When Family Matters Died

[@red2977]

When tv shows start adopting children you know a show is on its last legs.

[@toptenguy1]

lol yep.. The agencies should have been like "Didn't you LOSE a pre-teen daughter? WHY SHOULD WE TRUST YOU?" LOLLL

[@bradjames891]

That was going to be my next question. Did 3J make the show jump the shark?

[@sonyab1974]

Yeah that's true. A lot of shows back then either adopted a child or became pregnant!!

[@SavedByGrace_CitizenEmperorユウ]

@@FightOstinFight On "The King of Queens", Doug and Carrie wanted to have a baby for a couple of seasons, the show runs for 9 seasons, that makes sense. Fortunatelly they don't get a baby and keep Arthur as their grandpa baby. Having a baby on the show would have ruined the show. It's a show. It's not supposed to be hyper realistic.

[@FightOstinFight]

@@SavedByGrace_CitizenEmperorユウ ok. But when they do that. That’s usually when the show falls off. Brady Bunch, Married with Children, Growing Pains, Family Matters, and so on. I don’t even know what point you were trying to make.

[@billyboy8534]

The show really hit the skids when it went from being a wholesome yet funny show about a family and their pet nerd, to a live action cartoon with cloning machines and evil puppets.

[@MightMouse2174]

The evil puppets were ok because it was a Halloween episode but everything else I agree with

[@mattm7798]

Pretty much. At some point, you run out of situations for the show so have to either introduce more characters or get more outlandish...they did both. Most sitcoms go thru this cycle.

[@itsjoshua2508]

I agree, 100%!

[@jedimastayoda112]

@@mattm7798 Full House didn't need time travel and cloning to write stories and they were on the air just as long as Urkel.

[@mattm7798]

@@jedimastayoda112 Technically Family Matters was 1 more season but Full House had turned it's character's in to caricatures too, just not as badly. Full House was also showing signs of running out of ideas. I agree not every sitcom goes into super out their territory like time travel, but most do have to either get really outlandish or add a bunch of new character's because they are running out of good ideas.

[@pe7e]

I remember as a kid, my parents used to refer to the show as urkel and not as family matters. This was also around the time of the season 4 episode when almost every episode started to center around urkel.

[@erikarabie]

Same lol

[@KThrilla]

My family called the show Steve. Similar but same idea.

[@davidcook680]

Great show. I loved every season. No matter how ridiculous it got.

[@massdagod]

My mother called the show “Urkel” and never missed an episode 😂 up until around the 7th season.

[@casualeann]

Yep, that's definitely what my mom called it 😂

[@sejejo7565]

Wow I was in the audience for that Stefan episode. Jaleel shot that sequence 3 or 4 times and made it more interesting each time

[@jevitigre]

There was an audience while filming? interesting

[@RetrocadePodcast]

@@jevitigre most sitcoms were shot in front of a live audience in the 90s

[@RetroDoneRight]

@@jevitigre From the 50s up until the 00's (even some still today), most sitcoms were shot in front of an audience. That's where the laughs and stuff are coming from. When shows moved from multi camera to single camera it kind of died with it.

[@jevitigre]

@@RetroDoneRight Thank you for the information, i thought the laugther were taped like those Latin American(especially Mexican sitcoms)

[@jevitigre]

@@RetrocadePodcast Thank you for the information

[@Timothy]

I don’t know, man. The crazy sci-fi seasons had some amazing moments. There’s one episode where Steve and Stefan trade places, and watching Jaleel White play Steve pretending to be Stefan and vice versa was some GENIUS level performing lol.

[@curtiswilliamsjr.m.div.9600]

Agreed!!!

[@pattrell5257]

That camera work was also incredible! I don't think the Nutty Professor had even come out yet (when they started having 2 J. Whites onscreen at the same time) and NP was a movie(where you often see the best that camera artistry has to offer). I was in awe by it all(of what FM was doing technologically and with ideas). Plus, from early on, it had some elements of adult(not in an X-rated or R-rated sense) and chjIbren of all ages in the whole show. The Buddy Goodrich show detailed where Family Matters was early on(before Urkel mania really took over). They were a full family show at first. Then, later on, it morphed into just a chjIbren of all ages show(that adults followed if they grew up on it). Steve was an educated Dennis the Menace! The only problem was--they were too romantic and eIgeebeeteecue for chjIbren and--at the same time--it had become a mostly chjIbren only show. So, it seems that.parents should have had more of a problem with it...

[@ghariiscool]

Do you have a link to this episode

[@pattrell5257]

@@ghariiscool No, because with Family Matters, like most of the other popular sitcoms, requires purchase. For free, all you'll get is a few minutes per video. The Buddy Goodrich here is only a clip: a clip that does not tell you why it is that this particular show resembles what Family Matters was all about in the early years. It was one of the best old episodes: 1. There was a hit family TV show that most of the Winslows also liked. 2. The adult star's name on that show was Buddy Goodrich. 3. Carl, as a cop, asks nicely that he move his illegally parked car and for autographs while he's there. Then, he finds out what a bad guy Buddy is--when he would not move it nor let any of his assistants move it. Buddy parked it there so that he'd get out more quickly after work and won't budge(thinks of it as a star perk). Carl insists on it, Buddy gets enraged, and Buddy, after insulting Carl, eventually swings at him. 4. Carl arrests him. Afterwards, the family hears about him arresting Goodrich and they can't imagine what he could have done. He had a squeaky clean image based on his hit show and think Carl's wrong. 5. Goodrich visits the home and lays it on real thick with the family(who are in the living room). He is really there to bribe Carl so that he drops the assault charge. The family overhears the revealing conversation and now they all are disillusioned with Buddy. The reason why it embodies the Winslows was because they were watching the hit family show and that's what the Winslows were trying to be back then and they were also one-for-all...

[@paradoxr.n.o8688]

So true

[@RetrocadePodcast]

Urkel was as much of a cultural icon in the early 90s as Bart Simpson was.

[@mattm7798]

Totally. For a few years there, the character was part of general pop culture. I had heard of Urkel before I ever saw a single show.

[@princessmarlena1359]

“Go home, Steve!”

[@MightMouse2174]

He had his own cereal and doll that's how ' over ' Steve Urkel was back then !!!

[@sethputnamsghost]

I remember 4th grade everyone did the Urkel laugh and wore the “Don’t have a cow man” Bart Simpson shirt.

[@ronald968]

Simpson was trash

[@micahbelly1899]

Steve and Carl traveling through time. Now that's the true definition of "Family Matters"

[@SamtheBravesFan]

Yeah I remember that episode vaguely.

