Last November, we learned that a sequel project for Boy Meets World was in development for Disney Channel. As "in development" doesn't mean an automatic greenlight to series, we've hung on every major bit of news for the project in the hopes that the pilot would eventually go to series. Signs pointed toward good news, but we had to wait for it. This week, that good news has arrived Girl Meets World has officially been ordered to series at Disney Channel.
Deadline shared the good news, stating that Girl Meets World has been on the fast track to the Disney Channel schedule since last fall. The new series is being executive produced by Boy Meets World co-creator Michael Jacobs, and as was previously announced, Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel will reprise their roles as Cory and Topanga Matthews, two childhood sweethearts who have since grown up, gotten married and started a family of their own. The new series will center on their daughter Riley (Rowan Blanchard) and her fellow 7th-grader best friend Maya (Sabrina Carpenter). The two are navigating through the tricky world of middle school, much in the way Cory and his best friend Shawn did when they were young.
Of course, as gleeful as those of us who are nostalgic for the days of Cory and Topanga might be, this is probably better news for the kids than it is for us, as everything we've heard about the multi-camera comedy, not to mention the network it's airing on, indicates that the target audience for this show will be the same - or a similar - audience held by The Suite Life, Austin & Ally and other shows that air on the Disney Channel. But those kids who tune in do have parents, and some of them may have even been 90s kids, who recall Boy Meets World fondly, which is where Disney Channel may be getting it really right. Because if Mom (or Dad) can't stand what's airing on their channel, there's a good chance their kids won't be watching it. But if Mom loves it, well, maybe the Disney Channel will be on instead of Nick or Netflix or whatever other kid-friendly alternatives there are out there. A little nostalgia goes a long way.
And who knows? if things work out well for Girl Meets World, maybe this series is the first of such sequels. What are Candace Cameron (Full House), Tatyana Ali (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) and/or any of the Home Improvement kids doing these days?
Girl Meets World is expected to debut on The Disney Channel next year (2014). In the meantime, here's a look back at one of Cory and Topanga's cuter moments.
