TGI – Episode 713 “The Provider"

Summary

Pod Meets World – Episode 713 “The Provider”

Original Air Date: April 2, 2026
Hosts: Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, Ben Savage
Podcast Theme: Rewatch and discussion of “Boy Meets World” Season 7, Episode 13 (“The Provider”)

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Episode Overview

This episode revisits “The Provider,” originally aired in January 2000, during the final season of Boy Meets World. The trio reflects on the episode’s themes of insecurity, relationship dynamics, and workplace roles, alongside nostalgic banter about old commercials and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from both the show and their real lives. The cast offers honest, humorous, and sometimes critical perspectives on the episode’s writing choices, character arcs, and how the show handled the characters as it neared its end.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Moving into the 2000s & Reflecting on Y2K

Timestamp: 15:35–21:24

• The hosts note they’ve reached “the 2000s” in the show’s timeline, joking about surviving Y2K and what they personally did for New Year’s:
  • Ben: Held a huge “legendary” party in Sebastopol — “basically the entire town” showed up.

    “It started...we made flyers...and then basically the entire town of Sebastopol found out about it...it went until, like, five or six in the morning.” (16:23)

  • Rider: Claims no memory of what he did, likely stayed home due to anxiety.
  • Danielle: Spent it in Hawaii with NSYNC and Britney Spears, recounting the famed “belly button piercing” group experience.

2. Season Seven: ‘Senioritis’ and Creative Fatigue

Timestamp: 18:29–21:24

• Acknowledges a collective “senioritis” among cast and crew as everyone knew the show was ending. The vibe was “phoning it in.”
  • Danielle: “It sounds like everyone knew, we all knew that this was the last season and...everyone had just given up.” (18:29)
  • Rider: “This whole season was giant Senioritis.” (18:41)

3. The ‘First Fight’ Plot and Corey's Insecurity

Timestamp: 23:23–31:06, 34:45–43:05, 66:04–94:40

• Episode Premise: The core plot features Cory and Topanga’s supposed “first fight” as a married couple after she lands a job and outsells him in his “entrepreneurial” (telemarketing) venture.

  • All three hosts immediately point out how inaccurate the ‘first fight’ claim is:

    “They said that one time, and I was like, oh. But then they say it, like, three times in the episode.” – Ben (25:07)
    “Nope. No, it’s not. No, I know because I watched every episode.” – Rider (77:59)

• Critical Analysis:

  • The show frames Cory as threatened by Topanga’s competence, but the hosts find this regressive and at odds with their established characters.
  • The writing’s sexist implications are repeatedly called out.

    “But we’re gonna celebrate the fact that she’s a fashion person now...It’s completely sexist.” – Ben (43:36) “Topanga has been relegated to some fashion assistant, even though that’s never been an interest of hers at all...And then also just realizing, apparently, that because she is good at things, it has broken Corey’s spirit and she doesn’t want to do that.” – Danielle (52:31)

  • The “marriage lesson” is unclear; only Cory really experiences character growth, which is barely sustained.

• On the Resolution:

  • The “big fight” montage (with time lapses and guitar music) falls flat for the actors:

    “It just feels like a therapy session you don’t want to be a part of.” – Ben (88:46) “Do Cory and Topanga for 22 minutes in a fight…that would have been really cool.” – Rider (90:23)

• Alternate Ideas: Multiple hosts propose better episode structures and more character-true conflicts, such as:

  • Topanga being offered a law internship for her intellect (not fashion).
  • A fully stylized “two-character play” episode focusing on a real, extended marital argument.

4. The ‘Lucky Penny’ B-Plot (Eric & Jack)

Timestamp: 48:00–55:24, 61:49–66:04, 72:31–74:41, 79:22–84:13

• Eric finds a lucky penny, wears it as a necklace, and chaos ensues. The “lucky” thread culminates in him being struck by lightning (a rare special effect for the series) and a visual gag (smoke coming from his mouth in the tag).
  • Will Friedle on the B-Plot: “They just said, you have a lucky penny. Go.” (49:17)
• The hosts observe that the penny gag is funny but underused:

  “They don’t show him actually being lucky in any way, shape or form.” – Danielle (80:41)

5. Recurring Critiques on Season 7 Writing

Timestamp: 27:15–28:05, 90:23–91:56

• The season often felt like a “training ground” for new writers/directors at the expense of character consistency:

  “Season seven was just for...Let’s let people who didn’t get a chance to write, write. And let’s get people who didn’t get a chance to direct, direct. And we were just, kind of, the puppets of...‘let’s start a whole bunch of people’s careers.’” – Rider (27:38)

• Many moments highlight how the actors feel their characters are no longer behaving consistently with their seven-year development.

6. Memorable Quotes & Behind-the-Scenes Moments

• “When you marry an extraordinary person...You can’t all of a sudden be shocked that she’s then good at everything. That’s part of her character.” – Rider (30:24)
• “I didn’t think having it pierced and then taking it out counted...I got my tongue pierced.” – Danielle, about her Y2K rebellion (21:24)
• On broad acting in late-season episodes:

  “You know what I did not hear once this season as a note was, ‘maybe pull it back.’ Never got that note.” – Rider (49:35)

• On favorite commercials from the ‘90s and “jingles that live rent-free in your head” (e.g., “Bouncing Babies”, Toys R Us, Cars for Kids), with infectious nostalgia and riffing (04:15–07:49).

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Notable Segment Timestamps

| Time | Segment | Key Highlights | |--------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15:23 | [Main discussion begins] | Entering 2000s, reflecting on Y2K personal stories | | 23:23–31:06 | [First reactions to the episode] | Season “senioritis”, recurring theme of ‘first fight’ | | 34:45–43:05 | [Critical analysis of plot & character] | Cory/Topanga relationship, writing flaws, sexism in Topanga’s arc | | 48:00–55:24 | [Eric’s Lucky Penny plot begins] | B-plot overview and broad comedy discussion | | 66:04–94:40 | [Fight scenes and resolution] | Play-by-play of Cory/Topanga argument, hosts’ suggested improvements | | 79:22–84:13 | [Lucky Penny climax/SFX] | Eric gets struck by lightning, discussion of show’s rare special effects | | 90:23–91:56 | [Stylistic/structural what-ifs] | Alternate episode ideas (single-setting, stylized, more character-driven) |

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “The only person who had a lesson to learn was Cory. And he had his little freak out and moans and then the episode ends and they both say, we’ve learned something, but really there’s only one person who went on a journey at all.” – Ben (97:15)
• On Topanga’s arc: “Why would she ever have stopped being that way? Instead of, like, on a bus, randomly getting offered a job and then being like, I’ll take it?” – Danielle (41:12)
• “You know your show is ending when you say the words ‘Pookie Pook’ on network television.” – Group riffing on Cory and Topanga’s awkward pet names (68:45)
• “Topanga, I just apologized. Now it’s your turn.” – Cory (87:04) (followed by hosts mocking the artificial marriage “lesson”)

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Overall Tone

The hosts deliver their trademark blend of warmth, irreverence, and inside scoop. Nostalgia and affection for the show are balanced by genuine criticism of inconsistent late-season writing and tone-deaf moments, especially regarding Topanga. Their candidness—as both actors and adult viewers—gives depth to the conversation, while their comedic riffing keeps things light and engaging even during critique.

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Summary Takeaways

• Corey and Topanga’s “first” fight is unconvincing and out of step with their seven-season relationship.
• Eric’s “lucky penny” subplot offers broad slapstick, with memorable physical comedy but little narrative payoff.
• Season 7’s writing and character arcs are openly critiqued for being inconsistent, overly broad, and reflective of creative fatigue as the series neared its end.
• The hosts propose alternative, more character-driven approaches, wishing for bold format experiments.
• Despite flaws, the episode is remembered fondly for its ridiculous moments, inside jokes, and as a window into what it was like behind the scenes at the end of the Boy Meets World era.

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For Next Week

The hosts tease episode 714 (“I’m Gonna Be Like You, Dad”)—what would have been the series finale if the show hadn’t received its final pick-up.

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End of Summary

Transcript

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We just started with the I am stuck on Band Aid brand because Band Aid stuck on me and you said it's a waste of brain space. So what's the jingle that will forever live rent free in your head?

[Ben Savage]

Bouncing babies.

[Rider Strong]

What's bouncing babies?

[Ben Savage]

Bouncing babies. Bouncing babies.

[Rider Strong]

Like some doll.

[Ben Savage]

I don't know if it's bounced or what, but I just. And then it was.

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I assuming it bounced.

[Ben Savage]

And then it went from galoop at

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the end, like, I don't know that one at all.

[Ben Savage]

And then my buddy.

[Rider Strong]

You remember my buddy buddy me, we like to climb up a tree.

[Ben Savage]

Kid sister. Kid sister.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sister. Yep. I like kid sister. What about 1-800 cars for kids?

[Rider Strong]

Oh, God, that one.

[Danielle Fishel]

What about Keys? Keys, Keys.

[Rider Strong]

I was going to say

[Ben Savage]

screw that person. Whoever came up with that. But they're genius. They work.

[Rider Strong]

Because it's like. It's not 1-877-cars. I will never not know that number.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Ben Savage]

I don't know that one.

[Rider Strong]

A R s Cars for Kids.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, God. What about the commercial for Raging Waters, which is located where the 10, the

[Rider Strong]

210 and 57 meet in San Dimas? I know that forever. Oh, my God.

[Ben Savage]

How about.

[Rider Strong]

Oh, what was the other one is. Oh, the. I don't want to grow up. Cause baby, if I did, I could be a Toys R Us kid.

[Ben Savage]

Now.

[Sponsor Voice]

That was.

[Rider Strong]

Toys R Us is like the old school one. Oh, yeah. The Empire carpet one. That's another. Everyone's now chiming in.

[Danielle Fishel]

2300 Empire.

[Rider Strong]

Yep.

[Ben Savage]

I like the Toys R Us one. I will say I get genuinely emotional. Like the exact. It's like sweet and nice. Yeah, yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Rider Strong]

How about double A mco?

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, yeah, Double A mcl. Of course.

[Ben Savage]

What is like the famous Will do, you know? Wasn't there like a famous east coast, like, Got it. We never got it over here. But it was like, I'm totally going to screw this up because I can't remember what it was. It's like Some. Yeah, hold on. I got to look. I don't know what the reference is.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love. I just pictured when he said we never got it over here. I pictured like, a wave, you know, of, like, of something happening, and then it just, like it slowly breaks at the Mississippi. Yeah, Just like.

[Ben Savage]

That's what it is.

[Danielle Fishel]

The people on the other side of the Mississippi were like, keep that one.

[Rider Strong]

Keep it.

[Danielle Fishel]

We don't want it.

[Rider Strong]

We don't need it. We're fine. He's frozen. He looks like he's frozen, but he's not.

[Danielle Fishel]

He's not.

[Rider Strong]

I do have. I do have the bouncing baby, if you want. You have bouncing baby? Yeah, It's a real thing.

[Ben Savage]

All right, let's. Let's hear it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, I've never seen this.

[Rider Strong]

I haven't either.

[Danielle Fishel]

Look how little she is. Creepy.

[Rider Strong]

Are they preemies in their nursery?

[Danielle Fishel]

Bouncing babies can do it all. Walk, snuggle fuss, and crawl. These actually look really cute, though. I like these.

[Rider Strong]

Super creepy. Those things come alive at night and kill you. I love how you remembered it perfectly. I've never even seen that.

[Ben Savage]

Oh, my God.

[Danielle Fishel]

I've never seen that.

[Ben Savage]

Do you remember the Micro Machines guy who talk.

[Rider Strong]

Really?

[Ben Savage]

Micro Machines?

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. That guy was awesome. Oh, yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

I could have taken over his job for sure.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, we. You could have.

[Danielle Fishel]

Absolutely.

[Ben Savage]

Easily.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, so could.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, no, the.

[Ben Savage]

The.

[Rider Strong]

We had a guy. Also. It was Carvel ice cream, which is out here now, but it was just an east coast thing. What's. Is that ice cream, too?

[Danielle Fishel]

That's also ice cream, and. But I don't. Again, it's not really. They. You can get it at the grocery store, but it's like, thought of as being the best ice cream in other places. And we just never really had a blue bunny thing.