[@ForrestFox626]

The one where he went back to become a billionaire?

[@joeschmoe5231]

@@ForrestFox626 Yeah, Urkel went throguh the quantum realm 🤣

[@bigbearkat2010]

I don't remember what the invention or episode was but I do remember there was one time when Steve was showing off one of his inventions and Carl barely reacted. This annoyed Steve at first until Carl pointed out that Steve had already invented a chamber that basically rewrites DNA, a teleportation pod, a clone machine and a time travel gadget so what was left for him to be surprised about at this point?

[@hephaestus6365]

Key and Peele did the perfect skit about Family Matters.

[@MLBlue30]

Get out of my house, Steve!

[@Cool750Boy]

I was in Die Hard!! LOL

[@doctorbjones2283]

"We started out wanting to make a blue-collar Cosby Show, and you're turning into Quantum Leap!"

[@pelicanhill3251]

It's interesting how similar Family Matters was to 227. That was supposed to be a show centered around Marla Gibbs, but once Jackee Harry's Sandra was introduced, she took over the show. Going back farther, same thing happened with Fonzi on Happy Days. Initially he was a supporting character, but he turned into the star.

[@HandofOmega]

See also: Good Times, which was supposed to be about the mother of the family, until "JJ" stole the show from under her!

[@pelicanhill3251]

Great example.

[@darnellmajor8895]

@@HandofOmega The Good Times thrived more off the SETTING where everyone stood out in their way. However, the publicity for JJ either threw Rolle and Amos off or they were just plain jealous of JJ.

[@tovorismoore7596]

Exactly just like Family matters was a perfect strangers spinoff about Harriet and her family but once urkel was introduced he took over the show it became less about Harriet or the family and pretty much about urkel and his antics.

[@yooneeque1]

@@HandofOmega That seems to happen quite frequently. Family Ties was supposed to focus on the parents, but Michael J. Fox was so popular that Alex ultimately became the primary focus - although he fortunately never overtook everyone else.

[@TechSavvyTommy]

I remember watching a documentary about Family Matters, and how Reginald VelJohnson called his mother right after landing the gig as Carl Winslow. They have audio of the phone call, and he was so overwhelmed with joy because it had been a bumpy ride for him up until that point. That said, you can kinda understand why some of the cast felt the way they did about the Urkel character. I don't think it was ever personal against Jaleel White. I think they honestly felt betrayed because he literally came in and took up ALL the oxygen in the room, making the show a caricature of what they had signed up for. Much like what happened with J.J. in Good Times, just without all the Sci-Fi subplots. All in all, Family Matters is a legendary show but I began losing my appreciation for it somewhere around the basketball episode. A lot of the storylines were just plain ol' ridiculous after that one.

[@darnellmajor8895]

What's crazy is that everyone stood out equally on Good Times from beginning to end. Even when you had secondary/replacement characters. The JJ actor just happened to make the best of what he had but it was the whole setting that made GT what it was............With Family Matters, the show was headed on the same level until Urkel started the most attention during season 3.

[@Xayjohns]

I saw a recent interview of Reginald VelJohnson on Entertainment Tonight around Father's Day this year when they were profiling TV dads. He also talked about how he got his role in Die Hard, which is a pretty cool story. It's on their KZbin channel.

[@Angie2343]

ALWAYS loved him.

[@sweetlikez]

this! The show was Family Matters show until it became The Steve Urkel show..

[@tomstorm7926]

One can argue the show lasted longer because of Steve though. It probably would’ve ran it’s course much quicker if they kept the same format.

[@VolcyThoughts]

For me it died in when they missed two key opportunities in the show. 1. They didn’t continue to develop Urkel’s basketball story. We see him, Eddie and Waldo play ball in later seasons but he never stays on the team in high school. He continues to be the bullied nerd which makes no sense as he literally won them a game. That’s instant popularity both in the real world and in tv world. If they had cut out all the whacky sci-fi stuff, they still could have kept Stefan. Which leads me to 2. Having Stefan be a completely normal development of Steve. Not some kooky invention but a natural progression of his character. There’s another 90s tv show which did something similar - Sister, Sister. The character Roger was also an annoying neighbor but over one summer he hit a growth spurt and became popular with the ladies. This then made him a selfish jerk that no one liked and he decided to change. This could have been the same with Stefan where folks don’t like the new persona and Steve decides to change for the better. The best part of all this is that it cuts out all the kooky inventions and side personas which gives Rachel and Judy more room to do things. It also still keeps Steve nerdy while toning down his over the top antics and they could still introduce Myra if they really wanted to have a love triangle.

[@FunFactFilms]

I like your idea about Stefan. It might’ve been interesting to see Steve mature out of his nerdiness.

[@86byrdman]

@@FunFactFilms I think in a way he kind of did in the last season when Laura started developing feelings for him and Steve wanted to change his appearance. He was still clumsy, but he wasn't as clumsy. Also at that point too, Steve was in his early 20's, so they probably wanted to portray him as a more mature young adult as opposed to the teenage nerd we remember.

[@FunFactFilms]

Ya it did seem they were trying to age him up a bit in that last season.

[@job489]

Although I like your idea, I often wonder if Judy would've still been retconned regardless of Steve Urkel becoming a breakthrough character. Judy didn't even have an episode that focused on her or developing her character. Even in the episode when she was jealous of Richie, I think she was only in two scenes. Aside from only having one line or filling time, any "story" with her was usually be nicer to Richie or do better in school.

[@FunFactFilms]

Ya I think the gradual disappearance of Judy isn't just because of Urkel either. It seems the creators didn't know what to do with her from the beginning, so once Urkel became huge he presented a convenient opportunity to cut costs by getting rid of her, hoping nobody would notice.

[@dasg5805]

As a 90s kid this show is easily the best an most memorable for me, as ridiculous as it got. I think it had an amazing run despite the issues. 9 Seasons is a remarkable achievement.

[@Xayjohns]

Absolutely an achievement.

[@JayFoxFire]

Agreed.

[@Pirelli913]

I think Family Matters died when they wrote off Shawn Harrison (Waldo) after season 7. I loved his character. Despite appearing unintelligent, he had a heart of gold. He was a recurring character in seasons 2 and 3 before becoming part of the main cast for seasons 4 thru 7 and then unexpectedly disappearing for seasons 8 and 9.

[@averymerrick]

Shawn Harrison (who played Waldo Faldo) said he left the show after the seventh season because his contract expired. He also said the series tended not to renew contracts as ABC continued to cut the program's budget. It explains why so many characters disappeared without being officially written off the show.

