TGI – Episode 705 “You Light Up My Union”

Summary

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Pod Meets World – TGI: Episode 705 “You Light Up My Union”

Air Date: February 5, 2026
Podcast Hosts: Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, Will Friedle
Main Theme: A brutally honest rewatch and reflection on one of Boy Meets World’s most infamous late-season episodes, mixing behind-the-scenes memories with unfiltered reactions and sharp criticism.

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Danielle, Rider, and Will dissect Season 7, Episode 5 of Boy Meets World, “You Light Up My Union.” The trio revisit what they broadly agree might be the lowest point—not only of the season, but perhaps the entire series. They critique the episode’s writing, problematic story choices, the physical comedy involving monkeys, and the uncomfortable “boyfriends invade the girls’ space” plot. Personal reflections, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and laughter (sometimes in disbelief) fill the conversation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Reactions: "Was this the worst episode ever?"

• All three hosts are open about their disdain for the episode.

  • Rider says, “This is the worst episode for me ever of Boy Meets World.” (14:29)
  • Danielle piles on: “I feel exactly the same way... Hate my hair. Hate my hair this season, I've not liked my hair once.” (15:58)
  • Will concludes, “This is arguably the worst episode of our series that I've seen in seven years.” (17:40)

• They reflect on the embarrassment and insecurity the episode evokes, even years later.

  • Rider: “It put me right back into this insecure, ‘Oh my God, what are we doing?’” (15:21)
  • Danielle laments the meanness toward everyone’s look and storyline: “I felt ugly. I felt like the way I looked was weird.” (15:24)

Memorable Quote

Rider: "I am so embarrassed that I was ever a part of it." (14:58)

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2. Breakdown of Plots: “Ethically just gross”

A) The Apartment (A/B? Story) – Overstaying Boyfriends and Privacy Invasion

• Corey and Shawn’s boundary-crossing is described as "gross,” “disgusting,” and “not Corey, not Shawn.”

  • Danielle: “One more time. Can we go do one more time? Who wants to see that purple number? You're a bad girl. It's so gross.” (21:33)
  • Will: “It wasn't a joke. It's to get Maitland [Rachel] into sexy lingerie. That's the whole point.” (18:24)

• The hosts are baffled that the episode was written by a woman (Allison M. Gibson), noting the storyline’s off-putting misogyny.

  • Will: “Do you think, like, in the 90s at this time, like if you found out your boyfriend went into some other girl's underwear drawer, is there a world where that was okay?” (48:45)
  • Danielle: “I think this is why, when the show ended, Good Riddance was literally how I felt.” (49:30)

• The moral and comic logic falls apart; even in the show's universe, their actions are indefensible.

  • Will: "Who just walks into somebody's house ... and just starts going through a random person's underwear drawer?" (46:06)

B) Eric, Jack, and the Organ Grinder (Monkey Plotline)

• The "B” story features Eric giving away $1,700 from the student union to an organ grinder so his monkey can be reunited with its girlfriend—a plot both surreal and oddly touching, but inconsistently executed.

  • Will: “I feel like it was written like they had a monkey in the budget and this was the best way to throw it in there." (35:39)
  • Rider: “It has to be something sort of cute and ridiculous that Eric falls for... The point needs to be that his heart is always in the right place even when it's so obviously absurd.” (36:10)

• The resolution—where the organ grinder returns the money out of honesty—is discussed as sappy but slightly redeeming.

  • Will: “Sentimental music plays as Eric realizes the world might not be as cruel and cold as he thought. Feeny looks at him and echoes, 'you're a good boy. Don't ever change.'” (74:36)

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3. Writing, Tone, and Changing Characters

• The group lamented how the characters have drifted far from their core personalities.

  • Rider: “It just throws all the characters out the window.” (15:34)
  • Danielle: “Now it feels like the. Feels like we have gone to a different. A totally different show.” (49:47)
  • Will, on everyone but Feeny: "Is there a single character ... that isn't completely different than even a season before?" (50:15)

• There’s consensus that the show’s charm evaporated under the weight of wild plots, cheap gags, and out-of-character behavior.

Memorable Quote

Danielle: "If either one of you two went through my underwear drawer ... it would just be like, well, of course they were over. We're family." (56:27)
“Can you imagine walking in and finding either Ryder or I going through your underwear drawer?... It’d be insane.” — Will (56:43)

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4. Behind-the-Scenes and Guest Stars

• Brief recaps of notable guest stars:

  • Jack Axelrod (the organ grinder; career spanning from 'Bananas' to 'Super 8')
  • Lou Felder (bank manager; credits on 'Alf', 'Golden Girls')
  • Jennifer Griffin and Billy Stevenson (varied TV/film careers)
  • Marcel the monkey from ‘Friends’ appears as the monkey, to Will’s delight.

• Will recalls little about working with the monkey except being excited for its ‘Friends’ connection.

  • “I remember being excited that it was Marcel from Friends ... Other than that, I don’t.” (38:53)

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Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

• "This is the worst episode for me ever of Boy Meets World." – Rider Strong, [14:29]
• "It's embarrassing. I can't believe this episode exists." – Will Friedle, [23:16]
• "This is truly just... you think there's worse episodes of our show than this one?" – Will Friedle, [22:32]
• (on the monkey plot) "It has to be something sort of cute and ridiculous that Eric falls for." – Rider Strong, [36:10]
• "It put me right back into this, like, insecure, 'Oh my God. What are we doing?'" – Rider Strong, [15:21]
• "'Can you imagine walking in and finding either Ryder or I going through your underwear drawer? It'd be insane." – Will Friedle, [56:43]
• "'I felt ugly. I felt like the way I looked was weird. The way my wardrobe was. Was weird in a way that I haven't felt for a long time.'" – Rider Strong, [15:24]

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Recap Segment Timestamps

• 03:02 – 06:22: Danielle’s hair routine, Buffalo trip, casino anecdotes, and Topanga “hair” chatter.
• 13:19 – 20:20: Episode synopsis and roundtable on initial disappointment and embarrassment.
• 26:23 – 47:42: Scene-by-scene roast and breakdown of the apartment plot; repeated horror at boundary crossings.
• 36:34 – 44:46: The bank/monkey storyline, how it’s both absurd and heartwarming, and what went off the rails.
• 48:45 – 51:29: Reflection on show’s moral failings, changing characters, and 'ready to walk away' feelings.
• 66:55 – 74:36: Rachel’s lingerie “revenge,” resolution of the plots, and final thoughts on boundaries and the morality lessons (or lack thereof) within the episode.

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Tone & Final Thoughts

• The hosts are alternately dismayed, amused, and nostalgic—oscillating between friendly ribbing and frank, critical self-assessment.
• The group ultimately agrees: Between the outlandish monkey antics and the uncomfortable sexual politics, “You Light Up My Union” probably marks the creative nadir of Boy Meets World.
• There’s nostalgia for seasons past but relief that they can view and critique these flaws openly as adults.

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Summary for the Uninitiated

If you missed the episode, rest assured: You missed the show’s notorious low point. The cast is candid about the episode’s glaring issues—the creepy boyfriend behavior, the shoehorned-in monkey, the abandonment of character growth—and delivers behind-the-scenes trivia and plenty of self-aware, laugh-through-the-pain moments. Perhaps most importantly, their honesty and friendship shine through, making this an eye-opening and often hilarious rewatch for loyal Boy Meets World fans and new listeners alike.

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Transcript

[Danielle Fishel]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Will Friedle]

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[Danielle Fishel]

I'm Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will.

[Will Friedle]

Friedle from Pod Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

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[Rider Strong]

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[Will Friedle]

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[Rider Strong]

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[Public Podcast Announcer]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Do we want to discuss real briefly how I have actual Topanga hair right now?

[Will Friedle]

Yes.

[Rider Strong]

Please tell us why.

[Danielle Fishel]

So yesterday was our day off and we're in Buffalo and I had to wash my own hair like some kind of peasant. I know this is not the life I'm accustomed to. I bring my Be Free by Daniel Fishel hair products into a dry bar every seven days like clockwork. And they wash my hair. And there's no dry bar in Buffalo.

[Rider Strong]

Wait, you were saying stuff that doesn't. I don't even know what a dry bar is. Literally, you don't take a shower at home and wash your own hair in your.

[Danielle Fishel]

I take a shower every day, sometimes twice a day.

[Rider Strong]

Okay.

[Danielle Fishel]

I just don't wash my own hair.

[Rider Strong]

Why? It's just too much of a thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Listen, I at a certain point at around 2018, I decided I don't want to ever do that again. I just don't. It's been at that point, let's see, what, seven years ago it had been 37 years of washing my hair.

[Will Friedle]

Done.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was done. My right arm is significantly bigger than my left from having to blow dry my hair all those years. I just decided years ago I don't want to do that ever again. It's so. It takes so long. Like the joke women make sometimes about not being able to go on a date with someone because like they have to wash their hair is actually real. Like to fully do a hair wash and for me to blow dry my hair is a minimum of a two hour process, not including doing anything else.

[Rider Strong]

My God.

[Danielle Fishel]

So I'm like, I just don't want to do that anymore. If I go to dry bar, if I shower myself, get myself ready and then go to dry bar, I have my hair washed and blown dry and styled all within about an hour and 15 minutes.

