is as chaotic and troubled as the last. The iconic Canadian teen soap has multiple iterations, but the 2002-2015 series takes the cake. Between the students, they have every classic dramatic HS storyline in the book, and alumni Drake’s “I’m Upset” reunion-filled music video summarizes some key points.

Nancy Downs - The Craft

The quartet of girls in The Craft start as lost as the next, but Nancy’s (Fairuza Balk) power-hungry ways destroy what they have together. After quiet Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) moves to town and gets wronged, Downs and her pals take her in. All four hatch a scheme to cast a spell on the wrongdoer, and when it succeeds, that’s when Nancy starts sabotaging everything.

John B - Outer Banks

Netflix’s Outer Banks is one wild ride with wayward John B (Chase Stokes) at the helm. Sure, other characters may be outwardly more troubled (JJ, Sarah or Rafe), but everyone’s lives intensified because of John B’s initial treasure hunt.

Christine ‘Lady Bird’ McPherson - Lady Bird

As one of the more subtle teenage pot stirrers, Ladybird (Saoirse Ronan) still makes her presence and opinions unmistakably clear. Her main sources of conflict reside within her relationship with her hardworking mom (Laurie Metcalf) and nerdy best friend (Beanie Feldstein). While Lady Bird temporarily burns bridges with both in pursuit of greater life expectations and new friends, she mends things with both.

Effy Stonem - Skins UK

A cult classic that ran from 2007-2013 and largely featured the rebellious but lost Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario). From the jump, we see 14-year-old her sneaking home in the early morning after being out all night at a rave. Needless to say, Effy’s journey was a bumpy one filled with substance abuse, mental health crises, and a web of lies.

Boy Meets World is easily one of the greatest TGIF comedies. One of the reasons for that is that it sees Cory Matthews, Topanga Lawrence, Shawn Hunter and co. facing the ups and downs of life in an authentic-feeling way. And, as the BMW cast got older, their characters became wrapped up in more adult-like situations, leading to some dramatic moments in the sitcom. On that note, Danielle Fishel is getting honest about the “painful” episode featuring Fred Savage, and her thoughts on it align with mine in many ways.

In “Everybody Loves Stuart” (which can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription), The Wonder Years’ Fred Savage guest stars alongside younger brother Ben on the funny, family-friendly series. Fred's character is a bit unsavory, though, as he plays younger college philosophy teacher Stuart, who Cory and his friends view as cool. Their thoughts on Stuart shift, however, after he makes a blatant pass at Topanga. Cory later retaliates (physically) and faces suspension or expulsion from college.

Danielle Fishel and co-stars Will Friedle and Rider Strong reached that particular episode during an episode of their rewatch podcast episode, Pod Meets World. While Strong found the episode "painful to watch," Fishel likened it to an after school special and explained that it didn't effectively serve Topanga as a character:

I completely agree that Topanga’s agency really was “taken away.” During the episode, Stuart visits her dorm, holds her hand and is told she’s “attractive” by a teacher who’s too overly confident with his inappropriate actions. What's represented there is essentially grooming on Stuart's part. Despite that, the rest of the episode is all about Cory and his risk of getting kicked out of school for hitting Stuart.

It reminds me of the controversy over Sansa Stark’s sexual assault scene in Game of Thrones. Fans were offended seeing the camera focus on Theon Greyjoy’s painful-looking face amid the assault rather than Sansa. If a woman’s traumatic experience is glossed over to focus on a man’s perspective, then in the context of a TV show, a woman's pain is simply being used to forward a male character's development.

Danielle Fishel continued to talk about how “Topanga becomes unimportant.” She wished that there had been a scene where Cory and Topanga spoke about what she could do about the situation and how she'd like her fiancé to help her. Those are my thoughts exactly, especially considering that during the council hearing scene, Topanga wasn’t even allowed to talk, as Stuart and Dean Bolander were constantly interrupting her.

Will Friedle agreed with Danielle Fishel about Cory taking over the story and that Topanga’s storyline would have been “much more interesting.” What Fishel did praise was the "goal" of the episode, which to was to show that characters that viewers first met as kids could find themselves in such uncomfortable situations. Fishel mostly has trouble with the execution, and Rider Strong presented an argument that could explain the intentions of the sitcom’s writers:

Fishel reasonably agreed to Rider Strong's argument. The show is called BMW, which means the series would be told from the boy’s perspective. If the show was centered on Topanga, I’d like to believe the ABC show would have taken a different approach.

As a fan, I really appreciate the nuanced discussions Danielle Fishel and co. are having as they rewatch Boy Meets World. It's a fun show, but it's certainly not perfect when you view it from a contemporary lens. Fishel also says that she can "empathize" with the writers and the goal they were trying to achieve. However, they just didn't pull it off in a way that fostered growth in Topanga. I personally hope that writers on current shows learn from this and seek to maintain agency for characters who are placed in such situations.

Without a doubt, Boy Meets World was one of the most popular shows from the 90s, starting from its 1993 premiere. Corey, Shawn and Topanga became instant icons for the youth who tuned in to the ABC series (streamable now with a Disney+ subscription) and grew up alongside the odd but loveable trio. Now, 30+ years later, Danielle Fishel casually broke out an incredible Season 1 Boy Meets World kids-sized cast and crew jacket that she received for her portrayal of Topanga Lawrence (later Matthews). The actress and director’s move makes me wish I could wear any of my wardrobe from the early 90s.

While you may not see Fishel in front of the camera on our 2025 TV guide, she has a handful of directed episodes appearing on it (shows she’s directed for this year are Shifting Gears, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place and Lopez vs. Lopez). Along with it, she co-hosts the Boy Meets World rewatch podcast, Pod Meets World, alongside Rider Strong and Will Friedle (who played Shawn Hunter and Eric Matthews, respectively). During one of her most recent directing days on set, she shared herself wearing the stellar vintage piece to her Instagram. The post showcases her wearing the kids XL classic coat (noted as a S1 cast and crew gift), the tag with her name on it (per her mom’s doing) and how thrilled she is to wear it to new series sets where she’s directing. Check it out below:

The Girl Meets World alum has always been smart, including her choice to opt for an XL size back in the day. And even if that holy grail merch item may not fit as well as it once did for her, Fishel kills the throwback look. Many Boy Meets World fans agree, too. The comments are full of nothing but love and astonishment for the Miss Lawrence turned Mrs. Matthews actress’s ability to wear the OG garment:

• Iconic 🔥🧡🔥- morenikejoela
• Still fits and still looks good ❤️😊- irietrace
• Happy for all the strides you’ve made in your career! Wear your jacket proudly! - arrivelikebutterflies
• OHHHHHHH MYYYY GODDDDDD!!!! Go Danielle go!!! 🎥- seriouslyemily
• Wear it proudly! Must be good quality to hold up for 30 years 😮- smurtypants

Topanga-lovers continue to root for her as she advances her career along with growing her directing resume. Fishel’s first gig behind the camera was for the spinoff and ultimately short-lived Girl Meets World series. After the show’s cancellation, her directing credits grew in titles and stars, including George Lopez, who she loves working with on Lopez vs. Lopez. But, all of it hasn’t been a breeze for the Dorm Daze actress–Fishel's breast cancer diagnosis came toward the end of 2024 and continues to have ongoing drama with ex-peer Maitland Ward.

Even with three decades and counting between the start of Boy Meets World and all of the changes and challenges for Fishel, it’s great to know she’s still rocking that kids cast and crew jacket. It really does make me wish I had some of my killer 90s duds and I’d still be able to wear them.

Friends is one of the best sitcoms of all time, but the show didn’t make it through its run without its share of controversy. For example, actor Stephen Park revisited his experience on the show and talked about the racism he experienced and how it nearly led to him quitting acting entirely.

Stephen Park, who will be seen this weekend in Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17, has over 70 acting credits to his name, including many notable TV guest appearances. One of those was on the sitcom hit Boy Meets World, and it was in an appearance on the Pod Meets World podcast that he discussed what happened on the set of Friends.

What Happened To Stephen Park On The Set Of Friends

Stephen Park actually appeared twice on Friends, but it was on the Season 3 episode “The One With The Ultimate Fighting Championship” where he says the incident occurred. Noted character actor James Hong was also in the episode, and it was when an assistant director was looking for Hong that Park says the racism came out. He explained…

Even three decades ago, James Hong was one of the most recognizable character actors in Hollywood, and Park really had a problem with the disrespect and racism that was being shown to him.

The bigger issue, however, may have been that nobody else on the set said or did anything about it. Park continued…

The situation was apparently so “normal” that Park began to question whether he wanted to continue in the industry.

Why Stephen Park Almost Quit Acting

Stephen Park said nobody on the Friends set did anything about the remark, so he tried to do something about it. He wrote a piece inspired by Jerry Maguire's famous "mission statement," regarding the issue and tried to get it published in the New York Times. The paper interviewed him but ultimately declined to publish the piece.

Park simply decided to email the piece to his friends, who then forwarded it on to others. The mission statement went viral online (for 1997), leading to it getting reprinted elsewhere and Park being interviewed and asked to speak on the topic of racism in Hollywood.

However, perhaps because of his focus on racism in Hollywood, Park became somewhat disillusioned with the industry. He ultimately decided to quit acting, explaining...

He was out of the industry for a year, remaining a stay-at-home dad. He was then offered an audition that, not having anything else going on, he took. He says that began the “slow climb” back into acting.

We certainly would have lost a great actor if Stephen Park had left the industry. In addition to his massive number of TV appearances, he has worked with some of the greatest modern filmmakers, including the Coen Brothers as part of the Fargo cast, Wes Anderson, and most recently, Bong Joon Ho for Mickey 17.

If you keep tabs on what the Boy Meets World cast is up to these days, then you may know that there’s been drama brewing between Danielle Fishel and Maitland Ward for years. It publicly stretches back to when Ward accused Fishel of rude on-set behavior, later claiming that her former co-star didn’t want her on the Girl Meets World set. Earlier this week, these two finally hashed it out on Pod Meets World, and now Ward actress has opened up about the argument, alleging that Fishel “wanted to try to rattle” her on the podcast.

25 years after their time playing Topanga Lawrence and Rachel Maguire on Boy Meets World ended, Danielle Fishel and Maitland Ward’s conversation on the latest Pod Meets World episode got heated. Ward said Fishel had an “attitude” when she stopped by the Girl Meets World set, while Fishel claimed ignorance about the whole thing. Now in an interview with The New York Post, Ward claimed that the argument was “orchestrated” by Fishel and her podcast co-hosts Rider Strong and Will Friedle, who respectively played Shawn Hunter and Eric Matthews. According to her:

Maitland Ward spent two seasons working alongside Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friede on Boy Meets World, debuting as Rachel Maguire in Season 6 and sticking around until the show concluded with its seventh season in 2000. Six years later, Ward claimed that Fishel unfriended her on Facebook after attending her wedding and also ignored a Facebook message Ward sent her in 2013 congratulating her on her own wedding. Fishel claimed she didn’t see the message until 2022.

Ward also admitted in the Post interview that she felt especially hurt by Friedle, whom she considered her “friend,” because he was the one who invited her onto Pod Meets World. However, since her podcast appearance, she hasn’t spoken to any of the hosts. Ward continued about Fishel:

The argument between Maitland Ward and Danielle Fishel unfolded towards the end of the Pod Meets World episode, after the four actors discussed Rachel Maguire’s first Boy Meets World appearance, as well as Ward’s adult film career. When things got heated, however, Ward also alleged that the hosts “hate” Ben Savage, who starred as Cory Matthews, and show creator Michael Jacobs. Friedle took issue with this, which included him saying about Savage that he “can’t stand the fact that he won’t speak to us.”

Should Ward, Fishel, Strong or Friedle share any other notable commentary on what went down on Pod Meets World, we’ll let you know. If anyone reading this article feels inclined to visit Boy Meets World, it can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription.

For its ability to bring both football obsessives and non-sports fans together, the Super Bowl is regarded as a national holiday. Thus, just like with any other major day of celebration, there are plenty of movies and special TV show episodes that make “The Big Game” a focal point of the plot. These are some of the best examples of small and big screen favorites that were clearly ready for some football!

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Heaven Can Wait is actually a remake of the 1941 drama Here Comes Mr. Jordan, in which a boxer is sent back to Earth in another body after he is taken before his time. Co-writer, co-director, and star Warren Beatty's version makes Joe Pendleton a football player who aspires to bring the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl when he is sent back to Earth in a new body and ultimately succeeds.

"Monday Night Football" - How I Met Your Mother (2007)

In Season 2 of How I Met Your Mother, the gang misses the Super Bowl to attend a MacLaren's employee's funeral but still decides to honor their annual tradition of watching it together by recording the Big Game for the following night. The catch is that they want to keep the outcome of the game a surprise and jump through hoops to prevent spoilers, from Ted (Josh Radnor) wearing the "Sensory Deprivator 5000" while picking up wings from a sports bar and Robin (Cobie Smulders) bribing her producer to avoid any mentions of the winning team in her news broadcast.

American Underdog (2021)

In 2000, Kurt Warner achieved his lifelong dream of playing in the Super Bowl at 29 years old and became the third oldest quarterback at the time to do so for the first time, with the St. Louis Rams. The inspiring moment was dramatized in the sports biopic, American Underdog, starring Zachary Levi as the two-time Most Valuable Player winner.

"Death Has A Shadow" - Family Guy (1999)

The very first episode of Family Guy, called "Death Has a Shadow," features a pivotal scene taking place at the Super Bowl. It is where Peter Griffin (creator Seth MacFarlane), with Brian's help, attempts to get rid of the excess money he has received from his welfare fund by dumping it from the sky in a blimp.

Black Sunday (1977)

Not to be confused with a horror movie from 17 years earlier, Black Sunday is an espionage thriller based on the novel by Thomas Harris. It follows an Israeli commando who works with the FBI to prevent a terrorist plot involving an explosive device mounted to a Goodyear blimp that is scheduled to fly above a packed stadium during the Super Bowl.

"The Label Maker" - Seinfeld (1995)

"Re-gifting" is a phrase introduced in Seinfeld in Season 6's "The Label Maker," in which Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), after he is invited to a wedding, gives up his Super Bowl tickets to his dentist, Tim Whatley (Bryan Cranston), who thanks him by giving him a "Label Baby Jr." However, when the wedding is called off, he tries to get the tickets back to no avail, which makes him especially mad after learning Whatley regifted the label maker, which he originally received from Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). After Whatley and Elaine make up, Jerry ends up going to the Big Game but has to sit next to Newman (Wayne Knight).

The Replacements (2000)

Director Howard Deutch's The Replacements stars Keanu Reeves as one of several football players hired to fill in when a team's regular members go on strike. The sports dramedy, also starring Gene Hackman as the Sentinels' reinstated head coach, is loosely based on the true story of how the Washington Redskins managed to win Super Bowl XXII in a season with replacement players during an NFL strike.

"Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" - The Simpsons (1999)

Fox aired a special Season 10 episode of The Simpsons that involved the Big Game right after the network broadcasted Super Bowl XXXIII. "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" sees Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) traveling to see the event until they discover their tickets are counterfeit, forcing them to sneak into the stadium.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

One of the best Jim Carrey movies (or, at least, the one featuring his definitive, star-making performance) is director Tom Shadyac's Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. In the uproarious comedy, the goofy eponymous sleuth is given the assignment of his life when he is tasked with finding the Miami Dolphins' beloved mascot, Snowflake, before the team plays on Super Bowl Sunday.

"Band Geeks" - SpongeBob Squarepants

To be fair, "Band Geeks" – a classic episode of the beloved animated series, SpongeBob Squarepants – does not actually revolve around the Super Bowl, but the undersea equivalent, the Bubble Bowl. Squidward attempts to upstage longtime rival Squilliam Fancyson by putting together a marching band to play at the game which he assumes will be a trainwreck until he sees their truly victorious performance of "Sweet Victory."

"Super Bowl Fever" - Home Improvement (1995)

Tim Taylor (Tim Allen) and his nigh-obsessive love of football has been known to get him in trouble on a few occasions on Home Improvement. However, the trouble in "Super Bowl Fever" stems from his wife, Jill (Patricia Richardson), coming down with the flu on the day he invites his friends over for a Super Bowl party at the house.

80 For Brady (2023)

In the tradition of comedy films that include a famous athlete's name in the title – such as Like Mike and Bend It Like Beckham – we have 80 for Brady, which is inspired by a true story and features a cameo by the real Tom Brady as himself. The film takes place in 2017 during Super Bowl LI, in which a quartet of older women (played by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field) travel to see and root for their beloved New England Patriots quarterback.

"Super Bowl Sunday" - All In The Family (1978)

The Season 8 All in the Family episode "Super Bowl Sunday" fittingly followed CBS's broadcast of Super Bowl XII and told a story related to the big event. Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor) anticipates that the game will bring great business to his bar, only for it to become the site of a robbery.

Kelce (2023)

Director Don Argott's Kelce follows Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce as he wrestles with the decision to retire after 13 seasons. The climax of the Amazon Prime original documentary sees him compete against his own brother, Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce, at Super Bowl LVII, which came to be known as the "Kelce Bowl."

"Our Parents, Ourselves" - Frasier (1999)

A Season 6 episode of Frasier – a series equally as good as the show it spun off from, Cheers – called "Our Parents, Ourselves" sees the titular psychiatrist (played by Kelsey Grammer) attempting to play matchmaker for his father (John Mahoney) and Roz's (Peri Gilpin) mother. So, he invites the woman to his Super Bowl party at his apartment to surprise Martin, only to discover that he cannot stand her.

"Easy Com-mercial, Easy Go-mercial" - Bob's Burgers

For some people, the best thing about the Super Bowl is the commercials, especially if you are one of the businesses advertising during what is, typically, the most-watched television event of the year. The Season 4 Bob's Burgers episode, "Easy Com-mercial, Easy Go-mercial," reflects on that with a story that sees the Belchers attempting to film an ad for their restaurant with the hope that it will air during the Big Game.

"My Name is Bev" - Roseanne (1995)

Roseanne's Super Bowl-themed episode touches on the serious topic of drunk driving, which Roseanne's (Roseanne Barr) mother, Beverly (Estelle Parsons), is caught doing and is forced to attend an AA meeting. Later on in the show, she appears at Dan's (John Goodman) Super Bowl XXIX party, which prompts Roseanne to tell the guests to hide their keg.

A Saintly Switch (1999)

Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, A Saintly Switch is a family film made for ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney series in which two children cast a spell that causes their bickering mother (Vivica A. Fox) and father (David Alan Grier), who recently started playing for the New Orleans Saints, to switch bodies. The story concludes with the father, having returned to his own body, playing in the Super Bowl just as his pregnant wife has gone into labor.

"Super Bowl" - Everybody Loves Raymond (2001)

Of course, there would be an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond in which the titular character (Ray Romano), who makes a living as a sports columnist, goes to the Big Game. In the aptly titled, "Super Bowl," Ray acquires a pair of tickets to the event and opts to take his friend, Gianni (Jon Manfrellotti), much to his family's chagrin.

The Great Brady Heist (2020)

There are quite a few movies where some interesting criminal activity takes place during the Big Game, but it is all just make-believe, right? Well, there was one amusing instance in which New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's game jersey was stolen from his locker during Super Bowl LI, as covered in the Fox Sports original documentary, The Great Brady Heist.

"Super Bowl" - Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2003)

Even in the bizarre world of Adult Swim's hit series, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, such a thing as the Super Bowl exists. In a Season 2 episode of the popular animated TV show, Master Shake (Dana Snyder) and Carl (Dave Willis) bow to Meatwad's (also Willis) every will in hopes that he will pick one of them to accompany him to the Super Bowl after he wins two tickets.

"The Eskimo" - Boy Meets World

In a classic episode of Boy Meets World, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) assigns Shawn (Rider Strong) the challenge of getting Super Bowl tickets, Cory (Ben Savage) the challenge of helping him succeed, and Topanga (Daniell Fishel) to avoid helping either of them in any way. Shawn does find a way to score the tickets, which requires him to sit at the top of a billboard in freezing temperatures for as long as possible.

“Super Bowl” - George Lopez (2003)

To some people, the Super Bowl is more important than even family, as expressed in a Season 2 episode of George Lopez. It follows George (Geoge Lopez) and his wife, Angie (Constance Marie), attempting to convince his mother, Benny (Belita Moreno), to reconcile with the dying Uncle Joe (Ismael 'East' Carlo). She agrees, but only because she really just wants to get her hands on his tickets to the Big Game.

"Rooferman, Take One" - Smart Guy

In the underrated WB sitcom, Smart Guy, a commercial for Floyd's (John Marshall Jones) roofing business airs in the wee hours of the morning, prompting T.J. (Tahj Mowry) to sneak into the network's studio and try to get the ad a better time slot. Much to his surprise, he accidentally schedules it during the Super Bowl, helping his father's business immensely but also getting himself into trouble.

"Lisa The Greek" - The Simpsons

In "Lisa the Greek," Homer enlists his bright daughter, Lisa, to help him predict the outcome of football games. The episode marks one of several mysterious instances in which The Simpsons correctly predicted future events, having aired just days before Super Bowl XXVI and foretold that the Washington Redskins would win.

Natural Born Killers (1994)

Director Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers is a disturbing crime thriller that has nothing to do with sports, save one small connection. Robert Downey Jr's overzealous journalist Wayne Gale convinces notorious murderer Mickey (Woody Harrelson) to participate in a live interview that would air after the Super Bowl.

"Super Sunday" - The Middle (2011)

One of the multiple storylines in this episode of ABC's hit sitcom, The Middle, involves Mike (Neil Flynn) encouraging Brick (Atticus Shaffer) to take an interest in football right as the Super Bowl is impending.

Maybe This Year (2019)

It was not until Super Bowl LII that the Philadelphia Eagles finally became season champions. Kyle Thrash and Jenifer Westphal's documentary, Maybe This Year, chronicles that journey from the perspective of the team's famously passionate fans.

You're In The Super Bowl, Charlie Brown! (1994)

Originally airing on NBC and later distributed on VHS through Shell Gasoline, You're In The Super Bowl, Charlie Brown! is a fun, 25-minute special in which Charlie Brown and the other kids from Peanuts try to win tickets to the Super Bowl by participating in a football punt pass kick contest.

Superdome (1978)

Superdome follows various dramatic storylines occurring around the Super Bowl, including a killer running amuck during the game. The star-studded cast of this ABC movie of the week includes David Janssen, Edie Adams, Tom Selleck, and more.

"Rabbit Or Duck" - How I Met Your Mother (2010)

This Season 5 episode of How I Met Your Mother was cleverly promoted during the Super Bowl as faux footage of the real game which was also featured in the cold open. The B-plot sees Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) struggling to balance the excess of female attention he receives after attending the Super Bowl and holding up a sign displaying his phone number.

The Sum Of All Fears (2002)

To be fair, the nuclear attack on U.S. soil from director Phil Alden Robinson's The Sum of All Fears, starring Ben Affleck as Jack Ryan, merely takes place at a typical pro football game in Baltimore. However, in Tom Clancy's 1991 novel that inspired it, the tragedy takes place at the Super Bowl, so it technically counts.

For years drama has brewed between Boy Meets World stars Danielle Fishel and Maitland Ward, with the latter accusing Fishel of rude on-set behavior and saying the Topanga actress didn’t want her on set at Girl Meets World. The feud came to a head on Fishel’s podcast — which she co-hosts with fellow BMW alumni Rider Strong and Will Friedle — and accusations flew between the actresses during a long and heated argument.

Maitland Ward joined the cast of Boy Meets World (available to stream with a Disney+ subscription) in Season 6 and has remained close to some members of the cast. She’s even said Will Friedle was “so supportive” of her career transition into porn. As for Danielle Fishel, there was no love lost, and after an enlightening discussion of Ward’s adult film career on a recent episode of Pod Meets World, the actresses finally aired their grievances, with Fishel kicking off the tense discussion by asking point-blank:

Danielle Fishel said she’s read the things Maitland Ward has said about her and their podcast over the years, and Ward turned it around to recall how Fishel was apparently cold to her on set of the spinoff Girl Meets World, which aired from 2014 to 2017:

• Ward: No, I don’t hate you. I think that you hate me because you wouldn't speak to me on Girl Meets World, and that was hurtful.
• Fishel: I wouldn’t speak to you? I did talk to you.
• Ward: No. No, not really.

Maitland Ward said she felt slighted that Danielle Fishel had unfriended her on Facebook after attending her wedding in 2006, and she ignored a Facebook message she’d sent Fishel congratulating her on her own wedding and the spinoff. Ward continued:

Rider Strong and Will Friedle came to Danielle Fishel’s defense when Maitland Ward recalled the guys hugging her and being happy to see her when she visited GMW, pointing out that they had time to talk to Ward because they weren’t working like Fishel had been. The exchange continued:

• Fishel: Yes, I was working. I was definitely working.
• Ward: No, you had an attitude about it, though, because I know you. There was some beef between us, and I didn’t get it. And maybe I picked up the wrong signals, but definitely there was some sort of weirdness there.
• Fishel: And so what did you think it was?
• Ward: I didn’t know at all. I didn’t know if you thought I was trying to come onto the set and take over, not take over but, like, try to steal attention or something. But I didn’t know. I really was very genuinely confused why we wouldn’t be good.
• Fishel: I don’t feel as though I was not good with you, but I definitely didn’t have a relationship with you, like, ‘Oh my gosh, my long-lost friend Maitland!’ I was working.

Danielle Fishel went on to say Girl Meets World was “a very, very difficult set,” and not at all like they’d experienced on Boy Meets World. She called it “tumultuous,” and got validation from her former co-stars when she said she felt ostracized and criticized. She said she was sorry if that came across as something personal. However, Maitland Ward wasn’t quick to accept the apology, saying:

Danielle Fishel had another bone to pick with the adult film star regarding her comments to the media about their podcast:

• Fishel: It seems like almost anytime the podcast is in the news, in the press, there’s a quickly followed up TMZ interview with you.
• Ware: Oh yeah, everybody’s interested. Yeah, they always want to know.
• Fishel: How do those happen, by the way?
• Ware: Because they come and get me. They find me on the streets.
• Fishel: Oh my gosh. I don’t know if I’ve ever been found on the street.
• Ware: Are you trying to accuse me of using you? Are you trying to accuse me of something?
• Fishel: No, I’m just wondering, because they’ve never stopped me outside of my house.
• Ware: They’re not stopping me outside of my house.
• Fishel: OK. I don’t know where they’re stopping you. I was just wondering, because it hasn’t happened.
• Ware: It’s an awfully big concern for you right now.

The charged conversation continued with Danielle Fishel basically saying she’d tried to have this conversation in private but that Maitland Ward wanted to do it on the podcast for ratings, or as Ward allegedly put it, to “rock the stats.” Ward countered that she thought Fishel’s wishes to reach out to her privately were disingenuous.

I don’t think it can be said that the two necessarily found common ground, but they did seem to at least hear each other out and were eventually able to get back on track to talk about Boy Meets World.

We’ll have to see if this discussion can serve as the end of the actresses’ beef with each other, or if this heated conversation was just another footnote in the Boy Meets World drama.

The Boy Meets World cast may have initially been focused on Cory, Shawn and Topanga’s coming-of-age adventures, but as their high school years were ending, new characters came on that gave the Disney series some mature charm, like Eric and Jack’s roommate Rachel. Played by Maitland Ward, the actress got real about how the cast pranked her when she first joined the Disney/ABC sitcom and it involves a live audience.

On Boy Meets World, Rachel was the object of Eric and Jack’s affections as they lived under the same roof. Since Ward entered the sitcom during its sixth season, she told E News! about how the cast welcomed her with a harmless prank that involved a live audience:

That would be incredibly mortifying having to be the only Boy Meets World actor to sing a song for a live audience during the bows. It’s a good thing the cast let Maitland Ward “off the hook.” While I’m sure their prank on her was all in good fun, that joke probably wouldn’t have been the best way to enter her good graces if it went wrong. Ward later recalled feeling "nervous" joining the cast of a long-running show, but she described her co-stars as "very welcoming" and "nice."

As it’s been a couple of decades since the Boy Meets World series finale, Maitland Ward has gotten honest about not-so-pleasant moments she’s had on the set. For instance, she opened up about being “sexualized” on the TGIF set, like being asked to “try on lingerie” and the infamous food fight scene where she smeared marinara sauce on Eric's face with her bare feet. At the time, the now-unapologetic porn star had no idea those scenes were considered sexual. Reflecting on them now, the former mainstream actress dared to call out Disney in 2023 with claims of the company sexualizing young female stars and treating them “like meat.”

Even though Maitland Ward’s experiences on Boy Meets World weren’t always as lighthearted as the series’ tone, she still made lifelong friendships with her former cast mates. The Bold and Beautiful actress remarked to E News! on the bond she still has with BMW actor Ben Savage, who supported her path toward the world of the porn industry. In return, Ward supported the Girl Meets World actor during his run for Congress.

Will Friedle was another former co-star who was “supportive” of Ward’s porn star career, and she's still “in contact and friends” with Trina McGee who played Angela in the show. Despite the hardships of being “sexualized” on Boy Meets World, it’s nice that a real benefit she received from the heartwarming sitcom came from the friendships she made on set.

The Boy Meets World cast inducting Maitland Ward into their on-set home with a harmless prank clearly sets the tone for the show’s lighthearted approach. The playful moments the family-friendly cast had with each other off-screen reflect the chemistry everyone gave in their performances together and the lasting friendships they all had years later. You can watch more good-natured fun between the cast of characters with Boy Meets World available with your Disney+ subscription.

Throughout the history of television, there are examples of characters from shows just disappearing. In one episode they are there, and in the next, they are gone without so much as an acknowledgment from the remaining characters. Or sometimes a half-baked reason that doesn't come until years later. It's like they never existed at all. This is our list meant to remember those characters we have lost to the curse of being written out with no explanation.

Chuck Cunningham - Happy Days

Maybe the most famous example of this is Chuck Cunningham (Gavan O'Herlihy), Richie and Joanie's older brother on Happy Days. His disappearance has become so famous it's become known as the "Chuck Cunningham Syndrome." Though he was never a main star, he was still around in the first season until one day he wasn't and he was never even mentioned again. Harsh.

