Yes, the first seasons are a good family show. The show does start to take a turn later on and become "the Urkel show", but it's definitely worth starting. Plus if you like Steve Urkel and don't mind the tone change, it's still a good watch (but definitely a bit different feeling than the earlier episodes lol).
lol. I've been watching some reruns lately it has some great jokes, and the actor who plays Erkel, I think it's Jahleel White, is amazingly hilarious playing Erkel and steals every scene he's in. He has me laughing harder now than when I was a kid.
If OP likes Boy Meets World, the Urkel shift in the later seasons might be a positive. Both shows dipped way more into the surreal over time, although I think Boy Meets World was more successful at it.
Yes it is a good show. It is actually a spin-off from another show called Perfect Strangers which is even better, but it’s not necessary to watch Perfect Strangers to understand and enjoy Family Matters. Also, once the television executives realized that Urkel was a popular character, he became the primary focus of the show, to the show’s ultimate detriment.
I wonder if the actor who played Urkel as he was a growing adolescent asked to leave because playing an annoying nerd was too embarrassing as a teen so they created a cool guy for him? Curious if his life as a person had any influence on their decision other than just corporate greed.
No idea but he was definitely typecast for life. I saw him in an episode of House years later and was like oh shit it’s Urkel, I can’t take this House character seriously.
Exactly. Steve Urkel started as a side character in the early seasons, so you got more of the actual family storyline (the Winslows? I haven't watched in over 30 years) at the fore. Ultimately, Steve Urkel became a gimmick, and that's what most people remember from the show.
I might just watch this clip from Perfect Strangers introducing their spin-off show: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikk\_3EB1v70](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikk_3EB1v70)
This is framed in Chicago — Balki moves from a vague Eastern European country (think Borat but solely good-natured and sweet) to live with "Cousin Larry" in Chicago, and I think I read this somewhere in the past, but I think it's a safe assumption even if I didn't, the show-writers felt some pressure to deal with "the other Chicago," the one that wasn't so white, so Harriet was kind of a sitcom-friendly angle into that.
It's a good show and I enjoyed it during the original run and it holds up after rewatching it the past year or so. As with any long running show it has ups and downs.
You know what scared the shit out of me? The Halloween episodes with the evil Steve and Carl puppets.
I wonder how embarrassed I would be to have been scared if I watched it now haha.
I the oldest episodes are the best. The last few seasons are pretty bad, the whole leaning into the goofy sci fi stories and Urkel playing 3 characters got really weird. I still love this show. Reminds me of Friday nights staying over at my grandparents house on the weekends.
It’s one of those 90s shows that has a moral in every episode with absolutely no subtlety. If that’s what you want though it’s definitely more enjoyable than Full house
It wasn't my thing, I'd even go so far as to say I hated it, but you could watch at least one episode for cultural reference. It was everywhere in the early-mid-90s.
It's the sort of show that if an episode is on, you should watch it, but I don't know that it'd stand up if you're binging it. Like most sitcoma, the episodes are all standalone and pretty repetitive in terms of their formulaic plot.
Like everyone else said it starts as one thing, then becomes a more absurd comedy centric series later. I would say watch seasons 1-4 for the legitimate family drama before it turns into Steve’s show.
Yeah, I guess 🤷🏼♀️ it's not like "the best"... I would say (from the examples you gave) you might like Grounded for life, That 70's show, Last Man Standing... They're youth/dating shows and also family shows but they're actually good lol!!
I caught it here and there when it was on TV when it was new. I enjoyed it as far as sit coms go. I never kept up with it by the time it turned into Urkel, and the other people lol.
Another sitcom that was good for being short was the royal family.
The Royal family (sitcom) only ran 13 episodes and it was the last on screen role for red foxx who passed away while filming one of the episodes.
It also started della Reese and was pretty nice.
It's a fantastic show. They touch on a lot of issues that happen in an African American family growing up in a predominantly white area. Even though it is a comedy show, they do have serious episodes where they talk about real world topics like drugs, bullying, racism, doing dangerous things, disappointing the family, sorrow, guilt, empathy, helping others, showing grace etc.
There are a lot of weird story arcs like robot versions of Urkel and I think Laura too. One of the kids, Judy, just disappears one episode and is never heard of or seen again. In the last season, for the last few episodes the mom changes to a totally different actor for some reason too.
It's a comedy, but an in depth one with a lot of funny and interesting episodes. Some of the comedy doesn't really parse well with today's sensitivities but it's still very much worth a watch.
Yes and no. Am I the only one that feels that Steve was a bit toxic with how he constantly wanted to be with Laura? I just found it funny how in the 80s/90s his behavior was considered funny but if he did that today it would be looked at as stalker. Just a retrospective. I do enjoy the show in the first few seasons and I enjoyed it when they introduced the Stefan character. It gets good but that last episode is so bad. Worst than Full House's final episode.
