The UNTOLD Story of Family Matters | The Cast Hated Urkel? Fights On Set, Judy's Disappearance
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- Опубликовано: 28 май 2024
- Family Matters is an American television sitcom that debuted on ABC on September 22, 1989, and ended on May 9, 1997. However it moved to CBS, where it was shown from September 19, 1997, to July 17, 1998. A spin-off of Perfect Strangers, the series revolves around the Winslow family, an African-American middle class family living in Chicago, Illinois. Midway through the first season, the show introduced the Winslows' nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel, who was originally scripted to appear as a one-time character. However, he quickly became the show's breakout character (and eventually the main character), joining the main cast. Running for nine seasons, Family Matters became the second-longest-running live action U.S. sitcom with a predominantly African-American cast, behind only The Jeffersons.
#FamilyMatters #SteveUrkel
SOURCES:
archive.org/details/historica...
www.latimes.com/archives/la-x...
www.latimes.com/archives/la-x...
tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/fa...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_...
www.etonline.com/family-matte...
www.fame10.com/entertainment/...
www.hollywood.com/tv/did-i-do...
www.mentalfloss.com/article/5...
www.ranker.com/list/family-ma...
tvovermind.com/10-things-didn...
www.theroot.com/jaimee-foxwor...
www.lipstickalley.com/threads...
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Waldo is a real one for hitting both of them up and making sure they were okay and if they were contacted. He was making sure EVERYONE was included and I love that.
I was thinking the exact same thing! I truly respect him and give him him props for that. Thank you for recognizing and mentioning that.
Shawn had her support
Yes, that touched my heart. I realized that black women are the least protected, the least cared for & the least loved out of all of race and gender of people😢
@@bambi3106 why ?
You could always tell he was a real one. Just like Jazzy Jeff.
Steve Urkle is the reason why this show got saved and also why it got cancelled. Once they started doing that sci fi stuff it jumped the shark.
I thought the same.
The first episode with Stephon was cool and interesting, but at the same time it quickly got out of hand and ridiculous.
I really hated this show, simply because in order to get Laura's attention Steve had to actually change his DNA
@@axelfoley1406"Ridiculous" should actually be a flattery when applied to a sitcom character.
As a south american fútbol fan would say: Family matters was Urkel and 10 more
Double bladed sword effect
@@chirola9923 Is that a sitcom though....The only 2 shows that have ever kept this particular brand of foolishness is Family Matters & Good Times
Judy went upstairs and was never seen 😂 again.
Oh, she was seen again, just not in something family friendly. I actually feel bad about that. I’d like to know her story.
That's a damn shame! Judy got grounded for life. I wonder if she ever came down when the house got demolished😆😆
There are a lot of parallels between happy days and family matters. Both had a side character completely dominate the show and they had a sibling who just vanished.
Except Judy's last episode was when Mother Winslow got married
Jaleel White had planned to explain Judy's disappearance in his season 10 plans. He had an episode planned From the Future which revealed her to be one of Steve and Laura's daughters and Valerie Jones was going to play the teenage version of her, due to the conflict the producers had with Jaimee Foxworth's mom, Gwyn. While celebrating her 16th birthday, Judy and an older Steve bond over her failed attempt to assimilate herself in the Winslow family in 1987. She admitted it was a big mistake, but she wasn't thinking at the time. Judy admitted she was surprised when she saw Steve show up and prevent her from doing the deed. Hence it's why no one remembered her in the later seasons.
RIP Rosetta LeNoire, Michelle Thomas and Barry Jenner who played Lt. Murtaugh
Also Michelle Thomas
And the actor that played Lieutenant Murtaugh.
They were blood sacrifices by who
I used to love him lol "sir. miss. little miss". and his infatuation with Rachael.@@LatashaHarvin
(To Clarence) Punk!
Steve Urkel is the definition of a blessing and a curse. Initially, he saved the show as it was originally on the verge of cancelation. Then as his popularity grew, some of his storylines became ridiculous. Him being able to teleport around the world. But producers were giving the fans what they wanted which caused tension between cast mates. I remember when it went to CBS and I was like, that's still on? Good video.
Don't forget the 3 Bruce Lee episodes 😂
The Steve Urkel character saved the show, but l hate it came at a cost of ousting Jamie Foxworth(Judy).
FACTUALS 💯💯‼️💯 HE STARTED SMELLIN &Feelin' Himself &&& The Cast with the Exception of a few cast members OVER HIM & IT‼️HE tapdanced on my LAST NERVE After Season #3 , therefore hence Why I tapped out After that 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🥰
I remember watching the later season(s) thinking, “Jaleel is waaay too old for this character.” it was like watching a 30 something try and play a high school kid.
@@rissaceehart4076He was a manipulative mofo too. Constantly making Laura feel bad for not feeling the same way about him. Sabotaging her dates with other guys. He made the others feel bad, Carl in particular, about losing his cool even after he just tore up half the man’s house.
