(Jewish) Girl Meets World

Image by Getty Images

By Rachel X. Landes June 30, 2014

The long awaited “Boy Meets World” spinoff, “Girl Meets World,” premiered last Friday on Disney Channel to 5.2 million viewers.

The new show brings back Jewish stars Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel as fan-favorites Cory and Topanga, this time as parents to 12-year-old Riley, played by Rowan Blanchard.

Accompanied by her best friend, Maya, Riley deals with boys, middle school, and her family.

“We’re dealing with a lot of the same issues that we dealt with on the original series,” Ben Savage said in an interview, “themes of freedom from your parents and individuality and family support and relying on your friends.”

In another interview, Savage said that the timing was just right for the new show. “A lot of kids who grew up with Boy Meets World are parents now. Some of the most meaningful, special emails or messages or tweets that I’ve gotten have been from people saying, ‘I grew up with Boy Meets World and I can’t wait to watch this show with my own kids.’”

He assured audiences that Cory is definitely the Cory Matthews that we all knew and adored. “Cory’s his own little entity of a neurotic, funny, sweet, sincere roller coaster. Topanga is definitely the more centered, firm authority in the house.”

The show takes place in New York City, as mentioned in the Boy Meets World finale. Topanga is a full-time lawyer and mother, and Cory takes Mr. Feeny’s place as a middle school history teacher, much to his daughter’s dismay.

Tune in to Girl Meets World Friday nights at 8:30 EST because old cast members are bound to pop up, including Rider Strong, who played Cory’s partner in crime, Shawn Hunter, and William Daniels, Mr. Feeny.

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