Erica Montolfo-Bura Meets World

After experiencing the intensity of “Resurrection,” the gang knew they had to talk to the writer behind all the drama: Erica Montolfo-Bura! 

Erica offers some much needed insight into what inspired the late series shift in tone and reveals her role in some of the newer characters in the Boy Meets World universe.

Though initially hired to write for Angela, she’d end up writing 4 episodes of BMW and go onto work on shows like My Wife and Kids, The Game, The Neighborhood and iCarly.

But it all started at here - at Pennbrook University. And now we’ll learn all about it on a brand new…Pod Meets World!

Follow @podmeetsworldshow on Instagram and TikTok!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:19):
So, as you all know, when we first started the
podcast and throughout most of the early part of the podcast,
I had a dream and it was a dream that
I think I have to let go now because it
never came true as much as I tried to manifest it.
And as you're all aware, I have yet to play
a man who left the big city to go back
to run his family's small Christmas tree farm.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
He wanted to be a Hallmark honk.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
I don't care if I was a honk or the
bad guy, or even just the local.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
The guy's usually in the town and it's a woman
who comes.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Back, Yeah, she's usually gone.

Speaker 4 (00:54):
It can happen.

Speaker 1 (00:54):
I'm trying to break the stereotypes, right, Okay, I'm trying
to create a new paradigm.

Speaker 4 (00:58):
But whatever.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
But we all know that hasn't happened because I've been
watching Hallmark and so far I haven't been in any
of the movies I've seen.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
No, that's true. That's true. You didn't just appear on
your own TV once.

Speaker 5 (01:08):
Right.

Speaker 4 (01:08):
I was like, wait a second, I'm not in this movie.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
So I'm changing my dream up because I have a
new obsession, which is a wonderful television program called Love Island.

Speaker 4 (01:20):
Are you both aware of Love Island?

Speaker 3 (01:22):
I have heard probably doing a lot of work here,
but yeah, sure's right.

Speaker 4 (01:26):
Magically one match is what I should say.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
I have heard of it. I have never seen an episode.

Speaker 4 (01:32):
I've never seen an episode, so you're missing out.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
Because whether you watch Love Island US, UK, Australia, it's amazing.
It's incredibly beautiful people who are very scantily clad the
entire time, no matter what they're doing, and they just
keep swapping partners like it's the seventies at a key party.
It's really amazing. But the best part of the show

(01:57):
is there's a voiceover guy who's like there to be
the comedic voiceover guy.

Speaker 4 (02:04):
That's his whole part. I mean, it's it's not even
he's not even trying to be ironic. He's just really funny.
That's my new dream is to be the funny that
right I've got for radio.

Speaker 3 (02:17):
Is he is he making jokes or.

Speaker 1 (02:22):
So he's making jokes about them the whole time, like
you know. For instance, one of the ones we love
to watch was Love Island Australia and one of the
characters is named Jackson and it was spelled j A
X S O N. So the guy would always announce
like and now we'll cut to Jackson with an X.
You know, like stuff like that. That is just the
most You think it's all written for him? Or do
you think O Jensen's popping up? This means something?

Speaker 5 (02:43):
Do I break this to Will Daniel?

Speaker 2 (02:45):
I don't know. I was just I was going to
try to figure out how to do.

Speaker 5 (02:48):
It what I was offered that job.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
How do you turn down the mad that Magic because
it's a smut show show?

Speaker 4 (02:58):
Yes it is. Oh, smut me up.

Speaker 5 (03:00):
Bro. When I was on the radio at k Rock,
they reached out and uh, I want to do.

Speaker 4 (03:07):
Okay, right, No, that is your biggest mistake in your life.

Speaker 5 (03:13):
And I knew it was going to be big. Yeah.
I had told Daniel it's gonna be on for seasons
and seasons, but it was like it wasn't. I wasn't
interested in it.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
I will stream just to you Jensen. But my god, sir,
that is the ultimate tream. Did you also turned down
Hallmark Movies?

Speaker 4 (03:32):
No?

Speaker 5 (03:33):
No, just this one. But but I will say I
said it on the radio, right, I told this story
on the radio that they asked me to do it,
and I didn't do it, And then the guy they
have doing it kind of has a little kermity voice,
like I do slightly, I can do.

Speaker 4 (03:48):
Kermit, that's not that's not I can do that.

Speaker 5 (03:50):
So kermit.

Speaker 6 (03:52):
First, we're in Love Island. This is like the best
place you could possibly be, you know that kind I'll
do it like that. If that's how they wanted, why
did you Piggy Kurby?

Speaker 4 (04:02):
I mean, however they want it, Jensen.

Speaker 5 (04:04):
Well, then they said, do you want the guy who
took the job to come on Kevin Eben? And we
said no, but but it was almost like they were
gonna kermits battling.

Speaker 4 (04:12):
Oh my god.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
So if you still have that number, we'll talk because
I don't want to take anybody's job, but that guy's.

Speaker 5 (04:18):
You had been great, well one percent. You're quicker than
I am.

Speaker 3 (04:20):
That would have been Do you are they writing the
lines or is he just watching the playback and then
getting rose or make jokes.

Speaker 4 (04:28):
That's it's the ultimate job.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
Get to watch the clips first, you know what the
lines are that you're because like what if no, or
you came up with something better than what they have written.

Speaker 5 (04:38):
Yeah, I think that's offered. I think yeah, I think
they're Yeah.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
I imagine it seems like a very conducive atmosphere to
creativity and sex, so I think they would allow it.
The ad living, I think is part because the main
guy who does most of them is the is the
Irish guy who's hugely funny owen.

Speaker 4 (04:55):
And it's just I want to say, where you turned
down that?

Speaker 5 (05:00):
Wait on? The Kirmity guy isn't the US one anymore?

Speaker 2 (05:03):
No, he was for Australia.

Speaker 4 (05:04):
Oh no, this was Austria.

Speaker 1 (05:06):
I don't know who does the American version, but I
heard he wasn't Sarah Hyland she is she still the
currently the host?

Speaker 5 (05:11):
She was the host then? Yeah? Or no? Sorry? I
think a girl, a social media person named like Ariel
or something was up for the job at that time.
But I think it's kel switched around. This is a lot.
This is an old story.

Speaker 4 (05:21):
Yeah, well, it's.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
Just they asked him a long time ago at many
many many season.

Speaker 4 (05:26):
My dream job. It's my dream job. Sorry throwing it out,
I have to.

Speaker 2 (05:29):
Look up who Love Island US voiceover?

Speaker 5 (05:34):
Oh yeah, we should we should get him in.

Speaker 4 (05:35):
Was it going to be it's going to.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
Be the narrator for Love Island USA is typically Matthew Hoffman,
but for the current season seven it is Iron Iron Sterling.

Speaker 5 (05:46):
Okay, okay, so yeah, the Kirmitity guy is the first
one Hoffman.

Speaker 1 (05:50):
Okay, Yeah, I think the Ian Sterling might. They might
have gone with the Irish guy, who's just because he's
got a ton of energy, and hey, we talk about
outsourcing our jobs all the time, so I think it'd
be great to bring that back if he is Irish
and I.

Speaker 5 (06:04):
Will though, will them changing makes me think they have
some thoughts. They might. I mean, they might be open
to next season.

Speaker 1 (06:11):
Yeah, my god, it would be a dream. I would
dump you three so fast to be on that show.
It would be like we never knew each other because
by that point you're in the big time. Like I
wouldn't even look back at y'all and our friendship because
Love Island USA the best.

Speaker 4 (06:28):
It would be the best.

Speaker 2 (06:30):
Okay, But no, good to know what you mean to you, sir.

Speaker 5 (06:34):
You mean a lot to me.

Speaker 4 (06:35):
Uh wait, I'm looking at your zoom name Danielle.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
Danielle.

Speaker 4 (06:37):
Yeah, but wow, I can't believe Jensen turned out that job.

Speaker 3 (06:42):
I know I didn't.

Speaker 2 (06:43):
I didn't remember because we've talked about this before and
I didn't remember that it was Love Island. But I
don't watch any of that.