Family Matters definitely deserved a proper ending it ended on a cliffhanger
Right
Exactly they could of done a special after that cliffhanger... would of made sense for us to see Laura and Steve get married
@@nenep1872Agreed! 💯
The last episode should have been that of Steve's and Laura's wedding and brought back the entire family, including Judy, all of Laura's friends, Waldo, all the Urkels, including Steves Aunt Oona, Myrtle, OGD, and bringing Steve's parents back from Russia and we finally getting a chance to finally see them, to witness their nuptials.
@@josephclegg3562but how would have work for season 10 ?
1. Shawn Harrison is a real one for being concerned about Cherie and Jaimee.
2. Jaimee was done dirty, she deserved better.
3. Urkel and Myra were a better couple. Still Team Myra TILL THIS DAY.
Okay the thing is Steve was in love with Laura he even told Mayra this and that's who he truly wanted to be with, I liked them together it proved that in the end he got the girl 🤷🏾♀️... but Michelle was so gorgeous omg
It wouldn't have mattered anyway who Laura ended up with. She would have still ended up with both Steve and Stefan. Don't forget Stefan is Steve's inner coolness! She ended up with Steve, but Steve could just get into his transformation chamber and turn into Stefan.
They turned Myra into a deranged stalker in the last seasons. Terrible writing. 😂
You could always tell he was a real one. Just like Jazzy Jeff.
Urkel told Myra upfront the moment Laura shows interest he's gone
No matter what, without the charecter Urkel, Family Matters wouldve never lasted that long. Jaleel White owned that charecter and made that show what it was. I still watch family matters tell this day! Still a great show
Exactly! I used to love watching Family Matters reruns after school. ❤ They got a raw deal with CBS. 😢
If it wasn’t for him, Family Matters would have been another forgotten sitcom.
I still think that the Judy character should have been brought back for family trips or holidays, or at least have explained her absence. I feel like a piece of a puzzle is missing, and we, the fan of the show, will never find the missing piece.
@@therealmarlonbellamyi doubt it
@@lexkanyima2195 It was on the verge of being cancelled before Jaleel appeared on there.
Michelle Thomas was so beautiful and I remember I had the biggest crush on her when I was a kid. Rest in paradise Michelle.
She was gorgeous. Such a tragedy.
This December will be 25 years since Michelle Thomas died
I was 13 and sitting in the audience for that first Stefan episode and had no idea I was watching history
Never forget when James Avery made an appearance on Family Matters at the end of the episode Scenes from the Mall
I always wished that Family Matters and the Fresh Prince of Belair could have had a crossover, but since both shows were on different networks, it wasn't possible.
Thing was that the producers at ABC had planned to have James Avery in a recurring role as Carl's oldest brother, Darryl, whom is a judge from out of state and his first appearance was going to be in The Party. Unlike Uncle Phil, he was laid back, gregarious and a practical jokester. Darryl loved pulling pranks on Carl and it would explain Eddie's prankster streak.
When The Fresh Prince of Bel Air started on NBC, Avery was committed to the show and couldn't appear as Darryl. Hence, the ABC producers had to drop the character.
@@ladyfire44this is a lie, there is no suggestive evidence to support your claim whatsoever. Cool theory though.
Waldo (Shawn Harrison) is a real dude for contacting those ladies to let them know the deal he's a real stand up guy 👍🏾
Honestly! I hate that he never found success on another sitcom. His character was heavily underrated.
Like Jaleel White had endured in the later years because people couldn't see past him as Steve and Sonic, Shawn Harrison had the same typecast problem. No one could see past him as Waldo.
@@rachelmartin5187Yeah true, he had a few appearances on girlfriends later on.
@@rachelmartin5187No his character is now becoming overrated.
@@ladyfire44 Yeah don't care for the no prob Bob idiot
I was an adult when this show came out. I always called it "The Urkel Show".
What happened to Jamie Foxworth was *horrendous* . We need a whole back story about her, the Different Strokes kids and other children who suffered similar fates during that era of show biz.
All the kids from Different Strokes suffered the same fate. All of them were on drugs.
@@josephclegg3562Todd Bridges did recover
Lol I called it that too.😂
Jamie seems to be doing okay nowadays. She and her sisters do a podcast called The S.H.E. Show.
Carl was the cop from die hard and urkel was his hallucination of the kid he shot. As Carl's mental state worsened from guilt, urkel began to take up more of his time, eventually erasing the memory of his loved ones and family until nothing was left but the torment of Steve Urkel repeating the last words he heard Carl say as he succumbed to the gunshot "did I do that?"
Awesome theory!
@@gafakyusef6201 i wish i could take credit for it. I read it online somewhere but i can't find the article again.
@@handlesRdumb I had the same idea only to find out that lots of people independently came up with the idea since the debut.