[@kenrickbautista6141]

'Family Matters' was a lot better when Urkel made his debut. Jaleel's character literally brought this show to life and prevented it from being canceled. But, to me, I think the show went south when there were too many inventions, relationships were all over the place, the introduction of 3J (just to fill in Judy), Judyann taking over as Harriette and too many retcons. That's what I think personally.

[@josephclegg3562]

I felt the producers could have found a way to keep Judy with the family instead of ousting her after Urkel debut.

[@kenrickbautista6141]

@@josephclegg3562 yeah I know.

[@kevinr.3542]

I tuned out during the episodes where 3J and Little Richie started selling crack, and Carl had to arrest them. That was going too far. Also when Waldo was molested by his gym coach Mr. Diddles

[@kenrickbautista6141]

@@kevinr.3542 sounds pretty disturbing.

[@kevinr.3542]

@@kenrickbautista6141 it was an unusual choice for a family show

[@BlakeGildaphish76]

It was a jittery ride, but i enjoyed almost every year of it. Seasons 1-7, respectively. i held on until the finale, but i stopped running to the television late in seventh season. i was just a child in middle school by then, but you can always tell when something good is on its way out.

[@MightMouse2174]

It was close to getting a Tenth sesson but season seven is when it should've ended

[@ezaye1991]

This is one of the most detailed and thought out videos on Family Matters I’ve ever seen. You did not miss one fact and you were completely unbiased for the most part. Great content. I’m subscribing!

[@thablackkat9905]

Indeed. I agree.

[@maccusmc]

No it's not. Please don't lie again

[@ezaye1991]

@@maccusmc I don’t lie and it’s what I believe. You don’t have to agree with me and I’m fine with that.

[@maccusmc]

@@ezaye1991 it was a joke. We used to tell them back in the day before people got offended by everything

[@ezaye1991]

@@maccusmc then head back to the lab, that joke sucked lol

[@FabledHeroes3351]

Honestly the show never died for me I loved every single season they where all a blast 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 i couldn’t get enough of Steve, Carl and everyone else

[@sierrasymone7590]

exactly 👏

[@dexterdouglas]

Facts! Don’t think this guy speaks for everyone. We enjoyed all the things he said were wrong with the show. Especially all of Steve’s inventions haha

[@litigioussociety4249]

That just means you're either very positively biased towards some aspect of the show, so you're unable to objectively critique the show, or you're an easily conditioned type of person who will like any subtle change to something that you have previously enjoyed. For example, some people are like this with certain actors, and have watched their most obscure roles, and are hardly able to find fault in even their worst performances. Note: there's nothing wrong with being biased, as long as a person is able to admit that they're biased.

[@andrewgamez7973]

I loved this show as a kid. This was one of many Friday night shows that brought my family together for the weekend. The memories of my family reflected with family matters as I got older into my middle and high school years. I still smile when I hear the opening and I immediately sit down to watch if it's on the TV almost anywhere im at too. The show for me is a memory of family time for me even to this day as my mother, father, godmother, and godfather are all gone. I do see where he gets his point of it loving its touch and why though. Every show does that. But for me my memories is what keeps my love of the show strong.

[@MightMouse2174]

I could've done without season 8 and 9 but I still watched I wished it gotten a better ending

[@dabadguygeezie]

I agree that after the Mother Winslow wedding episode the show lost it's appeal....when they gave Harriette's character the "Aunt Viv" treatment in the final season, I knew it was over with😞😞

[@novalove4790]

It sucks that the original Harriet decided to leave. Very awkward.

[@ooooo524]

No you didn't

[@MightMouse2174]

They didn't give her the treatment she wanted to leave earlier but she finished her contract ( from what I read )

[@dabadguygeezie]

@@MightMouse2174 I think everything goes back to when Jaleel White became the breakout star of the show....it became more about Urkel, his inventions, his catchphrases and his pursuit of Laura & less about the entire Winslow family......its almost like when Jimmie "J.J." Walker became the primary focus of "Good Times" & the rest of the Evans family were background players

[@raakone]

@@novalove4790 I heard that at one point she would have stayed for the whole season, but had it after an argument for more screen time, and there were one or two episodes where she was nothing more than a glorified background character.

[@HightopRob]

I believe the show Family Matters took a nosedive after the conclusion of season 4 going into season 5

[@josephclegg3562]

After season 4, with half of the family gone and pushed to the backburner, the show was completely about Urkel. It was like 2 separate shows. The first half of the series was Family Matters, and the second half was like a spinoff of Family Matters, called Urkel.

[@HightopRob]

@@josephclegg3562 The nail in the coffin was the mid season exit for Jo Marie Payton the original Harriet

[@darwinbowman8512]

Oh I agree 100%. Once Stefan came in, the show just got on my nerves. The creation of that character completely butchered Steve's main character trait of liking himself

[@FunFactFilms]

Yes! I totally agree. It was such a reversal of Urkel's moral character.

[@Dwayne_MitchellYT]

Yeah that's about right. They have ended the show with 5 season and call it quits. The actors were getting too old to plays as teenagers anyways.

[@BrandanTheBroker]

To me, once the show moved networks, that was it. That TGIF lineup was as legendary as NBC's Thrusday night and TNBC Saturday morning lineups.

[@konsciousk1986]

I personally thought season two was the best season. There was a healthy balance between the storylines surrounding Urkel and the ones about everyone else and they also tackled some serious topics.

[@martinalther6661]

I second that. Even as early as Season 3, I noticed Urkel becoming more “elastic,” so to speak, and the plots becoming more akin to a Teen-Com than a Family Sitcom. Season 2 was where the show hit its peak IMO, for the reasons both you and the video’s author mentioned.

[@JustinW06]

Also the second season had its highest rating in viewership in the history of the show with a 15.8 rating and average 26.3 million viewers for that season, also was rank #15 in the TV ratings.

[@elizabethholmes4933]

Agreed. I didnt like any other seasons after season 4 lol

[@konsciousk1986]

@@elizabethholmes4933 Actually season 5 was also pretty good. While it starts to become corny in season 3, the show doesn't really fall off for me until season 7.

[@elizabethholmes4933]

@@konsciousk1986 oh thats true, season 5 dove deeper into the world of inventions lol 😆

[@stephencaraway537]

I agree. I don't care too much for episodes after season 4. When Jaleel White got older the Urkel character became more unrealistic. It became The Steve Urkel Show

[@josephclegg3562]

There was supposed to be a season 10 to conclude the series and have all the family come back, including Judy, for Steve and Lauras wedding. The show was supposed to go back to its natural roots as the beginning of being about the family, but considering what happen after and in between, l seriously doubt it would have worked.

