Jeff McCracken Movies
Supporting actor, onscreen from the '80s. ~ Rovi- 2000
In the conclusion of Boy Meets World's two-part series finale (originally telecast as a single hour-long episode), Cory (Ben Savage) has decided to move to New York with Topanga (Danielle Fishel) after all, while Jack (Matthew Lawrence) and Shawn (Rider Strong) surprise one and all when they opt to join the Peace Corps. But before everyone makes their individual farewells, the cast assembles in the classroom of Mr. Feeny (William Daniels), who delivers a touching valedictory: "Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do Good." And then, almost to himself, "I love you all..." Excerpts from previous episodes fill out this memorable climactic episode--and as bonus, Cory finally figures out the meaning of the series' title! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2000
In the first half of Boy Meets World's two-part series finale (originally telecast as a single hour-long episode), Cory (Ben Savage) has mixed feelings about relocating to New York so that Topanga (Danielle Fishel) can begin her internship at the Brown-Elliot law firm. Meanwhile, Eric (Will Friedle) persuades Shawn (Rider Strong) to come along when he moves out of Philadelphia; and Jack (Matthew Lawrence) and Rachel (Maitland Ward) intend to make the biggest move of all. Clips from earlier episodes are incorporated throughout as "flashbacks". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2000
A man is killed in front of his brother and his wife -- and Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and Sorenson (Rick Schroder) must rely upon the knowhow of a forensics expert to untangle the survivors' stories. Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) has trouble hiding his envy when it appears that Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) will soon be promoted to sergeant. And in her efforts to find out the truth about Jill's (Andrea Thompson) ex-husband, Don, Diane (Kim Delaney) arranges to meet a curiously untrustworthy narcotics task-force agent named Denby (Scott Cohen, in his first series appearance). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
Armed with "insider" information--mainly, that Pennbrook College's star football player Jerry Mungo (Grant Garrison) may lose his eligibility because of terrible grades--Jack (Matthew Lawrence) places what sounds like very small bet on Pennbrook's rival amish. Eric (Will Friedle) matches Jack's bet, little realizing that he has wagered a thousand dollars! Meanwhile, Topanga (Danielle Fishel) has a heart-to-heart with her divorcing parents, which helps change her mind about her future with Cory (Ben Savage). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
There's more trouble in store for Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) when the couple makes a pact to be totally honest with one another. This policy (note that we didn't say "the best policy") is tested to the breaking point when Cory and Topanga attend the first-ever dinner party held by Jack (Matthew Lawrence) and Rachel (Maitland Ward). Before long, all of the guests are playing the "honesty game"--and not surprisingly, the truth REALLY hurts. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
Julius Carry guests as Angela's military-man dad Sgt. Moore. The arrival of her father forces Angela (Trina McGee-Davis) to confront the real reason that she does not want to get back together with Shawn (Rider Strong)--and it has something to do with "like mother, like daughter." Meanwhile, Shawn attempts to prove that he's worthy of Angela by going through boot camp; and Cory (Ben Savage)--remember him?--is still endeavoring to patch things up with Topanga (Danielle Fishel), even as Eric (Will Friedle) plots vengeance against the girl for humiliating him in the previous episode's wrestling match. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) play a "compatability" game--and surprise, surprise, they find that they aren't all that compatable. The only solution to this problem is for the couple to move in together and get more accustomed to one another--which turns out to be a major mistake, thanks to a million-and-one idiosyncracies and bad habits. Meanwhile, Jack (Matthew Lawrence) tries to hide his grief over the death of his dad Chet, so as not to increase the emotional burden on his half-brother Shawn (Rider Strong). The climactic revelation of a startling secret brings Jack and Chet closer together than ever before--and, unexpectedly, brings Jack a LOT closer to Rachel (Maitland Ward). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
Real-life husband and wife Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole appear as Topanga's parents Jedediah and Rhianna (roles played in subsequent episodes by Mark Harelik and Marcia Cross). Arriving in town for the wedding of Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel), Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence put a damper on things by announcing their impending divorce! Elsewhere, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) finally proposes to Dean Bolander (Bonnie Bartlett, in her last series appearance); and Eric (Will Friedle) asks Shawn (Rider Strong) to help him get over losing Rachel (Maitland Ward) to Jack (Matthew Lawrence). A cliffhanger ending caps this final episode of Boy Meets World's sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