Great theory. I’m surprised it’s not more popular.
As Steve himself would say, "WOWZA!"
Friday nights were lit back then
I was in the audience for the episode "Nunsense" and got to meet the cast after the taping. Rosetta (Grandma Winslow) embraced me and said "Give me some sugar, Sugar." It was awesome. Everyone was so gracious, including Jaleel. Also Malcolm Jamal Warner was sitting behind me in the audience and I also got to meet him. Such a great childhood memory.
That’s awesome
yes Malcolm Jamal was dating Michelle maybe at that point too
Oh really? That makes sense since the episode was about her. He was sitting with an older woman.@@skengdn
Family Matters went through a lot of changes throughout the series, and by the end of the series, it became a whole different family from when it first began.
It's a family matter after all
@@AedanBlackheartno...
Agree....And it was worse off.
The show peaked when Stephon was introduced but still "jumped the shark"
"Played by Orlendo Bloom"
🙄🤨🤣😂
Right. Girl messes up every video one way or another
Steve Urkel saved this show. He's the reason it lasted so long. Can we also mention how hilarious and awesome Jaleel was as Bruce Lee in one episode? I'm glad Laura eventually ended up with Steve.
😂😂😂 damn I just remembered that lol
Damn, just got past the part where Jaleel wanted to fight Jomarie Payton-France
Agree
Bruce juice
When I was younger me and my friends called it the Uriel show more than family matters.
Bonus facts:
Michelle Thomas(Myra)
was also eight years older than Jaleel.
She also played Justine,
Theo’s girlfriend on
“The Cosby Show”.
She dated Malcolm Jamal-Warner
in real life from 1988-1994.
They remained friends until her passing in 1998,
and he held her in his arms on
her deathbed until she passed.
I would love to see a story on these shows Moesha, The Parkers, Smart Guy, Sister, Sister, Martin, The Steve Harvey Show, Living Single, New York Undercover, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Full House, Step by Step, The Parent'Hood, etc.
All classics!
And Full House, and In Living Color. And how can I leave out Good Times.
Ohh and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
Plenty stories on them already!!
Also, Step By Step, Hanging With Mr. Cooper, What's Happening, A Different World, The Parent Hood, and Married With Children.
Unfortunately if not for Urkels popularity the show wouldnt have made it past 2 seasons. Urkel became so in demand that he had crossover episodes with two other powerhouse sitcoms in Full House and Step By Step. Im sure that caused some jealousy and resentment from some of the Family Matters cast.
Steve Erkel was to Family Matters what JJ Evans was to Good Times.
they became bigger than the show and eventually both shows jumped the shark.
Nothing was better than watching family matters with my grandma when this came out. Nothing but love for all the family.
🤣
The most iconic episode of Family Matters was the guest appearance of James Avery at the end of an episode. Two of the most beloved TV dads in one scene. ❤️
I'm still mad that Family Matters ended on a cliffhanger just like The Wayans Bros, That's so Raven, Smart Guy, Moesha, The Jeffersons, My Wife & Kids, Duckman, Malcolm & Eddie, One on One, Eve, Married with Children, and All of Us
Eve ended on a cliffhanger too (her mom getting pregnant)! I loved that show.
I want to know the etc.
Exactly like couldn't we get a good ending like Good Times ....
That's so Raven was cancelled ? I thought it ended, I didn't watch the ending.
You know what a cliffhanger means?
Besides Family Matters, Jaimee Foxworth also appeared in the music video for Tomorrow by Quincy Jones and Tevin Campbell as a part of the kids in the choir
So did Darius brother
@@AggravatedMan365and played the young Ricky in the movie boyz n the hood
say what now!?! I didn't know that.@@MrLionelg33
Thank you for uploading this! I’m such a diehard fan of Family Matters,& I feel like when we talk about classic late 80’s or 90’s Black sitcoms this show is sadly left out of the conversation. Now at 32 I can appreciate this show way more because of the representation. This is a positive,loving,hardworking family. No absentee dad,no one gang bangin,sellin drugs,& the main character is a genius! A young Black boy with a high IQ,highly intelligent. I love to see it. I love to see all of it ❤❤❤
@beemocha totally agree with you!
Also, I think it’s left out because the masses probably see it as The Urkel show rather than a show you just described.
@@AmoMe2009I agree
@@AmoMe2009that's literally what they call it🤦🏾♀️ which sucks, because it actually is a really good show even if Jaleel character took over...
@@nenep1872Family Matters was a show that was supposed to be about the Winslow family and the matters they go through, but ended up being about Urkel, a person who was a non-Winslow.
@@josephclegg3562 right & there was tension because of those reasons
Orlando Bloom in this character would have been hilarious! 😂😂😂
You mean Brown....
