The nostalgia of 90s television sitcoms has become prevalent in podcast form. Stars from beloved programs are either rewatching or watching their show for the first time, sharing never-before-heard stories of their time on set and insight as to what went into its creation. Boy Meets World stars Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong began Pod Meets World the summer of 2022 and have since expanded into live performances in theaters across the country. The Kids Wanna Jump Tour recently made a stop at the landmark Chicago Theatre to a crowd filled with television and podcast fans alike.

The Kids Wanna Jump - a reference to the 90s photography trend of snapping shots of teen actors in mid air - doesn’t dive into a specific episode of Boy Meets World or share the background of a specific cast or crew member as they do on a typical podcast episode. Instead, they acknowledge their fans on a more intimate level by interacting with them throughout the night.

The beginning of the show is much like the beginning of the podcast. The three engage in a seemingly off-topic conversation that brings back memories of where they were in their lives while they were filming the show. The Chicago audience got to hear how each of them had separate appearances on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee that left an impression: Friedle received a rather loud compliment about having a spark in his eyes, Fishel had an earpiece malfunction in the middle of a live segment and Strong was advised not to broach the subject of the newly announced cheating scandal that had affected one of the hosts. They joked that these instances were why no one requested interviews with them anymore. (For the record, we’d love to interview them!)

Audience participation was a crucial point of the show, from a Q&A session to a costume contest. They answered questions about the impact of the interracial relationship of Shawn and Angela, a narrative path they wish their character had gone on and the feeling of returning to these characters in the spin-off, Girl Meets World.

The Chicago crowd brought their creativity with their costumes. French Topanga from “The Grass is Always Greener”, 1950s Cory with chicken head mask from “I Was A Teenage Spy”, Mr. Feeny’s journal and wrist watch from “City Slackers”, Mr. Feeny and Morgan’s tea party from “It’s A Wonderful Night”, and the winner, a young boy dressed as Plays With Squirrels. The grand prize was a signed copy of the 1993 script, “The Father/Son Game”, and all other participants received signed enamel pins.

Several moments of the show are best left unsaid. No amount of description or discussion would do it justice, nor should it be spoiled for anyone who wants to experience the show on their own. Just know that Boy Meets World fans will laugh, cry and have solid evidence that Friedle truly does not get rid of anything.

The comedic timing of the trio, individually and together, is on a whole other level when witnessed in person. The inside jokes they’ve created through rewatching the show come to life on stage, calling out Shawn’s angst or Mr. Turner’s New York accent. Pod Meets World listeners get to hear this friendship twice a week in a one-sided format, but at a live show they get to express their appreciation both for the show and for the people who are allowing them to see a whole new side of it.

The audience received another special treat with special guest Anthony Tyler Quinn, who played teacher Jonathan Turner on seasons two through four and reappeared in episodes of Girl Meets World. The audience had a chance to interact with him during the Q&A, and it gave them the opportunity to again reciprocate that joy Mr. Turner gave them nearly 30 years ago.

Closing out the night is a special pre-recorded video from another beloved teacher: William Daniels, Mr. George Feeny.

“We love you all. Class dismissed.”

Upcoming The Kids Wanna Jump tour dates can be found here.