How It Started, How It Ended copertina

How It Started, How It Ended

How It Started, How It Ended

Di: Bobby Meadows and Angela Johnson Meadows
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A proposito di questo titolo

A monthly podcast where hosts Bobby Meadows and Angela Johnson Meadows revisit the first and last episodes of a classic TV series.

© 2026 Ain't We Cute Productions Arte
Episodi
  • Does Boy Meets World Stick The Landing?

    Does Boy Meets World Stick The Landing?
    Nov 1 2026
    In this episode of How It Started, How It Ended, Angela and Bobby revisit the pilot and series finale of Boy Meets World, the ABC sitcom that followed Cory Matthews from middle school through adulthood. A staple of the network’s TGIF lineup, the show ran for seven seasons, from 1993 to 2000.Angela remembers Boy Meets World as one of her favorite shows of the 1990s, even though she was older than its intended audience. Bobby, on the other hand, never watched it, despite being a fan of The Wonder Years and recognizing the connection through Fred Savage’s younger brother, Ben. They discuss the show's coming-of-age format, its creators Michael Jacobs and April Kelly, and a cast that included William Daniels as the memorable teacher George Feeny.The pilot introduces 11-year-old Cory, his family, his older brother Eric, and his complicated relationship with Mr. Feeny, who turns out to be his next-door neighbor. Angela and Bobby discuss the episode's focus on first love and family relationships, Cory's disappointment when Eric abandons their plans to attend a Phillies game, and the unexpectedly touching moment when Cory sees Mr. Feeny alone at dinner. They also notice what isn't there: Topanga, who would become one of the show's defining characters, does not appear in the pilot.The series finale, “Brave New World,” takes a different approach, using flashbacks to revisit the relationships and moments that shaped the characters. As Cory and Topanga prepare to move to New York, Shawn and Eric make plans of their own, while Jack and Rachel prepare to join the Peace Corps. Angela and Bobby look at how the characters have changed, including Eric's transformation from the cool older brother into the show's comic relief. They also discuss the evolving relationships between Cory and Shawn, Cory and Topanga, and the young adults and their mentor, Mr. Feeny.The finale ends with one last visit to Mr. Feeny's classroom. After years of advice and life lessons, the group says goodbye. For Angela, the flashbacks and emotional send-off bring the series together in a satisfying way. Bobby agrees, even though he came to the show without the history of having watched it.Verdict: Boy Meets World sticks the landing. The two-part finale gives longtime viewers a chance to revisit the characters' journeys while providing a meaningful conclusion to Cory's coming-of-age story.In this episode:Angela's memories of watching Boy Meets World and other 1990s teen-oriented showsHow Boy Meets World fit into ABC's TGIF lineupThe show's coming-of-age format and its connection to The Wonder YearsCreators Michael Jacobs and April KellyWilliam Daniels' career before playing Mr. FeenyThe casting of Ben Savage, Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will FriedleWhy Topanga wasn't in the pilotThe pilot's story about Cory, Eric, and the Phillies gameMr. Feeny's lesson about love and the discovery that he lives next doorThe show's music, laugh track, and references to other ABC programsHow the finale uses flashbacks to revisit important moments in the characters' livesEric's transformation from popular older brother to comic reliefHow Cory and Topanga's relationship developedShawn Hunter's friendship with Cory and relationship with Angela MooreThe surprising timeline of the characters' school yearsThe significance of the final scene in Mr. Feeny's classroomWhy Boy Meets World ended after seven seasonsThe sequel series Girl Meets World and Sabrina Carpenter's early roleThe Pod Meets World rewatch podcastThe documentary Doc Meets World and the cast's reflections on their time on the showWhy Angela and Bobby agree that Boy Meets World stuck the landingShows and people discussed:ShowsBoy Meets WorldThe Wonder YearsSaved by the BellFamily MattersFull HouseCharles in ChargeMy Two DadsMork & MindySt. ElsewhereThe GraduateKnight RiderThe Fresh Prince of Bel-AirBlossomAmerica's Funniest Home VideosLostGirl Meets WorldDoc Meets WorldPeopleBen SavageFred SavageMichael JacobsApril KellyWilliam DanielsDustin HoffmanRider StrongWill FriedleWilliam RussBetsy RandleDanielle FishelTrina McGeeSabrina CarpenterFrank PacePodcastsPod Meets WorldSend us Fan MailIf you enjoyed the show, follow How It Started, How It Ended wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for more conversations about the TV shows that got us hooked—and whether they delivered the ending they deserved.
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    29 min
  • Facts of Life: Pilot vs. Finale