[Will Friedle]

Wow.

[Danielle Fishel]

And I'm like this. This is the life. So I bring my own hair products and I go once a week. So when I've been on the road, I was able on our last day off was in Boston. Guess what? There was a dry bar In Austin, on my day off, I walked in the Blizzard of 2026 to a dry bar and had my hair done. And now a week later, it's our other day off and we're in Buffalo. Your girl did a search. There's no dry bar in Buffalo. And the closest similar, like dry bar adjacent place is 25 minutes away. And that's not that far. But I just didn't want to do it. I was like, you know what, I'll just wash my own hair.

[Rider Strong]

Oh God.

[Danielle Fishel]

So I washed and dried my own hair and then decided what if I did about 20 little braids while I slept so that I could take it out and have heat free waves. And this is, this is the truth.

[Rider Strong]

So you didn't fly your mom out to stay up all night braiding your hair?

[Danielle Fishel]

I didn't. I know. I. What a waste, you know.

[Will Friedle]

Wow. So then the place you thought about going was the Le Air Blow dry bar. Will found it in Harris Hill, New York. That's where you were considering it. Gotcha.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, okay. Yeah, that I did think about going there, but it's, it was just far for me to venture out alone, you know.

[Rider Strong]

Sure.

[Will Friedle]

Well, it's also. That's in the, not just the Buffalo, but the Williamsville area, which is exactly.

[Danielle Fishel]

In the Williamsville, which, you know, Williamsville.

[Will Friedle]

Now. Did you in Buffalo, did you go and get Buffalo wings? Like the real, the good style wings that they're where they invented everything.

[Rider Strong]

Is that why they're called Buffalo wings? Because they're from Buffalo?

[Will Friedle]

They come from Buffalo.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh my God. I'm so glad you just told me this. Yesterday somebody was like, I got Buffalo wings. And I was like, cool. I had absolutely no idea why they were city.

[Rider Strong]

You're in, you're.

[Will Friedle]

You're in Buffalo. Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was like, hello, Cleveland. Great.

[Rider Strong]

I had the Cleveland wings.

[Danielle Fishel]

Good, good for you.

[Will Friedle]

There's a famous place there, I guess that does like 30 different flavors. And one of them they do with like peanut butter that's apparently amazing and all this kind of stuff.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. So, yeah, I should have known to talk to you before my day off to figure out what I should do.

[Will Friedle]

I'm still not talking to you food wise after Panettone, so. Panettone gate. So.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, sorry. Okay. Panettone. You're done with me. There's a casino I within walking distance from my hotel. I'm looking at it and I didn't go.

[Will Friedle]

I was gonna say you're the only person that's gonna come back from a national tour in the hole. It's like somehow it cost me $12,000 to go on tour with Dancing with the Stars. Never bring Danielle on a casino tour. They're paying her in chips, I'll have you know.

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm up $200.

[Will Friedle]

Nice. Nice. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

How have you guys been? I miss you.

[Will Friedle]

We miss you too.

[Rider Strong]

Good.

[Will Friedle]

Ryder and I are getting ready to go to Nashville this weekend.

[Bowen Yang]

Ooh.

[Will Friedle]

Yep. I'm missing the super bowl because I did not know it was super bowl weekend. And the Patriots are in the super bowl, so I get to not see my team play the Super Bowl.

[Rider Strong]

Your team is play for the Patriots?

[Will Friedle]

16 years now. 17 years now, I've been one of the Patriots. I taught Tom Brady everything he knows.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

So he got the most baskets because of you.

[Will Friedle]

He made the most widgets because of you.

[Rider Strong]

Widgets. Yeah. You're gonna be. You're gonna be experiencing the super bowl like Rider Strong does every year.

[Will Friedle]

It's like knowing it's Super Bowl Sunday.

[Rider Strong]

No, that's the thing. And then maybe you go somewhere and there's good dips and chips, and I love a good. And then I do the commercials.

[Will Friedle]

I. I'll.

[Rider Strong]

I'll. I'll step in and watch the commercials.

[Will Friedle]

Well, there you go. Yeah. So it's.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's.

[Will Friedle]

The whole thing is very interesting, but at the same time, Danielle, we're.

[Rider Strong]

You got.

[Will Friedle]

We were ready for you to come back. Now you can come back. Aw.

[Danielle Fishel]

Only a couple more weeks. Only two more weeks.

[Will Friedle]

Okay. There you go. Which is good. And, Ryder, I still have your Christmas present, believe it or not, but I'm not. I'm not bringing it to Nashville.

[Danielle Fishel]

Is it another panettone?

[Will Friedle]

No, no. I. You. Neither of you are worthy of it anymore.

[Rider Strong]

It's what I gave you. I just couldn't eat the whole thing. I had a couple bit and was like.

[Will Friedle]

Never said that sentence in my life. I couldn't eat the whole thing. It's not something I've ever said once in my life. No, it's Danielle. It's the thing I gave you when I saw you. And. And I have one for Ryder as well, so.

[Danielle Fishel]

Very cute. Very, very cute. I won't ruin it. The surprise.

[Will Friedle]

Okay, good. Which is good.

[Danielle Fishel]

Welcome to Pod Meats World. I'm Danielle Fishel.

[Rider Strong]

I'm Ryder Strong.

[Will Friedle]

And I'm Will Fried. Ever been at the pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks, do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, what vaccines should you consider before a big trip, and even those questions you were too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comdisclosures Now I'd.

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[Danielle Fishel]

So today we are recapping season seven, episode five, you light up my union. It originally aired October 22, 1999. The synopsis Rachel gets mad when Corey and Sean invade her privacy while Jack and Eric take over as managers of the student union. It was directed by Kevin Tracy, his second episode as director. He had one in season six. He was an assistant director for the show who also worked on all that Family Matters and Smart Guy. Kevin unfortunately passed in 2003 at the young age of 48. This episode was written by Allison M. Gibson, her third of four Boy Meets World episodes. She wrote two in season six and had worked on Home Improvement, Sister, Sister and Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place. But most notably, she created the TV show Reba. So before I jump into our guest stars, we have four. Would you guys like to share your overall thoughts?

[Rider Strong]

Will and I were already shaking our heads. We were both going like this while just listening to what the episode's about. We're like, oh, holy. Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay.

[Danielle Fishel]

Is this a worse episode than the one right before we just watched?

[Will Friedle]

Yes. Okay.

[Rider Strong]

Yes. Here. Well, here's I was thinking about how to put this this is the worst episode for me ever of Boy Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

That we've seen acting or just feel bad.

[Rider Strong]

My feelings about this episode, I. There may be worse episodes, but, like, what. And the way I was thinking about it is, like, if before the POD Meets World journey and you. You. Before we started this and you said, ryder, watch this one episode, I would have been like, oh, that's it.

[Danielle Fishel]

This is what I remember.

[Rider Strong]

The biggest piece of crap. This is. I am so embarrassed that I was ever a part of it. And I would have, like, never watched another episode of Boy Meets World because, you know, like, this is after doing Pod Meets World, of course, like, all the things we've said about how wonderful our show was, and it has so many great qualities, and, like, I'm so proud of it in so many ways. But when I watched this, it put me right back into this, like, insecure. Oh, my God. I.

[Danielle Fishel]

What are we doing?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

And I. It just really made me.

[Danielle Fishel]

Me.

[Rider Strong]

And I felt. I felt ugly. I felt like the way I looked was weird. The way my wardrobe was. Was weird in a way that I haven't felt for a long time. And, like, was very insecure about my face. And, like, the.

[Bowen Yang]

The.

[Rider Strong]

The acting. Its course, the storyline that I'm in is awful. Like, it's truly, like, bad in, like, every way. Like, it's just dumb. But then it's also, like, ethically just gross and, like, And. And it just throws all the characters out the window. Like, sh. Like, all the relationships that we've spent four episodes making such a big freaking deal out of, like, way too much of a deal. And then we're just gonna toss that. Oh, my God, I'm so pissed off.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like, I know. Couldn't. Couldn't agree more. And I feel exactly the same way about myself. Hate my hair. Hate my hair. This season, I've not liked my hair once in any episode.

[Will Friedle]

Weird.

[Danielle Fishel]

This wardrobe is just so. What happened?

[Rider Strong]

My wardrobe is completely different this episode, and it doesn't feel right.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like, I don't know. Will, you're gorgeous. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

What?

[Danielle Fishel]

Gorgeous.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. When Will was talking about. Will was talking about having gained all this weight, and then I was looking.

[Danielle Fishel]

At this episode in the last two episodes, about.

[Rider Strong]

I was like, yeah. I was like, what?

[Danielle Fishel]

Will, no.

[Will Friedle]

That necklace is holding on for dear life.

[Rider Strong]

It's.

[Will Friedle]

I'm amazed that I don't wake up every morning.

[Rider Strong]

Matt Lawrence, who's like, you know, he's like a model. Like, he's just like, yeah, but I mean, that's. If you're comparing, but you look totally fine, dude. You're definitely Slightly chubbier than you were the season before, but you were always skinny.

[Will Friedle]

It's husky. Will.

[Rider Strong]

Whatever.

[Will Friedle]

I mean that to me, dude, when. When Eric with a monkey is the best part of the episode.