Speaker 4 (06:50):
States, so I don't know.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
Then, No, I don't think it is.

Speaker 4 (06:53):
It is it is, by the way, I would never
dump you guys. I couldn't do it, Damielle.

Speaker 5 (06:57):
Do you remember that they wanted to have a call
with us, No, because I had said I didn't want
to do it because it's just making jokes about people
basically having sex on an island. Yeah, and they were like, oh,
it's not just that, and then I was like, oh,
but it seems like it's just that, and then they said, well,
we'd love to have a call, and then we didn't
have the call with them, and then we watched it
and it was like, it's.

Speaker 4 (07:16):
Exactly exactly what it is.

Speaker 2 (07:17):
Yeah, exactly, but.

Speaker 1 (07:18):
It's also breaking up on islands and then swapping partners.
It's not just sex. And then they have games where
they all have to kiss each other. So there's very educational. Yes, yeah,
there's a depth to Love Island that you guys are
just not understanding, I don't think, because you're judging without
really having delved into it.

Speaker 4 (07:36):
In any way, shape or form.

Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, yeah, that's that's true.

Speaker 5 (07:38):
Oh, Will, They were very nice people, so I wish
they hear this and call you.

Speaker 2 (07:42):
Wilfredell available for Love Island voiceover. You're hearing it here first,
Welcome to Pod meets World. I'm Danielle Fishel, I'm right
or strong.

Speaker 4 (07:52):
And I'm Wilfredell from Love Island. No, I won't do
it like that. That'd be weird.

Speaker 2 (07:57):
Do your Kermit voice?

Speaker 6 (07:58):
Oh yeah, just do it like Kermit and Will come
to Love Island. Maybe just put on a bikini and
we can hang out.

Speaker 5 (08:10):
Hello.

Speaker 7 (08:11):
I am Matthew Mercer from Critical Role, a tabletop role
playing show where a bunch of nerdy voice actors explore
the fantasy world of Xandria. For each episode, I lead
players Laura Bailey, Tollison Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Liam O'Brien, Mauritia Ray,
Sam Regal, and Travis Willingham on an epic story shaped
by rolls of the dice and dramatic choices. Now, our
three campaigns and other adventures are filled with action, mystery, wonder, heartbreak,

(08:35):
and lots of jokes along the way. So we hope
you'll find something to love on Critical One, follow the show,
or subscribe to listen on Stitcher, the Serious xm app,
or wherever you listen.

Speaker 2 (08:53):
For a show that had a pretty close knit and
exclusive crew for the first three seasons, we have noticed
a lot of Neon Aimes as we've moved along with
our rewatch. We've been lucky enough to speak to most
of them over the past year, and now in the
home stretch, we are being introduced to what will be
the final additions to the Boy Meets World Writer's Room,
and this week we are honored to talk to one

(09:14):
of those late hires, who, despite missing the first half
of the show, left an undeniable lasting impression on its legacy.
She began her writing journey after a false start in marketing,
leaving a posh high rise job to join the prestigious
Walt Disney Writer's Fellowship program, which funneled her directly into
the Boy Meets World universe, and since then she has

(09:35):
never looked back. As the lone black writer to ever
work on our show, it would be easy to peg
her as Angela's voice, but in reality she contribute evenly
across the board, and she contributed a lot we've already
recapped her two season six scripts Poetic License and Ode
de Holden Cawfield and the Wildly Melodramatic Resurrection, and we'll

(09:57):
find two more episodes with her name on them when
we get to the final seventh season. And after beginning
her career with US, she'd never stop working, making stops
as either a writer, a producer, a showrunner or all
three on My Wife and Kids, The Game, The Neighborhood,
Papa's House, and The Connors, even getting her own show
back in twenty sixteen Zoe. Ever after starring Brandy, she

(10:21):
brought a much needed perspective to the writer's room back
in the late nineties, and now almost thirty years later,
she will do it again for our podcast, Welcome to
pod meets World. Erica Montalfo Burrah, Hello.

Speaker 8 (10:38):
Hi, Hi, how are you really well? How are you guys?

Speaker 2 (10:43):
Wherever you are? It looks so tropical.

Speaker 8 (10:47):
I'mun It's a whole vibe, guys, where are you? I'm
at home? This is my I was doing a podcast
too before, and so this is my like, you know,
it's my vibe. It's a vibe. It's like, oh I
love it, Erica being fabulous and you know, we're on
the torch for all the boy meets for old people.

Speaker 4 (11:09):
Right, Oh, I love it.

Speaker 2 (11:12):
It looks tropical.

Speaker 8 (11:13):
I'm having all of your vibes too.

Speaker 2 (11:15):
Oh thanks, I've got a very boy meets world heavy
vibe over here.

Speaker 8 (11:18):
I love it though.

Speaker 2 (11:19):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (11:20):
Can I tell you I was like watching, like to
do my little research for our discussion today, all the
episodes I've written, and I was like, oh, like, looks
so cute. I mean, like, I'm like, I'm so proud
of them.

Speaker 2 (11:31):
You know, it's like we do our thing as you
should be. Yeah, yes, I mean it is no small
feat to keep a show on the air and to
write twenty two episodes in a season.

Speaker 8 (11:47):
It doesn't even happen anymore, you know. Now it's like
you get eight and you're out, you know, yeah.

Speaker 2 (11:51):
Exactly ten if you're lucky.

Speaker 3 (11:54):
Also, not only that, but then to have a podcast
thirty years later where people still want to talk about it.

Speaker 6 (12:00):
That's what's crazy at.

Speaker 8 (12:02):
That point, right or like literally when I you know,
I've gone on to work quite a bit after. You know,
that was my first job, but to this day, whenever
I said, oh, yeah it was on you know, my
first job was boy means World was like, like, I mean,
like they go nuts. It's everyone's favorite show. Everyone grew
up with it. It's a cultural icon. So it's my

(12:23):
proudest moment in retro.

Speaker 2 (12:25):
Well, we want to jump right into that first job experience.
So let's start with a big decision you made in
your life that led to Boy Meets World, your first
writing job ever. You graduate UCLA with a degree in marketing, right,
and then you land a big private sector gig right
out of college, working for companies like Merrill Lynch and Phillips.

(12:46):
So what made you decide to leave it all behind
to eventually just eat Cuckaroo with Jeff Manel for multiple seasons.

Speaker 8 (12:53):
Oh my god, Manel, that's yeah, he's my favorite person
in the world, by the way.

Speaker 4 (13:00):
All of our sweet all of our yea, Oh my god.

Speaker 8 (13:03):
He always told me I would. I would always say
to him, shut up man Now, like that's my thing,
Like that's my catchphrase, shut up, shut up. But yeah,
it's literally I call it like my my cubicle moment.
And you probably don't know this because you guys kind
of went right into you know, your calling early on,
but you have this cubicle moment where you're sitting there

(13:23):
being like I can't do this for the rest of
my I'm like, I mean, you know what I mean
in our twenty in my early twenties and just thinking
like I can't sit in this cubicle for the next
fifty years, you know what I mean. So I knew that,
like I want to do something else. And I was
married at the time, so I like my ex husband
was like, you know, what, what do you want to do?
And I was just like, I don't really know. But

(13:44):
I grew up in La so I kind of have
this access to like and I knew about and I
wanted to be a writer's side with an English major,
so I kind of knew that I could maybe dip
my toe in that water.

Speaker 2 (13:55):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (13:55):
I wrote, you know what, a specscript or a couple
of secs scripts, thinking I was going to I had
to get a manager or an agent, and then ended
up sending it to this Disney fellowship and I got in,
and in retrospect now I found out that it's like
harder to get in than Harvard, like wow, And that
just set me on the course. Like I got, you know,

(14:16):
met with Michael as a you know, as a result
of the fellowship because at that point they introduced you
to different showrunners who were you know, who had shows
you know that were being you know done on the
Disney lot ter this Disney Studios and we're touchtone I
think at the time when you guys are all right
and yeah, So I met with Michael and like got
you know, a job, and then the rest is history.

