Family Matters

Buzz

Family Matters ranks 983 out of the 18,229 shows on TV.com.

The 1,294 users who count themselves as Family Matters fans have written a total of 88 reviews.

Status

Premiered

Ended

Genre

Theme

Related Shows

• Growing Pains
• Family Ties
• My Wife and Kids
• The Cosby Show
• Full House
• Perfect Strangers

A perfect spin-off from Perfect Strangers: Family Matters focused on Harriet Winslow (the elevator operator from the Chronicle) and her family of sorts. Carl Winslow, her husband, was a dutiful cop, and a gruff and lovable father to three kids: Eddie Winslow, the rebel son; Laura Winslow, the smart-aleck... more »

A perfect spin-off from Perfect Strangers: Family Matters focused on Harriet Winslow (the elevator operator from the Chronicle) and her family of sorts. Carl Winslow, her husband, was a dutiful cop, and a gruff and lovable father to three kids: Eddie Winslow, the rebel son; Laura Winslow, the smart-aleck daughter; and cute little Judy Winslow. They had opened their home to Harriet's sister, Rachel Crawford and her little baby son Richie, and in the very first episode, Carl had to open his home to his cool and streetwise mother, Estelle Winslow, whether he wanted to or not.

Everything was going along just fine until one day, Steve Urkel, the inventive nerd, barged into their home and eventually, into their hearts. Steve had a killer crush on Laura, but she would never give him the time of day. Steve Urkel was intended to be a one-shot appearance, but his popularity with the fans won him the number-one spot as America's favorite nerd.

As the show went on, the characters and the stories evolved. Richie grew from a little baby into a rambunctious and impressionable little boy. The stories started revolving around Steve and his incredible inventions, which became the greatest sight gags on the show. In almost every episode, Steve ends up breaking furniture, windows, and Carl's patience. Eddie and Laura each had best buddies to hang out with: Eddie had dim-witted yet lovable Waldo Geraldo Faldo,and Laura had faithful and true-blue gal pal Maxine. The greatest mystery of Family Matters is Judy and Rachel's sudden disappearances from the show, but Rachel made guest appearances whenever possible.

To stop Steve from chasing her, Laura matched him up with perky-yet-pushy Myra Monkhouse. Steve loved Myra physically, but his emotions will always go to Laura. Eddie had his share of steady girlfriends, and even he had an Urkel chasing him- Myrtle May Urkel, Steve's cousin from Biloxi (Jaleel White also). Every so often, Steve uses one of his inventions to turn himself into debonair, irresistable lover Stefan Urquelle or karate hero Bruce Lee to draw Laura closer to him, much to Myra's chagrin.

At the end of season 6, the Winslows welcomed Steve into their home when Steve's family went to Russia. Pretty soon, Richie hung out with 3J, a tough, streetwise kid always running from the children's home. The Winslows then adopted 3J as one of their kids, as they did with Steve.

In the final season, Family Matters - along with Step by Step - moved to CBS, and Steve slowly matured from the annoying nerd that he used to be. This was when Laura started falling in love with Steve, and Myra got kicked to the curb, but she vowed to get her "Stevie-kins" back. Also, the original Harriette, JoMarie Peyton, had left the show in mid-season and Judyann Elder took her role. Steve and Laura got engaged, but they never had a wedding because CBS dropped the ax on the show. But, nevertheless, Family Matters had a great successful run and is one of the longest running African-American comedies ever.
In Germany the show is known as Alle unter einem Dach ("Under One Roof").
In Spain it is known as Cosas de casa.
In France it is known as La Vie de famille ("Life of the Family").
In Italy it is known as Otto sotto un tetto ("Eight Under One Roof").
In Sweden it is known as Räkna med bråk.less «

• I'm trying to find an episode!

  What episode featured Stefan Urquelle playing piano in a bar? If anybody knows, please let me know!

  What episode featured Stefan Urquelle playing piano in a bar? If anybody knows, please let me know!less «

  Tkerekes13 Last online -23 seconds ago
  6 comments, last one 2 days ago + Add Comment

• Can you impersonate Urkel?

  Today my mother said something in this funny snooty kind of voice. I tried to copy it, and I noticed that it sounded just like Urkel. I tried saying such common Urkelisms as "Jumping Jehosophat!" and "Did I do that?" I'm not sure how good I am though. Is anyone else capable of impersonating Urkel?

