When I use to watch Family Matters when it first aired, I never really appreciated the Rachel character. I was more focused on Steve, Laura, Eddie, Max and Waldo at that age. Now watching the re-runs I realize that her character was underrated. I think her character added a little something to the show. Anyone else agree?

When I use to watch Family Matters when it first aired, I never really appreciated the Rachel. I was more focused on Steve, Laura, Eddie, Max and Waldo at that age. Now watching the re-runs I realize that her character was underrated. I think her character added a little something to the show. Anyone else agree?



she defintely added a lot more than the grandmother-lol

she defintely added a lot more than the grandmother-lol

Yep your right, although I liked Mother Winslow if I had to choose which one to keep I would pick Rachel I think she added much more.

Family Matters had the problem alot of other black family sitcoms had--too many characters to keep up with. I do agree that Rachel would have made some good storylines and in fact she could have spun-off into her own show.

why did Rachel leave early anyway?

why did Rachel leave early anyway?

I think she was offered a role on the failed series 'Getting By' that was on ABC for one season and picked up by NBC for the second and final season. Since it wasn't a spin-off series, she probably couldn't negotiated a deal where she could have came back to Family Matters if the show flopped.

I think she was offered a role on the failed series 'Getting By' that was on ABC for one season and picked up by NBC for the second and final season. Since it wasn't a spin-off series, she probably couldn't negotiated a deal where she could have came back to Family Matters if the show flopped.


Yeah sometimes you have to take that chance. I thought Getting By was WATCHABLE after receiving 6 eps in the mail

I think she was offered a role on the failed series 'Getting By' that was on ABC for one season and picked up by NBC for the second and final season. Since it wasn't a spin-off series, she probably couldn't negotiated a deal where she could have came back to Family Matters if the show flopped.

She did make guest appearances for six episodes in season 6 of "Family Matters" after "Getting By" flopped, but after that she did not return until the Christmas episode in season 9. So I don't know if it was her decision not to return for seasons 7 and 8 or the writers/producers.

In 1992, she did the mid season show "Getting By" which aired in the spring of 1993. It was stated that she would return to "Family Matters" after production. She did come back to FM during the middle of the 92-93 season. ABC did not pick up "Getting By" by NBC did(and I was mad, LOL.) She officially left FM and went to "Getting By" and of course the shoe was canned. Then a dream came true for me in the fall of 94' with Rachel coming through the front door of the living room with Carl. I was estatic.

She did two average episodes and then did four episodes with a special theme (holiday or vacation). Then, of course she did not come back for the next season which I did not like.

In 1996, she got the part as "Ruth" in the series "Cosby" but then was fired by the producers and replaced with Phyicia Rashad(It was not Cosby's decision) In 1997, I was once again suprised to hear her referred to as being in snowed in Detroit and not coming home for Christmas. Rachel showed up in the midnight hour and I was thrilled.

She did have the Chuck Cunningham syndrome for sure. It was good to she her back when she did come back.

In 1992, she did the mid season show "Getting By" which aired in the spring of 1993. It was stated that she would return to "Family Matters" after production. She did come back to FM during the middle of the 92-93 season. ABC did not pick up "Getting By" by NBC did(and I was mad, LOL.) She officially left FM and went to "Getting By" and of course the shoe was canned. Then a dream came true for me in the fall of 94' with Rachel coming through the front door of the living room with Carl. I was estatic.

She did two average episodes and then did four episodes with a special theme (holiday or vacation). Then, of course she did not come back for the next season which I did not like.

In 1996, she got the part as "Ruth" in the series "Cosby" but then was fired by the producers and replaced with Phyicia Rashad(It was not Cosby's decision) In 1997, I was once again suprised to hear her referred to as being in snowed in Detroit and not coming home for Christmas. Rachel showed up in the midnight hour and I was thrilled.

She did have the Chuck Cunningham syndrome for sure. It was good to she her back when she did come back.



Getting By was a WATCHABLE show, I only had a chance to see 4 eps from season 2

I taped a few back in the day. Unbelievable. "back in the day". I cannot believe that I said that. LOL. I remember watching that on TGIF and on NBC after Saved by the Bell: The College Years on Tuesday nights.

Rachel was good enough. But she chose to take her chance with that other show, and it went as it went. And at least she returned now and then, which is more than what can be said about poor Jody, even though it makes so much more sense for an aunt to leave the house than what it does for a pre-teen daughter.

Rachel was an important part of that show. They didn't put her character over earlier on like they should have. She was hip, fun to be around, and very likable. Urkel's character causes her and a few others to be fazed out. It's funny how a cartoon character causes real characters to take a back seat. I ma sure that was the case, because everyone saw Family Matters as the Urkel show.

I think she was offered a role on the failed series 'Getting By' that was on ABC for one season and picked up by NBC for the second and final season. Since it wasn't a spin-off series, she probably couldn't negotiated a deal where she could have came back to Family Matters if the show flopped.
Getting By was from the same producers as FM. I think the real problem was the show moved to NBC and that network didn't want her to guest star on an ABC show.

Getting By was from the same producers as FM. I think the real problem was the show moved to NBC and that network doidn't want her to guest star on an ABC show.


The show had kind of a Family Matters Spinoff Feel-lol

The show had kind of a Family Matters Spinoff Feel-lol
It really belonged on TGIF. NBC didn't know how to schedule it.