[Rider Strong]

The Carvel guy originally would do his own ads, and he always sounded like he was sick.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh.

[Rider Strong]

So he'd go like, you gotta try Cookie Puss and Cookie Opus.

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That's what I'm talking about.

[Ben Savage]

Yes.

[Rider Strong]

It's the best.

[Ben Savage]

That's him. That's Carvel Cookie Puss, right?

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. Try Fudgy the Whale. Fudgy the Whale is going to be the best thing.

[Ben Savage]

That's what it was like.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my God, I have chills. Anytime you try to find original.

[Rider Strong]

Original Carvel ads, they're the gray everywhere. And then for St. Patrick's Day, we have St. Patrick's Cookie Opus.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

I love that. It's the.

[Danielle Fishel]

The greatest.

[Ben Savage]

That's what I was thinking of. Cookie Puss.

[Rider Strong]

That's it.

[Ben Savage]

Ice Cream cake character created by carvel in the 1970s.

[Rider Strong]

There you go.

[Ben Savage]

That's what I knew. I was like, it's a cookie something, but.

[Rider Strong]

And sorry, I'm not even. We're not gonna go down the rabbit hole of the jokes of Cookie Puss.

[Ben Savage]

That's why I didn't want to say it, because I was like. Is something vaguely like, uncomfortable with the word itself? Yeah, but it's like, I don't want to say the wrong word.

[Rider Strong]

Exactly. It was so funny.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

Cookie Puss. Cookie O Puss. Fudgy the Whale. But he was always gonna say fudge. Try Fudgy the Whale. If you don't come to your party, the guy. I'm not a party.

[Ben Savage]

Every time you breathe.

[Rider Strong]

Seriously, it sounds like they released him from the hospital just to do the ad.

[Danielle Fishel]

Are you saying that Cookie Puss and Cookie Opus is two different things?

[Rider Strong]

It is. Cookie opus was for St. Patrick's Day. That's what. It's St. Patrick's Day. Everybody celebrated Cookie Opus. It was then mint chocolate chip ice cream cook. It was an ice cream cake. Yeah. They were the best. Let's see what happens when you Google Cookie Puss.

[Danielle Fishel]

Cookie Puss.

[Rider Strong]

Oh, I can't believe you were trying to find Cookie Puss. That's what you were looking for.

[Ben Savage]

That's what I knew. I was like. But I didn't want to say it. I was like, it's like some guy

[Danielle Fishel]

who talks really weird history is cooked.

[Rider Strong]

I'd like to reject all Cookiehl pusses, please.

[Ben Savage]

Are we getting sponsorship money from each one of these companies? I'm assuming we will, right?

[Rider Strong]

I mean, unfortunately, Galoob is no longer in business.

[Ben Savage]

It's not a. They're now owned by Amazon, the subsidiary of Google.

[Rider Strong]

No, they're owned by Big Doll. Everybody knows that.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's Little Doll.

[Rider Strong]

This one's for Fudgy the Whale. Fudgy the Whale is back.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's a Whale of a cake for

[Rider Strong]

Whale of a dad at your participating Carvel ice cream store.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yep.

[Rider Strong]

And this year, your Carvel Kneeler makes

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them loaded with fudge and nuts.

[Danielle Fishel]

And you can get Fudgy with an

[Rider Strong]

Ocean to serve 20 people. But if you want to send Fudgy the Whale to a Whale of a dad anywhere in the Carvel territory, you call the phone number that you see here. Thank you and have a happy day. Dad.

[Danielle Fishel]

Dad.

[Ben Savage]

I mean, he just sounds like he's hungover and that's.

[Rider Strong]

He was doing well there. It was towards the end where they were, like, wheeling him Out.

[Ben Savage]

Is he like the owner of the company or something?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Tom Carvel.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. Basically it's the bag.

[Danielle Fishel]

Send it to your dad.

[Ben Savage]

Gotta get some rest.

[Rider Strong]

Ice cream heart to mom, like, yeah, it was the great. Those are every other ad. When I grew up it was that. And then I was like, get back to GI Joe. Yeah, it was awesome.

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It's sort of becoming like a fun side hobby, right?

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That's redfin.com.

[Danielle Fishel]

Welcome to this episode of Pod Meets World. Today, we are recapping season seven, episode 13, the Provider. It originally aired January 7th, 2000.

[Ben Savage]

We are in the 2000s. We're out of the 90s. We survived Y2K.

[Danielle Fishel]

We did.

[Ben Savage]

We're no longer a 90s recap show, guys. We are an o recap show. Everything's different.

[Danielle Fishel]

Everything changes.

[Ben Savage]

Now I'm going to have a goatee.

[Rider Strong]

Oh, God. How many episodes did we have in the can by the time we finished? What do you mean? Meaning, like, when we. When we wrapped, did we still have five or six left to air? Like, how many had we.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, I think we wrapped in March, and I think. I think the finale episode aired in May. So it would have been something.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah, seven or eight.

[Danielle Fishel]

Seven or eight episodes, maybe. Yeah, depending on.

[Rider Strong]

I was curious about that. Gotcha.

[Danielle Fishel]

What did you guys do for Y2K? New Year's?

[Ben Savage]

We had the legendary party at Redwoodshire. Like, I think all of Sebastopol came. I still have people that I like. Like, we're like, oh, yeah, I was there that night. It started as, like, kind of just like, we made flyers, and it was like, oh, we're gonna all get dressed up in, like, really nice outfits, like, suits, and. And we rented tents and set them up, and we had a dj and I. You know, I think we were imagining, like, 50 to 100 people of friends. And then we even said, like, anyone can stay over. And, like, basically the entire town of Sebastopol found out about it. And, like, cars were just pulling up all throughout. It went until, like, five or six in the morning. Remember, my parents just, like, went to bed. They were there, and then they just went to bed. And then, yeah, like, a window got broken.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sounds like red weather material.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, I'm telling you, everything was okay.

[Ben Savage]

Like, I mean, it worked out. Like, and it was a great party. Like, it was super fun. But, yeah, I remember it getting, like, crazy out of hand at one point. Just Being like, wow, there are so many people here. Yeah. So there's. There's a lot of people out there who probably have memories of being at my property with that I don't. Haven't even met. Yeah, it was great.

[Danielle Fishel]

What did you do, Will?

[Rider Strong]

I was in my prepper shelter surrounded by MREs, rifles, and clean water, as everyone should have been. No, I honestly have no memory whatsoever of what I did on.

[Ben Savage]

Are you serious?

[Rider Strong]

I don't.

[Ben Savage]

Do you think you just stayed home and like, just didn't celebrate or.

[Rider Strong]

No, I mean, maybe again, this is like kind of peak anxiety or.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Rider Strong]

Right towards beginning of anxiety. So knowing me, I probably didn't do much of anything, but maybe I did something with Marsden. I honestly have no memory of it whatsoever. I really don't.

[Danielle Fishel]

Wow.

[Ben Savage]

What's so weird to me is that in my mind it was after Boy Meets World ended, but this was like in the middle of our season.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

But I must have just already known that we were ending because in my mind I was like, moving on. Like, I was ready to go. I was probably already. No, I guess I probably hadn't. I was applying to colleges in New York, so I already knew I was going there if I got in. So yeah, I was just like, so in a different mindset. And as you can tell from my performance this entire season, I was not there.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, and after talking to Manel, I actually feel better about it because even for them, it sounds like everyone knew, we all knew that this was the last season and they. Everyone had just kind of given up.

[Rider Strong]

So it was Giant Senioritis. This whole season was giant Senioritis. And I was going to make fun of you, Ryder, for neither Danielle and I being at this awesome party, but knowing you, I'm sure you invited all of us. No, I bet you. I bet you you did.

[Ben Savage]

Yes, I did.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, I bet you you did. I bet you probably did.

[Ben Savage]

Because, Danielle, you would have already been up to Redwood Shire. Both of you would.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

Not been there. No, I don't think you had been there because it was after. Yeah, I was in. I was living in New York when you came because my friend Alyssa was there when you finally came to Redwood Shire. So it would have been like 2001. It would have been later this year. 2001. So you had never been there. Danielle, you had been there for when we shot Grinders and been there for a meadow party and rope swinging that. That time. So I probably would have invited you. Or maybe not. I don't know.

[Rider Strong]

I just. Every time I hear Grinders. I just really wish you guys had done a video about making really good sound sandwiches. Like, that would have been the best.

[Ben Savage]

Hogies and grinders.

[Rider Strong]

Oh, yeah, I'd still watch that. I'd still watch that. Wait, you didn't answer. What did you do?

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, I was in Hawaii with NSYNC and Britney Spears.

[Ben Savage]

Oh, that's about right. You didn't want to come to the redwoods and, like, I mean, I do a keg stand.

[Danielle Fishel]

I would have loved.

[Rider Strong]

She did. It's just. With Britney Spears.

[Danielle Fishel]

Were you.

[Ben Savage]

You were dating Lance?

[Rider Strong]

No. You?

[Danielle Fishel]

No. Lance and I had broken up, but I was still really hoping that we were gonna get back together.

[Rider Strong]

I'd still hold out hope.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

Wait for. It was an actual concert or just hang out.

[Danielle Fishel]

They were performing. No, they were performing. Not. I don't think. Not on New Year's Eve, but they did have a concert there. And then I think it was, like, maybe the 29th or something. And then we all just stayed and. Yeah, it was really, really fun. That's the trip where Britney got her belly button pierced. We all. Everyone wanted to get their belly buttons p. And so we all went as a group. All the girls went as a group. All the guys went as a group and got tattoos, and all the girls went as a group and got belly button piercings. But I already had a belly button piercing, so I was like, well, this is kind of a bummer. What am I gonna do? And so I got my tongue pierced. My mom was furious. My plan all along was that I was just. I just wanted to know what it felt like. And then I took it out. And so. But my mom had only let me get my belly button pierced when I was either 15 or 16. I was maybe 15 and a half or something. And the whole thing was. She was like. Because I had already been talking about 15 wanting to get my tongue pierced. And she was like, absolutely not. I will let you get your belly button pierced if you promise me that you'll never get your tongue pierced. And I was like, deal. I didn't think having it pierced and then taking it out. Count it.

[Rider Strong]

Like, you took it out, like, immediately.

[Danielle Fishel]

You took it out later that day. It was the same day.

[Rider Strong]

Why would you go through the pain of that just to take it out?

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, I had heard it didn't hurt, so I was curious. I was like, oh, they say it doesn't hurt, and it doesn't. Feels like absolutely nothing. You don't feel a single thing. Shocking. I mean, like, serious. You bite your tongue it's horrifying. So bad. This is, like, through the middle of your tongue. And the best way I know how to describe it is so uncomfortable.

[Rider Strong]

Me too.

[Bowen Yang]

Me too.

[Danielle Fishel]

It feels like a hot knife going through.

[Ben Savage]

Oh.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just nothing. No pain. No pain. Like a real, like, hot. Just not nothing. Didn't feel anything. And. And anyway, then when I told my mom, I just. I got. I have one picture of me with a tongue ring. And when I told my mom I had done it, she was like, you went back on our date. Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

You betrayed me.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. And I didn't mean to betray her. I really, truly thought it didn't count. But she says no.

[Ben Savage]

Well, obviously, because you even. You told her. You could have just told her. I could have just not told her.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right? Because I didn't. I didn't think anything of it. I was just like.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

And then, of course, I took it out. I thought she just, like, didn't. To me, what I thought she cared about is that I walked around in the universe with a pierced tongue. You know, like, I don't want you existing in this world.

[Ben Savage]

It's a weird thing. Like, do you think if you had come back and had a tongue piercing, it would have affected Boy Meets World? Like, could you?

[Rider Strong]

Well, because you couldn't have said, Sean, come on.

[Ben Savage]

Come on. I don't think it affects your speech.

[Rider Strong]

I mean, it does somewhat.

[Danielle Fishel]

It does at first.

[Rider Strong]

My ex girlfriend had one.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because your tongue is swollen later. And so. It does. It does.

[Ben Savage]

And kissing scenes with Corey would have been.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, I wouldn't have been able. I wouldn't have been able to keep it. Michael would have lost his mind. Lost his mind.