After camping out in line all night to score two tickets for a one-time-only Van Gogh exhibit, Cory (Ben Savage) is upset that Topanga (Danielle Fishel) has gone to the exhibit with Angela (Trina McGee-Davis) instead. Worse still, while staring at the immortal "Starry Night", Topanga meets a handsome guy named Ricky (Jonathan Jackson). The plot thickens when, after several weeks of refusing to believe Cory's insistence that his kissing of another girl "means nothing", Topanga is herself the recipient of a lip-lock from Ricky! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
In the conclusion of Boy Meets World's two-part Season Six opener, Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) have eloped, but Topanga can't bring herself to say "I do" before the the Justice of the Peace--and never mind that it was she who proposed to Cory in the first place. Having decided that they aren't ready for marriage, the couple returns home, only to find that their families have arranged an elaborate newlywed party for them. So it shouldn't be a total loss, the festivities are changed to a retirement party for Mr. Feeny (William Daniels)--at least until an angry Eric (Will Friedle) has his say in the matter. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
The director of a promotional film for Pennbrook asks Shawn (Rider Strong) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) to share a kiss for the camera. Sensing that there's more going on than just acting, a jealous Cory (Ben Savage) wants to know for sure, so he encourages Shawn and Topanga to go on a date to see what's what. Amused by Cory's paranoia, the couple decide to play a practical joke on him--but will it backfire like all the other practical jokes on this series? Meanwhile, Eric (Will Friedle) and Jack (Matthew Lawrence) go to ridiculous lengths to convince Rachel (Maitland Ward) than they aren't a couple of uncouth jerks...and as usual, it's up to Rachel to break the tension with a bit of unexpected behavior. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
Hoping to prove that he's the same old Cory (Ben Savage) even though he's engaged to Topanga (Danielle Fishel), our hero accompanies his male buddies to a restaurant which boasts scantily-clad waitresses. In the course of the evening, Cory loses his engagement ring, and subsequently tries to prevent Topanga from finding out. Elsewhere, Rachel (Maitland Ward) is assigned to write a paper about male bonding--and guess which two guys she uses for "research". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
As Season Six of Boy Meets World gets under way with the first episode of a two-part story, Cory still does not know how to respond to Topanga's sudden marriage proposal. The rest of Cory's friends and family members offer varying degrees of advice and comfort: Shawn's girlfriend Angela (Trina McGee-Davis) , for example, thinks that Cory and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) are too young to marry, while Cory's parents Alan (William Russ) and Amy (Betsy Randle) are in no position to say anything since they themselves had eloped. Our hero's indecision extends all the way to the wedding ceremony--at which point, guess who announces that it isn't the right time yet? Maitland Ward joins the regular cast in the role of Rachel McGuire, the new and very attractive roommate of college boys Eric (Will Friedle) and Jack (Matthew Lawrence). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
Trying to comfort Angela (Trina McGee-Davis) after her breakup with Shawn (Rider Strong), Cory (Ben Savage) is shocked when Angela angrily insists that she was never his friend and wants to be left alone. This being Boy Meets World, we can safely translate Angela's tirade as "You're my friend--please help me!" And having emerged from retirement, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) arrives at Pennbrook College...as a student. Bonnie Bartlett, the wife of costar William Daniels) joins the regular cast as Dean Bolander, who by episode's end determines that Mr. Feeny would be better suited to a different position at the college. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
Cory (Ben Savage) is at a crossroads: He can either choose to go out with Lauren (Linda Cardellini), the girl whom he met during his ski trip two weeks ago, or make up with Topanga (Danielle Fishel). Either way, somebody's going to get hurt--maybe everybody. Elsewhere, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) chooses Eric (Will Friedle) as temporary assistant in his American Citizenship class, with the clear understanding that Eric is to do nothing more but pass out pencils and tests...but things don't quite work out that smoothly. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