(14:37):
I never looked back.

Speaker 2 (14:38):
And so where were we did you? Was your first year?
Because were you on Boy Meets World starting on season five?

Speaker 8 (14:45):
No? I was. I think I was. Season six was
my own.

Speaker 2 (14:48):
So you did season six and seven?

Speaker 8 (14:50):
Yeah, Because I think technically I was like they wanted
someone to be the voice of Angela, right, which is
like the retrospect. I'm like, okay, well that's like the
we can know, like I could be the voice of everybody,
which I was, But you know, I think they were
consciously looking for someone to represent you know, Angela became
a big character. So I came on the season that
she came on.

Speaker 2 (15:09):
Basically she came in in season five, So maybe.

Speaker 8 (15:12):
I was, No, I think I think I think maybe
she was. I think I came on the season after
she came in, So.

Speaker 2 (15:17):
Yeah, Okay, so season six is where you started. So
you did the last two seasons.

Speaker 8 (15:22):
The last show two seasons. So I'm like, on the
adult seasons is what I call the right The.

Speaker 2 (15:25):
Adult seasons exactly miss miss the childhood years.

Speaker 8 (15:29):
I did not miss him as a fan, I mean
that I definitely was there every Friday night watching, but
but yeah, as a writer, I was there.

Speaker 1 (15:35):
Wait were you really? So before you joined us, you
you had already seen the show?

Speaker 8 (15:39):
Are you kidding me? I mean, listen, for me, those
were my kind of teenage years, you know what I mean?
So I was like, that's what was my getting ready
to go out like Friday night. Yeah. Yeah, it's like
you're getting ready, you're taking shower, you're putting makeup on,
and you happened in the background.

Speaker 2 (15:56):
Oh cool, that is so fun. So do you remember
how many people were in the fellowship program with you?

Speaker 8 (16:04):
We well there was two tiers, so they had a
film a film program, and they had a television program.
So like you know, there maybe were five television people
and then five film people. So and again it was
very competitive, and so I was really one of the
ones to kind of like get staffed because you have
to kind of have these meetings and I remember like
meeting with Michael and you know, I think I think

(16:24):
Manuel was in the meeting too, just like I shut up,
but we just I mean, you know, it was just
I guys, I just tell you guys, like literally again
coming from my cubicle to like meeting with these guys
and then getting this opportunity. I just remember being in
the writer's room and just being like this is like,

(16:45):
I mean, this is the best you know what I.

Speaker 2 (16:47):
Mean, what a dream come true?

Speaker 8 (16:50):
And you just feel like like this is like like
what I'm meant to do, you know, just felt and
they were all so welcoming to me too, so like
kind of all the guys took me under their wings
as like you know, the young writer, and it just
was the best time ever, you know. And again being
on a show that I was already a fan of,
you know, I'm like what am I? This is crazy?
Like what am I doing? I'm like, you know what

(17:11):
I mean, It's like surreal.

Speaker 1 (17:13):
And were you always because as you said, there was
a film side and a television side. Were you always
more of a television fan? So did you ever consider
going into the film program or were you just TV
the whole way.

Speaker 8 (17:23):
I mean, listen, I'm a writer, you know, like across
the board. So even like to this day, like I
still you know, written movies as well, but like I've
always been a television fan. Like when I was a
kid again, Boy Mets would be in the background when
I was getting ready to go out, you know, like
my parents when we were growing up, would have like,
you know, the TV. We all had TVs in our broom.
Like We're never the family that was like you can't

(17:44):
watch TV. We had TV on at dinner, watching like
Power More or whatever. You know. So TV was always
pervasive in our house and a part of you know,
my growing up and to this day, like I mean,
I still like I'm a background right now, I have
like the Food Channel on.

Speaker 2 (18:00):
Boring. Just going ahead, shot Bobby.

Speaker 8 (18:02):
Play right now?

Speaker 4 (18:03):
Guys, Sorry, is it Boy meets Grill? Or is it
which body show? Is it?

Speaker 1 (18:09):
I do?

Speaker 8 (18:10):
What does it be be? Bobby?

Speaker 4 (18:13):
Gotcha? Yeah, gotcha?

Speaker 8 (18:16):
No one's meeting Bobby Play right now.

Speaker 2 (18:17):
By the way, I want to get more into this
meeting you had with Michael impossibly Manel, Do you remember
what do they ask you? Like you're in a fellowship program,
so you they know you don't have a ton of experience.
What what is what's that meeting?

Speaker 5 (18:32):
Like?

Speaker 2 (18:32):
What are they asking you? What's that interview?

Speaker 8 (18:34):
Like it was? I mean again, I this is and
I think you guys probably all can relate to this too,
because you can look back at your younger selves. I mean,
like how your progression in this business has been. And
imagine like your first auditions, Like what was your mind
space when you were first auditioning versus how is how
you are now? So I was just kind of just
like young and you know, and naive, and I was

(18:57):
just like, hey, guys, you know, like all enthusiastic, and
I just liked my energy, you know what I mean?
They also understood and I think, and I'm very proud
of the fact I think that I influenced like who
Angela became because I will tell you another story, Like
once I got in the show, we would be in
the writer's room, right, and so Michael would be because
Michael Michael did the typing, like he didn't we didn't

(19:19):
have a writer, Like he was like hey yeah, so
he would be like okay. So Angela enters and she
says and then he'd look at.

Speaker 5 (19:28):
Me just like she says, hi.

Speaker 8 (19:32):
I mean. So I finally had a conversation with him.
I said, listen, because I grew up in la and
I grew up in a Verry like, you know, like
kind of a bougie neighborhood, so like I grew up
around like all different kinds of people and so kind
of like Angela did. Even though my parents my father
wasn't in the military. But I just kind of had
like heart to heart with Michael and I said, listen,
I think Angela's like me, Like she doesn't speak differently

(19:54):
than these kids. She grew up with them. So I
don't think there's any kind of ethnic you know, city
that needs to be like pervasive and who she is.
She's just one of the kids. And so I think
that was very instrumental in the beginning of just letting
Angela be Angeline. Did we have to lean into any
kind of you know, her being urban or anything like that,
you know what I mean. I'm proud of that because

(20:16):
I think, like she's just like me. She you know,
she grew up in the valley whatever, you know what
I mean. Yeah, So I think they were very receptive
to that and I, you know, I appreciate that.

Speaker 2 (20:27):
It's also so nice then for the actor, like for
Trina to get to really put her own spin and
her own take on who Angela is without being told
who she was in stage direction and in parentheticals, like
just really giving her agency over who the character is.

(20:47):
So and I thank god you did that.

Speaker 8 (20:49):
Yeah. And again I think and not just me, I
think that everyone, you know. Again, Michael specifically was very
receptive to the idea like we you know, we're all
just people, you know what I mean. So we didn't
lean it's like Angela being like the black girl, you
know what I mean. It wasn't. And I love that,
especially at that time where there were so many different
kinds of shows where there was you know, leaning into
like whatever kind of ethnic experience. It's like this, these

(21:12):
are kids and they grew up together and they're just
they're just all the SAME's. There's no one's monolithic, you
know what I mean. Yeah, So I just I loved
that that was like that our whole crew was like
very diverse and like very just representative of what kids
were at that time, you know, growing up together.

Speaker 2 (21:28):
Do you remember any specific conversations you had with Trina.
Did you guys ever talk about the development of her character.

Speaker 8 (21:35):
And talk about it, because I mean, and I don't
know people know that, you know, Trina was like we
were like the same age and people don't realize that,
like Trina was older because she looked you know, but
I think she was like married at the time.

Speaker 4 (21:49):
I married with kids.