    Facts of Life: Pilot vs. Finale
    Oct 1 2026
    In this episode of How It Started, How It Ended, Angela and Bobby revisit the pilot and series finale of The Facts of Life, the beloved NBC sitcom that began as a spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes and followed a group of girls growing up at an all-girls boarding school.Before diving into the episodes, they look back at how the show came together, beginning with Mrs. Garrett's temporary move from the Drummond family's apartment to Eastland School. They discuss the original oversized cast, Charlotte Rae's role as the housemother, and the young actors who would become familiar faces—including Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields, and an 11-year-old Molly Ringwald.Angela shares her memories of watching The Facts of Life during her childhood and why the show felt like "must-see TV before there was Must See TV." They also discuss how the series became known for its "very special episodes" and its willingness to tackle issues facing young women, including body image, peer pressure, relationships, and questions about what it meant to be feminine.When they revisit the pilot, they find a show still figuring out what it wants to be. The episode brings back several Diff'rent Strokes characters, introduces the original group of seven girls, and centers on the school's Harvest Festival and competition for Harvest Queen. They discuss the episode's storyline about Cindy, a tomboy who is encouraged to run against Blair, and how Mrs. Garrett uses the situation to challenge assumptions based on appearance and behavior.By the time they reach the ninth-season finale, almost everything has changed. The original seven girls have been reduced to the four characters most closely associated with the series: Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie. Mrs. Garrett has left, the girls are no longer students at Eastland, and the group has moved through Edna's Edibles and Over Our Heads. The finale then takes the show in yet another direction, turning the Eastland School into a co-ed institution and introducing a largely new cast.Verdict: Angela and Bobby agree that The Facts of Life does not stick the landing. The two-part finale feels more like a backdoor pilot than a conclusion to nine seasons, with most of the focus on a new group of characters and only limited attention given to the women viewers had followed for years.In this episode:How The Facts of Life spun off from Diff'rent StrokesCharlotte Rae's role as Mrs. GarrettThe show's original seven-girl castHow Mindy Cohn was discovered while producers were researching the schoolKim Fields and Tootie's roller skatesAn 11-year-old Molly Ringwald's early television roleAngela's memories of watching The Facts of Life as a childThe original theme song and why it didn't lastThe Harvest Festival storyline in the pilotBlair and Cindy's conflict over femininity and gender expectationsThe show's early approach to "very special episode" topicsThe ongoing focus on weight and body imageWhy the original cast was dramatically reduced after Season 1The introduction of Nancy McKeon's Jo PolniaczekHow the girls' lives changed as the characters grew olderEdna's Edibles and Over Our HeadsCharlotte Rae's departure and Cloris Leachman's arrivalGeorge Clooney's early appearance on the showThe young actors who appeared in the series finale, including Seth Green, Juliette Lewis, and Mayim BialikWhy the finale feels more like a backdoor pilot than a series finaleThe different directions Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie were headingWhy the finale gives the original characters so little closureThe enduring popularity of The Facts of Life and later reunionsThe 2019 live television re-creation starring Jennifer Aniston, Gabrielle Union, and Kathryn HahnShows and People Discussed:ShowsThe Facts of LifeDiff'rent StrokesThe Bob Newhart ShowThe Mary Tyler Moore ShowFamily TiesPeopleCharlotte RaeMindy CohnKim FieldsMolly RingwaldNancy McKeonLisa WhelchelGeorge ClooneyCloris LeachmanSeth GreenJuliette LewisMayim BialikJennifer AnistonGabrielle UnionKathryn HahnGary ColemanConrad BainTodd BridgesDana PlatoSend us Fan MailIf you enjoyed the show, follow How It Started, How It Ended wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for more conversations about the TV shows that got us hooked—and whether they delivered the ending they deserved.
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    30 min
  • Modern Family: Pilot vs. Finale