[Danielle Fishel]

This episode. I actually really like the B storyline.

[Rider Strong]

The B storyline, which is actually the A storyline. I think technically it is.

[Will Friedle]

Technically it's way more screen time union. It's supposed to be about.

[Rider Strong]

And I love the idea of, of. Of Jack and. And Feeny having something that was cool.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Will Friedle]

But it was. This is the first time it was so heavy handed where it's.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know. Could we call it out anymore?

[Will Friedle]

Oh, sitting there right at the right exact time. Like. I know, but it was. Oh, this episode. What I said about all the other episodes that were bad were like, hey, it was funny bits and the story's not great and we're not great, but we're making each other laugh and funny bits. This had none of that. This was just. It was. This is arguably the worst episode of our series that I've seen in seven years.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, I mean, I feel that way about the way Ryder. I feel the way Ryder felt there may be worse episodes of tv because I think then if we're going to say. For me, it felt like the. Which is apparently the B story.

[Will Friedle]

The.

[Danielle Fishel]

Our stupid making out story and the horrible invasion of ethics and morals and just human decency.

[Will Friedle]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

That takes place in what I thought was the A storyline because I'm. It's so unbearable to me. It was, it was. All of it was wrong.

[Will Friedle]

How is that Topanga? How is that Topanga in any.

[Rider Strong]

I mean, I mean, Sean, Corey, we're all. Everybody's awful. And it's like awful for what?

[Will Friedle]

Joke?

[Rider Strong]

What for the sake of.

[Will Friedle]

It wasn't a joke. It's to get Maitland into sexy laundry.

[Rider Strong]

That's it.

[Will Friedle]

That's the whole point.

[Rider Strong]

It's disgusting. It was like, it just like the worst of like, you know, I know it was.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's truly just.

[Will Friedle]

You think there's worst episodes of our show than this one?

[Rider Strong]

I mean.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes. Because what I'll say is the A storyline, the storyline between you and Jack. I love the idea that everyone thinks like, oh, Jack's got it all together. His family comes from money, he's smart, he's this. We've seen multiple episodes of him just looking around at other people going, was this dummy. And then to have an episode where actually, you know what, Jack? You could afford to learn a lot from your friend. And for you to then have this, this redeeming Storyline where, oh, stupid Eric trusts somebody who clearly is just out to scam him. Only then it wasn't a scam at all. He always did intend to give you back your money and you like, I.

[Will Friedle]

So then why play it like it was a scam?

[Rider Strong]

Like, the question you just gave was, I love, like, but actually watching it, I didn't think it was very well executed.

[Danielle Fishel]

But.

[Rider Strong]

But writing wise, I agree. Like, that storyline, the idea is great idea.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

And involving Feeney and Jack, like, all of that was cool. It's a little like, I don't know. When I think about the bank scene with like suddenly all these guest stars talking and oh God, it was like it just falls so flat. Like it's just so interesting and like, yeah, it's, it's bad. But I agree, like, the storyline I can handle. Whereas the storyline of the other, the B story is just like, this should have just been thrown out right away.

[Danielle Fishel]

I mean, immediately.

[Rider Strong]

But yeah, I, for some reason I have it in my head that we all disliked a lot of other episodes earlier. Like that there were clear winners of like the worst episode of Boy Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

We've always talked about the honeymoon.

[Rider Strong]

We haven't seen the honeymoon. We don't know yet. But I don't know. I guess in my mind, like when I watched this, I was like, I guess it's. I don't know if this is the worst episode, but it definitely was the worst to watch for me. Like, it was the hardest to watch for me. Of all the.

[Danielle Fishel]

Another thing I'll say because I think the storyline of now that you are three women living together, two of whom have long term boyfriends, and there being a sense of what are the boundaries? How do we figure this out? Do you get a key? Do you not get a key? And even the idea of, okay, Topanga gave a key. And that really makes Maitland upset because she does walk out in a towel and then, what are you doing here? And she runs back, gets dressed, comes back out and goes, okay, how did you get here? She's eating the food, ordering takeout. Takeout arrives. She's like, you're just ordering food to my place. And like all of that great, tons of room for comedy, great things. If they insisted on having the diary moment, maybe because she didn't know that you guys had a key. She left her diary out on the table and it looked like a book and one of you accidentally picked it up and opened it, started reading it and then going, wait, what even is this? Oh my gosh, it's her diary, Corey. And now you've read, and she comes out when you're reading it.

[Rider Strong]

It's so hysterical that Corey and Sean go through her underwear just one more time.

[Danielle Fishel]

One more time. Can we go do one more time? Who wants to see that purple number? You're a bad girl. It's so gross.

[Rider Strong]

It's. And it's like, it's not Corey. It's not Sean.

[Danielle Fishel]

You guys are disgusting.

[Rider Strong]

Then you guys. Your reaction is so, like, boys will be boys.

[Danielle Fishel]

They are when they're guilty. But then we're jealous, so we turn around after she's gone to tell you, don't ever do that again.

[Will Friedle]

And thank God. Thank God Topanga's not a feminist in any way, shape, or form anymore. Because it's like, oh, it wasn't until we put Maitland in this sexy lingerie. Now I get why going through your underwear drawer was a personal. Wow, they are pigs. And it's like, what?

[Danielle Fishel]

Because now I don't want my boyfriend lusting over you. Which also, by the way, in any way, shape, or form. Have Corey or Sean ever had that type of relationship with her?

[Rider Strong]

No. And then, I mean, it's like, so many episodes, getting back together and talking about how much we want to be with you guys and we love you, and then it's suddenly okay that we're just, like, corn dogging it up over some. It's so. It's.

[Danielle Fishel]

And the movie you guys want to watch involves booty in the title.

[Will Friedle]

I just. I just don't want to have a booty night. And it's like, oh, I hear your three estrogen movies. No, we're not watching it. It's like, what is happening? And again, as a company, we're clearly just trying to make each other laugh. The whole. If you just watched the whole show.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was trying to make myself not die.

[Will Friedle]

I know, but it's. Watch it again. It is with the sides that you and Ben are doing, with the voices you and Ben are doing, especially you're. You're playing for each other. But the material is just. I was watching it kind of mouth agape going. I can't.

[Rider Strong]

It's embarrassing.

[Will Friedle]

I can't believe this episode exists. I still say this is my. My least favorite episode of all time. I could be wrong. There could be. It could have been a worse one. But I don't ever remember feeling like this after watching an episode of Boy Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Enduring. I was just. Yeah, yeah. Well, fair warning. I'm just gonna try to keep us going through this Go. You got it. There's stuff you want to jump in with. Great memories, stories, you have, things, whatever.

[Rider Strong]

Remember this at all.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't either.

[Rider Strong]

I.

[Danielle Fishel]

True.

[Will Friedle]

One story, but it's going to take an hour and a half to tell. Here we go. I'm kidding. Go ahead.

[Danielle Fishel]

Guest starring Jack Axelrod as the organ grinder. Axelrod was a longtime character actor who debuted in Woody Allen's movie Bananas.

[Will Friedle]

Great movie, great movie.

[Danielle Fishel]

He appeared on TV shows like Murphy Brown, Frasier, My Name is Earl and the Office. And he was in movies such as Super 8 Hancock and Transformers, Dark of the Moon. He died of natural causes in 2023 at the age of 93.

[Will Friedle]

Nice.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love that.

[Will Friedle]

So he was only 63 shooting that. Sorry, no offense, but he looked older than 63, didn't he?

[Danielle Fishel]

I think so.

[Will Friedle]

That's pretty 13 years older than me right now.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, but it's typical to play older. You know, you get. If you're supposed to be like an old man, I don't want an actual 80 year old. You want a 60 year old who can like play 80. You know, I get it.

[Will Friedle]

But he didn't look 63 to me. Me and my. I'm just saying he. I would not have. I wouldn't have picked that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Lou Felder is bank manager. This is another working character actor who appeared on Alf, the Golden Girls and Rules of Engagement. And on the movie side, he appears in the classic Midnight Run as well as Bruce Almighty and the 80s Eric Stoltz slash Cher movie Mask. His last job was in 2015 on the kids show the Thundermans, which I'm very familiar with. And then there's Jennifer Griffin as the woman. Jennifer has been in some pretty impressive movies over the years like Boyhood, Vanilla sky and Clint Eastwood's A Perfect World. And you've seen her on TV shows like Banshee angel and the Messengers and finally Billy Stevenson as a loan officer. Over the years, he had a lot of roles in memorable projects like the movie Outbreak or TV shows like Fresh Prince, Step by Step and Suddenly Susan. But most of our listeners might recognize him from the show Workaholics where he appeared in 35 episodes.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, we had great guest stars. I recognized basically everybody.

[Danielle Fishel]

Of course you did.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Our tv. Our TV aficionado.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, we had some great guest stars this week. And the monkey. And you missed the monkey.

[Danielle Fishel]

That was Marcel, the monkey. This is the friends. Yeah, yeah. We're jumping into our recap. Woo. The girls apartment. Topanga, Angela and Rachel are getting ready for movie night. I am snacking on crackers. And we all gush about how great it's been living together. Rachel has rented Little Women, Terms of Endearment and Ever after, three movies she never could have watched when she lived with Eric and Jack. She's glad to see a movie without booty in the title. And on cue, Corey and Sean burst through the door holding a pizza. Corey announces, the boyfriends have arrived. Let the kissy, kissy begin.