Speaker 8 (21:52):
Yeah, writer knows that. So that was like interesting that
writers a teenager like and you know, dating an adult.
But but but yeah, I mean we we definitely talked
about it. And again she was we were on the
same page. I mean, she kind of just wanted to
represent you know, any girl as opposed to a black girl,
do you know what I mean? And so I think

(22:13):
I think we're so successful of that, and I think
you guys were. I mean, just like everybody melded together.
It's like when I watched my episodes like last night,
I was like, oh my god, this is they're so
sweet together. Everybody's great. And I think, like, you know,
to Panga and Angela were to such great friends too,
Like you believed it, you know, and you believe Sean
and Angela, you know what I mean, everyone like was

(22:33):
believable and it was very sweet, and I think it
was like, you know, indicative of like what we'd want
to see now. I think it was ahead of its times,
just like letting people be people as opposed to having
to like double down on some kind of like you know,
like ethnicity or like you know, realist and political or
anything like that. It was just like kids being kids

(22:55):
and kids, you know, just engaging with each other. And
and I think that's I mean, I'm proud of that. Well.

Speaker 1 (23:01):
I mean, with all the live shows that we do
and all the conventions that we do, it seems to
almost be slightly overwhelming the number of people that prefer
the couple of Sean and Angela.

Speaker 8 (23:14):
Well see that. I think that's not fair, but I
do get it. I watched Poetic Justice the other night,
and that was like when there was a big entel
the Sean love story, and that was that was my
episode that.

Speaker 2 (23:35):
Yeah, okay, it's the second half of the name.

Speaker 8 (23:37):
Yeah yeah, yeah, right, when everybody realized that Sean was
a poet. But it was like it was a good
relationship episodes, like they had hit in her heart and
then like she you know, I love that. It was
like very rote, rom comedy you know, and I think
people but that that trajectory of how you know you
wanted them to be together. I think that was a
big part of that whole art because it was, you know,

(23:58):
he was a guy who couldn't, you know, tell you
how he felt, and so he had to write it
and then you know, they were just they were missing
each other. And I love that. So that worked really well.
But the Cords to Pink, I mean, who doesn't love
Corn to Pang? Come on? I mean, I think he
kind of knew that they were going to be together.
I think that's the difference to know that that Sean
was going to work out. I think everybody knew Corn

(24:19):
to Pank and like, where else are they going to go?

Speaker 2 (24:21):
Yeah, they're They're stuck no matter what, for better or worse.
They are together forever. Talking about being able to have

(24:44):
a show where kids are just kids and not doubling
down on anything in particular relating to ethnicity or whatever.
We have gone back and forth and had many dialogues
about whether it was the way Angela and Sean's interracial
relationship was dealt with or not dealt with. We see
the pros and cons of both sides, Where do you

(25:05):
stand on it? Looking back? Do you are you happy
that it was never really addressed or do you feel like,
in hindsight, maybe it should have been.

Speaker 8 (25:13):
I'm happy it wasn't, like kind of to what we
were talking about. I just feel like the conversation I
had with Michael, it's like, listen, I mean I was
married at the time to someone who wasn't black, and
so for me growing up again, I didn't have that like,
you know, that need to be like put in a
box as like a black woman, you know what I mean.
I'm very lucky to grow up like you know, West La,

(25:35):
where people are liberal and we all, you know, we're
like friends, and it's very similar to what you you know,
we saw on boy Me's roll. And so I just
and again it wasn't my edict at all, but I
just kind of shared that with Michael, and I'm like,
I would love to see her just kind of be
one of the crew and not have to even address
the fact that she's black, and that's kind of what
we decided to do. And to me, I think it's lovely.

(25:56):
I think that's like when I look back, it's like
she's just another girl.

Speaker 2 (25:59):
Yeah, And the occasional times it was mentioned it was
done with a really funny joke.

Speaker 8 (26:07):
Well yeah, well exactly, like sometimes self deprecating where she's like,
oh my god, these white people. You know.

Speaker 2 (26:12):
Yeah, she's like, I gotta get her black.

Speaker 8 (26:14):
Friends exactly, and that I mean to me, I'm one
hundred percent proud of that. And even like her her
issue was more that she was, you know, an army kid.
You know, her dad traveled, and I thought that was
more pertinent to her character, and that's a great character
where she didn't get to bond with people because she
had to move a lot, and the first group of
people that she actually got to fit in with and

(26:36):
which is you know, kind of double on Tendra for
her being the one black friend. But at the same time,
it's more that she was an army friend and so
like she might have to move anytime because she's not
used to getting close to people. So I thought it
just all kind of like made sense.

Speaker 1 (26:50):
Well, the other thing that we've noticed a lot, especially
about season six, is it's really starting to take a
very dramatic turn, and sometimes it's it's a melo dramatic turn.

Speaker 4 (27:00):
It to the point of very special episode.

Speaker 8 (27:02):
E Oh yeah, I was.

Speaker 5 (27:07):
We'll get into that.

Speaker 1 (27:08):
But did you do you remember when you know, at
the start of the season, because we've talked to some
writers that remember arcing out the season or you know,
we get in they're going to do a show bible
for this season. Was there any specific discussion of, you
know what, we're going to take this a little darker
this season than we have in the past.

Speaker 4 (27:24):
I mean, do you remember any of that happening?

Speaker 8 (27:26):
Here's what I will say, And again, I think this
is a testament to Michael. I mean, you guys know,
I mean like that show is Michael's heart, you know
what I mean, like very much like whatever was going
on kind of in his I mean Corey is Michael, yeah, obviously,
and so whatever was going on in Michael's life kind
of like you know, made its way onto the show.
And I think there was stuff going on you know,

(27:49):
that year that he wanted to address and so we
know followed suit. So I think, you know, there was
a very personal thing. I think about the nick You episode,
which I think was also my episode, and I was like,
why am I writing this? I like one of my
first episodes, and I'm just like, oh my god, I'm
writing about a baby, like you know, whether or not
it's going to make it. But I think that had
happened to him with a personal experience.

Speaker 3 (28:11):
So you don't remember there was never there was never
like significant pushback within the room, like because I imagine
a bunch of comedy writers being like.

Speaker 4 (28:20):
This is letting a little heavy, Michael, can we.

Speaker 7 (28:22):
Lighten it up?

Speaker 3 (28:22):
And we remember even saying that as actors. So yeah,
I'm curious.

Speaker 8 (28:26):
Yeah, I think we were. I think we were all
on the same page. But again, I think it was
something that was very personal. I think he was going
through that, that's and so a lot of the draw was,
you know, an outlet for him on the show, you
know what I mean. So he wanted to talk about
things that he was going through, and you know, again
I think there was some pushback, but I think we
kind of tried to like indulge him and let him

(28:49):
work it out, you know. And so that again I think,
of course, being the youngest writer and the newest pay
of course I got stuck with that.

Speaker 2 (28:56):
Yeah you seeing me with bringing this very personal and
very heavy storyline to.

Speaker 4 (29:06):
Laugh Riot laugh Riot that.

Speaker 8 (29:08):
Episode, And I think again it's like Manel and those
guys like give it to Eric, you know what I mean,
they didn't want to do it.

Speaker 2 (29:18):
Do you remember the first time you met all of
us as a cast.

Speaker 8 (29:22):
I remember I remember being at the of the first
table read okay, and again just being like I can't
believe I'm here, Like I'm loving this and it's like funny,
and everybody like because again I came in season six,
so like everybody was already kind of a family. Yeah,
And so it was, and it was like a well

(29:43):
oiled machine at that point, you know what I mean.
So it was kind of coming into something and again
something that I had watched, you know, basically growing up,
and so it was just like it was just lovely
to be there, and you.

Speaker 5 (29:53):
Guys are all so sweet.

Speaker 8 (29:54):
And I remember Danielle, you you were dating. I think
you were.

Speaker 2 (29:59):
You had a Lance.

Speaker 4 (30:01):
Yeah, Lance, Yes, that didn't work out.

Speaker 8 (30:05):
Yes, why, I mean, yeah, what happened?

Speaker 2 (30:08):
Why?

Speaker 4 (30:09):
We're not sure?

Speaker 2 (30:10):
You guys were so perfect, so perfect for each other.

Speaker 8 (30:14):
But I think I remember, like I don't know if
he was there. One of the first things I just
remember just being like, oh, this is like like this
is I'm so happy I'm here. For this. I'm here
for this.

