Hey, guys, don't forget to tune in to the 2014 Teen Choice Awards tonight on Fox. Girl Meets World is up for honors in the category of summer show. I think it has a real chance, but mostly because the only other show I watch in the category is Wipeout, and that's like putting a sitcom up against American Gladiators. It's not really a competition because they're two different creatures. I guess Under the Dome might have a real shot - but how weird is it that most of the shows in the category are on a network owned by Disney? (In case you don't know the nominees, all the shows except for Under the Dome are on Disney owned networks. All of them.)
The 2014 Teen Choice awards are airing at 8 pm Eastern and Pacific on Fox.
Guys, there's going to be so many spoilers here, but I'm going to start with the least significant squee so y'all can read at least that. Because it's important. It's so very important. If cast spoilers are a big deal for you, then you do have to stop here. Bookmark this page, come back after you watch the episode, fangirl (or fanboy) with me. And I couldn't find (and due to technical difficulties, can't make my own) a screenshot of Harajuku Riley, so y'all get the entire episode promo.
So, (insignificant spoiler) the first: so the first Boy Meets World guest star turns out to be Willie Garson? "Who is that, friendly neighborhood Amanda?" For shame, I've mentioned him before. He's Leonard Spinelli! And also Mervyn, a customer that lost out working for Alan's nature store to Ezekial. Then he freaking married Cory and Topanga. And now he's Topanga's boss! You have no idea how thrilled I was when I recognized him - I mean, come on, I think the man's a BMW legend - and maybe he can be one on Girl Meets World, too.
Okay, now if you haven't seen the episode you need to leave because you are not invited to the rest of this post. I mean, okay, you can come, but you're not allowed to cry about spoilers. You've been warned. The guy at the door is going to ask, "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?" and the answer is "cuddlefish." I might be a little hyper - or I might be the kind of person who likes putting up big walls of text between what's safe to read and what's a spoiler so people have more time to walk away without accidentally seeing the spoiler. Maybe both.
So hippie Topanga returned! Yes, that's what I'm going with first. When I was 10 years old, I wanted nothing more than to be just like hippie Topanga. She had a beautiful soul. I was always sad when she changed, but it wasn't enough that they brought her back - they showed a flashback to when Cory and Topanga first met. In sixth grade. It was amazing. Hippie Mom Topanga laid down some wisdom in classic first season style, and it was perfect. It was beautiful. And I think a successful, driven Topanga who remembers to find the good in the world - who remembers to do good - is exactly the kind of character Mom Topanga needs to be.
Man, this episode was just so littered with Boy Meets World throwbacks and the one I noticed from the promo was when Riley got invited to the party but Maya didn't. It was a total geek party, but Riley was so popular with the geeks that she completely embraced it and it was up to Maya to remind Riley of who she really was. I mean, Cory helped - but Cory's been there. He got invited to a party because he was safe and he wanted to be dangerous, like Shawn. Shawn was like, "screw that noise, who cares what people think of us" and brought Cory back round to normal. I think. I'm not going to lie, I haven't seen that episode in a long time. Please correct me.
"Girl Meets Popular" is an excellent Girl Meets World episode for the Boy Meets World fans. It was practically a love letter to us, without turning the show back into its predecessor.
My glorious readers, I have been gone for a very long time. I don't suspect I will update as regularly as I once did either, as my online experience is limited to library visits, and this place is... I like checking out books and getting the Hell out of here. Also, I'm going through an "I'm totally over Twitter" period, which makes it hard to read what the cast and crew is reading. But I'm trying darn it!
So, what we have here is a clip from tomorrow's all new Girl Meets World, "Girl Meets Popular." I'm more excited for "Girl Meets Maya's Mother" for the very special guest star Lee Norris as Stuart Minkus, but I'm sure every episode will have its charm. I will say, I'm not a fan of the episode title theme naming. Not every episode of Boy Meets World was "Boy Meets" something. In fact, I don't remember what the Kid Gets Acquainted With the Universe episode was called, except that it wasn't that obvious choice. But episode names do not quality television make. I hope there's an in-universe sequel series to KGAWtU, but I'm digressing. A lot. I really do want to discuss this GMW clip.