[Will Friedle]

Here we go again.

[Rider Strong]

Great line right off the bat.

[Will Friedle]

Pick it up where we left off with the nasty making object. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

More making in our own place where we have rooms again.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

The boys cram their way onto the couch, and in the process, they push Rachel right onto the floor. Topanga wonders what they're doing here. She told Corey they were going to hang out at the apartment. Corey explains, with you and Angela here and me and Sean not here, that's just not right. He points to the side of his head and instruct his girlfriend to do that thing I like with my ear. Topanga leans in and starts to kiss it. And the inmates really love this. And Corey grins. That's the one. Meanwhile, Rachel towers over the couple and looks less than pleased. She sternly tells Corey, we were gonna watch a movie. Corey whispers to Sean. Movie. Sean reminds him. Dark. And Corey is satisfied. Good movie. Good.

[Will Friedle]

Go to your room. Go to your room in front of each other.

[Rider Strong]

Let's just hug.

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm literally. I already. I fully have chills at how awful it is.

[Rider Strong]

You don't want to do that thing to my ear that I like. Are you actually kissing his ear?

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm bit.

[Rider Strong]

You're bing.

[Will Friedle]

Nibbling on his ear. You think that was. This alone should have gotten us a Kids Choice Award.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, gosh. I did.

[Rider Strong]

We got. Yeah. Snubbed by the Emmys Again. This episode would have been our entry.

[Danielle Fishel]

He reads the titles aloud. Estrogen on parade. Put down the seat. And these shoes are. These shoes.

[Rider Strong]

Get it? Cuz those are things that women.

[Danielle Fishel]

Women say, say or worry about.

[Rider Strong]

It's so ridiculous. Real movies are made by men for men. Real movies are made.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

About real things. Not Terms of Endearment. However, Cancer Movie.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sean. Sean adds, perhaps. Perhaps the ladies are unaware of Jennifer Lopez vs Carmen Electra on Celebrity Death Match. It's a good episode in Putting on Ponies.

[Will Friedle]

Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

Rachel reminds him this is ladies night. But Cory interrupts her. No ladies. Tonight is booty night. Moving on. Seemingly happy with Corey's declaration, Topanga and Angela cuddle up to their boyfriends in response, leaving Rachel sad, alone and sighing. Then we're in the student union. Feeny is flipping through some magazines when Jack interrupts. Dressed in the store's uniform and a name tag, he thanks Feeny for the job recommendation. He's the manager. Feeny explains, this is your last year of college. I thought the job experience would be good for you. Jack admits, it's weird to think that this time next year, I'll be out in the cold, cruel world trying to make it on my own. Feeny asks if he's ready for it, and Jack says yes. Then he points off in the distance. It's him I'm worried about.

[Rider Strong]

Hold on. So wait, did you. It's the senior year.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

Does that make sense with. When did.

[Danielle Fishel]

We've been in college now for two years and Eric is two years older than we are. Right. This is our second year.

[Rider Strong]

Eric was only one year older. But maybe he doesn't make sense. Eric.

[Will Friedle]

Well, remember, Eric took a year off because he couldn't get into college.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, so, right.

[Rider Strong]

If Jack's the same age as Eric, it would actually be Eric's junior year and Jack's senior year. Right?

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay. Yeah. We see Eric also in the employee get up. He strolls past a student and asks, hey, Melissa. Classical civilization course. Got you blue, huh? You know what you need? Then he pulls out a bottle of whipped cream. Bam. A little more whipped cream makes everything better, baby. He proceeds to douse her coffee with it. Then he spots two other students sitting across from each other. Will you please just stop dancing around each other? He's noticed them all week, staring at each other, but they never make an actual move. So he's taken it upon himself to bring them together. They follow his lead and decide to sit at the same table. I proud to.

[Rider Strong]

These background actors are so good. Running with you and you. Yeah, it felt natural. It didn't. You know, like, oftentimes when you're engaged, like when you're interacting with background actors and they're not allowed to speak, there's this sense of like. Yeah, exactly. Like, you know, there's.

[Will Friedle]

How much.

[Rider Strong]

Can I give you a stiff performance? Yeah, but in this case, it felt totally fun. And they were like, smiling and I don't know, it was cool.

[Will Friedle]

I also think most of the week I was doing whippets, just with the whip.

[Danielle Fishel]

Couldn't you have shared. Why couldn't you have shared A proud Eric tells them to invite him to the wedding, then sprays a little mountain of whipped cream onto the boy's textbook. Do something with that. All right. Jack watches on in concern and tells Feeny, I don't want to overstep my bounds, but why would you recommend him as my assistant manager? Feeny reminds Jack of this cold, cruel world, and he figured this could give him some practice. Jack assumes that Feeny's intention was for Eric to learn from him, but Feeny reveals, I was hoping it'd be good for both of you. As Jack walks away, Eric spots his favorite teacher and decides to not do the Feeny call. Here, he says, while showing off his uniform. Mr. Feeny, Eric Matthews, businessman. What do you think? Feeny admits it's very impressive, then holds up a Penbrooke sweatshirt with an embroidered penguin mascot on it and asks Eric what he thinks. Eric gushes, that is you. When the new Mrs. Feeny gets a look at you in that sweatshirt, they're gonna have to hose her down, my friend. And it's here I remembered. Oh, right. Feeny and the dean are married. Yes. Just.

[Will Friedle]

Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

Forgot all about that.

[Will Friedle]

Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

Feeny's on the fence, but admits the penguin does look quite masculine, and for the right occasion, it would fit the bill. Eric sweetens the deal by telling him it's just 19.99 plus tax. Feeny asks what the tax is, and Eric responds, it's a percentage of something, but I'm not really sure. Then Jack interrupts the sales pitch for a quick word with Eric. Now outside the store, Eric beams. This work thing is going great. I think I'm really a people person, you know? Half listening, Jack responds, good for you. Listen, I don't want to bust up your people parade, but take this to the bank and deposit it. He hands his assistant manager an envelope filled with cash. Eric's eyes widen at the money, and he assures his roommate slash supervisor that he can totally trust him with all of the it. After letting that sink in, Jack tries to take the cash back, but Eric doesn't let him. I need that bank crap on my resume. So Jack slowly walks him through each step like he's in kindergarten. You're going to take the money to the bank, deposit it, and then come right back. He forces Eric to repeat the steps back, and Eric manages to do it. Jack encourages him to continue repeating the words aloud so he doesn't forget anything. Ready for the world. Eric happily makes his way out of the building, repeating everything aloud, with Jack encouraging him to keep saying it until he's now arrived at the bank. He's now repeating a new set of instructions. Take my mom to see Frank clean My closet. Take a nap.

[Rider Strong]

That's a good bit, man. That's funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

Funny.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Funny bit.

[Rider Strong]

And like, you know. Yeah, I, I, I'm happy with this. The storyline, like, I.

[Will Friedle]

It's a storyline.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, but I mean, you with the whipped cream is funny. You guys haven't. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Do you need to involve monkeys?

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, I guess.

[Danielle Fishel]

What's wrong with the monkey?

[Will Friedle]

Why?

[Rider Strong]

Well, because.

[Will Friedle]

Why the monkey? Why couldn't it have been literally an.

[Rider Strong]

Organ grinder with the monkey? I mean, it's like, where does this happen? Why are they at the bank? And they also.

[Will Friedle]

Why is the organ grinder specifically playing it like it is a scam?

[Rider Strong]

Yes, I, that's what I was wondering.

[Will Friedle]

He looks at the name tag and he names the thing Eric. Like, why not just make it a real thing?

[Danielle Fishel]

No, no, hold on, guys.

[Will Friedle]

This.

[Danielle Fishel]

I thought that is what happened, that he saw your name tag. He does turn and look at you and then turn and look at the monkey. I don't know. Now, in hindsight, that we know it's not a scam. I think the monkey's name is Little Eric.

[Will Friedle]

Well, no, he clearly looks down at the name tag and then he gets this look on his face and his eyes pop up and he goes, oh, Little Eric.

[Rider Strong]

And then he also waits to hear how much money Eric has. Right?

[Cindy Crawford]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

So then he says, $1,700.

[Danielle Fishel]

But I think all of that is that it's just a coincidence. Writer. Mr. Coincidence. There's no. This is.

[Rider Strong]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

This man has a monkey named Little Eric, and he realizes, oh, my God, this man here also has the name Eric.

[Rider Strong]

And you think that look is supposed to imply that, but his look is.

[Danielle Fishel]

Supposed to be like you. They want it to play both ways. Set it up like they want it.

[Will Friedle]

To play like it's a scam.

[Danielle Fishel]

Obviously, they want it to play like it's a scam.

[Rider Strong]

I need to watch it again because.

