'Family Matters' Moves From ABC to CBS: Good Move Or Bad Move???

[Buffyboy323]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

When Family matters is complete on DVD I will probably be too OLD and BLIND to care

I hope you're wrong, lol.

[GSU2004]

Family Matters and Step By Step were produced by Miller Boyett Productions. When the Disney purchase of ABC was finalized, MB was afraid that they weren't going to be major players at the network anymore. ABC initially wanted to give both shows a two season renewal in Spring 1997 thus ending both shows in 1999. For some reason, producers weren't happy with the deal (most likely it probably was money since the shows were on for so long). CBS decided to create the Friday Night Block Party since they had the two most popular Friday night shows on their network.

A big problem I remember was marketing. CBS skewed older and they ran tons of in-house ads but the audiences of the shows didn't see them. It wasn't like ABC was going to promote the move. After this project failed, the Friday Night Block Part was scrapped and never re-attempted. I actually enjoyed Gregory Hines Show.

[JO Sweet Heart]

I am glad that the show continued because I love it so much, but there are some things that I wish had been different. I wish that Jo Marie had stuck around and I wish that Waldo had been written back into the show.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

P.S. I remember Eddie finally getting his own place during the final season, but what I don't remember is if him and Greta were still together when the show ended.

[TVFactFan]

In all honesty, the show is only fun to watching during

seasons 3 to 7

[bh7812]

Originally Posted by GSU2004

Family Matters and Step By Step were produced by Miller Boyett Productions. When the Disney purchase of ABC was finalized, MB was afraid that they weren't going to be major players at the network anymore. ABC initially wanted to give both shows a two season renewal in Spring 1997 thus ending both shows in 1999. For some reason, producers weren't happy with the deal (most likely it probably was money since the shows were on for so long). CBS decided to create the Friday Night Block Party since they had the two most popular Friday night shows on their network.

A big problem I remember was marketing. CBS skewed older and they ran tons of in-house ads but the audiences of the shows didn't see them. It wasn't like ABC was going to promote the move. After this project failed, the Friday Night Block Part was scrapped and never re-attempted. I actually enjoyed Gregory Hines Show.

I wanted to comment on the two parts of your post I bolded:

HOLY CRAP!!! So they WERE considering a good sized renewal for both shows eh!? At the time, I had read and heard they definitely wanted to renew both, but couldn't decide if it was going to be a 1 or 2 year renewal, then they couldn't decide if they wanted the shows anymore at all, and it went back and forth for a while. So, now we know they wanted a 2 year renewal. That renewal, and ending their runs on ABC would have been the BEST thing for both shows I think. For two reasons..One ABC would have given them both proper actual Series Finales. Two, ABC could have kept TGIF popular for just a bit longer than they were able to in the end. Family Matters, Step By Step and Boy Meets World would have all had their Series Finales within a year of each other. Again, it woulda been better for the shows and the network that way.

Then came the move to CBS. Strategically, and creatively, any of the other networks would have killed to have gotten both shows and have their own TGIF type block. Seriously, a lot of broadcast and cable networks were beside themselves trying to put together a Friday Night Block that could compete and do as well as ABC did with the concept but never succeeded. CBS had an incredible chance. Conceptually, the Friday Night Block Party was dead on the exact right idea. The shows they got to anchor it..again bulls eye. CBS's problem then was the much much older audience who would not dare be caught watching TV on Friday night in Prime Time let alone two sitcoms like Family Matters and Step By Step. The shows went to the wrong network demographic wise. There was no way the concept would work on CBS with their huge older audience. I applaud Les Moonves for taking the shot and risk, I truly do. He was truly excited about it at the time, and had fully planned to give both shows at least 2 more seasons on CBS. He wanted to give those shows a great home and of that I have no doubt. But again demographics. I think CBS's worst mistake though was just suddenly cancelling both shows and not giving either show time to put together proper Series Finales. Neither show deserved no series finale The final problem CBS had with the Block Party was Meego, the show with Bronson Pinchot. On paper that should have been a third bulls eye..but after being so used to seeing him as Balki for so many years, I think people were wanting and expecting to see Balki again, not some brand new alien character. The Gregory Hines Show was good clean fun from what I did see of it and I thank Gregory for giving time to do that project. If Family Matters and Step By Step HAD to go to another network, NBC would have been a far better choice and I've wondered for years if they were offered the shows and what their reaction may have been.

[mets82]

I do remember CBS getting into the Friday night TGIF type of block when they got Family Matters and Step by Step. I think both shows were gone anyway. If both shows were a year old and then went to CBS, it would have been a hell of a deal for CBS. By the time they got to CBS, the shows were pretty much over.

Btw, how did Laura wind up falling for Steve? I dont even remember that.

[JO Sweet Heart]

^^^ Steve started wearing a belt instead of his suspenders in the final season and I guess that is how it all started for Laura.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by JO Sweet Heart

^^^ Steve started wearing a belt instead of his suspenders in the final season and I guess that is how it all started for Laura.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

Yeah he got older and started to change and she saw him in a different light

[Spark Of Spirit]

I really didn't like the last season, especially for missing most of the cast. Once Waldo was gone, so was my attention.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Spark Of Spirit

I really didn't like the last season, especially for missing most of the cast. Once Waldo was gone, so was my attention.

Waldo was always gone lol

[Spark Of Spirit]

Yeah, but it was really noticeable when he left the show.

[JO Sweet Heart]

^^^ I agree. Was it ever said why he was written out?

God bless you and Shawn Harrison always!!!

Holly

[noveel]

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

It had no business moving to CBS. The show was dead by then. Then, they brought in that new harriet. I don't know why producers likes to play with viewers intelligence. That new Harriette had no physical features to like like Jo Marie. I could see if she somewhat resembled the original. They could have written Jo Marie off by saying she went to visit a sick relative. That way Judy Ann Elder(the new Harriette) could have been intoduced as an aunt sitting in for Harriette. The show proabably would have went out more gracefully than it did.

I don't think Miller-Boyett ever had any respect for viewers intelligence by sending siblings to the black hole when they're not needed. The producers actually thought another network would pick them up even after CBS cancelled them after very low ratings. It had more viewers in syndication at that point

[Lorimar Television]

After watching season 8 I see that the show was really awful then. That whole season sucked, every episode was either unrealistic with Urkel's inventions or about one of Jaleel's characters. Season nine was better to me, it had more realistic storylines. Sure it had unrealistic episodes but it was no worse than season six was on realism.

[MrCleveland]

The move was Bad!