It really belonged on TGIF. NBC didn't know how to schedule it.


Well I saw when the show was on NBC it was up against a show called-"Phenom" on ABC which lasted one season, Rescue 911 on CBS, and Bakersfield P.D. on Fox so the competition didn't look that strong.

Well I saw when the show was on NBC it was up against a show called-"Phenom" on ABC which lasted one season, Rescue 911 on CBS, and Bakersfield P.D. on Fox so the competition didn't look that strong.
Phenom was a great show that should have lasted longer. NBC wasn't very strong on Tuesday nights back then. ABC's lineup had Full House and Phenom which appealed to the same sort of audience. Phenom and Getting By probably split the viewers which is why both failed.

Phenom was a great show that should have lasted longer. NBC wasn't very strong on Tuesday nights back then. ABC's lineup had Full House and Phenom which appealed to the same sort of audience. Phenom and Getting By probably split the viewers which is why both failed.


Phenom was able to fall in the top 30 after that season but me and you both know #27 is not a good number to network executives-lol

Phenom was able to fall in the top 30 after that season but me and you both know #27 is not a good number to network executives-lol

It lost to much of the Full House audience. Same as Me And The Boys...another sitcom I loved that aired there the following season. Today though #27 would look pretty good for a sitcom. Two and a Half Men is the only one in the top 20 now. lol

It lost to much of the Full House audience. Same as Me And The Boys...another sitcom I loved that aired there the following season. Today though #27 would look pretty good for a sitcom. Two and a Half Men is the only one in the top 20 now. lol


Wait a minute, why was Me and the Boys cancelled after the 94-95 season when it was ranked higher that Full House??-lol METB was ranked #20 and FH was ranked #25-lol Can't figure that out


Wait that was FH's lst season I just remembered.

Wait a minute, why was Me and the Boys cancelled after the 94-95 season when it was ranked higher that Full House??-lol METB was ranked #20 and FH was ranked #25-lol Can't figure that out


Wait that was FH's lst season I just remembered.
lol Full House ended that year too. I guess ABC wanted a bigger hit so they moved Roseanne to the 8:00 slot but they still had no luck at 8:30. . I liked Me and The Boys more than The Steve Harvey Show too. I think they should have been more patient with both MATB and Phenom.

Rachel was an important part of that show. They didn't put her character over earlier on like they should have. She was hip, fun to be around, and very likable. Urkel's character causes her and a few others to be fazed out. It's funny how a cartoon character causes real characters to take a back seat. I ma sure that was the case, because everyone saw Family Matters as the Urkel show.
The reason why this show became "The Urkel show" was because Steve became their gold mine. Before Steve's arrival, the show was sweet, but no different from other sitcoms. But with Steve, they suddenly had something special to offer. And when you think about it, even though all the actors of this show were good, Jaleel White must be considered the best, because he couldn't do only one part, but many different parts (Stephan, Myrtle). While the show became different over the years, I guess it was the way to go. And again, Thelma Hopkins made a choice to leave. No one made her leave, which was what happened to poor Jaimee Foxworth. And to make it even worse, Thelma was a grown woman, who made a choice of her own, and Jaimee was still only a young girl, who was suddenly kicked off. Jody is the one to complain about, not Rachel.

I faithfully tuned in every friday night to see Family Matters. When someone asked me what I was watching I would say "Steve Urkel". It was different because we have never saw a black person play a nerd on tv. Listening to polka, that high toned voice, pants jacked way up to the chest, huge horned rimmed glasses. I loved it!!!!! It surpassed all of the stereotypes about black people.

Rachel was always one of my favorite characters - Telma Hopkins was terrific in the role. I liked the running gag of Lt. Murtaugh hitting on her and she always shot him down. Classic. :lol:

I wish that she has come back during the 95-96 season. Only one reference was made about her that season.

Phenom was able to fall in the top 30 after that season but me and you both know #27 is not a good number to network executives-lol


Trust me. It was good enough. I used to keep up with these ratings all the time. There were other shows that were lower in ratings that got renewed.

Getting By was from the same producers as FM. I think the real problem was the show moved to NBC and that network didn't want her to guest star on an ABC show.

I find it funny that "Getting By" was formed by the same producers. I could be wrong but I suspect that they gave Telma Hopkins a starring role on "Getting By" because they wanted to get her off "Family Matters" because of Steve's growing popularity. She should have stayed put on Family Matters.

I'm sure that they somehow would have been able to fit in Rachel, and Jody, let's not forget about her, and still keep Steve. But it seems like they didn't even try.

I find it funny that "Getting By" was formed by the same producers. I could be wrong but I suspect that they gave Telma Hopkins a starring role on "Getting By" because they wanted to get her off "Family Matters" because of Steve's growing popularity. She should have stayed put on Family Matters.
It might have been Telma's decision not to come back after her show was canceled. Remember when Getting By was still on ABC the producers let her appear on both shows at the same time.

It might have been Telma's decision not to come back after her show was canceled. Remember when Getting By was still on ABC the producers let her appear on both shows at the same time.

I think your right, because after Getting By was cancelled she appeared in some episodes in season six, and then she was gone again. So maybe it was Telma's decision not to come back after season 6.