Matthew is kind of an unfortunate character. When the show started in 1995, Matthew was just a little sensitive. A little girly. But other than that, he seemed like a real person. It even looked like Matthew and Dave were friends. Then season 2, brought a slapstick feature to Matthew, and he seemed to get a little dumber. In season 3, Matthew worshipped Bill, and this is when he went overboard. He also had the most slapstick moments in this season. And in this season, he lost his virginity to his beautiful girlfriend, Irene. Then season 4 came along, and Matthew was gone. Mentally that is. It seemed like he was just ******** and that was his only purpose. This is also when he began his obsession with Computer Solitare. Finally in season 5, with his "Big Brother" Bill gone, Matthew was completley insane. This is also when Dave started to hate Matthew. He comes into work wearing Lisa's sweater. He gets a "Punk" makeover for his birthday (to replace the pony that never came) and he wore a big padded suit instead of learning Joe Jitsu.

I like Matthew, he was still funny throughout these changes. It's just something I've noticed.

I've noticed the changes in Matthew's personality over the years too. I liked him in the earlier episodes, but he just got too weird for me in seasons 4 and 5.

I think just about any long-running show has at least one two characters who go through personality changes throughout the series.

Maybe you should have entitled this post: The de-evolution of Matthew! :) Personally, I think the character just got more and more funny as the show progressed (although the Buttafuoco thing early on was funny as hell). By the 5th season, he was just plain hilarious, particularly the way Dave acted toward him, i.e.

MATTHEW: "Don't worry about it, Dave. I'll have my best man break him down Beretta style."
DAVE: "....I'm so tired of you..."

I think the personality turns were the best (sMatthew; British punk rocker).

DAVE: "From now on, you're going to come to work on time, you're actually going to do your work, and you are going to dress like a radio professional, not like some 14 year-old glue huffer."
MATTHEW: "You know what I think about your rules?"
DAVE: "If you show me your belly one more time, you're fired."
MATTHEW: "I wasn't-- going to."
DAVE: "Oh yes you were."
MATTHEW: "No I wasn't."
DAVE: "Then what were you going to do?"
MATTHEW: "I was going to.... kiss me bum, monkey!"

LOL!!!

Finally, who could ever forget Freaky Friday, wherein Matthew manages to lose Mr. James' entire fortune in an online trading mishap! The scene where Jimmy throws the window blinds through the glass and leaps through it to chase him was roll-on-the-floor funny!

MR. JAMES: "Jimmy MAD!!!"


Good times, good times...