Santiago Herrera - Friday Night Lights

Linebacker Santiago Herrera on Friday Night Lights was a pretty major character in the second season of the show. Despite seemingly being a leader on the team with Coach Taylor working with him a lot, Santiago vanished from the team after Season 2 and was never even mentioned again.

Monica Dawson - Heroes

On Heroes, Monica Dawson had a unique power that allowed her to imitate anyone around her's power. That would be one of the most useful powers anyone on the show had (save for Sylar). Dawson, played by Dana Davis, is a main character in Season 2 and then is dropped from the show and is never ever mentioned again, without a real explanation.

Mutt Schitt - Schitt's Creek

Mutt Schitt, played by Tim Rozon is the very good-looking son of Mayor Roland Schitt (Chris Elliot). He plays a big supporting role in the first two seasons of Schitt's Creek, especially as one of Alexis' potential love interests. He was seen less and less as the show went on until only being spotted once in Season 3 and one final time in Season 4 before never being sighted or mentioned again

Celia Hodes - Weeds

For a while, Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins) was a semi-regular reoccurring character on Weeds. She seemed to idolize Nancy and hate her at the same time. Despite being an antagonist for the first four seasons, by Season 5 she's only mentioned occasionally in passing until after Season 6 when the character completely falls off the radar and is never heard from again.

Leah Murphy - Grey's Anatomy

Dr. Leah Murphy, played by Tessa Ferrer, had a fairly brief, but action-packed couple of seasons on Grey's Anatomy during Seasons 9 and 10. She was fired at one point, but earned her job back the character seemed like she might make it for the long, but it wasn't to be and after one brief appearance in Season 13, she completely disappeared from the show.

Tiger - The Brady Bunch

When The Brady Bunch first hit the airwaves, it was just the six kids that made up the blended family, there was also the boys' pet dog Tiger. Tiger often made a mess of things, including Mike and Carol's wedding, but he was beloved. Until he wasn't. Tragically, the dog who played Tiger was hit by a car and killed, and rather than replace him, the producers just wrote the poor mutt right out of the show, though his doghouse remained in the backyard for years later.

Mr. Turner - Boy Meets World

For a while there, it seemed like Mr. Turner (Anthony Tyler Quinn) might be a very important teacher on Boy Meets World as he mentored Shawn and even took him in for a time. He was a regular character for three seasons before he dropped off the face of the earth after Season 4. He was mentioned briefly in the series finale, but fans never really got any closure from his sudden departure from the cast.

Judy - Family Matters

One of the most notorious examples of a character simply vanishing was the youngest Winslow child on Family Matters, Judy, played by Jaimee Foxworth. After Season 4, she was completely gone from the show as though she'd never existed. For shame Carl! Ignoring one of your daughters!

John Bennett - Orange Is The New Black

John Bennett was a key character during the first three seasons of Orange Is The New Black, and even had an affair with one of the inmates (Daya) and got her pregnant. Despite this, by the end of Season 3, he had quit his job and was never really even mentioned again. Fan theories abound, but ultimately it was the real world interfering as actor Matt McGorry simply quit the show.

Mandy Hampton - The West Wing

Right up there with Chuck Cunningham in notoriety is Mandy Hampton (Moira Kelly) in The West Wing. A full cast member and one of the stars in the show's first season, she completely disappeared and was never even mentioned again from the beginning of Season 2 on. Like the "Chuck Cunningham Syndrome," her disappearance has become shorthand for this kind of thing happening with fans calling it "Going to Mandyville."

Ser Ilyn Payne - Game Of Thrones

Ser Ilyn Payne, played by the late Wilko Johnson, was one of the scariest characters in Game of Thrones. He was King Joffery's executioner and despite playing a larger role in the books, he disappeared from the show after Season 2. Johnson had a major cancer scare and though he didn't end up dying from it, he was given only a few months to live at the time. He wasn't recast out of respect for Johnson. He is mentioned later once by Tywin Lannister in Season 6, but he's never seen again on screen, nor is his absence ever explained.

Tina Pinciotti - That '70s Show

Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon) was referred to as an only child for most of The '70s Show. This, however, is an example of confusing retconning for many hardcore fans. In Season 1 of the show, Donna had a sister, Tina Pinciotti (Amanda Fuller) and she is even seen on screen, not just mentioned. After one more throwaway joke in Season 2, Tina is never even mentioned again and Donna refers to herself as an only child. Did something sinister happen? We'll never know.

Mike - My Three Sons

As the name of the show would imply, on My Three Sons, there were, at least in the beginning, three sons. Mike, Robbie, and Chip were Steve Douglas' sons on the show for the first years. Mike, the oldest, played by Tim Considine, who left the show after Season 5, went to college and is barely ever mentioned again and he's never seen again. He doesn't even show up for weddings. He's just...gone.

Seven - Married... With Children

In Season 7 of Married... With Children, Peg's 12-year-old nephew Seven is introduced. It's a clear attempt at the "Cousin Oliver" effect when a young, precocious kid is randomly introduced to make the show "cuter." For Seven, however, it doesn't last long, as after 12 appearances, the show simply forgets about him, despite a few inside jokes (like appearing on the side of a milk carton).

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

In the pilot episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Detective Daniels is introduced as part of the team in the squad house. He seems like he'll be at least a semi-occurring character, but instead, he's never seen or heard from again.

Ben Geller - Friends

Even fans of Friends can admit that Ross (David Schwimmer) is pretty awful most of the time. Nothing is worse, however, than how he seemingly abandoned his first son, Ben. Ben wasn't a regular on the show, but he did appear multiple times. At least until his daughter, Emma, is born with Rachel. Ben, who was played by Cole Sprouse for a couple of seasons, is never even mentioned again and never meets his half-sister. Harsh, Ross.

Gwen Grandy - The Mindy Project

Gwen Grandy (Anna Camp) is one of Mindy's best friends on The Mindy Project. They talk all the time and Gwen even named Mindy as her newborn's godmother. Then Season 2 happened and Gwen was just gone from Mindy's life without even an explanation. Poof, the best friend is gone forever.

Robin Sylvester - Glee

Did you know Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) on Glee had a child? You might vaguely remember that she was pregnant at one point and in Season 3 fans even meet the child. Then the baby is hardly ever mentioned again and never seen on screen. We know that Sue was selfish and mean, but wow.

Tori Scott - Saved By The Bell

Tori Scott, played by actress Leanna Creel in the final season of Saved By The Bell was a very brief, but very serious girlfriend of Zach Morris. Sadly for Tori, after Jessie and Kelly returned to school after leaving for a time, the character was unceremoniously dropped and never mentioned again. It's not even clear if Zach broke up with her or if she fell off a cliff. She was just gone.

Amy Jessup - Fringe

Before she was cast in Suits, Meghan Markle had an all-too-brief role in Fringe. Markle's character Amy Jessup was introduced in Season 2 of the show and seemed to be a new, full member of the team. However, after two episodes, she was gone and no one ever found out why. She's never mentioned again,

Jenny Kelly - Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Sometimes there is off-screen drama that causes a sudden disappearance and that may be the case here with the character Jenny Kelly (Michelle Beaudoin) in Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Jenny was Sabrina's best friend and a major character in Season 2, but she didn't even get the dignity of a proper send-off when she suddenly disappeared from the show, never to even be mentioned again.

Mark Brendanawicz - Parks And Recreation

Mark Brendanawicz, played by Paul Schneider, was a key character in the early days of Parks And Recreation until he was written out completely when the actor left the show and the producers re-tooled and brought in new characters. Brendanawicz was never mentioned again.

Mo-Mo - Nurse Jackie

Mo-Mo (Haaz Sleiman) in the first season of Nurse Jackie provides a lot of much-needed fun and comic relief with his snarky asides to Jackie (Edie Falco). Sadly, it seems the show's producers didn't think the character was really necessary so he was written out after Season 1 without much explanation, despite being such buddies with Jackie. He deserved much better.

Molly Parker - The Facts Of Life

The character of Molly Parker, played by the great Molly Ringwald in the first seasons of The Facts Of Life and a couple of episodes of Diff'rent Strokes, met an unfortunate end when Ringwald was fired from the show in favor of other, older actors. Her leaving wasn't given any kind of explanation until years later when it's briefly mentioned that she left to become an actress. It seems like everything worked out just fine for Molly Ringwald.

Dr. Grace Miller - Scrubs

Dr. Grace Miller on Scrubs, played by Bellamy Young, was introduced with a lot of hype and promotion. She was essentially playing the female version of Dr. Cox and fans immediately hated the character. The backlash was so bad that she was dumped after just a handful of appearances as though she never existed. It's too bad because Young was great in the role.

President John Keeler - 24

24 went through presidents like people with a cold go through Kleenex. One president who lasted a couple of seasons was President John Keeler (Geoff Pierson), but after he was shot down in Air Force One and left incapacitated, his VP, Charles Logan, took over. It's completely unclear if Keeler died or was simply too injured to return as the character is basically never mentioned again.

Nebula Lawrence - Boy Meets World

Boy Meets World had a little bit of a habit of introducing seemingly important characters only to have them fall by the wayside without explaining why. Nebula "Nebby" Lawrence (Krystee Clark) is the perfect example. She was introduced in an episode of Season 1 and as her name implies, she is the sister of Topanga. That was her first and only appearance on the show and for the rest of the show's run Topanga is an only child. Nebby is never heard from again.

Caitlin - Heroes

Caitlin (Katie Carr) on Heroes gets at least a little explanation as to why she disappeared. She is introduced as a love interest for Peter in Season 2 and together they travel to the future, where she gets stuck and seemingly remains there forever, as she's never mentioned again, nor is her ultimate fate.

Frank Cubitoso - The Sopranos

Frank Cubitoso (Frank Pellegrino) was introduced as the head of the New Jersey office of the FBI in the first season of The Sopranos. He plays a recurring and pivotal role in trying to take down Tony and his crew for a while until he pretty much disappears after the murder of Adriana.

Nina Cassady - Law & Order

Characters coming and going from Law & Order was pretty standard fare for the long-running procedural. Most of the time though, they at least get some kind of send-off or at least an explanation. That was not the case for Detective Nina Cassady, played by Milena Govich, who lasted just one season before she was gone without so much as a hint as to what happened to her.

Behrooz Araz - 24

The Araz family were the main villains in Season 4 of 24 and while the fate of Navi and Dina Araz is clear (both are killed), the fate of their son Behrooz is left hanging. He is traded in a prisoner swap for Jack Bauer and the men who take him find the hidden trackers CTU hid on him. But after that, he just disappears and is never heard from again.

It was a shock to viewers watching the 2024 TV premiere of Quiet on Set when Drake Bell, star of the kid's bromance TV show Drake & Josh, spoke out about the abuse he suffered during his time at Nickelodeon. The abuser was actor/director/writer Brian Peck, who worked with Bell on The Amanda Show. After the Boy Meets World stars at the time supported Peck, Bell revealed where he stands with the cast now.

When Drake Bell was interviewed on Investigation Discovery’s docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, he revealed that at 15, he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by dialogue coach Brian Peck. In 2004, Peck was charged with 11 counts of lewd conduct with a minor regarding Bell’s case, resulting in a 16-month jail sentence and being registered as a sex offender. At the time, multiple Hollywood A-listers supported the actor/singer’s abuser, including the cast of Boy Meets World. On The Sarah Fraser Show podcast video, Bell spoke about stars like Will Friedle and Rider Strong reaching out to him to apologize for past support of Peck:

Drake Bell also told Sarah Fraser he didn’t know about the letters of support celebrities sent to Brian Peck until the docuseries. During Bell’s episode on Quiet on Set, the former Nickelodeon star expressed how “unbelievable” it was when he read all of the letters defending Peck who blamed the musician, with plenty saying they’d still work with the Good Burger actor again despite the charges against him.

Other than the Boy Meets World cast, other A-listers expressed their regrets for their previous support, like the Nickelodeon directors Beth and Rich Correll, who voiced how “awful” they felt “being on the wrong side of a horrific situation.” The sitcom star also said he’s “been talking” to Drake and Josh co-star Josh Peck, who reached out to him privately after the docuseries came out.

Back in March, when Zoey 101 actress Alexa Nikolas called out the Boy Meets World cast in an Instagram post for initially defending Brian Peck, Drake Bell spoke out about Will Friedle and Rider Strong’s connection to his abuser's support during the time it happened. In the since-deleted comments, the Jerry Maguire actor claimed Strong and Friedle, who were both in their ‘20s, were told by Peck what he did and wrote their letters anyway:

One month after Alexa Nikolas’ Instagram post, Will Friedle and Rider Strong told their side of the story on an episode of their podcast Pod Meets World. The Kim Possible voice actor said he would spend a substantial amount of time with Peck initially thinking of him as a “great, funny guy [...] you wanted to hang out with.” However, the Nickelodeon employee allegedly made Friedle feel “it was clearly the fault of his victim:”

Rider Strong said that Brian Peck gave him the impression he was just “a victim of jailbait.” As you couldn’t Google back then the allegations a celebrity was hit with, the Girl Meets World star claimed he didn’t know Peck was charged with a series of crimes against him. As he and Friedle were among the huge number of celebrities on one side of the courtroom supporting the abuser, while Drake Bell was on the other side with just his mother and attorneys, the Batman Beyond voice actor ultimately admitted to being on “the wrong side of everything.”

While the cast of Boy Meets World and other Hollywood stars initially sided with Brian Peck when the abuse allegations surfaced, it appears that actors Will Friedle and Rider Strong are apologetic for their involvement in the support letters. Fortunately, Drake Bell has forgiven the two actors and is seemingly on good terms with them as they check in on him. You can watch Bell's appearance in the five-part docuseries Quiet on Set with your Max subscription.

Is there a single TV show that, for the entirety of its run, managed to keep its story going without any retcons? For one reason or another, it is common to see a popular series amend or completely disregard a pre-established story or character detail, often leading fans to wonder if they are losing their minds. Don't worry: you're not crazy but merely a victim of some confusing or even just annoying TV retcons like the following.

Cory And Topanga's Origins (Boy Meets World)

The romance between Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) and Topanga Lawrence (Danielle Fishel) could have been the perfect sitcom love story if the classic TGIF comedy could keep the details of their relationship straight. When Fishel first joined the Boy Meets World cast, she was initially introduced as the weird student in Cory's elementary school class but, when she is later reinvented as his love interest, the show tries to play them off as sweethearts since childhood.

Dan Is Alive (Roseanne)

Not only is Season 9 of Roseanne, in which the Conners' lives change when they win the lottery, revealed to be a fantasy in the series finale but we also learn that Dan (John Goodman) was dead the entire time, having suffered a heart attack. This controversial plot twist was ignored in 2018 when the sitcom was revived for a tenth season before it was rebranded as The Conners.

The Fate Of Frasier's Father (Cheers/Frasier)

On one episode of Cheers, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) tells his friends at the bar that his late father was a research scientist. However, in Frasier's self-titled and equally beloved TV show spin-off, we see Martin Crane (John Mahoney) is alive and well and a retired cop. In an episode where Ted Danson appears as Sam Malone, the show tries to explain that Frasier's dad was "dead to him" at the time after a bitter argument.

Sara Was Not Dead After All (Prison Break)

In the third season of Prison Break, Michael (Wentworth Miller) learns that Sara (Sarah Wayne Callies) was kidnapped and beheaded, only to see her come back in Season 4, which reveals it was never actually her head. In reality, the reason for the character's demise was due to a dispute involving Callies' contract but, when she was able to work out a deal to return to the series, her earlier death was rewritten as a head fake.

Jimmy Olsen Was Not Who We Thought He Was (Smallville)

In its sixth season, the acclaimed DC TV show Smallville introduced the iconic character of photographer Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore), only to kill him off three years later. It is at his funeral that we learn that his real name is Henry James Olsen and that the real Jimmy Olsen was his never-before-seen little brother the whole time.

Kramer Was Originally Named Kessler (Seinfeld)

In the pilot episode of Seinfeld, Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) calls his next-door neighbor by the name Kessler but, from the next episode on, Michael Richards' character is referred to as Kramer, after Larry David's real-life friend on whom the role is based. The series tries to explain this in Season 9's "The Betrayal" with a flashback to the characters' first meeting when Kramer tells Jerry that the name on his buzzer is incorrect.

Bobby's Death Was All A Dream (Dallas)

When Patrick Duffy decided to quit the CBS primetime soap opera, Dallas, his character, Bobby Ewing, was written off the show in Season 8 when he was run over by his sister-in-law, Katherine Wentworth (Morgan Brittany), and was buried after succumbing to his injuries in the Season 9 premiere. However, after the writers urged the actor to come back to the cast, the Season 10 opener revealed everything that happened in the previous season was imagined by his wife, Pamela Barnes Ewing (Victoria Principal), in her sleep.

Gossip Girl's True Identity Does Not Make Sense (Gossip Girl)

As revealed in the series finale of Gossip Girl, Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) was the mysterious blogger the entire time but, if that's true, why does he act surprised by several posts about him, his friends, and his relatives in earlier episodes? Furthermore, Gossip Girl publicizes the fact that Dan and his girlfriend, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively), share a half-sibling, which he adamantly wants kept secret. So, why on Earth would he make that public, even anonymously?

What Ever Happened To Judy Winslow (Family Matters)

YouTuber Vee Infuso debunked an urban legend believing that the youngest Winslow child, Judy, once walked up the stairs in a Season 4 episode never to be seen again. While Jaimee Foxworth's actual final appearance in the Family Matter cast came later that season in "Mama's Wedding," her subsequent absence (due to the writers having nothing interesting to come up with for her) was never explained nor acknowledged for the remainder of the series.

The First Time Chandler Said "I Love You" To Monica (Friends)

In one of the most ridiculous Friends episodes, "The One Where Everyone Finds Out," Chandler (Matthew Perry) is coerced by Phoebe's (Lisa Kudrow) feigned seduction into admitting that he is in love with Monica (Courteney Cox) to everyone's surprise, including her own. However, the otherwise touching moment seems to forget about an earlier Friends Thanksgiving episode, "The One With All The Thanksgivings," in which Chandler lets his feelings for Monica slip when she surprises him with a turkey on her head.

A Time Lord's Maximum Number Of Regenerations Changes (Doctor Who)

Early on in the long-running, classic sci-fi TV show's history, it is established that the title character of Doctor Who, like all Time Lords, can only regenerate a total of 13 times. However, that rule has since been negated as the 13th Doctor actor, Jodie Whitaker, was later replaced by Ncuti Gatwa.

The History Of Superheroes Dates Back Longer Than We Thought (Arrowverse)

After adopting his vigilante alter ego at the beginning of the hit series, Arrow, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is said to have become the first superhero. Yet, later down the road as the Arrowverse franchise would continue to evolve with its multiple spin-offs, it was discovered that superhero teams have existed as early as World War II.

Kimmy Gibbler's Sibling Count (Full House/Fuller House)

When Kimmy Gibbler is first mentioned in the 1987 pilot for Full House, D.J. Tanner (Candace Cameron Bure) says she has three sisters but the character (played by Andrea Barber) says in Season 3 that her parents stopped having kids after her. This could imply she is merely the youngest in her family but she was also known to mention having an unseen older brother named Garth. Furthermore, in Netflix's revival, Fuller House, we are introduced to her younger brother, Jimmy (Adam Hagenbuch).

Dean Loses His Urban Philosophy (Gilmore Girls)

When Jared Padalecki first joined the Gilmore Girls cast as Dean, the character was introduced as a Chicago native who had moved to Stars Hollow fairly recently and loves obscure books and movies. However, when New York transplant and obscure book and movie lover Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) is brought into the mix, Dean is suddenly reinvented as a more rural individual who has lost his cultural interests and thinks of Stars Hollow as his true home after living "most of his life" there.

The Disappearance Of Donna's Sister (That '70s Show)

We are willing to bet that, even if you considered yourself a huge That '70s Show fan, you had absolutely no recollection that Donna (Laura Prepon) had a sister. Tina Pinciotti (Amanda Fuller) makes one appearance in Season 1 and is subsequently mentioned only once more in a throwaway joke from Season 2's "Vanstock" but, from that point on, Donna is referred to as an only child.

Daenerys Goes Bad (Game Of Thrones)

Here is an example of something that is not so much a retcon but a deeply confusing and quite maddening TV character evolution that suddenly comes out of nowhere. One of the most heavily criticized aspects of the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones sees the normally level-headed and fair Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) become a coldhearted tyrant who commits unimaginably brutal crimes without a second's hesitation.

Are Jason And Cheryl Really Twins? (Riverdale)

There are a number of notable inconsistencies regarding the characters in the Riverdale cast, but one of the more glaring involves Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch) and her brother, Jason (Trevor Stines). While initially established as fraternal twins, later episodes of the Archie Comics-inspired dramedy imply that they are in two different grade levels at school.

Who Made Spike A Vampire? (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

A lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans like to count the sudden appearance of Buffy's never-before-seen younger sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) as a retcon. However, the sentient form of power's inclusion is explained by fake memories implanted into the characters' minds after she is sent to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to protect, so we are not counting that. Instead, we will mention how Spike (James Marsters) refers to Angel (David Boreanaz) as the vampire who turned him until it is later revealed that Drusilla is his true sire.

Why Sheldon Knocks Multiple Times (The Big Bang Theory)

One of the most iconic running gags on The Big Bang Theory is Sheldon Cooper's (Jim Parsons) compulsion to knock on people's doors three times, which was only first introduced in Season 2. However, in Season 10, he explains that he formed the habit after accidentally walking in on his father having an affair and wants to give people enough time to "get their pants on" with his courteous and incessant signal.

When Claire Gets Her Powers (Heroes)

In the first season of Heroes, it is established that Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere) developed her rapid healing ability later in life when she hit puberty. However, in a later episode when she meets her birth mother, it is revealed that she was indestructible even when she was an infant.

The Rules Of Being A Vessel Are Inconsistent (Supernatural)

At one point in the 15-season run of Supernatural, it is established that being a vessel for a spiritual entity will result in the host's death once the entity no longer requires their physical form. However, Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles), and even the Lucifer-possessed President Jefferson Rooney (David Chisum) end up just fine after their time as a vessel ends.

Tina Admits She Was Faking Her Stutter (Glee)

When Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) is first introduced in the first season of Glee, she speaks with a stutter that suddenly disappears after she joins the glee club. She eventually reveals she faked it hoping that it would make Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale) like her more.

Randy Suddenly Gains An Uncle (Monk)

Even a detective show as clever as Monk has been known to make a few logical errors from time to time. For instance, Lt. Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) says at one point that he has two aunts but no uncles but, in the Season 5 episode "Mr. Monk Visits a Farm," he inherits land from a recently deceased family member... his uncle, Harvey (Jack Kehler).

President Barlett's Death Tax Repeal Veto Is A Surprise (The West Wing)

In Season 2 of creator Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing, it is mentioned by political commentator Mark Gottfried (Ted McGinley) that President Josiah Bartlett (Martin Sheen) vetoed a Republican-backed education package. However, in the following season when he vetoes a repeal of the "death tax," it causes an uproar as people claim he had never used the veto before.

Barney Suddenly Knows How To Drive (How I Met Your Mother)

In Season 2 of How I Met Your Mother, we discover that Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) not only does not know how to drive a car but is absolutely terrified to get behind the wheel. Yet, two seasons later, in one of the best HIMYM episodes, "As Fast as She Can," he makes multiple attempts to get a speeding ticket to prove he can talk his way out of one and is also seen driving plenty of times afterward. Perhaps he could have worked up the courage to finally learn how to drive by then but there is absolutely no mention of it, making his sudden acquirement of this skill a bit sudden.

Fans Still Missed Moriarty (Sherlock)

At the end of Sherlock's third season, a message from the detective's archnemesis, Moriarty (Andrew Scott) suggested the criminal mastermind would play a pivotal role in the following season. Unfortunately, fans would discover that he had no involvement in Season 4, which is less of a retcon and more of an infuriating cop-out.

Walker Blood Is Not A Source Of Infection (The Walking Dead)

Early seasons of The Walking Dead established that getting blood from one of the undead in your eyes or mouth or in a wound would prove fatal, yet later seasons ignore this rule almost completely. This retcon goes further than just the TV series as it is an acknowledged and important detail in the Robert Kirkman-penned comic book series that inspired the AMC hit.

Al Dreamt Peg's Pregnancy (Married…. With Children)

By the end of Married… with Children's first season, half of which saw Peg (Katey Sagal) pregnant, it is revealed to have been all Al's (Ed O'Neill) dream but there is actually a dark truth to this retcon. As the actor explains in her memoir, Grace Notes, Sagal's real-life pregnancy at this time was written into the show but when she suffered a miscarriage, it was decided that the show would not bring another child into the cast.

SpongeBob Knew Sandy As A Child (SpongeBob SquarePants/Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years)

In the second-ever episode of SpongeBob Squarepants, "Tea at the Treedome," we see the title character (voiced by Tom Kenny) meet Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence) for the very first time. However, the prequel spin-off, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years, suggests that the sea sponge and the squirrel knew each other when they stayed at the eponymous camp as children.

Peggy's Mom Keeps Changing (King Of The Hill)

The first time King of the Hill introduces Peggy's mother, she is depicted as a suburban homemaker but is later reinvented almost completely as the wife of a bitter old rancher. That is not even counting the fact that, in an episode when Bobby's secret admirer turns out to be his grandmother playing a trick, the elderly woman in question is neither Hank's nor Peggy's mother.

Andy's Father's Name Changes (The Office)

In NBC's The Office, after proposing to Angela (Angela Kinsey), Andy (Ed Helms) refers to his mother and father as Andrew and Ellen Bernard, implying that he is Andy Bernard Jr. However, when we meet his parents in "The Garden Party," the father is identified as Walter Bernard Sr. (Stephen Collins) and Andy explains that he used to be named Walter Jr. before his younger brother (played by Josh Groban) was deemed more worthy of the moniker.

The Rules For Transferring Powers (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)

In Season 2 of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, when Jason (Austin St. John), Trini (Thuy Trang), and Zack (Walter Emanuel Jones) are forced to leave, the team needs to acquire a special sword to transfer their powers to Rocky (Steve Cardenas), Aisha (Karan Ashley), and Adam (Johnny Yong Bosch). However, in the following season, when Kimberly (Amy Jo Johnson) needed to give her powers to Kat (Catherine Sutherland), she just handed over her power coin.

Sitcoms are meant to bring joy into the homes of those who watch them. However, not every episode manages to please every viewer and, in some instances, might stir up enough outrage to get banned. Such a fate actually befell some of the following episodes from the best sitcoms of all time which caused controversy.

"The Puppy Episode" - Ellen

At the same time Ellen Degeneres came out of the closet in real life, so did her sitcom alter ego – the first lead character on a TV series to do so – in "The Puppy Episode." While the two-part Season 4 episode of Ellen proved to be an Emmy-winning success and a big ratings win, many affiliates of ABC refused to air the episode and several sponsors chose not to advertise during its broadcast

"Edith's 50 Birthday" - All In The Family

In a two-part episode from the eighth season of All in the Family called "Edith's 50th Birthday," Jean Stapleton's character is nearly assaulted by a stranger posing as a detective whom she manages to escape but not without traumatizing circumstances. While remembered as one of the most powerful dramatic moments in a sitcom, seeing a character like Edith involved in such a harrowing situation was overwhelmingly "heartbreaking" for some to watch.

"Partial Terms Of Endearment" - Family Guy

Originally intended to be the Season 8 finale for Family Guy, "Partial Terms Of Endearment" sees Lois (Alex Borstein) agree to carry a child for a couple but, when they suddenly die in an accident, she considers having an abortion. The episode's satirical approach to a hotly debated serious topic led it to be banned from airing on American television but has been made available in the United States on DVD.

"Running Zack" - Saved By The Bell

Zack Morris is known today as one of the most ill-behaved sitcom kids for many reasons but one time Saved by the Bell tried to pain him in an admirable light has since backfired heavily. Star Mark-Paul Gosselaar later voiced regret over this Saved by the Bell episode in which his character discovers he has Native American ancestry and actually dons a headdress for a class presentation.

"You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato" - Murphy Brown

In the Season 4 finale of Murphy Brown, Candace Bergen's title character chooses to raise her new baby on her own – a decision that was criticized by then-Vice President Dan Quayle. The following season's premiere was written in response to this and even directly acknowledged the vice president's comments.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - Roseanne

Roseanne was a revolutionary moment in sitcom history as a TV show featuring blue-collar characters but it also pushed boundaries in many other ways, such as an episode when Roseanne Barr's title character kisses a woman in a lesbian Barr. The comedian had to fight ABC on their hesitation to air the episode fearing there it would spark a backlash from religious conservatives and they turned out to be right.

"The Bicycle Man" - Diff'rent Strokes

In a famous "very special episode" of Diff'rent Strokes, Arnold (Gary Coleman) and his friend, Dudley (Shavar Ross) discover that a bicycle shop owner named Mr. Horton (Gordon Jump) is the kind of grown-up parents would not want their children to be alone with. While acclaimed for its bold depiction of the dangers of inappropriate attention from adults directed at minors, it was criticized for not downplaying its humor as much as it could have.

"Episode #1.1" - Soap

Right out of the gate, the revolutionary daytime drama spoof Soap garnered intense backlash by a wide margin for its approach to topics that were still very sensitive in the late 1970s. Billy Crystal's character, Jodie Dallas, was criticized both by anti-gay groups as well as the gay community, which felt that the otherwise groundbreaking characters portrayed their culture in a stereotypical and mocking fashion.

"Maude's Dilemma" - Maude

In the premiere season of Maude, the also beloved spin-off from All in the Family aired a two-part episode in which Bea Arthur's title character becomes pregnant and decides that, at her age, she would rather not have the baby. "Maude's Dilemma" was the first episode of a television show to acknowledge the abortion debate, which led to CBS receiving thousands of letters in protest.

"The Puerto Rican Day" - Seinfeld

The penultimate episode of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David's mega-hit comedy is not considered one of the best episodes of Seinfeld for the same reasons it was taken out of circulation for years. "The Puerto Rican Day" – in which the gang gets stuck in traffic due to the eponymous parade – was viewed as culturally insensitive, particularly for one scene when Kramer accidentally lights a Puerto Rican flag on fire and tries to stomp it out, but has since been made available in syndication and on streaming.