[Rider Strong]

Whereas piercings and tattoos and stuff like that, you can kind of see. If they took original Topanga to her more extreme, that could easily have been a way that Topanga would have gone. Yeah, it's kind of like almost emo,

[Ben Savage]

but, like, earthy emo.

[Rider Strong]

You can totally see that.

[Danielle Fishel]

For Topanga, for sure. Okay, the synopsis. Cory and Topanga have their first fight.

[Bowen Yang]

Nope.

[Rider Strong]

Seen a bunch of them.

[Danielle Fishel]

And Eric finds a lucky Penny.

[Rider Strong]

This was Penny. I had no idea. I had no idea. Really? I had no idea. None whatsoever. I was like, oh, my God, this is Penny. Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

Oh, wait, so you remembered something about Penny?

[Rider Strong]

Oh, I remember the entire storyline once I saw that this was Penny, but I had not remembered that this episode

[Danielle Fishel]

was the provider was Penny. You called it Penny, huh?

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. Well, that's what this episode was in my head was, this is the Eric Penny episode.

[Danielle Fishel]

Eric Penny. Yeah. Yeah. It was directed by Lynn M. McCracken, our beloved.

[Ben Savage]

I didn't notice that. That's awesome.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes. Written by Jeff Mannell. So two of our faves. Before I jump into our guest stars, do we want to share our overall thoughts?

[Rider Strong]

Well, I have.

[Ben Savage]

I have an audio clip to share because Indy Strong watched an episode of Boy Meets World for the first time in years, and we decided to do a Too much shirt. So, Tara, can we pull up the too much shirts? Wanna tell me what you thought?

[Danielle Fishel]

I thought that it was weird that Topanga and the Corey guy. Right. Yeah, that's his name.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

That they were married at 18.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

What is this?

[Ben Savage]

Yeah. You skipped a lot.

[Danielle Fishel]

But what happened?

[Ben Savage]

They got married.

[Danielle Fishel]

Was there a wedding?

[Rider Strong]

Yep.

[Ben Savage]

So I guess you haven't seen anything since, like.

[Rider Strong]

I don't know.

[Ben Savage]

I feel like you dropped in on a season five episode at one point and said, nothing funny is happening.

[Danielle Fishel]

This episode was weird.

[Ben Savage]

Why?

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't know. I like the Lucky Penny idea. Yep, that was funny.

[Ben Savage]

Will was pretty funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

And the lightning. But then it was weird how they said it was their first fight because they have a fight every episode.

[Ben Savage]

That is. I thought the same thing. They. They said that one time, and I was like, oh. But then they say it, like, three times in the episode.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

And you know that they fight every episode even though you haven't watched anything since season two.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. It just doesn't make sense. It always ends. It's like a lesson, right?

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

But then they make it so weird because now that there's seven seasons, it gets so complicated. And the lessons are like, don't go looking in your dirty couch. And the whole season is, like, about that one lesson.

[Ben Savage]

Did you ever think they would not get back together?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. I thought she was not gonna be there in the house. Oh. But he was gonna be like, oh, no. And there was gonna be another wedding where they were actually appropriately aged.

[Ben Savage]

So I think what he's getting at, you know, it's just so convoluted, the lesson. Like, I don't know what I. I honestly, like, even thinking about it now, I still can't remember. What did Cory and Topanga learn that

[Rider Strong]

they have to learn how to fight? I guess if there's a healthy way to fight. Okay.

[Ben Savage]

No, what is that healthy way? Because, like, I. I don't know. No, I didn't.

[Rider Strong]

I didn't.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's that Topanga should stop being so good at things because it makes Corey feel bad about himself, which is where

[Ben Savage]

we started, like that. I don't like nothing. I don't know. Yeah, it's so. Yeah. Anyway, I thought the fact that he was just as confused as I was and kind of bored by the ending, but like the lucky penny storyline, which I agree. That was funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

I would have liked for something to happen in the lucky penny storyline. You know, like, he has this lucky penny. And then I really did try to work out how the football player storyline

[Ben Savage]

was gonna play in.

[Danielle Fishel]

Was gonna play into the lucky Penny. Other than the idea that I guess I don't. We can talk about it when we get to it. But I like the lucky penny storyline too. I just wish there was more to it. That there was actually, like, something that really happens, not just that something bad happens when he doesn't have the pen. What did you think, Will?

[Rider Strong]

I don't know.

[Ben Savage]

Okay.

[Rider Strong]

Again, a lot of it's just everybody's every. They're phoning in the storylines. It's clearly not Cory. People have watched seven years of Cory and Topanga fight. Why write a line? This is our first fight. You can just repeat it. This is our first fight as a married couple.

[Ben Savage]

Or this is our first public fight. You know, when they have the fight in the.

[Rider Strong]

But they do that all the time. They fight all the time. It's like they don't watch their own show.

[Ben Savage]

They're just.

[Rider Strong]

One of you said this. I don't know who it was. I was listening to an older episode for a whole nother reason. But one of you said, and I can't remember who. It seems like season seven was just for. Let's let people who didn't get a chance to write. Right. And let's get a people who didn't get a chance to direct. Direct. And we were just kind of the puppets of, hey, let's start a whole bunch of people's careers. It's going to be rough going, but you guys make the best of whatever we give you. Right? That's kind of what it seems like to me.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yep.

[Rider Strong]

And so when I watched this episode, I had fun watching this episode as an actor and as Will Friedle, because I see myself trying to break you, Ryder. I actually broke Ben at the end.

[Ben Savage]

You break Ben also.

[Rider Strong]

So as for me as a person watching, I'm like, wow, this is a lot of fun. As a television fan, I don't know what the. Is happening.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ben Savage]

To me, the problem is the resolution. Cause actually, I think the first half, I'm willing to accept that, like, oh, we live in a world where this is the first fight. You Know. And just taking out the rest of that sentence, which, as a married couple. Fine. But, man, just that the whole, like. Like, second half of this episode is that montage of conversations in the. In the. The. The apartment, and I just don't know what they're talking about. I'm literally like. We're reiterating the same points. We're swapping points of views for moments. It just wasn't funny. It wasn't. I was just like, I don't know what this. This is. And then it was like, oh, and now we're gonna work together to sell a magazine. Okay. Yeah, but I. Danielle, do you.

[Rider Strong]

I. I already know the answer to this before I ask, but do you remember was the original scene at the end one long fight that you guys shot? Or did you shoot little vignettes like that to then be edited together like it's a montage of a fight?

[Danielle Fishel]

I think it was little vignettes. I think we shot it as, like, individual little scenes.

[Rider Strong]

Okay.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. I don't. I. I mean, I agree with everything you're saying. Don't.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, I know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Don't really know what the point was. I couldn't stand the fact that Topanga just all of a sudden breaks down in tears and says, I've broken your spirit.

[Rider Strong]

It.

[Ben Savage]

Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

Even though all he says is, because you're so good at things, you make me feel bad. Well, no, I. I don't do that. You feel bad, right? Because you're not secure. You're insecure.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

That has nothing to do with that.

[Rider Strong]

That's all it is, is you're insecure and you're. Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

And it seems to me the resolution is that Corey's just got to get over himself, you know? Like, it's pretty basic. Like. And. Which is great, because it's that there is this. This is a storyline that's true to Corey. Right. Like, it's the average Cory. It's like. And he's spinning his wheels, and he has to learn to just deal with that. And the fact that. No, Topanga's gotta, like, somehow work with the fact that she's married to this average guy and that he's gonna moan about that and that that's, like, part of being married.

[Rider Strong]

It's like.

[Ben Savage]

No, just stop moaning, dude.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

Like, when you marry an extraordinary person, this is somebody you've known for your entire life, and they've clearly made. Made Topanga good at everything she does. You can't all of a sudden be shocked that she's then good at everything. She does. I mean, that's part of her character. That being said, the start of the fight. I blame Topanga because at the very

[Danielle Fishel]

beginning, because she wouldn't let. Leave him alone.

[Rider Strong]

Corey says, if you listen to your partner and if your partner's like, look, I'm in a mood, and I just don't want to do this right now, then walk away.

[Danielle Fishel]

100 thing. I don't want to say something I regret. And she's like, now, now, now, now. I agree with you. You have to say, okay. I just want you to know I'm here. Whenever you are ready to talk about it, please come to me. Love you. Take whatever time you need.

[Rider Strong]

Yep.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

Other than that, it's 100% on him.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Jumping into our guest stars, we have Brandon Malale. I think that's how you say his name. Either that or it's Mole. As Rocco.

[Rider Strong]

Oh, God. I thought you were gonna go for the joke and say, or it's Brandon.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, I'm not as quick as you. Sorry. As Rocco. Boy Meets World was an early stop for Brain dawn, but over the past 25 years, he's been in a ton of stuff.

[Rider Strong]

Ton.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Rider Strong]

Recognize him instantly.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes. He's been in movies like Dodgeball, the Longest Yard or Mr. Deeds or TV shows like iCarly, Agents of Shield or Reno 91 1. We have Ivory Hunter as football player number one and John Knight as football player number two. He only acted for a few years in the late 90s, early 2000s, but you still may have seen him on a few popular shows. Sabrina, Buffy, the Steve Harvey show, and Hangtime. His last credit was in 2001. The other night, I warmed True nature meets Japanese teriyaki chicken in a skillet for 2 minutes.

[Rider Strong]

Sweet, savory glaze, super tender umami every bite. It was even better than 90s takeout.

[Ben Savage]

30 years supplying the finest restaurants, chances are you've eaten their chicken without even knowing it. Authentic Japanese tradition.

[Danielle Fishel]

Head to truenaturemeats.com world and get 20% off, plus free New York strip, Brazilian garlic beef, and Mediterranean chicken.

[Ben Savage]

The offer ends soon, so hurry up.

[Rider Strong]

TrueNatureMeats.com World Adulting made. Easy.

[Danielle Fishel]

Head to TrueNatureMeats.com World. Try this with us. Let's talk about modern home shopping.

[Rider Strong]

It's sort of becoming like a fun side hobby, right?

[Ben Savage]

Scrolling listings at night, dreaming about kitchens you haven't seen or backyards you haven't stepped foot in. All from the comfort of, well, literally anywhere.

[Danielle Fishel]

Redfin knows a lot of people like you. Want to own but are stuck in this browsing mode loop.

[Rider Strong]

That's where Redfin flips the script with

[Ben Savage]

listings that update within minutes and tours you can book right from the Redfin app, you can see your dream home the moment it appears.

[Danielle Fishel]

Now, liking a listing is easy, but actually landing it? That's where Redfin comes in.

[Rider Strong]

Redfin has over 2200 agents with local

[Ben Savage]

expertise and Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents.

[Danielle Fishel]

That means they help you win, not just window shop.

[Rider Strong]

Redfin is built to help you go from just looking to wait. This could actually be home.

[Ben Savage]

So become the newest neighbor on the block.

[Danielle Fishel]

Visit redfin.com to start finding and start owning.

[Rider Strong]

That's redfin.com support for the show comes

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[Danielle Fishel]

So, jumping into our recap, we start in the student union. Corey waltzes up to Sean with a huge grin on his face. You'll never guess. Sean immediately blurts out, topanga's pregnant. Corey is shocked. She is. Why'd she tell you and not me? Are you the father of my child? Ryder's face.

[Rider Strong]

Well, it's all. We're all full on what here? So I came. Came up or figured out something. Ryder, Sean hasn't changed all that much. The we're all doing caricatures around what you used to do with Sean, which makes you seem like you're really mellow and phoning it in, when really it's all like Ben doing, are you the father of my child? And I'm doing this huge stuff. Go back and watch Sean from season three. You're essentially doing the same thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. You're just.

[Rider Strong]

But it doesn't look like that because we're all ramping everything to 11.

[Danielle Fishel]

You're right. You're the only grounded human being.

[Rider Strong]

Exactly. So it's when you've got Ben do what you're saying. It's crazy.

[Ben Savage]

I actually did feel good about the scene with me and Ben later on the couch. It was great because you're playing it real, listening to it and, like, talking to him. And I was like, oh, okay. I was. Yeah, that's true. That's fine. But this. I feel it's whenever. It's. Whenever Sean is doing, like, a bit with Corey that I'm a little like, like all. I don't know. I just. I hate these. I get so uncomfortable. And I realize it's because I felt like I was being pressured to do zingers, like when I do. And I just didn't have the energy for it. You could see it in my face. I'm like half ironically, like, oh, Corey, da, da, da, da.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

But then I just sort of have this sense of like, do we really have to do this? You know?