[@mugabi9502]

It was hard for Jaleel White to play Urkel at 20 years old.

[@melissacooper8724]

Since he got more muscular as he got older, it was harder for him to play Steve Urkel.

[@theTruthSeekerishere]

It's important to note that the actress that played Urkels girlfriend ( Michelle Thomas) was very ill during taping of the show and her illness (stomach cancer) may have had a lot to do with changes that were made(Laura going back to Steve).

[@godzbody2432]

Good point

[@aprilgosa5779]

so sad about Michelle but Steve and Laura ere gonna eventually get together no offense to Mrs Elder but I missed JoMarie as Hariette it felt like Carl had remarried a woman with the same first name LOL like what happened

[@Tony.Dreamer]

Myra was one of my first crushes, it broke my heart when I grew up and learned what happened

[@melissacooper8724]

​@@aprilgosa5779 Oddly enough the actor who played Carl Winslow had made that same statement when Harriette got replaced.

[@tmcurly]

I thought Michelle Thomas fell Sick later on. According to Jaleel White (Urkel) she had moved on to the Young and The Restless and apparently was having career difficulties leading her to work as an waitress . That’s my understanding of events 🙋🏽‍♀️..

[@stevarino1989]

I also HATE how people keep thinking Judy went up the stairs in the wedding episode and never came back down. If you actually WATCH it, you’ll see she never goes up the stairs. Her final scene is walking down the aisle at Grandma Winslow’s wedding.

[@Ability-King-KK]

People aren't saying she literally went up the stairs. "Went up the stairs, never came down" is a trope that, much like "Jump the shark" originated from _Happy Days._ There was a character in the first season who's last scene was of him walking upstairs and that was the last you ever see of him with no explanation afterwards.

[@quickpstuts412]

I always saw it as a funny joke. Never assumed that's what actually happened. lol. But I didn't remember what her final scene was so it was good to get that refresher.

[@adrianscorch]

Honestly, it was the whole “Urkel turning Carl into a sandwich and accidentally eating him” episode that killed it for me.

[@mugabi9502]

That episode was terrible. That was the episode when Steve moved in with the Winslow's. The writing was on the wall that the show was near its end.

[@lawschoolpro]

The quilt episode with Estelle is still a tear jerker

[@TheCommenterDragon]

Honestly, i love Steve Urkel he's the most iconic and memorable tv nerd whoever lived! and even if Urkel was both the shows savior and destroyer Jaleel White's performance of the character was just the greatest, and whether Jaleel himself likes it or not Steve Urkel will always be known as the role that forever cemented his career as an actor. In fact i once read somewhere that Jaleel White once said in an interview that even though he has a deep fondness for Urkel he doesn't miss playing the character, and after everything he went through on the set of Family Matters i honestly don't blame him.

[@TheSpicyLeg]

More than that, it typecasted Jaleel into that role. My suspicion at the time was Stefan was a way to let Jaleel get out from under Steve Urkel. In reality, Jaleel White’s career was launched and destroyed by Urkel. He did a few other small roles but flamed out by the late 90s. Just like Eddie’s actor, it ruined his real life as well.

[@ForrestFox626]

I think he is okay, I kind of prefered Carlton Banks as a nerd.

[@baymaxinarmor4133]

I'm afraid you're wrong about that. Urkel is not "iconic" and the only thing memorable about him is that he was just another offensive stereotype, people may have found his antics to be funny and tolerable in the 90's. But by today's standards you'd be surprised at how many people find the character to be be nothing but completely and utterly offensive.

[@MLBlue30]

@@baymaxinarmor4133 How is he offensive??

[@Youngerick1990]

@@MLBlue30 oh geeezzz it’s a wokie! Everything is so “offensive”… just keep walking and act like you don’t see it or hear it.

[@lindaeasley5606]

I think one of the reasons tv shows die is the unintentional focus on one popular character till THEY become the show. There are many examples. JJ on Good Times ( the actors who played the parents would later agree he destroyed it) Fonzie on Happy Days Danny on the Partridge Family. And Urkle

[@LouieKaboom]

You could also argue that Alex P Keaton from Family Ties is another good example.

[@paullavoie5542]

I used to love to watch this show with my family. Nothing like this show will ever appear again.

[@Bingo_the_Pug]

I recall an episode where Steve invented a jetpack & went flying through the roof at the end, and he landed in the Step By Step neighborhood

[@JustinW06]

Yup that was season 3 episode 2.

[@Pieldenieve]

For me, it died when they took out the character of Judy and when Steve moves in the Winslow’s house. Did NOT alike that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@FunFactFilms]

I wonder what took them so long to have him move in. He practically lived with the Winslows anyway.

[@brandonpage7087]

Oh yeah, the show's quality went into the toilet when Steve moved in! Still not sure why that decision was made. Why were his parents written out of the series, when they were never shown to begin with???

[@DM-ty4jb]

And when 3J moved in. I mean, he was a cool kid and all, and an adoption storyline would have been fine with me to give Richie a brother but with still no explanation as to what happened to Judy, I couldn't support that.

[@mugabi9502]

@@brandonpage7087 In agree because they could not tell Steve to go home which was one of the funnier jokes in the show.

[@86byrdman]

@@DM-ty4jb From what it sounds like based on interviews on KZbin I've seen from Jaleel White and other characters from Family Matters, when Judy is brought up, it sounds like her parents were a factor in Judy not continuing on Family Matters... Plus when you think about it, Judy didn't have much of a role later on, and she was always doing bad in school. Didn't she get a D in English or something like that? But yeah, Judy's departure was peculiar without explanation until now really.

[@RobSandage]

The reason why I think Family Matters ended was due to shake up of family structure like you stated. The youngest daughter was written off as was also in Step By Step the second son was written off for the daughter that Frank and Carol had. Plus, CBS picked up from ABC Step By Step, Perfect Strangers, and Family Matters. I noticed that when it switched networks they altered things a bit. Plus, ABC wanted to focus on other shows that they tried to make do well. I loved Perfect Strangers, Step By Step, and Family Matters when it first started. You can say that The Big Bang Theory went into SCIFI as well as the show progressed.

[@zt1053]

Perfect Strangers didn't move to CBS. It ended in 1993. The only reason family matters still got decent ratings after it got so stupid was because at the time networks didn’t put decent shows on Friday night. When family matters moved to CBS it went up against Sabrina the teenage witch and got crushed in the ratings and was soon canceled

[@markgamer1188]

Big bang made more sense being sci-fi than family matters

[@theultimaterental]

Sitcoms come to a natural conclusion. Nine seasons is crazy long especially in those days. While your theories make sense, sometimes people just lose interest after 9 years. I don’t recall any of these “signs of decay”. What I remember is laughing at Urkels antics and Stefan was awesome!