"Lucy Is Enceinte" - I Love Lucy

In the 1950s, saying the word "pregnant" was not permitted on television, which is why you never actually hear Lucy (Lucille Ball) say the word in her many attempts to tell Ricky (Desi Arnaz) her big news in this classic I Love Lucy episode. Despite its clever censorship, "Lucy is Enceinte" almost did not air due to advertisers' reluctance because the mere topic of making Lucy pregnant would mean acknowledging that she and Ricky had been intimate.

"The Speech" - The IT Crowd

In the third season of the hilarious British sitcom, The IT Crowd, Matt Berry's Douglas Reynholm discovers his girlfriend, April, is a transwoman (as demonstrated in a tasteless montage of her performing traditionally masculine tasks), which leads to a violent end to their relationship. Considered abhorrent upon broadcast, the U.K.'s Channel 4 decided to pull the episode from its streaming service in 2020, prompting creator Graham Lineman to cut ties with the network.

"The One With The Lesbian Wedding" - Friends

The first TV series to depict the marriage between two women was Friends in Season 2's "The One with the Lesbian Wedding." However, many NBC network affiliates, including in Texas, refused to air the episode in which Ross' ex-wife, Carol (Jane Sibbett), and her girlfriend, Susan (Jessica Hecht), tie the knot.

"Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" - Community

For years, the Season 2 Community episode, "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" was not available to stream, due to a moment when Ken Jeong's Chang dons what appears to be blackface to cosplay as a "dark elf." However, Community cast member Yvette Nicole Brown, when speaking to Gizmodo, defended the episode, especially since her character, Shirley Bennett, calls out Chang's insensitive act.

"Stark Raving Dad" - The Simpsons

Michael Jackson makes an uncredited appearance in an episode of The Simpsons as the voice of an institutionalized man who believes he is the "Thriller" singer. In 2019, following the release of the documentary, Leaving Neverland, the episode was pulled from circulation and has since been made unavailable to stream.

"Eric's Buddy" - That 70s Show

Joseph Gordon-Levitt guest starred on That '70s Show as Buddy, whom Eric (Topher Grace) discovers is interested in more than lab partners when he plants a kiss on him. The otherwise refreshingly open-minded episode has been criticized for reducing the openly gay character to not much more than a punchline and a means for Eric to reinforce his identity as a straight man.

"200" - South Park

South Park is known for its many boundary-pushing moments, which creator Matt Stone and Trey Parker decided to pay tribute to in the animated series' two-part 200th episode. Unsurprisingly, the episode would face heavy backlash and, since its initial broadcast, has been censored for its depiction of Muslim faith.

"Koi Pond" - The Office

One example of an ill-fated prank from The Office that some fans have probably never seen comes from the since-removed cold open for an episode called "Koi Pond." In it, Michael (Steve Carell) stages a suicide for Dunder-Miffling's Halloween haunted house attraction, traumatizing the young trick-or-treaters and angering viewers for its insensitive approach to the subject.

"Comedians" - Beavis And Butt-Head

When Beavis and Butt-Head pursue stand-up comedy careers and fail, they retaliate by setting fire to the club where they performed and happily giggle as it burns to the ground. In 1993, a The New York Times report claimed that five-year-old Austin Messner watched the episode and accidentally killed his sister by setting his own home on fire, prompting MTV to pull it from rotation. However, in 2008, the 20-year-old Messner revealed (via PopCulture) that he never watched Beavis and Butt-Head because his addict mother could not afford cable.

"I'll See You In Court" - Married... With Children

While Married... with Children never had the squeakiest reputation, Fox refused to air an episode in which Al (Ed O'Neill) and Peg Bundy (Katey Sagal) discover their night at a motel was recorded and file a lawsuit. While initially deemed in poor taste, an edited version of the episode finally made it to air on FX years later.

"Live Show" - 30 Rock

Both times 30 Rock put on a live episode, the shows were met with backlash for the use of Blackface. For instance, the East Coast broadcast of Season 5's "Live Show" would be pulled from syndication for a scene in which guest star Jon Hamm's character shows off his hand transplant from a Black donor.

"Prom-ises, Prom-ises" - Boy Meets World

Some episodes of the beloved TGIF comedy Boy Meets World were removed from Disney Channel's rotation of reruns, including Season 5's "Prom-ises, Prom-ises." The plot sees teen lovers Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) considering the decision to consummate their relationship on prom night, only to discover his parents are having their own fun in a nearby hotel room.

"The Hunger Strike" - The Boondocks

It took 12 years for "The Hunger Strike," an episode of The Boondocks that was originally called "BET Sucks" and set to air on Adult Swim in 2008, to finally be shown on American television. The actual reason for the banning has not been confirmed but reports claim that BET threatened litigation, due to its overtly scathing spoofing of the cable network's programming.

"Mid-Life Crustacean" - SpongeBob Squarepants

Even a Nicktoon as beloved as SpongeBob Squarepants has a couple of episodes that modern audiences will never see on Nickelodeon or with a Paramount+ subscription and, in retrospect, it is surprising that one of them ever made it to air. Season 3's "Mid-Life Crustacean" involves a scene when Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), in a bid to reclaim his youth, joins SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) to raid a woman's undergarment drawer, only to discover too late that they have broken into his mother's house.

"Boston" - Aqua Teen Hunger Force

In 2007, battery-powered LED placards designed to resemble Aqua Teen Hunger Force characters called The Mooninites were placed around Boston as a marketing strategy for the adult animated movie, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, but were mistaken for explosive devices. The original show's writers decided to create an episode based on the incident, in which Frylock (Carey Means), Master Shake (Dana Snyder), and Meatwad (Dave Wilis) are mistaken for explosives in Boston. The episode would become the first in the series to get banned but was later leaked online in 2015.

"Something's Up There" - Back To You

The short-lived Fox sitcom Back to You – starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton as bickering news anchors – has been largely forgotten since it ended in 2008. However, one episode was deemed controversial upon airing for the following line said to a Polish character when trying to convince them to go bowling: "Come on, it's in your blood, like Kielbasa and collaborating with the Nazis."

"Leap Frogs" - Rocko's Modern Life

Not only was Rocko's Modern Life one of the weirdest Nicktoons ever but it was especially one of the lewdest. Nickelodeon let plenty of mature humor slide but did ban an episode in which Mrs. Bighead tries to seduce the titular wallaby.

"Elephant Issues" - Tiny Toon Adventures

The Steven Spielberg-produced Tiny Toon Adventures served as a new era for the Looney Tunes legacy but did make a few dark turns during its run. For instance, one banned episode, which was meant to serve as a PSA of sorts, saw Buster Bunny, Plucky Duck, and Hamton J. Pig getting intoxicated and suffering a car accident

"Dentist" - Adventure Time

The plot of the Adventure Time Season 6 episode, "Dentist," – in which Finn (Jeremy Shada) receives oral treatment from a colony of ants – offers nothing controversial in concept. However, it caused a bit of an internet uproar when a character named Lt. Gamergate (which is the name of a type of ant) was interpreted as a reference to the recently developing "GamerGate" movement.

30. "Fat Like Me" - Daria

Spun-off from Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria followed the misadventures of the cynical, monotone titular teen (voiced by Tracy Grandstaff). One episode of the animated never aired in reruns on the Nickelodeon subsidiary Teen Nick (formerly known as The N) because of the way it depicts obesity's connection to high school social status.

"Terms Of Endearment" - Drawn Together

Drawn Together is a mockumentary-style animated Comedy Central series following a group of cartoon characters living together. One episode was met with controversy for its satirical portrayal of the horse riding accident that paralyzed Superman actor Christopher Reeve, who passed away shortly before the series premiered.

"Man's Best Friend" - Ren & Stimpy

One of the most unhinged episodes of Ren & Stimpy was banned on Nickelodeon for a violent scene in which Ren beats up a character with an oar, as well as the depiction of dog treats that, for some reason, look like cigars and feces. The episode was later broadcast on MTV, which is certainly a more appropriate home for its subject matter.

For every unnecessary reboot of a beloved movie, there seem to be just as many unnecessary reboots of a beloved TV series. While some would prove to be a welcome improvement on what came before, there are even more (including some successful ones) that we still feel we could have done without, given our continued enjoyment of what came before. We had almost too many examples to choose from while compiling this of TV shows that did not need to be rebooted.

Knight Rider (1982-1986)

Despite its cheesy moments, Knight Rider was one of the best '80s sci-fi TV shows, boasting one of David Hasselhoff's best performances in the role of Michael Knight – a government agent whose partner in fighting crime is an indestructible car powered by a sentient artificial intelligence called KITT (voice by William Daniels). In 2008, NBC aired a soft reboot, set in the same world but following a new protagonist (Justin Bruening as Mick Traceur) and a new KITT (voiced by Val Kilmer), which lacked the charisma, the fun, and much semblance of a brain, leading to its premature cancellation.

Charmed (1998-2006)

One of the best Shannen Doherty TV shows was Charmed, which starred her, Holly Marie Combs, and Alyssa Milano as three sisters who discover they are descended from witches. After The WB became The CW, despite no real demand, the network developed a reimagining starring Melonie Diaz, Madeleine Mantock, and Sarah Jeffery that managed to last four seasons, despite criticism for its one-dimensional characters and uninspired plotlines.

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

Creator and narrator Rod Serling's landmark horror anthology TV show, The Twilight Zone has been resurrected numerous times. However, neither the late '80s revival, nor the early 2000s version with Forest Whitaker, or even producer and narrator Jordan Peele's iteration achieved the same acclaim as as the chilling and thought-provoking classic.

Full House (1987-1995)

What made Full House successful despite its unimpressive critical reputation was a healthy dose of wholesomeness amidst its generic family comedy antics. Netflix's revival, Fuller House – which recycled the plot but made DJ (Candace Cameron Bure), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and Kimmy (Andrea Barber) the leads – had a decent five-season run, despite being criticized for the same things, in addition to relying mostly on nostalgia.

The Bionic Woman (1976-1978)

Even with Battlestar Galactica producer David Eick involved, NBC's 2007 reboot of The Bionic Woman did not manage to be better, faster, or stronger, especially in the ratings. One would hope its cancellation after eight episodes teaches executives to avoid rebooting the series that star Lindsey Wagner's original sci-fi series was spun-off from The Six Million Dollar Man.

Jersey Shore (2009-2012)

For a while, it seemed like the entire world was talking about the cast of Jersey Shore, even if most of the discussions surrounding their boisterous behavior and debaucherous shenanigans were mocking and disdainful. Years after it seemed like the world had finally forgotten about this uproarious reality show, MTV debuted Jersey Shore Family Vacation in 2018.

That '70s Show (1998-2006)

A That '70s Show spin-off was first attempted in 2002 with That '80s Show, which had little to no connection to the original, potentially costing it a longer life and better reception. At least Netflix's That '90s Show – which sees Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty's (Debra Jo Rupp) home overrun with a new batch of teens, including their granddaughter – can say it earned a decent following but not enough to last more than two seasons.

Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

If there was any reason to bring back Gossip Girl, it might have been to correct the widely disappointing series finale reveal that Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) was the eponymous blogger the entire time. Instead, Max's short-lived retread of the hit CW drama, running between 2021 and 2023, introduced a whole new cast and attempted to freshen up the material with the overcooked theme of teens' relationship with social media.

Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000)

The CW's 90210 was developed as a continuation of producer Aaron Spelling's primetime soap opera and even featured a few returning Beverly Hills, 90210 cast members to keep its promise. However, despite the fan service, the 2008-2013 series essentially recycled the plot of the original with a new ensemble of good-looking youths.

Roseanne (1988-1997)

While the series finale of Roseanne may have left some viewers disappointed, we wonder if that was really any reason to try again with a modern revival. Not to mention, the sitcom's 2018 reboot took a rough turn in its premiere run when its star, Roseanne Barr, was fired for a controversial tweet, leading ABC to kill off her character and rebrand the show as The Conners.

Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)

Originally starring Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith, Charlie's Angels would find success in the early 2000s on the big screen with two feature-length adaptations starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu. However, ABC's series reboot from 2011 with Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly, and Rachael Taylor received universal disdain and lasted only eight episodes.

That's So Raven (2003-2007)

Years after launching her career on The Cosby Show, Raven-Symoné became the star of her own sitcom, That's So Raven, as a teen who can occasionally see the future. However, no one could predicted that, in 2017, Disney Channel would come out with Raven's Home – following the adult Raven Baxter as a single parent – which was a surprising success despite its unnecessary existence.

MacGyver (1985-1992)

CBS would produce a long list of reboots of its most popular crime dramas from yesteryear, including MacGyver, which would last a decent five seasons from 2016 to 2021. However, most would agree that the modern version with Lucas Till as a younger Mac does not quite hold a candle to the fun of the original, starring Richard Dean Anderson as an unimaginably resourceful secret agent.

Saved By The Bell (1989-1992)

Peacock's 2020 revival of NBC's hit coming-of-age sitcom, Saved By the Bell, while certainly unnecessary, was pretty well received during the short time it lasted. While The College Years could have been better, though, what really overstayed its welcome was The New Class, which replaced the entire cast, save Dennis Haskins as Mr. Belding and Dustin Diamond as Screech.

V (1984-1985)

The V franchise – an alien invasion story told over the course of two miniseries and one traditional series that lasted a season on NBC – would be reinterpreted for modern audiences on ABC in 2009. Of course, by then, the extraterrestrial visitors' true, malevolent intentions were no secret, leaving little room for suspense in the reboot.

Beauty And The Beast (1987-1990)

The classic French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, Beauty and the Beast, was reimagined as a romantic contemporary drama in the late 1980s starring Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton, the former of which won a Golden Globe for his performance. The CW's 2012 iteration with Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan would last a good while but did not capture the same magic as developer Ron Koslow's vision and, not to mention, did not bother to make the male lead particularly "beastly."

Roswell (1999-2002)

Based on Melinda Metz's book series, The WB's Roswell follows three young human/alien hybrids with special gifts living in the eponymous New Mexico town where an alleged UFO crash took place. A reimagining of the story, Roswell, New Mexico, ran for four seasons on The CW and was admired for its commentary on immigration, only to be overshadowed by criticism for being a retread of what came before.

Dallas (1978-1991)

In its prime, there were few series nearly as popular as Dallas, which is famous for having one of the most iconic cliffhangers in TV history by leaving viewers obsessed with the mystery of who shot J.R. Ewing for a summer. We cannot quite say the same about TNT's revival, which was canceled after 40 episodes in 2014.

Magnum P.I. (1980-1988)

The Jay Hernandez-led reboot of Magnum P.I. lasted an impressive five seasons (originally on CBS before moving to NBC). However, even critics and audiences who enjoyed it agree it was mostly a watered-down carbon copy of Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson's '80s classic starring Tom Selleck as the titular Hawaii-based private investigator.

Melrose Place (1992-1999)

The 2009 reboot of Melrose Place, which followed the dramatic lives of the eponymous L.A. apartment complex's residents, only lasted 18 episodes. We imagine this might be because it premiered in such close proximity to another CW drama based on a hit '90s show about young people with problems: the 90210 reboot.

Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991-1996)

Starting off as an educational computer game in the mid-1980s, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? was later adapted into a hit game show and an animated series featuring Rita Moreno as the titular thief. With all due respect to the developers of Netflix's animated reboot, Carmen Sandiego, and Gina Rodriguez, who is great in the title role, we cannot help but feel that the property was already past its prime by this point.

24 (2001-2010)

The unique, real-time narrative structure of 24 and Kiefer Sutherland's engaging performance as Jack Bauer kept the drama going for eight seasons before bringing the reckless counter-terrorism agent back for the 2014 miniseries, 24: Live Another Day. Just two years later, Fox tried to continue the series as 24: Legacy, led by Corey Hawkins in a new role, which only lasted "12 hours."

DuckTales (1987-1990)

Perhaps we can understand wanting to introduce Huey, Dewey, and Louie to a new generation of viewers with a reboot of DuckTales, which aired on Disney XD from 2017 to 2021. However, we still prefer their triplets' original adventures with Uncle Scrooge, especially for its superior animation style.

Fantasy Island (1977-1984)

If we had a fantasy we would like to see come true, it would be that all reboots of Fantasy Island – set on a paradisiacal getaway where dreams magically come true – did not exist. Neither the 1998 series reimagining with Malcolm McDowell, nor Fox's sequel series with Roselyn Sánchez as Elena Roarke, or, especially, Blumhouse's darker feature adaptation managed to enchant critics and fans of the ABC original with Ricardo Montalbán as Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize's Tattoo.

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

We would actually be willing to call Girl Meets World, which ran from 2014 to 2017, the best show that Disney Channel produced in years. Yet, when you really think about it, the sequel to Boy Meets World is mostly a reiteration of a lot of the same lessons we already learned in the original TGIF sitcom.

Heroes (2006-2010)

Despite a strong start and a relatively loyal following for much of its run, NBC's Heroes would quickly begin to lose steam as critics noted a steady decline in quality over time. The 2015 reboot Heroes: Reborn did not do much to help resurrect the franchise as it was not very well received and did not last more than one season.

The Odd Couple (1970-1975)

Inspired by the film based on Neil Simon's hilarious play, The Odd Couple, Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson's sitcom adaptation with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall worked quite well. However, after enough mismatched roommate/friend stories, CBS' reboot with Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon, despite lasting three seasons, felt a bit stale.

Dynasty (1981-1989)

Perhaps the most successful of The CW's string of primetime soap opera reboots was a reimagining of Esther and Richard Alan Shapiro's Dyanasty. Lasting five seasons and featuring a strong performance by Elizabeth Gillies as Fallon Carrington, the old "wealthy families fighting to retain power" schtick was not enough to win critics over.

The Magic School Bus (1994-1997)

In 2017, Netflix released The Magic School Bus Rides Again – a new take on the popular, educational animated show based on a series of books following an elementary school class on some epic field trips. SNL's Kate McKinnon is certainly an inspired choice to voice the new Ms. Frizzle but even she might agree she is no Lily Tomlin.

iCarly (2007-2012)

Considering how much the world of internet blogging had evolved since iCarly's original Nickelodeon run ended, we can understand why there was interest in bringing it back. Yet, we would argue that Paramount+'s reboot, which lasted from 2021 to 2023, suffered from hinging on Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) and Freddy's (Nathan Kress) romance following years of "will they, won't they" and the absence of Jennette McCurdy as Sam and Noah Munck's Gibby.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990-1996)

When a short film reimagining NBC's hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a serious drama dropped in 2019, we can't deny we were intrigued. However, we never expected star Will Smith to actually help get a series adaptation off the ground, becoming Peacock's Bel-Air, which barely offers anything particularly new to the coming-of-age genre.

Frasier (1993-2004)

NBC's Frasier, starring Kelsey Grammer as his role from the Cheers cast, is a prime example of how to do a sitcom spin-off right. While Paramount+'s reboot would earn surprising critical acclaim, even its biggest fans might agree that we did not really need more than the 11 years we got of the eponymous psychiatrist's time in Seattle, especially without David Hyde Pierce and Jane Leeves.

Boy Meets World is one of those classic shows that's become even more popular due to streaming. Amid that, the show has been re-evaluted, with series cast members Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friedle even rewatching it for a podcast. The trio have used their platform talk about the highs and lows of filming the beloved ABC series. One low for Strong, apparently, was the infamous alcoholic episode, and he explained just why it marked such a "miserable" experience for him.

Despite Boy Meets World being a family-friendly show, the hilarious sitcom featured dramatic moments from time to time. One might recall the time that Eric Matthews decided not to adopt his little friend, Tommy, or when Shawn and Jack Hunter's father died. On top of all that, it's hard to forget the episode that dealt with alcoholism. It was actually so raw that Disney Channel banned the “special” episode from its syndication. Rider Strong didn't hold back about what it was like filming the installment when discussing it on the Pod Meets World rewatch podcast:

In the episode, “If You Can’t Be With the One You Love…,” Cory Matthews is depressed about his breakup with Topanga, which leads to him stealing his dad’s whisky flask and convincing Shawn to drink with him at a high school party. Shawn and Cory then proceed to do handstands and pee on a cop car while intoxicated. Ultimately, after getting busted by Cory’s parents for drinking at the party, Cory and Shawn vow never to drink again. While Cory sticks to that, Shawn ends up drinking for a whole week following the party.

By the end of the 22-minute episode, Shawn after pushing his girlfriend, Angela, against a door. That also came after his brother, Jack, reminded him that alcoholism ran in their family. Rider Strong said he felt confused filming the episode, given that Cory could be funny while drunk whereas Shawn was like “a more extreme version” of that. The former child star spoke more about why he didn't feel young audiences would do well to learn the dangers of alcoholism following that particular episode:

The veteran actor also pointed out that he didn’t find it realistic that at a high school party, teens needed to sneak alcohol there. The Kim Possible alum said that if anything, everybody at the party would be drinking. Plus, he wished the series could have shown that sometimes it takes one party for someone to develop a lifelong addiction.

I understand where Rider Strong is coming from in that alcoholism is a very complex issue that can’t begin and end so quickly. It would have been interesting to see the toll that Shawn’s growing alcoholism could have caused. It could've resulted in Angela breaking up with him or if Cory’s parents sticking by their rule that their son couldn't see Shawn again. Maybe there even an episode in which Shawn is sent to rehab, and it could've illuminated the experiences of those who've recovered from alcoholism.

Even though Boy Meets World didn’t get too intense with its alcoholic storyline, Rider Strong previously said a while back that the beloved sitcom connected with fans so much because of its dark storylines. While the funny family-friendly show’s priority was making audiences laugh with its humorous situations, it also featured “special” episodes as a way to educate youths on serious topics. Strong admitted that even if that infamous episode didn’t delve too much into the heavy, he realized it was more centered on the message the creators were trying to convey to audiences -- that drinking is bad and not to start.

I will say that the message did hit with me. When I first watched that memorable episode as a child, it was still scary for me to see such respectable characters like Cory and Shawn drink and be so disorderly. Even though the episode didn't teach me about the serious repercussions that came from alcoholism, it definitely left an impression on me. With that, I thank Rider Strong for powering through the "miserable" experience of filming it.

You can relieve the episode and more by streaming all seven seasons of Boy Meets World with a Disney+ subscription. Also, be sure to listen to new episodes of Pod Meets World on iHeartPodcasts and other places where podcasts are available.

Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “In From the Cold” are ahead!

NCIS is one of those procedurals where although the crux of each episode is the very-serious investigation into someone’s murder or another kind of crime, there are a lot of lighthearted moments sprinkled throughout each story. But every now and then, the long-running CBS procedural, which is now airing its 22nd season on the 2024 TV schedule, leans more strongly into goofy territory. “In From the Cold” was one of those episodes, as it delivered a wild ‘70s throwback necessary to solve one of the team’s more unusual cases. In the midst of that, I was psyched to see one of the cast members from the beloved ‘90s sitcom Boy Meets World along for the ride.

NCIS Went ‘70s For This Week’s Case

This week’s episode of NCIS revolved around Thomas Butler, who was a captain in the U.S. Navy and now suffering from dementia. During a visit at the Naval Medical Center in Virginia with his caregiver son (more on him later), Thomas started suddenly speaking another language and took the doctor hostage. Fortunately she wasn’t hurt, and when Alden Parker and the other protagonist’s showed up, Thomas had no idea what had happened. They soon discovered the language was Finnish, and that he’d been speaking a set of numbers. However, when McGee attempted to look up these numbers, it bricked his phone, and when he tried to repeat the process on one of the hospital’s computers, power was knocked in all of that city block.

It turns out this strange occurrence was thanks to a digital tripwire set by the CIA, as an officer from the agency named Conrad stopped by Director Vance’s office to loop him and Alden Parker on what was going on. He told them that Thomas Butler had once been an intelligence asset for the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and while the CIA caught wind of this early on, they wanted the Soviets to think they had a high-level mole in the Pentagon. Later on, Conrad admitted that what he’d said wasn’t entirely true, as the CIA didn’t actually know Thomas was the spy.

Meanwhile, Thomas Butler suffered another dementia episode and escaped the hospital and was accused of killing an orderly. The team discovered that the numbers were part of an old code used in his Cold War days that used War and Peace and other books as ciphers. But Thomas going on the run became more complicated when he broke into Navy Archives, stole something called Project Laurel, then hid it for safekeeping. The team apprehended him, but Parker had no luck convincing the man it was the present day, not 1979.

The only way they could find out where Project Laurel was located was by playing into Thomas Butler’s 1979 reality. So Timothy McGee disguised himself as Brian Banaszak, a.k.a. “Sparrow,” a dirty CIA agent whom Thomas knew and had been dead since 1980; Jessica Knight was nearby also dressed in ‘70s attire; and Nick Torres even hung out in a “shaggin’ wagon,” in Parker’s words. The steps they took to make it seem like it was 1979 was wild and somewhat amusing, although it ended up not working out, as Thomas got spooked and seemingly shot McGee.

Then the biggest twist in “In From the Cold arrived: this was all a sting to capture the episode’s true villain, Conrad, and it was only accomplished because Parker was actually able to coax Thomas Butler back to reality. It turns out Project Laurel was a laundry list of CIA crimes, and Conrad’s name was written all over it. So when he learned Thomas was having memory issues, Conrad tried to eliminate him, and he was the one who really killed the orderly. Fortunately, Thomas regained his memory just in time and clued everyone in on Conrad’s true nature, so they were able to apprehend him. Then there was one final surprise to enjoy in this NCIS episode, but before I talk about that, let’s loop back to that Boy Meets World alum.

Boy Meets World’s Matthew Lawrence Guest-Starred

When “In From the Cold” started playing, I immediately knew I recognize the actor playing Danny Butler from somewhere. Then I saw his name flash across the screen: Matthew Lawrence. While some may know him best from his earliest appearances in movies like Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Mrs. Doubtfire, I’d argue Lawrence is best known from his time as a series regular on the final three seasons of Boy Meets World, which aired from 1993 to 2000 on ABC. Lawrence played Jack Hunter, the half-brother of Rider Strong’s Shawn Hunter and best friend of Will Friedle’s Eric Matthews.

To be clear, there’s absolutely nothing nodding to Matthew Lawrence’s Boy Meets World past in this NCIS episode. Still, as someone who enjoyed the sitcom when I was younger and hasn’t seen the actor perform in anything since he reprised Jack Hunter in an episode of Girl Meets World almost a decade ago (although I did hear him talk about his uncomfortable encounter with Justin Timberlake), I was delighted to see him appear. Danny Butler’s main purpose in “In From the Cold” was to look surprised and hurt about his dad’s secret past, and understandably so. But the episode ends on a happy note for the father and son, as it revealed that Thomas had actually been working as a double agent for the CIA and passing disinformation for the Russians to lead them on wild goose chases.

Now that Matthew Lawrence has stopped by NCIS, hopefully I’ll see him pop up in other primetime programming I enjoy… or really any of the Boy Meets World crew. And hey, at least I can stream the sitcom with my Disney+ subscription or listen to the Pod Meets World podcast if I ever feel a hankering to dip back into that comedy space. For those of you who are strictly NCIS fans, the next new episode will air on November 25, but you’re welcome to break out your Paramount+ subscription to stream the entire catalog of this procedural franchise.

Some people might like to argue that streaming, in becoming our dominant form of media consumption, has ruined the television industry. Well, there is no doubt that it has changed the industry in many ways and, in some cases, for the better. 

There are many TV shows that are now regarded as classics but might not have earned such an honor if not for audiences discovering it on a streaming platform, helping boost its appeal in a way traditional television could not for whatever reason. Let's take a look at some of the most beloved TV shows that were made more popular (or even saved) by streaming. 

The Wire (2002-2008)

In its initial run, The Wire was already considered one of the best shows on HBO, if not of all time, for its refreshing grounded depiction of urban crime in modern Baltimore from both sides of the law. However, thanks to having a Max subscription (formerly known as HBO Max and, earlier, HBO GO), new generations of viewers have been able to witness David Simon's masterpiece.

You (2018-2024)

Even many of the biggest fans of You might not realize that the serial killer drama starring Penn Badgley is not a true Netflix original. It was canceled after one season on the Lifetime Network and, after becoming a surprise hit on Netflix, the platform picked it up for four more seasons.

Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

Despite achieving instant success in its home nation of Canada on CBC, creator Dan and Eugene Levy's sitcom following a family's riches-to-rags story went underseen in the States for years on the Pop Network. Luckily, when the series dropped on Netflix, America suddenly could not get enough of the Schitt's Creek cast, the comedy's remarkable quotability, and surprisingly heartfelt moments.

The Expanse (2015-2022)

Based on a series of novels by Daniel Abrahams and Ty Franck (and James S. A. Corey), The Expanse quickly found a following on SyFy as one of the network's smartest and most exciting dramas and, yet, it still got the boot after three seasons. Fortunately, the adventures of James Holden (Steven Strait) and his crew's defense against a conspiracy affecting the colonized solar system were able to continue as one of the best sci-fi TV shows on Amazon Prime for three more seasons.

Suits (2011-2019)

Despite being one of the longest-running series on USA Network, Suits really became a hit in its later years after gaining traction as one of the most-watched TV shows on Netflix. Of course, Suits cast member Meghan Markle's marriage to Prince Harry likely had an influence on the legal drama's success.

The Office (2005-2014)

Greg Daniels' Americanized update of the hilarious British sitcom was certainly a hit on NBC, but its fanbase grew exponentially when it became one of the highest-viewed series on Netflix. It is no wonder why Peacock paid the platform $500 million for the streaming rights to The Office and even released special Superfan cuts of select episodes.

Letterkenny (2016-2023)

To be honest, Letterkenny, which follows the day-to-day lives of people from the titular rural town in the Great White North, already originated on a streaming service: the Canadian-exclusive platform, Crave. However, when it became available in the United States with a Hulu subscription, the quirky sitcom's fanbase took a Texas-size expansion.

Firefly (2002-2003)

There is a variety of reasons why Firefly was canceled after Fox aired only 11 episodes, from a doomed time slot to misguided marketing. Luckily, even before streaming helped widen its fanbase, the now beloved sci-fi TV show following a crew of outlaws traveling beyond the stars released a DVD set that allowed audiences to see the epic Western-style cosmic adventures they missed out on.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Following the journey of a young man born with the ability to manipulate the elements air, earth, fire, and water, Avatar: The Last Airbender was a huge hit during its initial run on Nickelodeon. It would only become even more popular when it became available to stream on Netflix, which would go on to produce a live-action series update in 2024.