I thought they said bloom 😂 had to rewind. Loved the video regardless
I was like what did she say😢😅😅😅
I don't hate Urkel but found him very annoying & hated how he took over the show. As a kid, I didn't know it was Family Matters but as "The Urkel Show" 😅.
No Steve Urkel, Family Matters would've been a forgettable show
How can they hate the person that kept them working? He was the absolute star and he stole their limelight!
Reginald and Jo Marie were mad because they had been working in the industry for a while before Family Matters. When they finally got the show, they thought THEY'D be the stars. When Jaleel walked in and took over, they became jealous and treated him like crap for a while. Jaleel has said that Reginald made hurtful remarks when he was dressing up like Myrtle Urkel and his (real life) father almost got into an altercation with him because of that. Thankfully, everyone is in a good place today, but those actors bullied him. They just downplay it now.
White's father wasn't the only one who defend him, Rosetta LeNoire had a lot of choice words for Payton and VelJohnson as well. He had a lot of fond memories with her aside Michelle Thomas and Shawn Harrison. When White asked for more screen time with LeNoire, the producers readily agreed because they had great chemistry with each other and she was like a grandmother to him.
@@ladyfire44Yet Jaleel and Shawn are not following each other on social media and he doesn't hang out with the casts.
Exactly that's why they hated him
Ego ego and more ego!! Unfortunately
I've heard the stories about "Judy" and the castmates with their issue with Jaleel/Urkel but I am shocked that he wanted to fight Ms.Peyton(Harriet). I'm like, that is crazy! And most respect to Shawn/Waldo! Good video!
Jaleel became bigheaded and let his fame run to his head. I can see why Jo had issues with him. The show was supposed to be about Harriette Winslow and her family and the problems go through, but instead it became about Urkel. Jaleel just came in and completely took over her show.
@@josephclegg3562Jaleel jusr want to be part of
@josephclegg3562 So he's big headed because he was more talented than her? What you said ain't Jaleel having an ego but Jo being jealous.
@@blueblur2273 maybe
Jaleel White admitted in a recent interview that he let fame get to his head and saw how his behavior was causing conflict with most of the cast. The only person aside Michelle Thomas and Shawn Harrison that he never had issues with was Rosetta LeNoire and they got along. There was an issue in season 2's Cousin Urkel which caused White to be upset because of Jo Marie Payton and Reginald VelJohnson making fun of him for dressing up like a girl(for his character Myrtle). How they wished the casting director had hired a child female actress to play her. Often times, White's father and LeNoire had to defend him. He had season 9 planned out to have not only Laura and Steve together, but also bring back the family members. He had also planned to handle the Judy issue and have her revealed to be one of the future Urkel children. In some ways, White was trying to make up for what he did and was slowly phasing out his other characters to bring the show back to what it originally was: Harriette and her family, while keeping Steve around. He and Myra were going to break up amicably and remain friends. Several issues came into play.
1. The producers wanted to keep the characters in the show and ignored his ideas. This is what made White understand the frustrations Payton and the others had with him.
2. Rosetta LeNoire had asked for reduced time due to her dealing with health issues.
3. White was angered in how they wanted Myra to be a villain and ignore that maturing that she went through in his original ending for Breaking Up is Hard to Do by adding more comedy. He knew Thomas was sick with stomach cancer and wanted her to have reduced time to help her recover. If not, Lark Voorhees or Maia Campbell were likely to replace her.
4. Jaimee Foxworth was fired after the ABC Producers had a fight with her mom, Gwyn. She was likely going to be replaced by Valerie Jones.
5. Steve and Laura's wedding was originally planned to be the series finale. The Lost in Space wasn't supposed to happen.
I liked this one a lot. That’s actually a really interesting point about Jaleel White being unable to do the Urkel character as he aged. I can clearly remember being a kid and watching the show, noticing that he started to look older and just not quite right, it just didn’t look like Urkel anymore. But being so young, I didn’t know how to articulate it. Great show, though. I’m an early ‘80s kid so I grew up watching this every week.
I think they should have just let the character grow and develop normally as Jaleel aged up and filled out.
@@LiethenI think it was always going to be a difficult one as the character is what brought the show its ratings.... I think they probably felt it would have been an unchartered risk so didn't take it.
I always felt that after the Stefan character was introduced, it was time to let Steve start maturing.
I don’t remember Jaleel’s gangsta character. That wig. What kinda foolishness was that? Must’ve aired when I outgrew the show. Smh
Lol I've been watching and rewatching this show since I was little lol... I remember all the episodes
It was an episode in season 9. The OGD character was supposed to be a new character for Jaleel who would reappear in the supposed season 10. According to the fanfiction website, the character would have gotten more expanded in that season and would have ended up with Myra.
Yeah by the the series ' jumped the shark ' it ran 2 seasons longer than it should've
Also, OGD was planned to be played by Snoop Dogg.
@@ladyfire44 How would Snoop Dogg play ODG when the character was meant for Jaleel White? It was a new character that the writers were trying out for Jaleel.
