Do you think Steve Urkel RUINED Family Matters?

[Jessica]

Originally Posted by JO Sweet Heart

^^^ Paris is where the family was transported to. They flew to Disney World in an earlier season. Also that jet pack was created to beat another guy who wanted Laura, not to pass a class.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

P.S. Don't forget about the machine that allowed Steve to have the ability to read other people's minds in the final season although I believe that the real purpose of that machine was to help you remember things better. I believe the final season is also when Steve created the wrist watch looking time machine gadget. He was able to take Carl back to when the Winslow house was first bought.

Yes, they were transported to Paris, I haf the two locations mixed up. Thank you!

There was just too much going on. I remember when he was able to read minds - good episode, but still off limits.

His inventions could have been used in episodes where a character is dreaming or something. Sitcoms has a lot of that.

[Furienna]

Originally Posted by Jessica

Steve Urkel became my favorite character and is what made me interested to watch the show. He did not ruin the show, in my opinion, but the focus on him that grew through the years and his inventions certainly did.

The Winslows was a very likable family and the characters were easy to follow and care about. I think the show definitely got better after Steve Urkel was introduced, but shouldn't have become the main focus. He was great as the annoying neighbor, and could easily have maintained his popularity by being the side character who appears in every episode.

Steve's inventions is what ruined it for me the most. It started early, with the Urkel robot and that jetpack he made to pass a class in school, but it was quite OK and not too much (except that the robot got a mind of his own...)

In season 5, it got too much though, when he makes this potion to become Stefan. Like some previous posts here have said: The addition of Urkel characters was terrible, and Stefan was no exception. It was now that it was confirmed that this wasn't a show about an ordinary family in Chicago anymore, it was a sci-fi show and definitely no longer Harriet's show.

Steve then created the transformation chamber which can turn anyone in to anybody they liked, if done correctly. Carl tried out this machine once and turned into an "Urkel" himself.

Later Steve successfully clones himself, so now he can miraculously make his clone to Stefan so that he can become his own person.

Ïn season 6, Urkel and the Winslows teleports themselves to Disney World! Because, of course, Steve buildt a teleportation machine that can take them wherever they want.

The original world of Family Matters was supposed to be like the way we know it - It was supposed to be the real world. Transformations and teleportation devices are not humanly possible, and this show was not relatable any longer. It remains a favorite and has some terrific episodes inbetween inventions even in later seasons, but it went too far.

It seems like the inventions became a deal-breaker to many viewers. I don't really mind them though, because of three reasons.

1: All of this was a gradual process, like you explained yourself. They started out with a few minor semi-realistic inventions, like a robot and the jet-pack. And it made sense to continue from there, with a few more outlandish inventions.
2: Steve is one of my favorite characters on the show, so I don't mind when the focus is on him.
3: Many of these "sci fi" episodes managed to be funny to me, even if they of course weren't terribly realistic. But often, there would be another more realistic plotline going on in the same episode anyway.

[Jessica]

Originally Posted by Furienna

It seems like the inventions became a deal-breaker to many viewers. I don't really mind them though, because of three reasons.

1: All of this was a gradual process, like you explained yourself. They started out with a few minor semi-realistic inventions, like a robot and the jet-pack. And it made sense to continue from there, with a few more outlandish inventions.
2: Steve is one of my favorite characters on the show, so I don't mind when the focus is on him.
3: Many of these "sci fi" episodes managed to be funny to me, even if they of course weren't terribly realistic. But often, there would be another more realistic plotline going on in the same episode anyway.

I agree with some of that. Steve remains my favorite on the show and I enjoy episode that are about him and what he goes through. I still enjoy the episodes and plots where he uses his inventions, but I still think they went a little too far with it.

Yes, he did develop his inventions gradually, which is way better than to start with those incredible machines in later seasons. I think it could have toned down after his transformation chamber though. That was advanced enough.

