How Audience Intervention Led to the Success of Girl Meets World

The Power of Audience Intervention

Disney Channel is known for delivering family-friendly shows that teach younger viewers important lessons, and one of their most popular ones would not have been able to happen if not for audience intervention. In the age of social media, it's not uncommon to have viewers be able to share their opinions on certain plot points and decisions shows make. It is less rare, however, for these opinions to have serious weight in studios' decision-making process and be taken into account when it comes to how major characters will end up. When one studio found itself in a difficult position and was unable to decide what to do with two main characters on a hit show, it decided to turn to those who were most invested -- viewers. This was before social media was prevalent, so it was unconventional for audiences to be able to share their opinions and be heard through the internet. Audience opinion ended up being spot on, as it led to one of Disney Channel's best shows decades later.

William Daniels as Mr Feeny on in Girl Meets World finale

Girl Meets World Wouldn’t Have Happened If Fans Hadn’t Gotten Involved. Girl Meets World follows the life of Cory and Topanga from Boy Meets World, along with their two children. It's a heartwarming show that gives viewers the chance to see what two of the most beloved sitcom characters of all time are up to and was even nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2016. The show never would have happened, though, if not for audiences having the chance to get involved. Boy Meets World sees Cory and Topanga getting married in the seventh season of the show, but this was almost not the case. The series shows Topanga asking Cory to marry him, and him weighing the pros and cons of whether it's the right decision. Producers did the same thing and were unsure whether to have two of their main characters tie the knot. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Rider Strong, who played Shawn Hunter in both the original series and the sequel, shared that there was some pushback on having them getting married. He explained that Boy Meets World's creator, Michael Jacobs, loved the idea, but some of the studio bosses weren't so sure about it. ABC then decided to hold an internet poll to ask audiences what they thought, and the response was positive enough for the characters to get hitched.

Cory and Topanga are posing for their wedding photos.

Why ABC Was Hesitant About Cory And Topanga's Marriage. Strong shared in the aforementioned interview that the reason behind ABC's hesitation was that these key Boy Meets World characters were too young. Given that the show was mainly targeted at a younger demographic, it makes sense that the studio was cautious about what message they were sending out by having two characters, straight out of high school and still in college, get married. Strong also shared that he, and a portion of viewers, feel that Boy Meets World did have the couple get married too early, and the show should’ve ended with the marriage instead of putting it in the middle of the final season. The way Boy Meets World went about it, though, was admirable, as it highlighted both the pros and cons of young marriage, which was only able to happen because the show had episodes airing after the wedding. It showed the pushback Cory and Topanga received from Cory's family, as well as their financial struggles and fights. It also highlights how happy Cory and Topanga were with each other, and Girl Meets World proves that it was the right decision after all. The two are shown to still be happily married and in love, with two children and great careers.

Cory and Topanga Kissing in Boy Meets World