'Boy Meets World' 's Danielle Fishel Recalls Nearly Being Fired at 12 Age During First Day on Set

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Danielle Fishel’s journey onBoy Meets Worlddidn’t get off to a great start.

The actress, 41, has been reflecting on her time on the series on the newBoy Meets Worldrewatch podcast,Pod Meets World. Speaking with co-hostsRider StrongandWill Friedleon arecent episodefeaturing series director David Trainer, Fishel — who played Topanga Lawrence — recalled her rough first day on set.

Fishel initially had a smaller role in the series but wound up replacing the original actress chosen to play Topanga. But the then-12-year-old had a habit of speaking quickly. This ultimately proved to be a problem for series creator Michael Jacobs, and Fishel claims he threatened to fire her from the ABC series.

Jacobs then proceeded to deliver his notes to everyone else before calling down Fishel’s mother from the studio audience to join her at a table on set. “He went through every single one of my lines and what he wanted and what I wasn’t doing right and how slow I needed to talk,” she said.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Friedle, 45, pointed out how the moment seemingly “still affects” her today, leading Fishel to disclose how she’s “sweating profusely” while retelling the story.

“What I know specifically was said is, ‘All I know is, if you don’t come back tomorrow doing this entirely differently, you are also not going to be here,’ referencing the girl I had replaced,” she added.

Since Fishel was very focused on making Jacobs happy, she and her mother stayed up until the wee hours of the morning “going over every single line.”

Fishel’s hard work paid off. After participating in rehearsal the next day, she recalled Jacobs standing up to say, “Let’s give Danielle a round of applause, you did exactly what I asked of you. Thank you, thank you. Congratulations, it was wonderful.”

Fishel starred in all seven seasons ofBoy Meets Worldfrom 1993 and 2000. Years later, she reprised the role in its spin-off series,Girl Meets World.

Paul Archuleta/Getty

Earlier this year, Fishel opened up about how she once resented the series but eventually learned to be grateful to be involved at all.

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New episodes ofPod Meets Worldarrive weekly everywhere podcasts are streamed.

source: people.com