Speaker 2 (30:24):
Well, I want to get into your first script. We've
already mentioned it, Poetic License and ode to Holden Callfield.
We talked a lot about this one, remembering that there
was a lot of conversations around writer using his own poems.
Do you remember anything about that?

Speaker 8 (30:41):
Do we use your poems?

Speaker 5 (30:43):
Writer?

Speaker 8 (30:43):
I think we did. Yeah, that was part of and
I think that was so great because I think when
we were doing it, it was like, well you you
related to us, like, hey you were. I don't think
we knew that you were writing poems, but I think
before we wrote the script or but then you're like, hey,
can I put my poems in? I think everybody was like,
oh my god, yeah you can put them in. This
is great. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (31:02):
No, Michael definitely knew because I was doing like poetry
readings and stuff, and like I remember the writer some
of the writers coming to the readings, and so yeah,
Michael knew. Michael knew. I don't know everyone else.

Speaker 8 (31:14):
Maybe maybe I was the one who didn't know, but
but I thought it was awful. Even again, I rewatched
it and I'm like, I know, this poem is too good.
I didn't write this I'm like, this is good. I'm like, good,
am that great imber that I wrote this? But it
makes sense that it was your stuff, so funny.

Speaker 2 (31:35):
Fun You were also the closest person in the room
to college age. I mean you were. I was not
that many years out of college.

Speaker 8 (31:43):
Yeah, when we were on strike and I was walking
with Will and I was like, well, are we in
the same age? Was your age when I was on
the show?

Speaker 4 (31:52):
I think are basically?

Speaker 8 (31:53):
I think basically maybe I'm like a year or two.

Speaker 4 (31:55):
Older, but yeah that but yeah, no, we were. We
were essentially the same age.

Speaker 8 (31:59):
Yeah, so funny. But yeah, I was like I was
a baby, you know, it's like again right out of
college basically. And but yeah, I was just watching that.
I was like, oh my god, these poems are so good, like,
like writer, those were amazing, seriously, Like no, I was like,
I'm taking credit for them for sure.

Speaker 2 (32:16):
I'm definitely going to add.

Speaker 1 (32:18):
My name to this.

Speaker 8 (32:19):
Absolutely. I mean we now they're on my IMDb right now.

Speaker 4 (32:25):
That's great.

Speaker 2 (32:25):
Well, obviously this is a Sean and Angela heavy episode.
Did you enjoy writing to Sean Angst?

Speaker 8 (32:33):
Yeah? Well I well, yeah, again, that was my first episode.
I think that I and I remember also Matt who
unfortunately not with us anymore.

Speaker 2 (32:44):
Mat Nelson.

Speaker 8 (32:45):
Yeah, he was very He was so sweet to me too,
Like I remember giving him the episode and I wrote it.
I gave it to him to be just for him
to read and be like, tell me if this is
embarrassing or should I not turn it in, you know,
and he was like no. And he also was like
very much Sean. Yeah, and the real like we all
kind of had our people like he was Sean, I

(33:06):
was Angela, you know what I mean, Like Michael's obviously Cory,
and so we just had our little personas, and so
I just always liked kind of like Matt and I
would work out that relationship, you know what I mean,
because again I love a rom come. So that was
that was a near relationship that we were, you know,
trying to give you like you know, the ups and
downs of navigating that. Like, and Shawn is just such

(33:26):
a great character because he's just so like angst written,
you know what I mean, complicated, And then Angela was
like loved him, but then she's like I want to
get involved with this guy because he's a problem. You know.
It's like I just thought was so fun and so yeah,
I enjoyed all those episodes because I think that navigating
that new relationship was fun. Versus again Corin's Panga who again.

(33:47):
I loved their their episodes, Like I wrote the one
about them buying the house. I loved that episode too.
But you know that they're gonna be okay, you know
what I mean, They're I mean they're going to navigate
life together, whereas Angela and Sean were like will they
won't they be able to be together? More story, more
story exactly.

Speaker 2 (34:17):
So what are your memories or what are some of
your favorite memories of the Writer's room in general? Was
it an overall positive, fun place to be?

Speaker 8 (34:25):
It was? I mean loss Like like I said, I
I just was happy to be there because I was
like again young and you know, like like you know,
like bushy tailed, you know what I mean. I just
remember I used to laugh a lot, and so I
was like everybody loved me and the Rooks. I just
would laugh at everybody's jokes and they were like I was.
I was like, I was just happy and I just

(34:46):
like and I remember like remember Bob titshlar oh yeah, yeah,
so Bob just would make he'd make like these sounds
in the room, Like I don't know, like this was
this thing. I remember he did an episode where he
came in and did like it was like it was
a character.

Speaker 4 (35:00):
One of the teachers.

Speaker 8 (35:03):
But that's what he that came from him. He does
that in the room, or he did that in the room.
So that's where that character came from. And he would
just make these noises and I would just laugh NonStop.
So it was just, yeah, it was the best first
job ever.

Speaker 2 (35:16):
That's so funny to know that that's where that gibberish
thing came from. So we interviewed young who was the
other professor, Yeah, who spoke gibberish.

Speaker 5 (35:26):
That's so funny.

Speaker 2 (35:26):
He used to make those sounds in the room.

Speaker 8 (35:28):
It was, I mean, it's so ridiculous. I don't know
where that came from. That was his thing. Like he'd
make these noises in the room and I would just
fall out, like I was just you know, I again again,
I was young, but just everything was fun and positive
and and I think the great thing also about being
a young writer just be like serious for a second
in that room is Michael was really good about mentoring

(35:52):
young writers, like myself. I think Barbie Feldman, there's a
couple of us who were like, you know, newer writers,
and he allowed us to take the show from beginning
to end, which is like a great kind of you know, apprenticeship.
So like we would be in casting, we would be
an episode, we'd go to casting for our episode. Then

(36:12):
we'd go you know obviously just the shoot. Then we'd
go to to post, to editing, you know what I mean,
and we'd go to sweetening. So we got to hurt
our whole episode all the way through and that's not
you know, that's rare. And so you know, even for
me now that I'm a showrunner, like I have that
experience coming from Boyman's world, you know, it's really like
it really empowered me to you know, further my career

(36:35):
because I had all that, you know, that's ferties given
to me from Michael, and like, you know, I carry
it forward.

Speaker 2 (36:42):
That's great, That is so great. We Yeah, those experiences
where you really get to learn the entirety of what
it takes to get a show onto the air are invaluable.

Speaker 1 (36:52):
One of the things that we often had on the set,
which I loved. I think we all did because it
just added an energy to shooting night was lines.

Speaker 4 (37:02):
Would change on the fly.

Speaker 8 (37:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (37:03):
Yeah, So when you're all in video village, are you
still shooting out lines or are you letting the scene
kind of finish and then going hey, I might have
something different or is everybody kind of jumping in even
as we're going.

Speaker 5 (37:14):
Yeah, it's again.

Speaker 8 (37:16):
It depends on the show, but on on Boy Meets
World for sure, Like Michael was very open to like
us coming in and like, I mean again doing in
front of a live audience. But you guys know, you
get the response right back. So and again you're doing
several takes, so like it's usually funny, but then after
the second or third take you're like, oh is this funny?

Speaker 2 (37:33):
Like you get yeah, you start second guessing yourself.

Speaker 8 (37:36):
Right, it's funny at the beginning, but so like we'll
always you know, come in and like we know, like
you know, I think as writers, especially on a multicam
like that, we know to kind of have a backup
just in case when you're an editing that you can
like you know, you know, beat the joke right. But
usually the first joke is always the one that goes
in because they're always when we go to filming, it's

(37:57):
it's all good and you guys are you guys killed
it every time, you know, I mean, and so there
was never a time where like you're gonna really beat
a joke, but you just do it because you need
to do it, like in that moment. But it's you know,
the first instincts are always the best in my opinion.

Speaker 2 (38:11):
Yeah. Well, we've asked you a lot about your thoughts
on Sean and Angela's relationship, and I'm curious. You had
said you watched Boy Meets World in your teenage years
while you were in college getting ready to go out
at night. What are your gam yes, free gaming exactly?
What were your overall thoughts on Corey and Topanga's relationship

(38:34):
by the time you were there writing to it.