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, but like Will said, a large extent of that is that you're playing opposite a very broad version of someone who had been your best friend this whole time. So, like a new. And so you're like, oh, I guess I have to interact differently with you.

[Ben Savage]

Exactly. It's a weird energy, though. It doesn't. Yeah. It's like I should have just matched his energy, right? Like, I don't know. Or maybe Sean should have been written to match the energy in a little better way. Or, you know, like, had my own character. Instead, I'm just the sounding board.

[Danielle Fishel]

Or even if there was an acknowledgment that you were. That you guys were about to do a bit, you're like, oh, I love this game.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, what? You know something. But instead, you are. You are a grounded character playing opposite Michael Jacobs.

[Ben Savage]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

And. And you're like, okay, so that's a really deep point.

[Rider Strong]

We're all kind of going, let's see how far we can push it until the network literally comes and just takes the furniture.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah, we all.

[Rider Strong]

Exactly. That's what it seems like.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sean reminds him. Hey, idiot, you had news. Corey takes a seat. I got a job. Sean congratulates him. But Corey dares him ask me what my hours are. Go ahead. Sean obliges. And Corey happily answers, it's up to me. Now ask me who I work for. Shawn continues to play along. You know what I wonder? Who do you work for? For? Corey happily answers. Me. I work for me. My boss is Mr. Me. It's all me. Isn't that great? Sean admits he wouldn't like it, but it's great for Corey. Now, was that line supposed to be that you wouldn't like it if Corey was your boss or you wouldn't like being your own boss?

[Ben Savage]

I. Yeah, I don't know.

[Rider Strong]

I think it was Corey, I think.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, that's what I thought, too. You wouldn't like it if Corey was your boss. Sean would love to be his own boss. Boss Sean only wants jobs where he gets creative freedom and. And, you know. So, anyway, okay, as a poet.

[Rider Strong]

Photographer.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, exactly.

[Ben Savage]

But also business person, remember?

[Rider Strong]

Well, business photographer in the Mafia.

[Ben Savage]

Everybody in the Mafia.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey agrees. And I can make between 400 and $5,000 a month. Sean knows this isn't good. Oh, no. But Corey continues, you see, I'm the lord of my castle. And as the lord, I think it's up to me to provide. And it's up to Topanga to be my grateful French chambermaid, Fifi Labanza. Yep. So when he presented this idea, I thought, oh, I like this idea that we're going to have an episode where Corey has to come to terms with being uncomfortable not being the brain.

[Ben Savage]

Wouldn't that be great? Wouldn't that Be great.

[Rider Strong]

That would have been a good story.

[Ben Savage]

But that would be the lesson. It's like, Corey, I'm the one who's gonna make the money, and I can do this. And, you know, I'm not gonna be waiting at home. And instead it's like, no, I'm also gonna have to be waiting at home and helping you with your job and be the breadwinner.

[Danielle Fishel]

Wouldn't it be great for Topanga and her character development to say, just because I didn't go to Yale doesn't mean I'm still not gonna be a successful lawyer? I've got all. And I'm working hard toward it, and I don't need Yale. I. I can be successful anywhere. If that was who Topanga was, because why would she ever have stopped being that way? Instead of being, like, on a bus, randomly getting offered a job and then being like, I'll take it. Why isn't she. Why? Well, who is this character that isn't, like, anyway? So I thought at first, oh, great. And then, yeah.

[Rider Strong]

And then not.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, that's not what happens.

[Rider Strong]

And then not.

[Danielle Fishel]

So Sean asks, you haven't actually said any of this to Topanga, have you? Corey admits he hasn't. This is just crap floating around in my head. But that's the beauty of marriage. That's the golden nugget. Nobody has to know nothing. Just then, Topanga arrives with a pep in her step. I have news. Corey jumps in, too. I have news. What is this outfit I'm wearing?

[Rider Strong]

Oh, the giant coat they put you in. They put you in a giant coat.

[Danielle Fishel]

It has a hood that's fake leather and also is kind of the fake. Is it vegan leather that Maitland is wearing later? We have the ugliest jackets on in this episode. It's.

[Ben Savage]

And you're wearing, like, a rock and roll shirt kind of.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's not rock and roll. It's very yoga.

[Rider Strong]

It's a little.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's a little hippie Topanga. It's a little, like, yoga thing in the middle. And I have my. Which, of course, they touched it up with, like, a curling iron. But it's mostly my natural way waves. Like, that's my naturally kind of curly hair. I saw this jacket, and I was like, what is this?

[Ben Savage]

Can't act in a jacket.

[Danielle Fishel]

Can't act in a jacket.

[Rider Strong]

It's also four sizes too big.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's disgusting. Just would like to say that it's absolutely disgusting.

[Rider Strong]

So you didn't buy that one when the show ended, I take it?

[Danielle Fishel]

Did not. Did not. So she asks me first. He answers like always, and she begins to tell her story. She took the train downtown to look at some shoes. Shoes not to buy, just to look at. And she was sitting next to a woman who was looking at fashion photos.

[Ben Savage]

So Topanga.

[Danielle Fishel]

And Topanga commented, oh, I love that outfit. And the woman agreed. All I could think of was, Devil Wears Prada.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

No one would offer Topanga a job in this outfit for fashion. No one would look at Topanga and go, you got an eye. No. They would be like, ma', am, this is an Arby's.

[Ben Savage]

But also, of all of the things to celebrate about Topanga, that she has fashion sense and that she's gonna become a fashion person. No, the point is, she's always been out of step with culture and, like, interestingly progressive and her own marching to her own drummer. There's like a million. She could be. You know, she could have solved a problem that's.

[Rider Strong]

Oh, I already got it. I thought about it. There's an argument that happens on the train that she mediates and argues down. The one guy, a lawyer's on the train goes, oh, my God, that's amazing. I want you as an intern.

[Ben Savage]

Exactly.

[Rider Strong]

Super simple.

[Ben Savage]

But we're gonna celebrate the fact that she's a fashion person now. It's like. It's like. It's. It's so random. And. And.

[Rider Strong]

And she's so happy to do it. She's like, I'm so happy to be there.

[Ben Savage]

It's. It's. Frankly, it's. It's completely sexist.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like, sexist.

[Ben Savage]

This episode is so sexist. Yes. It's just like, what can we celebrate about this female character that can threaten him without actually threatening him? And it's like. Because if she were actually doing something, like, really sophisticated and hard, it would. He would have no argument. Right. But instead, he can demean it because her job is superficial and it's about looks.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right? Right.

[Ben Savage]

So her success is about that. Right. It's.

[Danielle Fishel]

It isn't. I really do think, even if we. Even if we say taking out the sexism aspect of it, the idea that if Topanga were doing something like interning at a law firm because. And she got the job because of her brain. She got the rika and her skills. Corey taking a job as a magazine salesperson from home would make him. Would. To the audience.

[Ben Savage]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Make it seem like, what is this woman doing with this guy?

[Rider Strong]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

And they. At all costs, they could. They can't make Corey look, like, protect the boy.

[Ben Savage]

Right.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topanga commented, oh, I love that outfit. And the woman agreed. The woman turned out to be the editor for a fashion magazine and they hid it on off so well that she offered her a job. Topanga is now her assistant. Corey stares in disbelief. Without any emotion, he musters out, I'm really very proud of you. Topanga is still smiling. When she shifts to his news, he says, I got a job too. Topanga jumps up with excitement. That's great. We're a two income family. Tell me everything. What's the job? So he begins his story. He's walking down the street when a flyer with dollar signs on it catches his eye. So he called the number. Topanga applauds his initiative and Corey announces, now I'm an entrepreneur. But she's still confused. What exactly are you doing, sweetie? He boasts, selling magazine subscriptions over the phone. A deflated Topanga lets out a half hearted oh. Shawn suggests that she try again. So she tries a more excited, clearly fake.

[Rider Strong]

Oh, this is a funny. This was a good runner. I liked it. Unmotivated, but a good runner.

[Danielle Fishel]

Runner. Yes. Corey brags, I can wear what I want, go to the bathroom when I want, I can eat lunch when I want, and I can make as much as I choose between 400 and 5,000amonth. I choose 5,000. Thank you. Topanga asks, so where are you working? Where are your offices? Corey brags, in our living room. Topanga lets out another unenthusiastic O and Sean nudges her to try again. She tries, but can only muster up another disappointed oh, and Sean notes, not as good. This. This made me laugh. Because now everybody works from home.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

And at the time, it, it doesn't at all have yeah. To say like, oh, no, I get to work from home. It's the polar opposite response. Oh, that's amazing. Back then you were working from home. It really said something about Justin. So true.

[Ben Savage]

So true.

[Rider Strong]

I also love how he was raised by Alan, who was in the military first because he wanted to get a better job, lease on life, then ran the grocery store, then opened his own business, but has no work ethic of his own.

[Danielle Fishel]

None.

[Rider Strong]

Like you don't realize to just go and get a job. Go get a job at Arby's.

[Danielle Fishel]

Go get it.

[Rider Strong]

Get. Get a job at McDonald's.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't think so.

[Ben Savage]

Cory's never had a job. We never did an episode about Corey getting a job.

[Danielle Fishel]

Journalism, you know, him having like school. You know, those were school projects.

[Ben Savage]

Him running around the camera, nothing.

[Rider Strong]

And then Eric got A job. Eric's at the local place and also worked for his parents.

[Ben Savage]

Yes, Eric worked at the store where

[Rider Strong]

Cory's never had a job.

[Ben Savage]

He's never had a job.

[Rider Strong]

As far as we know, Cory's never had a job.

[Ben Savage]

He's been babied his entire life.

[Danielle Fishel]

His entire life. And then he went from his parents house to living with Topanga and now allowing her to take care of him.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, pretty much.

[Ben Savage]

Wow.

[Rider Strong]

Well, he still thinks salami just magically appears in the refrigerator.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, of course he got married. We go to a commercial break and we return to the student union. While cleaning, Eric sniffs a customer who we only see from behind and is a redhead. So I assumed it was Maitland.

[Rider Strong]

No, no, the. No, I. What I do is I looked. So if I went back and watch it. I walk past her, I see something on her shoulder and I spit clean it.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Rider Strong]

On her shoulder.

[Danielle Fishel]

We only. We don't see her face until the very end when she.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, when she turns around.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, but it's a redheaded woman that you do it. Your spit cleaning. And so I'm like, oh, it's Rachel.

[Rider Strong]

No.

[Danielle Fishel]

And then it's not Rachel.

[Ben Savage]

Did you discover this in rehearsal? I'm sure.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

And.

[Rider Strong]

And I'm sure I went up to her and said, excuse me, can I. Can I spit something off of your shoulder kind of thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, there's no way they were like. Eric is spit cleaning background actors, right? He sniffs a customer. Okay, so you. You wipe her down and then notice something on the floor. He circles it for a second, then picks it up. Hey, look, a penny. Jack examines the coin. Was it heads up? Eric needs clarification. Is that the side with the head on. On it? Jack nods and Eric reveals it was. Heads up. Jack lets him know, you, my friend, are the proud owner of a lucky penny. Eric begins to freak out. Really? He's never had one before. What are the rules? Jack laughs. It's only a superstition. But Eric insists, no, I felt something the second I touched this penny. Jack grabs him and wonders, why can you never just react like a normal person? An unaffected Eric holds the penny in the air and screams. Screams, I am lucky. Rachel walks up and wonders what's going on. And Eric graciously asks if she'd like to see his lucky penny. He offers it to her, but then instantly pulls it back and screams, no. My lucky penny.

[Rider Strong]

Just big. Just be big. Say him loud. Say him fast.

[Bowen Yang]

Be big.

[Danielle Fishel]

I do. I do feel like I watched this episode for you. And thought they. They just said, you have a lucky penny. Go.

[Rider Strong]

Yep, pretty much go.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's it. You found a lucky penny. B. Go do something, say things, whatever you want. And we will not in any way create story for you. It's just whatever you want to do with this knowledge that you have a lucky penny around your neck, we will accept.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. You know what I did not hear once this season as a note was maybe pull it back. Maybe pull it back again. Never got that note. Never got that note. I got bigger shirts. Let's get him in a bigger shirt if possible. Let's. Can we. Can we pull the camera back to get them all on camera? I got that. But never.

