Danielle Fishel and William Daniels delighted fans with a special Boy Meets World reunion during the latest episode of Dancing With the Stars.
On October 14, Fishel, aged 44, together with her partner Pasha Pashkov, performed a lively jive to the show’s iconic theme music, joined on stage by Daniels, who is 98 years old, for a memorable Dedication Night routine.
In her opening segment, Fishel expressed her gratitude, stating, “I don’t believe I would be where I am today without William Daniels. He has been a significant mentor to me.” During the segment, Daniels called in to express how proud he was of her achievements on the dance series.
“This performance is dedicated to you, Mr. Feeny,” Fishel shared. “Thank you for always being there, even after the cameras stopped rolling.”
The performance began in an office setting with Fishel and Pashkov before they burst onto the dance floor, closing the routine back with Daniels who enthusiastically awarded them an “A+.” Despite receiving praise from him, the couple was scored 29 out of 40 by the judges. Notably, it was Fishel’s first eight awarded this season by Bruno Tonioli.
Tonioli commented, “It felt like you were pitching Boy Meets World The Musical, as it was so well-structured and engaging! While there are areas where Fishel can refine her movements, it was simply delightful.”
Fellow judge Derek Hough and guest judge Kym Johnson supported his views, but Carrie Ann Inaba offered the strictest criticism, suggesting the dance appeared repetitive. The audience reacted with boos at this remark, yet Fishel remained undeterred.
“I’m just having a blast,” Fishel shared with host Julianne Hough. “Sometimes I think I enjoy myself so much that I forget I’m meant to be dancing! It’s pure joy.”
Fishel and Daniels are familiar figures to fans as they portrayed Topanga Lawrence and Mr. George Feeny on the beloved ABC show Boy Meets World, a series that ran for seven iconic seasons from 1993 to 2000.
Earlier this month, Fishel announced Daniels’ participation in her performance during Dedication Night on her podcast, “Danielle With the Stars,” stating, “Mr. Feeny will be joining me on the dance floor!”
She further revealed that Daniels was “going to take part in the dance” alongside her and Pashkov.
Though it felt surreal to say, Fishel teased, “We will be dancing to the beloved Boy Meets World theme song.”
She explained her motivation for honoring Daniels through her Week 5 routine.
“This dance pays tribute to Bill and the immeasurable impact he has had on my life, as well as the influence of Boy Meets World on my journey,” she explained. “He is an inspiration to many, and I want to publicly thank him and create a memorable moment for him to feel the love he deserves.”
Fishel shared further insights in an Entertainment Weekly feature about her admiration for Daniels.
“At 98 years old, he has a rich history, starting as a child actor with a remarkable career,” she stated. “I feel as though my own career is experiencing a second wind at 44, and witnessing him still vibrant and attending conventions inspires me greatly. He was part of a series that profoundly changed my life.”
Additionally, she hinted at other “special guests” attending Dedication Night, saying, “Some of them genuinely surprise me, but it fills me with joy to know they can be there.”
Fishel’s tribute performance during Dedication Night was not her first nod to the Boy Meets World universe throughout her Dancing With the Stars journey. Prior to this, she showcased her skills dancing to Girl Meets World co-star Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Manchild” during the TikTok-themed episode on September 30. (In the Disney Channel spinoff that aired from 2014 to 2017, Fishel reprised her role as Topanga, while Carpenter, 26, played her daughter’s friend, Maya Hart.)
“Sabrina has been a part of my life for over a decade now,” Fishel expressed, “I regard her as my own daughter.”
In a heartfelt video message, Carpenter told Fishel how “proud” she was of her, adding, “I love you so much.”
Dancing With the Stars broadcasts on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes also available on Hulu the following day.
