Of course he wasn't intended to be the star of Family Matters, but it got me thinking, how would the show be different if it were a show about an annoying next door neighbor bothering a family? Here's what I think:

-The title would have been different (Probably called "Steve Urkel").
-It would not have been a spin-off from Perfect Strangers.
-Therefore, different actors would have played Carl/Harriette
-The family's last name would not have been Winslow.
-The show would not have taken place in Chicago.
-Judy/Rachel/Richie/Mother Winslow would have never been on the show, or at least 2 of them.
-The theme song would have been different.
-3J would have never been introduced, they only brought him on to have more family members given the title.
-Judyann Elder would not have taken over the role at the end of the 9th season.

What else do you guys think?

Well, as we are talking about the same character as in the series, I believe it could be in Chicago, since he lived there. And even with or without Winslows there would be a family that he annoyed. It's difficult to imagine the show without the Winslows and think of a different family.

I know, but I was trying to get us to think in the eyes of the Producers/Creators had they just made a show about a nerdy annoying neighbor (rather than FM unexpectedly becoming a show about Urkel the way it did).

-The family's last name would not have been Winslow.
-The show would not have taken place in Chicago.


I don't understand how Urkel being the intended star would have prevented these things.

Well if creators of "a show about an annoying nerdy neighbor" had made a series, it would have been it's own show and not a spin-off of Perfect Strangers, so the family would have had a different last name.

Steve Urkle was the only person people wanted to see on this show the other actors were useless without him i am sure they were a little jealous of him behind close doors with all the attention he was getting, here is my opinion the show would have been cancelled after the first 2 or 3 seasons without nerdy steve urkle.