[@lexkanyima2195]

Why 9 years ? They could have made season 10.

[@RSProduxx]

I hated the entire Stefan arch. And I guess enough people did as well. Good for you that you enjoyed it, but it really felt like the show had lost it´s tracks to me and others around me.

[@Misterkennedy04]

You have to understand the reason behind Estelle appeared less and less because Rosetta was very sick and couldn’t do the show as much anymore, They did Jamiee wrong as Judy but they didn’t need her anymore and Jo Marie left for more than just wanting to do other projects she wanted more money and was upset that Jaleel became the focus of the show

[@Misterkennedy04]

@Buzz Your Girlfriend is Killing me Smalls my bad Rosetta

[@raysmith1026]

The show died slowly during season 4, after the disappearance of Judy Winslow and Rachel being part time to start her own show, leaving Richie behind.

[@massdagod]

Let’s be real, we all didn’t notice Judy disappeared until about the end of the 5th season 🤣🤣🤣

[@godzbody2432]

😂😂💀💀💀💀

[@godzbody2432]

She left to be a getto gagger

[@toyaliens]

@@massdagod wrong

[@ericavankatwyk9168]

I'm not one much for comedy but I loved the earlier urkel seasons. Those had me laughing.

[@FunFactFilms]

Ya they were the best

[@josephclegg3562]

After adding Urkel in the mix, they should have renamed Family Matters as Urkel Matters, because he's what the show became about.

[@ZebbeCali]

There was absolutely nothing amiss or unnerving with Myra’s performance. She’s essentially a goddess.

[@keeneboy7700]

I never got why he was so obsessed with Laura after Myra came along... Here's a woman who is nicer than Laura, prettier than Laura, is your intellectual equal, and LIKES YOU FOR YOU! But, no, Steve, you still have to pine over this woman that often treats you like you're worthless, plays games with you, and wants you to be an alter ego most of the time.

[@BossRob]

@@keeneboy7700 I think the Urkel character was like some people is, he wanted what he couldn't have. Look at all the potions, transfomation chamber nonsense he did to get with Laura.

[@poeticsilence047]

@@keeneboy7700 definitely. Agree. In the end, Laura didn't deserve Steve. Just like Lela didn't deserve Fry in Futurama. Lol

[@wilnerolivier7971]

@@keeneboy7700 You got to admit that Laura looked her best around season 7 with her short & body looking good!!

[@ForrestFox626]

@@keeneboy7700 Yes, go to the girl that record everything you see via your glasses

[@professorbaxtercarelessdre1075]

i'd have to agree, when there's no more family ties, its not really family matters, which the title implies the show values and wants us to do as an audience

[@josephclegg3562]

The family didn't even seem that close after Mother Winslow got married, because they never acknowledged Judy's disappearance.

[@professorbaxtercarelessdre1075]

@@josephclegg3562 it would seem so, i honestly barely remember alot of this show now, this video helped some, i mostly remember how ridiculous the Erkle stuff got over time

[@BadTV1993]

when 3J (orlando brown) hit the scene, I knew it was a wrap

[@MrDash03]

I couldn’t stand him

[@christopherwesterberg4511]

I remember watching Family Matters Friday Nights on ABC

[@christopherwesterberg4511]

And I remember seeing it on CBS too

[@christopherwesterberg4511]

That Episode Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool is a Parody of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

[@SLa-pb1gg]

Im a 90’s kid, so Id say by 96, I was 10 and I was kinda outgrowing the show. Even at 10, there’s only so many times I can see Myra obsess over him, see Steve transform, or break something. It just became too one note by then. It didn’t feel like the same show I watched s1-6. I think the last ep I actually remember sitting down watching new was the one where they shrunk themselves

[@daveblackman816]

I’m the same age and same here. I remember the last time I watched this on TGIF, they went to Paris or something with a teleportation machine. I was like “this is too much”.

[@MarsGundam]

Yeah, even as kid I was asking myself, "Why isn't Urkel rich off his inventions?" Also I was getting tired of the Urkel messes up too much and Laura stabs his heart, but it's all resolved in 22min episodes.

[@SLa-pb1gg]

@@MarsGundam I was done when he turned into Bruce Lee, Elvis, the network change. Less Waldo.

[@dorothysewing9997]

The thing I liked about Family Matters was that we got to see Jaleel White play different characters and show future producers that he’s capable of playing a character other than a nerd. If he had just played Steve Urkel, he could’ve been typecasted as a nerd.

[@taahirahbrown606]

He was still typecasted as Steve Urkel though

[@tmcurly]

It ruined his life!! Never had much of a career in Hollywood to date 😢 . Unfortunately he is no Eddie Murphy or Martin Lawrence or Tyler Perry.

[@doubleitp]

@@tmcurly Did you see lately that he came out with the Weed product of his? Can't remember what the strain is called though, Purple Urkel or something

[@lookingforlove839]

@@tmcurly Tyler Perry? How does he even have a career? He is horrible in everything he does

[@INFERNO95]

@lookingforlove839 For some creepy reasons Hollywood has a obsession whit black men in dresses.

[@abellewis3062]

Family Matters will always be my favorite show! Enough said.

[@sbj97]

Facts

[@mugabi9502]

Great show.

[@cliffchampion5501]

As a kid in the 90s this hit my heart I loved this show. The robot Urkel was one of my favorites. & the grandmama episode I distinctly loved those two shows the most.

[@laurita95-30]

I watched all of the season and Episode On June 2020. It was really fun to watch!! Great job!!

[@dhenderson1810]

It died when it became "The Urkel Show" and the family became secondary. However, it really got stupid when they had episodes that destroyed realism, such as Urkel and Carl shrinking in one ep, or when they had a time machine.

[@travienantley674]

Exactly the first couple of seasons when urkel was just coming around was good but after that it got real goofy with the transformation chambers and the time traveling and cloning

[@dhenderson1810]

@@travienantley674 Well, the first few seasons were about the Winslow family, and the situations they got in, and Urkel was a side character. I mean, the family so went in the background, that one of the daughters went upstairs and never came down. The show "Family Matters" stopped being about family. I personally think that they should have kept the show as it was, and then have a Steve Urkel spin-off series, which could be used for the sillier storylines.