[Will Friedle]

Why can't I just. Why couldn't have just have been. This is where it's, like, gets the absurdity with Eric dancing with the monkey. Why couldn't it have just been something that, like, Jack did, where he walks in and somebody's legitimately having a problem. They're going to lose their house. They're going to do something like that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Want to set up. This is something only Eric would fall for. None of the other characters on the show would ever give over their money to a guy who needs to bring a monkey over. But Eric would. And the idea is that. But that alone makes Eric dumb. And then the Idea that being an empathetic person who feels for everyone in every situation sometimes might bite you in it might have ended up being a scam. And still, at the end of the day, there are pros to being the type of person who's so giving that even when it likely is a scam, is willing to put himself out there.

[Will Friedle]

That I get it. I feel like it was written like they had a monkey in the budget and this was the best way to throw it in there. Where it was just like, do we need. Do we need a monkey? Did we need Eric dancing with the monkey to get the storyline through? And this is where it goes for me. For people are like, Eric becomes absurd in the seventh season. It's moments like this where it's like, did we need the organ grinder and.

[Danielle Fishel]

The monkey in the bank? It's a little though, like what Matt Johnson was saying about your character is like, yes, he's an idiot, but he's always on the right side. He's always doing it for the right reason.

[Rider Strong]

And so I think it has to be something sort of cute and ridiculous that Eric falls for.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right? If it was just because none of the other characters would.

[Rider Strong]

It was just a sob story the way that Jack does. It's not the same. The point needs to be that his heart is always in the right place, even when it's so obviously absurd.

[Danielle Fishel]

Correct. And a thing where any other character would have been like, oh, no, no, no. Only Eric would be like the monkey. Sad.

[Rider Strong]

The monkey is sad right now.

[Danielle Fishel]

He looks around and wonders, where am I? He pulls out the cash and giggles. Oh yeah. He flashes the wad without a care in the world. Catching the attention of an old organ grinder with a monkey wearing a jumpsuit on his shoulder. The aforementioned Marcel. He glances at Eric's badge and thinks on his toes by turning to his little animal co worker and apologizing loudly in an Italian accent. Sorry, Eric, I just don't have enough. Eric perks up.

[Bowen Yang]

Huh?

[Rider Strong]

Huh?

[Danielle Fishel]

The man clarifies. Oh, I was talking to my friend here, little Eric. Eric's aghast. That monkey's got the same name as me. The man pretends to be shocked as Eric flashes his badge as proof, boasting he's assistant manager of the student union and is there depositing 1700 smackerinos. The man is impressed. That's a lot of money. He looks at his monkey and sighs. That's the kind of money we don't have. Eric wonders, what do you need the money for, Mr. Organ Grinder? The obvious con man explains for the monkey's girlfriend, Isabella. Eric's intrigued by this monkey babe, and the man continues. She's still in Milwaukee. I don't have enough money to send for her. Eric won't do his happy dance without her. Nobody wants to pay to see a depressed monkey. Eric wonders how much money he'd need, and the man calculates the cost, eventually landing on 1700 Smackerinos. Eric gasps. That's exactly how much I have. The old man mimics the shock, and the monkey holds his head in distress. Eric is clearly affected. I think you should take this. The audience groans as he hands the money to the old man. I can't let money stand in the way of monkey love. The man can't believe it. He accepts the money and tells Eric what a good person he is. He claims that now Eric the monkey won't be depressed anymore. The grinder asks Eric where he can find him, you know, to pay him back. Eric tells him. Penbrooke University Student Union. The man can't thank Eric enough. He encourages little Eric to show him his happy dance. And with that, the monkey springs off his shoulder and onto the counter. As circus music plays, he does some impressive kicks and spins and human Eric gasps. That's the same as my happy dance. He copies the monkey's moves perfectly, and they dance together. A true will friedle moment, everyone. Cute. What do you remember about working with the monkey?

[Will Friedle]

I don't.

[Rider Strong]

I remember.

[Will Friedle]

I remember being excited that it was Marcel from Friends, because I was a big fan of Friends. Other than that, I. I don't.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Will Friedle]

I don't remember anything about. I'm sure we got, you know, safety instructors like. It's cute. Don't look at it. Don't touch it, don't feed it anymore.

[Danielle Fishel]

Jump away from it.

[Will Friedle]

Jump away from it. Exactly. It goes for the eyes, stuff like that. Ever been at the pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks, do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, what vaccine should you consider before a big trip? And even those questions you were too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Danielle Fishel]

We're in the girls apartment. Sean and Corey sit with an array of various cooked meats, half a pizza and some Chinese food, and they are going to town.

[Rider Strong]

So.

[Will Friedle]

So Rachel just sits at home and cooks full turkeys. Yep, that's just her thing. A giant rib roast. Full turkey. She's got hundreds of dollars.

[Danielle Fishel]

The carnivore diet, apparently.

[Will Friedle]

Okay.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sean asks, you know what's great about girls? Corey warns him not yet. Get it? Because he's never had sex. So we can't think of one positive.

[Will Friedle]

Thing about girls is the sex part.

[Danielle Fishel]

But Sean elaborates anyway. They can never finish a meal in public. They always bring it home to their refrigerators like spiders. As they're devouring a rib roast and a turkey leg, Rachel walks out in a towel. She's surprised to see the boys and screams. Corey grins. Hey, hey, hey. To what do we owe this free lookie?

[Rider Strong]

Free lookie?

[Will Friedle]

Do you now, this episode, we have to point out was written by a woman.

[Danielle Fishel]

I have to point that out.

[Will Friedle]

How much of the episode, like, if you saw. And again, this is pure speculation. If you saw her original script and you saw the final script, how many of these jokes in the storyline do you think would be the same as the storyline?

[Rider Strong]

There's no way to avoid. I mean, based on the outline of this storyline, like, I don't know how.

[Danielle Fishel]

You avoid all this a little bit in the beginning. Very easy for it to not be around Horny and her more sexuality.

[Rider Strong]

Right. If it was just about right.

[Will Friedle]

Or.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, Them eating the food is a good example of that. Right. Like, this could be just like, you're eating all the food.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, you're eating all the food here. And even then, if we stick with the idea of, like, okay, we're all going to be one big happy family. Okay, sure. Then next thing you know, she has a party. She invites a bunch of people over, and Angela and Topanga are trying to sleep. And at 7am There's a party. And she's like, come on, come join us, fam. You know, there's some. There's a million other ways to do boundary crossing with you. Share common space, Guys. Pigs.

[Rider Strong]

But that's so fun to call Gu. I mean, how many times do we do it?

[Will Friedle]

It's the misogyny. But that's the thing. I mean, they did this episode on Seinfeld where literally, Kramer has a key to Jerry's apartment. And it's like Jerry has to use the bathroom. So he runs in and Kramer's in the bathtub. And he's like, what the hell are you doing in my bathtub? I mean, it's like, there's ways to do it. That's funny.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, but you don't get lingerie Wasn't.

[Will Friedle]

That's all it came down to, right?

[Danielle Fishel]

Is what do you think the original outline was?

[Will Friedle]

What do you think it was?

[Danielle Fishel]

What do you think it became? Good question. Maybe we can try to get curious Allison on the show. Rachel asks how they got in, and Corey reveals the key Topanga gave him. Rachel huffs. I wish Topanga would have told me about it first. Corey is shocked. She didn't tell you. Sean realizes that's just wrong. Corey admits it feels uncomfortable now, and Shawn agrees this is extremely awkward. They quickly start to put away the food as Corey tells Rachel, you must think we're barbarians or something. Thing. Rachel shakes her head, no. I'm sorry. I was just a little surprised to see you here eating my food, which is mine, but I'm not going to keep you from your girlfriends. The guys are shocked. Shawn clarifies, so you want us to stay? Rachel hesitantly says, yeah, I guess the boys have heard enough. Corey slams the fridge door shut and shouts, then we need horseradish. Sean clarifies, red, not white, and adds, we're gonna need some macaroni and cheese. Corey agrees. Rugrats, Sean adds, Not dinosaurs. Sean turns to Rachel. We have some other things for you too. But we made a list.

[Rider Strong]

Dinosaurs.

[Danielle Fishel]

Of the shapes of the shapes.

[Will Friedle]

You can get either Mac and cheese.

[Danielle Fishel]

Will and I know this well.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, of course, of course.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey explains with a mouthful of turkey. We put it in your underwear drawer so you wouldn't miss it. Rachel's disgusted. Sean creepily smirks. Who gets to see that little purple number? Who does this?

[Will Friedle]

Who just walks into somebody's house? Unless there are sociopaths or a sex offender and walks in and just starts going through a random person's underwear drawer.

[Danielle Fishel]

When do we think they did this? While she was in the shower. Like since they've been here this time or days ago. Like, what do you think? When do you think they did this? Who knows? Who cares?

[Will Friedle]

What pitch did they reject?

[Danielle Fishel]

Right. None. They didn't. For this story. Just anything.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Rachel can't believe this. They went into her diary and read it. Sean nods. Yeah, you're a very bad girl. Corey wonders. You think if we saw you in the purple underwear that we'd scream, oh, mama. Rachel shrieks in horror and tells them to get out. She snatches the turkey leg from Corey and pushes them both toward the door. The guys are offended. Corey reminds her, you can't kick us out. We've got a key she snatches it from his hand. Not anymore you don't. Out. Corey throws a random piece of food at her on their way out, and she chucks it right back at him, nailing him in the head.

