Do you think this show would have lasted to 1998 if there never - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 09-26-2004, 02:17 PM

a Steve Urkel character? I think it could have because you don't need a IDIOT to have success in ratings. It would just been a Sitcom simliar to Fresh Prince with to parents, and 4 kids with visits from other relatives.

jamesanthony · 09-26-2004, 05:20 PM

I seriously doubt this show would have even made it into a 2nd season without Steve Urkel. There was nothing unique enough about any of the family members. Steve was different and viewers either loved him or hated him, but he gave the show a marquee name and they rode on it for most of the 90s. Even people who never watched the show knew who Steve Urkel was.

Mr. Television · 09-26-2004, 06:55 PM

I don't think it would have last that long without Urkel. I watched it from the beginning but I was beginning to lose interest until he joined the cast.

Brent88 · 09-27-2004, 02:44 PM

No way.

TVFactFan · 09-27-2004, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brent88
No way.

Waldo and Weasel could have been the clowns if there wasn;t any Steve Urkel

Mr. Monitor · 09-27-2004, 11:40 PM

Like it or not, Steve Urkel is a cultural icon that will forever be etched in people's minds. The show owes much of it's success to that character played brilliantly by Jaleel White though taking nothing away from the other cast members who were also great.

Family Matters had a great run and is one of the most popular and longest running African American comedies ever next to The Jeffersons and The Cosby Show.

spunkygirl · 09-28-2004, 03:23 AM

Nope, the show was boring and I think it would have been cancelled if not for Steve coming along. Not to take anything away from the great actors of the show

combsisthebest · 09-28-2004, 09:41 AM

No way, and not to say anything bad about the other actors because they were also the reason the show lasted. The way the cast interacts with Steve Urkel made the show funny.

felicitylen · 09-28-2004, 09:46 AM

I don't think it would have lasted without Steve Urkel. He was the reason for the show, maybe not the main reason. He made the show what it was.

Days Go By · 09-28-2004, 10:40 PM

Nope, no way. However, I think it would have been a better show if they didn't blow the Urkel character out of proportion.

misterblowhole · 10-22-2004, 10:54 PM

Well, all you have to do is look at the simple facts:

When FM first hit the air, Urkel wasn't even on the show. He doesn't even appear until episode 12, and then it's only as a guest star.

Remember that FM was originally conceived as a spin-off for Harriet Winslow's carachter from Perfect Strangers. The show was originally revolved around Harriet and the Winslow family, and Urkel was nothing more than the crazy kid next door who appeared in an episode here and there.

But it didn't take long for the Urkel carachter to catch on, and from there, the whole show was quickly refocused to make him one of the stars -- if not the top star -- of the show.

GeorgiaboyJeff! · 10-23-2004, 09:11 PM

Personally I don't think this show would have made it past 2nd season. I mean none of the other characters had enough substance. I mean Eddie & Laura wouldn't even be funny if there was no Steve.

USTVFanFromUK · 11-07-2004, 09:02 PM

The show was never a big ratings hit anyway. I think ABC just kept it to appeal to a younger audience.

TVFactFan · 11-07-2004, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by USTVFanFromUK
The show was never a big ratings hit anyway. I think ABC just kept it to appeal to a younger audience.

Yeah i think the highest the show was ranked was #25 to #30

spunkygirl · 11-07-2004, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by USTVFanFromUK
The show was never a big ratings hit anyway. I think ABC just kept it to appeal to a younger audience.

Sorry I really doubt that. If it was bombing in the ratings, they wouldn't have kept it around no matter what

09-26-2004, 02:17 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,067	Do you think this show would have lasted to 1998 if there never a Steve Urkel character? I think it could have because you don't need a IDIOT to have success in ratings. It would just been a Sitcom simliar to Fresh Prince with to parents, and 4 kids with visits from other relatives.

09-27-2004, 02:44 PM	#4
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	No way.
	__________________ Brent

09-26-2004, 05:20 PM	#2
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	I seriously doubt this show would have even made it into a 2nd season without Steve Urkel. There was nothing unique enough about any of the family members. Steve was different and viewers either loved him or hated him, but he gave the show a marquee name and they rode on it for most of the 90s. Even people who never watched the show knew who Steve Urkel was.

09-26-2004, 06:55 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I don't think it would have last that long without Urkel. I watched it from the beginning but I was beginning to lose interest until he joined the cast.
	__________________ Sonny

09-27-2004, 11:40 PM	#6
Mr. Monitor Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 27, 2004 Posts: 402	Like it or not, Steve Urkel is a cultural icon that will forever be etched in people's minds. The show owes much of it's success to that character played brilliantly by Jaleel White though taking nothing away from the other cast members who were also great. Family Matters had a great run and is one of the most popular and longest running African American comedies ever next to The Jeffersons and The Cosby Show.

09-28-2004, 03:23 AM	#7
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	Nope, the show was boring and I think it would have been cancelled if not for Steve coming along. Not to take anything away from the great actors of the show

09-28-2004, 09:41 AM	#8
combsisthebest Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 04, 2004 Posts: 292	No way, and not to say anything bad about the other actors because they were also the reason the show lasted. The way the cast interacts with Steve Urkel made the show funny.

09-28-2004, 09:46 AM	#9
felicitylen Keep Austin WEIRD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 17, 2003 Location: Hook 'em Horns Posts: 1,606	I don't think it would have lasted without Steve Urkel. He was the reason for the show, maybe not the main reason. He made the show what it was.

09-28-2004, 10:40 PM	#10
Days Go By Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 17, 2004 Posts: 9	Nope, no way. However, I think it would have been a better show if they didn't blow the Urkel character out of proportion.

10-22-2004, 10:54 PM	#11
misterblowhole Mack Zorris Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 02, 2000 Location: Edmoton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 194	Well, all you have to do is look at the simple facts: When FM first hit the air, Urkel wasn't even on the show. He doesn't even appear until episode 12, and then it's only as a guest star. Remember that FM was originally conceived as a spin-off for Harriet Winslow's carachter from Perfect Strangers. The show was originally revolved around Harriet and the Winslow family, and Urkel was nothing more than the crazy kid next door who appeared in an episode here and there. But it didn't take long for the Urkel carachter to catch on, and from there, the whole show was quickly refocused to make him one of the stars -- if not the top star -- of the show.

10-23-2004, 09:11 PM	#12
GeorgiaboyJeff! Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 25, 2002 Posts: 664	Personally I don't think this show would have made it past 2nd season. I mean none of the other characters had enough substance. I mean Eddie & Laura wouldn't even be funny if there was no Steve.

11-07-2004, 09:02 PM	#13
USTVFanFromUK Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 553	The show was never a big ratings hit anyway. I think ABC just kept it to appeal to a younger audience.