Danielle Fishel’s latest “Dancing With the Stars” performance came with a little extra star power thanks to her longtime friend and former “Girl Meets World” costar Sabrina Carpenter.
On Sept. 30, Fishel and her pro partner Pasha Pashkov performed a foxtrot to Carpenter’s track “Manchild” during the show’s first-ever TikTok Night. Their routine blended viral moves with ballroom flair, earning them a score of 21 out of 30 — their highest of the season so far.
Ahead of the live show, Carpenter joined Fishel in rehearsals via video call to send some encouragement. “I just found out you’re dancing to Manchild this week. I’m so excited to see your dance,” Carpenter told her friend. Fishel, who said Carpenter feels “like a daughter,” dedicated the routine to her, saying, “Sabrina, this one’s for you.”
Judge Bruno Tonioli praised the number for hitting the balance between TikTok-inspired moves and classic foxtrot, calling it “elegant” and “stylish.”
A Decade-Long Friendship
Sabrina Carpenter and Danielle Fishel attend the Premiere of Amazon’s “Emergency” at Directors Guild Of America on May 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)
Fishel and Carpenter first connected on “Girl Meets World”, where Fishel reprised her iconic “Boy Meets World” role as Topanga Lawrence and Carpenter played Maya Hart, the best friend of Topanga’s daughter Riley. That onscreen bond blossomed into a real friendship that continues nearly a decade later.
Cast members of “Girl Meets World,” Danielle Fishel, Rowan Blanchard, Sabrina Carpenter, and Ben Savageare photographed at the Disney Channel Offices in Burbank. (Getty Images)
Fishel has been open about her pride in Carpenter’s rise to pop stardom. Earlier this year, she told The Hollywood Reporter that Carpenter “deserves every good thing that comes to her,” adding, “She’s one of my favorite people on the planet, and I’m just so thrilled for her.”
She’s also been there for Carpenter’s biggest milestones — from celebrating her single “Espresso” hitting the Billboard Top 10 in 2024 to cheering her on at her “Saturday Night Live” debut that May. Carpenter responded with the same warmth, leaving a heartfelt “I love you!!!!!” on Fishel’s social media at the time.
Carpenter has credited “Girl Meets World” as a formative part of her career, saying the series helped her create friendships that would “last a lifetime.”
Fans Celebrate the Special Moment
The performance quickly sparked reactions online, with many fans touched by the reunion moment. One wrote, “Full circle moment 😭 Topanga dancing to Manchild… childhood dreams unlocked!” Another praised Fishel’s ability to channel Carpenter’s energy, saying, “Danielle coming through with the Sabrina quirks!! I enjoyed every second of this. You definitely made her proud.” A third chimed in, “Seeing her dance to Sabrina’s song hits different… total glow-up vibes.”
Reflecting after the show, Fishel said it was “pretty amazing” to dance to Carpenter’s music, adding, “She has given me so many opportunities to be immensely proud of her over the years. I hope I gave her one tonight.”
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