    Modern Family: Pilot vs. Finale
    Sep 1 2026
    In this episode of How It Started, How It Ended, Angela and Bobby revisit the pilot and series finale of Modern Family, the Emmy-winning sitcom that followed three interconnected families navigating marriage, parenthood, adolescence, and the many ways a family can look.Before diving into the episodes, they look at how creators Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd developed the show, including their decision to center three very different but related families and include a gay couple at a time when they worried that storyline might hurt the show's chances. They also discuss the show's mockumentary format, its place in the changing television landscape of the late 2000s, and the casting of Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Ty Burrell, and the show's unusually large ensemble.The conversation explores how the pilot introduces the Dunphys, Pritchetts, and Tucker-Pritchetts and establishes the dynamics that would drive the series for 11 seasons. Angela and Bobby discuss the parenting struggles, sibling rivalry, cultural differences, and relationship dynamics that make the pilot work, from Phil and Claire's attempts to parent their three very different children to Jay's adjustment to his new family and Mitchell and Cam's nervous return from Vietnam with their newly adopted daughter, Lily.When they reach the finale, they discuss the many ways the characters' lives have changed while still remaining recognizably themselves. Haley and Dylan are parents, Luke is heading to college, Alex is leaving for Switzerland, Mitchell and Cam are moving to Missouri, and Manny is preparing to travel abroad with his father, Javier. They also look at the show's callbacks to the pilot, the bittersweet final moments between the siblings, and the meaning behind the Dunphys' porch light.The finale may run a little long, but Angela and Bobby agree that it succeeds where it matters most: after 11 seasons, Modern Family still feels like the same family they met in the pilot.Verdict: Modern Family sticks the landing.In this episode:• How Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd created Modern Family• Why the show's creators wanted to include a gay couple• The mockumentary style shared by Modern Family, The Office, and Parks and Recreation• Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, and Ty Burrell's roles in the show's development• Why Ty Burrell had to audition multiple times for Phil Dunphy• How the pilot introduces the three interconnected families• The parenting dynamics between Phil, Claire, Jay, Gloria, Mitchell, and Cam• The show's portrayal of different family structures• The memorable BB gun storyline involving Luke and Alex• The introduction of Dylan and Haley's relationship• Mitchell and Cam introducing Lily to the family• Jay's evolving relationship with Mitchell and his acceptance of Cam and Lily• How the characters and families change over 11 seasons• Haley and Dylan's journey from the pilot to becoming parents• Mitchell and Cam's move to Missouri• The evolution of Lily's character and the recasting that took place in Season 3• Manny and Joe's relationship• Phil and Claire becoming empty nesters• The significance of the Dunphys' porch light• Callbacks connecting the pilot and finale• Whether the two-part finale was necessary• Why Angela and Bobby both felt the finale remained true to the showShows and people discussed:• Modern Family• Steve Levitan• Christopher Lloyd• Ed O'Neill• Sofia Vergara• Ty Burrell• Julie Bowen• Sarah Hyland• Aubrey Anderson-Emmons• Chris Rock• The Office• Parks and Recreation• Everybody Loves Raymond• Back to the Future• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire• Survivor• Family Ties• Diff'rent Strokes• The Lion KingSend us Fan MailIf you enjoyed the show, follow How It Started, How It Ended wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for more conversations about the TV shows that got us hooked—and whether they delivered the ending they deserved.
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    26 min
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