This was one of my favorite shows when I was a child. I remember when Michelle passed away. I had no idea at that time she was 30. There was something about Judy, I wished they could've kept her on the show. Those were some wonderful times. When television was wholesome.
Thing was that Jaleel White wanted to bring Judy back for season 10 and explain her disappearance. He had planned for her to be revealed as one of Steve and Laura's daughters aside Stephanie Laurine and adopted sister, Myrtle Sue. She has brothers: Cornelius Herb(oldest brother to Judy, but younger than Stephanie), Bertram(older brother) and younger brother, Aloysius.
Michelle's Illness is why Family Matters got canceled. The Entire Cast voted NOT to go forward with the show WITHOUT her.
@@Tornado1994cap
Family Matters is one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. Fun Facts: Before he was Steve Urkel, Jaleel White appeared on The Jeffersons & he was Robert Richmond on Charlie & Company, Telma Hopkins was with Tony, Orlando & Dawn, Isabelle Hammond on Bosom Buddies & Addy Wilson on Gimmie A Break, Rosetta Lenoire was Mama Harper on Gimmie A Break & Darius McCrary was Scam in Big Shots. Darius’ brother Dovonan is an actor as well. He was in Boyz N The Hood.
Rosetta Lenoir also appeared on Amen as Rolly's wife and Telma Hopkins left Family Matters to star in the short-lived sitcom, "Getting By", but returned as a guest when the show was canceled. She also went on to star in "Half and Half" as Phyllis Thorne, and recently, a few years ago, she played a guest character on Y&R that united her with her tv son on Family Matters, Bryton James. Also Jaleel White did the short-lived UPN sitcom "Grown-Ups", back in 2000.
@@josephclegg3562 Facts. Telma Hopkins was also on The sitcom Are We There Yet.
Telma Hopkins also appeared on The Nanny on the episode Fran's Roots and she was in the movie The Wood as well
Jaleel White appeared in the movie Camp Cucamonga with Candace Cameron Bure, Tasha Scott, Jennifer Aniston, just to name a few. He also appeared on Full House and Step by Step as Steve Urkel, he appeared on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Derek, he voiced Sonic the Hedgehog on The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Underground and he played himself in the movie Big Fat Liar alongside Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes
Myra aka Michelle Thomas played on The Cosby show as theo girlfriend, and they also dated in real life.
I always wondered what ever happened to the twins Joseph and Julius Wright who played the baby Richie in the first season of Family Matters
Growing up In the 2000s and having my teens in the 2010s, I feel like Family matters are one of those timeless shows that you didn’t have to witness the first run to grow up with it. The reruns really helped shape me to being who I am and really gave me a strong sense of morality.
It's sad that our children's moral instruction is left up to television and media🤦🏻
But I'm glad you gleaned it from somewhere.....many don't
Truth
Wow I learned a lot from this video about the first few seasons of Family Matters. I started around the fifth season.
My era of TGIF was 1995-2000. I looked forward every week to new episodes of Family Matters, Boy Meets World and Sabrina The Teenage Witch. That decade was full of golden talent and awesome storylines!
PS: I loved when Myrtel Urkel used to fight with Greta Mclure over Eddie. Their combat was full of shade and class at the same time!
I love the episode entitled "Talk ls Cheap." It is the episode about when Steve and Myra, Stefan and Laura, and Eddie and Myrtle went on the Tiffany talk show to talk about their bizarre love lives. Greta didn't appear in this episode. I wish she had. Not saying the episode wasn't funny, but it would have been more funny if she had. The names they would have called each other would have been hilarious.
@@josephclegg3562 totally agree and know exactly which episode you’re referring to. I like when the host referenced Sally Jesse Raphael. 😅
I love when comedy used to be fun but classy like that and not flat and gimmicky like today in order to be replayed on social media.
My Era Of TGIF Was From 1993-2002
@@markasflood8196 they had TGIF in 2001 and 2002?
@@AmoMe2009 of course
They all hid the negativity well.
Urkel & Waldo made that show for me. I think the show was average in humor without them.
Waldo was actually smart. He said things that sounded stupid, but they actually made sense.
@@josephclegg3562how ?
I don't like Waldo sorry
@@josephclegg3562Waldo is trash
Waldo was only brought on the show to try and top Steve remember that
It's Orlando Brown not Orlando Bloom
My bad. 😂
@@JuicyPopEntertainment4:24 oops 😬😳😲😊👍🙈🙉😸😹😁.
@JuicyPopEntertainment 🧐 That's all you have to say? You had one job; chronicle the cast members of the show. An apology to the actors referenced might be nice.
@@MK-hh1vounprofessionalism
Oh please get over yourself and enjoy this free video. Wow. Apology? Get real
This was just a GREAT freaking show. I’ll always remember it that way.
