Boy Meets World
The Play's the Thing
TV Flash files “The Play's the Thing” as hour 20 of 158 in the TV Flash guide — Boy Meets World (1993–2000) on ABC, season 1, episode 20, aired 1994-04-29, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E20: listed hour 20 of 158 in the Boy Meets World guide, hour 20 of 22 in season 1. It aired 1994-04-29 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Kid Gloves” (S01E19). Next is “Boy Meets Girl” (S01E21).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Cory quits the school production of Hamlet after learning he has to wear tights. Minkus replaces him, but is a poor substitute.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Play's the Thing sit in the Boy Meets World guide?
S01E20 is listed hour 20 of 158 — hour 20 of 22 in season 1, season 1 episode 20.
When did Boy Meets World S01E20 air?
The Play's the Thing aired 1994-04-29 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Did the kids actually age on-screen?
Yes — characters moved from middle school through college with the audience, without a recast cheat. That is the rare TGIF trick.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Cory Matthews growing up in public is the rare TGIF sitcom that actually finished the sentence. Feeny’s classroom sermons, Topanga as partner not prize, and a kid-cast that aged into college without a recast cheat. After-school moral comedy with enough sincerity to survive irony — and enough heart to explain the reboot hunger.
ABC TGIF, 1993–2000: a kid-cast sitcom that actually finished the sentence. Cory Matthews grows from class clown to young adult in public, with best friend Shawn, partner Topanga, and teacher-neighbor Mr. Feeny as the moral center. Michael Jacobs and April Kelly built after-school moral comedy with enough sincerity to survive irony. Ben Savage, Rider Strong, Danielle Fishel, William Daniels, Will Friedle, Betsy Randle. **Seven seasons, 158 episodes**, middle school through college without a recast cheat. Feeny's…
Filed against
- Ben Savage as Cory Matthews
Ben Savage grew up in public as Cory Matthews on Boy Meets World — the rare TGIF sitcom that actually finished the sentence, Feeny’s classroom sermons, Topanga as partner not prize, a kid-cast that aged into college without a recast…
- Rider Strong as Shawn Hunter
Rider Strong's Shawn Hunter kept Boy Meets World from becoming a Feeny sermon with a laugh track — Cory growing up in public, Topanga as partner not prize, the best-friend weather that let a TGIF sitcom finish the sentence. TV Flash files…
- Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence
Danielle Fishel’s Topanga Lawrence made Boy Meets World a partnership — Cory Matthews growing up in public, Feeny’s sermons, a TGIF sitcom that actually finished the sentence. Partner not prize, kid-cast aging into college without a…
- William Daniels as Mr. Feeny
William Daniels’s Dr. Mark Craig made St. Elsewhere’s dump hospital feel like a scalpel with tenure — 1980s catalog rounds, then Knight Rider’s KITT and Boy Meets World’s Feeny stretching the same diction into a car and a classroom. TV…
- Will Friedle as Eric Matthews
Will Friedle’s Eric Matthews was the older-brother weather on Boy Meets World — Cory growing up in public, Feeny’s classroom sermons, Topanga as partner not prize, a TGIF sitcom that actually finished the sentence. Kid-cast aging into…
- Betsy Randle as Amy Matthews
Betsy Randle’s Amy Matthews kept Boy Meets World’s kitchen honest — Cory growing up in public, Feeny’s classroom sermons, Topanga as partner not prize, a kid-cast that aged into college without a recast cheat. After-school moral comedy…