Family Matters is an American sitcom about a middle-class African American family living in 
Chicago, Illinois, which ran for nine seasons. The series was a spin-off of Perfect Strangers, but revolves around the Winslow family.Midway through the first season, the show introduced the Winslows’ nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel (played by Jaleel White), who quickly became its breakout characterand eventually a main character. Family Matters originally focused on the character of police officer Carl Winslow and his family: wife Harriette Winslow, son Eddie Winslow, elder daughter Laura Winslow, and youngest child Judy Winslow (until Season 4).In the pilot episode, the family had also opened their home to Carl’s street-wise mother, Estelle Winslow (usually known as “Mother Winslow”). Prior to the start of the series, Harriette’s sister, Rachel Crawford, and her infant son, Richie Crawford, had moved into the Winslow household after the death of Rachel’s husband.
The Winslows’ nerdy teenaged next-door neighbor, Steve Urkel, was introduced midway through the first season and quickly became the focus of the show. As the show progressed, episodes began to center more and more on Steve Urkel and other original characters also played by Jaleel White, including Steve’s suave alter-ego Stefan Urkquelle and his female cousin Myrtle Urkel.
When did Family Matters Jump the Shark ?
8 votes so far...
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I was never a huge fan of Family Matters but i always thought it was alright, a decent show. Until almost every episode i’d catch revolved around Urkel, including him coming out of a fucking time machine as “Stefan”. Wtf? And too many characters disappearing and never to be heard of again. The show became more & more unrealistic. And Urkel was always annoying and never funny to me so when every episode centered around him all my interest was gone.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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It was shit at the start and Urkel eventually took it to a new level of shitness that i dont think ive ever seen the likes of ever since. It was a shit show that got shitter.
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To be fair before Urkel Family Matters was shit. It was slightly more interesting for a while till later when Urkel got so annoying it was unwatchable. But people forget that it was a very popular show for a long time with Urkel as part of the cast. Pre-Urkel it was just a run of the mill sitcom with afew little laughs every episode but nothing special.
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If i remember correctly there was also Stefan Urquelle and his female cousin Myrtle Urkel played by Jaleel White too. More ‘comedy’ than i could handle.
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Urkel ruined everything. I remember him spending an episode on a pirate ship after travelling through time.
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Family Matters became the Urkel show.
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I think Family Matters jumped the shark when they replaced Jo Marie Peyton with another actress. The new Harriet just wasn’t as memorable as the first Harriet.
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