Was it know that season 9 was the last season when Jo Marie Payton decided to leave? With only a few episodes left to go when she left, does anyone see this as a huge slap in the face to the fans and a big “FU” to the legacy of the show?

If she didn’t know it was going to be the last season, I could completely understand why she left but if she knew it was the end of the series, why didn’t she stay and see things out. This has never made sense to me and I actually find it disrespectful that she left when she did.

From what I heard, there was supposed to be a 10th season, but the show was cancelled shortly after she left, or something like that.

I remember hearing that had there been a Season 10, the show would have brought back the character of Judy Winslow (but played by a different actress named Bianca Lawson) as well. Anyway, I always thought it was not known that Family Matters was going to end in 1998 when Jo Marie Payton made the decision to leave.

I thought season 8 was a FU with terrible storylines

What I read or heard (somewhere, sorry I don't have a source) was that Jo Marie Payton was quitting with the 8th season but they asked and she agreed to do half of the 9th season to serve as a bridge from the ABC episodes to the CBS ones.

I don't know why they couldn't have finished the trainwreck without a Harriet. By then, more than half of the original cast had left, and the show had been running on fumes for years.

I don't know why they couldn't have finished the trainwreck without a Harriet. By then, more than half of the original cast had left, and the show had been running on fumes for years.

That’s what I was thinking. It would’ve been better for there to have been no Harriette instead of a terrible version of one.

Yeah, they should have just written out the Harriette character altogether. Besides, by that point, she hadn't really been important to the show in years, has she?

I remember hearing that had there been a Season 10, the show would have brought back the character of Judy Winslow (but played by a different actress named Bianca Lawson) as well. Anyway, I always thought it was not known that Family Matters was going to end in 1998 when Jo Marie Payton made the decision to leave.
Wow, this is the first that I have seen or heard anything about a tenth season. I wonder how Judy's absence would've been explained considering how long it had been since we had last seen her.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

P.S. Just ten days ago, it was the 20th anniversary of Michelle Thomas's passing, not that it is something to celebrate of course. She did an wonderful job playing Myra. In my opinion, her character was severely ripped off considering the fact that it was love at first sight for her where Steve was concerned. Why should she have gotten kicked to the curb due to Laura taking so long to finally get with the freaking program???

The whole Jo Marie thing was so stupid. I understand if actors want to leave a show because they want to move on to better things, but there was literally only 11 episodes left of the series!!!! You stay for a show for 8 full seasons and you suddenly refuse to stay for just 11 episodes?? If you suddenly hate the show that much, can you at least work out a deal to only a appear in a few of the remaining episodes and then just not appear in some episodes? To completely replace an actress who put 8 years into the show when there's only 11 episodes left is beyond crazy.

To completely replace an actress who put 8 years into the show when there's only 11 episodes left is beyond crazy.

Amen.

P.S. Just ten days ago, it was the 20th anniversary of Michelle Thomas's passing, not that it is something to celebrate of course. She did an wonderful job playing Myra. In my opinion, her character was severely ripped off considering the fact that it was love at first sight for her where Steve was concerned. Why should she have gotten kicked to the curb due to Laura taking so long to finally get with the freaking program???
I agree 100 % with this! It is a shame how Myra was treated by everybody. And I don't get why Steve never got over his stupid obsession with the awful Laura either. Sure, it is true that Myra had her flaws. But she loved Steve with all her heart, while he was lucky if Laura even saw him as a friend.

The whole Jo Marie thing was so stupid. I understand if actors want to leave a show because they want to move on to better things, but there was literally only 11 episodes left of the series!!!! You stay for a show for 8 full seasons and you suddenly refuse to stay for just 11 episodes?? If you suddenly hate the show that much, can you at least work out a deal to only a appear in a few of the remaining episodes and then just not appear in some episodes? To completely replace an actress who put 8 years into the show when there's only 11 episodes left is beyond crazy.
It you read this thread again from the start, it was explained that everybody thought that there would be a 10th season. And I guess that if JoMarie had known that the show would be cancelled again after only one year on the new network, she would have stayed on for those eleven episodes.

Wow, this is the first that I have seen or heard anything about a tenth season. I wonder how Judy's absence would've been explained considering how long it had been since we had last seen her.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

P.S. Just ten days ago, it was the 20th anniversary of Michelle Thomas's passing, not that it is something to celebrate of course. She did an wonderful job playing Myra. In my opinion, her character was severely ripped off considering the fact that it was love at first sight for her where Steve was concerned. Why should she have gotten kicked to the curb due to Laura taking so long to finally get with the freaking program???

I have zero sympathy for Myra because she fell for a guy who repeatedly told her that he was in love with somebody else.

I have zero sympathy for Myra because she fell for a guy who repeatedly told her that he was in love with somebody else.
It is not like like you can control which person you will fall for.