I was wondering how the character Harriet Winslow on Perfect Strangers was able to get her own show if she had a minor role on the show. I found out from a Perfect Strangers fan that Harriet was never really seen a lot on the show. So that's why i'm trying to figure out how was she impressive with a small role which led to the family Matters. Characters like the Jeffersons, Florida Evans, Laverne and Shirley, Mork, and Maude were used a lot on their parent shows which led to their own shows.. So if someone knows how the character Harriet winslow was able to spinoff into her show when she was not really involved in the Pefect Strangers storyline let me know.

Have you seen any episode of Perfect Strangers with Harriet? If you have, mention how she is in that show and it might explain it.

Originally posted by BJL
Have you seen any episode of Perfect Strangers with Harriet? If you have, mention how she is in that show and it might explain it.


I saw a episode of PS 3 nights ago and she was only seen for 25 seconds.

Originally posted by SOLOMON



I saw a episode of PS 3 nights ago and she was only seen for 25 seconds.

But what was her character like? Was it the same as it was in Family Matters? What I'm getting at is that if her character was the same in FM as it was in PS, maybe that was why it got a spinoff.

For example, let's look at Mork & Mindy. The show as you probably know was a spinoff of Happy Days. He appeared in one episode but his character was so popular that he managed to get his own series. He appeared in only one other episode but it wasn't really necessary afterwards.

What I'm basically saying is that a character on a given show does not have to have a lot of screen time to get a spinoff.

Originally posted by BJL


But what was her character like? Was it the same as it was in Family Matters? What I'm getting at is that if her character was the same in FM as it was in PS, maybe that was why it got a spinoff.

For example, let's look at Mork & Mindy. The show as you probably know was a spinoff of Happy Days. He appeared in one episode but his character was so popular that he managed to get his own series. He appeared in only one other episode but it wasn't really necessary afterwards.

What I'm basically saying is that a character on a given show does not have to have a lot of screen time to get a spinoff.



Well mentioning Mork was a poor example because the one episode he appeared before he got his own show, he was in the entire episode. So he had a lot of screen time. Ad the fans enjoyed him. Enjoyed him so much that he even came back to make another appearance a year later.

Originally posted by SOLOMON
I was wondering how the character Harriet Winslow on Perfect Strangers was able to get her own show if she had a minor role on the show. I found out from a Perfect Strangers fan that Harriet was never really seen a lot on the show. So that's why i'm trying to figure out how was she impressive with a small role which led to the family Matters. Characters like the Jeffersons, Florida Evans, Laverne and Shirley, Mork, and Maude were used a lot on their parent shows which led to their own shows.. So if someone knows how the character Harriet winslow was able to spinoff into her show when she was not really involved in the Pefect Strangers storyline let me know.

She did not have a minor role, but she was indeed a supporting cast member. I have seen every episode. Even in the season 3 opener she was in it a lot. They even had Carl Winslow guest starring, and it was the main plot of that episode.
Based on one episode you saw is not good judgement.

Originally posted by pavanbadal


She did not have a minor role, but she was indeed a supporting cast member. I have seen every episode. Even in the season 3 opener she was in it a lot. They even had Carl Winslow guest starring, and it was the main plot of that episode.
Based on one episode you saw is not good judgement.

Thank you for clearing this up.

Originally posted by pavanbadal


She did not have a minor role, but she was indeed a supporting cast member. I have seen every episode. Even in the season 3 opener she was in it a lot. They even had Carl Winslow guest starring, and it was the main plot of that episode.
Based on one episode you saw is not good judgement.


If you read the post, i said i saw one episode and someone else told me she never was seen a lot. So since you are telling me she was, i can now see why she got her own show. I was trying to find out how big her role was on PS.

Originally posted by SOLOMON

If you read the post, i said i saw one episode and someone else told me she never was seen a lot. So since you are telling me she was, i can now see why she got her own show. I was trying to find out how big her role was on PS.

If you read what you said in one of your replies, you said she was in an episode for 25 seconds the other night.

I think, Solomon, what they are trying to say, is that it doesn't really matter how much screen time a character gets, it depends on how popular they are. Harriett was a popular charater on Perfect Strangers, and obviously, the writers/producers saw they could capitalize on this and created Family Matters. So thus, it doesn't truly matter how often a character is seen, at least that's what I've gathered.

Cause Harriet Winslow slept with the executives?

Originally posted by TVJunkie101
I think, Solomon, what they are trying to say, is that it doesn't really matter how much screen time a character gets, it depends on how popular they are. Harriett was a popular charater on Perfect Strangers, and obviously, the writers/producers saw they could capitalize on this and created Family Matters. So thus, it doesn't truly matter how often a character is seen, at least that's what I've gathered.

Thank you. That was basically what I was telling you, SOLOMON. I don't have to say it again because this guy couldn't have said it better.

In addition, SOLOMON, I disagree with your notion that Mork & Mindy was a poor example of what I mentioned earlier, especially after Pavanbadal (who has seen every episode of the series) said Harriet was seen more often than what you assumed.

Originally posted by BJL


Thank you. That was basically what I was telling you, SOLOMON. I don't have to say it again because this guy couldn't have said it better.

In addition, SOLOMON, I disagree with your notion that Mork & Mindy was a poor example of what I mentioned earlier, especially after Pavanbadal (who has seen every episode of the series) said Harriet was seen more often than what you assumed.


Well can you tell me what season of Perfect Strangers Harriet is seem a lot more in PS episodes? That way i will know what episodes to be on the lookout for.

Originally posted by SOLOMON



Well can you tell me what season of Perfect Strangers Harriet is seem a lot more in PS episodes? That way i will know what episodes to be on the lookout for.

Ask Pav, I haven't seen that many PS episodes to be honest but if he says he has seen every episode then I believe it is credible enough.

Originally posted by SOLOMON

Well can you tell me what season of Perfect Strangers Harriet is seem a lot more in PS episodes? That way i will know what episodes to be on the lookout for.

Did you see the first episode of season three? She was introduced then, she was in a few scenes.
And if Nick@Nite airs "Crimebusters," watch that one for sure, Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson) guest stars.
She is in about 30 some odd episodes (seasons 3 and 4).

Originally posted by pavanbadal


Did you see the first episode of season three? She was introduced then, she was in a few scenes.
And if Nick@Nite airs "Crimebusters," watch that one for sure, Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson) guest stars.
She is in about 30 some odd episodes (seasons 3 and 4).

That's the one i really want to see. I knew that Carl was in Crime Busters. So do u think N@N will air that episode?

Originally posted by SOLOMON
That's the one i really want to see. I knew that Carl was in Crime Busters. So do u think N@N will air that episode?

Hopefully they will. If I remember correctly, Carl said they lived in an apartment or had to move in to an apartment temporary. Haven't seen that episode since USA Network or WWOR reruns.

I think alot had to do with the obvious "something" special that show execs saw in Jo Marie Payton. Even though her screen time wasn't always lengthy, they saw that there was potential for her to carry her own series; they were definitely right. She had already proven to be adept at comedy when she was a cast member on the 1977-78 "Redd Foxx Comedy Hour."