I really loved some of the more serious topics they covered in the early seasons like bullying, racial profiling and the episode about Harriet and Rachel's father. The later seasons were just too cringe to watch.
The first 4 seasons were about the family matters because the entire family appeared. The rest of the series were about Urkel and his matters.
It got to the point that people were referring to it as "The Urkel Show" instead of "Family Matters!"
It sadly seems similar to what happened to Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Stories about women standing together got overhauled in favor of magical shenanigans.
@@josephclegg3562 Yeah! Especially when Steve created his cooler alter ego Stephon Ur'Kel.
When you notice that Harriet has never once shared a one on one scene with Jaleel White but literally everybody else has, it starts to make you wonder what was going on
There was beef between them for a long time. Jaleel White admitted that he let fame get to his head and became an arrogant jerk for it. He realized how much of a jerk he was to Jo Marie Payton and Reginald VelJohnson.
@@ladyfire44seems normal… many people get "Big headed" and become jerks in those scenarios! Maybe he wasn't ready for the responsibility! 🤔🤔
Harriet even said Jaleel raised his fists and tried to swing on her one day and she wanted to beat him senseless so that's probaly why !
@@ladyfire44At the same time the casts were threatened by Jaleels success. He got so big that the producers decided to make it about him, making people focus more on him than the rest.
Even Reginald VelJohnson mentioned that he shared Jo Marie Payton's sentiments when the producers did Jaimee Foxworth dirty by having her fired and never giving her a proper exit. This was something that White intended to give in season 9. He was slowly phasing out his other characters to bring the show back to the original storyline about it being Harriette and her family, while keeping Urkel there.
Great video. Family Matters was a big part of my childhood, we know how influential the Carl Winslow diner scene was when he confronted the cop that was racial profiling Eddie went viral in 2020. My favorite character was Waldo. years after it ended I got caught singing the theme in the hospital when I was visiting my cousin, and a nurse said, Dang you know all the words.
LOL Funny how these nostalgic show/movie tunes just pop into your head. I recently busted out singing "Home" from The Wiz. 😂😂 The look on the faces around me!! 😟
@@ShaeNik I know right? I love The Wiz.
It went from family matters to the Steve Urkel show. I wish they could have done both more balanced.
Great comment
These were the days. I remember all of this!!❤ born in 82'
Valerie Jones who played the first Judy later appeared on two episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Deck the Halls as one of the carolers and the young Hilary on the episode Will Gets Committed
And in the first episode of Living Single they used the same living room set as Family Matters
Nobody really warns us that once you hit the age of 35 you're going to spend more and more time reminiscing as you get older. I remember as a kid I would randomly find some old person awkwardly staring and smiling at me with that distant look in their eyes and I didn't understand it back then.
No one told you about strangers? Hard to believe that.
Same I totally get it. A beautiful life cycle that we all share ❤
The character Steve urkel is a national treasure and a TV legend! LONG LIVE STEVE URKEL
Family Matters should be mentioned as one of the great Black sitcoms of the late 80s and 90s. I remember the episode when Laura wanted Black history taught in her school and received racist backlash. The message is very relevant today.
But it felt so offensive
In syndication, they cut out the part where she shuts her locker, and the N-word was spray painted on her door!
@@melissacooper8724 why? Sheesh…
@@brownparkproductions3488 I'm not sure why. Maybe the network got complaints about it.
As I can remember Family Matters, in my opinion, blew the Cosby Show out the water when it came on the scene.
Say what you will about the Urkel character and I do understand the criticisms, his character was responsible for keeping them all employed for a hot while. Without Urkel the show would have been canceled shortly after the first season.
Urkel did save the show, but it came at a cost of ousting Judy.
it came at a cost of him also overshadowing the other characters. it went from being a relatable show to sci-fi comedy.@@josephclegg3562
White faced a lot of criticism from Jo Marie Payton and Reginald VelJohnson because they felt he was the reason why Judy was removed.
You're right. Urkel was the anchor. No iffs, ands, or buts, about that. In all honesty, the Winalows were boring due to bad writing. The writers were all Jewish and really didn't know how to write black people. The sane thing happened on the Fresh Prince. The cast said in their reunion special that they'd read their scripts, then ask writers to change it so that the portrayal of black people would be more authentic.
Michelle Thomas' father Dennis was a saxophonist for the legendary Funk band Kool & The Gang
Poor Jaimee, it was a shame that Judy disappeared without a trace.
It was bound to happen. Once Urkel became a prominent cast member and Richie aging up in season 2, there was no need for her anymore. She just didn’t have any character development.
I have a theory about Judy's disappearance. He might've had a time machine before the episode "Father Time" but never told anyone. He could've altered the timeline, causing Judy to never be born. Why do you think that the Winslow family never mentioned Judy after Season 4?
@@melissacooper8724 I'm tired of these theories.