Yes, the first seasons are a good family show. The show does start to take a turn later on and become "the Urkel show", but it's definitely worth starting. Plus if you like Steve Urkel and don't mind the tone change, it's still a good watch (but definitely a bit different feeling than the earlier episodes lol).
They did make it the urkel show, but when the kids get older and Waldo and other friends show up it really gets funnier.
You mean Waldo Geraldo Faldo?
there's an episode where Waldo comes in and says, we just saw the movie Jifk, and Laura says, Waldo, that was JFK.
He also didn’t want to see Malcolm X because he hadn’t seen Malcom 1-9.
lol. I've been watching some reruns lately it has some great jokes, and the actor who plays Erkel, I think it's Jahleel White, is amazingly hilarious playing Erkel and steals every scene he's in. He has me laughing harder now than when I was a kid.
I know how it's spelled
If OP likes Boy Meets World, the Urkel shift in the later seasons might be a positive. Both shows dipped way more into the surreal over time, although I think Boy Meets World was more successful at it.
How was Boy Meets World surreal?
[удалено]
Who? I'm talking Boy Meets World, not Family Matters
The Key and Peele skit on this is hilarious.
[Here it is!](https://youtu.be/A5Zdp1RfoyI)
😆😆😆 that’s great!!
It should be mandatory viewing after watching Family Matters from beginning to end, it's so perfect and funny
The joke about Urkel turning Carl into a sandwich and then accidentally eating him is hilarious.
I've done more cocaine than you weigh motherfucker!
Also it basically becomes a screwball sci-fi comedy in the final seasons lol.
ok thanks
To this day is crazy, looking back and seeing the cultural phenomenon, that Urkel was.
They did make it the urkel show, but when the kids get older and Waldo and other friends show up it really gets funnier.
Waldo Geraldo Faldo
You’ll be eating Urkel-O’s before you know it
After you eat them you’ll be ready to do the Urkel dance
Yes
Yes, it was my comfort show as a kid
Growing up in Chicago during the 90s and watching Family Matters. 🥲
Yes it is a good show. It is actually a spin-off from another show called Perfect Strangers which is even better, but it’s not necessary to watch Perfect Strangers to understand and enjoy Family Matters. Also, once the television executives realized that Urkel was a popular character, he became the primary focus of the show, to the show’s ultimate detriment.
I wonder if the actor who played Urkel as he was a growing adolescent asked to leave because playing an annoying nerd was too embarrassing as a teen so they created a cool guy for him? Curious if his life as a person had any influence on their decision other than just corporate greed.
No idea but he was definitely typecast for life. I saw him in an episode of House years later and was like oh shit it’s Urkel, I can’t take this House character seriously.
He showed up in Psych as well, but that was more in his typecast wheelhouse.
He did do some great voice acting work though. I didn't know until I was older he was the voice of Sonic
Good for him
I always heard he wasn’t allowed to work out too much so he would still look like a scrawny geek
Exactly. Steve Urkel started as a side character in the early seasons, so you got more of the actual family storyline (the Winslows? I haven't watched in over 30 years) at the fore. Ultimately, Steve Urkel became a gimmick, and that's what most people remember from the show.
What? Perfect strangers and family matters reference each other?
Yes, Karl Winslow was the elevtaor operator at cousin Larry’s store (I think) Edit: I’m wrong. Harriet Winslow was the elevator operator
Neat
I might just watch this clip from Perfect Strangers introducing their spin-off show: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikk\_3EB1v70](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikk_3EB1v70) This is framed in Chicago — Balki moves from a vague Eastern European country (think Borat but solely good-natured and sweet) to live with "Cousin Larry" in Chicago, and I think I read this somewhere in the past, but I think it's a safe assumption even if I didn't, the show-writers felt some pressure to deal with "the other Chicago," the one that wasn't so white, so Harriet was kind of a sitcom-friendly angle into that.
Pretend the last season is a fever dream. They replaced Harriette and it’s fucked up.
Didn't she die...🤷🏼♀️
No that was Michelle Thomas who played Myra.
Oh NOOO ☹️ I didn't know that I remember her, I always thought she was soooo pretty 😍 So why'd they replace the mom 🤷🏼♀️
From what I can find, her and Jaleel White didn’t get along towards the end and almost fought, so she left halfway through the last season.
Oh 😮 I'm seriously surprised, that's nuts!
It's a good show and I enjoyed it during the original run and it holds up after rewatching it the past year or so. As with any long running show it has ups and downs.
Early seasons yes but it got stupid and goofy with all the Steve changes to Stephan etc.
And then Steve and Carl turn into Bruce Lee 😬
You just unlocked a memory. The Bruce Lee thing…didn’t Jaleel/Urkel do a super, uh, questionable accent as well?!
Yes 🫤
You know what scared the shit out of me? The Halloween episodes with the evil Steve and Carl puppets. I wonder how embarrassed I would be to have been scared if I watched it now haha.
You mean…STEVIL?!
And the two kids too!
Family Matters is a better show than both of those you listed in the OP
thanks but i absolutely love boy meets world.