[Will Friedle]

That looked ad libbed because you were. You're laughing when you walked in.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, and she looks kind of taken off guard by it. And then she throws it back and the audience goes nuts. Which I feel like is because they had seen it a couple times and that never happened.

[Rider Strong]

Agreed? Yeah, perfectly.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. Like 100. Good shot.

[Danielle Fishel]

Now, off camera, Corey throws it back inside. Perfectly timed. Topanga and Angela arrive back home just as the guys are leaving. They wonder what's going on and Rachel is not happy. How could you not even ask me if they could have a key? It was supposed to be just the three girls, like they said on movie night. But Angela reminds her, you know, we got back together. Rachel points out, they ate all my food. The boys have re entered the apartment, so the girls give them accusing looks.

[Will Friedle]

Did anybody else find that really weird?

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, that we left the apartment and.

[Will Friedle]

Then you just heard doors closing and opening behind. Like if you listen to it again, you could just hear donk, donk, donk, donk. And then we were like, what? What is that sound? And then you cut back and there's Cory and Sean standing.

[Rider Strong]

There's like we needed to get our exit so we could have. Have the food throwing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

But then actually the reality is once we run into our girlfriends, we. We just turn around and come back in with you.

[Will Friedle]

Really weird blocking. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sean plays dumb, claiming they need carbos for kissing. Rachel also points out, they read my diary. Corey is offended. That's just not true. Just lies, lies. Just bold faced lies. Sean adds, but if we did, you're a bad girl. They both give her a devilish grin. Rachel isn't done. They went through my underwear drawer. Corey, again, lying, claims that's just ludicrous. Topanga gets right in his face and asks if he did. Corey hesitates, then pins all the blame on Sean. He made me. Shawn nervously announces, my name is Sean and I have a problem. Topanga and Angela giggle. Look how cute they are when they're guilty.

[Rider Strong]

I mean, can you imagine finding. Do you think, like, honestly, like in the 90s at this time, like if you found out your boyfriend went into some other girl's underwear drawer, is there a world where that was okay?

[Will Friedle]

Like, do you know if you're in a throuple maybe? Like if the three of you were.

[Rider Strong]

Dating, like our writers or Our team thought that this was an acceptable enough reality. I mean, even though it's. It's supposed to be extreme, it's supposed to be absurd, but, like, even in. Just in the. And the abstract, you're supposed to be like, well, I could see it, like.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, that would happen.

[Rider Strong]

That goes. Could do that, and you'd forgive them.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't know.

[Rider Strong]

I mean, it's hard. I mean, we all must have thought it was somewhat okay.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, I think this is why I died. I think this is why I. This is why, when the show ended, Good Riddance was literally how I felt. Because this is. First of all, imagine just. Just for my pov, what I've had to play this season.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Depressed and miserable because of my parents, and now this version of Topanga. That's just. I don't even know what you call this, like. And so it was just like, okay, we're good. Now it feels like the. Feels like we have gone to a different. A totally different show.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

They didn't really make it hard to walk away at this point.

[Danielle Fishel]

No. At this point. I'm done. I'm ready. Let's call it. I hope it's only 13.

[Will Friedle]

So other than Bill, is there a single character, a single character that you can point to in the show that isn't completely different than even a season before?

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't know how different Eric is. I don't know that Eric is. From season six to this season is drastically different.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, it's.

[Rider Strong]

I don't know what he.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

And Angela's been sort of undefined. Yeah, maybe.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, Jack's kind of the same because they didn't really get like. Like Angela. They didn't give him a ton.

[Danielle Fishel]

I guess we don't know anything really about Maitland either. We don't know anything about Rachel. Rachel seemed. Rachel and Jack and Angela are kind of in limbo. They have not progressed, nor have they necessarily gone backwards.

[Rider Strong]

See, I keep going back to this idea that I forgot that we were not picked up for the back nine. So our writers are in a crunch, and they probably are feeling that what we did before was not working if we didn't get picked up for a full season. Season. So they've been put on notice basically, that season six was not what they wanted.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

So now they're trying to do different things, and, man, it's just bad. Like, it's just.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

And I feel like, you know, this was probably. I bet what happened is Michael was like, hey, we're going into season seven. They didn't like season six, but we have to wrap up the storylines that we set up, which was about Topanga and her parents.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. But then we get the married. Right.

[Rider Strong]

And we have to get them married. So now he's just trying to like, resolve that as quickly as possible, which he did in four episodes, get the couples back together because it obviously breaking everybody up didn't work. And then let's just have a romp. Let's just have like a fun, funny episode. And so you get something like this. But man, it just throws all of our characters under the bus and it doesn't, you know, it's what a way to just not. It's just too bad that, like, we didn't commit to what made Boy Meets World great, which is like season five Boy Meets World. Like, let's go back to like real characters and real arcs and.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. Ever been at the pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks, do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the script from CVS Pharmacy and I Heart Media. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, what vaccine should you consider before a big trip? And even those questions you were too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio album, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Danielle Fishel]

Angela tells her, come on, you cannot be mad at these guys. Topanga asks her now pouty pout boys to apologize to Rachel. So they do in unison. Calling her miss. Topanga looks for Rachel's approval and asks if they can have their key back. Rachel isn't over it. She argues that it's not okay. She feels like she doesn't have any privacy in her own apartment. Rightfully so fair. Corey tells her that's ridiculous. Which okay, sure, Sean adds, you can go back to being your bad self. Angela begs Rachel, come on, it's Corey and Sean. Topanga reminds her that she and Corey are getting married, so they are like family. Yeah, Corey and Topanga are like family. How does Rachel have any? What is.

[Rider Strong]

But also if family gets to go through each other's underwear drawer, right?

[Will Friedle]

So if your husband goes through your friend's underwear drawer, it's fine.

[Danielle Fishel]

Totally fine. Totally fine. By the way, if either one of you two, by that definition, friends so close. We were family. Known you for 30 years. If either one of you two went through my underwear Drawer. It would just be like, well, of course they were over.

[Rider Strong]

They're family.

[Danielle Fishel]

We're family.

[Will Friedle]

Can you imagine walking in and finding either Ryder or I going through your underwear drawer? And we're like, oh, relax. Well, it'd be insane. First of all, they're not superhero underwear, so I don't give a. But I mean, I. Can you imagine the. See, it would be like, what.

[Danielle Fishel]

What are you doing, bro?

[Will Friedle]

What the hell is going on? And how'd you get in here?

[Danielle Fishel]

So they're like family. Rachel sternly asks, is that the way you want it? And Angela brings her in for a hug. Let's all be like family, huh? Topanga again asks for their key back, and Rachel finally gives in. She returns it to Corey and says in an odd tone, sure, we'll be like one big happy family.

[Will Friedle]

I also love how Corey keeps the key completely separate from all other keys in his shirt pocket. Like you do.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like you do.

[Rider Strong]

So at this point, she's come up with the plan. And the plan is, I'll walk around.

[Danielle Fishel]

The way I do in front of my daddy.

[Rider Strong]

Show. Show my friends, my roommate friends that, like, turn on their boyfriends and entice them.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, family walks around in lingerie in front of each other. So I'll do that.

[Rider Strong]

And knowing that the boys will want to have sex with me, and that will piss the girls off, finally let them. The invasion of the privacy. It's the weird layers of, like, ethical, like, manipulation to get to these scenes.

[Will Friedle]

No, in the writer's room, though, because they talk about this. They. She says this what it is in there. The justification was, it's okay to look at my underwear in the drawer, but if I'm wearing it, then it's not okay. That was their justification. Because she even says that. She, the character, literally says that.

[Rider Strong]

So weird. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

She turns and struts back to her room, still wearing the towel. Once she gets up the stairs, Topanga turns to Corey and angrily smacks him on the head. Head. Don't you ever go near her underwear drawer. And Angela adds, ever again. Corey and Shawn are offended by this insane request. Wait, Never. Sean holds up a finger. How about just once? This is insane.

[Will Friedle]

Insane.

[Danielle Fishel]

Back at the student union, Eric returns with a pep in his step. He slams the empty envelope right down. Besides Jack, who now asks how the bank went. Eric replies, so good. Jack is happy to hear it, then asks for the deposit. So slip. Eric admits, I don't actually have one. Jack is concerned, and Eric reveals he didn't actually deposit the money. Jack needs to know why. And Eric announces he did something better with it. Jack asks why once again, and Eric grins. Because I gave it to a monkey. Jack can't believe this. You gave it to a monkey? Eric explains, not to a monkey. That would be ridiculous. He gave it to the organ grinder to send to the monkey's girlfriend. Then he demands an apology for the assumption he did something stupid. Stupid. Instead, Jack questions his own actions. How could I ever think you could be trusted? Eric insists the money isn't gone. The organ grinder promised to pay him back. Eric believes he did a good thing. Jack shakes his head, you were ripped off. But Eric argues, he gave me his word. Jack is angry. When are you gonna grow up? You're graduating in May. No more me, no more parents. No more Mr. Feeny to clean up your messes. This world is gonna crush you. I feel sorry for you, man, but I'm not gonna let you drag me down with you.

[Will Friedle]

You.

[Danielle Fishel]

He turns away and leaves while a pained Eric watches him go.

[Will Friedle]

And Matt's good.

[Danielle Fishel]

Great. You guys are great.