So, Riley gets invited to a popular kids party and Maya doesn't. Why does this plot sound so familiar? Oh, yeah, it was totally the plot device of "The Uninvited", a second season BMW episode. I think it's really funny that the similarities between this series and its predecessor are from the year Cory was in 7th grade. What are they going to do when the girls are in eighth grade? If memory serves, 8th and 10th grade are the years they skipped to make the former class of 2000 the class of 1998. But I do appreciate the very direct "when I was your age" comparisons with nobody having to actually use the offending phrase.
Super sidebar: how exciting is it that, though it's a different channel, Girl Meets World has Boy Meets World's old time slot? Except for that brief period where ABC tried to kill it by having it come on later, but those were dark times we will not reference again. I hope Disney doesn't make the same mistake.
Also, season 2 - is Farkle going to make the cut? Or is he going to go the same way as his father before him? Only time will tell, but since I'm kinda shipping him and Riley, I want him to stay. I wanted Minkus to stay, too, though, and that didn't work out so well for me. At least we know he can come back to visit.
"Friendly neighborhood Amanda, where the Hell have you been?"
I don't know if you guys know this, but shortly before I disappeared, my laptop broke. And then, my tablet got stolen. Friendly neighborhood Amanda just can't catch a break. But I am breaking my radio silence because (1) I know you're here and it's mean for me to leave you hanging and (2) because there is awesome news and I knew you guys were just the ones I had to be excited with.
Girl Meets World has been renewed for a second season.
So I may be lacking in the reviews, but I have seen every episode so far this season, and I absolutely adore the series. You will find no dissatisfaction here. I especially love Riley, who, I don't know if you guys have noticed, is a Matthews through and through. She doesn't just take after Cory - she takes after Eric. If you hadn't caught that, I suspect a rewatch - especially the cold open to "Girl Meets Father." I know there are those out there that don't think the show quite measures up to Boy Meets World, but if I've said it once, I've said it a million times - Boy Meets World wasn't Boy Meets World until Shawn blew up the mailbox with the cherry bomb. By the end of the season, I'm sure Girl Meets World will be exactly where it's supposed to be, and season 2 can only bring us more adventure.
Meanwhile, I still see things through Cory's eyes. I, too, met the world in the 90s. I'm not in a position to want a mentor like Cory, in the way I wanted Feeny to mentor me - I want Cory to be a good father and mentor to Riley, Maya, Farkle, and Lucas. It's a surreal experience.
Don't forget, there's still plenty of excitement to be had in season 1, in the form of guest stars - and the first one (not counting Feeny) is coming up on August 15th, in the form of Farkle's father, Stuart Minkus.
Okay, you waited really last minute to get a Christmas present for your mother/father/sibling/cousin/dog/self, and Christmas is Wednesday. What do you do? Well, if this person happens to be a Boy Meets World fan, Amazon has your back.
Boy Meets World: Complete Collection happens to be 50% off on Amazon right now, for $49.99, but this deal is about to get sweeter. Right now, you can get free one day shipping. You can have that DVD stuffed in a stocking or under the tree before anyone realizes you forgot them. Pretty sweet, right?
And in case I don't update again before then, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
The awesomely adorable August Maturo got a letter from Santa Claus, in which the jolly and generous legend said he'd be watching Girl Meets World. True story, watch the Instagram video.
Despite this whole belief that Santa only works one day a year, he is a very busy man. He has to take care of the reindeer and give them routine maintenance, check the elves toy making progress - there are millions of good kids in the world, so it takes a little more than a month to make the toys - and if an elf calls in sick? Santa's on the floor himself. Then there's this whole business with sorting every kid in the world into naughty and nice lists, and then checking them twice. That doesn't leave a lot of time for television viewing. The fact Santa is clearing time for Girl Meets World is a major honor.
He probably rooted for Cory and Topanga on Boy Meets World, just like the rest of us.
They're just going to be able to sneak Maitland Ward and Rider Strong into episodes without us knowing. "Maitland and/or Rider's on set? Just another Tuesday!"
The early buzz is so far, so awesome! Not too many details are known at the moment, but make sure you check out our friends at bmwsequel.com, because they're going to have all the fan reactions.
This episode is the last one to tape in 2013, so everything will be dark for the holidays. But the next episode to tape is less than a month from now, on January 14, 2014, so there's still plenty to be excited about. And 2014 also means these episodes will be seeing the light of day and finally airing on Disney Channel. I personally cannot wait.
