Danielle Fishel and William Daniels treated fans to a Boy Meets World reunion on Dancing With the Stars.
Fishel, 44, and her partner, Pasha Pashkov, danced a jive to the sitcom’s theme song during the Tuesday, October 14, episode of the ABC competition series, with Daniels, 98, joining the pair on the ballroom floor for the Dedication Night routine.
“I don’t think I would have been the professional that I am [without William Daniels],” Fishel said in her opening package while explaining why she chose to honor her mentor, who called in to tell her he was “very proud of all she’s doing” on the show.
“This dance is for you Mr. Feeny,” Fishel said. “Thank you for always showing up even when the cameras stopped rolling.”
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Fishel and Pashkov started their jive beside Daniels in an office before taking off to the dance floor. They ended the number back with Daniels, who gave the duo an “A+” grade on their performance.
While the pair earned a perfect grade from Daniels, they weren’t quite as lucky with the judges who gave them a total score of 29 out of 40. It did, however, mark Fishel’s first eight of the season from Bruno Tonioli.
“You’re pitching Boy Meets World the Musical, because it was such a wonderful number. It had all the structures and all the story lines!” Bruno said, noting that although Fishel could “sharpen” her “edges” in her moves he “absolutely loved it.”
Derek Hough and guest judge Kym Johnson echoed Bruno’s sentiments, but Carrie Ann Inaba had the night’s harshest criticism, telling Fishel and Pashkov it felt like she was watching “the same dance over and over.” The critique was met with loud boos from the audience, but Fishel didn’t let it get her down.
“I’m always having so much fun,” Fishel told cohost Julianne Hough. “Sometimes I think I have so much fun I forget that i’m supposed to be dancing! So that much fun.”
Fishel and Daniels memorably starred as Topanga Lawrence and Mr. George Feeny on the ABC coming-of-age sitcom Boy Meets World, which aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000.
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Earlier this month, Fishel confirmed that Daniels would perform with her during Dedication Night, sharing on the Wednesday, October 8, episode of her “Danielle With the Stars” podcast, “Mr. Feeny himself is going to be on the ballroom floor with me.”
Fishel added that Daniels was “going to participate in the dance” with her and Pashkov, 39.
While she acknowledged that “saying it out loud feels crazy,” Fishel teased, “We get to dance to the Boy Meets World theme song, the one you all know and love.”
Fishel then explained why she wanted to honor Daniels with her week 5 dance.
“It’s really a dedication to Bill and the role he has played in my life and the role Boy Meets World has played in my life,” she said. “He’s just such an inspiration to so many of us. And to be able to say thank you to him and to give him this kind of platform for him to receive the love that he deserves is going to be very memorable.”
Fishel elaborated on her admiration for Daniels in an Entertainment Weekly article.
“He is 98 years old. He was a child actor. He’s had the most incredible career,” she noted. “I feel like I’m having a second act in my life and in my career at 44 years old. To see him at 98 still going to conventions, he’s gonna be on the ballroom floor next week, and he was part of a show that completely changed my life.”
Fishel also hinted that some other “special guests” would be in the audience for Dedication Night, teasing, “Some people I’m shocked are able to be there but I’m so happy are able to be there.”
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Dedication Night was not the first time Fishel nodded to the Boy Meets World universe during her Dancing With the Stars journey. She previously danced to her Girl Meets World costar Sabrina Carpenter’s hit “Manchild” during the TikTok-themed September 30 episode. (Fishel reprised her role as Topanga on the Disney Channel spinoff, which aired from 2014 to 2017, while Carpenter, 26, portrayed Topanga’s daughter’s friend Maya Hart.)
“I’ve known Sabrina for over a decade now,” Fishel said during the episode, “and I consider her to be like a daughter to me.”
As for Carpenter, she told Fishel in a video message that she was “so proud” of her, adding, “I love you so much.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.