[Ben Savage]

Hey, Will, maybe tone it down. But you know what's great, man, is that, well, having seen the pilot and I don't think Danielle, you didn't do the recap with us of the show that Will did after that was the random years. Is that what it was called?

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

You were so subtle in that show. Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

So like it was clearly within this context that you were going crazy.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. And you adjusted totally different.

[Ben Savage]

You know, when you got into a different thing, a different setting, you adjusted like perfectly. So it's a tribute. It's a credit to you. It's not like you were.

[Rider Strong]

I appreciate it.

[Ben Savage]

You were going off the rails because that was the car.

[Rider Strong]

That was the only place when you're mid car crash, you just. You let go. Let go. Let. God. That's. See what happens as the car rolls over.

[Danielle Fishel]

Jesus, take the wheel.

[Rider Strong]

Exactly.

[Danielle Fishel]

She sarcastically responds. Wow, this must be your lucky day, Eric. Eric corrects her. No, no, no, no, no. Not my lucky day. My lucky life. She admits it is a nice penny. And this immediately sets him off. Off. He squints his eyes with intensity. I see what you're trying to do. You're trying to seduce me for my penny. Rachel scoffs. You caught me. I'm hot for your penny. Eric scolds her evil temptress. Rachel plays along. Well, that's me. If you had a nickel, I'd probably marry you. She caresses his face and sexually pleads with him. That's how badly I want you. This is her storyline for the week.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. Which was better than Trina's, who literally just sits there with her mouth open like, wow, I can't believe conversation is happening. That's it.

[Ben Savage]

And Rusty and Betsy, who are. And Bill. Rusty and Bill all have finals this week.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know. A startled Eric puts his hand in Jack's direction and begs. Dude, give me a nickel, which is

[Ben Savage]

funny, but it's also just. I just, like, still trying to get Rachel. We're still on this. I'm like, this is really, like the.

[Rider Strong]

Still on this thing. Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's it, though. That's. That's her entire storyline. Was that conversation again, talking about the sexism that in this episode, the women all were put in positions that are like, okay. Eric assumes it's because he's got a penny, and she plays into it. Oh, and if you had five cents, I'd I want you. That's her role. Angela's role is literally just, hey, what's going on with your lucky penny? And. And. And looking off in weird directions. And Topanga has been relegated to some fashion assistant, even though that's never been an interest of hers at all. And. And then also just realizing, apparently, that because she is good at things, it has broken Corey's spirit and she doesn't want to do that. That.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, they're playing a lot of tennis this week.

[Danielle Fishel]

Last couple.

[Rider Strong]

Last couple weeks.

[Ben Savage]

Been a lot of tennis. A lot of tennis.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, a lot of tennis going on. The other night, I warmed true nature meets Japanese teriyaki chicken in a skillet for 2 minutes.

[Rider Strong]

Sweet, savory glaze, super tender umami every bite. It was even better than 90s takeout.

[Ben Savage]

30 years supplying the finest restaurants, chances are you've eaten their chicken without even knowing it. Authentic Japanese tradition.

[Danielle Fishel]

Head to truenaturemeats.com world and get 20% off, plus free New York strip Brazilian garlic beef and Mediterranean chicken.

[Ben Savage]

The offer ends soon, so hurry up.

[Rider Strong]

TrueNatureMeats.com World Adulting made easy.

[Danielle Fishel]

Head to TrueNatureMeats.com World Try this with us. Let's talk about modern home shopping.

[Rider Strong]

It's sort of becoming like a fun side hobby, right?

[Ben Savage]

Scrolling listings at night, dreaming about kitchens you haven't seen or backyards you haven't stepped foot in. All from the comfort of, well, literally anywhere.

[Danielle Fishel]

Redfin knows a lot of people like you want to own but are stuck in this browsing mode loop.

[Rider Strong]

That's where Redfin flips the script.

[Ben Savage]

With listings that update within minutes and tours you can book right from the Redfin app, you can see your dream home the moment it appears.

[Danielle Fishel]

Now, liking a listing is easy, but actually landing it, that's where Redfin comes in.

[Rider Strong]

Redfin has over 2200 agents with local

[Ben Savage]

expertise, and Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents.

[Danielle Fishel]

That means they help you win, not just window shop.

[Rider Strong]

Redfin is built to help you go from just looking to wait. This could actually be home.

[Ben Savage]

So become the newest neighbor on the block.

[Danielle Fishel]

Visit redfin.com to start finding and start owning.

[Rider Strong]

That's redfin.com support for the show comes

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Corey is slouched on the couch, wearing a white headset and robotically talking to a person on the other end of the line. Is this Mr. Leon Shanazi? Can you read Good for you, because I'm gonna read you our list of magazines. He explains there are 700 magazines, so don't hang up before he finishes the list because he doesn't like it and it's mean to him. And so he starts. Ready? Here we go. Aardvark. He flips the page for the next title, but before he can spit it out, the customer hangs up. He furiously calls back.

[Rider Strong]

It's one title a page.

[Ben Savage]

Page.

[Rider Strong]

I. I just wrote Aardvark on one page, and then you got to go to the next one.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, no, that was just bad. Whatever. The version of a phone. Bad acting.

[Rider Strong]

It was bad acting.

[Danielle Fishel]

He furiously calls back, and when he answers, Corey reminds him. I told you not to do that.

[Rider Strong]

This was. This was funny to me.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's just.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, it's not Corey at all, but it's so Ben.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know that. I do love the idea of him being, like, cable guy.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Where he's, like, a psycho.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. And is that a real thing that he has? Is that, like, a consumer phone thing?

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm assuming that's how it used to be, this dial pad

[Rider Strong]

thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

But the dial pad thing was crazy. Yeah. I told you not to do that, Shenazi. Now we're gonna have to start all over again. Here we go. Aardvark.

[Ben Savage]

And I just gotta say, the names in Boy Meets World are so good. Like, Michael has such an ear. The witch names are funny, you know, all the way back to Feeny and Topang. Topanga Hunter. Everybody's name just reflects, like, a quality of. That just is perfect.

[Danielle Fishel]

And, like, do you remember the amount of attention Michael gave to names when we did Girl Meets World?

[Ben Savage]

Yeah, yeah, I agree, so. Because I think it's brilliant. I think it's truly, like, you have an ear or you don't. And he has the ear for names, and he's so good. It's like. It's just. It's just an understanding of language, you know? And, like, that quality and, like, this whole bit doesn't work unless you have the name Shanada.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, there's something about Reynolds. It doesn't work.

[Ben Savage]

Oh, my God. There's nothing funny.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ben Savage]

It's not funny. It's. It's musical language. It's. It's perfect. It's just brilliant.

[Danielle Fishel]

You're right. And again, the man hangs up. So Corey calls him back one more time, but now the customer is smart enough not to answer. He leaves Mr. Shanazi a voicemail about how stupid his name is. Then Topanga enters, wearing a Cute pink sweater. Finely. I have something cute little going on. She's looking extra chipper. She says Corey will never guess what happened to her at work today. Corey rolls his eyes and informs Shanazi's voicemail. I can't talk right now. My wife just got home. I'll call you later. Topanga is still gushing. She can't wait to tell him the great news. But he interrupts her. This is going to be the kind of job where I take aspirin a lot. How you doing? He walks off, and Topanga decides to try out the headset. Headset. She dials a number and cheerfully introduces herself to Donna Santangelo. Topanga's transparent, very positive. I'm one of those annoying magazine people who call it the worst time.

[Ben Savage]

Why does Topanga do this? I don't understand.

[Danielle Fishel]

No idea.

[Ben Savage]

I know why we have to have this happen, right? Like, right. She's got to be better at his job, too. But why does she decide it's the most unmotivated, weird, like, little bit. I was like, oh, okay.

[Danielle Fishel]

You know what would have been better is if he, when he put the headset down, accidentally dialed someone or called someone. And so she. She hears something and picks something.

[Ben Savage]

Oh. And just randomly has to do it.

[Rider Strong]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry. Yes. I'm. We're selling magazines, you know, and then stuff.

[Ben Savage]

My job is hard. And she said, oh, let me try, or, you know, whatever. Which also would have played into the conflict more, because then it's like, yeah. She oversteps her bounds by, like, doing something when he says, no, no, no, don't.

[Rider Strong]

You know.

[Ben Savage]

But instead, it's like she just randomly decides to have fun doing a job that's not hers. I don't know.

[Danielle Fishel]

She suddenly knows how to use it, Picks up the headset and so Topanga. So Topanga. Corey has now reentered the room and is struggling to open an aspirin bottle. He scoffs at Topanga. Yeah, like you're gonna sell a magazine. I couldn't sell one magazine, and I'm in the business. But right on cue, Donna does buy a magazine. She actually decides to buy eight of them. Them. Topanga is thrilled. She tells Donna she'll be billed without getting any of her information. Takes off the headset. That was fun. Corey is disturbed. You sold a magazine? She clarifies, 8. She assumes Corey must have sold, like, 800 and wants to know his total. Corey frowns and calmly explains, perhaps you didn't hear me when I said I didn't Sell one magazine and I'm in the business. 17 seconds ago.

[Ben Savage]

Great line. I love that line. One of the funniest lines.

[Danielle Fishel]

So good. Topinga doesn't even flinch. Right. So, Judy, she's my boss. She calls me into her office today with two other associate editors. She asks me for my opinion on what our first cover should be. Corey's gnawing on the aspirin bottle. At this point, desperate to get it open while Topanga continues. The other two hated the one I picked, but Judy loved the one I picked. And we're gonna use the one I picked. Corey isn't enthused. So she promoted you? Topanga nods yes. Isn't that something? With that, she walks right up to Corey and removes the aspirin bottle lid with ease.

[Rider Strong]

Good at everything.

[Danielle Fishel]

Good at everything. And then we're back at the student union. Eric and Jack enter and Eric announces. Everyone relax. Nothing bad can happen. You're with me. He reveals the lucky penny, which is now tied around his neck. Sean wonders, you really believe in that stuff?

[Rider Strong]

Stuff?

[Danielle Fishel]

I love some writer.

[Rider Strong]

What?

[Danielle Fishel]

Being skeptical.

[Rider Strong]

Skeptical of luck. Eric. Eric, there's no lucky penny. Or God.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, exactly. The only difference is that writer.

[Ben Savage]

I wouldn't have been smiling.

[Danielle Fishel]

You really believe in that stuff?

[Rider Strong]

Exactly. Exactly. Way more judgmental.

[Ben Savage]

Are we having this conversation right now? Did you just say the words lucky penny?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yours. Have a conversation. Do better.

[Rider Strong]

Do better.

[Danielle Fishel]

Will do better.

[Ben Savage]

Think harder.

[Danielle Fishel]

So perfect. Eric responds, yes, I do. I'm the chosen one. I'm protected. I've got an invisible shield all over my body. And now he wants to prove it. Watch this. Eric calls out Rocco and approaches a big group of football players in the middle of a game of pool. Big star player. Rocco notices Eric. Eric, you better have a good reason for bothering me. Wasn't wearing a leather jacket, so I don't know why we're scared of him, but yeah, right. Jack begs his friend to walk away, but Eric isn't hearing it. I just want Rocco to clear something up for me. Rocco retorts, if it's your complexion, then no can do. 19 acne jokes.

[Ben Savage]

Remember acne jokes from seasons one, two and three? They're back, baby.

[Danielle Fishel]

Back, back. He lets out a roasted and high fives his boys. We are just a reminder. In college. Yeah, in college.

[Rider Strong]

Eric's like an 8th year senior by this point. I mean, my God, he's 30.

[Ben Savage]

It's just. It's so 1950s. Like just grease.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's Greece.

[Rider Strong]

It's best.

[Danielle Fishel]

Believe Greece, it's the best. Eric, pretends to laugh along as Jack continues to try and usher him away. But Eric doesn't budge. He asks Rocco, as an athlete on the football team, is it a distraction being gay? Gay panic. Gay panic.

[Ben Savage]

But it was so kind of dug

[Rider Strong]

the way they do it though.

