Unveiling the Untold Truth: The Shocking Reason Boy Meets World Ended Early—Sabrina the Teenage Witch's Secret Role!

Summary

The conclusion to conclude Boy Meets World after its seventh season was primarily driven by ABC's desire to have two key shows in their popular TGIF lineup. Sabrina the Teenage Witch was considered as a potential second cornerstone, had it not moved to a different network.

In the last 20 years, the television industry has undergone significant transformations, witnessing increased competition and declining viewership. If Boy Meets World were to average 8.7 million viewers in its seventh season today, it would be considered a success. The significance of anchor shows, once relied upon to attract viewers to new programs, has diminished in today's television programming. Consequently, a contemporary airing of Boy Meets World may have been renewed for an eighth season independently, without the necessity of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Boy Meets World came to a conclusion after its seventh season, partially due to the influence of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. These two shows were part of ABC's cherished "TGIF" lineup, which also included beloved programs like Full House, Family Matters, and Step by Step. Boy Meets World became a part of this lineup when it premiered in 1993, while Sabrina the Teenage Witch was introduced in '96. However, both shows ceased to be part of the TGIF block in 2000. Boy Meets World wrapped up after season 7, while Sabrina continued for three more seasons on The WB.

During an episode of Pod Meets World, a podcast hosted by Boy Meets World actors Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Friedle, stage manager and director Steve Hoefer discussed the reasoning behind concluding the show and the influence of Sabrina the Teenage Witch in that decision.

It was not a definite agreement, however, ABC seemed inclined towards the idea that TGIF would've remained intact if they had two anchor shows for the four slots. From what I understood, if we were the original anchor show and if Sabrina had not switched networks, that would have fulfilled their requirement for a second anchor. Consequently, they would have approached at least one more season with the new storyline of you guys having moved out.

Would ABC Have Renewed Boy Meets World If It Aired Today?

Hoefer's comments shed light on the immense transformation that has taken place in the television industry over the past two decades, particularly for networks. In its seventh season, Boy Meets World attracted an average of 8.7 million viewers, a commendable figure by today's standards. To put things into perspective, even one of ABC's most popular comedies at present, Abbott Elementary, managed to average 3.95 million viewers during the 2022-23 season. This stark contrast is because even highly acclaimed shows now face significantly greater competition.

Hoefer's reference to "anchors" also reflects a bygone era. In the past, anchors were considered dependable, established shows that could strengthen new ones. These successful series would often precede the newer show, with networks hoping that viewers would stick around even after the anchor series ended. While this approach remains important in TV programming, its significance has diminished over time.

The proliferation of various TV platforms and cable channels has resulted in audiences being able to easily find and watch shows they enjoy, regardless of their time slot or channel. As a result, anchor shows are now less crucial, or at least not a guaranteed method of increasing viewership for another series or programming block. In this context, it's possible that Boy Meets World, if it were aired today, would have been renewed for an eighth season without the need for a show like Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Source: Pod Meets World