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

According to Variety, after Breaking Bad won the Best Drama Series Emmy in 2013, creator Vince Gilligan admitted he owed the success of his groundbreaking drama to Netflix, which later produced El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. The thriller, following a terminally high school chemistry teacher (played by Bryan Cranston) turning to crime to support his family, could barely be called a hit during its few years on AMC.

 Freaks And Geeks (1999-2000)

One of the first titles that come to mind when people think of series that ended too soon is Freaks and Geeks, which was canceled by NBC after one season for the typical reasons: misguided marketing and a poor time slot. Since most of the Freaks and Geeks cast went on to take Hollywood by storm, the coming-of-age dramedy has become one of the most acclaimed series of its time by fans who discovered in the digital age.

Criminal Minds (2005-Present)

After lasting a whopping 15 seasons on CBS, Criminal Minds continued to captivate audiences as one of the most popular crime TV shows on Netflix. The procedural drama's enduring success eventually led to its revival, on Paramount+.

Manifest (2018-2023)

When NBC canned it after just three seasons, fans prayed that Netflix would swoop in to renew Manifest and, luckily, their wish came true. A fourth and final season of the sci-fi drama, about a commercial jet that suddenly reappears five years after mysteriously vanishing, debuted on the streaming platform, allowing it to have the smooth landing creator Jeff Rake intended.

Lucifer (2016-2021)

Based on a DC Vertigo comic book, Lucifer — starring Tom Ellis as the Devil, taking human form to be an LAPD consultant — debuted on Fox, where it lasted only three seasons. Soon after, it would be hailed as one of the best DC TV shows on Netflix when it was renewed for three more seasons exclusively on the platform.

Community (2009-2015)

Ironically enough, when Dan Harmon's comedy about a close-knit group of community students first transitioned from NBC to a streaming exclusive on the now-defunct Yahoo! Screen, it was considered a disaster. However, fans would go on to revisit the best episodes of Community on Hulu, Netflix, or Peacock, keeping the #SixSeasonsAndAMovie dream alive. 

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

One of the most popular shows on The CW (when it was still called The WB) was Gilmore Girls, which would only remain popular and acquire more fans who discovered it with their Netflix subscription. The streaming platform would even serve as the home of a four-episode sequel series called Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Friends (1994-2004)

Could Friends have been a bigger bit than it was during its ten-year run on NBC? As it turns out, yes, since the popular '90s TV show became a monster hit on Netflix and, once it left the platform, likely inspired many fans to get a Max subscription just so they could keep the binge going.

Luther (2010-2019)

Some of the best evidence of the enduring popularity of Luther — an acclaimed British crime thriller starring Idris Elba in the brilliant but cantankerous title role — can be found on Netflix. In 2023, the platform distributed a feature-length spin-off called Luther: The Fallen Sun, which quickly became its highest-watched movie and led to a deal for more films.

Arrested Development (2003-2019)

Despite never getting the ratings it needed to be a hit during its three-season run on Fox, Arrested Development was remembered fondly as one of the most hilarious cult favorite TV shows of all time. That enduring legacy led to its revival in 2017 as "a Netflix semi-original series."

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

In its prime, Boy Meets World was one of the must-see comedies from ABC's TGIF Block in the 1990s and would later spawn a sequel series following Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga's (Danielle Fishel) daughter, Riley (Rowan Blanchard) called Girl Meets World. The success of the Disney Channel series, also starring Sabrina Carpenter, inspired a new generation of fans to check out the original with their Disney+ subscription. 

Futurama (1999-Present)

Creator Matt Groening's animated satire about an average 20th Century man who wakes up from an accidental, 1000-year cryogenic slumber initially ran for just four seasons on Fox, was revived on Comedy Central from 2008 to 2013, and then, a decade later, became an exclusive on Hulu where it is more popular than ever. At this rate, it looks like Futurama might last well into the future.

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

MTV's darker take on a funny coming-of-age creature feature from the '80s was a surprise hit, even as one of the best horror TV shows on Hulu in the years since it ended. The continued interest in the series on streaming would lead to a feature-length continuation that premiered on Paramount+ in early 2023.

iCarly (2007-2012, 2021-2023)

Miranda Cosgrove followed her role as the mischievous Megan on Drake & Josh by starring on the Nickelodeon sitcom as a teen internet sensation. People who grew up with the show would rediscover their love for it as adults when Paramount+ revived iCarly with more mature audiences in mind.

The Mindy Project (2012-2017)

Creator and star Mindy Kaling's first major follow-up after playing Kelly Kapoor in NBC's The Office cast was the aptly titled The Mindy Project, in which she plays an OB/GYN struggling to balance her personal and professional life. It premiered on Fox, where it remained for three seasons, before moving exclusively to Hulu for the latter half of its run.

Longmire (2012-2017)

Based on a series of novels by Craig Johnson, Longmire is a neo-Western drama starring Australian actor Robert Taylor as the titular Wyoming sheriff who brings his own brand of justice to his county. Despite debuting on A&E as the cable network's highest-rated original drama, it was not renewed for a fourth season, leading Netflix to step in and become its home for another three years.

Trailer Park Boys (2001-2018)

A show that Letterkenny fans would enjoy if they have not heard of it already is Trailer Park Boys — another comedy set in rural Canada which, for its first seven years, aired on a channel exclusive to the country called Showcase. A newfound interest in the documentary-style series and its feature-length spin-offs in the United States led Netflix to acquire the show in 2012, lasting several more seasons and even spawning more specials and an animated series.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

Before a new Star Wars TV show premiered on Disney+ every few months or so, one of the most beloved small-screen titles to come from a galaxy far, far away was Star Wars: The Clone Wars. However, the Force initially could have been stronger with this one as it was canceled by Cartoon Network in 2013 before gaining newfound popularity on Netflix (where a new season was distributed) the following year and, later, getting revived for one more batch of episodes on DIsney+ in 2020.

Parks And Recreation (2009-2015) 

Despite being the brainchild of The Office producers Greg Daniels and Michael Schur and starring former SNL cast member Amy Poehler in the lead, Parks and Recreation struggled to find its footing on NBC for its first couple of years. The mockumentary-style political satire got a bit of a boost in popularity once it dropped on Netflix and, for years after it ended, earned a reputation as one of the most popular series on the platform.

White Collar (2009-2014)

The show that made a star out of actor Matt Bomer is White Collar, in which he stars as a suave professional criminal who works with the FBI to catch other cons like him. Like many other USA original series, the dramedy was a much bigger hit on Netflix than it was during its initial run on the network.

Designated Survivor (2016-2019)

Kiefer Sutherland stars in Designated Survivor as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who is suddenly appointed President after everyone in the chain of command above him is killed in a catastrophic attack. The political drama was canceled after only two years on ABC but would go on for one more season on Netflix.

The Nanny (1993-1999)

Co-creator and star Fran Drescher is best known for playing Fran Fine on The Nanny, which had a strong run on CBS in the 1990s. The sitcom is noted for appealing to a new generation when it dropped on Max.

The Killing (2011-2014)

The American version of the Danish television series Forbrydelsen, The Killing, originally premiered on AMC, which would cancel the dark crime drama after its third season, which almost did not happen. The series then made an official transition to Netflix, where its fourth and final season was distributed.

There are few novelties within the media landscape that can be more enjoyable than good crossovers. For years now, creatives have found intriguing ways to cross-pollinate properties. Said events are especially common when it comes to TV shows, and viewers have certainly been treated to some entertaining productions involving multiple series mixing it up. On that note, we’re going to talk about 32 particularly excellent small-screen mashups. 

Batman/The Green Hornet

The 1960s series Batman and The Green Hornet linked up in a few small ways during their runs, but their most prominent crossover occurred during a two-part episode of the former show. “A Piece of the Action” and “Batman’s Satisfaction” saw Gotham’s protectors forge an uneasy alliance with the Hornet and Kato, and the result was a truly action-packed hour of pulpy goodness.

Full House/Family Matters

Remember the time Family Matters’ Steve Urkel appeared on Full House? In Season 4’s “Stephanie Gets Framed,” the Urk Man traveled from Chicago to San Francisco for a science fair and ended up giving Stephanie Tanner advice regarding her new glasses. The result was a relatively sweet installment, which built a solid bridge between two of ABC’s best TGIF comedies.

The Jetsons/The Flintstones

The respective casts of Hanna-Barbera’s prehistoric and futuristic animated sitcoms finally came together in the 1987 TV movie The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones. During the special, the two groups walked a mile in each other’s shoes via time travel, and the result was a fun piece of work that could make you yell Yabba Dabba Doo!

The Beverly Hillbillies/Petticoat Junction/Green Acres

It’s no secret that CBS’ The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres are all set within the same fictional universe. All three shows crossed over multiple times, but the sweetest example was arguably the Hillbillies Season 7 episode “The Thanksgiving Spirit,” in which the casts of the three comedies warmly shared a meal together.

St. Elsewhere/Cheers

Both Cheers and St. Elsewhere are set in Boston, so it was only fitting that a connection was built between the two NBC shows. The crossover occurred during Season 3 of the medical drama, when several doctors visited the titular pub from one of the best sitcoms of all time. Come for the intrigue of the mashup, and stay for Rhea Perlman’s Carla Tortelli chewing out a group of medical professionals.

Diff’rent Strokes/Hello, Larry

Honestly, Hello, Larry wasn’t all that interesting on its own, but its three two-part crossovers with fellow NBC sitcom Diff’rent Strokes were solid. The final meetup between the two casts, “Thanksgiving Crossover,” was particularly enjoyable and highlighted character dynamics in fun ways.

Boy Meets World/Sabrina The Teenage Witch

Fan-favorite Sabrina the Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart briefly appeared as her eponymous character during the closing tag for the Boy Meets World Season 5 episode, “The Witches of Pennbrook.” Her appearance may not be considered canon now, but it was certainly cool to see at the time. 

Scooby-Doo/Josie And The Pussycats

Throughout the two-season run of The New Scooby-Doo Movies, Mystery Inc. ran into a number of notable people – both real and fictional. It was only fitting that the sleuths met up with their fellow Hanna-Barbera-birthed peers from Josie and the Pussycats. The two gangs teamed up to solve a mystery in “The Haunted Showboat,” resulting in a fun romp.

NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles/NCIS: Hawai’i

In early 2023, NCIS’ first triple crossover debuted, bringing together characters from the mothership show as well as the Los Angeles and Hawai’i spinoffs. The shows’ respective teams joined forces to investigate the apparent suicide of a retired military official. It can be said that this Avengers-style event was well worth the wait.

Happy Days/Laverne & Shirley

Within the fictional TV universe co-created by producer Garry Marshall, Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley cross-pollinated multiple times. One of the most notable instances of that was with the two-part crossover “Shotgun Wedding,” in which Shirley and Laverne became engaged to Richie Cunningham and the Fonz to save them from arranged marriages.

The Mask: Animated Series/Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Both Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask: Animated Series were adapted from Jim Carrey movies, so it was only right that they both crossover. The two-part event – which was spread across both shows – was a truly wild romp that involved brain-switching shenanigans, a trip to space and more.

Friends/Mad About You

Amid all the truly strong and ridiculous Friends episodes, is the memorable two-parter, “The One with Two Parts.” The installments see Joey Tribbiani falling for Phoebe Buffay’s twin sister, Ursula, from Mad About You. The fun episodes also featured cheeky cameos from Helen Hunt and Leila Kenzle, who appeared as their MAU characters.

The Golden Girls/Empty Nest/Nurses

Three-show crossovers can be tricky, but NBC pulled off a fun one in 1991 with The Golden Girls, Empty Nest and Nurses. “Hurricane Saturday” saw the characters of the Florida-based sitcoms weathering a massive storm and humorously crossing paths as they did so.

The King Of Queens/Everybody Loves Raymond

Due to a retroactive bridge being retroactively built between them, Everybody Loves Raymond and The King of Queens crossed over multiple times throughout their runs. One of the best of those, however, is the first crossover, which occurred in the Queens Season 1 episode “Road Rayge.” It’s a funny episode that sees Doug Hefferman and Ray Barone striking up a friendship after meeting at the DMV.

Power Rangers In Space/Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation

Power in Space’s “Shell Shocked” marked the realization of a Saturday morning dream, as it saw the rangers team up with the heroes in a half shell. These iterations of the amphibious martial arts masters hailed from Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (a show that shouldn’t have been canceled after one season). The Turtles were mind-controlled by the Rangers’ nemesis, Astronema, who uses them to take over the power team’s Megaship.

The Office (U.S.)/The Office (U.K.)

Both iterations of The Office collided when Ricky Gervais’ David Brent popped up on a Season 7 episode of the U.S. series. During that installment, he and his American counterpart, Michael Scott (Steve Carell), ran into each other. I don’t know what’s funnier: the two abrasive bosses getting along so well or Michael awkwardly telling David that Dunder Mifflin wasn’t hiring.

Supergirl/The Flash

The Arrowverse showcased a number of great team-ups over the years, but the first was a fun crossover between The Flash and Supergirl, in which the titular hero of the former show found himself in Kara Danvers’ universe. As fun as the Supes Season 1 episode is, what’s even more amazing is that this event happened before the Melissa Benoist-led show moved from CBS to The CW to join its slate of DCTV fare.

Sister, Sister/Smart Guy

Fellow shows on The WB, fan-favorite Sister, Sister and Smart Guy seemed like the right fit for a crossover, with the former sitcom hosting it. The episode saw 10-year-old prodigy T.J. Henderson being recruited to tutor twins Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell for their SATs. T.J. ultimately employed some unconventional – but effective – methods to get the job done.

The Fairly Oddparents/Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

Few cartoon crossovers can match the greatness of the three-hour-long crossovers between Nickelodeon’s The Fairly Oddparents and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Known as The Jimmy/Timmy Power Hour, the episodes saw Neutron and Timmy Turner coming into interdimensional conflict on multiple occasions. Even today, seeing characters from two of the best Nick shows of the 2000s is downright delightful.

New Girl/Brooklyn Nine-Nine

I’m not sure anyone could’ve predicted that a crossover between New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine would happen, but that’s exactly what fans were treated to in 2016. This was a two-part event spread across both comedies, and it was certainly fun to see Andy Samberg’s Jake Peralta, Zooey Deschanel’s Jessica Day and more mix it up.

Luke Cage/Iron Fist

After much demand from the fans, Netflix’s Luke Cage featured a true superhero tag team between the show’s eponymous character and Danny Rand of Iron Fist. While reception to the latter show and its protagonist had been relatively underwhelming, fans loved what was done with Rand on Cage. All in all, it was a team-up worthy of the Heroes for Hire legacy.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air/In The House

One crossover that I’d argue is rarely talked about is the one that took place between The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and In The House. ITH’s “Dog Catchers” saw Alfonso Riberio guest star as Carlton Banks and Tatyana Ali as Ashley Banks. The story involved Carlton (inadvertently) alerting Marion Hill (LL Cool J) to the fact that friend Tiffany Warren’s (Maia Campbell) new boyfriend was two-timing her with Ashley.

The Simpsons/Futurama

“Simpsorama,” a Season 26 episode of The Simpsons, finally brought Springfield’s famous family into contact with the cast of Futurama. The Planet Express crew made their way to the present to prevent Homer and co. from causing a dire situation in the future. The crossover not only employed the kind of gags specific to both Matt Groening-produced shows but preserved the heart as well.

Scandal/How To Get Away With Murder

Kerry Washington’s Olivia Pope and Viola Davis’ Annalise Keating finally met each other when Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder crossed over. The 2018 multi-episode arc saw the crisis manager and defense attorney join forces to collaborate on a class action case. Both actresses brought their A-game for what proved to be a truly emotional story, with some poignant social commentary.

Supernatural/Scooby-Doo

I’m not sure many people envisioned Supernatural bringing in the Scooby-Doo characters upon the announcement of a crossover in 2017. However, the episode, “Scoobynatural,” ultimately received high praise from critics and fans alike. Seriously, the sight of Sam and Dean Winchester aiding Mystery Inc. in a case (set against the backdrop of one of the animated franchise’s classic episodes) was so much fun.

The X-Files/Cops

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like if The X-Files’ Mulder and Scully’s off-kilter adventures were ever presented in a format similar to Cops’? Well, look no further than the Season 7 episode “X-Cops,” as it put the two in such a situation. The idea may have sounded wild at the time, but it proved to be highly entertaining TV.

Archer/Bob’s Burgers

It’s rare that a crossover gets wilder than the one between Bob’s Burgers and Archer, which occurred in the later show. "Fugue and Riffs" featured an amnesiac Sterling Archer waking up to discover that he’s the head of the Belcher family from Bob’s. That episode was certainly fun, especially considering that H. Jon Benjamin voiced both Archer and Bob regularly anyways.

That’s So Raven/The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody/Hannah Montana

Disney Channel gifted children of the 2000s with a real treat when the three-way TV event That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana. It brought together the casts of the hit shows That’s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Hannah Montana for a madcap meetup that’s still beloved today.

Doctor Who/Torchwood/The Sarah Jane Adventures

Series 4 of Doctor Who ended on a high note with a two-part finale that brought the eponymous Time Lord and his allies together with characters from two spinoff series, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Not only did the Who writers manage to provide plenty of crossover craziness, but they also wrapped up a number of pivotal story arcs in the process.

Generator Rex/Ben 10

It’s not often that two awesome do-gooders link up on the small screen, and Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United offered a shining example of that. While it was great to see the two eponymous characters ultimately team up, it was also cool to see them come to blows upon first making contact.

Bones/Sleepy Hollow

The notion of the cast of Sleepy Hollow and Bones coming together for a two-part story sounds weird on paper, and that’s because it is. Nevertheless, it was intriguing to watch Special Agents Seeley Booth and Temperance “Bones” Brennan team up with FBI Agent Abbie Mills and Ichabod Crane to investigate a decades-old corpse on Halloween.

Arrow/The Flash/Supergirl/Batwoman/Legends Of Tomorrow

The producers behind “Crisis on Infinite Earths” did the impossible by uniting the casts of not two, three or four Arrowverse shows but all five series that were on the air at that time. What was even more impressive was that in addition to Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow and Batgirl being involved, Black Lightning’s eponymous hero was also in the mix. You’d be hard-pressed to find a small-screen crossover as massive as this one was.

Television is a valued and iconic part of the pop culture landscape and continues to create viral and memorable moments. That includes TV mistakes, whether they be poor writing or a flub that's noticed by the public. And there are 32 TV mistakes off the top of my head that stand out, spanning scripted, reality, and live television. Let's break it all down.

To be clear, this isn't a list of solely continuity errors or viral newscaster flubs. Instead, it's combining both of these categories, as well as narrative issues that have continued to plague the reputation of popular TV shows. And some of them just happen to be the most memorable TV moment from that particular show. In no specific order here is the list. Although a spoiler alert is in play for the scripted shows.

Warren Beatty And Faye Dunaway's Oscars Flub

The biggest story to come out of the 2017 Academy Awards ceremony was that presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Betty accidentally named La La Land the Best Picture winner when it was actually Barry Jenkins' Moonlight. It was a truly wild to end the night and was one of the most memorable moments to come out of the star-studded event in modern memory. That is, until the infamous Will Smith slap incident.

Jeff Varner Outs Zeke, Survivor 

Survivor is one of the best reality shows of all time and has remained wildly popular in the decades since it first premiered. The show is endlessly captivating because every season is different, and is influenced by the unique cast of characters. Unfortunately, the social experiment got ugly in Season 34, when Jeff Varner outed Zeke Smith as transgender in an attempt to prove that he was untrustworthy. 

Kathie Lee Forgets Martin Short's Wife Had Died

Kathie Lee Gifford has a long career on TV, and had her own hour of The Today Show for years on NBC. While she and Hota Kotb had plenty of fans, there were some noticeable missteps along the way. Chief among them was an interview with Martin Short, where Kathie Lee referred to his late wife and seemingly forgot she had actually passed away two years earlier. It's wildly awkward, although the Only Murders in the Building star handled it with grace.

Dany Burns King's Landing, Game Of Thrones

Throughout Game of Thrones' run on TV, Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen was one of the show's primary heroes. Fans were thrilled when she finally appeared in Westeros to take the Iron Throne, and were shocked and disappointed when she suddenly decided to burn King's Landing down, killing thousands of innocent people. And fans have been complaining about this plot choice, and how quickly she went mad, for years. 

Asking the Models To Change Races, America's Next Top Model

America's Next Top Model ran for many years, and had a number of controversial challenges that haven't aged very well. Chief among them was back in Cycle 4, where models were asked to portray another race for a photo shoot. Before the term "cultural appropriation" was known, this was a wild challenge that seriously gives the ick... and happens to be one of the most iconic reality TV moments. 

The Faithful Trusting Cirie, The Traitors

The first season of The Traitors US was a big experiment, with the show's second season helping to make it a wildly successful Emmy-winning hit. Season 1 featured a mix of celebrities and normal folks, including Survivor legend Cirie Fields. Unfortunately, her allies seemingly didn't know her reputation, and completely trusted her and allowed her to easily win and take the money in the end. And the reunion was super awkward. 

Miss Teen South Carolina's Map Question

Every so often a beauty pageant will go viral, usually for all the wrong reasons. There are few as iconic as Miss Teen South Carolina Caitlin Upton's interview answer from back in 2007. She's asked why young Americans can't locate the country on a map, and has a stream-of-consciousness answer that's iconic in its word salad-ness. 

Netflix Canceling Mindhunter

After the streaming wars began, it became clear that services were producing way too much original content. Netflix has canceled a number of beloved shows, but few have caused as much of a stir as Mindhunter. David Fincher's drama was a gripping story, but Netflix won't let Fincher continue with Season 3. 

Anne Hathway And James Franco Hosting The Oscars

Finding the right host for ceremonies like the Academy Awards is easier said than done, and there have been some stinkers over the years. Back in 2011 James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosted together, and it was an extremely awkward viewing experience. While the Les Miserables actress was seemingly trying to make it as perfect as can be, that stood in juxtaposition to Franco's laid-back stance.

Separating Lorelai And Rory, Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls ran for seven seasons and continues to have staying power thanks to new audiences streaming the show (and its reboot) on Netflix. However, Season 6 remains controversial for fans because Lorelai and Rory aren't on speaking terms throughout much of it. And that served as an example of a time when Lorelai was the worst.

Season 2, Heroes

The first season of Heroes was a huge success for NBC, offering a unique take on a superhero story. Unfortunately, the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike happened during Season 2, resulting in a disappointing and shorter installment. While the show would continue it never reached its former glory, and many characters and plot lines from Season 2 were abandoned altogether.

Fonzie Jumps The Shark, Happy Days

This moment changed the TV world forever and inspired a new pop culture for the masses. While "jumping the shark" is a phrase used to describe a TV show that goes off the wall, it's something that actually happened during Happy Days' run. Talk about a mistake. 

Killing Off McDreamy, Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy is one of the longest-running shows of all time and many of the OG fans (as well as the original cast) have dropped off as a result. While it was tough to continue the show without Sandra Oh's Cristina Yang, eventually the show had to write off Patrick Dempsey's Derek Shepherd... by tragically killing him. And for many the show hasn't been the same since. 

The Grape Stomping Lady

Journalist Melissa Sander became instantly recognizable thanks to a news blunder she was involved in which became one of YouTube's earliest viral videos. In it, she's stomping on grapes, and suddenly falls and gets the wind knocked out of her. The noises she makes and the instant karma of the video have helped it remain iconic through the years. 

Ralph Bohner, WandaVision

WandaVision was wildly popular upon its release on Disney+, especially as we were in the midst of isolating due to the pandemic. Fans were shocked when X-Men star Evan Peters showed up as "Pietro", since Quicksilver was played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the MCU. In the end, this was all a gag, with his character Ralph Bohner being perhaps the show's only misstep. 

Lisa Barlow's Hot Mic, The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

Throughout the many years of The Real Housewives franchise, there have been a few notable hot mic moments. But the most iconic came from RHOSLC's Lisa Barlow, where she went off on a wild rant about Meredith Marks behind closed doors. Unfortunately, her mic was very much still on.

Ashlee Simpson's Performance, SNL

Ashlee Simpson was a popular reality TV star and recording artist in the early aughts, and eventually, she was offered a chance to perform on Saturday Night Live. But Simpson got caught lip-syncing, and that viral moment has continued to haunt her in the years since this infamous performance.  

Robert Durst's Bathroom Confession, The Jinx

True crime documentaries are super popular, and The Jinx is one of the best true crime shows on streaming. In the Season 1 finale, after denying having killed anyone, subject Robert Durst went to the bathroom with a hot mic on, where he seemingly confessed to "killing them all." 

Flash Sideways, Lost

Lost was super popular during its run on the air, although there's been some debate about how its quality dipped in later years. While the show often used flashbacks to offer context on the characters, the final season featured the controversial flash sideways, imagining a world where Oceanic 815 never crashed. The controversial Lost finale explained this, but not before fans got frustrated.

Killing Tara Offscreen, True Blood

Most shows struggle to stick the landing during their final season, and HBO's True Blood is in a long line of shows with controversial finales. But perhaps the biggest mistake the show made was killing Rutina Wesley's character Tara (who had been there from the very beginning) offscreen. Fans hoped she survived for some of the season before it was clear she was never coming back.

Jennifer Hudson's Early Elimination, American Idol 

While Jennifer Hudson is known as one of the biggest success stories to come out of American Idol, she didn't go as far as folks might assume. She actually got seventh place in Season 3 of Idol, before eventually becoming a celebrated recording artist and actress. Talk about a mistake.

Turok-Han Power Levels, Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Season 7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer introduced a new type of blood-drinking villain: the Turok-Han aka Uber Vamps. In their first appearances they're shown to be way more powerful than regular vampires, with even Buffy struggling to take one on. But by Buffy's series finale, even regular humans like Giles and Wood are able to fight them off, as well as the newly activated Potentials.

Will Smith's Oscars Slap

The most memorable thing to come out of the Oscars for years has to be when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage, in a moment that continues to follow his career. The Academy and the network have both caught flak for how they handled this, and how Smith was able to accept the Best Actor Oscar so shortly after the onscreen assault. 

Valentina Asks To Keep Her Mask On, RuPaul's Drag Race

Season 9 of Drag Race was a memorable one, and contestant Valentina quickly became a fan favorite. But her most memorable moment was definitely a flub, where she asked to keep her mask on during a lip sync against Nina Bo'nina Brown. Ru insists that she take it off, and it soon becomes clear Valentina simply doesn't know the lyrics to her song. 

The Infamous Starbucks Cup, Game Of Thrones

HBO's Game of Thrones was a sensation when it was on the air, even if the final season left something to be desired. But it also went viral for unique reasons, such as the GOT error where a Starbucks cup was visible in Westeros. Oops. 

Various Stand-Ins, Friends

Friends ran for a whopping ten seasons, which saw a ton of acclaim come to its star-studded cast. Scheduling was likely a bit of a puzzle at the height of its popularity, which is why fans have spotted several scenes where actors' stand-ins are visible. Hey, it was before we were filming in HD. 

The Demogorgon, Stranger Things

Stranger Things is arguably the most popular original show to come out of Netflix since its inception. But that doesn't mean it's perfect, especially related to the use of Dungeons & Dragons lore. Because in Season 1 while the cast references the Demogorgon and even has a figure for the creature, it actually wouldn't be available in the year 1983. Given how passionate D&D fans are, the folks at Netflix probably should have seen this coming. 

Maggie's Picture, The Simpsons

Even animated shows could have some goofs, and The Simpsons isn't excluded from this. During the Sixth Season episode "And Maggie Makes Three" we see Marge and Homer talk about her being pregnant with the titular baby. But despite her not being born yet, we can see a photo of Maggie on the wall. 

Bin Ladin Reference, Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is considered one of the best TV dramas ever, and continues to be a re-watchable show. But it's not without error, especially when it referenced Osama Bin Laden's 2011 death, despite it only being around 2007 in the show. 

Erica Hahn's Story, Grey's Anatomy

Throughout its long run on the air, we've seen plenty of characters come and go on Grey's Anatomy. But few characters got the shaft as bad as Brooke Smith's Erica Hahn aka one of the most iconic LGBTQ+ Grey's characters. Shortly after dating Callie and giving a gorgeous monologue about realizing she was gay, she was promptly written off the show in favor of Arizona Robbins. 

Rose's Education Level, The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls is one of the best sitcoms of all time, and has truly aged like fine wine. However, there were some discrepancies throughout its run, particularly when it comes to the education level of Betty White's Rose. In some episodes, she claims to be the valedictorian of her high school, while in others it's said she dropped out and instead got a GED. 

Josh's Age, Boy Meets World

Boy Meets World is an iconic piece of '90s culture, one that many millennial fans grew up on. But there were a few head-scratchers/mistakes in the comedy, especially related to the age of Cory's younger brother Josh. One season he's a baby, and then he mysteriously ages to about 5 years old without anyone acknowledging how.

Classic '90s sitcom Boy Meets World may have ended nearly a quarter century ago, but the stars are keeping the legacy alive by regularly getting together to talk about the beloved show. Rider Strong, Danielle Fishel, and Will Friedle recently reunited with Matthew Lawrence to reminisce about days gone by, leading Lawrence to reveal how he made a bad impression on Justin Timberlake when NSYNC would visit the Boy Meets World set.

Matthew Lawrence played Jack across the last three seasons of Boy Meets World from 1997-2000, which was also around the height of the boy band rivalry between NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. On the Pod Meets World podcast hosted by Rider Strong, Danielle Fishel, and Will Friedle, Lawrence opened up about an exchange he had with Justin Timberlake about their encounters on the set of Boy Meets World:

Lawrence explained that he was a huge fan of the singer when he spoke with Timberlake at the time that his debut solo album Justified released in 2002, which was only a couple of years after Boy Meets World ended with its seventh season. (You can revisit the full series streaming now with a Disney+ subscription.)

The actor's former co-stars all seemed pretty shocked to hear what Timberlake had said to him, but it's safe to say that they got to know him a whole lot better working together than Justin Timberlake did during the NSYNC set visits. Lawrence went on:

Danielle Fishel may have gone through her fair share of struggles on set during Boy Meets World's earliest days –including very harsh criticisms from the showrunner right after she landed her role – but plenty of young fans watched the show and were crushing hard on Topanga. That apparently included Matthew Lawrence and some of the members of NSYNC!