Speaker 8 (38:37):
Well, first of all, I mean like everyone in the world,
like we all know that, or in Topanga were like
they're like the Romeo and Juliet, like they're meant to be.
But with the happy ending. Though, I will say I
think that as a woman, you know, oftentimes like Topanga
would get criticized, you know, for like kind of being

(38:57):
the you know, you know, Corey on not leading him on,
but like, you know, just kind of like being the
boss of Corey, you know, him being kind of the
one who had to follow her around because he was
in love with her first, right, and so you know,
and finally when he got her, it's like she was
the boss of him or whatever. But I never thought that.
I think that they had the most beautiful, like kind

(39:20):
of respectful relationship. And I listen as a woman, I
like a Corey. I like someone who knows that I'm special.
So I would suggest all women, like look for your Corey,
because you need someone who loves you a little bit
more than you love them.

Speaker 2 (39:36):
Okay, does he show that he loves her cheating on
her regularly or lying to her what exactly?

Speaker 4 (39:45):
Not knowing who she is? That feels all that part?

Speaker 2 (39:47):
That's how you know, how do we know he loves
her so much other than the fact that he swears
it's true.

Speaker 8 (39:54):
But we've seen him be in love with her since
he was a baby. I mean, like you know, I
mean like he's always loved her, and she's she's the like,
you know, the holy Grail for him. And so whether
he messes up in the middle, and like because he's
a boy and he missteps because he's insecure, like that happens.
But I think that we all knew that, like she's

(40:15):
his north star from the beginning, and because again growing
up with them, we know that, I mean we know
Tavega doesn't know, but we know that. You know, she's
everything to him, and so when he finally gets her,
it's like very very satisfying. And but again the fact
that he loves her a little bit more than she
loves him. I think that's the way to go. Ladies.

Speaker 1 (40:37):
You were also there for kind of what people would
say is is the well I would say the change.

Speaker 4 (40:43):
Some people would say the de evolution of Eric Matthews.

Speaker 1 (40:46):
Oh so you know, between we're watching, we're about halfway
through season six right now, and I mean Eric is
is goofy and wacky, but he's still kind of there.

Speaker 4 (40:57):
And from what we've heard by season seven.

Speaker 1 (41:00):
And i'm what we remember of season seven, he really
goes off the rails. So is there was there something
that happened in the room with that or I'm curious
how that kind of took shape?

Speaker 8 (41:09):
Well, I think again, I think you know, the growing
up of it all, you know what I mean, Like,
I think the the you know, the the love triangle
was was a fun thing during those times because I
think we didn't we've never seen Eric in love or
in relationships, and so him navigating that and again, okay, listen,

(41:30):
well I was gonna say, you're like the hot guy
on the show, and then like you have to like
kind of get well you were, you know, and people
are like, oh, you know, Will's hot, so we want
to give him a little like humility. Right, So like
for you to be goofy made you more likable versus
you can't just be the ladies man, you know. And
so I think that strategy when like making you seem

(41:55):
that you had a weakness, and your weakness was you know,
having to compete for girl. Okay, does that make sense?

Speaker 1 (42:03):
Yeah, I'm just wondering what Lawrence's excuse is.

Speaker 8 (42:08):
But that's the whole point you give him, you give
you know, we gave you a rival because you're the
coolest man in the room and then here comes another
cool guy in the room and you're fighting over this
girl who's strategically taller than both of you, right.

Speaker 1 (42:24):
Exactly, Yes, which was it was It's an interesting visual
all the time to see us all on camera.

Speaker 8 (42:28):
Again, and I thought it was I mean, in retrospect,
it's it just played so well, it really and you
guys were so good. And again, I think the interesting
thing about me coming in at season six it was
the transition of you guys going from being kids to
being adult. I got the adult years, you know, which
was really fun.

Speaker 1 (42:49):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (42:49):
No, we're seeing that as well.

Speaker 1 (42:50):
We're seeing especially the I think we're all kind of
shocked and not shocked, but a little blown away at
how much we missed how good Matt and Maitland were together.
Because when they have the scenes together, Yeah, but it's
Eric was always kind of Eric and and for a
while Maitland didn't.

Speaker 4 (43:08):
They didn't really give her a character.

Speaker 1 (43:09):
It was she's the pretty girl coming out of the
shower and Jack and Eric are going, wow, I'm pretty girl.

Speaker 4 (43:14):
And now that she's there really kind of.

Speaker 1 (43:17):
Yeah, right exactly, but giving her something to do and
having the kind of scenes with her and Jack, it's
the quiet scenes between the two of them that really work.

Speaker 4 (43:25):
I mean, they've got a ton of chemistry and it
gives them something to do.

Speaker 8 (43:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (43:30):
So yeah, we're we're very pleasantly surprised with seeing that
kind of combination.

Speaker 8 (43:35):
Yeah, and again I mean not I'm not taking better
for that, but I do think there were there were
strong female writers in the room during my season where
we kind of are like, yeah, let's make the girls
like not you know, like character's real people, you know
what I mean. So I think, like you said, you know, Rachel, uh,

(43:55):
obviously it's a panga, and then Angela, like they all
were like real character. They became real characters when I
was there, so you know, like they all had they
were all strong women who were also like lead again
like leading their men in a weird way, you know
what I mean, Like they were the bosses. And their relationship,
I mean I think Angela and and uh writer had

(44:17):
the like the closest like equal relationship.

Speaker 2 (44:20):
Yeah, most equal. Yeah, yeah, for sure. It definitely seems
like that.

Speaker 8 (44:24):
Because again they we got to see their relationship and
that started off as almost adults, do you know what
I mean, So they like, you know, we're kind of
navigating it versus like you know, Corey was love struck
with you know, depending up from the beginning, so it
was always kind of an equal relationship. But then you know,
they got together. But I think that was the most
mature relationship that we got to see developed, you know,

(44:44):
between Angela and Sean.

Speaker 2 (44:46):
Yeah, which I think is one of the reasons why
it's a fan favorite.

Speaker 5 (44:50):
Yeah, I love it.

Speaker 8 (44:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (44:53):
Did you enjoy writing the comedy or the drama more
on Boy Meets World?

Speaker 8 (44:58):
I mean, listen, I mean I like both, Like I
love a rom com so you need to have a
little you know, a little drama in there. And my
my favorite things to write were the relationship episodes, do
you know what I mean? I love I mean again,
I wrote, you know, poetic Justice. I also wrote the
one with Corey Tamanga, like like want to buy the
house in that way?

Speaker 2 (45:18):
Which is that one season seven?

Speaker 1 (45:19):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (45:20):
Yeah, yeah, we haven't gotten the season one yet.

Speaker 4 (45:22):
Yeah, we don't know that one yet.

Speaker 8 (45:24):
Sorry, I don't want to jump ahead, but I but
I always enjoyed writing relationship episodes because that's just my
sweet like I love like I said, I love a
rom comm so I love to like, you know, the
funny is always going to be there. But I loved
rooting it in you know, something that's you know, relationship
based or character based, and so you know, I always
enjoyed like writing you know that the love story of

(45:46):
of of Angela and Sean, because it just was I
got there when it was just kind of like going
back and forth and they would break up and then
they'd get back to go back to me. That's fine,
and and I think that's like what people were into
about that relationship, especially like again as there are our
fans matured like they were bested into the mature relationships.

Speaker 1 (46:06):
What I have to ask now, because you've mentioned it
a few times, what's your favorite rom com?

Speaker 5 (46:10):
Oh?

Speaker 8 (46:10):
My god, Oh that's a good question. Uh, pretty Woman,
I got Old School, I got Pretty Woman.

Speaker 2 (46:20):
Yeah, I love that movie.

Speaker 4 (46:21):
Great movie.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
We've had many of our writers on and we always
end up asking them or telling them one of our
favorite lines and then being like, do you remember who
wrote that line? I've already mentioned one of our favorite
lines that was from Angela the I've got to get
some black friends. What do you know? Was that one
of your lines?