  Today my mother said something in this funny snooty kind of voice. I tried to copy it, and I noticed that it sounded just like Urkel. I tried saying such common Urkelisms as "Jumping Jehosophat!" and "Did I do that?" I'm not sure how good I am though. Is anyone else capable of impersonating Urkel?less «

  RedSoxFan274
  9 comments, last one 9 days ago + Add Comment

• Carl Winslow

  I have watched every episode of family matters and I don't know why but I've noticed that Karl act like a big baby ...more »

  I have watched every episode of family matters and I don't know why but I've noticed that Karl act like a big baby alot. With Harriets diary he wants to read it and gets all mad at what's in it. When his mother is getting remarried and she said they want a small wedding he gets all mad and say I'm not going. I'm like wow didn't realize how childish he acts. Just had to point that out. less «

  txgirl75 Last online 11 hrs, 43 mins ago
  17 comments, last one 11 days ago + Add Comment

•  

  8 Great

  this show is funny hide « show »

  family matters is funny.the first time i saw it is when it first came on nick at nite.this show is real funny.steves inventions that destroy carls house are funny and my favorite moment is when he destroys carls attic in the garage.this show is a funny classic tv show.waldo is funny in the one episode when they go in a bar.carl and steve are the funny characters in this show.steve cant even sing,but its really funny.this show is one of the shows funnier than home improvement.now its seen at nick at nite and its really funny like drake and josh.

  Do you agree?

    0 0

  Report Abuse

  woahwoah678 Added Mar 16, 2009 All my reviews
•  

  10 Perfect

  Family Matters is hilarious with great acting, funny jokes, and loads of wonderful characters. Steve Urkel and Waldo are absolutely hilarious. hide « show »

  It only takes a few episodes for you to get hooked, and it's because of fabulous comedy you're left with wanting more and more. Steve Urkel is probably what makes this show as funny as it is. All the times that he falls, screws up, or tries to get himself out of a jam will leave you on the floor laughing. Probably my favorite quote he constantly says is, "Look what you did." Along with Steve as the most hilarious one on the show, so is Waldo. Just about every comedy has an idiot and you can automatically point to Waldo on this one. But he's hilarious. There's so many quotes he says that make me laugh, that I can't name they all. The acting on this show, mostly for Jaleel White, does a wonderful job. Family Matters is one of the best shows to run in the nineties.

  Do you agree?

    0 0

  Report Abuse

  Teen_Tomboy Added Mar 9, 2009 All my reviews
•  

  8 Great

  It was a great funny show until... hide « show »

  Family Matters is a funny, funny great show that had real life issues such as racism, or about telling the truth and such. I love Steve Urkel he's my personal favorite on the show after awhile he's the main reason people watch the show but during the last couple of seasons this show got really really idiotic and unbelievable that's why I believe it was canceled. Come on a machine that turns Urkel into two people? How believable is that? Not very! The Cosby Show and other shows were around for a long time because of them being believable. Thanks Spiederman

  Do you agree?

    2 0

  Report Abuse

  Speiderman Added Feb 7, 2009 All my reviews
•  

  10 Perfect

  A very good show. hide « show »

  I wish television shows were like this today. I do have to say I miss the 90's. But I won't dwell on the past. I think that Family Matters was a really good show. I also thought that it had some funny bits over the years that it was on the air. All of the characters were good and I really found them to be very entertaining. My favorite character had to be Steve Urkel. I have to saythat his character is a t.v. icon. It was a very original character and was hilarious without even trying to be. It was a good time. Thank you.

  Do you agree?

    1 0

  Report Abuse

  cactusjack39 Added Jan 25, 2009 All my reviews
•  

  7.5 Good

  wow hide « show »

  Jaleel White bought a special character to this show. His character wasn't intended to be in all the episodes as the star. His character was only supposed to be a guest star. The director and producer liked his character so much that they decided to put him in the show as the star. The show is rated 8.7 and shouldn't change. The show was not as good as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air but also wasn't as bad as the Jerry Springer Show. The cast brought new stars on the show in almost every episode. Throughout the show, they only needed to change one cast member. That member is Jo Marie Payton to Judyann Elder that played the mother as Harriette Winslow.

  Do you agree?

    0 0

  Report Abuse

  kamalc26 Added Dec 30, 2008 All my reviews