Series Description

The Family Matters TV show was a 30 minute comedy series on ABC for the first eight seasons and on CBS for a ninth season. It was about a very normal family who is driven out of their minds by their next door neighbor who happens to be a nerd, a blunderhead, and a genius all at the same time!

Family Matters Cast

Jaleel White .... Steven Urkel / Myrtle Urkel / Stephan Urkel
Reginald VelJohnson .... Carl Winslow
Jo Marie Payton-Noble .... Harriette Winslow (1989-1994)
Judyann Elder .... Harriette Winslow (1994-1998)
Darius McCrary .... Eddie Winslow
Rosetta Le Noire .... Estelle Winslow (1989-1997)
Kellie Shanygne Williams .... Laura Winslow
Valerie Jones .... Judy Winslow (Pilot Only)
Jaimee Foxworth .... Judy Winslow (1989-1993)
Telma Hopkins .... Rachel Crawford (1989-1997)
Joseph Julius Wright .... Richie Crawford (1989-1990)
Bryton McClure .... Richie Crawford (1990-1997)
Michelle Thomas .... Myra Monkhouse (1993-1998)
Shawn Harrison .... Waldo Geraldo Faldo (1990-1996)

Family Matters Theme Song

Title: "As Days Go By"

By: "Jesse Frederick, Bennet Salvay and Scott Roeme"

It's a rare condition, this day and age,
to read any good news on the newspaper page.
Love and tradition of the grand design,
some people say it's even harder to find.

Well then there must be some magic clue inside these tearful walls
Cause all I see is a tower of dreams
real love burstin' out of every seam.

As days go by,
It's the bigger love of the family.

Family Matters Trivia:

The Family Matters TV show was a "spinoff" of a series titled, "Perfect Strangers". Harriet Winslow was a elevator operator and Carl Winslow was a cop on that series. Interestingly, Family Matters lasted one season longer than Perfect Strangers!

Most fans don't realize that Urkel did not appear until the 12th episode titled, "Laura's First Date". Jaleel White was hired just to appear on that one episode as Laura's crazy first date. Viewers absolutely loved the unique character and Jaleel was brought on as a regular cast member.

There was a different theme song for the first episode (pilot) only. It was the Louis Armstrong classic tune, "What a Wonderful World".

Jaleel White played a total of eight different characters on Family Matters. In addition to Steve Urkel he played his own female cousin Myrtle Urkel, male cousin Cornelius Eugene Urkel, Stefan Urquelle, Bruce Lee, Elvis Presley, Albert Einstein, and the voice of his invention Urkel-Bot.

Family Matters got a really cherry time slot when it premiered on Friday nights at 8:30 on ABC! It followed ABC's hit sitcom, "Full House" and was followed by the series that inspired it, "Perfect Strangers"!

ABC canceled Family Matters at the end of its eighth season due to disappointing ratings. CBS was desperately trying to draw younger viewers at the time so they decided to pick up the show for a ninth season. The series didn't do any better for CBS so they stopped airing episodes in mid-season. There were seven episodes "in the can" that in most cases would never have been seen but diehard fans made enough noise that CBS aired them the following summer.

Unfortunately, the producers of the show goofed around too long and got canceled before a Steve and Laura marriage could be filmed. That was what everyone including fans hoped would be the finale of the series. Steve and Laura did get engaged during the finale though!