[Will Friedle]

They give him something to do. He actually does it.

[Rider Strong]

He's great.

[Danielle Fishel]

Then we go to a tense commercial break. Still in the student union, Eric walks past that couple he brought together at the beginning of the show.

[Will Friedle]

Now instantly different. Instantly different, Eric. Different. And it's just right away. And he's completely different person because he got yelled at once. So he's a completely different human being. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, now this couple are passionately making out at a table. But instead of encouraging them again, he shouts, hey, keep those lips where I can see them. We're trying to run a business here. Go do it in your car. Could you maybe give that message to Corey and Sean and everybody else? Yeah, everyone else in the show. He returns to the coffee bar when Sean and Corey arrive. Corey asks if he has their hot chocolates ready. And Eric slides the cups over to the boys. $4. Corey laughs. I see. That's the advertised price. But you haven't figured in the brotherly discount of free.

[Will Friedle]

You see, biscotti was only 50 cents.

[Danielle Fishel]

Delicious.

[Will Friedle]

50 cents for biscotti? Wow.

[Rider Strong]

Wow.

[Danielle Fishel]

Prices these days.

[Will Friedle]

I know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Eric yells, pay up, deadbeat. It's a cold, cruel world out there. There's not going to be people around to clean up your messes. Corey is hurt. I'm telling Mom. Sean throws cash at Eric and they scurry away. Meanwhile, Feeny's over in the corner reading a book. Get to the point, Mr. Grisham. I'm getting bored. Eric shouts at him too. Hey, reader guy. I'm sorry. Does this. No. No. Does this look like a library to you? Feeny tries to explain himself, but Eric aggressively interrupts him. You were reading it. You read it, you buy it. 1404. Cough it up. Feeny reaches into his pocket and is getting frustrated. I don't have any pennies. He reaches into the take a penny dish and Eric slaps his hand away. Bank is closed. Feeny decides to just use his credit card. So Eric examines the card and asks, what is this? You see your card here? He grabs a pair of scissors and cuts it in half. It's bogus. It expired in 1967. Feeny can't believe it. That's card Member since. You moron. What the hell's wrong with you? Then Jack shouts at Eric from across the room about some shipping boxes that need to be moved to storage. Eric rushes over. He's on it. But before that, he warns Jack about Feeny. Watch out for that guy. Feeny asks Jack, what did you do to him? And Jack explains, oh, I told him to be more responsible. I know when you put him together with me, you wanted a little bit of me to rub off on him. Well, it did. He's efficient for the first time in his life. And he's better off for it. The whole student union is better off for it, don't you think? Feeny looks out at the crowd of students in the student union, and they all look miserable and motionless. Depressing music plays to really paint a bleak picture. Feeny admits, Frankly, Mr. Hunter, this place gives me the willies. And he walks away. And now we're back at the bank. We see a line of professionals all wearing suits and holding briefcases, waiting their turn. Is this supposed to be like a dream sequence?

[Rider Strong]

That's what I. It's so. That's what I was like when I was watching all of these characters who. I don't know who they are, have this whole scene play out. I was like, what happened to our show? This is.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't know. It's so weird. And then the music, every time it, like, goes to Jack and there's like a music cue that plays. It's so interesting.

[Will Friedle]

See, I'm sorry. That's why I say, I know you guys like this one. I say that if the Corey, Shawn Topanga storyline was really good, you would have hated this. But because that's so bad, it makes this look okay.

[Rider Strong]

The.

[Danielle Fishel]

The. The bare bones of it that actually Jack has a lot that he could learn from Eric. And that Eric can learn a lot from Jack is a great storyline. And having Feeny be the one to orchestrate it and put them together in a job situation at the student union. Wonderful having it be that Eric gives away the money to someone beautiful. So your only issue is the monkey.

[Rider Strong]

Eric flipping as much as he did, which, you know, it did feel extreme and it could have been better motivated, but it could have been better motivated, right? Right now it's just. Jack yells at him yeah, but it could have been something more personal. Something about like, you know, Eric, you always, I don't know, like it didn't.

[Danielle Fishel]

Feel Jack saying, I'm going to get fired now.

[Rider Strong]

And.

[Danielle Fishel]

And like, this is on me. Me. I gave you that responsibility. But at the end of the day, I'm the manager. I'm the one responsible for that money. I'm going to lose my job. You're going to. You're ruining my life. Your mistakes are ruining my life. Could really have landed on him.

[Will Friedle]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Jack is at the back of the queue, filling out paperwork for the day's deposit, still in his student union uniform and sticking out like a sore thumb. Industrial music pounds while bank employees, eyes deadened robotically, repeat and monotone like a factory. May I help the next person in line? Jack mutters to himself, Take this week's receipts, go to the bank, deposit them. How hard can that possibly be? At a nearby desk, a woman begs a banker, Please, I'm only two payments behind. The employee explains, I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do. The lady pleads, what?

[Will Friedle]

I'm sorry, it's just the whole scene. And then the bank manager walking over and in front of the lady, being like, you can't do. It's like, come on.

[Rider Strong]

No.

[Danielle Fishel]

The lady pleads, but if you take my car, I can't get to work. I can't make any payments. I'm the sole support of my kids. How can I drive them to school? Jack is interested in what he's hearing. The banker tells the woman, all right, I won't report this just yet. If you give me your word that you can make payment on time this month. The man's boss is now walked up with concerns. Her word. The music gets creepier. Might I explain to you what the inherent value of her word is? Zilch, zip. Zoo, though. Goose egg. Why did they need this extra character? Why didn't he just say, man gave you a break last month. You said that last month.

[Will Friedle]

Jack needed to see himself and so that's future Jack. They even asked the guy who's the good looking older guy? Like, that's me in the future.

[Rider Strong]

Right?

[Will Friedle]

And by the way, no memory of this whatsoever, of us becoming the. But it's like, what? Okay, so we go from monkey in the bank, monkey and organ grinder to then the bank manager walking over with music playing, going. Her word means nothing. It's like is actually happening here. Cut back to the underwear drawer. It's like, yeah, you're. You're over 40 at this point in this episode. What's going on?

[Danielle Fishel]

The woman asks the manager, why are you so mean? And he smiles. Because, madam, this is corporate America, not Candyland. Things are intense and from Jack's pov, the scary manager and his employee have become Jack and Eric. Jack is the heartless boss. While Eric listens to his words and terror manager Jack asks Eric, you were going to give this woman some sort of charity, weren't you? Eric tries to answer, but Jack continues to berate him. He's tired of cleaning up his messes. Eric apologizes and is terrified. I'm sorry. I'll change. I'll be more like you. With that student union manager, Jack gets out of line and approaches the banker's desk. Don't be like me. Don't be like me at all. He hands the union's wad of cash to the woman and tells her to use it for her payments and drive her kids to school. School.

[Will Friedle]

So they're down like four grand from the student union, by the way. Correct. Where does this come from? Are there no repercussions?

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, I mean, literally just stealing money from. Yeah, yeah.

[Will Friedle]

From the college.

[Rider Strong]

Okay.

[Will Friedle]

Got. Great.

[Danielle Fishel]

The woman gasps. I don't know how to thank you. I'll pay you back as soon as I can. Jack tells her not to worry. It's not important. He walks out. Most likely guilty of theft by all definitions of the word.

[Will Friedle]

Doesn't even give her contact information. Just walks out. Here's money that's gonna.

[Danielle Fishel]

He's gonna pay it back.

[Bowen Yang]

Back.

[Danielle Fishel]

The boss turns to his banker and coldly explains, this is all your fault. Fen swler.

[Rider Strong]

Fen sw.

[Will Friedle]

It's like the man lives on Fraggle Rock.

[Danielle Fishel]

We're back in the girl's apartment. Topanga and Cory and Sean and Angela are also out on the couch next to each other.

[Cindy Crawford]

You know that kids do.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey breaks off from Topanga and asks, are you sure we should be doing this? Shawn breaks away from Angela and is also concerned. Rachel's alone in the other room. Remember how ticked off she was about the diary? Now you guys now you guys are worried about her.

[Will Friedle]

Now they care. And also, it's getting creepy, all the making out next to each other. I'm just waiting for one hand to go across and then it's just a foursome. Like why just get. You have bedrooms 10ft away.

[Rider Strong]

So much more fun when Corey and Sean can watch each other.

[Will Friedle]

That's what it is.

[Rider Strong]

That's what I'm convinced of, what it is. It's about guys.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, guys are guys, man.

[Will Friedle]

Like high fiving.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topanga reminds the boys they apologized and Rachel understood that they have every right to be here. Angela agrees, yeah, we're one big happy family. Remind the audience. So that's some weird deal we made. So they just get back to group kissing. And then Rachel steps out of her room wearing only purple little silk shorts and a matching lingerie style tank top. The inmates express loudly their excitement as she struts down the stairs. Hey, guys. The couples break apart from their makeout sessions and when Corey and Sean notice Rachel, they are mesmerized, expressing their newly horned out state in un in unison. Rachel insists they don't stop making out on her account, considering they're all one big happy family. Both couples are in shock, jaws on the floor. Rachel asks, you don't mind if I play some music, do you? She turns on the radio and starts to bop around in her revealing outfit. Topanga and Angela are aghast while Corey and Shawn enjoy the show show. Rachel dances over to the sink and.