Speaker 8 (46:41):
I'm going to take credit for that was me, but
I but I'm pretty sure it was me that was
the only black person in the room, Like right, no
one else would have thought of it but me.

Speaker 5 (46:53):
I know.

Speaker 2 (46:53):
It is interesting too, because by the time you came
into the show in season six there had thankfully, we
had a lot more women writers than we had ever
had in the past. Yeah, Laura and Patty, but when
women or people of color never really caught up.

Speaker 8 (47:12):
Yeah, And I think I think that was honestly like
a groundbreaking moment. And just going back to the Fellowship,
I think like initially the Fellowship was supposed to be
about diversity, you know, and I think you know, and
they were trying really hard to like kind of you know,
break people into these network shows. But I will say,

(47:35):
like I think of everyone, like I was, this is
a funny story they were doing, like at that time,
they did like a diversity count, right, because they think
the WGA was accounting like how many like each network,
how many like diverse you know, staff members they have
on different shows. And literally we're looking at in Variety
and we're at the at the right in the reds

(47:56):
room and there was a tally for ABC and it
said one, and I was like, oh, that's me.

Speaker 2 (48:02):
You're like, it's me.

Speaker 8 (48:06):
We all were laughing about it because like, oh, that's
America one. Yeah, So like that's how wow. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (48:13):
So it's depressing, I.

Speaker 8 (48:15):
Know, but I know it's gotten better, but I've continued
to so I'm very lucky. But but yeah, it was
very funny.

Speaker 2 (48:23):
I mean since your first job and since that fellowship,
you have had a prolific career in TV, starting with
my wife and kids one on one with Flex. I
have recently met Shenice and.

Speaker 8 (48:37):
Just love her, and Kyla was on one. Yeah, it's
gone on to do great things.

Speaker 2 (48:46):
Too, the Game, and you created your own show, Zoe
ever After starring Brandy.

Speaker 8 (48:52):
Yes, that was fun.

Speaker 5 (48:54):
What do you.

Speaker 2 (48:54):
Think is there one thing in particular you feel like
you took with you from your time I'm on The
Boy Meets World Writer's Room into every other job you
had after.

Speaker 8 (49:04):
Well, again, I think, you know, giving credit to Michael,
I think, like because I had such a great like,
you know, just introduction to what it takes to make
a television show, because we got to shepherd you know,
our episodes. So even being a showrunner now, like I
you know, I've been in editing, I've been, you know,
and I actually when I was on the Game for
I was on the Game for eight seasons, but I

(49:26):
know that doesn't happen anymore, but season seven and eight,
I you know, Iran it because Marrow, the showrunner went
on to do another show, so I got to be
the showruners. That was my first opportunity to be a showrunner,
and all the things that I learned from Boy Meets
World really kicked in, you know, because I had done
them before, even as a young writer, you know, and
I've gone on to you know, to that point, like

(49:47):
you know, I was on The Connors, which and again
going back to being the only black woman in the
room like the Connors is like, you know, like not show.
But I'm just saying, like a right show.

Speaker 2 (49:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (50:00):
So I mean but I am very comfortable, like you know,
being you know, in any room.

Speaker 4 (50:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (50:09):
And I think that that's a testament to my time
one Boy mets On just like I mean, that's a
testament to my life. Just I've lived my life that way. Again,
I'm I'm like Angela, like I don't think about like
that I'm the black woman in the room. Like I'm
just the woman in the room or in the room.
And so I you know, I never let that limit
me as a part of what as far as what

(50:30):
jobs I take or like what kind of comedy I do,
or even doing drawa like I've done at all. So
you know, it's just it's it's you don't put yourself
in a box. That's kind of like what I've learned
throughout my career that served me well well.

Speaker 2 (50:43):
And as you've mentioned, you have been in some real
heavy hitter rooms. A show I knew was going to
be successful from the moment I read the pilot The Neighborhood. Oh,
I literally read that pilot and was like, this show
is going to run forever.

Speaker 8 (50:56):
And I was still going.

Speaker 2 (50:58):
I know, still going. And then the Connors, the I
Carly reboot, and the recent Wayans brother sitcom Papa's House.
I'm really I was really sorry when I heard that
guy canceled recently.

Speaker 8 (51:08):
Yeah, we were all sided. It's just it's it's a
different time, you know what I mean. That's what I
will say to like, you know, the eighth like you're saying, well,
like like twenty four episodes back in the day, you know,
like that doesn't happen anymore, and it's hard to even
get past the season. So you know, if the Wigans
can't get a second season, like yeah, you know.

Speaker 1 (51:24):
Exactly, well, all I mean, one of the things I
just we've talked about this a thousand times.

Speaker 4 (51:28):
I'm a huge television junkie. I just love it.

Speaker 1 (51:31):
All of the greatest shows in history had a chance
to grow, and we're almost canceled at one point. Mash cheers,
the office fell Seinfeld. These are all shows that were
given five or six episodes. We're about to be canceled.
Somebody said no, let's give it a shot, and then
they turned into the greatest thing, and so nobody gives.

Speaker 4 (51:48):
Them a shot anymore.

Speaker 1 (51:48):
Nobody's like, we're gonna give it a season, We're gonna
let it grow, We're gonna find a night, we're gonna do.

Speaker 4 (51:52):
None of that happens anymore.

Speaker 8 (51:54):
And I think especially like I think it was going
in that direction even before the strike, but I think
since the strike, it's even worse. You know what I mean.
The purse strings are like you.

Speaker 2 (52:03):
Know exactly, so it's all financial.

Speaker 8 (52:07):
So hopefully, I mean, listen, I put tides turn right.
I mean, we've been this before. We've all like, now
we're all ogs. Can you believe, like I know, where
are the veterans. We're the veterans now, guys, And so
we've seen this happen before, So hopefully well, you know,
there'll be an upswing at some point.

Speaker 2 (52:24):
Exactly the more avid elementaries we get on the air.

Speaker 8 (52:28):
But here's the thing, this is the great thing. Guys.
Look at all of us. We're all still in the game,
you know what I mean. I mean, you guys are
all still working. And you know as kids, you know,
kids stars back in the day, like you've all matured
into being adult you know stars, and like still works.

Speaker 2 (52:43):
I don't know that i'd say stars, but adults. We
did mature into adults.

Speaker 6 (52:46):
We're working on us.

Speaker 8 (52:48):
You are all working all like I mean, like it's huge,
very lucky, I mean so funny. Will remember we were
striking and I had my boyfriend's daughter with me and
you were talking to her and she's being a little
like a standoffish and I'm like, he's Batman and she's like,
oh what.

Speaker 1 (53:08):
I mean?

Speaker 8 (53:08):
Like the like, we're all doing our things, so we
should all be proud.

Speaker 2 (53:12):
It's true, we are. We are all very proud.

Speaker 8 (53:16):
Yeah, but also it's it's you deserve it because you
guys are all talented and beautiful people.

Speaker 4 (53:22):
Thank you, happy.

Speaker 2 (53:23):
And likewise, likewise, we will hopefully all land on our
feet like we have for thirty plus years at this point.

Speaker 8 (53:31):
Okay, once you start giving numbers of years.

Speaker 2 (53:37):
Okay, sorry, Final question for you looking back, having started
on Boy Meets World in season six, did you ever
think while you were working on it that thirty years
later people would still have an interest in the show?

Speaker 8 (53:52):
I again, I mean, first of all, stop saying thirty years. Well,
I mean, did I think about it? No, I will
tell you again. I meant I can mention any show
that I've been on, like Connor, like I've been on
a lot of big shows, Like you said, yeah, people
react to Boy Means ro all like I mean, I
watched it every night, like I mean, people, it is

(54:14):
to this day my biggest credit and get people. And
I think it's a testament to all of us, you know.
And I think it's also a moment in time where
I don't know, maybe it's because, like you know, maybe
because people are our age or the biggest you know,
I don't know, like demographic, but I think we all
at some point grew up with whether it's season one,

(54:35):
season two, season six, there's it hit all of our lives,
you know, And it's the most relatable thing to this
day that I've ever worked on and people go crazy
for it and it's still playing. That's the thing.