While Topanga's heart always belonged to Cory Matthews (even though Danielle Fishel now wishes the characters didn't get married), Rider Strong joked on Pod Meets World that the five band members were "just orbiting around Danielle in a constant circle."

For his part, Matthew Lawrence didn't get his chance to explain why he was a bit standoffish to Justin Timberlake, but Will Friedle had an NSYNC-adjacent story of his own about the time that he and Lawrence were hanging out when they had the doll version of the Matthews baby that was born in Season 6. Friedle shared:

While it doesn't seem that Matthew Lawrence and Justin Timberlake ever did become friends, the Boy Meets World cast reflecting back on when the NSYNC singers dropped by their set reminded me of a fun gag from an episode in the seventh and final season. Eric and Jack were facing living in Topanga and Angela's former dorm, which didn't just mean inheriting stuffed animals, nail polish, and a lot of pink. There was also a massive Backstreet Boys poster that I honestly would have loved to have on my own wall back in the day.

The boys bantered over the poster a bit, with Jack insisting that "BSB rocks!" to try and make the best of the situation. They then had a slight disagreement about who "the cute one" was, with Eric saying it was Howie Dorough and Jack saying he thought it was Nick Carter. All in all, it's a fun gag that strikes me as even funnier now that I know Justin Timberlake felt a bit of bad blood toward some of the Boy Meets World cast.

If you have a Disney+ subscription, you can rewatch the episode for yourself, as it's the second installment of Season 7, called "For Love and Apartments." If you're in the market for some upcoming viewing options rather than going back to the days of Boy Meets World, be sure to check out our 2024 TV schedule for what's on the way.

Danielle Fishel has long been a fixture within the entertainment industry, having risen to prominence through her role as Topanga Lawerence on Boy Meets World. In recent years, the veteran actress has opened up about aspects of her career and personal life. And, more recently, she shared an unfortunate announcement. Fishel revealed this week that she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer, confirming the news with an extremely candid message. Now, in the aftermath, a host of fans are showing their love and support for the media personality.

The 43-year-old actress revealed her diagnosis at the top of the latest episode of her, Rider Strong and Will Friedle’s Boy Meets World rewatch podcast, Pod Meets World. She clarified that her co-hosts were among the first people to know about the diagnosis. From there, the former Dish host explained the exact classification of her illness and where the situation currently stands:

Danielle Fishel went on to explain that the reason she chose to share the news with the fans, was because she always surmised that if she were ever in this position, she would just “suffer in silence.” Or more specifically, she wasn’t going to say anything until the situation – treatment and all – was over. However, Fishel explained that she found that the more people she told about her diagnosis, the more individuals she found would share their own experiences with cancer. Ultimately, Fishel hopes that her announcement will encourage others to schedule a mammogram, which is how she was able to detect her cancer so early.

It’s admirable that the Girl Meets World alum was willing to be so open in an attempt to raise awareness. What’s also been sweet is to see the outpouring of support from various fans. Many of them took to the comments section of a Pod Meets World Instagram post, which featured a clip from the podcast’s latest episode. The comments are truly heartwarming, and you can see them of them for yourself down below:

• Danielle, we wish you all the best in your recovery. Thank you for sharing the importance of annual screening and early detection. - @susangkomen
• Danielle, thanks for sharing your story. It's hard to be vulnerable, especially when it involves social media. ❤️🙏 - @mrsericmatthews
• Danielle, thank you for sharing your story, it takes vulnerability to do it xx zero is the best outcome. YOU HAVE GOT THIS!! 🤍 - @sophia__ali__
• So much love to [Danielle Fishel] You are such a strong individual and thank you for being so transparent and allowing us in on such a personal story - @mahora2010
• Danielle you are so strong to share your intimate life with us! We're all rooting and praying for you 🙏🏼🩶 - @cieloyyyluz

All in all, it would appear that Danielle Fishel is looking to keep an upbeat attitude when it comes to her recent diagnosis, and that certainly tracks with her personality. While co-hosting Pod Meets World alongside her fellow Boy Meets World cast members, she’s managed to maintain a mostly positive outlook. And that’s saying a lot, as not all of the subject matter that she and her co-hosts have discussed has been positive. (That includes Fishel’s declaration that the last years on BMW were “tainted” in some ways.)

Otherwise, it may be fair to assume that the former teen idol will continue to work as she can while contending with her cancer surgery and subsequent treatment. In addition to the podcast, Danielle Fishel has a number of other professional obligations. She’s also working on a new project in addition to the podcast, as she, Rider Strong and Will Friedle are hoping to make a documentary of sorts. Of course, what’s most important is that Fishel prioritize her health and, like so many others, I wish her all the best.

Fans can stream Boy Meets World – one of the greatest TGIF sitcoms – using a Disney+ subscription.

When it comes to TV shows, character deaths are relatively common, as plenty of shows have axed main or supporting players throughout their runs. Feelings over such casualties can vary, with some eliciting waves of tears and others causing people to celebrate. What we’re going to discuss here are the fictional fatalities that fall into that first category. So break out the tissues as we discuss the notable demises that still break our hearts.

Joyce Summers (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

To say that Buffy the Vampire Slayer features its fair share of brutal and otherworldly deaths would be an understatement. Yet it’s the natural passing of Buffy’s mom, Joyce Summers, that arguably still hurts fans the most today. The matriarch dies in Season 5 due to a brain aneurysm, and her body is ultimately found by her daughter. Joyce’s death shakes Buffy and her friends to their cores, but it also prompts them to grow up and take a greater step towards adulthood.

Nate Fisher (Six Feet Under)

Mortality is a major theme of Six Feet Under and, while every main character’s demise is chronicled by the end of the show, one that really sticks out is the passing of lead character Nate Fisher. Diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, Nate dies of a brain hemorrhage in a hospital with his brother, David, by his side. While Nate’s death prompts his family to cope with their grief and ultimately move forward with their lives amid the series’ final episodes, it’s a gut-wrenching development nonetheless.

Glenn Rhee (The Walking Dead)

The Walking Dead’s heartbreaking deaths are all painful in some way or another, but few can hold a candle to the moment Glenn Rhee is killed off. In Season 7, the thoughtful young man dies at the hands of the Saviors’ leader, Negan, who beats him to death with his barbed wire baseball bat, Lucille. Glenn’s death itself is sad, but it’s even more unfortunate considering that he leaves behind his wife, Maggie, and their unborn child.

Prue Halliwell (Charmed)

Drama between Charmed cast members Alyssa Milano and Shannen Doherty is said to be a contributing factor to the death of the latter actress’ character, Prue Halliwell. At the end of Season 3, Prue is murdered by a demon named Shax. In addition to marking the end of the character, this event also serves as a turning point for the remaining Halliwell sisters.

Hank Schrader (Breaking Bad)

Special Agent Hank Schrader is one of the best Breaking Bad characters and arguably has one of the most distressing deaths in the franchise’s history. Following a shootout, Hank is killed by neo-Nazi leader Jack Welker in the acclaimed episode “Ozymandias.” Schraeder’s drug-dealing brother-in-law, Walter White, witnesses the event and is left distraught. The loss of Hank is tremendous, and the only point of comfort is that Walt later avenges him by killing Jack.

Bill McNeal (NewsRadio)

The passing of comedian Phil Hartman in 1998 is what prompted the producers of the hit NBC sitcom NewsRadio to kill off his character, Bill McNeal, ahead of the fifth and final season. It’s explained in the premiere that Bill died (off-screen) from a heart attack, and his co-workers mourn him heavily. The episode is an emotional tribute to the character and the work of the great Hartman.

Dr. Mark Greene (ER)

One of the key storylines from ER Season 8 involves Dr. Mark Greene dealing with a serious brain cancer diagnosis. His health sadly declines as the season goes on and, in the penultimate episode, Greene dies. The situation is truly bittersweet as, before he passes on Greene, he’s able to spend time with his wife, Elizabeth, and daughters, Rachel and Ella.

Ned Stark (Game Of Thrones)

Game of Thrones killed off Eddard “Ned” Stark in truly Shakespearean fashion. Joffrey Baratheon goads Stark into admitting to “treason” in order to save his children’s lives and his own. Stark eventually makes that declaration during a public hearing, though Joffrey orders him to be killed anyway, in what’s truly a devastating turn of events.

Caitlin Todd (NCIS)

Caitlin Todd’s death at the tail end of NCIS Season 2 might be one of the most tragic moments in the history of TV. The character is murdered via a sniper attack by Mossad double-agent Ari Haswari, who later reveals that he only did it to hurt Todd’s colleague, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Caitlin’s demise is only made worse by the fact that her final words are “Wow, I thought I'd die before I ever heard a complim…”

Mark Sloan (Grey's Anatomy)

Mark Sloan’s death can be attributed to injuries sustained during a plane crash in Grey’s Anatomy’s eighth season finale. Mark is taken off life support in the Season 9 premiere after being in a coma. And that tragic event only adds to the sadness that his co-workers feel after Sloan’s lover, Lexie Grey, succumbed to injuries from the crash in the Season 8 finale.

Adriana La Cerva (The Sopranos)

It’s honestly hard to feel sympathy for a lot of the characters on The Sopranos, but Adriana La Cerva deserves some. La Cerva, who’s aware of fiancée Christopher Moltisanti’s mob dealings, eventually becomes a mole for the feds after being busted for drug possession. After she tells Chris about this and tries to convince him to disappear with her, he tells his uncle, Tony Soprano, who has Adriana killed.

Jonathan Kent (Smallville)

DC Comics fans surely know that there are many continuities in which Clark Kent’s adopted father, Jonathan Kent, dies. However, that doesn’t make seeing him die from a heart attack – while surrounded by Clark and Martha Kent – in the 100th episode of Smallville any easier.

Mrs. Dolores Landingham (The West Wing)

A character as endearing as The West Wing’s Mrs. Dolores Landingham doesn’t deserve to die at all. With that, many would surely agree that she didn’t deserve to be killed by a drunk driver near the end of Season 2. Landingham’s death still marks one of the most shocking moments in TV history.

Charlie Pace (Lost)

Of the various deaths that occurred on Lost, Charlie Pace’s passing still arguably hurts more than others. The fan-favorite character was killed off during the events of the third season’s finale. It’s in that installment that Charlie is doomed to drown after Mikhail Bakunin blows a hole in the underwater Looking Glass Station, though he dies a hero due to the fact that he saves some of his comrades.

Chet Hunter (Boy Meets World)

The father of Shawn and Jack Hunter, Chet died suddenly during Boy Meets World’s sixth season after suffering from two heart attacks. While the patriarch passes on before being able to formally reconcile with Shawn, the two do so when the younger Hunter later encounters his father’s ghost.

Mr. Hooper (Sesame Street)

Many members of Generation X surely remember one of the most emotional moments in Sesame Street’s illustrious history – the death of Will Lee’s Mr. Hooper, which occurred after Lee himself passed on in 1982. The episode that tackles Hooper’s passing is a truly emotional episode that sees the members of the community paying tribute to the late store proprietor. The installment also remains a groundbreaking piece of work for its exploration of death and grief in a children’s show.

Wallace (The Wire)

16-year-old Wallace possesses one of the most heartbreaking storylines ever presented by The Wire. During the first season, the young drug dealer finds himself in a tough spot after he chooses to cooperate with authorities and provide information on the local drug trade. Ahead of a trial, Wallace is found and killed by former associates, and the sight of the teen begging for his life before the trigger is pulled is still affecting.

Mike Ehrmantraut (Breaking Bad)

The wise and stoic Mike Ehrmantraut is murdered by Walter White, following an argument, amid the final season of Breaking Bad. After being shot by Walt, Mike sits by a riverbank, where he finally passes on. Ehrmantraut’s demise is made sadder due to the fact that Walt and his associate, Todd, later dissolve his body using acid.

Tara Maclay (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

It’s during the sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that Tara Maclay is sadly killed by a stray bullet to the heart. Tara’s passing ultimately plunges her girlfriend, Willow Rosenberg, into grief and pushes her towards her darker magical impulses. Willow’s rage is intense – but arguably not as explosive as the fan responses to Tara’s passing were at the time.

Henry Blake (MASH)

As humorous as MASH is, it also features some legitimately heartbreaking moments, and the death of Henry Blake at the end of Season 3 is certainly one of them. Blake is set to be discharged from military service and sent home. But, shockingly, it’s revealed at the end of “Abyssinia, Henry” that Blake’s plane has been shot down over the Sea of Japan and there are no survivors. At the time, this was a shock to viewers and to the actors involved in the scene, as it was a last-minute addition.

James Evans (Good Times)

Those who avidly watched sitcoms during the ‘70s can probably remember the night Good Times killed off family patriarch James Evans Sr. James dies off-screen at the start of Season 4, with his family receiving word of his death from a car accident in Mississippi via a telegram. In the years since that development occurred, fans have argued that James’ death marked a serious shift in quality for the Norman Lear-produced show.

Lawrence Kutner (House)

A TV character death that still hits incredibly hard is that of Lawrence Kutner, who is killed off after two seasons of House. Kutner dies by suicide, in what is an absolutely earth-shattering turn of events. What really makes this development so heartbreaking is that the exact reasons for Kutner’s decision to shoot himself are never made clear.

Edith Bunker (Archie Bunker’s Place)

Edith Bunker, one of the most iconic characters in TV history, dies in her sleep from a stroke in between the first and second seasons of All in the Family spinoff Archie Bunker’s Place. The mere notion of such a lovable character like Edith dying is sad enough, but watching her usually. boisterous husband, Archie, come to terms with her passing really tugs at the heartstrings.

Margaery Tyrell (Game Of Thrones)

Like so many Game of Thrones characters before her, Margaery Tyrell meets a brutal end. Tyrell’s death is due to the machinations of Cersei Lannister, who arranges for the Sept by Qyburn to be burned – with Margaery and many more inside of it.

Ben Sullivan (Scrubs)

Ben Sullivan doesn’t appear in many episodes of Scrubs, but he manages to leave a serious impression through his kindness and very mellow demeanor. So it’s understandable why his eventual death from leukemia is so affecting.

Poussey Washington (Orange Is The New Black)

Orange is the New Black sadly kills off Poussey Washington by having her unintentionally die by suffocation at the hands of Baxter Bayley. Her passing has a profound impact on the other residents at Litchfield Penitentiary. And, while her absence is felt as the show progresses, she at least returns via occasional flashbacks.

Anastasia "Dee" Dualla (Battlestar Galactica)

On the list of Battlestar Galactica’s most shocking deaths is that of Anastasia “Dee” Dualla, Dee dies by suicide by shooting herself in the head – a move that’s slightly prompted by her depression over seeing how ravaged Earth (now a nuclear wasteland) is. And, if that’s not sad enough, the final motivating factor in Dee’s suicide is her reconciliation with estranged husband Lee Adoma, which happens moments before she shoots herself. Dee ultimately wants to hold on to one final moment of happiness, so she ends her life.

Fred Andrews (Riverdale)

Beloved Riverdale character Fred Andrews dies as the result of a hit-and-run incident, leaving his son, Archie, and just about everyone in their eponymous town saddened. His sendoff episode is truly beautiful, as it not only honors Fred but also his portrayer, Luke Perry, whose death necessitated Andrews’ passing.

Lincoln Campbell (Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

At the end of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Season 3, the titular team is forced to say goodbye to another one of its own – Lincoln Campbell. The young Inhuman sacrifices himself by flying the villainous Hive and a nuclear warhead into space, where they can detonate. While Lincoln’s death hits hard, he goes out like a true hero. 

Teri Bauer (24)

A number of people meet their maker over the course of 24’s nine-season run, and one of the major characters to die early on is Teri Bauer. She loses her life to corrupt CTU operative Nina Meyers, as Nina shoots (the pregnant) Teri to cover her own tracks. Even now, it’s tough to shake the image of Jack Bauer cradling his wife’s body.

J.T. Yorke (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

Degrassi: The Next Generation fans are probably still shaken by the moment that beloved character J.T. Yorke was stabbed to death by Drake Lempkey. J.T.’s passing serves as a “loss-of-innocence” moment for his friends, who continue to cherish his memory. 

Howard Hamlin (Better Call Saul)

If any TV character has ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time, it’s Better Call Saul’s Howard Hamlin. The occasionally smug – but mostly well-meaning – lawyer is savagely killed by drug dealer Lalo Salamanca at Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler’s apartment. What’s sadly ironic is that Howard goes there to tell off Jimmy and Kim for secretly sabotaging him and is merely killed by Lalo to keep his issues with Wexler and McGill quiet.

It may seem that your favorite character from your favorite TV show was always part of the main cast, but that might not be the case. In fact, some of the most iconic TV characters were never meant to last more than one or two episodes until a behind-the-scenes decision changed their fate. The following are some famous examples that might have you looking at your favorite show's next guest star differently.

Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)

It was not just three-time Emmy winner Aaron Paul's brilliant, empathetic performance as Jesse Pinkman that kept him in the Breaking Bad cast until the end. Creator Vince Gilligan had a pitch for the early demise of Walter White's (Bryan Cranston) student-turned-partner that shocked studio executives so deeply, that he scrapped the idea and, thankfully, kept the fan-favorite character alive.

Andy Dwyer (Parks And Recreation)

The lovably absent-minded Andy Dwyer was originally meant to appear in just six episodes from the first season of Parks and Recreation when he was still dating Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones). Michael Schur found future blockbuster leading man Chris Pratt just too funny not to keep around, leading to his series regular promotion and Andy's eventual romance with April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza).

Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli (Happy Days)

The role that made Henry Winkler a star would eventually be the star of Happy Days. However, "Fonzy" was originally introduced as a small-sized character before the audience's rousing enthusiasm convinced producers to make his presence more frequent.

Frasier Crane (Cheers)

Kelsey Grammer's stint in the Cheers cast as Seattle-based psychiatrist Frasier Crane was originally meant to last only a few episodes. Yet, he became one of the NBC sitcom's most popular characters and went on to lead his own self-titled spin-off that was arguably as good as the original series.

Spike (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Spike started out as just another vampire for Sarah Michelle Gellar's titular hero to fight when he was first introduced in the second season of Joss Whedon's hit series. However, his subsequent popularity would ensure that James Masters got a regular role in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast and even became a love interest for Buffy.

Chandler Bing And Phoebe Buffay (Friends)

Before Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow were added to the Friends cast as Chandler and Phoebe, the sitcom was going to mainly focus on just four young New Yorkers. That was until the actors' natural charisma convinced creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman that they deserved starring roles instead of occasional appearances like they initially envisioned.

Carol Hathaway (ER)

If the pilot of ER were filmed exactly as it was originally written, it would been the first and last episode featuring Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies), who was initially going to take her own life. When test audiences made note of the nurse manager's chemistry with George Clooney as Doug Ross, the head writers kept her alive and on the show until Margulies left in Season 6.

Luke Danes (Gilmore Girls)

Diner owner Luke Danes was originally written as a woman, but creator Amy Sherman-Palladino did a gender swap when the network asked for more male characters. It was not until they noticed the chemistry between Gilmore Girls cast members Scott Patterson and Lauren Graham that their will-they-won't-they dynamic was incorporated into the dramedy.

Lafayette Reynolds (True Blood)

In only the second novel from Charlaine Harris' book series, The Southern Vampire Mysteries, Lafayette Reynolds is murdered. However, the psychic cook's onscreen counterpart (played by Nelsan Ellis) lived on in the HBO series adaptation (and one of the best horror TV shows on Max), True Blood, after developer Alan Ball realized how well the character fit in the world.

Castiel (Supernatural)

Played by Misha Collins (when possessing the body of Jimmy Novak), Castiel first appeared on Supernatural in Season 4 for what was intended to be just a three-season arc. Soon after, however, Collins was promoted to a series regular and the angel would remain a trusted ally to Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester.

Steve Urkel (Family Matters)

At first, ABC's spin-off of Perfect Strangers followed the lives of the Winslows, until the family sitcom's star family took a backseat to their nerdy neighbor, Steve Urkel. After Jaleel White's Season 1 guest spot rescued the show from cancellation, he made more appearances and was promoted to a series regular in the Family Matters cast in Season 2.

Andy Bernard (The Office)

Ed Helms' role as The Office character Andy Bernard was introduced in Season 3, which was initially conceived as his sole year on the mockumentary sitcom. However, creator Greg Daniels really liked the character and brought him back from anger management to be a permanent fixture of the Dunder Mifflin family.

Sgt. Fin Tutuola (Law & Order: SVU)

While most famous for a song about killing cops, rapper Ice-T's most famous acting role is, ironically, a police officer on Law & Order: SVU. Also ironic is the fact that Fin Tutuloa was originally conceived as a five-episode guest role in 2000, but would remain a regular part of the cast.

Jack Shephard (Lost)

Before Matthew Fox joined the Lost cast as Jack Shephard, the character was supposed to die in the pilot to establish that no character was safe in the survival drama. In fact, Michael Keaton signed on to play the role under this condition but dropped out when they decided to make him the lead because he did not want to commit to a series at the time.

Felicity Smoak (Arrow)

Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, Felicity Smoak was initially introduced in the first season of Arrow in a recurring role. Emily Bett Rickards would be promoted to series regular, however, when the role was promoted to Oliver Queen's primary love interest.

Steve Harrington (Stranger Things)

A prime example of a character who underwent a major personality change is Steve Harrington (Joe Kerry), who was initially introduced in Stranger Things' first season as some archetypal '80s high school bully with an expiration date. However, fans' unexpectedly positive response, thankfully, led to the character's revamping and ensured Keery would be a valuable member of the Hawkins crew.

Boyd Crowder (Justified)

Watching U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) and career criminal Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) flip back and forth is one of the most addictive elements of Justified. Thus, we are thankful Boyd survived the pilot episode instead of being killed, like in Elmore Leonard's original short story, "Fire in the Hole," and that Goggins was promoted to series regular.

NoHo Hank (Barry)

Anthony Carrigan is easily one of the standouts of HBO's Barry cast for his performance as Chechen criminal NoHo Hank. It is no wonder his role expanded beyond Season 1 despite initial plans to kill him off.

The Armorer (The Mandalorian)

The Armorer (Emily Swallow) is one of the most fascinating and multi-layered characters from Disney+'s Star Wars Universe TV show, The Mandalorian. Her arc nearly ended with the first season in a scrapped scene that depicted her sacrificing her life.

Logan Roy (Succession)

No one could have succeeded in the role that Logan Roy played in HBO's Succession cast, but there could have been a major void left in his place had things gone as originally planned. Brian Cox's role was meant to die after Season 1, but instead survived and became one of the hit dramedy's most beloved characters.

Topanga Lawrence (Boy Meets World)

In creators Michael Jacobs and April Kelly's TGIF favorite, Topanga Lawrence was first introduced as that one weird girl in Cory Matthews' (Ben Savage) class. Soon enough, however, Danielle Fishel would be promoted to a series regular in the Boy Meets World cast after it was decided that the character would be Cory's love interest.

Gunther (Friends)

James Michael Tyler was merely hired on Friends as a background actor for scenes taking place at the Central Perk at first. In Season 2, however, the coffee shop manager was given the name Gunther, and the actor was promoted to a recurring supporting role that went on to appear in 185 episodes total.

Janitor (Scrubs)

The unnamed Janitor was originally conceived as a recurring role because it was going to be revealed at the end of Season 1 that he only existed in J.D.'s (Zach Braff) imagination. Creator Bill Lawrence decided to scrap that idea and make Neil Flynn a main part of the Scrubs cast after noticing the actor's improvisational skills, which ended beautifully for the character.

President Josiah Bartlet (The West Wing)

When Aaron Sorkin first conceived the idea for his Emmy-winning political drama, it was meant to focus primarily on the White House staff, with the President of the United States only showing up every so often or even not at all. Luckily, that changed and Martin Sheen's performance in NBC's The West Wing cast as Josiah Bartlet became one of the most beloved and inspiring highlights of the series.

Elijah Krantz (Girls)

Broadway theatre sensation Andrew Rannells first joined the cast of HBO's Girls as Hannah's formerly closeted college boyfriend Elijah Krantz in a very minor role before coming back occasionally during the first three years. By the dramedy's fourth season, creators Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner decided to add Rannells as a series regular and Elijah went on to become one of the series' most memorably funny characters.

April Ludgate (Parks And Recreation)

April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation is more than just a character who was not originally planned for a big role. There were no plans for her to be a part of the show at all until creator Michael Schur met Aubrey Plaza during the casting process and was so impressed with her talent that he invented a role just for her.

Aram Mojtabai (The Blacklist)

In the first season of NBC's The Blacklist, Aram Mojtabai was brought in by the FBI as a cyber crime consultant for what was only meant to be one episode. However, the writers responded well to actor Amir Arison's ad-libbing, started calling him back for more episodes, and made him a series regular in Season 2. 

Summer Roberts (The O.C.)

Rachel Bilson had very little screen time in the first episode of The O.C. and her character, Summer Robert, was practically written as an unnamed friend to Marrissa (Mischa Barton). Creator Josh Schwartz found the actor's grasp on the character to be very compelling and her chemistry with Seth actor Adam Brody led him to write her a much bigger part for the coming-of-age drama.

Joshua Rosza (The Originals)

Steven Krueger was first brought in for a minor recurring stint on The Originals as Joshua Rosza. However, by season 5, the vampire character became a regular role in the hit supernatural drama.

Killian Jones/Captain Hook (Once Upon A Time)

When ABC's fantasy series Once Upon a Time brought in Killian Jones (who is really Peter Pan's nemesis, Captain Hook), it was initially meant to be for a five-episode run in Season 2. While he quickly became a fan favorite due to his chemistry with Jennifer Morrison, his promotion to a regular role really came about when the cast and crew became deeply impressed with Colin O'Donoghue's performance.

Brittany S. Pierce (Glee)

Heather Morris was initially brought on to the Glee set to help teach the cast members how to do the dance from Beyonce's "Single Ladies" video before she ended up landing a guest role as Brittany Pierce. However, after he discovered her comedic talents, co-creator Ryan Murphy began giving the once-frequently silent cheerleader more things to say before making Morris a series regular.

Kima Greggs (The Wire)

While filming the first season of The Wire, Sonja Sohn discovered by accident that her arc as Shakima "Kima" Greggs was originally intended to end in the 10th episode of the crime drama. Luckily, HBO executive Carolyn Strauss expressed interest in the character, convincing showrunner David Simon to have her survive her planned shooting and come back for the remainder of the series.

Of all of the "ships" that have been seen on TV over the last few decades, one of the most beloved romances is arguably the one between Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence from Boy Meets World. The two characters, played by Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel, were friends long before they finally started going out, with their chemistry only growing each season. Cory and Topanga's first kiss was even Savage's first TV smooch, too. The two characters were married in the appropriately named Season 7 episode “It’s About Time,” and, now, Fishel is explaining why she doesn’t think it should have happened.

Cory and Topanga were quite young when they started discussing their nuptials, as Topanga proposed to Cory during their high school graduation at the tail end of Season 5. It was quite a shocker but a sweet surprise, and the final two seasons partially focused on the pair's wedding preparation and eventual first year as husband and wife. Danielle Fishel, however, revealed on an episode of the Boy Meets World rewatch podcast, Pod Meets World, that she thought the pair should've made a different decision regarding a wedding:

It's honestly fair to say that Cory and Topanga, who were the central couple on the show, didn't necessarily have to get married. Even if they hadn't actually exchanged vows before the end of the show, fans surely could've assumed that they would (off camera) somewhere down the line, given how tight their bond was. As for why the writers wanted them to wed, that remains unclear, but it may have been due to the fact that they simply wanted viewers to see them as husband and wife before the show ended. Despite that, one can definitely see where Danielle Fishel is coming from.

What I will also say is that having the BMW characters get married (like Zack and Kelly from Saved By the Bell) towards the end of the series, either in the series finale or TV movie, would have made sense as well. That also would've spared viewers from having to see the early struggles that Cory and Topanga faced after tying the knot. During the podcast, the Topanga actress went on to say that she wasn’t particularly a fan of those tribulations either:

The couple went through a lot throughout the series, and the characters even broke up at one point. And, as mentioned above, their problems didn’t go away after they married each other. By the end of the Philadelphia-set TV series, the two opt to move to New York alongside good friend, Shawn Hunter. I do wonder how different Boy Meets World would have been if Cory and Topanga didn’t get married until the end, or perhaps even off camera after the series ended. Nevertheless, the Girl Meets World spinoff sequel series, which was canceled after three seasons, ultimately revealed that they built a good life for themselves and their children.

At this point, it's been nearly 25 years since the wedding episode aired and, even though it's sealed into the continuity now, it is hard not to ponder what could've been. Danielle Fishel's thoughts are sure to keep me thinking on the matter as time goes on. Still, I suppose that, if anything, fans should simply be grateful that Cory and Topanga did receive their happy ending in the follow-up show after going through those painful ups and downs as young adults.

If you're a fan with a Disney+ subscription, you can relive their love story by streaming both Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World on the platform.

So, let's imagine that you are a participant in a call-in radio show contest and, in order to receive the prize, you must sing a classic TV show theme song. Confident that you can win, you begin singing the lyrics exactly as you remember them, only to be told once are finished that you are completely wrong.

In this case, both you and the radio show host might actually be right, as it is nothing unusual for a series to change its theme music early on or in the middle of its run, for one reason or another. The following are some of the most notable examples in television history of TV shows with iconic theme songs that might not be their original theme songs.

I Dream Of Jeannie (1965-1970)

The original theme song for I Dream of Jeannie — starring Barbara Eden as the titular wish-granter who becomes a servant and, later, love interest to Larry Hagman's Captain Tony Nelson — is a perfectly catchy jazz tune. However, the more recognizable theme, which debuted in Season 2, is a far greater match to the sitcom's mystical elements.

Monk (2002-2009)

The original theme from USA's Monk was an instrumental by Jeff Beal that played over the opening credits for the first season and at different times throughout the series' eight-season run. From the second season on, the opening theme was Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There," which has lyrics written directly from the perspective of the titular, OCD-ridden detective (played by Tony Shalhoub).