[Superswiper]

Steve Urkel himself didn't ruin the show. His overexposure did. They could have just changed the name of the show to Urkel Matters later on, because it was clear he became the main star, and wasn't part of the Winslow family.

Urkel's increased focus was the main reason characters like Judy and Rachel were written out. By the end, the only original characters left were Carl, Laura and Eddie. Harriette doesn't count. I like to think of the new Harriette as Carl being divorced from the old one, and marrying another woman also named Harriette.

[Jessica]

Originally Posted by Superswiper

Steve Urkel himself didn't ruin the show. His overexposure did. They could have just changed the name of the show to Urkel Matters later on, because it was clear he became the main star, and wasn't part of the Winslow family.

Urkel's increased focus was the main reason characters like Judy and Rachel were written out. By the end, the only original characters left were Carl, Laura and Eddie. Harriette doesn't count. I like to think of the new Harriette as Carl being divorced from the old one, and marrying another woman also named Harriette.

Yeah, that's how I saw it too. Although I love Urkel, the overerxposure was too much. It wasn't good at all to replace Harriette.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Superswiper

Steve Urkel himself didn't ruin the show. His overexposure did. They could have just changed the name of the show to Urkel Matters later on, because it was clear he became the main star, and wasn't part of the Winslow family.

Urkel's increased focus was the main reason characters like Judy and Rachel were written out. By the end, the only original characters left were Carl, Laura and Eddie.

Yes. "Urkel Matters" would have been a much more appropriate title.

Harriette doesn't count. I like to think of the new Harriette as Carl being divorced from the old one, and marrying another woman also named Harriette.

I had given up on the show before Harriette was even replaced by Pod Person Harriette.

[Superswiper]

Originally Posted by Jessica

Yeah, that's how I saw it too. Although I love Urkel, the overerxposure was too much. It wasn't good at all to replace Harriette.

To be honest, I think they could have done a few episodes with Urkel entirely absent. He appeared in every single episode after his introduction. But then again, maybe that would cause the ratings to suffer too?

[Jessica]

Originally Posted by Superswiper

To be honest, I think they could have done a few episodes with Urkel entirely absent. He appeared in every single episode after his introduction. But then again, maybe that would cause the ratings to suffer too?

The ratings might have gotten lower if Steve had been absent in some episodes. However, I don't think the views and ratings would be affected if they had skipped all the additional Urkel characters. It would have been just fine without them.

[Furienna]

Originally Posted by Superswiper

To be honest, I think they could have done a few episodes with Urkel entirely absent. He appeared in every single episode after his introduction. But then again, maybe that would cause the ratings to suffer too?

That was never going to happen. Steve was, whether you like it not, the star of the show, and there was no way, that they would make even one episode without him.

[Superswiper]

Okay, I've started compiling a list of episodes where Steve isn't the main focus.

I'll just skip Season 1, because the only episodes in that season where he's the main focus are "The Big Fix" and "In a Jam". So let's start with Season 2:

Episode 4: Flashpants - This is a Carl and Harriette episode.

Episode 5: The Crash Course - This one goes to Eddie and Carl, even though Steve plays a notable role in it too.

Episode 9: Dedicated to the One I Love - Another Carl and Harriette episode.

Episode 14: Ice Station Winslow - Another Eddie and Carl episode. Steve is there with them too, but he just tags along.

Episode 15: Son - Carl and Eddie yet again.

Episode 16: Do the Right Thing - This one belongs to Carl.

Episode 19: Busted - Carl and Eddie. Although, Steve plays a notable part too.

Episode 22: Finding the Words - This one is about Carl, Harriette and Rachel.

Episode 25: I Should Have Done Something - Carl yet again.

These are the results after I skimmed through Season 2 again. Some of these are open to debate, but counting those above, that's 9 out of 25 episodes in Season 2 where Steve isn't the main focus (or one of the main focuses). Carl and Eddie had quite a few episodes together, as you can see. There's some Laura episodes in there too, but they are also Steve episodes. I'll do the other seasons soon.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Superswiper

Steve Urkel himself didn't ruin the show. His overexposure did. They could have just changed the name of the show to Urkel Matters later on, because it was clear he became the main star, and wasn't part of the Winslow family.