Speaker 5 (54:46):
I know.

Speaker 2 (54:47):
It's barely ever been off the air, right.

Speaker 8 (54:49):
Which is fantastic. And kids are even you know, young
kids are like being introduced to it now, you know,
and kids or parents and their kids can watch it
together and being in a estaf about it, you know
what I mean. And again, I just I just watched
a couple episodes because I wanted to even be prepared
for this interview, and I'm like, oh, this is so good.
Look at my episodes are funny, Yes, look at me

(55:11):
in my poetry. But no, I'm so proud of it.
And I see you guys, I'm sure are as well,
and so yeah, I did, I know, no, but I'm
not surprised.

Speaker 2 (55:27):
So amazing, Erica, Thank you so much for coming and
spending your time with us. Thank you for bringing your energy,
your expertise, your experience, your your intelligence, your everything, not
only to our show but to our podcast.

Speaker 8 (55:42):
You guys are amazing. I listen. I'm so happy that
I can, like, you know, reconnect with you and like
it was a wonderful time in my life. And I'm
you know, I I cherish every moment and cherish you
guys ever being a part of it.

Speaker 2 (55:56):
Well, thank you and we we would love to see
you soon.

Speaker 4 (55:58):
Yeah, let's you alive.

Speaker 2 (56:02):
Yeah great, we're all let's do it. Thank you Erica. Now,
if we can just get Cuckaroo to come back, we
could all have a reunion at Cuckaroo.

Speaker 1 (56:16):
Well, we're we've gotbebeks back. That's if we can just
keep now we can get a Cuckaroo pop up and
need to bevics pop up and you know whatever, and
if we can get pagers back, then done something great.

Speaker 6 (56:30):
That was a really.

Speaker 3 (56:31):
Interesting interview because she she was like a real defender
of like some of the main themes of Boy Meets
World in a way that that we are runs counter
to us.

Speaker 4 (56:41):
Yeah, I think, you know.

Speaker 3 (56:43):
And it was it was cool because it seems like
she really came in, you know, kind of uh like
adhering to the Boy Meets World mythology, like when she
came into the cre exactly. It's like Corey fell in
love with Banka.

Speaker 1 (56:57):
She's perfect.

Speaker 3 (56:58):
Sean and Angelo are going to be a little more complicated,
and like she is still kind of sticking with that,
like it's not you know, she and and I think
that that's good to hear, Like it was cool to
hear because I feel our conversations are mostly with fans
or writers who were there from the beginning who sort
of went through the like ups and downs and you know,
or have gone back and watched it and had self

(57:21):
criticism here. But I'm kind of happy that she was
just like, Nope, we did the right thing. That was
a storyline, that was the way that that was the
truth of the show, and you know, she's proud of it,
which is.

Speaker 1 (57:32):
Really it's also for all the stuff we've talked about it,
it's nice to hear how much Michael nurtured younger writers.
I think that's that's you know, to his credit, because
we didn't always get to see that. You know, he was,
you know, at times kind of a little more prickly
with us about line readings or what especially when we
were we were kids. So it's nice to hear that
with younger writers, he kind of let them do their

(57:54):
thing and and you see an.

Speaker 4 (57:56):
Entire episode from from front to back. I think that's
very much your credit to him.

Speaker 2 (58:00):
Yeah, I know, it is interesting how much she was
like no, Corey and Tebanga, they were he loved her forever.
He fell in love with her first, and I was like,
all of those things are things I would have counter
arguments for her. But that's certainly the takeaway of most
fans from the show is that they were meant to be.

(58:23):
They he'd never you know, Corey loved her beyond measure,
and she of course loved him, and so yeah, you're right,
it was. And she had been a fan of the
show or you know, had watched the show before she
was ever a writer for it, so she she had
believed it before she ever even had a hand in
creating it.

Speaker 3 (58:40):
Yeah, I mean even just to the extent that, like,
you know, Trina and I have been public about wondering
like should we have addressed the commercial stuff and should
we have you know, been a little and I, you know,
both of us have kind of gone on records saying like, yeah,
I think maybe it should have, you know, but at
the time, I remember we were very much in Arapa camp.
We were very much like, no, the whole point is,

(59:02):
you know, you're not defined by your ethnicity, so we
don't even want to talk about it. And it was
cool to hear that. Defend it again, you know from
somebody who obviously had much more experience with that kind
of thing than I did.

Speaker 5 (59:13):
So you know.

Speaker 3 (59:15):
It was conscious. You know, there was a conscious decision.
There was a conversation going on behind the scenes, and
she's not you know, she's defending that, and I think
that that's great.

Speaker 1 (59:24):
Yeah, I think the other thing we kind of took
away where I think we knew this, but it does
hear it kind of articulated this way.

Speaker 4 (59:31):
The tone of the show.

Speaker 1 (59:34):
Was basically completely and totally dictated by whatever was.

Speaker 4 (59:38):
Going on in Michael's life at the time.

Speaker 1 (59:40):
Yeah, if he was in a good place, the show
was in a good, happy, fun place. If he was
maybe in a bit of a darker place, the show
seemed to take a darker durnk. You know again, obviously
the nie Que and the stuff he was going through
with Joshua, that's going to color that aspect of your life.
I mean that it's a very important thing to him.
So it's kind of what he was going through is
what would happen on the show.

Speaker 4 (59:58):
I wonder if that still happen, Like.

Speaker 3 (01:00:00):
Do showrunners get to personally express themselves with to that degree?
I mean, that's kind of I mean kind of can
I I can't. I don't know if I've heard about
another show having that much.

Speaker 4 (01:00:12):
It would depends on the showrunner and the power of
the showrunner, you know that kind of thing.

Speaker 1 (01:00:16):
If Larry David decided to do a new show completely
about his life, He's going to get to dictate what
that is, right, so I think, And at the time
that was Michael.

Speaker 4 (01:00:23):
Michael was an.

Speaker 1 (01:00:25):
Enormous show runner in Hollywood, multiple sitcoms for decades, so
he was able to look at a network and say, no,
I'm doing it this way.

Speaker 4 (01:00:33):
Who knows if that can happen anymore.

Speaker 2 (01:00:34):
Larry David did a divorce storyline on Curb Your Enthusiasm
when he was going through a divorce.

Speaker 4 (01:00:39):
Yeah, so there you go.

Speaker 2 (01:00:40):
Yeah, yeah, Well, thank you all for joining us for
this episode of Pod Meets World. As always, you can
follow us on Instagram pod Meets World Show. You can
send us your emails pod Meets World Show at gmail
dot com. And we have got merch.

Speaker 1 (01:00:54):
To nad on Love Island by some merch that's I'm
Wilfredell and I will be auditioning for the part of
voiceover on Love Island.

Speaker 3 (01:01:03):
Are you gonna do a Southern accident.

Speaker 4 (01:01:04):
Is that you kind of well, no, that's just always
have it do really southern. That's how they do in
the Australian version. I do my own twist. Okay, what's
your twist. I'm I'm not sure, I'm not shop it
and I'll be back.

Speaker 2 (01:01:17):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (01:01:18):
I can't wait to hear what Jensen.

Speaker 4 (01:01:20):
They should have hired Jensen.

Speaker 1 (01:01:21):
They should that's the idea that he had that opportunity.

Speaker 4 (01:01:26):
Through your fingers, my friend.

Speaker 2 (01:01:29):
Pod meets worldshow dot com writer, send us out.

Speaker 3 (01:01:33):
We love you all, pod dismissed. Pod Meets World is
an iHeart podcast producer hosted by Danielle Fischl Wilfordell and
Ryder Strong Executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman Executive
in charge of production, Danielle Romo, producer and editor, Tarasubach, producer,
Maddie Moore, engineer and Boy Meets World superman Easton Allen.
Our theme song is by Kyle Morton of Typhoon. Follow

(01:01:55):
us on Instagram at podmeets World Show or email us
at pod Meets World Show at gmail dot com.