Boy Meets World takes a break from several weeks' worth of angst over the romance between Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) with this wild-and-wooly takeoff of the popular horror flick Scream (which was something of a takeoff itself). While Cory (Ben Savage) and his friends are serving weekend detention, a shrouded killer begins picking the students off one by one. Everyone panics but Shawn (Rider Strong), who has seen enough scary movies to figure out what will happen next--at least until Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) turns up murdered as well! It's giving nothing away to reveal that the whole experience is literally a nightmare...and keep an eye out for Jennifer Love Hewitt, more or less playing herself. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Cory (Ben Savage) continues to proclaim his undying devotion to Topanga (Danielle Fishel), even though she has moved to faraway Pittsburgh. Evidently Topanga feels the same way, inasmuch as she runs away from her family to be reunited with Cory. Now it falls to the youngster to convinces their uptight parents that this is the "real thing." The episode's blatant references to "Romeo and Juliet" take on special significance when one realizes that the part of Topanga's disapproving Aunt Prudence is played by Olivia Hussey, who played Juliet in Franco Zefferrelli's 1968 film version of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
Now that he has his driver's license, Cory (Ben Savage) wants to spend his 16th birthday in Atlantic City with Shawn (Rider Strong) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel). This does not sit well with dad Alan (William Russ), who'd hoped that Cory could celebrate the occasion with his family. The situation degenerates into an argument, and as a result Cory is not only reluctant to call his dad when he is pulled over for speeding, but he stubbornly refuses to do so! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
Appearing as contestants on the prestigious but low-rated TV academic quiz show "Knowledge Fever", Cory (Ben Savage), Shawn (Rider Strong) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) score a hit with their wisecracks and hilarious cultural references. In fact, the producers are so impressed that they invite the trio to make a return appearance. Flattered by all the attention, Cory and his friends are blissfully unaware that the producers plan to "dumb down" all future quiz questions in order to keep the threesome coming back week after week. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
It's a dark day in the Matthews household when Eric (Will Friedle) is fired from the wilderness store owned by his father Alan (William Russ). Though assured that this decision was made to force him to stop holding himself back and to give college another try, the embittered Eric becomes a security guard instead. But a chance meeting with a brainy coworker named Ronny (Kris Iyer) convinces Eric that he's making a mistake--and a nocturnal visit to Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) confirms this. Meanwhile, the time has come for Cory (Ben Savage) and his friends to pick up their Number Two pencils, break open the seals, and take their SATs. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
Jonathan (Anthony Tyler Quinn, in his final series appearance) is worried that the new group of friends that Shawn (Rider Strong) is hanging around with are members of a cult. Shawn hotly denies this, but the evidence is overwhelming--especially the manipulative machinations of the group's leader Mr. Mack (Jerry Levine). The situation is not resolved until Jonathan is seriously injured in a motorcyle accident...and Shawn is forced to summon up the inner strength he never knew he had. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
Having decided to go to college after all, Eric (Will Friedle) begins searching for an institute of higher learning that won't unduly tax his intellect--in other words, an "easy school". While visiting Beach State College with Eric, Cory (Ben Savage) meets a pretty co-ed named Mary Beth (Lisa Dean Ryan), who, much to his astonishment, makes a play for him! Bonnie Bartlett, the wife of series costar William Daniels (Mr. Feeny), makes her first appearance as Dean Bolander in this, the final episode of Boy Meets World's fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
To prove to Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) that he has good business sense, Cory (Ben Savage) takes advantage of Feeny's absence to transform his teacher's home into a Bed & Breakfast. As for Feeny, he and Eric (Will Friedle) unexpectedly become close friends while vacationing at a hotel; in fact, there's a fascinating role reversal when Eric provides comfort and advice to an unlucky-in-love Feeny! And incidentally, where did Shawn (Rider Strong) learn how to speak Dutch? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
Inspired by the book Black Like Me, in which a white reporter poses as a black man, Cory decides to write a school newspaper article on sexual harrassment--and in order to research the subject, he intends to disguise himself as a girl! Somehow or other, it is Shawn (Rider Strong) who ends up donning a wig and skirt and going out into the dating world as "Veronica Wasboyski"--and needless to say, he gets more "research" than he bargained for. Elsewhere, Eric (Will Friedle) tries to acclimate mountain-gal Lonnie (Jen Campbell) to the Big City. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