[@travienantley674]

@@dhenderson1810 also I never understood why Rachel left,and what happened to her restaurant

[@TheRealZarp]

The show did lean heavily on Steve. It was supposed to be a show about family but it became the Steve Urkel show. I agree, he did save the show even though personally I did like the earlier episodes without Steve.

[@BriceHoward7001]

The Key and Peele skit about this show summarizes it best... hahaha

[@LeafyNebula]

I wish there was a place we can go to re watch old shows and have conversations about them today only in real time like in a chat instead of comment sections lol

[@leroylawrence2773]

I agree….. when they wrote Judy out that was the downfall, even though back then, we were too young to even notice it!

[@DJBIGCG]

Very thorough and fun explanation of what happened to family matters.

[@gregrich91]

I immediately started seeing parallels with other sitcoms. People change, but sitcoms require more of the same, so it's natural for actors to tire of their roles

[@Robsreviews85]

The REAL reason Harriet didn’t do season 9 is because Jaleel White and her hated each other and almost got into a fist fight behind scenes to where Jaleel told the producers either you replace her or they could replace him. So they chose her since the show would have gone down quicker without Urkel.

[@Rusty3659]

Jo Marie Payton told the producers that she'd do half of the last season, 9, which she did.

[@Robsreviews85]

@@Rusty3659 right because it makes sense she passed on $150,000 a episode because why? Jaleel white carried that show and put up with her trying to control the show so Jaleel gave the producers a choice and they let her go mid season

[@LeafyNebula]

I still find the show a good pastime to watch lol to get the satire comedy for the 90s and ability to have humility and teach lessons while also playing on superstitions was so much fun. They always celebrate holidays and had episodes for Halloween and Christmas episodes. I’m looking for more shows that had these themes for episodes from the 90s or earlier. Any show that depicts a holiday episode or banding together because of bad weather is just fun to watch.

[@hikeherc8145]

I didn't watch the show until it was in reruns, but found it better than a lot of so called comedy shows.

[@saku0207]

Still watch the show once in a while. Never missed a episode back in the day. Great show.

[@KreativeSoul]

You did an amazing job breaking this down👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@DementedDistraction]

Wow...an elevator operator. Strange to think that was a dedicated position through the 80s. I remember thinking Family Matters was already cancelled, but to my surprise, I stumbled across it by chance to find it still on the air, and the episode in question had Urkel and Carl time traveling onto a pirate ship. So yeah, considering the last episode I could remember seeing prior to that had Carl, Eddie and Urkel trying to bake pies or something I knew the show didn't have much life left in it after that.

[@Timbrock1000]

FAMILY MATTERS DIDN'T FAIL. It, like all well liked TV shows simply ran it's course. The adolescent characters such as Urkle were ageing out of their youth. Even still, 9 seasons is exceptional for a series, and there's only so much that can be done with it. Seinfeld is a great example. It was well rated through it's entire life (despite being "a show about nothing"), and everyone agreed that despite having great ratings, it was time to conclude it.

[@powerofk]

Family Matters didn’t fail so much as it had changed so much in the later seasons that it really wasn’t the same show. It was still funny, sure, but it became less family sitcom and more like a sci-fi version of Saved by the Bell.

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@powerofk Speaking Of Saved By The Bell do you remember the reboot? No I'm talking about the current reboot on NBC Peacock LOL! I'm talking Saved By The Bell: The New Class which actually ran longer than the original series! You want to talk about milking a franchise or in this case a tv character to death and I say with all do respect R.I.P. Dustin Diamond. Screech was brought back in season two of SBTB: The New Class and at first he wasn't too annoying but as the seasons go by he got screecher and screecher! Even his voice sounded worse! Seems like the producers where taken steps to have Screech and Mr. Belding be the new Carl and Steve Urkel and it sure looked and felt that way as the producers took Screech and Belding to levels that would make anyone cringe. A couple of changes like on the original series Screech wasn't popular with girls but on the later series he was picking up chicks and dates. Say what! Screech seemed to be a lot dumber too and he was maybe nerdy on the original show but he was also very smart. I guess producers forgot about all that?! The New Class ran from 1993 to 2000. Saved By The Cancellation!🔔🔕🏫📺

[@ForrestFox626]

Eh, when the show starting going sci-fi it started losing me.

[@TheFLAMEXD]

Seinfeld is boring.

[@foreignparticle1320]

I had ZERO idea it was a spin off of Perfect Strangers. This is amazing to me.

[@Xayjohns]

I haven't even seen Perfect Strangers before, so I didn't really know that at first either.

[@Ironn-Kidd]

As I’m watching family matters I get notified

[@FunFactFilms]

Got to love those recommendations.

[@sincityquinn]

I actually liked most of what you said was a problem. I liked Steve’s sci Fi stuff and Stephan Urkel. I didn’t like how they got a new mom tho. I mostly watched Family Matters in syndication, though. I can remember watching season 4 or 5 on when it was on TV, though. Later on, they did over do the Urkel stuff. But times were changing and they clearly ran out of ideas like most sitcoms do.

[@Tim_the_Enchanter]

Family Matters died of what I call Fonzie Syndrome. If you're not old enough to remember Fonzie, you've probably still heard the phrase "jump the shark." Steve was funny -- especially interacting with Carl -- but too much of anything you like will eventually turn you off it.

[@quickpstuts412]

Exactly. Same with JJ on Good Times. Too much silliness for me.

[@TANKTREAD]

Always loved the theme song to this show.

[@jordanbyrd9821]

Me to but when it was the full theme, not when they cut it in half after season 3.

[@milwaukee283]

Man that show was lit, at least they tried something different, I'm glad to see a black sitcom, that was filled with drama, laughter, exaggerations, a multitude of characters, it wasn't just about a black family, with a bunch of heartache and a nerd to make fun of

[@MsDudette21]

I was born in 92 so I saw snippets of the show throughout childhood. It wasn't until a few years ago I learned Urkel was not only originally a guest character, but completly took over the show. I think I learned about it from that Key and Peele sketch. It blew my mind. It's also kinda dark how they just write off the one daughter. At least say she died or something!

[@simplyjuannie5128]

"The village idiot Waldo." 😂😂😂

[@SLa-pb1gg]

To me, Waldo, Eddie, Weasel, Steve, and Harriet were the comedy gems. Lt Murtaugh too when he was there

[@mugabi9502]

Waldo was the funniest character.

[@chrisoneal9461]

At the senior prom, Steve & Laura kissed and for some odd reason they never followed up on it until the last season when Laura got feelings for Steve out of nowhere

[@FunFactFilms]

Ya, that was a pretty big moment to be swept under the rug for awhile

[@moseskuria1234]

Was that before the network switch from abc to cbs?

