Beginning as a spin-off of ABC’s Perfect Strangers, Family Matters revolves around the Winslow family and one very nerdy neighbor.
Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson) is a Chicago policeman and his wife, Harriette (Jo Marie Payton, later Judyann Elder), is the chief of security for the Chicago Chronicle. Their children are Eddie (Darius McCrary), Laura (Kellie Shanygne Williams), and little Judy (Jaimee Foxworth). Also living with them are Harriet’s widowed sister (Telma Hopkins), her young son Richie (Bryton McClure), and Carl’s feisty mother, Estelle Winslow (Rosetta LeNoire).
The sitcom initially focused on the parents and kids but the success of nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) caused the series to shift focus pretty quickly. Other recurring characters were played by Orlando Brown, Michelle Thomas, Cherie Johnson, and Shawn Harrison.
After eight seasons on ABC, Family Matters moved to CBS. They tried to compete against ABC with their own Friday night comedy line-up but didn’t have much success. Family Matters’ ratings dropped and it was cancelled after nine seasons.
The ending of Family Matters is a two-parter called “Lost in Space.” Both installments aired on July 17, 1998. The show didn’t have a real series finale but it seems that Steve and Laura are well on their way to the alter.
Wonder why some of the castmembers left during the run of the show? Visit our Family Matters page.
Actually a season 10 was partially written. I was on the studio team for S8,S9 and the proposed S10. However, there was supposed to be a hiatus, rather than cancellation. The season finale of season 9 aired in July of 98, and production of new episodes was stated to begin in December 1998, with season 10 to premier in Fall 1999. Unfortunately, Michelle Thomas, who played Myra, died of cancer December 22 1998, before filming was to begin. Due to this, many of the cast were sad of her passing, and filming was then shifted to begin Feb 1999, with… Read more »
I still have some scripts that were left behind when the show was cancelled. The script of 1 episode of season 10 and it was:
“Return from space”
the episode was a 1 hour special and was a continuation of the events from the past season finale. Due to legal reasons I will not disclose more.
Sorry but what you’re saying doesn’t make any sense. I can’t speak to script ideas for a 10th season but the ratings were dismal for season nine — it wasn’t even in the top 50. It had fallen to #50 while still on ABC which was why they cancelled it. CBS made the decision by May 1998 not to renew it (months before the finale aired). Even if CBS wanted to keep the show, there’s no way they would have considered relaunching a low-rated show after a year and a half off the air. Jo Marie Payton told me that… Read more »
I heard that the cast did not know they were cancelled and that if they were picked up it was for 1 more season revolving around the wedding of steve and luara.