Yes, Dear (2000-2006)

For its first few seasons, Yes, Dear opened with a sort of, "jazzy beach-comber" piece by series composer Rick Marotta, which played over a clip of the cast — including Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley, and Liza Snyder — struggling to have a fun vacation day. In the later seasons, the sitcom changed its opening titles sequence to a combination of live-action footage and child-like illustrations, accompanied by a modern punk tune by Bill Janovitz called "Family is Family."

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

Boy Meets World changed its theme song multiple times throughout its seven-season run, with the original being an upbeat mix of synthesizer, traditional orchestrations, and even one moment that sounds recorded from a 1920s speakeasy. The last few seasons finally had an opener with more of a '90s alternative feel and lyrics that bore the hit TGIF favorite's themes of growing up and the importance of friendship.

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

Modern fans of the ultimate horror anthology TV show, The Twilight Zone, might be surprised to find out that its iconic, eerie theme song by Marius Constant only debuted in the second season. The series' first year boasted a very simple, non-melodic instrumental by Bernard Herrmann, which certainly allowed Rod Serling's narration to have most of the spotlight, at least.

Happy Days (1974-1984)

The famous Happy Days theme song — written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox and originally sung by Jimmy Haas — authentically sounds like a recording from the sitcom's in-universe era. However, for the first two seasons, it opened with an actual '50s pop classic: Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock."

The King Of Queens (1998 - 2007)

"Baby All My Life I Will Be Driving Home to You" is a perfect choice as the theme song for The King of Queens, reflecting how Kevin James' Doug feels nearing the end of his work shift, longing to return home to his wife, Carrie (Leah Remini). However, the jazzy song by Billy Vera and the Beaters did not make its debut as the sitcom's opening tune until Season 2, following the first season's very brief opening sequence.

Magnum P.I. (1980-1988)

The first half of its premiere season, the original Magnum P.I., starring Tom Selleck as the titular, Hawaii-based private investigator, had some funky theme music that would have been perfect for a cop drama in the 1970s. Soon, however, the opening song would be replaced with a guitar-heavy jam more suited for the '80s crime show that it was.

The Partridge Family (1970-1974)

If you did not realize that The Partridge Family had two different theme songs, it might be because they had the exact same melody. However, the lyrics in "When We're Singing," which served as the theme during the musical sitcom's first year, are certainly not the same as the iconic "C'mon Get Happy."

Seinfeld (1989-1998)

The pilot episode of one of the all-time greatest sitcoms, Seinfeld, which was called The Seinfeld Chronicles then, was accompanied by a much more generic sitcom theme than Jonathan Wolff's iconically unique composition, which was added by Episode 2. Actually, the most intuitive fans of the NBC comedy might have noticed that Wolff would change the tune slightly for nearly every episode.

Family Matters (1989-1998)

Jesse Frederick, a composer of several iconic sitcom themes, writes and performs Family Matters' iconic opening number, "As Days Go By." However, for its first five episodes of the Perfect Strangers spin-off, Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" served as the sitcom's theme.

Simon & Simon (1981-1989)

During the first season of Simon & Simon, the theme song, The Thrasher Brothers' "Best of Friends," was more appropriate for a sitcom. The cop drama's second, more recognizable theme from composer Barry De Vorzon, which reflects its titular duo's mismatched nature by fusing saxophone with a Southern flair, is a better fit.

The Flintstones (1960-1966)

Even if you do not know all the lyrics, you surely know the melody of the theme song from one of the greatest animated TV shows of all time, The Flintstones, by Hoyt Curtin. However, the composer's original theme, which is called "Rise and Shine," does not contain any lyrics, nor a particularly memorable melody.

The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004)

Anyone familiar with The Drew Carey Show recognizes "Cleveland Rocks," by The Presidents of the United States of America, as the sitcom's theme. However, the first season's theme song was a rendition of "Moon Over Parma" sung by Carey and the second run switched to The Vogues' "Five O'Clock World." The eighth and ninth seasons would rotate between separate covers of all three songs.

That '70s Show (1998-2006)

The theme song for That '70s Show was always a cover of Big Star's "In the Street," but Season 1's rendition was different from the later seasons. The first was a cover by Todd Griffin, while the more recognizable version, used since Season 2, was performed by Cheap Trick.

Felicity (1998-2002)

For the first two seasons, Felicity — starring Keri Russell in the title role — opened with singer-songwriter Judith Owen's simply titled, “Felicity Theme.” The final two seasons featured a new theme by co-creator J.J. Abrams with Andrew Jarecki called "New Version of You."

Baywatch (1989-2001)

During its sole first season on NBC, Baywatch's theme song was Peter Cetera's "Save Me." When the drama about impossibly attractive lifeguards was revived in syndication in 1991, the theme was replaced with "I'm Always Here" by singer Jimi Jamison. Jamison is also famous as the frontman for Survivor, who performed one of the most iconic movie songs, "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III.

Starsky & Hutch (1975-1979)

Much like the buddy cop drama's first season, composer Lalo Schifrin's original theme music for Starsky & Hutch was quite dark and hard-edged. In the second season, it was replaced by Tom Scott's better-known theme, "Gotcha."

Beverly Hills 90210 (1990-2000)

The most recognizable opening credits sequence for Beverly Hills, 90210 featured scenes of the young cast having a fun day at the beach, accompanied by a fun rock piece by John E. Davis. However, during the first season, episodes opened with footage of a postal worker in Minnesota (where the Walshes originally lived) before transitioning into clips from the Golden State, with a warm New Wave mix playing over it.

In Living Color (1990-1994)

For the first two seasons of In Living Color, the beloved sketch comedy series used a self-titled theme by Heavy D and DJ Eddie F. Another theme song called “Cause That's the Way You Livin' When You're in Living Color,” which is also by Heavy D with The Boyz, was adopted as the opening music in the third season, until the original theme was reinstated in Season 5.

Ed (2000-2004)

"Next Year" from Foo Fighters' 1999 album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose, served as the theme song for NBC's Ed during its first season, until it was changed to Clem Snide's "Moment in the Sun." However, it would be changed back to "Next Year" for the final two seasons after some behind-the-scenes rumblings.

Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001)

Hit cop drama Walker, Texas Ranger has one of the most memorable theme songs of the time: "Eyes of the Ranger," which is performed by star Chuck Norris. However, the spoken word ballad would only first show up mid-way through the second season, replacing a decidedly cheesy instrumental composed by Tirk Wilder.

Blackadder (1982-1989)

Composed by Howard Goodall, the theme music for the premiere season of The Black Adder perfectly accompanies its Middle Ages setting. The subsequent three seasons would maintain the same melody but change the styles to reflect each season's new period setting, such as how the World War II-set final installment was constructed as a military march.

Remington Steele (1982-1987)

Henry Mancini's end title song from the spy series, Remington Steele — starring a pre-James Bond movies Pierce Brosnan — was actually the original main theme in its initial run. In Season 2, the composer made something more upbeat to be the new opening number.

Garfield And Friends (1988-1995)

Those who grew up with Garfield and Friends remember its upbeat theme song, called "We're Ready to Party." Yet, for its first two seasons, the animated series opened with a more Vaudevillian tune called "Friends Are There."

Cagney & Lacey (1981-1988)

The first season of the groundbreaking, female-led cop drama, Cagney & Lacey, used "Ain't That the Way," which is written by Michael Stull and performed by Marie Cain, as its theme music. It was replaced the following season with an instrumental by Bill Conti that kind of sounds more akin to a sitcom.

Big Love (2006-2011)

Originally, HBO's Big Love, which starred Bill Paxton as a polygamist juggling his relationships with three wives, used The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" for its theme music. For its fourth and penultimate season, the song was replaced with "Home" by Engineers.

Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005)

The instantly recognizable Everybody Loves Raymond theme song by Rick Marotta would remain the outro music for the entire sitcom's run, but only played over the opening credits for the first two seasons. The sitcom adopted Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" for Seasons 3-5 and would use The Steve Miller Band's "Jungle Love" in its final two years.

The Leftovers (2014-2017)

The theme music for the first season of HBO's The Leftovers was an ominous orchestral piece, played over an animated oil painting illustrating what took place during the "Sudden Departure." Season 2 used Country singer Iris DeMent's "Let the Mystery Be," to reflect the change in setting to Jarden, Texas, while Season 3 used a different song for each episode, including the Perfect Strangers theme.

Bosom Buddies (1980-1982)

If you watched the Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari-led sitcom, Bosom Buddies, in its original two-season run, you recognize Billy Joel's "My Life" as its theme song. If you only caught it later in syndicated airings, you heard Stephanie Mills' "Shake Me Loose" over the credits instead.

Nash Bridges (1996-2001)

A noirish instrumental by Elia Cmíral served as the opener for Nash Bridges in its first season, until it was replaced with the funky, more modern pop song, "I've Got a Friend in You," from writer Eddie Jobson and performer Gigi MacKenzie. In Season 6, the Don Johnson-led cop drama would actually change its theme song again to a techno melody by Velton Ray Bunch.

The Cosby Show (1984-1992)

The Cosby Show changed its theme song to an entirely different style, and with a different title sequence to accompany it, for each season. Of course, Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby's melody would always remain the same.

To have a father in your life whom you can trust and look up to is a blessing that should not be taken for granted. You can find more than enough men like this in some of our favorite movies and TV shows. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most honorable dads in pop culture and why we love them.

Chris Gardner (The Pursuit Of Happyness)

One of Will Smith’s best performances comes from 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness, which is inspired by real-life entrepreneur Chris Gardner’s experiences single-handedly raising a child (played by Smith’s real-life son, Jaden Smith) while struggling with poverty in 1980s San Francisco. In addition to the hard work he puts through to provide for his son, also named Christopher, he also guides him with moving words of wisdom, such as refusing to be told he cannot achieve his dreams.

Mike Brady (The Brady Bunch)

One of the most iconic sitcoms of all time is the story of a man named Brady — architect Mike Brady (Robert Reed) — who married the lovely Carol (Florence Henderson) and became the father to three young step-daughters, in addition to his three biological sons. While The Brady Bunch never offered a particularly grounded depiction of life in the 1970s, a man willing to accept the responsibility of six children (seven, if you count the later casting shake-up of Robbie Rist as Cousin Oliver) was refreshing for the time and remains as such today.

Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird)

Some of the most valuable lessons that a parent can teach their children are the importance of empathy and the evils of prejudice, which Atticus Finch explains to young Scout in Harper Lee’s influential novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. It is no wonder that Gregory Peck’s portrayal of the widowed Southern Lawyer — who comes to the defense of a Black man wrongfully convicted of assault — in the 1962 adaptation was named cinema’s greatest hero by AFI in 2003.

Philip Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

While he often seemed irritated by his nephew’s antics, Judge Philip Banks (James Avery) clearly loved Will Smith (Will Smith), as evident by his willingness to let the Philadelphia-raised teen live with his family in California after a dangerous run-in. It is especially clear, however, in one of the most tender scenes from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (and one of the most heartbreaking serious sitcom moments ever) when Uncle Phil confronts Will’s real father after learning he plans to abandon him again.

Gil Buckman (Parenthood)

A major theme of Ron Howard’s Parenthood is the insecurities that parents often face when raising children, and no character from the 1989 comedy better represents that than Gil Buckman (Steve Martin). However, there is no doubt that the St. Louis ad executive is an exceptional father when he dons a cowboy outfit to fill in as the entertainment for his son’s birthday party.

Dan Conner (Roseanne)

Few TV shows represent the blue-collar lifestyle as authentically as Roseanne did in its original run and one of the crucial elements was John Goodman’s performance as Dan Conner. Roseanne’s husband was everything a middle-class family could ask for in a patriarch — a hard-working, optimistic, and lovingly supportive father who was also never afraid to tell it like it is.

Bob Ivanovich (My Life)

In the 1993 tearjerker, My Life, Academy Award nominee Michael Keaton plays Bob Ivanovich — a Los Angeles public relations firm manager who is expecting his first child with his wife, Gail (Nicole Kidman), when he is given a terminal diagnosis. Yet, he is not going to let his impending death prevent him from being there for his son, giving him the idea to film a series of videos in which he explains how to shave, how to cook, how to drive more valuable lessons every parent should be the first to teach their children.

Jason Seaver (Growing Pains)

With a job career in psychology, it seems like raising four children would be impossible to keep up with. However, Alan Thicke’s Dr. Jason Seaver on Growing Pains achieved a decent balance between his professional and personal life beautifully by always keeping his family as the highest priority.

Gomez Addams (The Addams Family)

To the average, everyday individual, Gomez Addams — portrayed by the likes of John Astin in the 1960s-era The Addams Family series and Raul Julia in Barry Sonnenfeld’s ‘90s movies — does not seem like an ideal role model. However, when you consider his creepy and cooky home life, he and Morticia really do seem to be pushing their daughter Wednesday and son Pugsley in a decent direction at the end of the day.

Danny Tanner (Full House)

Following the sudden death of his wife, Danny Tanner (the late Bob Saget) enlists the help of his brother-in-law, Jesse (John Stamos), and best friend, Joey (Dave Coulier), to help him raise his three daughters on Full House. Yet, if not for his job as a TV personality, we imagine the tidy and tenderhearted dad could have handled the job all by himself.

Bryan Mills (Taken)

When his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), is kidnapped while vacationing in Paris, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) travels to Europe and reignites his “particular set of skills” to find her. The role that made Neeson into a modern action movie icon — from co-writer and producer Luc Besson’s 2008 thriller, Taken — is the rare kind of father who would single-handedly take on an entire human trafficking ring to rescue his child.

Carl Winslow (Family Matters)

Reginald VelJohnson has played quite a few cops in his day, but none more iconic than Carl Winslow as part of the Family Matters cast for nine seasons. When he was not trying to keep society in line patrolling the streets of Chicago, the father of three did a wonderful job keeping his family in line with love and support that his neighbor, Steve Urkel (Jaleel White), must not have received at home, which might explain why he spent so much time at Winslow household.

Guido Orefice (Life Is Beautiful)

Writer and director Roberto Benigni also leads his Oscar-winning 1998 dramedy, Life is Beautiful, as a goofy Jewish-Italian man attempting to protect and shelter his young son (Giorgio Cantarini) from their treacherous surroundings while living at a Holocaust-era concentration camp. While one might say honesty is a more important parental quality, sometimes keeping your child smiling and laughing in the midst of tragedy is the one thing they need most.

Adam Braverman (Parenthood)

Peter Krause told TV Guide that what attracted him to joining the Parenthood cast as Adam Braverman was the character’s goal to be “the best father, the best husband, the best son, the best brother he could be.” Considering the immense dedication he showed for his children — especially toward Max (Max Burkholder), who is a young boy on the Autism spectrum — we would say he succeeded.

Jack Pearson (This Is Us)

There are few modern TV characters who cross off all the boxes of an admirable fatherly portrayal quite like Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) on This is Us, whose devotion to his wife and three children is stronger than many could claim. His wisdom and wit would even prove to be a large influence in his children’s lives long after his untimely passing.

Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

In addition to being the real father of his teenage daughter, Julie (Aimee Teegarden), Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) acts as a devoted father figure to the Dillion High School Panthers football team he coaches on Friday Night Lights. Not to mention, what better advice could someone offer on or off the field than, “Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose”?

Marlin (Finding Nemo)

In one of the saddest openings to a Pixar movie, tragedy makes clownfish Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) a single father to a single son, Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould), whom he coddles to a suffocating degree as he grows up. However, by the end of Finding Nemo, he learns to be a more trusting father, but only after facing his greatest fears searching the ocean for his son after he is taken by a scuba diver.

Burt Hummel (Glee)

Just about any teen on the LGBTQ+ spectrum has gone through the challenging decision to come out to their parents, but they might have found some helpful encouragement after seeing Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) reveal his true self to his father, Burt (Mike O’Malley). Not only does the United States Congressman accept his son for who he is, but fights for his well-being against anyone who shows him adversity.

Johnathan Kent (Smallville)

Being the adoptive father of super-powered extra-terrestrial sounds like the toughest job imaginable, but John Schneider made it look easy with his portrayal of Johnathan Kent on Smallville. You could say that the farmer’s moral guidance is what led his son, Clark (Tom Welling), to become the crime fighter he needed to be when he accepted his destiny as Superman.

Louis Huang (Fresh Off the Boat)

Inspired by the childhood of celebrity chef Eddie Huang, Fresh Off the Boat follows the challenges of a Taiwanese family trying to make it in the States. The lovingly optimistic patriarch of the family, Louis Huang (Randall Park), is the embodiment of the American dream, working hard to ensure his children the life they deserve.

George Banks (Father Of The Bride)

In 1991’s Father of the Bride, George Banks (Steve Martin) struggles to let go when his daughter, Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), becomes engaged to Bryan (George Newbern). The reaction is certainly a definitive trait of the typical over-protective father, but considering it comes from a place of great love for his daughter and a certain nostalgia for his early days as a parent, we cannot help but feel a heartwarming empathy for his “overreaction.”

Floyd Henderson (Smart Guy)

The underrated WB sitcom Smart Guy followed T.J. Henderson (Taj Mowry) — a young boy of above-average intelligence who still finds himself in need of the kind of guidance a child of his age typically requires. That is where his widowed father, Floyd (John Marshall Jones), would come in — answering his son’s complicated questions and even disciplining him without ever talking down to him, which even he understands would be a strange thing to do to someone with double his I.Q.

Man (The Road)

The 2009 adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is one of the most frightening depictions of a post-apocalyptic society ever put to celluloid, but that is not what makes it a valuable entry to the genre. At its core, the film is a powerful story about an unnamed man (played by Viggo Mortensen) struggling to do the right thing for his son (played by Kodi Smit-McPhee), which is something any father in the real world can easily relate to.

Phillip Drummond (Diff’rent Strokes)

Before his former housekeeper suddenly passed away, widowed millionaire Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain) promised to take care of her sons, Arnold (Gary Coleman) and Willis (Todd Bridges). That is the plot of Diff’rent Strokes — a hit sitcom that proved that family is defined by the devotion you have for each other and Mr. Drummond’s devotion to his adopted sons and his biological daughter, Kimberly (Dana Plato), was undeniable.

Mac MacGuff (Juno)

In another story about teen pregnancy, you might expect the father character to fly off the handle after learning his young daughter is with child, but that is not the case in 2007’s Oscar-winning dramedy, Juno. Mac MacGuff (J.K. Simmons) reacts to the news that his titular daughter (played by Elliot Page) is pregnant in a surprisingly calm demeanor and offers strong support to her through every step of the process.

Daniel Hillard (Mrs. Doubtfire)

We cannot deny that Daniel Hillard’s (Robin Williams) actions in the 1993 comedy favorite, Mrs. Doubtfire — posing as an elderly woman to act as his estranged family’s nanny after being denied custody — is a little messed up. However, there is no denying that his extreme decision came from a place of strong commitment for his children, who were actually delighted to learn their father was him in disguise.

Mr. Levenstein (American Pie)

Not too many teens actively seek advice about the more awkward moments of adolescence from their parents, but Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs) would not have to seek such conversations in the American Pie movies. His father (played by Eugene Levy) had no trouble openly discussing the most uncomfortably “adult” topics with his son, but always had the wherewithal to make the discussions somewhat more comforting with the caveat that these were “perfectly normal things.”

Alan Matthews (Boy Meets World)

If you could not figure it out before, the title of Boy Meets World refers to Cory Matthews’ (Ben Savage) journey to figure out what life is all about, often with help from his teacher, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels). Of course, he also received more than enough guidance from his admirable humble, down-to-earth father, Alan (William Russ), who also served as a father figure to Cory’s best friend, Shawn (Rider Strong), whenever he needed it.

Ted Kramer (Kramer Vs. Kramer)

Director Robert Benton’s Best Picture Oscar winner, 1979’s Kramer vs. Kramer, depicts a marriage that falls apart when Joanna (Meryl Streep) leaves her husband, Ted (Dustin Hoffman), forcing him to finally learn what it really takes to be a parent. By the time Joanna returns to take their son, Billy (Justin Henry), with her, she realizes from the love and devotion he shows that he belongs with Ted after all.

Michael Kyle (My Wife And Kids)

We would consider Tisha Campbell’s Janet “Jay” Kyle from My Wife and Kids a TV wife who often put her husband in his place whenever his more childish and egotistical attributes came out. However, Michael Kyle (series co-creator Damon Wayans) is still a TV dad for the ages because of his unique approach to teaching lessons that sometimes even involve elaborate pranks at his kids’ expense.

Mason Evans Sr. (Boyhood)

When Ethan Hawke first appears as Mason Evans Sr. in 2014’s Boyhood, he seems like the stereotypical irresponsible estranged father you might see in most movies centered on divorced families. However, in retrospect, he offers young Mason (Ellar Coltrane) and his daughter, Samantha (Lorelai Linklater), some very profound advice even then and proves, that by the time Mason reaches manhood, he becomes the dad he was always destined to become, including to his child with his second wife, Olivia.

Sonny Kofax (Big Daddy)

Adam Sandler’s role in 1999’s Big Daddy, Sonny Kofax, is the one character her who is not actually a dad and, in fact, is very irresponsible. However, the love he shows for Julian (the illegitimate son of his friend, played by Dylan and Cole Sprouse) is worth a million fathers combined.

Hopefully, you have or had a father (or father figure) who can hold a candle to any of these movie and TV characters.

Trina McGee, known for playing Angela in the cast of Boy Meets World, will be having her fourth baby! At 54 years old, the talented actress will embark on a new chapter of motherhood all over again. However, McGee’s kids weren’t exactly happy that they received the news of their mother’s pregnancy through the internet.

When 54-year-old Trina McGee first announced the big news of her fourth pregnancy, it was in an Instagram post with a snippet of The Supreme’s song “Baby Love” playing over the video clip. When her three adult children found out the news of her mother’s pregnancy, McGee admitted to People they weren’t exactly happy considering they learned about it on the internet rather than directly from her:

It looks like Trina McGee felt like the news of her pregnancy was something that could have waited considering her adult kids have lives of their own. McGee herself said that finding out she was pregnant came as a “shock” to her, but she also found it a “miracle,” as she’s incorporating a holistic approach to life with an emphasis on staying away from stress during this time.

While Trina McGee’s kids didn’t take well to finding out the news online at first, the television actor says that everything is all good between the family now:

There's nothing like a new member of the family to bring everyone together! Did you know that when Trina McGee was filming Boy Meets World she was pregnant then? In the Season 5 episode of “And Then There Was Shawn,” McGee was actually six months into her pregnancy. You wouldn’t expect this with her playing a teenager, though in reality, she was older than her co-stars by at least a decade. It’s hard to believe she already had a family of her own while playing a teenager. Even looking at the 54-year-old actress now, it’s like time hasn’t stopped since her run on the family-oriented series.

The ageless-looking actress joked that she originally thought her younger co-stars were “snots,” but it wasn’t too hard for her to relate to them considering she felt like she was working among “adult kids.” Clearly casting directors knew exactly what they were doing tapping McGee in for Angela, knowing she’d fit in well within the coming-of-age series.

Trina McGee’s kids weren’t too happy to find out their mother’s pregnancy news through the internet. Fortunately, the family has all made up now as they await the arrival of Baby #4. As for what McGee is doing now to prepare for her new baby, she’s been getting her home ready envisioning a playroom house with a jungle gym in the backyard, not to mention all of the fun baby accessories for the little tyke. At 12 weeks into her pregnancy, you can tell the film/television actress is excited for this big moment.

You can add Boy Meets World to your streaming schedule by checking out the show with your Disney+ subscription. Make sure to follow our 2024 TV schedule so you don’t miss a beat on upcoming new shows.

The Boy Meets World cast has moved on with their professional and personal lives since the show finished its seven-season run on ABC in 2000. Every now and then though, the actors reveal interesting tidbits about their time on the young adult sitcom in addition to sharing updates on their lives. Trina McGee-Davis, who played the role of Angela Moore during the final three seasons, has shared such details. Most recently, the 54-year-old actress revealed that she’s pregnant with another child. That’s definitely big news, but what you may find even more intriguing is that, at one point, McGee was six months pregnant while on the show.

How Did Trina McGee-Davis Confirm Her Pregnancy?

A mother of three already, the actress took to Instagram to announce that she’s expecting her fourth child. Her post simply included a video with a message that formally confirmed her expectancy. Playing over the clip was a snippet of the hit song “Baby Love” from The Supremes. Her official message on the matter read as follows: 

She also confirmed in her caption that she was planning to “sign off social media for a bit” and thanked fans for their support. Many took to the comment section to extend congratulations to her. They did the same in another recent post of hers, which was taken from her trip to Belize. In the snapshot, the Friday After Next alum’s baby bump was clearly visible, much to the delight of her social media followers. Check it out: 

Major congratulations are definitely in order, and she seems excited about her latest child’s arrival. And, based on that vacation post, she already seems to be going in on her baby bump journey. It’s sweet news but, still, as this development comes to the surface, I can’t help but think about the time she was pregnant while filming one of the greatest TGIF comedies. 

At What Point During Boy Meets World’s Production Was The Star Expecting A Baby?

Trina McGee-Davis revealed this interesting behind-the-scenes fact in a TikTok video she shared back in 2022. In the brief clip, the actress appears on screen and, under her is the caption, “that time I played a teenager, but in reality, I was [six] months pregnant.” The video then transitions to a still of McGee-Davis in character as Angela in Boy Meets World. Said image is from the Season 5 episode “And Then There Was Shawn.” Take a look:

In hindsight, it’s honestly wild to think that the star was expecting at the time, especially amid the taping of that episode. The installment – which played on tropes from various slasher films – required a bit more physical activity from the stars. In some cases, they were rushing around the corridors of the fictional John Adams High School to evade a killer. Kudos to the actress as well as the costume designers for ensuring that the baby bump was hidden. 

One could definitely argue that Trina McGee-Davis’ time on the show was “complex.” From the jump, the producers went through a lot of hurdles to cast her as Angela. Later on, not only was she older than her Boy Meets World co-stars, but she was also the only person of color in the main cast. In recent years, she’s been open about “disrespectful” incidents she experienced, at least one of which was tied to her race. All in all though, she continues to embrace her role as a series alum and has since made amends with some of her former colleagues.

One would hope that her former co-stars will wish her well with this latest pregnancy as plenty of fans have already. Here’s wishing her all the best as she prepares for the arrival of her latest baby. 

You can revisit Trina McGee-Davis’ performance as Angela on Boy Meets World by streaming the entire series with a Disney+ subscription.

The Boy Meets World cast grew up on TV before millions of viewers, and they have discussed the good and bad of experiencing adolescence on TV. One reward was getting close to adult castmates like William Russ and Betsy Randle (known as Alan and Amy Matthews). The rekindled closeness even led them to work on a new project. After reuniting with their younger co-stars, the Matthews parents commented on Cory’s friends growing up, and they have me in my childhood feelings.

The Matthews parents shared their observations on the Pod Meets World podcast. Former co-star and host Danielle Fishel recalled working with them on the sequel series Girl Meets World. She remembered a full-circle moment with her and Rider Strong being the adults on set instead of Randle and Russ. Having reunited as adults, Fishel asked whether there were any surprises the actors saw or if they knew how she and Strong would turn out. Betsy Randle revealed her thoughts on their growth after some troubled on-set years, saying:

The feeling was mutual as Fishel and Strong admitted Randle was underutilized in BMW’s latter seasons. Randle wasn’t the only one loving her time with her now-adult castmates. William Russ wasn’t surprised by his co-star’s adult lives as he recalled interacting with them on the ABC sitcom set, saying:

Giving his younger co-stars kudos for their professionalism as child actors was heartwarming. Russ seemingly loved his time with them as both children and adults. He cherished his close connection to them, especially Strong and Fishel, as adults. He watched them grow up over the ABC sitcom’s seven seasons. So, his take on their adult lives made sense.

I got all the feels from hearing Randle and Russ’s words. They confirmed something I always suspected – the Matthews parents were the same on and off set with their younger co-stars. Watching the coming-of-age sitcom fostered a real connection between Alan and Amy Matthews and their youngest son’s friends. The Matthews home was a refuge for Shawn Hunter and Topanga Lawrence when dealing with adolescent difficulties. It warmed my heart to know the connection translated to their off-screen lives.

Betsy Randle and William Russ’s recollections were the opposite of the traumatic and divided BTS conflict in BMW’s earlier seasons. The cast has addressed other BTS secrets, including the original Topanga actress getting fired and the character’s personality shift over the show’s run. 

Hopefully, the upcoming untitled documentary will shed more light on the reunited cast’s relationships. In the meantime, you can relive every season of Boy Meets World by watching it through a Disney+ subscription.

Everybody loves a good, harmless prank… emphasis on “harmless.” Unfortunately, not every trick or gag results in a particularly funny outcome — even for the pranksters themselves — and many signature instances of this can be found on the big screen and the small screen. We decided to only count our favorite fictional examples, so do not expect to see any of the real-life victims of Johnny Knoxville or Sacha Baron Cohen among our picks for the most disastrous pranks from movies and TV shows.

Dumping Pig Blood On Carrie (Carrie)

In the iconic climax of Brian De Palma's 1976 adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie, bratty Chris Hargenson (Nancy Allen) conspires to humiliate Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) by dumping pig blood on her head at prom. Unbeknownst to her, the meek student is telekinetic and the stunt unleashes a rage within her that results in an all-out massacre in the high school gym with very few survivors.

The Prank War (Boy Meets World)

It starts when Cory (Ben Savage) and Shawn (Rider Strong) sneak Rachel's (Maitland Ward) car into her and Angela's (Trina McGree) dorm room. They and Jack (Matthew Lawrence) retaliate by gluing Cory, Shawn, and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) to their desk chairs, dousing them with honey, and letting a bear loose on them. Cory and Shawn's retort, in the form of posting an enlarged, revealing photo of Rachel in the student union, hurts her to tears and nearly ruins the relationship between these characters from the Boy Meets World cast.

Kidnapping Niedermeyer's Horse (National Lampoon's Animal House)

After helping D-Day (Bruce McGill) and Bluto (John Belushi) kidnap a horse belonging to Omega House member Neidermeyer, Flounder (Stephen Furst) is convinced to shoot the animal, not realizing they only put blanks in the pistol. Still, when Flounder shoots upward, the sound gives the horse a fatal heart attack, resulting in one of the darkest gags from National Lampoon's Animal House, which is really saying something.