[@chrisoneal9461]

@@moseskuria1234 be4 I think

[@nickbanks7954]

The introduction to Stefan Urquelle was the beginning of the end for the show (Season 5 I think he debuts).

[@Bookworm84330]

True I agree

[@Phobos_Anomaly]

As a kid growing up in the 90's, I never watched the show, but the character of Steve Urkel was such a pop-culture phenomenon that I didn't even realize he was not the main character of his own show. I just thought he was from a show called "Steve Urkel" or something. The pants pulled way up and the "Did I do that?" catchphrase was so prevalent I didn't even need to know anything about Family Matters, or even that it existed, to instantly recognize both features as Urkel.

[@khingofswordz43]

"Family Matters" was part of the "TGIF" Friday Night ABC lineup. It was "Full House" @ 8pm, "Family Matters" @ 8:30pm. "Step By Step" @ 9pm & Boy Meets World @ 9:30pm. The show gave black life as working class family sort of what Cosby show did in the 80s but more about a beautiful housewife a former elevator operator, a father in law enforcement, a single mother aunt, 2 teenage kids & a lovely hip grandma. This was never done before. I like the show even today, it was funny, positive, & it always had a lesson to learn at end of each episode.....way to go ".Family Matters"..... 🌟😎🌟😎🌟😎🌟😎🌟😎🌟😎

[@threewing]

With utmost gratitude I can declare to never have seen one episode of Family Matters.

[@christthelord91]

This guy hit it on the nail! His descriptions are head on!

[@jorgpeters7244]

That was really wonderfull when I have seen them in the 90s here. In Germany this series was called "Alle unter einem Dach" which means "All under one roof". I was still a child when I watched this. Later I had to work when this was sent on TV and I completely forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me.

[@julianloht9651]

Great to hear from you again since it’s been a while! You should talk about the sitcom of Malcolm in the Middle. It’s my favorite sitcom show to watch.

[@FunFactFilms]

Thanks Julian. This one took awhile to do. I’ve been working on it for over a month.

[@julianloht9651]

@@FunFactFilms no wonder we haven’t heard from you in a long time! 13 minutes of a video sounded forever.

[@FunFactFilms]

Ya it did turn out to be a longer video than normal. Other life stuff was slowing me down too. But the hardest part was the writing! It took me awhile to analyze my thoughts and organize and structure them into writing. I enjoyed it but I wish I had gotten it done sooner.

[@julianloht9651]

@@FunFactFilms I understand, sir. Is there a Halloween movie you’re planning to upload soon since it’s coming up next month?

[@FunFactFilms]

I haven't thought that far ahead yet.

[@geodude3966]

Urkel was a pop culture icon in the 90's, without him Family Matters wouldn't even be half the show that it was. There were so many hilarious moments with Urkel, I remember in the later seasons he even created a Mortal Kombat video game where he was a playable fighter! HE THREW CHEESE AS HIS ATTACK! FREAKING EPIC!

[@KasumiKenshirou]

I never watched this show, but I was aware of Steve Urkel because he was everywhere, even having his own cereal, and all the other kids at school were talking about him. I had no idea that there was a pre-Urkel version of Family Matters. It sounds somewhat similar to what happened to the show Webster. Although Webster was in the show from the first episode (as he was the titular character), he was added late in the development due to the popularity of Diff'rent Strokes.

[@MrParkerman6]

That isn't true at all, dumbass. Webster was always intended to have Webster.

[@Lynzae]

Ritchie disappeared, Rachel disappeared, Harriet (the original spin off character) disappeared. Oh and let's not forget Judy, who... disappeared.

[@jordanbyrd9821]

And Waldo did as well.

[@jehb8945]

The show wanted to tackle serious issues initially but was forced to be a little bit more family-friendly and a little bit more far out later on Even though the show did eventually slide into a decline which couldn't get out of I will say even in its later seasons it was still entertaining as you still had a good and talented cast.

[@kiefferz5556]

The show went down when the allowed Steve urkel to dominate the whole show and when they got rid of Judy

[@connorpacheco4812]

Fun facts you've done it again I love you 👍❣

[@sanddagger36]

I think it is amazing that the character that started it was hardly the focus after a while and was even recast. I'm glad Carl slipped into the role as the star so easily and I'm impressed with Laura for basically taking over for him when it became more interesting to watch the romance than the weird buddy relationship between Carl and Urkel. It is sad that it changed so much but it's also quite impressive. Did anything think that Laura would become so important when the series first aired?

[@mugabi9502]

The show went downhill after season 6. When Steve moved in with the Winslow's the show really jumped the shark.

[@josephclegg3562]

There's an episode in seasons 6, 7, and 8 when they're talking about family which show reference to the original family, but the original family is not shown. First in season 6, when the family went to see a counselor about the strife Urkel was giving them and we were seen scenes of the original family from early seasons, then in season 7 when Carl was being audited and he said he had 7 people living with him, but it supposed to been 8 because of Judy, and in season 8, when Steve invented a time machine, and he and Carl altered the timeline where The Winslows never moved in their neighborhood and his kids, Eddie and Laura never were born. Carl never said anything about Judy. He only acknowledge of him having 2 kids.

[@michaelwilber774]

I think sometimes people tend to go to deep into it. It was a show that was hilarious, everyone enjoys Steve and the family. The music. It had pretty good plots sometimes too. But also keep in mind, tv sitcoms are just filler times for TV. That's the point. To watch and not think.

[@dimethedude]

Cutting out the younger sister killed the series But for me the series died around 95-96 I just grew out of it at the time But when it got to focused on the relationship of urkel and Laura got to intense

[@InscrutableObjects]

Just discovered your series and I'm digging them. Thanks for posting these!!!!

[@massdagod]

Let’s be real, NONE of us realized Judy wasn’t showing up anymore with her “single sentence, 5 seconds of airtime” performances every other show until like the end of the 5th season 🤣🤣🤣

[@fatmanjstyle5306]

Yeah, Saying two lines then darting upstairs lol

[@REIDGERICKSON]

I remember loving the the later seasons and all of Urkels alter egos and story lines. It might feel worse for you; but I don’t think it died. Just wasn’t for you anymore

[@crystalclear5397]

Nothing lasts forever. They all eventually end, no big deal to look into it like gossipers do or something. They had their good long seasons and was fun while it lasted ❤️ I was a kid then and Loved it ✨❤️ you did give some great facts though, thank you.

[@RapFanatic4ever]

I love how Laura and Steve end up together in the end of the Family Matters

[@powerbad696]

Me TOO.