@@abellewis3062 Sorry about that. I just had nothing else better to do at the time.
@@melissacooper8724 Theories are just speculation. They're not facts. That's why I hate them.
The show did not come about because Harriet was such a great and loved character on Perfect Strangers. She was absolutley a fan favorite and loved. The idea for a sitcom with a black family was already being talked about. They took her popularity and choose to make the show about her family.
Wow, the history of my childhood from an angle I'd never seen. RIP to those who've passed.
Urkel saying "she wanna melee" to Harriet is wild lol
Shawn Harrison has aged very well. He looks great.
Michelle was also on The young and restless before she died in 98 after filming for family matters stopped.
The Season 9 Finale was filmed in February of 1998. When Thomas was diagnosed with Stomach Cancer.
@@Tornado1994 I know
Also Myra was such a beautiful young woman, and I would have preferred her for Steve. I loved when the two of them were together in scenes, even though he always seemed to still carry a torch for Laura. Laura would push him away but Myra worshipped him. So sad that the actress had to pass away so young. 😢
The Judy/stairs thing is a joke based on a trope known as Chuck Cunningham Syndrome. The eponymous character from Happy Days ascended the stairs of his home and was never seen again. This was also referenced on Family Guy.
I never knew this show was a spin-off of Perfect Strangers
Always loved this show
Steve Urkel was undeniably a show-stealer, but let's be fair: somebody needed to steal the show, or it wouldn't have lasted the first season! I watched a few episodes of "Family Matters" in its first season, and though it wasn't a bad show, it was far from being a great show. I happened to watch the first episode that featured Steve Urkel, and I thought to myself, "They need to bring that kid back!" I'm glad they did.
I've said it a million times, but Steve chose the wrong girl. Myra was the far better choice.
Thing was that Steve made it clear to Myra that he simply wasn't interested in her whatsoever and loves Laura. He never kept her unaware of his feelings and she should've taken the hint.
@@ladyfire44
Just like Steve should have taken the hint from Laura, right?
Family Matters was very fun to watch and very comical. Michelle Thomas the girl that played Steve's Urkel's girlfriend on the show at the time played by Jaleel White passed away at a very young age. R.I.P. Michelle.
Thank you for the insights. Family matters was my safe haven as a child. It was great to see an ordinary middle class black family in a TV show. The intro still causes me heavy nostalgia. I saw the reunion of the cast members a while ago where they came together after 30 years and I was upset that they didn’t at least have Michelle’s photo included. And I think they didn’t even speak about her. But nothing is perfect I guess
True, but to be fair she was not an original cast member. Yes, yes, Waldo was there, but he was on the show longer than Myra was. Who knows, maybe it is hard for them to discuss Myra since she passed away so tragically young. Mother Winslow lived to a ripe old age and was there on the first episode.
@@tboyd5150 It IS hard to talk about Thomas. They learned in the Early Summer of 1998 that her Stomach Cancer had progressed to Stage 3, A Vote was made by the Entire Cast and Crew on whether or not to continue with a Season 10 without Thomas with Myra being completely written out, by 13-0 everyone voted "Nay" and it was decided for Thomas' sake that production should end.
@@Tornado1994so it’s your position that the actors collectively decided to cancel their show because Myra died? That’s not remotely true or even how it works in general irl. Producers and studios make those calls not the actors🤦🏾♀️Not intended as speaking ill of the deceased/a cancer patient (I’m a two time stage 3 cancer survivor myself) but Myra wasn’t a central character without whom the show couldn’t continue. As a practical matter, the odds of the entire cast choosing to deny themselves a paycheck are infinitesimal to nonexistent. You accused someone else of pulling things out of their ass; I call projection unless you have some legitimate source material to support these claims that the actors somehow cancelled their show without studio/producer involvement and against their own interests
@@fashiondiva6972 She was SICK during S9's production. The Producers wanted to write her out of the show completely. You're pretty heartless if you think the Cast didn't care about Michelle. They LOVED her dearly. They decided NOT to go forward because her condition deteriorated.
Jaleel White might've been a handful at times but keep in mind he was very young at the time and got huge unexpected success becoming the star of the show
I loved Telma when she sang with Tony Orlando and Dawn
Jaleel White was a comical genius.
His character Urkel, was a true loyal friend, who everyone took advantage of except the grandmother and little Richie. She even chastised the whole a few times for being mean to Steve.
Laura was horrible to him on many occasions, used him to get what she wanted. As soon as he turned to Stefan, even though he's the same guy, she was all over him, hypocrite.
He loved Eddie like a big brother but he used Steve for his advantage too, seems like that was the nature of the Winslow's. Sure he was awkward, but Steve would have and did risk his life for the Winslow's on many occasions.
I was Steve growing up. Got beat up, picked on cause I wore coke bottle glasses, the girls hated me for that and so did the boys. But I survived, I loved me, like Steve told Laura, I love me he said, it doesn't matter what others think of me I'm going to be myself.