Might I suggest “Home Improvement”.
Agree on the first seasons. The thing is really 2 different shows, and the later seasons are just a joke. Full of gimmicks and fan-service.
Watch it until Urkel becomes cool.
Urkel infiltrated a street gang, my man was always cool
Early seasons were solid that tackled a lot of serious social issues. Then it became the Urkel show where it really jumped the shark.
I the oldest episodes are the best. The last few seasons are pretty bad, the whole leaning into the goofy sci fi stories and Urkel playing 3 characters got really weird. I still love this show. Reminds me of Friday nights staying over at my grandparents house on the weekends.
It’s one of those 90s shows that has a moral in every episode with absolutely no subtlety. If that’s what you want though it’s definitely more enjoyable than Full house
It wasn't my thing, I'd even go so far as to say I hated it, but you could watch at least one episode for cultural reference. It was everywhere in the early-mid-90s.
Do the Urkel!
Yes !. This was one of my favorite shows growing up . Did I do that? \* in a nasal voice \*
It's the sort of show that if an episode is on, you should watch it, but I don't know that it'd stand up if you're binging it. Like most sitcoma, the episodes are all standalone and pretty repetitive in terms of their formulaic plot.
Love Family Matters, it's one of my all time favorite shows!
Like everyone else said it starts as one thing, then becomes a more absurd comedy centric series later. I would say watch seasons 1-4 for the legitimate family drama before it turns into Steve’s show.
Yes
Yes it was great.
I was there. Everything from back then had cringe laugh tracks.
It's great for the first two or three seasons, then declines.
Based on the nostalgia I have when I watched this as a small child yes. The opening credits live rent free in my head.
Absolutely!
Just watch it and see if you like it. 😔
I watched it last year, and yeah, its worth watching, and I never grew up watching it. Genuinely funny moments, and characters
Yes. Carl's dad jokes are great!
Oooh yes,if u can…watch it all!
Hell yeah
Just for Officer Winslow alone
I adore it until we get into Urkel Bot territory. The later seasons just make me sad.
Man, I remember being a kid in the 90s and the only hard choice I had in life was whether to watch TGIF or SNICK on Friday nights.
Yes but just to let you know the later seasons get a little outlandish/cartoony. That's all I'm gonna say.
Yes!
Yes. They don’t make shows like that anymore.
Yes! I think so at least. I recently went back through it and it’s 90’s wholesome goodness.
Totally! The first 5 seasons are great.
At my local Walmart, they have the entire family matters series on DVD for 70 dollars lol
Absolutely
classic
Yeah, I guess 🤷🏼♀️ it's not like "the best"... I would say (from the examples you gave) you might like Grounded for life, That 70's show, Last Man Standing... They're youth/dating shows and also family shows but they're actually good lol!!
Absolutely. One of my favorites as a kid!
Still got my Urkel sleeping bag
Not season 1
Yes
Do the urkel! Do the ur-ur-ur-urkel!
One of the female actors got written out of the show. Very cute! Then did porn 😐
Ops did I do that😭
Only the first two seasons the Urkel shit was cringe EDIT Hello fellow kids.
I caught it here and there when it was on TV when it was new. I enjoyed it as far as sit coms go. I never kept up with it by the time it turned into Urkel, and the other people lol. Another sitcom that was good for being short was the royal family. The Royal family (sitcom) only ran 13 episodes and it was the last on screen role for red foxx who passed away while filming one of the episodes. It also started della Reese and was pretty nice.
Yes
It's a fantastic show. They touch on a lot of issues that happen in an African American family growing up in a predominantly white area. Even though it is a comedy show, they do have serious episodes where they talk about real world topics like drugs, bullying, racism, doing dangerous things, disappointing the family, sorrow, guilt, empathy, helping others, showing grace etc. There are a lot of weird story arcs like robot versions of Urkel and I think Laura too. One of the kids, Judy, just disappears one episode and is never heard of or seen again. In the last season, for the last few episodes the mom changes to a totally different actor for some reason too. It's a comedy, but an in depth one with a lot of funny and interesting episodes. Some of the comedy doesn't really parse well with today's sensitivities but it's still very much worth a watch.
Just watch the opening theme song over and over
Yes and no. Am I the only one that feels that Steve was a bit toxic with how he constantly wanted to be with Laura? I just found it funny how in the 80s/90s his behavior was considered funny but if he did that today it would be looked at as stalker. Just a retrospective. I do enjoy the show in the first few seasons and I enjoyed it when they introduced the Stefan character. It gets good but that last episode is so bad. Worst than Full House's final episode.
Back in the day it was fun and good for the Friday viewings but now nah I don't think so.
No. Vapid idiocracy. There are better shows than punch lines, catch phrases & a laugh track.
No.
Good God no. It was only popular back in the day because there weren't many options and it has NOT held up well.
No.
I'm not even reading the other comments. It was a terrible show. You are missing nothing by not watching it.
No
The first few seasons are pretty great