[@MoeDavinci]

Season 1: Below average. would've been cancalled (Too many people in as main characters) Seasons 2-4: The true heart of the series and probably most people's fondest memories of the show Season 5-7: My personal favorite seasons, this was before the inventions and Urkel characters jumped the shark Season 8-9 Contract filler episodes, rarely use to see these episodes on syndication RIP Michelle Thomas aka Myra

[@ryanr20091]

the show could have realistically ended after season 7 because most shows have a decision to make after the high school and there is a crossroads. I mean Laura did finally show some attraction toward him during 7 and the last episode they hook up after the prom and the shows ends

[@w.allencaddell6421]

Family Matters, Mama's Family, the Cosby Show, the Jefferson, Sandford and Son, were all a must in mu home.

[@josephclegg3562]

Family Matters First season: Show is about the family. Second season: Show is about the family and Urkel. Third season: Show is about the family and Urkel Fourth season: Show starts revolving more around Urkel. Fifth season: Show revolves more around Urkel. The Urkel Show Sixth season: Show revolves even more around Urkel. The Urkel Show Seventh season: Show revolves entirely about Urkel. The Urkel Show Eight season: Show is all about Urkel. The Urkel Show Nine season: The Urkel Show

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@Joseph Clegg hence why Marie Jo Payton left the show midway through season 9.

[@josephclegg3562]

@@SuperMarioBrosIIIJo Marie Payton wanted out. She had gotten tired of playing Harriette and she wanted to do other things. Basically she got tired of being an understudy to Jaleel.

[@job489]

I often wondered if Rachel and Ritchie were retconned like Judy after the Christmas special where Steve and Myra worked together wrapping presents in the mall. I think that was also JoMarie Payton's last episode as Harriet Winslow. After that, I don't remember seeing them or even any mention of them in the series. I don't think they were in the last episodes of the series.

[@dechale]

The ending of this show really upset me and made me regret wasting my time watching the whole series. At the time, I had to actually wait until new episodes came out and to go through all the anticipation just for that crappy ending angered me. The whole show was pretty much centered around Steve trying to win Laura over and so when she FINALLY returned his feelings, THERE WAS NO WEDDING!!! Edit: Another thing that I found annoying in the show was how Laura showed how shallow she was. She only liked Stephan because he was everything Steve was not, and those were the only guys she would take an interest in. I'm glad she finally realized how much she loved Steve, but I still think she was real shallow at a certain point or to a certain extent. And she would give Steve false hope sometimes or lead him on...like when she got drunk and kissed him, when he asked her about it, she acted like she didn't remember instead of talking to him about it like a responsible, young adult would.

[@lexkanyima2195]

That's the story about them

[@GAshoneybear]

I've got a lot of super unpopular opinions about the show: 1) Many people say the show was off when Judy left, but I never remembered Judy in those earlier seasons. So for me it was just 🤷‍♀️. Even rewatching as an adult I don't think her presence did anything for the dynamic of the show. If they brought her back in season 10 like they planned, I feel that would have raised more questions than it would have answered. 2) A lot of people liked Myra, but I HATED Myra. I HATED Myra's relationship with Steve. Once the conflict was introduced (that she caused) I was not as engaged as I was previously. She outstayed her welcome (to me) far too long and made the show a drag. She was toxic and manipulative, so to hear people saying Steve should have been with Myra is just crazy to me. 3) I didn't like Stefan for some of the same reasons I didn't like Myra. Although Laura's relationship with Stefan was more tolerable than Steve and Myra, he gave off Fresh Prince vibes, and I couldn't stand Will. What they did in season 9 (Steve trying to develop himself) should have been an overreaching arc instead of keeping Stefan for years. 4) I genuinely liked the development of Steve and Laura's relationship. She clearly always liked him in some capacity, from defending him all the time, allowing him to call her pet names, her immediately understanding and taking the L when Steve calls her out on things she's done, it showed they were growing together.

[@Dreamz19]

I could not agree more!! I did like Myra, Stefan and Judy. But my favorite aspect of the show was Steve and Laura’s relationship develop over the seasons. I don’t get viewers who claim Laura was always mean to Steve. She had her moments where he greatly annoyed her with his pushiness and she did have moments where she could be bitchy. However, she showed throughout many episodes she cared for Steve as a friend and she always apologized if she went too far. One of my favorite episodes is when she choose Steve for the Queen’s dance over Ted despite everyone thinking she was nuts for it. And I agree that Myra was manipulative. I found her hilarious and entertaining, but she was not a good match for Steve.

[@charlestaylor8785]

I miss Family Matters I liked that Show

[@jeffs4483]

Blaming Urkel for the show's demise? Urkel is why people watched the show.

[@Hammerhead547]

I quit watching the show specifically because urkel became the center of everything in season 6-7.

[@BenjaminSteber]

I’ve respected Jaleel as an actor since I was a kid. You could feel the energy he pumped into every episode. He did become kind of a pop culture joke in the later seasons, but that was because he was carrying the show on his back he got all the attention because he made the series what it was. I still can’t watch videos of him talking about family matters though. When the beautiful and talented Michelle Thomas joined the show Jaleel finally met a fellow actor that was as devoted to the show as he was while the entire rest of the cast essentially served in support of his performance. Michelle and Jaleel breathed new life into the series in the later seasons with their fiery but comedic performances. That’s why I can’t really get into Jaleels’ current interviews. First of all because Michelle changed the show and believed in the series as much as Jaleel did, only to be slowly written into smaller and smaller parts and then her tragic death shook White to the core, and it shows. I can’t ask Jaleel White about Michelle Thomas without knowing that it would be prying into painful and visceral history of losing someone so close. Michelle was a one in a million talent who was in the right place and got the right way in the door, but with her talent I’m sure she would have found another way in. I even today think she could have really had a large and positive impact on media had her life not been tragically cut short. If I get this emotional about a person I only ever knew as a stream of pixels on a glass pane I can’t imagine how much it must have hurt the very talented Jaleel white who knew her so much better than I ever will and lost her. It’s rough out there, man. Find a way to let people know it, compel people to focus on it, and make people feel it.

[@ForrestFox626]

I just wish he wasn't typecasted

[@wilnerolivier7971]

@@ForrestFox626 He's talented!! Most people don't know that he wrote some episodes for the show including the with Grandmama.

[@Doggieman1111]

Jaleel White is an absolute comic genius, one of the best in TV history IMHO, but a show based on one character simply can't last forever. Having said that, it went 9 friggin' seasons, and fully the last 5 were the Urkel show. So that tells you a lot about White's talent and audience draw.