Rider Strong Thinks ‘Boy Meets World’ Captured the ’90s as ‘Comfort TV’
The ’90s were an instrumental time for TV shows, as they ushered in a new age. Although many shows have come and gone since then, some remain blankets of nostalgia for those who grew up watching them. One such sitcom, Boy Meets World is one of the most memorable and nostalgic shows for some. And lead actor Rider Strong agrees. The actor wrote in an op-ed that he thinks the show captured the ’90s as “comfort TV.”
Rider Strong played Shawn Hunter on ‘Boy Meets World’
Rider Strong was one of the lead actors in Boy Meets World, playing Ben Savage’s character’s best friend, Shawn Hunter. The show began with the two as average sixth-graders not caring about their schoolwork, much to the chagrin of their teacher, Mr. Feeney. Over seven seasons, the actors and their characters grew up in front of the world, from precocious preteens to young adults.
Speaking at ’90s Con, Strong reflected on the behind-the-scenes moments that made the experience great. “This is what every week was like on our set,” he said of an outtake that made it into the episode.
Rider Strong thinks ‘Boy Meets World’ is a comfort TV show
In 2022, Strong wrote an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times about his time at the convention. The actor admitted that his role at the event was more than being an actor on Boy Meets World. He helped make the decade come alive for all of the attendees.
Strong, however, felt different about the ’90s as he had been a teenager during that time. Although many people found him as an object of that decade’s nostalgia, he had different sentiments. The actor continued to say that shows such as Boy Meets World and other projects from the ’90s live on or find new popularity due to their “intrinsic artistry.”
He, however, admitted that the explanation could be much simpler than that.
“The word I heard over and over again at the convention was ‘comfort,’ as in ‘comfort TV‘ and comfort songs.” Strong acknowledged that for most people, the ’90s are the comfort decade that many need during this turbulent political climate, regardless of whether they lived through the time or not.
What is Rider Strong doing now?
Strong chose to leave fame behind due to the pressures it bore for him. However, he held minor roles from time to time, appearing in Pepper Dennis in 2006 and Darkening Sky in 2010. In 2012, he was invited back to Boy Meets World’s spinoff Girl Meets World, and after declining the offer, he eventually reprised his role.
In the interview with Good Morning America, Strong spoke about his time on the show. But the hosts also mentioned his current pursuit — a podcast.
Strong co-hosts Literary Disco, which supports his love of books. What Boy Meets World fans may not know is not only does Strong enjoy reading and writing, but he has a degree in literature. These days, he focuses his efforts behind the camera, writing and directing alongside his brother, Shiloh.