[Ben Savage]

Oh, well, this is. I thought it was great. This is fantastic. But when it happened, I was like, oh really? We're going there. And Indy was like, why is that a bad thing? Which is genuinely ass. And I was like, oh yeah, dude, like back then, right? And I was. I was explaining gay panic to Indy. And then the joke went all full circle. I was like, oh, good for. Good for.

[Danielle Fishel]

Jack screams in horror as the inmates let out a massive big gay panic. They are terrified of what's next. Rocco looks at his boys, then grabs Eric to earnestly beam. Thank you. I've been holding it in for so long. I would like to say it's not appropriate to out people.

[Rider Strong]

No.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah. Not a good thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just because he appreciates it in this moment and we are happy. But do not out people.

[Ben Savage]

But the joke gets even better when the two guys agree that they're gay too.

[Rider Strong]

I was like the whole team.

[Ben Savage]

But they're just gonna do it to go along with him or, you know, I almost feel peer pressure. They're just like, oh, sure, now we're gay. I guess that's cool. Yeah, I love that joke.

[Danielle Fishel]

The audience erupts in laughter. Arguably one of the biggest in the show's history. There's even a spattering of applause. Rocco turns to his teammate teammates. Fellas, I'm gay. The audience loves this. One of his teammates lovingly respond. That's okay, Rocco. So are we. Rocco is shocked, but relieved. The entire team nods their heads in agreement. All of them are gay. And Eric is satisfied.

[Rider Strong]

Once again, Eric can't really do anything wrong.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, no.

[Rider Strong]

Like, even when it's something that you kind of cringe at first, it turns out great. Cuz it's Eric.

[Danielle Fishel]

Break. Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

He is the lucky penny.

[Danielle Fishel]

He is so true. He's our lucky penny. He's boy meets world lucky penny. Outside the student union, Corey is deadlocked while playing solitaire. When Topanga arrives, she looks at the cards and immediately figures it out. She shows him what moves he needs to make and wins. Corey gives her a death stare as Topanga pacifies him with praise. Good job, Corey.

[Rider Strong]

You also just put up one ace. You didn't win.

[Danielle Fishel]

I didn't win at all.

[Rider Strong]

I don't get it.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't get it either. She's Also, she knows that. Yeah, of course. He sarcastically responds, yeah, I'm brilliant. I do think maybe this is playing into that competitive nature of her. Like her just saying I win, even though she hasn't really won. But I wish they would have taken it all the way where her saying she has. Where her rubbing it in his face is a little more true. Like. Like she not only shows him what he needs to do, but instead of just saying, I win, what if she is like, one for me, zero for you.

[Ben Savage]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

Where they're just in every time. I did get promoted. Did you get promoted?

[Ben Savage]

Right. It was more of a competition.

[Danielle Fishel]

She turns it into like a haha, I got it. Yeah. Where it's because. But right now, it's just kind of waffling in the middle.

[Rider Strong]

I think so, too. Do you also think. I was thinking, thinking, do you think it would have been interesting for the character if at the end she got fired? Like, something bad happened to her, she wasn't perfect. And it's like, I did some blah, blah, blah, and I. I lost my job.

[Danielle Fishel]

Only no, because I think that then Corey would have been like, oh, that makes me feel better about myself. You got fired too. Whereas.

[Rider Strong]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

She shouldn't. Something bad shouldn't need to happen to Topanga.

[Rider Strong]

No, not true.

[Ben Savage]

But what I like about where Will's going is that. What if Topanga fell apart because she was bad at something? Like, she. She Remember how she used to fall apart because she didn't get all. And, like, she was obsessive. And what she could learn is that Corey has a resilience. Cause he never, like, he. You know, and like, that could have been.

[Danielle Fishel]

Failures have made him.

[Ben Savage]

Failures have made him strong and, like, made him more resilient. Where she's just always has to be a high achiever. And when she gets knocked down a bag, she falls apart. And together they make a good team. They learn from each other.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's a good idea. Yeah. The idea that Topanga is afraid after she fails, she's now afraid to try because what if I fail? And Cory's just always willing to try something new because failure is never.

[Rider Strong]

It doesn't matter. All he does is fail. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

All I do is fail, fail, fail. Okay.

[Rider Strong]

Is that a song?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Okay. But it's win, win, win. Anyway, Topanga tries to lighten the mood. Work must be going well if you can take a break. Corey reveals he's taking a long break. He quit. Unlike you, I wasn't enjoying it. Unlike you, I wasn't good at it. Unlike you, I don't shine at everything. He walks away muttering, I don't shine at any anything. She follows close behind and asks, what's wrong. He brushes her off. It's nothing. They walk inside the union as Corey insists he's just in a mood. Topanga pulls him close. Is there anything I can do to cheer you up? Topanga knows what Corey like sex, baby.

[Rider Strong]

That's what you meant?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Ben Savage]

Not sex. Pookie.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, God. Pookie pook.

[Ben Savage]

I think you want some nookie. Some pookie pookie.

[Rider Strong]

Oh, nookie's better than pookie pook.

[Ben Savage]

Pookie pook.

[Rider Strong]

I did it all for the pookie Pook. Didn't work. Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

Yikes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, God.

[Rider Strong]

Everybody's shuddering.

[Danielle Fishel]

She tries to kiss him, but he says no. Topanga pleads, but I love you. Wanna go home? You wanna go home and have Pookie pook again? Cory turns her down. No, Topanga. No pookie. She asks, why not? And he laughs. Because you're better at pookie pook than I am, too. He walks away from her again as Rachel and Eric look on. Rachel beams. Look how cute. They're having their first fight. Nope, we actually haven't. We had. We had a fight at Rachel's apartment at their first dinner party where we stormed out into the hallway and I had to show him my butt.

[Rider Strong]

Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

So that was a great episode, too.

[Rider Strong]

That was pre Pookie Pook.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, exactly. Topanga isn't letting Corey leave. I don't like that you can't talk to me about this. He tells her. Which, by the way, you weren't trying to talk. You were trying to distract him with sex.

[Ben Savage]

So?

[Danielle Fishel]

This isn't even what your plan is.

[Rider Strong]

If your partner says, leave me alone right now. Leave them alone.

[Danielle Fishel]

Leave them alone. Listen to your partner. Which is something Cory and Topanga have never done.

[Rider Strong]

Never. Nope.

[Danielle Fishel]

He tells her, I just don't want to say anything that I'm gonna request regret. Okay? Now realizing it's serious, Rachel asks Eric if they should leave the public space. But he says, no. I want to see Topanga make Corey cry. Topanga asks Corey, whatever bug you have up your butt, why are you blaming it on me? He sighs. If you're as smart as your A streak says you are, you'd know to just leave me alone right now. Topanga wonder. This is about my grades. Angela pops up and assures her this is not about her grades. Corey is now frustrated. Yes, it is. It's about how you Shove your stupid grades in my face. Or how you get promoted or you sell one of my subscriptions. She scoffs, wow. Well, I'm sorry I tried to help you with your little magazine project. He shouts back, it's not a project, okay? Sticker books are a project. Project. This is my career now. Sean tries to intervene. Come on, it wasn't your career. Corey snaps, Shut up. Sean slithers away. Yow. Corey returns to Topanga. My life is just as important as your life. Even if I don't do my life as good as you. Topanga corrects him, as well as you? Yes. This extremely emotive audience gasps, yes. Insane asks, what? And she stammers, I was just saying that it's not as good as you. He angrily interrupts her correction. Are you crazy, Topanga? Are you kidding me that you would say something like that right now? She raises her voice. Corey, this whole thing is crazy. Angela jumps in to back her up. Yeah, it really is. Topanga screams, sit down. Angela winces, Yow. And scampers off to Sean. Corey yells at his wife, at least I'm not a hoity toity photo assistant. Kiss Judy's tushy. The audience back. It's. The audience is basically at a Jerry Springer taping now with their constant ooh. Topanga looks ready to rip him a new one. Maybe I have to kiss Judy's tushy because you can't sell one stinking magazine. And now the audience is just cooking with another. O. Shawn knows when to leave. Okay, that's it. And the rest of the friends disperse too. Do. Corey gets serious. What did you just say? Topanga isn't as confident now. I just said that you haven't been doing all that well. Corey screams, no, no, no. That's not what you said. You said I'm a loser. Which also isn't what she said.

[Rider Strong]

Not what happened.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know you said it because I heard it. I heard it from your big mouth. And again, this audience, Topanga doesn't back down yet. Yelling, oh, I have a big mouth now? You can't even play solitaire. Imbecile.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, everybody's dead. Ramping it up.

[Danielle Fishel]

Did you hear that? Okay, from my big mouth. Corey explains, I used to be able to. I used to be able to do a lot of things before I married you.

[Ben Savage]

Oh, my God. Okay, Jesus.

[Danielle Fishel]

Congratulations. You killed my spirit. Topanga stares at him in disbelief and eventually walks away without another word. Breaking the silence, he yells after her, I win. You leave. I win. Bye. His friends look at him in disappointment, and he mutters, oh man. Somehow the audience is silent long enough for us to get a commercial break and when we return, we are still in the student union.

[Ben Savage]

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[Rider Strong]

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[Ben Savage]

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[Rider Strong]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Rider Strong]

This won't last long. TrueNatureMeats.com World we're all in.

[Danielle Fishel]

Go to TrueNatureMeats.com World now and get yours. Let's talk about modern home shopping.

[Rider Strong]

It's sort of becoming like a fun side hobby, right?

[Ben Savage]

Scrolling listings at night, dreaming about kitchens you haven't seen or backyards you haven't stepped foot in. All from the comfort of, well, literally anywhere.

[Danielle Fishel]

Redfin knows a lot of people like you want to own but are stuck in this browsing mode loop.

[Rider Strong]

That's where Redfin flips the script with

[Ben Savage]

listings that update within minutes and tours you can book right from the Redfin app. You can see your dream home the moment it appears.

[Danielle Fishel]

Now, liking a listing is easy, but actually landing it, that's where Redfin comes in.

[Rider Strong]

Redfin has over 2,200 agents with local

[Ben Savage]

expertise and Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents.

[Danielle Fishel]

That means they help you win, not just window shop.

[Rider Strong]

Redfin is built to help you go from just looking to wait. This could actually be home.

[Ben Savage]

So become the newest neighbor on the block.

[Danielle Fishel]

Visit redfin.com to start finding and start owning.

[Rider Strong]

That's redfin.com support for the show comes

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[Danielle Fishel]

A depressed Corey is sitting with Shawn. I said she killed my spirit. Shawn reminds him that marriage is a new situation and there's a lot of new stress on him. Corey sighs. You know this is our first fight ever.

[Rider Strong]

Nope. No, it's not. No, I know because I watched every episode.

[Ben Savage]

I know my first fight.

[Danielle Fishel]

What am I supposed to do? Sean responds, well, she left crying. Did she? My mother and father fought all their lives and one of them always walked out one day. One of them never came back. It's bad in my experience when when someone walks out crying. Corey asks, so what do I do? Shawn suggests you go home. You hope she's still there. Corey's eyes widen. Oh no, Shawn continues. And if she is, you lock the door and have it out. Corey gets it like a steel cage match. Sean nods. No one leaves until the fight's over. Corey wishes he hadn't said what he said, and Shawn shrugs. But she did. So obviously something's bothering you.

[Rider Strong]

Good scene, by the way.

[Danielle Fishel]

So far Great scene.

[Rider Strong]

Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

But Corey doesn't know what. Sean shakes his head. Don't figure it out with me. I love this. Don't figure it out with me. Those days are long gone. There's only one person who can help you here. Suddenly, Eric appears, of course. And it's me, Sean Skolton. Eric, no. Like a dog. I love it. Eric snaps back. Why don't you cram it, talk boy? That's all you're good for is talk. Talkity talk, talkity talk, talkity talk. Trailer Boys got all together, man. You did.

[Rider Strong]

And I was trying. You could tell I was trying.

[Ben Savage]

I know. I did every other take.

[Rider Strong]

I was trying so hard.

[Ben Savage]

I'm like, I'll break you.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yep. They picked the one take where you did not break. Because I was looking and you were solid as a rock.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

Proud of myself.

[Rider Strong]

It's even the. Because it was the second look back at you. When I look away with it, I look back at you, I'm like, I'm gonna get him. I'm gon.

[Ben Savage]

I didn't.