Lloyd Gives Harry A Laxative (Dumb And Dumber)

To get even with Harry (Jeff Daniels) after learning he spent the day with Mary behind his back, Lloyd (Jim Carrey) puts a heavy dose of laxative in his coffee before he goes to see Mary again. This leads to, easily, the grossest scene from Dumb and Dumber in which Harry ends up violently unloading his waste into Mary's toilet, which he only then discovers is broken.

Getting Back At Mrs. Slater (The House On Sorority Row)

In the 1982 slasher, The House on Sorority Row, seven female college students attempt to prank their house mother, Mrs. Slater (Lois Kelso Hunt), by stealing her cane and forcing her to retrieve it from their pool herself while holding her at gunpoint. When the older woman retaliates by startling Vicki (Eileen Davidson), she accidentally shoots her, which makes them a target of a killer using her cane as the murder weapon.

Winston Convinces Nick And Jess They Are Evicted (New Girl)

The entire New Girl finale, in which Nick (Jake Johnson) and Jess (Zooey Deschanel) are forced to leave the loft, was an elaborate prank by Winston (Lamorne Morris). While the couple did successfully find a new place to live, the gang chalks up this gag as an example of when "Prank Sinatra" takes his sense of humor way too far.

Michelle And Natalie's Car Chase Game (Urban Legend)

In a late '90s slasher called Urban Legend, a wave of murders related to popular myths reminds Natalie (Alicia Witt) of a game she played with her high school friend, Michelle (Natasha Gregson Wagner). The object was to drive without headlights on and chase after the first car to flash its lights at them, which resulted in the death of the other car's driver.

Jim Hides Andy's Cellphone (The Office)

Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is the victim of Jim’s (John Krasinski) best pranks on The Office, but one that backfired a bit was targeted at Andy (Ed Helms) in retaliation for his annoying new ringtone. In the series’ third season, Jim hides the former Stamford Branch salesperson's cell phone in the ceiling and calls it repeatedly, which sends him into a rage that, ultimately, leads him to overreact by punching a hole in the wall.

Squidward Tries To Get Back At SpongeBob (SpongeBob Squarepants)

In an April Fool’s Day episode of one of the best-animated series of all time, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob Squarepants, Squidward (Rodger Bumpass) decides to get even with his eponymous co-worker (Tom Kenny) simply for enjoying one of his favorite holidays by setting an elaborate, Rube Goldberg-style trap in the Krusty Krab. However, the cantankerous octopus’ prank only causes SpongeBob physical and emotional pain and earns criticism from bystanders, forcing him to apologize.

Flaming Poop Bag Blows Up A Competing Bar (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia)

A classic example of the aggressively dark humor on FX’s It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia in the second season when the gang conspires to get back at a business developer who tries to claim he owns half of Paddy’s. One of their acts of vengeance is throwing a flaming bag of fecal matter into their rival’s property, unaware that there is a gas leak occurring at that moment, which causes an explosion inside.

The Gym Rats Make Melvin Kiss A Sheep (The Toxic Avenger)

After Melvin (Mark Torgl) is tricked into wearing a pink tutu and kissing a sheep he thinks is his crush, Julie (Cindy Manion), the embarrassed gym custodian accidentally runs through a window and falls into a vat of toxic waste. However, you could argue that this had a positive outcome, since the accident transformed him into a grotesque, but powerful, vigilante known as the Toxic Avenger.

Hiding Fish Causes A Deadly Standoff (Dirty Work)

In the cult favorite, 1998 Norm Macdonald movie, Dirty Work, professional revenge artists Mitch (Macdonald) and Sam (Artie Lange) try to make a client's rowdy neighbor's mansion literally smell fishy. When the owner returns with others to complete an illegal business deal, the buyer points out the odor, which the seller assumes is a signal that he is being set up, leading to a bloody massacre offscreen.

The Haunted Rock Quarry (Trick 'R Treat)

One of the most chilling segments from the 2007 anthology horror movie classic, Trick 'R Treat, sees Rhonda (Samm Todd) in hysterics by fellow-trick-or-treaters pretending to be the vengeful spirits of children who died at the bottom of a local quarry years earlier. Rhonda gets the last laugh, however, when she leaves the pranksters to die as the actual spirits of the murdered kids emerge to attack them.

Bart's Exploding Duff Can (The Simpsons)

Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright) is one of pop culture’s most legendary pranksters, but one of his biggest bombs occurred in an April Fool’s Day episode of The Simpsons as fate would have it. He shakes up a can of Duff so vigorously that, when Homer (Dan Castellaneta) cracks it open, it literally blows the roof off their house.

A Flaming Halloween Prank Leads To Victor Crowley's Death (Hatchet)

A horror movie villain we have some sympathy for is Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder), whose brutal murder streak in the Hatchet franchise is out of vengeful retaliation for the cruel Halloween prank that inadvertently led to his demise. When the grotesquely deformed man becomes trapped in his house as it is lit on fire by trick-r-treaters, his father (also played by Hodder) uses a hatched to break in and save him, but accidentally kills him with the tool instead.

Geoffrey Thinks He Won The Lottery (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

In Season 3 of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will (Will Smith) and Carlton (Alfonso Ribiero) convince Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell) that he won a $26 million jackpot, to which he excitedly responds by resigning as the Banks’ live-in servant. This forces the cousins to come clean about their trick (achieved by playing him a tape of the previous week’s lottery reading and buying a ticket with corresponding numbers), to which he responds by nearing choking them to death.

Aiden And Mia Convince Grace They Are Dead (The Lodge)

In many great horror movies, the inciting incident or entire plot revolves around a prank gone awry and a most devastating example is 2020’s The Lodge. The major reveal of the holiday horror movie is that Aiden (Jaeden Martell) and Mia (Lia McHugh) successfully convince their father’s girlfriend, Grace (Riley Keough), that they are all in purgatory, but are unable to get her to realize it was a joke, leading the unstable cult survivor to shoot their dad (Richard Armitage) under the belief that he has also joined them in the afterlife upon his return to the cabin. 

Frasier's Clown Costume Gives His Dad A Heart Attack (Frasier)

To get back at his father, Martin (John Mahoney), for spooking him earlier, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) sneaks up on him dressed as a killer clown. The gag works too well, causing the startled Martin to end up in the hospital with a mild heart attack.

Scott And Cartman's Prank War (South Park)

It probably came as no surprise to South Park fans that a series of retaliative pranks between Scott Tenorman (voiced by Toby Morton) and Eric Cartman (Trey Parker) would lead to extreme circumstances, but just how it came to be was shockingly absurd. After Scott tries to trick Cartman into eating his body hair, Cartman gets even by tricking Scott into eating his own parents.

Columbus Gets Spooked By Bill Murray In Zombie Makeup (Zombieland)

The 2009 horror-comedy classic Zombieland features one of the most memorable Bill Murray cameos, especially for the tragic turn it takes when he tries to sneak up on Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg). Because the comedy legend’s disguise as a walking corpse is so convincing that, Columbus ends up shooting him in the chest, ending his life for real.

Joey Gets His Head Stuck In A Turkey (Friends)

In one of the best Friends episodes set on Thanksgiving, a flashback reveals a time when Joey (Matt LeBlanc) placed his head inside the dinner’s main course and could not take it off. He explains to Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) that he put the turkey on in the first place in hopes it would scare Chandler (Matthew Perry).

Lewis And Fuller Accidentally Prank A Psychopath (Joy Ride)

The 2001 thriller Joy Ride stars Paul Walker, Steve Zahn, and Leelee Sobieski as three road-trippers stalked by a sadistic trucker known as Rusty Nail (voiced by Ted Levine), but really have no one to blame but themselves for the ordeal. Walker and Zahn’s characters, Lewis and Fuller, played a practical joke on Rusty Nail — posing as a woman on CB radio and luring him to a racist businessman’s motel room — that he clearly did not find funny.

Liz's Fake Birthday Kidnapping Results In Her Death (Jawbreaker)

One of the darkest high school movies of the ‘90s is Jawbreaker, in which a clique of popular young men (Rose McGowan, Julie Benz, and Rebecca Gayheart) decides to surprise their fourth member, Liz (Charlott Ayanna), with a birthday dinner by pretending to kidnap her and throwing her in the trunk of a car. However, they are the ones who end up being surprised when they discover that, on the way, she choked to death on the titular piece of candy.

Max's War On Bullies (Max Keeble's Big Move)

When he learns he is moving by the end of his first week at school, the title character of Max Keeble's Big Move (Alex Linz) decides to get back at his bullies with, not just one prank, but a series of elaborate and uproarious gags. Unfortunately, when his dad quits his job, allowing his family to stay home instead, all of Max's tormentors come for him at once. At least his friends come through and help save him from a grisly fate.

Scaring Cropsy (The Burning)

The 1981 slasher The Burning follows a former summer camp caretaker named Cropsy, who seeks murderous vengeance years after he was the victim of a prank gone awry by a group of campers. An attempt to scare Cropsy by placing a burning, bug-infested skull near his bed works too well, resulting in an inferno that engulfs his cabin and leaves him horribly disfigured.

Just About All Of Junior's Mischievous Acts (The Problem Child Movies)

Dennis the Menace and Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister may be the more famous mischievous youngsters, but pop culture’s true, most fearsome troublemaker might be Junior (Michael Oliver) from 1990’s Problem Child and its sequel from the following year. The seven-year-old wreaks havoc by throwing the family cat on his grandfather (which ends him up in the hospital) and turning the propane on his new neighbor’s gas-powered barbecue pit high enough to cause an explosion.

Booker Thinks He Saw A U.F.O. (The Famous Jett Jackson)

On Disney Channel’s The Famous Jett Jackson, Jett (Lee Thompson Young), Kayla (Kerry Duff), and J.B. (Ryan Sommer Baum) mess with a working flying saucer prop from the Silverstone set that ends up hovering over Booker (Andrew Tarbet). While the trio never intended to prank him with it, they indulge in the opportunity when the deputy appears visibly shocked by the sight. However, they come to regret it when Booker spreads the word and causes a ruckus across town that ends up costing him his job.

Rachel Teaches Ben The Art Of Pranking (Friends)

Desperate to find some way to relate to young Ben (Cole Sprouse), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) shows him some of the ways she and her siblings used to mess with each other in their youth, such as putting saran wrap around the toilet. Rachel ends up in the dog house, though, when Ben’s gags begin to upset his father, Ross (David Schwimmer), and mother, Carol (Jane Sibbet).

The Badger At Cece's Wedding (New Girl)

In the Season 2 finale of New Girl, Schmidt (Max Greenfield) wants to sabotage Cece’s (Hannah Simone) wedding to Shivrang (Satya Bhabha) and enlists the help of “Prank Sinatra,” Winston, who conspires to drop a live badger onto the officiant from inside the venue’s vents. Unfortunately, he and Nick never get that far into the plan because they get trapped in the vents with the badger after it springs loose from his crate.

A Crank Call Leads To Manslaughter And Murder (Don't Hang Up)

In the 2017 thriller, Don't Hang Up, Sam (Gregg Sulkin) and Brady (Garret Culkin) convince a woman over the phone that there is an intruder in her home and, unwittingly, reveal the truth only after she had dropped the phone. Hearing someone that she believes is the intruder, she fatally shoots them before discovering it was her own daughter entering the house. This incident makes Sam and Brady the target of a cruel killer who punishes pranksters like them.

The Haunted Warehouse (The Office)

As part of the Dunder-Mifflin Scranton branch's Halloween haunted house attraction, Michael (Steve Carell) suspends himself from the ceiling with a fake noose around his neck, absolutely traumatizing their young guests. The cold open proved controversial in real life, too, and has since been removed from the episode, called “Koi Pond,” wherever The Office is available to stream.

Faking Megan's Death Proves Fatal (Sorority Row)

The inciting incident of the 2009 slasher, Sorority Row (a reimagining of 1982's The House on Sorority Row), is a prank to punish Garrett (Matt O'Leary) for cheating on Megan (Audrina Patridge) by convincing him he killed her. However, he ends up killing her for real by mortally wounding her with a tire iron.

It should go without saying, but you should be careful about who you prank and how you prank them. If you don’t believe us, just check out these examples of pranks from movies and TV for reference.

Children’s TV series have produced some of the most endearing relationships in the history of pop culture. Such programs have highlighted ties between parents and their kids as well as those among colleagues or teammates. However, what I particularly relish are friendships shared between two specific characters. Over the years, there have been plenty of excellent best-friend pairings presented on shows intended for more impressionable viewers. And we’re going to discuss a number of them right now.

Zack Morris And A.C. Slater (Saved By The Bell)

It’s somewhat hard to believe that Saved by the Bell’s Zack and Slater were frenemies at the start of the show. The two are first in conflict with each other, because they both seek to win the heart of one Kelly Kapowski. Once they get over that petty squabble though, Morris and A.C. become firm friends – even if they do get into a brief scuffle (which you can check out on YouTube) over another young lady during the final season.

Fred Flintstone And Barney Rubble (The Flintstones)

Hanna-Barbera Productions had a knack for creating dynamic duos, and Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble still stand as two of the tightest pals the studio ever created. The two Flintstones characters definitely have their share of disagreements here and there, which are usually due to Fred’s schemes and bad temper. Yet, at the end of the day, the bowling buddies see each other through tough times.

Arnold Shortman And Gerald Johanssen (Hey Arnold!)

Few fictional friendships are as endearing as the bond that Arnold and Gerald have on the beloved ‘90s Nickelodeon show Hey Arnold! What makes these two so great is that they balance each other out perfectly. While Arnold is the wise and conscientious half of the duo, Gerald is the smooth and mostly laid-back part of it. They may have the occasional disagreement, but this is a relationship that can’t easily be shaken.

Bert And Ernie (Sesame Street)

Sesame Street has established a number of friendships among characters throughout its lengthy run, but one of the most iconic has to be Bert and Ernie’s. The former is a straight-laced Muppet, while the latter has a knack for getting into trouble. However, they bounce off each other perfectly, and their antics make for some of the best moments on Sesame.

Cory Matthews And Shawn Hunter (Boy Meets World)

When I think of incredible bromances, one that really stands out in my mind is the one between childhood best friends Cory Matthews and Shawn Hunter. The two are like night and day in some ways, especially at the onset of the series. Cory, in most cases, aims to do the right thing, while Shawn doesn’t mind cutting corners. Yet they complement each other well and are definitely goals when it comes to friendship. The writers deserve a lot of credit for their perfect dynamic as do Boy Meets World cast members Rider Strong and Ben Savage. 

Jimmy And H.R. Pufnstuf (H.R. Pufnstuf)

One of those classic children’s shows we don’t talk about much these days, H.R. Pufnstuf gifted kids of the late ‘60s with the friendship between the titular character and human child Jimmy. Yes, the latter is incredibly tight with his magical, talking flute, Freddy. Yet Jimmy’s bond with H.R. serves as the crux of the series and proves crucial to them thwarting the machinations of Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo.

Tommy Pickles And Chuckie Finster (Rugrats)

The friendship between Tommy Pickles and Chuckie Finister is arguably a big reason why Rugrats is one of the best ‘90s Nickelodeon shows. Both are obviously part of a group that includes twins Phil and Lil DeVille and eventually Kimi Finster. However, Chuckie and Tommy’s bond is highly emphasized, particularly how Pickles protects his easily scared pal, and, in turn, Finster serves as a voice of reason for his bestie. They’re yin and yang, but it totally works.

Shaggy Rogers And Scooby-Doo (Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!)

Seriously, are there any cartoon characters that are as closely bonded as Scooby-Doo and Shaggy Rogers? Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, which premiered in 1969, quickly establishes that these perpetually hungry chums are made for each other. Whether they’re sharing a bite, screaming like lunatics because of a masked weirdo or just hanging out, it’s always great to see this duo together.

Punky Brewster And Cherie Johnson (Punky Brewster) 

Penelope “Punky” Brewster has a few friends on her eponymous sitcom, but her top bestie is definitely Cherie Johnson. They’re downright inseparable and know how to have a good time. With that, they also have a knack for getting into trouble, much to the delight of those who’ve enjoyed this ‘80s-era offering over the years.

Timmy Martin And Lassie (Lassie)

To paraphrase an age-old adage, dogs are meant to be man’s (or a woman or child’s) best friend, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to Timmy and Lassie. The iconic canine had a few notable companions, but young Timmy Martin is arguably the one she forges a particularly close connection with. While she rescues the lad in more than a few cases, the two are ultimately there for each other.

Charlie Brown And Linus Van Pelt (Peanuts Animated TV Specials)

Among the sweetest friendships present within Charles M. Schulz’ Peanuts is the one between Charlie Brown and Linus Van Pelt. They’re honestly the definition of “supportive friends,” as Linus usually aims to calm down the sometimes over-anxious Chuck. On that same token, Brown supports Van Pelt when he’s in a pickle, too.

Sonny Hammond And Skippy (Skippy The Bush Kangaroo)

When it comes to sentimental animal-human pairings, Sonny Hammond and Skippy from the late-’60s/early-70s show Skippy the Bush Kangaroo are somewhat underrated. Their adventures are filled with some legitimate thrills, which is impressive given we’re talking about a young kangaroo and a young kid. Seriously, these two have taken on poachers, thieves and other antagonists, with each experience seemingly strengthening their friendship.

Chip And Dale (Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers)

Disney gifted the public with a truly lovable pair of friends when it created Chip and Dale, whose popularity earned them their own show in the late ‘80s. Chip’s fearless and optimistic nature is a perfect counterbalance to Dale’s somewhat quirky and occasionally devil-may-care attitude. It’s no wonder that these two remain popular – and headlined the well-reviewed Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

Natalie Green And Tootie Ramsey (The Facts Of Life)

Within the quartet that makes up the core friend group on The Facts of Life, is the special connection between Natalie Green and Dorothy “Tootie” Ramsey. The two are particularly close, because they’re younger than their other friends, Blair Warner and Jo Polniaczek. Although Nat and Tootie occasionally disagree, these girlfriends are super close. 

Bulk And Skull (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)

There may sometimes be reasons to question Bulk and Skull’s actions, but it’s abundantly clear that these two are thick as thieves. They share a love for food and a keen interest in the exploits of the Power Rangers. I mean, you aren’t true friends if you don’t nearly re-release Rita Repulsa.

Jonny Quest And Hadji Singh (Johnny Quest)

If we’re to be technical, Hadji Singh is Jonny Quest’s adopted brother but, at the end of the day, they’re truly best friends. Those who’ve watched their exploits on the OG ‘60s show (a Saturday morning cartoon that still holds up) and its spinoffs, surely know their trust has been tested. Considering what they’ve been through, I don’t question how tight these two are.

Ricky Stratton And Alfonso Spears (Silver Spoons)

Alfonso Spears doesn’t join Silver Spoons until its third season, but it doesn’t take long for him to become best buddies with Ricky Stratton. Ricky firmly fits into the “straight-laced kid archetype,” while Alfonso falls into the “hip friend” mold. Nevertheless, their friendship really works.

LIzzie McGuire And Miranda Sanchez (Lizzie McGuire)

Some things about Lizzie McGuire hit differently when you’re an adult but the strong friendship between the lead character and her best friend, Miranda Sanchez remains consistent. Together, the two have experienced some of the most awkward moments a teenage girl can go through, from parental embarrassment to buying a first bra. You’d be hard-pressed to find a pair of besties closer than them.

Pee-Wee Herman And Cowboy Curtis (Pee-Wee's Playhouse)

Plenty of characters pop up on Pee-wee’s Playhouse to spend time with the late Paul Reubens’ beloved man-child, including Cowboy Curtis, who’s played by Laurence Fishburne. I feel that we don’t talk enough about how great these two are as friends. Not only do they have sweet meet-ups but their interplay is downright perfect as well.

Doug Funnie And Skeeter Valentine (Doug)

A kid as anxious as Doug Funnie needs a calm, cool and collected friend like Mosquito “Skeeter” Valentine. These two pals usually seem to be on the same page and get into some funny antics, but what’s truly sweet is the way in which they have each other’s backs at crucial moments on Doug.

Sandy Ricks And Flipper (Flipper)

Flipper makes up one-half of arguably one of the most unique friendships in the history of TV, with one of his human friends, Sandy Ricks, making up the other half. It’s a special bond that these two have, and it guides them through a myriad of adventures.

Arthur Read And Buster Baxter (Arthur)

Arthur – one of the greatest animated series of all time – features the incredibly warm bond that exists between Arthur Read and Buster Baxter. Their friendship has been tested by arguments, moments of peer pressure and even Buster moving away to be with his father. There’s no question that these are true mates to the end.

Raven Baxter And Chelsea Daniels (That’s So Raven)

The early 2000s sitcom That’s So Raven generates plenty of laughs, with many of them coming from the dynamic between longtime friends Raven Baxter and Chelsea Daniels. These two find themselves in plenty of wild situations, which are in many ways, caused by Raven’s psychic abilities. Their plans may falter at times, but their kinship never does.

Yogi Bear And Boo-Boo Bear (The Yogi Bear Show)

Boo-Boo may occasionally get weary over Yogi’s antics on The Yogi Bear Show but, make no mistake, these two are solid partners. They add truth to the notion that the friends that steal picnic baskets together, stay together.

Virgil Hawkins And Richie Foley (Static Shock)

There are best friends, and then there are super friends, which are what Virgil Hawkins (a.k.a. Static Shock) and Richie Foley (a.k.a. Gear) are. These two upbeat and somewhat nerdy teens complement each other well and are incredibly relatable. They are firm friends from the onset, and their relationship only grows when Richie takes on a superhero alter ego like his pal.

Kenan Rockmore And Kel Kimble (Kenan & Kel)

A rewatch of the ‘90s classic Kenan & Kel will quickly tell you that the show really works because of the brotherly connection between the lead protagonists. Bolstered by Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell’s real-life camaraderie, this is a fictional friendship that’s both entertaining and believable.

Rocky And Bullwinkle (The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends)

On paper, the upbeat and courageous Rocky wouldn’t seem to be a perfect friend match for the dim-witted but amiable Bullwinkle. Nevertheless, the stars of the late-‘50/early-’60s cartoon are a formidable pair. They outsmart the devious Boris and Natasha and teach viewers valuable lessons, too.

Gumby And Pokey (The Gumby Show)

Children of the ‘50s and ‘60s just have to know about the enduring partnership between the positive-thinking Gumby and his sometimes skeptical horse, Pokey. Their claymation-animated exploits are practically legendary, ranging from a medieval-type tale to a Western-inspired story. These pop culture icons deserve their friendship flowers.

Thomas And Percy (Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends)

Of all the engines on the Island of Sodor, Thomas and Percy arguably are arguably the closest. They’ve pulled tricks on each other before – like when Percy pretended to be a ghost to scare Thomas, who, in turn, gave him a fright using a fake dragon. But they ultimately keep each other on track (no pun intended). 

Kermit The Frog And Fozzie Bear (The Muppet Show)

The Muppet Show’s Kermit and Fozzie are definitely an odd couple, but it’s not hard to buy their friendship. Both look to each other for help when needed, and they usually come through for each other. Additionally, Kermit manages to power through Fozzie’s bad jokes and, if that’s not a true friend, then I don’t know what is.

Clarissa Darling And Sam Anders (Clarissa Explains It All)

When facing adolescence, it helps to have a good friend, and that’s what Clarissa Darling has in Sam Anders on Nick’s Clarissa Explains It All. In spite of their personality differences, they get along famously. What’s truly great about their connection, though, is that it’s a perfect example of a healthy, platonic friendship, which is definitely refreshing.

Winnie The Pooh And Piglet (The New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh)

Though Pooh Bear and Piglet were close in stories that predate The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the beloved series truly fleshed out their friendship. Given that the small pig is obsessed with order and Pooh is a lot more laid back, these are two characters that need to be in each other’s lives. 

It’s fun to talk about these various friendships from kids’ TV shows that span various decades. After doing so, one may even feel compelled to call up their own close pal and plan their next meetup.

Even some of the funniest sitcoms of all time are not without their moments that make us shed a tear. Relive the most memorable breaks between laugh tracks that proved to be the most heartbreaking below.

Ben Sullivan's Death (Scrubs)

In Scrubs' third season, Brendan Fraser reprised his Season 1 guest role as Dr. Cox's brother-in-law, Ben Sullivan — a Leukemia patient who, by the end of the episode, convinces Cox to forgive J.D. (Zach Braff) for losing a patient on his watch. Just a moment later, it is revealed that Ben was the patient who passed and Cox's conversations with him throughout the episode had been imagined. 

Will's Father Leaves Again (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

For Will Smith, the most special episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air sees his fictional counterpart reunited with his estranged father, Lou (Ben Vereen), only for their planned road trip to be scrapped when Lou selfishly walks out of his son’s life again. No one can resist getting teary-eyed when Will asks Uncle Phil (James Avery), “How come he don't want me, man?" before breaking down in his arms.

Phoebe's Final Moment With Her Triplets (Friends)

In Season 4 of Friends, Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow) is asked by her half-brother (Giovanni Ribisi) and his wife (Debra Jo Rupp) to be a surrogate mother for their triplets and, after giving birth, admits to Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) that she wants to keep one of them. However, she ultimately accepts that the children do not belong to her, but is able to have one moment alone with the infants before passing them along to their parents.

Marshall's Father Passes Away (How I Met Your Mother)

One of Jason Segel's most riveting performances comes from the devastating conclusion of Episode 13 of How I Met Your Mother's sixth season when Lily (Alyson Hannigan) tells Marshall that his father (Bill Fagerbakke) had a heart attack and did not make it. Segel actually improvised the line, "I'm not ready for this," which had the comedy's co-creator, Carter Bays, looking away in tears.

Eric Must Decide Not To Adopt Tommy (Boy Meets World)

In Boy Meets World's sixth season, Eric Matthews (Will Friedle) meets and befriends an orphan named Tommy (J.B. Gaynor), whom Eric tries to adopt, only to realize he would be better off with someone else, which breaks the boy's heart. They would later reunite in an emotional episode from Disney Channel's sequel series, Girl Meets World, when the grown-up Tommy reveals that Eric giving him up was the best thing anyone had ever done for him.

Penny's Abusive Home Life (Good Times)

Janet Jackson made her acting debut on the fifth season of Good Times in the groundbreaking role of Penny — a young girl whom the Evans befriend after J.J. (Jimmie Walker) discovers she followed him home. They later learn she ran away to avoid her abusive mother, but she luckily finds a new mother in Wilona Woods (Ja'net DuBois).

Paul's Sudden Death (8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter)

In 2003, John Ritter passed away at the age of 54 after only completing one full season as the lead of the ABC sitcom, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. The former Three's Company star's untimely death was addressed in the second season's two-part fourth episode in which the Hennessy family and others gather to mourn his character, Paul. 

Terry Is Racially Profiled (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

One of the best episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, called "Moo Moo," addresses the topic of racial prejudice in the police force, as seen through the eyes of Terry Crews' character, Terry Jeffords. While searching for his daughter's blanket in his own neighborhood at night, he is nearly arrested by a police officer (Desmond Harrington) without probable cause.

Arnold Meets Mr. Horton (Diff'rent Strokes)

In one of the most famous episodes of Diff'rent Strokes (and most noted "very special episodes" in sitcom history), Arnold (Gary Coleman) and his friend, Dudley (Shavar Ross) meet a bicycle shop owner named Mr. Horton (Gordon Jump) who grows uncomfortably close to the boys. As it turns out, Horton is not the kind of man you want around children and, luckily, Phillip (Conrad Bain) finds out about their secret meetings with him before Arnold can get too close.

Maude's Unwanted Pregnancy (Maude)

In only its first season, the acclaimed All in the Family spin-off, Maude, addressed the topic of unwanted pregnancy when Bea Arthur's middle-aged title character is unexpectedly with child. Ultimately, in one of the boldest moments in TV history, Maude decides not to have the baby.

Jim Says Goodbye To Michael (The Office)

The end of Steve Carell's tenure on NBC’s The Office cast was met with one of the mockumentary series' most unforgettably emotional moments when Jim (John Krasinski) realizes today will be the last time he sees his boss, Michael Scott. He stops Michael from a traditional goodbye and instead tells him they can have a proper farewell at lunch "tomorrow" and tearfully calls him the best boss he ever had.

Hawkeye's Horrific Realization (MASH)

There were many reasons to shed a tear during the final episode of MASH, including when Hawkeye (Alan Alda) recalls a time he forced a woman on a bus holding a chicken to keep it quiet out of fear that enemy soldiers would hear them. It is later revealed that he is misremembering the incident and breaks down when he realizes it was really an infant that the woman fatally smothered on accident.

Ross And Rachel Break Up (Friends)

One of the most devastating break-ups in TV history comes from the third season of Friends when Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) discovers Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer), believing their relationship was over, stepped out with another woman. The couple's heartwarming will-they-won't-they arc from the previous seasons made this split especially heart-breaking and their eventual reconciliation in the finale all the more satisfying.

Brian Dies (Family Guy)

In a shocking turn of events, the Griffins' talking dog, Brian (Seth MacFarlane) was run over by a car and died in the Family Guy Season 12 episode, "Life of Brian." The controversial, yet heartfelt, move was reversed only two episodes later with help from Stewie's (MacFarlane) time machine.

Edith's Assault (All In The Family)

A two-part episode from the eighth season of All in the Family titled "Edith's 50th Birthday" sees Mrs. Bunker (Jean Stapleton) suffer an attempted assault by a man posing as a detective while her family was next door planning a surprise party. The second half of the episode — the first in a sitcom to address the issue — follows her struggles to come to terms with her trauma.

Mateo Gets Deported (Superstore)

It was not until after Mateo Liwanag (Nico Santos) was hired at Cloud 9 that he discovered he was an undocumented immigrant, beginning a very poignant and sobering arc on Superstore depicting his struggles with his immigration status. It comes to a heartbreaking head in the Season 4 finale when the Philippines-born man is taken away by ICE as his co-workers gather outside the store to watch him go.

Greg's Fatal Car Accident (Family Ties)

One of the most stylistically unique episodes of Family Ties was a two-parter that aired during its fifth season, in which Alex P. Keaton's (Michael J. Fox) friend, Greg (Brian McNamara), perishes in a car crash. The tragedy causes him to experience survivor's remorse, upon realization that he was supposed to be with his friend the night of the accident, and to reevaluate his life and his future.