Family Matters, I have the whole series on DVD, years later, I get a kick out of that boy genius, his physical comedy was never done before in a black sitcom, a very good actor Jaleel White.
Not really. Laura defended Steve more times than anyone realized and appreciates him for coming to her defense. She never made him become Stefan nor asked him to change himself. Steve did it willingly because he was ready to grow up and evolve. Laura merely asked him to mature and stop invading her and her family's personal space. Steve did that after enduring life under Myra in season 5 on a worse scale.
With Eddie, I agree with you because of the way he behaves.
Bring back TGIF .. lol I miss the 80s and 90a
Letting Harriet go was criminal, and the woman they replaced her with couldn't act if her life depended on it.
They didn't let her go, she quit by letting her contract run out. She got tired of the show and wanted to do other projects.
@@shackilleuhdeal7462 That's not the whole story. She wasn't getting along with Jaleel White. And by "let go" I don't mean fired. I mean they should've fought to have her stay.
Still one of the best shows ever made 👍
I still watch all of the reruns, I miss the good ole days, and you did an awesome breakdown of this series. Thank you for the time spent, and your professionalism in putting this all together..👍👍👍
I forgot that the show was suppose to focus on Harriet. She became a supporting character
almost immediately. After Urkel became the focus she was relegated to the background.
Many episodes don't even include her.
So basically this show followed the same pattern as Good Times.. even down to the JJ/Urkel character getting more attention.
Born in 1985 i miss these days. Everything is so different now😢
I know the show had its issues behind the scenes, but I really can't thank the actors enough for giving us such a great fictional family in the Winslow's and friends. They really helped shape the kind of person I grew up becoming; someone who understands that everyone struggles and seeks to be kind and helpful wherever I can without any regard to race or creed. That's something I owe to shows like Family Matters.
So while I totally get how stressful the job itself may have been for you all, thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me grow up with some of the best family and social values I could have ever asked for.
Darius said that there was no script or ideas for season 10 cuz they were already told early in season 9 that the show was getting cancelled
Not true. White admitted he had season 10 planned out, but because of the show's cancelation, it never happened.
@@ladyfire44 Draft DID Exist for S10 and Production was scheduled for August 1998, but Thomas' condition deteriorated and everyone decided not to continue without her.
Ya both dumb. Darius admitted it himself. He was actually there unlike ya. Anything else is fan made or speculation
...I was 1,067 Years Old when this show aired, so, I never watched it.....but, my younger Brother!? ...obsessed....OB-SESSED! ...ALL I remember about it, is washing the dishes (while he was in his Room), and hearing THAT THEME SONG! ...E-V-E-R-Y Friday! ....It was quintessential "90's" TV!!
Lol what are you serious I was little when it came out and still do this day watch it lol
Family Matters was a hit in Zimbabwe too in the 90s
This was so well covered. Thank you.
One of my favorite shows growing up, didn't know there was so much drama behind the scene, great video.
Everybody used to call the show The Urkel Show. " Did I do that???? Oops"
I remember watching this at my grandmothers house when we had family dinner.
This video made me remember the happy times I had with my grandmother before she passed away.
Thanks again for the good old memories.
First mom was the best mom. And I wouldnt have blamed her for whoopin steve. He was annoying 75% of the time😂
Gosh I miss all these shows
That Urkel character saved that show during that first season
The same thing happened with good times. Giving a secondary character a catch phrase whom eventually usurps the main cast and in their own right takes over the show.
I loved this show growing up...
Waldo was definitely my favorite character.
Thank you!
God bless all yall!
Waldo is trash.
I stopped watching after Laura admitted she loved Steve. I felt like who in the hell does she think she is!
Sheesh. They could have invited Jamie all these years later. They also could have invited Cherie Johnson. 90s fans love nostalgia.
I love your videos! A real treasure trove of documentaries of our favorite shows from the 90s 📺. Thank you 👏🏼👏🏼
Another great video my sister. This one was very interesting
My childhood! I still watch family matters on Sat on satellite channels. I can't believe I was in grade school when this came out. I still remembered the tgif song, too. Lol
At first the character being there is helpful for the show. Later it is just too much and everyone complains...
Steve Urkel is Family Matters' Scrappy Doo!
You’re right about one thing😂😂😂 them first few notes gave you and me faulty expectations as kids 😂😂😂
In high school 2007 I remember singing the 0:10 "cachewm chew, chew chew" sound from the intro in class and people who knew, knew and laughed. I watched TGIF as a kid in the mid 90s and the reruns on local syndication and TBS in the early 2000s. But I NEVER saw Perfect Strangers EVER on TV! I've only heard about it from vids like this.
I love learning about what it was like behind the scenes. But it also tarnishes some of my childhood memories. I like the idea that everything was good. The show was meant to escape the harsh reality.