[Rider Strong]

Starts four episodes fighting to get back with our girlfriends. Whole thing was about love and how meaningful my relationship with Angela was, how important it is that Corey and Topang are together. And then we're just gonna throw all of that into lingerie.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, it's so.

[Rider Strong]

It's just awful. Like.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, it's awful.

[Rider Strong]

It cheapens everything. It just cheapens the whole thing. It's so. It's.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, well. But Rachel's shaking her butt toward the couch. Topanga snaps, what are you doing? Rachel turns around and smugly responds, dishes. Googly eyed. Corey says to himself, don't stop. Do the dishes. Scrub a dub dub. Rachel seductively asks, oh, don't you guys love this music? And Shawn bites on his finger. I do now. Angela wonders, Rachel, isn't that a little cold? Corey and Sean jump in, no, she's not cold. Rachel asks, do you guys have a little room for me on the couch? The boys immediately make room, pushing Topanga and Angela off the couch entirely. A callback to the beginning of the episode. From the floor, Topanga And Angela smack their boyfriends and demand they stop looking at her. But Rachel doesn't get it.

[Will Friedle]

Come on.

[Danielle Fishel]

How can you be mad at these two? They are so cute. Topanga disagrees. They are not cute. Angela adds, they are pigs. Rachel deducts, but it's cute when they look at my underwear. As long as I'm not wearing it.

[Will Friedle]

It.

[Danielle Fishel]

And what about my diary? Topanga starts to explain. Well, we were saying. And I'd love love for that sentence to continue.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, let's finish that.

[Danielle Fishel]

And then Shawn interrupts. I have a question. He looks at Rachel. Are you gonna do the dishes some more? Angela whacks him again, and Shawn refocuses. Okay, we're leaving. We're leaving. Corey is disappointed. We are? Sean answers, yes. But before they can leave, Topanga tells Corey to give her key back. When he refuses, she just pulls it out of his shirt pocket. Anyway, Corey asks Shawn what just happened? And Shawn sighs as they walk out. We're not part of the family anymore. Rachel is satisfied when Topanga admits she was right. The boys aren't cute. They're pigs. Angela agrees, they should have considered Rachel's privacy. Rachel shakes her head, no. I love the guys. I do. I just don't want to be taken advantage of. I think we should set some boundaries. Angela admits they've learned their lesson. And Topanga adds, the guys have too do. I'm sure they're thinking about it the whole way home. And then we get an optical flip in the apartment hallway, the guys are fighting over the peephole like savage animals. Corey's pleading, come on, Topanga, move out of the way. I want to see the underwear. Shawn whines, corey, let me look. But Corey complains, I haven't seen anything yet. And Shawn reminds him, you're almost married. Corey emphasizes, almost. Then Shawn has a realization. You know what? We're big pigs. This is the third time we've said that you guys are pigs in. In like two minutes.

[Rider Strong]

Favorite insult thing. I don't.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, the new. It's the new insult for some reason. Season 7 Insult.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yep, this is wrong. As Shawn walks away, Corey snaps back to reality and follows him out. But then, it was a fake out. Shawn takes the opportunity to finally claim the vacated peephole and take a look for himself. And now Corey tries his hardest to recover his position in the student. Uncle Eric is aggressively hounding one of the students, making sure he only uses one stirrer at coffee station and escorting him back to his table. Jack sees him stressing and rushes over. Eric it's okay. But Eric disagrees. You know something, Jack? It's not okay. He barks another caveat at the student, now joined by a friend. Share the sweet and low. Share it sweet and low.

[Will Friedle]

I like this, Eric. It's fun and it's funny. I just wish it was earned.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

I would like to have seen this more. And I would like to have seen it earned because it's a funny character to play.

[Danielle Fishel]

It is.

[Rider Strong]

Especially starting the way you did. Yeah. To get here is fun. Like. Yeah. I just think a little bit. Like, I think Danielle's solution is perfect.

[Will Friedle]

Perfect.

[Rider Strong]

If Jack made it about his relationship with Eric and like, made it about like, you're hurting me, man. Eric would go overboard to try and make his friend feel better. For Eric to just go overboard because he's worried about the crushing real world. Like, that just doesn't feel enough.

[Danielle Fishel]

No.

[Will Friedle]

No.

[Danielle Fishel]

Jack tries to calm Eric down. I don't want you to change. Come back. Where's my old buddy? Eric responds, he's dead. He's gone. He was inefficient and unprepared for that cold, cruel world. You did him a favor and you killed. Killed him. Then he notices the student is again reaching for the coffee cart. Same stirrer. How hard is that? Jack chimes in this world is only cruel and cold because people like me believe you have to be that way to succeed. Eric promises him that he'll succeed and he isn't done with the freeloading student loudly warning him. One napkin. Jack tries to convince him he was wrong, insisting they don't want to be any part of that world. But Eric just returns to cleaning. Jack grins and shakes his head bed. Eventually taking a seat at a nearby table where Mr. Feeny has been listening the whole time, Jack asks his teacher, you knew that, didn't you? Feeny admits, I've lived in this world a long time now. I think I know it fairly well. Jack puts two and two together. So all this time you didn't want me to rub off on him. You wanted him to rub off on me. Feeny admits he wanted both. It's not enough to leave school and just desire to succeed in this cold, cruel world world. Because then you simply become a part of it. You must also have the desire to change it. And to change it, you would need Jack's fine mind and Eric's good heart. Then Eric joins them sarcastically telling Feeny he saved the day. Then asking Jack for the day's receipts. Jack admits he doesn't have them and Eric asks Why not? Jack explains. Because I gave the money to someone who really needed it. Eric can't believe it. Please tell me you did not fall for somebody's sob story. Jack responds, yeah, I actually did. I'm going to be working here day and night to pay that back. But it's okay. Somehow I finally found my priorities. An angry Eric has heard enough. You're never going to see that money again. You're as stupid as I used to be. He walks away, shaking his head in disappointment. But then Eric the monkey comes hopping in, landing right on Eric's shoulder. He's followed by the old Italian grinder who declares, hey, it's little Eric and big Eric. Eric human. Eric can't believe it. And the grinder says he has one more surprise for everybody. Then he melodically calls out, isabella. On cue, another little monkey, this one in a pink tutu, comes running in and onto the organ grinder.

[Rider Strong]

Isabella should have been wearing purple lingerie.

[Will Friedle]

Hell yeah. Followed by Corey and Sean.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, actually would have been a good little joke.

[Danielle Fishel]

That would have been funny. That would have been a good bit. The old man explains to her. Here's that nice man I told you about. Eric's shocked. It's you. You came back. I knew he'd come back. Didn't I say that, Jack? Jack nods. Yeah, you did. You did good man. The man says, of course I came back. I gave you my word. He hands an envelope to Eric. Here's the money I borrowed. You made two monkeys very happy. He squeezes Eric's cheek. You're a good boy. Don't ever change. Sentimental music plays as Eric realizes the world might not be as cruel and cold as he thought. Feeny looks at him and echoes, you're a good boy. Don't ever change. Eric smiles and promises, I'll try not to. Then he gives a tiny high five to a monkey. And there's no tag.

[Will Friedle]

They were like, let's just get the out.

[Danielle Fishel]

Let's just wrap it.

[Rider Strong]

We didn't have an on interior like we usually were cutting to make an episode. The fact that they just ran out and didn't have a tag for this.

[Danielle Fishel]

Didn't have a tag.

[Will Friedle]

Like, we're good, we're good. Get out.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't know. Should have been best television show.

[Rider Strong]

Ghost 2.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh. Thank you all for joining us for this episode of Pod Meets World. Join us for our next episode recap, which will be season seven, episode six, They're Killing Us. Properly titled originally aired October 29, 1999. As always, you can follow us on Instagram Pod Meets World Show. You can send us your emails Pod meets world show gmail.com and and we've got merch.

[Will Friedle]

Danielle do the thing I like with the merch.

[Danielle Fishel]

Pod meetsworldshow.com writer send us out and.

[Rider Strong]

We love you all. Pod Dismissed. Pod Meets World is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, Wilfred L and Ryder Strong, executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Schwab, executive in charge of production Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sukbach, producer Matty Moore, engineer and boy Meets world Superman Easton Allen. Our theme song is by Kyle Morton of Typhoon. Follow us on Instagram odmeatsworldshow or email us at podmeatsworldshowmail.com.

[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Janice.

[Bowen Yang]

Torres here and I'm Austin Hankwitz. We host the podcast Mind the Small Business Success Stories produced by Ruby Studio in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.

[Danielle Fishel]

We're back for season four to talk to some incredible small business owners. The big thing about working at tech.

[Rider Strong]

Is that it's ever evolving, ever changing. Everyone's a rookie.

[Will Friedle]

That's how fast the industry is changing.

[Danielle Fishel]

So what I'm really excited about is to be part of that change.

[Bowen Yang]

So listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Danielle Fishel]

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[Will Friedle]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Will Friedle]

Venmo Stash terms and exclusions are supply max $100 cash back per month.

[Danielle Fishel]

See Terms at Venmo Me Terms if.

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[Danielle Fishel]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Cindy Crawford]

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