'Girl Meets World': An Automatic Marketing Winner

I was very cautious going into my first episode of 'Girl Meets World,' Disney's new (as of 2014) spin-off of the popular 90s ABC sitcom 'Boy Meets World.' I, probably like you, followed the life and love story of Cory Matthews and his girlfriend (later wife) Topanga, and fell deeply in love with best friend-sidekick Shaun Hunter.

'Girl Meets World' takes place more than a decade later. Cory and Topanga's daughter, Riley, is trying to navigate her tween years -- and problems that go with them -- especially in regard to bonds with family and friends. At John Quincy Adams Middle School in Manhattan, Riley finds being a student more difficult because her dad is a history teacher there, and she's in his class. Her mom, a lawyer, is involved in her social life and owns a trendy teen hangout. Among Riley's classmates are best friend Maya (who reminds us oh so much of Cory's childhood bestie Shaun), crush Lucas, and quirky Farkle (son of Cory and Topanga's classmate Stuart Minkus).

You can see why I was nervous. 'Girl Meets World' had (and still has) some big shoes to fill, with its predecessor having a seven season run. But I had to watch it. I mean, they got Ben Savage and Danielle Fischer to reprise their roles as Cory and Topanga. So I watched the pilot. Then I watched the next one. Then I binged the entire season.

Whether you're a fan of 'Boy Meets World' or not, 'Girl Meets World' is important and I'll tell you why. I haven't watched a show on Disney Channel by choice in years, but I had to watch this one. 'Boy Meets World' ran from 1993-2000 and a lot of their fans are now parents. As a generation of new parents watch characters they watched as teens become parents themselves, Disney is perfectly targeting adults and teens with this new show.

Not to mention, we're all guilty of claiming the children's programming back in our day was way better than the crap they make nowadays. Well now the youth of America is experiencing the brilliance of Mr. Feeny and his lessons. Only this time it's Cory giving the lesson, not Feeny. Just imagine how satifying that must be for those parents. 'Boy Meets World' was a genius franchise to build on. You can watch season 1 of 'Girl Meets World' on Netflix.