Urkel's increased focus was the main reason characters like Judy and Rachel were written out. By the end, the only original characters left were Carl, Laura and Eddie. Harriette doesn't count. I like to think of the new Harriette as Carl being divorced from the old one, and marrying another woman also named Harriette.

https://screenrant.com/tv-shows-seri...edium=referral

Family Matters was just your average, everyday sitcom for a few episodes. The Winslow family would go through struggles every week, but come together again by the end of the episode to enter the next one with a fresh start.

Then, something peculiar happened. The Winslow's nerdy neighbor Urkel started visiting. Then Urkel kept coming back. By the second season, Urkel's popularity was so huge that he was upgraded to a full-time cast member. Eventually, Steve Urkel became the main character of the series despite the show ostensibly being about the Winslow family. The plotlines about a down-to-earth family started getting substituted with stories about cloning machines and "cool juice," and in the end, people associate Family Matters with one stand-out character, Steve Urkel, and little else.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by JO Sweet Heart

^^^ I don't think that his obsession was creepy. If anything, he loved her and he showed his love for her in so many ways. When Steve approached Ted and said "Laura wants to go with you and all that I care about is her happiness.", that pretty much sealed the deal in my opinion. I love to watch Laura and Steve dance at the end of that episode. He most definitely did not see it coming, Laura saying, "This dance is for the one guy who has always treated me like a queen: Steve Urkel."

God bless you always!!!

Holly

P.S. Actually, his feelings were shown even earlier in the show. He approached Ted in a season four episode. In a season two episode he approaches the school bully named Willy Fuffner and said, "Not only have you insulted me, but you have sullied the reputation on my lady love!" And then he slapped Willy right in his face.

I'm assuming that Urkel’s stalking was played for laughs impart because he was depicted as being no physical threat to his victim. The problem is he was also depicted as a genius who, at one point, was using a motion detector to track his victim’s entire family, going so far as to chart how often her parents had sex. This too was played for laughs.

Miller-Boyett Productions tried to tried to recreate that humor on Step by Step with a cousin having an equally persistent and unrequited obsession with one of the daughters on the show. That subplot didn’t last long because the actor was a good foot taller than the woman he was stalking. The disturbed and threatening nature of the harassment became very uncomfortable very fast.

[julian bozo]

Miller-Boyett Productions tried to tried to recreate that humor on Step by Step with a cousin having an equally persistent and unrequited obsession with one of the daughters on the show. That subplot didn’t last long because the actor was a good foot taller than the woman he was stalking. The disturbed and threatening nature of the harassment became very uncomfortable very fast.[/QUOTE]

What daughter was that? Which episode?
I know I am off topic. Anyway, Urkel was great.
He did not ruin the show. He added to it.Stefan was silly.
That was silly having Urkel chance into another person.

[RockyMountain]

Yeah if Urkel never appeared this show would have probably only lasted two or three seasons and would likely have been all but forgotten by now. Urkel is the reason we have people making YouTube videos about trying to find the house in the series.

I agree that things went too far but at the same time I understand why they went that direction. None of the other characters really had much of a hook. They really weren't that funny on their own. The show needed Urkel in order to make the laughs work so in that regard I can understand why they turned it into the Urkel show.

As far as Steve and Laura getting together I can't help but wonder if that was put into the show because Myra's screen time had to start being decreased because that was when Michelle Thomas was becoming I'll. If Michelle hadn't started having health issues I wonder it Steve and Myra would have ended the series together?

[TMC]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yes, Urkel ruined Family Matters. By about Season Four it was clear that the Winslow Family didn't matter.

It's pretty safe to say that towards the end (after switching networks for its final season) the series was simply a setup for the actors to feed Jaleel White’s Urkel character funny lines.