[Rider Strong]

Damn it.

[Ben Savage]

Damn it.

[Danielle Fishel]

You know what, trailer boy? There's something you don't have. And with that, he pulls out his lucky penny and shoves it in his face. Bam. Penny. He calmly turns to his brother. I love you, Corey. You're my brother. That's why I'm gonna give you my penny. And this audience is hopped up on sugar. Who are these people?

[Rider Strong]

What did we give them before it's work release day?

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, Corey is surprised that penny's been so lucky for you. What? Just the. Just the. And how has it been so lucky?

[Rider Strong]

Well, he outed an entire football team. That's gotta be it.

[Danielle Fishel]

I guess. Okay.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah. We didn't really show him being lucky in any other way.

[Danielle Fishel]

No. I would have loved it if there was a bunch of amazing people's.

[Ben Savage]

Only the one thing, of course.

[Rider Strong]

Just it. Nothing. It was just Eric walking in and saying, I'm lucky. Here's my penny. I've been lucky. They don't show him actually being lucky in any way, shape or perform.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, that's a.

[Ben Savage]

Kind of a missed opportunity. It could have just been a visual gag.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right?

[Ben Savage]

Like walking under a ladder, stepping, you know, and like whatever it is, you just magically walk through life barely missing.

[Rider Strong]

He falls behind the couch and you just hear, hey, bag of money. Like it's, you know, stuff like that is all you need.

[Danielle Fishel]

But I also thought the. The football player being gay. Rocco being gay is a little hard for me. Like, I. Having watched every episode now of the show, up to this point, every. Eric is so good at knowing people and at reading people. There was a part of me that felt like, he's not randomly going up to this guy saying he's gay. He knows he's gay. He has been.

[Rider Strong]

He's doing it to help him.

[Ben Savage]

He's doing it to help him.

[Danielle Fishel]

He was doing it to help him. But I think the point was, how lucky are you? You're gonna make this wild leap of an assumption, and then it turns out you were right. But, like, knowing Eric the way we do, it wasn't luck. It was that I. I felt like he knew this.

[Rider Strong]

And I think what they were doing with Jack was. He's going to show. I'm going to show you how lucky I am. I'm going to walk up to the biggest guy here, say the biggest insult, and he's not going to punch me. That's how lucky I am.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's how lucky I am.

[Rider Strong]

The protective bubble not to. Not to poo.

[Ben Savage]

Poo.

[Rider Strong]

The idea that that was progressive pookie

[Bowen Yang]

poo is the idea that it's lucky

[Rider Strong]

because you did it to gay guys and they're not going to fight you. That's what I think. That's what I think it is. Isn't that what they're going for?

[Ben Savage]

I thought so. I thought it was that you're saying the most insulting thing and he was really. Somehow you're gonna get out of it, right? You know, just somehow you're gonna get out of it. But I don't think. I think that, like, I. Danielle, I'm with you. That it's actually to Eric's character that he would have known this person is gay. But I don't think that's what they intended. That's how I read it now. And I think that's a better reading. But I think what they intended was, I'm gonna go call this person fat and nothing's gonna happen. And it's just the equivalent of is gay. And. And. And Eric could get away with anything and he's not.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, that's what it.

[Danielle Fishel]

But. But I wish it had been something more like, yeah, true luck as opposed to.

[Rider Strong]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

Something that could be read as, like, I have picked up on all I've been. You know. Anyway. Okay. Bygones be bygones. Eric nods. Now it's going to be lucky for you he just wants one more second with it. He looks down at it with sad madness. Thank you, Penny, for all you've taught me. For you have taught Me confidence. And with that confidence, I know that I no longer need luck. So I intend to go on with my life. Penniless, he takes off the necklace, fighting off tears to place it on Corey. Corey asks if he's sure about this, and an emotional Eric nods his head. He grabs the penny one last time. Good luck, old gal. He tells Corey. You take care of her and yourself. And brings him in for a hug. This is so long to say goodbye to the penny.

[Rider Strong]

It really is.

[Danielle Fishel]

Now with the penny, Corey and Shaun walk out, leaving Eric alone on the couch. Then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, lightning flashes.

[Ben Savage]

Everyone leaves first of all.

[Rider Strong]

Yep. And Terry out for the effect. Clear it out for the effect. Special effect. Yeah, I remember shooting.

[Danielle Fishel]

Says aloud, that's weird. Looks like rain. Good thing I'm inside.

[Rider Strong]

Set it up.

[Danielle Fishel]

Then Buzz Lightning enters the student union and manages to strike him not only once. Once, but twice.

[Rider Strong]

And if I remember correctly, it's just Lynn McCracken going, Lightning.

[Danielle Fishel]

Lightning.

[Ben Savage]

It was so funny. I was really proud of Indy because, you know, he laughed and then he was like. But the audience wouldn't see the lightning. Yeah, he knew that the live audience was. Reaction couldn't be natural to what we were seeing.

[Rider Strong]

I was like, oh, yeah, that's.

[Ben Savage]

You're right, dude. The effects were added afterward the fact. And you know that. And so how could the audience that was live be laughing at. I was like, right. They had to add.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, I'll tell you what, they were laughing at. The charred version. The actor. They had to.

[Ben Savage]

We had to cut to do that, of course. So it couldn't have been an actual spontaneous laughter. The way it's presented, which is what he was pointing out.

[Danielle Fishel]

It would have been black. Black screen for the audience. Okay. They don't see. Then they put him out there and they reveal him. They laugh at it.

[Ben Savage]

And they would have used that just

[Danielle Fishel]

for that moment when the.

[Rider Strong]

Or I think probably more accurately because. Because of the change and all the stuff. This was pre taped and then shown

[Danielle Fishel]

to the original and then shown back.

[Rider Strong]

So they saw. They saw then the lightning strike. Because again, I would have had to gotten dressed. We had the bucket thing. We had the lightning.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, yeah.

[Rider Strong]

So my guess is we shot this on Wednesday and just showed it to the audience, right?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, right. Yeah, you're right. Making his hair stick straight up. He is destroyed. Dazed, he stares off into the distance. At least I didn't get wet. On cue, a janitor runs over and dumps a bucket of water on his head.

[Ben Savage]

I think we're just gonna say it's Janitor Bud, right?

[Rider Strong]

They made it look like it.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Ben Savage]

It kind of looks the same.

[Rider Strong]

It does. It does.

[Danielle Fishel]

It sizzles off his body. And he thanks the man. Small shocks of lightning continue to sizzle off his body as he sits alone. Is this the first special effect we've seen. Since Minkus disappeared at the end of season one?

[Ben Savage]

My God. Has it really been that long? No. We've done other magical.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like what? Was there anything in Witches of Penbrooke?

[Rider Strong]

Yes. Laser beam on the tush.

[Ben Savage]

I turned into a frog.

[Rider Strong]

And you turn into a frog.

[Danielle Fishel]

Frog.

[Rider Strong]

And then was there anything in the World War II episodes, like when he got.

[Ben Savage]

Oh, time hole.

[Danielle Fishel]

Time hole.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah, the time hole. When we went through time, remember? The whole screen was like.

[Rider Strong]

Oh, that's right.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

Okay.

[Ben Savage]

Time.

[Danielle Fishel]

God.

[Rider Strong]

Just adding the word hole to things really throws me.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Stinkhole.

[Rider Strong]

Stinkhole.

[Ben Savage]

Time hole. Stink.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topanga's apartment. Corey walks in to find no sign of Topanga. Oh, no. He calls out for her a couple of times. And she eventually walks out of their bedroom. Bedroom. I'm here. She takes a seat on the couch and picks up her game of solitaire. Corey cautiously approaches her. You're playing solitaire? She responds, yeah, because I was alone. I played 19 games. Corey condescendingly asks, did you win them all? She gives him a look, and he apologizes. He asks, could you put the cards away? I need to talk to you. She wonders, oh, you have something you want to say to me now? Corey responds, I'm sorry about what happened. I'm deeply, deeply sorry. And I do take back what I said to you. To you. She stands up and crosses her arms, looking for more. Huh? He's confused. That's all I get is, huh? Topanga, I just apologized. Now it's your turn. She yells, yell, no. That's not the way it works. Corey's anger flares up again. I don't apologize good enough for you either. She yells back, is that what that was? And then we get a time lapse. We're still in Cory and Topanga's apartment later that afternoon. Topanga is now pacing as a frustrated Cory lays on the couch.

[Rider Strong]

Couch.

[Danielle Fishel]

She points out, you haven't said anything for an hour. He responds, I'm afraid to say anything. There's music playing under this, which I'm not sure.

[Rider Strong]

The guitar. The awesome guitar. I. I even said to Sue, I was like, I would love for them to just cut over to a guy sitting there literally playing guitar in their apartment. Because it was so. It was just like, oh, my God. I just wanted to cut over Sean.

[Ben Savage]

Exactly. Just guy there.

[Rider Strong]

Just. It was so distracting. Just like, oh, please, please just pan over to a guy playing guitar, please.

[Ben Savage]

Oh, that's funny. I didn't notice it, but I did feel that this whole, like, the. The conceit that we're gonna get this, like, endless montage of them fighting and, like, cutting didn't work for me stylistically.

[Danielle Fishel]

I agree.

[Ben Savage]

And I like the idea. Like, I like the idea of, like, set up the cage mat. And when I think about how this season went in the direction, like the episode where you guys were talking to camera and like, I like those kind of bold choices where it' like, we're gonna formally change the sort of sitcom structure. But this one didn't work for me. Like, I think that's part of the problem with the episode is, like, if it had been more stylized, I'm not sure what that would have been, but if it had been more stylized to, you know, I think the only thing they can do is have this music and then the dissolves, the crossfades, and it just doesn't work. Like, it's not enough. So they should have found a way to.

[Danielle Fishel]

I felt like it should have been more. Because I. I love the idea that actually one of the lessons is. Is in. In relationships where you've made a commitment to somebody, both a friendship and a marriage or whatever, sometimes that does just mean you. You, as long as it takes it, stick it out, just.

[Ben Savage]

And it's gonna flip flop. It's gonna go through different phases. Maybe that's what it would have been. It should have been more cutty and like, cut to, like, just the two of you eating hot dogs and talk, you know, or like, just like, random. Exactly. A bit more erratic and energy wise. Because as it is, it just feels like a therapy session you don't want to be a part of.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, exactly.

[Ben Savage]

It's like, I. This is what couples therapy is like, and I don't want to have to sit through it.

[Rider Strong]

The idea of Topanga and Corey having a really big fight.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

Is. Is very interesting. And I was thinking back to. There's a famous episode of. Of Family Ties where Michael J. Fox's best friend dies, and the entire episode is Michael J. Fox on a black stage, going from little vignette to little vignette, playing himself himself throughout his entire life. So he's playing himself at four, where they first met. And the other actor, who's actually his age, in his 20s comes on, but they're four year olds who met at this thing. It's really stylized. Really cool.

[Ben Savage]

Wow. Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

Oh, it's amazing. Some of the stuff they did on that show is great. So the idea to me, where it was like, do a play.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

Do Corey and Don't have anybody else in the episode. Do Corey and Topanga for 22 minutes in a fight. It's in there parts, everything. You guys are saying you're having dinner because, you know, know you get into a fight with your partner, it's like you're not gonna leave each other. So you're. What are we having for dinner? All right, let's share a pizza. Let's do this. Let's do. It's like that for 22 minutes would have been a pretty incredible episode.

[Ben Savage]

It's, you know, it's interesting is that Michael, if you had been in the writer's room and you pitched that, Michael would have done that. Because that's. That's a very Michael idea, actually. Like, I think he would have liked to go that far. It just never occurred to him. You know, I feel like he. It's a nudge in that direction with this sequence. And I bet if you had suggested, if you were one of the writers, fighters, he probably would have gone for it because that's very Michael. You know, actually. Yeah.

[Rider Strong]

Just give it. Give it Danielle. Give it to Danielle and give it to Ben. Everybody else takes the week off. We're gonna literally shoot where it is. You are. Guys, you're fighting for 22 minutes. That would have been really cool.

[Ben Savage]

That's a great idea.