Eddie Faces Discrimination (Family Matters)

Family Matters tackled the topic of discrimination within the police force in the Season 5 episode, "Good Cop, Bad Cop," in which Eddie (Darius McCrary) is pulled over and harassed by two officers for being a Black man in a white neighborhood. This prompts his father, Sgt. Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson), to track down the cops involved, with whom he has a powerful conversation about racial profiling.

Seymour's Wait For Fry (Futurama)

In Futurama's Season 4 episode "Jurassic Bark," Fry (Billy West) wants to clone his old dog, Seymour, but decides against it after learning he lived another 12 years after he was cryogenically frozen. Unbeknownst to him, Seymour spent all those years outside of Panucci's Pizza waiting for his owner's return.

Shawn Loses His Father (Boy Meets World)

Quite a few dramatic moments on Boy Meets World stemmed from Shawn Hunter's (Rider Strong) relationship with his father, Chet (Blake Clark). Right when it seemed like they were about to have the dynamic Shawn longed for, Chet succumbed to a heart attack. 

Martha Wants To End Her Life (The Golden Girls)

In a landmark episode of The Golden Girls called "Not Another Monday," Sophia's (Estelle Getty) friend, Martha (Geraldine Fitzgerald), reveals she plans to take her own life and wants Sophia to be there when it happens. Sophia ultimately convinces her friend not to go through with the decision after ensuring her that she will always be there for her whenever she is in need.

Blackadder's Crew Face Their Fates (Blackadder)

One of Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson's best TV shows is Blackadder — a quasi-anthological farce that pokes fun at different notable periods in history. The final episode of the final season, which is set during World War I, was surprisingly poignant and darkly moody, depicting how the titular military captain and his men prepare to enter what could very likely be the final battle of their lives.

Henry Blake's Plane Is Shot Down (MASH)

Only a comedy series like MASH — which takes place at a military hospital during the Korean War — could write out a character in such a profound and devastating way as they did in Season 3. The death of McLean Stevenson's beloved character, Henry Blake, whose plane was shot down over the sea of Japan, proved to be controversial but was nonetheless a powerful exploration of the unforgiving nature of war.

Victor’s Reaction To Elena Coming Out (One Day At A Time)

In the Netflix original reimagining of the classic sitcom, One Day at a Time, Elena Alvarez (Isabella Gómez) reveals that she is a lesbian and is met with support from all of her family members, except for her father, Victor (James Martinez). During her Quinceañera, he leaves before he is meant to join her for the father-daughter dance, but her supportive family members take his place. Luckily, in the third season, Victor comes to accept his daughter for who she is and, when he gets remarried, dances with her at the reception.

James Evans Dies (Good Times)

When speaking to Sway, John Amos revealed that he was fired from the Good Times cast for, admittedly, expressing his creative issues over the sitcom in a non-professional manner. Thus, his character, James Evans, was tragically killed off in Season 4 by a car accident, just as his family was planning to move from Chicago and join him in Mississippi.

Sandy Doesn't Get His Second Chance (Growing Pains)

Future Friends cast member Matthew Perry had a recurring role on Growing Pains as Carol Seaver's (Tracy Gold) boyfriend, Sandy, who ends up in the hospital after a car accident and faces DUI charges but is happy to have survived. Unfortunately, his second chance at life comes short because, only later that day, Carol learns he has passed due to internal bleeding.

Jesse's Caffeine Pill Addiction (Saved By The Bell)

Growing increasingly desperate to juggle her many responsibilities, Jesse Spano (Elizabeth Berkeley) turns to caffeine pills for help. However, it soon becomes a habit that grows out of control, leading to one of Save By the Bell's most memorably earnest moments when Jesse breaks down, begging Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) for help.

Robin Discovers She Cannot Have Children (How I Met Your Mother)

In the Season 7 How I Met Your Mother episode, "Symphony of Illumination,” Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders) recalls the story of how she thought she got pregnant with Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) to her future children, a la Ted (Josh Radnor). However, it is later revealed that her son and daughter are imaginary after Robin learns she is actually unable to have kids, forcing her to reconsider her previous views on parenthood. 

Jodi's Fatal Overdose (Mom)

In Mom's third season, Emily Osment joined the cast of the CBS comedy in the recurring role of teenage Jodi Hubbard, who becomes Christy's (Anna Faris) rehab sponsee. In the season's 12th episode, "Diabetic Lesbians and a Blushing Bride," Christy and others are worried when Jodi tells them she is with her recently clean ex-boyfriend, Travis Sullivan, only to discover later that she suffered an overdose and did not make it.

Will Saves Carlton From An Armed Mugger (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

In The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's fifth season, Will (Will Smith), takes a bullet for Carlton (Alfonso Ribiero) when they are confronted by a mugger at an ATM. The shock of the event and subsequent survivor's remorse inspires Carlton to buy his own weapon, which Will urges against.

Quagmire Kills His Sister's Abusive Boyfriend (Family Guy)

Fed up with seeing his sister, Brenda (Kaitlin Olson), treated cruelly by her boyfriend, Jeff (Ralph Garman), Quagmire (Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane) suggests his own solution: murder. After convincing Peter (MacFarlane) and Joe (Patrick Warburton) to help, he actually follows through on the idea, cementing a controversial end to the animated comedy's surprising address of domestic abuse.

The Sinclairs Brave The Impending Ice Age (Dinosaurs)

The bizarre family comedy, Dinosaurs, is famous for having a surprisingly bleak finale. It sees the Sinclairs contemplating an uncertain future as their home becomes engulfed in snow amid the coming of the Ice Age.

How many of these dramatic sitcom moments ended with tears on your TV screen?

The person you are right now might bear very little resemblance to who you were before, either due to a life-changing event or even just by some natural progression. The same could also be said about many of your favorite characters from the big and small screen as personal evolutions often tend to serve as a major plot point or just happen to occur over time when the writers take one appealing behavioral trait and make that the crux of the role. See if you remember any of these movie and TV characters behaving a different way from how they were first introduced.

Jack Torrance (The Shining)

One of Stephen King’s biggest gripes with Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of his book, The Shining, is the casting of Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, who already boasts a somewhat unsettling disposition the moment he first enters the frame. However, fans of the horror flick find The Overlook’s murderous and maniacal influence over the husband and father to be quite effective.

Walter White (Breaking Bad)

In the first episode of Breaking Bad, high school teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) describes chemistry as the study of "transformation." The same could be said about his story, going from a mild-mannered family man diagnosed with lung cancer to a ruthless criminal over the course of five captivating seasons.

Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars Movies)

We could do a whole list of characters from the Star Wars franchise who changed dramatically overtime, but the most legendary instance of this is, without a doubt, Anakin Skywalker. Jake Lloyd portrayed the Tattooine native as a precocious, but good-natured young man with the potential to be a great Jedi Knight, but Hayden Christensen's performance revealed a latent darkness within him that would eventually lead to his destiny as Sith lord, Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones).

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld)

For the first few years of Seinfeld, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) served as the gang's default voice of reason, with only the occasional lapse of judgment or angry outburst amidst her mild-mannered persona. In the sitcom's latter years, angry outbursts and lapses in moral judgment became some of her more definitive traits.

Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare On Elm Street)

To us, what makes Robert Englund's burned boogeyman one of the all-time greatest horror movie villains is the brutal, menacing nature he exhibited in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street from 1984. The sequels, however, made Freddy Krueger’s dark sense of humor his defining character trait, resulting in deaths of increasingly ridiculous sort.

Eric Matthews (Boy Meets World)

Will Friedle landed the role in the Boy Meets World cast of the "cool" older brother to the central protagonist, Cory Matthews (Ben Savage). However, at one point, Eric seemed to completely and inexplicably lose his mind, adopting a dim-wit, but a high energy that, essentially, made him the TGIF sitcom's resident cartoon character.

Ash Williams (The Evil Dead Franchise)

Fans of the Evil Dead movies are the first to note that the Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) they know and love is not quite the same person from the 1981 classic that started it all. After suffering the Deadites’ further taunting and being forced to replace his right hand with a chainsaw in Evil Dead II, he turns into the iconic wise-cracking and bumbling, but also resourceful horror movie character from Army of the Darkness and the spin-off series, Ash vs. Evil Dead.

Sansa Stark (Game Of Thrones)

One of the most fascinating character arcs from the Game of Thrones cast is that of Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner). After suffering abuse at the hands of her husband, Bolton Ramsay (Iwan Rheon), the meek, young woman learns that she can only look out for herself in her kill-or-be-killed world, becoming a fierce, vengeful warrior.

Steve Harrington (Stranger Things)

The first season of Stranger Things introduced Steve Harrington (Joe Kerry) as the archetypal '80s high school bully and, in fact, the Duffer Brothers originally wrote him to be even worse. By the end of Season 2, he found friendship with the younger children he looked down on, accepted Nancy's new relationship with Jonathan Byers, and became a favorite among fans of Netflix's smash hit sci-fi series.

Shrek (Shrek)

In 2001's Oscar-winning animated classic, Shrek, Mike Myers' title character owns his reputation as an ogre with his ceaseless grumpiness and preference to be alone. That is, until he meets someone he would like to spend his life with in Fiona (Cameron Diaz), who brings the lovable man out of this monster.

Joey Tribbiani (Friends)

Joey Tribbiani is often referred to as the "dumb" one in the Friends cast but, as real fans should recall, that was not always the case. In the first few seasons, he is depicted as merely naive, only to evolve into a helplessly, but lovably, childlike dolt by the hit NBC sitcom's curtain call.

Harvey Dent (The Dark Knight)

Die-hard Batman fans immediately knew that idealistic Gotham DA Harvey Dent's (Aaron Eckhart) philosophy about dying a hero or living long enough to become the villain was foreshadowing his own destiny as Two-Face in 2008's The Dark Knight. Losing the love of his life, Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), and half of his face drives him to the opposite side of the law, leaving his moral judgment, literally, to the flip of a coin.

Thor (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Chris Hemsworth's Thor undergoes one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most transformative character arcs, boasting a godly eloquence and wisdom in his first few appearances. However, Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame made the God of Thunder a bit funnier, and to much acclaim, but 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder took that schtick even further, resorting him to something of a dim-witted, egotistical jock.

Ned Flanders (The Simpsons)

Voiced by Harry Shearer, Ned Flanders' arc on The Simpsons from being Homer Simpson's complete opposite — an intelligent, hard-working, devoted family man — to an absurdly conservative, religious fundamentalist is a quintessential example of extreme or merely exaggerated TV character changes. In fact, this exact phenomenon has been nicknamed "Flanderization" as a result.

Beast/Prince Adam (Beauty And The Beast)

Disney's animated 1991 favorite, Beauty and the Beast is just one version of an age-old, signature tale of drastic character growth, namely that of the titular Beast, who used to be a selfish human royal named Adam. A witch cursed him to look like a ferocious creature, only to be turned back when he could find someone (Belle) to love him, which was only possible when he learned to love someone other than himself. 

Michael Scott (The Office)

In the first season of NBC's American update of The Office, Michael Scott (Steve Carell) was, essentially, made to be a carbon copy of the uproariously rude and self-absorbed David Brent, played by Ricky Gervais in the original British version. However, Dunder-Mifflin's Scranton branch Manager was later reinvented as a kindhearted soul cursed with social awkwardness and hopeless incompetence.

Michael Corleone (The Godfather)

At the beginning of the first half of Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) reveals to his girlfriend, Kay (Diane Keaton), his family’s mafia history, but assures her, "That’s my family... that's not me." However, a rival mob's attempt to murder his father (Marlon Brando) awakens a coldness within him and, eventually, he is put in charge of the family business.

T-800 (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

To be clear, we are not counting Arnold Schwarzenegger's role in James Cameron's sci-fi franchise for his evolution from killer in The Terminator to protector in the 1991 sequel, because he is playing a different copy of the same model in each film. However, the cyborg begins to take on some surprising human-like characteristics in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and may have even developed some capacity for emotion, evidenced by when he tells John Connor (Edward Furlong), "I know now why you cry," before saying farewell.

Jen (Revenge)

In just one night, Jen (Matilda Lutz) was no longer a naive, carefree young woman and was reborn into a fierce warrior of the desert. All it took was a horrifying assault and subsequent murder attempt by her boyfriend and his business partners, on which she deservedly exacted revenge — hence the title of Coralie Fargeat's 2018 adrenaline-pumping thriller.

Neville Longbottom (Harry Potter Movies)

Never could Harry Potter fans been able to guess that Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) would turn out to play a pivotal and courageous role in the fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters. During his first year at Hogwarts, the young wizard was one of the school's most helplessly clumsy students.

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld)

Michael Richards' role in the Seinfeld cast — Jerry's eccentric, high-energy neighbor — is not the person he was in the pilot episode, and not just because he was called "Kessler" then. At that time, the man who would be known as Kramer was a slow-witted, meandering oaf who never even left his apartment.

Marcus Brody (The Indiana Jones Movies)

Despite having a much smaller role in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, it is clear that Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott) was intended to be a competent authority figure who may have even been more like Harrison Ford's daring archeologist in his youth. However, in 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, he is portrayed as the absent-minded comic relief who "got lost in his own museum once."

Drax (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Although Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) is unable to recognize sarcasm or any non-literal language, he boasts an intimidating stoicism that, in addition to his heft and strength, makes him the most fearsome member of the Guardians of the Galaxy in their 2014 cinematic debut. In later MCU installments, however, his stoicism is thrown completely out the window in favor of comically exaggerating his social shortcomings, making him more of a lovable man-child.

Winston Bishop (New Girl)

When Lamorne Morris joined the New Girl cast as Winston, he did not seem like much more than a basic fill-in for Coach, boasting some of the same characteristics as Damon Wayans Jr.'s role. Over time, however, Winston really came into his own, proving to be one of the loft's most sincere and multi-layered residents.

Carol Peletier (The Walking Dead)

Early on, fans of The Walking Dead probably would have bet that Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) was the least likely to survive in a world overrun with the dead. However, it was clear by Season 3 that the apocalypse and other tragic circumstances — most notably the death of her daughter, Sophia — only made her a stronger person who would even go to unimaginable lengths to survive.

Cady Heron (Mean Girls)

After initially conspiring against Regina George (Rachel McAdams) by infiltrating her clique, Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) begins to act more and more like the self-absorbed popular girl and even becomes the Plastics' default replacement leader. Luckily, the mathlete rediscovers her true self by the end of Mean Girls after learning some much-needed lessons about the high school social scene.

Sandy Olsson (Grease)

Grease is a coming-of-age musical classic about two people who could not be more different trying to rekindle their summertime romance by being more like the other. Ultimately, it is Australian-born Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) who sheds her "good girl" reputation for greaser Danny Zuko (John Travolta), who mostly stays the same by the end.

Topanga Lawrence (Boy Meets World)

There are quite a few notable examples of Boy Meets World characters undergoing dramatic changes, but one of the more drastic and sudden is that of Topanga Matthews (née Lawrence). Danielle Fishel's character was introduced as an eccentric flower child, but evolved into a perfectly average (but also highly motivated) student by her freshman year of high school.

Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation)

On Parks and Recreation, Leslie Knope's bubbly, kindhearted personality almost convinces you that there are career politicians worth trusting and even having as a friend. However, when the mockumentary series first debuted, she was more like the kind of career politician that SNL (speaking of Amy Poehler) loves to mock.

Eli Moskowitz (Cobra Kai)

On Cobra Kai, Eli Moskowitz (Jacob Bertrand) is first introduced as a shy kid who is regularly bullied for his cleft lip, which is what inspires him to take martial arts lessons in the first place. As his skills begin to develop, so does the confidence of this formidable fighter, who also later goes by the nickname Hawk.

Luke Hobbs (The Fast And Furious Movies)

When Dwayne Johnson joined the Fast and Furious franchise as Luke Hobbs, he played the DSS Agent with an earnest, no-nonsense demeanor that perfectly juxtaposed the series’ increasingly absurd tone. Over time, however, the character seemed to swerve into the skid and played along with the jokes with a sense of humor that resembles most of the wrestler-turned-actor's roles since.

Derek Vinyard (American History X)

In American History X, the murder of his firefighter father (William Russ) by a Black man inspires Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) to become a murderous skinhead, eventually leading him to incarceration. When he is released, he has thankfully let go of his prejudices but then must prevent his younger brother, Danny (Edward Furlong), from going down the same violent, hateful path.

While some of these characters changed for the better, there are quite a few that we might say changed for the worse. Either way, for the most part, it made for some great entertainment at the movies or from your television screen.

The cast of Boy Meets World may be all grown up now, but it doesn’t mean the beloved sitcom has escaped their hearts (or ours). That's been proven by the fact that Topanga Lawrence actress Danielle Fishel and some of her other co-stars started a rewatch podcast called Pod Meets World. The audio show has seemingly given fans nostalgic feelings, as they rewatch episodes with Fishel, Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter) and Will Friedle (Eric Matthews). Now, it looks like the trio may have another project in store, and I'm really hoping it happens. 

At ‘90s Con, the cast of the classic ABC series reunited and opened up about old times and their experiences on the beloved show. Naturally, Pod Meets World also came up during the discussion. It was during the panel that Danielle Fishel revealed that she and her colleagues on the podcast have something else in the works. As reported by People, the veteran actress announced that -- though it may or may not be released to the public -- she and her colleagues are working on a cool-sounding documentary:

All in all, it sounds like the proposed production would not only tackle their time on the show but also the trio's experiences as podcasters. Yeah, this needs to happen! Based on what we’ve heard on the podcast series, it seems there would be a lot of material for a documentary. We could see videos from the audition processes for the former child actors and have the opportunity to see familiar faces talking about their experiences. Maybe it could even delve into more of the controversial moments that occurred behind the camera like the “disrespectful” incidents Trina McGee experienced on set or the “traumatic” and “divided” conflicts that happened early into the show's run. And of course, I'd also like insight into how the podcast came together.

The crowd at ‘90s Con reportedly cheered when they heard the exciting news about a documentary, and understandably so. There’s surely so much about Boy Meets World that we don’t know -- from a behind-the-scenes standpoint -- that the doc could illuminate. However, Danielle Fishel explained there’s the challenge of possibly not having enough BTS footage at their disposal:

Can someone at the House of Mouse please supply the group with some b-roll that they can use? Seriously, this could be a truly insightful and entertaining piece of work if the stars get the necessary resources. It could also be a prime piece of content that might play well on Disney+.

While the hosts of Pod would definitely be present for the project, I’d hope the show’s lead actor, Ben Savage, would take part in it. Savage didn’t join his former co-stars on their podcast project, as he's been focusing on other endeavors. Most notably, the Girl Meets World actor is also in the middle of running for congress for California's 30th congressional district. Let’s hope that if this project happens, Savage will be involved somehow.

I don't know about you, but I'm excited for this news out of '90s Con. Pod Meets World has already proven to be a worthwhile production that's allowed fans to learn about the experiences of the famed cast that’s made us laugh, cry, and smile over the years. And, with Danielle Fishel and co. taking the helm here, I'd be surprised if the doc wasn't compelling. We'll just have to wait and see whether it actually comes to fruition as they'd like.

In the meantime, free to relive the glory days of the coming-of-age series by rewatching episodes of Boy Meets World with a Disney+ subscription. You can also watch them along with the hosts of Pod Meets World, which is available on iHeartPodcasts and other places where podcasts are available.

Some movie teachers genuinely change not only the characters' lives but our lives as well. Today, we'll be talking about a specific kind of movie character – the teachers from movies that have made a real impact. Here are thirty-two fictional teachers who left their mark, whether on the character or the world. 

John Keating (Dead Poets Society)

When I think of the best fictional teachers out there, there is no one better to bring up than John Keating from Dead Poets Society. In one of his best roles, Robin Williams delivered the performance of a lifetime as John Keating and made us all want to have a teacher like him who taught us lessons and inspired us to do more in our lives. To go after what we believed in. 

Ms. Frizzle (The Magic School Bus)

As someone who grew up watching The Magic School Bus, there were many days when I wished that Ms. Frizzle was my science teacher or that science was nearly as cool as she made it out to be. With her school bus that seemed to morph into anything for her lessons, Ms. Frizzle was the teacher we all wanted, making teaching look like the adventure of a lifetime. 

Ms. Rain (Precious)

Precious is an Academy Award-winning movie about a young woman from a troubled background hoping to reroute her life, and the first person who helps Precious is Ms. Rain. Played by the incredible Paul Patton, Ms. Rain teaches Precious the essentials she needs to know. She has been an encouraging source from day one and helps her through everything. She was sweet, kind, and all Precious needed when it felt like the world had given up on her. 

Professor Stromwell (Legally Blonde)

As someone who could spend years watching the best Reese Witherspoon movies, Legally Blonde is most certainly one of them. And the best teacher in that was, hands down, Professor Stromwell. While strict at first, Elle comes to care for Professor Stromwell, as the teacher pushes her to her limits so she can be at her best. 

Mr. George Feeny (Boy Meets World)

Out of everyone, we all know Mr. George Feeney in Boy Meets World. While Feeny was a strict man, he had a heart of gold underneath his grumpy exterior and became one of the best mentors. Everyone still tears up when he says in the finale, "I love you all. Class dismissed." Jeez, I'm still getting emotional. 

Mr. Miyagi (The Karate Kid)

While not the kind of teacher you would meet in a school, Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid franchise is as much of a teacher as anyone else here. Because of his patience, diligence, and skill, he taught Daniel LaRusso the art of karate and truly made him into the man we know all these years later in Cobra Kai. His teachings live on, even if the actor who played him, Pat Morita, passed on in 2005. 

Pete Dixon (Room 222)

Room 222 was an ABC series about the life of students and teachers at a Los Angeles high school and focused on Pete Dixon's history class most of the time. Lloyd Hanes played Pete Dixon, the kind, innovative, and educational teacher who always seemed to have the best lessons for his students and viewers, especially on relevant topics at the time. The series lasted five seasons, and Pete Dixon cemented his name in history. 

Gabe Kotter (Welcome Back, Kotter)

Sitcoms were some of the biggest television shows in the 1970s and Welcome Back, Kotter was one of them, telling the story of Gabe Kotter (played by Gabe Kaplan). He's a teacher who returns to his alma mater to teach a remedial class of troubled students, but his attitude and teaching methods win him favor with the students. In the end, many of these kids end up doing so well because of him. 

Erin Gruwell (Freedom Writers)

I recall watching Freedom Writers as a kid and respecting Erin Gruwell, played by Hilary Swank. As someone who has had a lot of trouble with patience and perseverance, I admired Gruwell's persistence and tenacity to never give up on her students despite them hating her initially and making her feel unwelcome. Ultimately, because of her diligence, everyone was given the chance to graduate and live successful lives. 

Mr. Hand (Fast Times At Ridgemont High)

There's something about history and English teachers in movies and T.V. because Mr. Hand, the history teacher from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, is one of the most memorable. While he usually had a frown on his face, he was a softer person underneath that gruff exterior. He will do anything to help his students succeed, even spending time after school to help his kids understand lessons, which I'm sure they appreciate. 

Severus Snape (Harry Potter)

As someone who loves the Harry Potter franchise, I couldn't make this list without including Severus Snape, played by Alan Rickman in one of his best roles. While Snape was a bit of a jerk to everyone, there's no denying that underneath that, he was an older man with a lot of trauma and someone who did everything in his power to protect the students and those he cared about. Even in the end, he could give Harry his tears to show him that he always loved Lily, Harry's mother. 

Dr. Frank Bryant (Educating Rita)

Michael Caine has delivered some incredible performances over his time in Hollywood, and personally, Dr. Frank Bryant in Educating Rita, is one of my favorites. The story is about a woman going back to university years later, and the movie shows that sometimes, all a teacher needs to rekindle their love for their subject is that one student, and watching how both Bryant leaves his impact on Rita (Susan) and vice versa is lovely to see. 

Mr. Collins (The Wonder Years)

The Wonder Years is one of the most iconic sitcoms of the '80s and '90s, and of course, I must mention Mr. Collins. Steven Gilborn played the teacher and worked with the main character, Kevin Arnold, to push him to be the best he could be, never quitting for a single moment. Gilborn was a professor before becoming an actor, making this role more special. 

Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter)

Minerva McGonagall was one of the most impactful teachers in Harry Potter's life in the Harry Potter movies. I mean, not only did she teach him several lessons in magic, but it was because of her that he could do so many things – join the Quidditch team, get him a broomstick, etc. Plus, she did everything she could to protect the students of Hogwarts during the war, consistently putting her life on the line as one of the best witches there. 

Coach Fredericks (Freaks And Geeks)

Are there teachers in Freaks and Geeks? Of course, there are, but I have to give this spot to Coach Fredericks, played by Tom Wilson. He starts as a pretty stereotypical bad guy P.E. teacher, but throughout the show's one season, we get to know the teacher and understand who he is as a person. 

Mark Thackeray (To Sir, With Love)

Starring Sidney Poitier, To Sir, With Love is a British drama film about Mark Thackeray, an immigrant who takes a teaching position despite never teaching before, to find some income where he is told to teach delinquents who have been rejected from other schools. And through his teaching ability, he wins over the class, treating them more like adults than children, trying to reach them on a different level. 

Miss Honey (Matilda)

Whether you watch the 1990s version of Matilda or you check out the underrated Netflix musical version, Miss Honey in both is the kind of teacher that we hear about in fairytales. Not only is she sweet as honey and teaches her children so many things, but she takes it upon herself to raise Matilda at the end of both films because she cares that much about the girl, giving her the life she always wanted. 

Lydia Grant (Fame)

I'm one of the biggest fans of the best dance movies, but watching dance on television is also a great pastime, and Fame gave me that and more. In Fame, a show about high school students at a performing arts school in NYC, we meet Lydia Grant, a dance teacher. Indeed, her moves and teaching style are memorable, keeping her kids in a tight line and making sure they were the best they could be. 

LouAnne Johnson (Dangerous Minds)

Michelle Pfeiffer is LouAnne Johnson in Dangerous Minds, the story of a former marine who takes on a teaching position where she must handle a classroom of low-income, challenging teenagers involved in gangs and drugs. I think what makes Johnson such a great teacher is that she goes out of her way to teach with unconventional methods, such as giving everyone an A that they must maintain or using the lyrics of Bob Marley to get into poetry. That's what makes her extraordinary. 

Mr Chips (Goodbye, Mr. Chips)

Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a movie from the classic period of Hollywood and stars Robert Donat as Mr. Chips, an aging teacher who reflects on his life through the decades. There's too much here to say how Mr. Chips was a great teacher, as he impacted not only one student's life but many over several years. 

Remus Lupin (Harry Potter)

Harry Potter had some great teachers, and one that most certainly comes to mind is Remus Lupin, one of the best Defense Against the Dark Arts Teachers in the series. While his time as the teacher only lasted for a year (as is tradition with most teachers there), Lupin left his mark on Harry as the kindest DADA teacher he had and taught him one of the most valuable charms there is – the Patronus charm. 

Jaime Escalante (Stand And Deliver)

Starring Edward James Olmos, Stand and Deliver is all about Jaime Escalante, who becomes the math teacher at a high school in East Los Angeles and has a class full of Latino students. Through his teaching methods, he can make them achieve great things in calculus and stand up for them when no one else will. 

Joe Clark (Lean On Me)

Joe Clark in Lean On Me, played by Morgan Freeman, is a teacher who does not mess around with his students. The movie is based on a true story about a teacher named Joe Clark, who becomes the principal and uses his past and much more to bring his school up to standards. While radical at first, the students grow to care for him in all that he does, both in the school and outside. 

Ms. Norbury (Mean Girls)

Mean Girls is more of a comedy than anything else, but Ms. Norbury, played by Tina Fey, is a great teacher. She's one of the few who stands up for Cady, and in the end, she still stands by her side despite what Cady wrote about her in the Burn Book, leading to Norbury being investigated as a drug dealer. 

Mr. Medina (Gilmore Girls)

Gilmore Girls had plenty of grown-up characters, but Mr. Medina, played by Scott Cohen, was one of the most prominent. He was Rory's beloved English teacher, who taught her many valuable lessons and ended up getting romantically involved with Lorelai. 

Dr. Larabee (Akeelah And The Bee)

Akeelah and the Bee stars Keke Palmer and Laurence Fishburne, and this film focuses on the relationship between Akeelah and her mentor, Dr. Joshua Larabee. And while their partnership at first is tenuous, they grow because of each other and truly leave an impact. 

Manish Kulkarni (Never Have I Ever)

Never Have I Ever is a hilarious Netflix teen romance series; Devi's English teacher is a great part of that. He is the definition of an excellent and honest teacher who sugarcoats nothing – and what's even better is that he winds up dating Devi's cousin later anyway. 

Dewey Finn (School Of Rock)

While he initially faked his way into the role, having no teaching experience, Dewey Finn left his impact on his students in School of Rock, so much so that a new program was created for students for music. It's undoubtedly one of Jack Black's best films. 

Annalise Keating (How To Get Away With Murder)

Played by the talented Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder introduced audiences to Annalise Keating, a law professor and criminal defense attorney, who not only leaves her mark on her students but works with them to solve a murder case together. And through it all, she aims to keep them safe and sound despite everything turning upside down. 

Sister Mary Clarence (Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit)

Sister Act 2 saw Whoopi Goldberg return as Sister Mary Clarence, now serving as a choir teacher who takes a group of students from a failing school and turns them into a choir that could knock the socks off of anyone out there. 

Miss Bliss (Good Morning, Miss Bliss)

Many people know Saved By The Bell, which was a spinoff of Good Morning, Miss Bliss. The one-season Disney Channel series is all about Miss Bliss, a junior high teacher who is a great educator and a source of calmness and delight to her students, who often turn to her for the problems they face. 

Glenn Holland (Mr. Holland's Opus)

Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Mr. Holland's Opus is the definition of a movie teacher that left an impact. The movie follows a high school music teacher who makes his music, but throughout the film, we see how much his dedication to his craft has impacted his students. Guaranteed, you will cry. 

We could talk about many excellent teachers in movies and on TV, but these truly stand out as some of the best. Now, I need a movie and a T.V. marathon to appreciate them again—time to grab a box of tissues.