[Danielle Fishel]

Really good idea. She wonders why. And he says he doesn't know. She insists he does know. But he explains, I think I know better whether I know or not. Okay. She doubles down. Well, then I guess I know you better than you do. Corey throws his arms in the air. Of course you do, Topanga. And then we get another time lapse. Still in Cory and Topanga's apartment later that night, they're still arguing. Topanga reminds him, unless we tell each other what's going on, then we cannot be truthful. This is our first fight. He nods.

[Rider Strong]

Nope.

[Danielle Fishel]

Ever?

[Rider Strong]

Nope.

[Danielle Fishel]

She begs. Then let's make it mean something. Tell me what's going on. He asks. You want the truth? Sit down. I'll be happy to tell you the truth. The truth. I don't. I. In no point did I think he had been lying. He's. He doesn't say anything different here.

[Rider Strong]

No.

[Danielle Fishel]

Than what he had been saying, which is Also, another way they could have gone with the episode that there is a problem. He does tell her what it is, and it's not. He doesn't tell her the truth. He's like.

[Ben Savage]

He overreacts in the wrong. Yeah, yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

He says something else, and she's like, oh, okay. And. And then. And then he's like, okay, you actually want to know what it is? I'm insecure around you. I don't feel good about myself. And then that's the point of it, is like, oh, right. I guess if now that we're married, I have to tell you the truth about even, like, even things that are embarrassing for me, wouldn't that be great for him to be embarrassed by the fact that he's insecure around her?

[Ben Savage]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

Yes.

[Rider Strong]

I feel bad about myself when I'm around you. And that's not on you. That's on me.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's not your fault. And I feel dumb that I feel that way. Yes.

[Ben Savage]

Would have been great.

[Rider Strong]

Would have been great.

[Danielle Fishel]

They take a seat on the couch and he lays it on call out. Ever since I've known you, I had an idea you had a better one. I got a good grade. You get a better one. I got into Penbrook. You get into Yale. She reminds him, I didn't go because of you. He assures her he understands. So I got a job. But you, of course, get a better one. What's next? I mean, I understand that you're better than me, but why? Why do you have to shove it in my face? She can't believe what she's hearing. You think I'm better than you? You. Girl, please.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah, this is.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, unless you're wearing a jacket. And then I'm better than you. That's what Cory should have said.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey says he knows she is. You make me not think very much of myself. Just.

[Rider Strong]

How dare you make me think of myself. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

She's completely stunned. I do. What? Another time lapse. We're still in Cory and Topanga's apartment. Later on. Topanga is now lying on the floor, tearing up. I've killed your spirit, caused you pain. He takes a seat next to her. No, look, I'm okay. She insists. I would never want to cause you pain. I want you to be happy. Everything I ever did was.

[Ben Savage]

Why does she react this way now? What is.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's what I'm saying.

[Ben Savage]

I don't know.

[Rider Strong]

Because she says. I think it's. It's the first time she's realizing that she's causing her partner pain. But He's. He said that in the first. How he ran out. You make. You killed my spirit. So it doesn't. That's why none of it makes any sense. No, it's the equivalent. It's the fight equivalent of saying, this is our first fight where you just have to suspend reality because we know that it's not. Clearly, we've seen it 50 times now, so. Yeah, it's just weird.

[Danielle Fishel]

Everything I ever did was just trying to impress you. He perks up, unnecessarily Excited, really. She shakes her head no. Sometimes. Sometimes for me. Mostly for me. Twice for you. She looks at him and admits a lot. For you. Corey asks why for me? She explains, because I always knew you were worth it. Because you believed in us. You were the one who held this relationship together when I was afraid of this relationship. You were the one who taught me to have faith and love. Corey can't believe it. Me. And she nods. We cut to even later, and now Topanga's lying on top of Cory. I don't want you to ever feel bad about yourself. Yourself. He adds, and I don't want you to ever hold yourself back because of me. Topanga wonders, so what do we do? He decides we have to support each other. I thought that's what. That's definitely what Topanga was doing before they got into this fight.

[Ben Savage]

Yeah, she was helping him and supporting him, saying, it's great you got a job and not making him feel.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, they support each other the whole time. Kind of.

[Danielle Fishel]

She adds. And we can't be afraid to fight with each other. Other. Corey admits. But I'm scared of you. Topanga assures him, sometimes in our lives, you're going to be doing better than me. He wonders when. And she clarifies. Or I'm going to be doing better than you. He sighs. And we're back.

[Rider Strong]

And we're back.

[Danielle Fishel]

She continues. But if either one of us is doing well at all, it's because we love each other. We have to always remember that we're not competing. We're a team. I would never want to kill your spirit because I love your spirit. He smiles. And now there's one last time left. Lapse. It's even later now. Topanga and Corey are sharing the headset. And Corey demands. All right, Shanazi, you're gonna buy a magazine. You know why? Because I'm bringing in the wife. You know why? Because when the two of us work together, ain't nothing gonna stop us. Topanga chimes in with a much nicer tone. Hello, Hi, I'm the wife, Topanga. What? Her tone quickly changes. Well, what kind of a name is Shanazi? Corey covers the mic. That's what I said. Topanga hands the headset to Corey. He doesn't want to talk to me. He wants to talk to you. Corey takes over. All right, Shanazi, let's have it. Yes. Yeah. Huh. Goodbye. He is shocked. He just bought a one year subscription to Aardvark. He said I was the most persistent person he's ever met. Topanga asks. He did, huh? Corey nods. Yeah. You know, I think it was a compliment. And with that, she gives him a congratulatory kiss. And we're in the tag.

[Ben Savage]

So he's persistent.

[Rider Strong]

He's persistent writer.

[Ben Savage]

That's okay.

[Rider Strong]

Ooh, sorry.

[Danielle Fishel]

Snap.

[Rider Strong]

I just wanted to be like.

[Danielle Fishel]

So the lesson, I guess, is that in a. In a marriage, sometimes one person may be in a. In a, a, a surge of good luck and, and doing great and succeeding. And if they are, it's only because they're in love and being supported. And the other person at that same time might be down in the dumps. And that's okay. That's okay. And then that might change at some point. The other person is doing great and the other person's down in the dumps. So you have to not be afraid to fight. And, and that if you love each other and are supporting each other, it doesn't matter.

[Rider Strong]

It's a partnership all the way around.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's a partnership all the way around. That's what they would say is exactly

[Ben Savage]

where Topanga started this episode.

[Danielle Fishel]

Correct? Yeah. Yes.

[Ben Savage]

So the only person who had a lesson to learn was Corey. And he had his little freak out and moans and then the episode ends and they both say, we've learned something, but really there's only one person who went on a journey at all. And by next week, I'm sure he forgot all about it.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah, it's about right. Tushy Toy and Shazi Shenazi and Tushy. The best law firm in town.

[Danielle Fishel]

There's a knock on Cory and Topanga's door. Cory opens it to find a completely burnt Eric Matthews. Eric simply grunts Penny and smoke pours out of his mouth and nose.

[Ben Savage]

This is so funny.

[Rider Strong]

This is. I, for the first and only time on the set of Boy Meets World, I got to smoke a cigarette. So as. As we're sitting there, as I'm getting there, like the scene starts, I'm out there just puffing a butt. And I remember at one point, like by the Second take. I light another one, and Bob Young just comes up, and he just goes easy. I'm, like, sucking him down in between. I'm like, I'm taking advantage of this. I get to smoke on stage right before I walk on the sound.

[Ben Savage]

God.

[Rider Strong]

So it was awesome. I'm just like, ah, yes. I don't have to go outside. So, yeah, I'm. I'm halfway through a cigarette at this point as I. Unbelievable.

[Danielle Fishel]

I can't believe.

[Ben Savage]

So funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

It is so funny. Topanga is horrified, and Corey quickly pulls the penny necklace out of his pocket. Eric can't move his arms, so he opens his mouth and Cory pulls.

[Rider Strong]

I was going to say, we always just handed it to me. So this time I just opened my mouth, and luckily Ben, like, saw it right away. Right away. Went right away. Yeah, it was great.

[Danielle Fishel]

Eric twitches as he walks out, making his way over to the telephone in the hallway. He picks up the receiver and.

[Sponsor Voice]

Hello.

[Rider Strong]

That was all again. I just. So I walk out and I saw the phone there, and I just slammed into the phone, and then I just pick it up and I go, hello? And I just heard Ben lose it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yep, exactly. Ben lets out a real laugh before closing the door. He turns to Topanga, who also me, has a huge smile on my face. I mean, this is technically a little bit of a blooper.

[Ben Savage]

Totally.

[Rider Strong]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, it's a bit of a blooper. Episode or not Episode. Blooper tag scene.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, well, thank you all for joining us for this episode of Pod Meets World. You can join us for our next episode, which is season seven, episode 14, I'm gonna be like you, dad. Which originally aired January 28th, so we skipped three weeks.

[Rider Strong]

Wow.

[Danielle Fishel]

Before we aired again.

[Ben Savage]

Huh.

[Rider Strong]

I wonder if there was something like the Olympics or something. Some big sporting thing or the, you

[Ben Savage]

know, something like that. This has got to be a Sean Chet episode, probably.

[Danielle Fishel]

Imagine.

[Rider Strong]

Yeah.

[Ben Savage]

Because it's. Yeah. Because we'll have a good time. Then was the name of the episode that he died. And that's the. From cat's cradle. And this is the response.

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm gonna be, like, huge.

[Rider Strong]

This would have been our last episode of Boy Meets World had we not gotten picked up. Episode 13, season 7. Oh, wow. Was gonna be the end. So this is. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

All right. Well, thank you all for joining us for this episode of Pod Meets World. As always, you can follow us on Instagram Pod Meets World show. You can send us your emails podmeetsworldshowmail.com and we've got merch merch, so make

[Rider Strong]

sure you try Mercho Puss. Check it out. Regular Cookie Puss. This is Mercho Puss and you're really thanks.

[Ben Savage]

Thanks dad.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh podmeetsworldshow.com I hope that doesn't scare you off. Writer. Send us out.

[Ben Savage]

We love you all. Pod dismissed. PodMeetes World is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, Wilfred L And Ryder Executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, Executive in charge of production, Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sugbash, producer Matty Moore, engineer and Boy Meets World Superman Easton Allen. Our theme song is by Kyle Morton of Typhoon. Follow us on Instagram odmeatsworld show or email us at podmeatsworldshowmail.com

[Danielle Fishel]

as cat parents, Ryder and I know the feeling of being ignored by our our cats. I often wonder, does my cat even love me?

[Ben Savage]

Well, there's only one solution to solve that. Sheba.

[Danielle Fishel]

Feed your cat Sheba and go from feeling ignored to truly adored in 12 days, guaranteed or your money back. Sheba has so many incredible products that can satisfy even the pickiest eater, like New Sheba Grilled. Made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world, they are savory strips in a succulent sauce that cats are sure to love and it's 100% complete and balanced with essential vitamins and nutrients for adult cats like my bill. Made without artificial flavors or preservatives. No corn, wheat or soy. To learn more, check out sheba.com dry eyes still feel gritty, rough or tired

[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Mibo perflorahexaloctane off 3thalmic solution is used to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. It's the only prescription dry eye drop that forms a protective layer for the number one too much tear evaporation so

[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

That's don't use if allergic to Mibo. Remove contacts before using and wait at least 30 minutes before putting them back in. Eye redness and blurred vision may occur. For more info, talk to your eye doctor, call 1-844-MAIBOYA or visit maibo.com this is Chelsea Handler from Dear Chelsea. After the Big Game. Like most people, I kept thinking about the commercials and there was one that stayed with me. It was from the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, and it wasn't loud or flashy. It showed a Jewish kid being targeted at school and another student who chose not to ignore it. As someone who was Jewish, that moment felt very real to me. Not dramatic, just familiar. And what struck me was how clearly it showed that hate doesn't always announce itself, but the impact is still huge. If you saw the blue square spot during the big game, it's worth thinking about. And if you want to show support, sharing the blue square is one small way to do that.

[Bowen Yang]

This is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Research with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy. Taking care of yourself can feel impossible. That's why Premier Protein shakes are my go to. They have 30 grams of prote, 160 calories, no added sugar and they taste amazing. So they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make. It's not just for fitness, it's for getting after life. Premier Protein powers me to say yes to more. Find your favorite [e-mail] that's P R E M I E R protein.com this

[Danielle Fishel]

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