Family Matters/Happy Days - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

SimpsonsFan · 02-27-2005, 02:54 PM

Family Matters is alot like Happy Days.

1. Produced by the same people (Miller/Bickley)
2. Small character takes over show (Fonzie/Urkel)
3. Child mysteriously disappears (Chuck/Judy)
4. Big father gets annoyed by, then stands up for lead character (Mr. C./Carl)
5. 4 buddies hang-out with each other (Fonzie,Potsie,Ralph,Richie/Steve,Eddie,Waldo,Weasal-althouh he didn't last long)

Urkel_2003 · 03-04-2005, 04:44 PM

some more similarities are

Both the Fonz and Urkel eventually ended up moving in with the Families on the series. (Although the Fonz moved in with the Cunninghams early in the series, and Urkel moved in with the Winslows later in the series)

In both Series during the last season there wasn't that many original charachters left

Happy Days: Mr. C, Mrs. C, , Joanie, Fonzie

Family Matters: Steve, Carl, Eddie, Laura

GCW · 03-05-2005, 10:53 AM

Also the actor/character who was supposed to be the focus ended up leaving the show.

Happy Days - Ron Howard (Richie)
Family Matters - JoMarie Payton (Harriette #1) (although her character was replaced the original Harriette who spun off "Perfect Strangers" left.

SimpsonsFan · 03-11-2005, 05:42 PM

another similarity is that they are both long-running ABC sitcoms

Happy Days-11 seasons
Family Matters-9 seasons-although ABC canceled it after 8

hughpuppies · 03-12-2005, 05:56 AM

More similarities.

Fonzie was a ladies man and loved himself/Eddie was a ladies man and loved himself.

Potsie wasn't to bright/Waldo wasn't to bright.

Richie was supposed to be smart/Steve was smart.

Never showed Potsie's Parents least I never seen them/Never showed Steve's parents. (correct me if I am wrong on never showing Potsie's parents)

Cunnningham's did not have a pet/Winslow's did not have a pet(dog does not count since it was only one episode.)

Potsie could dance/Waldo could dance.

Cunningham's had Arnolds to hang out/Winslows had Rachael's Place to hang out.

Cunningham kids were in school when show started and then graduated/Winsows kids were in school then eventually graduated.

Cunningham's owned Cunningham hardware/Winslow's part owners of Rachael's Place both owned a business.

Cunningham's had 2 kids boy then girl/Winslow's had to kids boy then girl

Happy days had Ralph who liked to play practicle jokes/Family Matters had Rodney who loved to play practicle jokes.

ugotitdude · 03-25-2005, 02:23 PM

both shows had a heavy-set, quick-tempered, yet lovable father:
Howard Cunningham/Carl Winslow

Fonzie spent Christmas at the Cunningham's so he wouldn't be alone on the 2nd season of Happy Days/Urkel spent Christmas with the Winslows so he wouldn't be alone on the 2nd season of Family Matters

Chachi accidentally burnt down Arnold's and it was rebuilt/Urkel accidentally burnt down Leroy's and it was rebuilt as Rachel's Place

characters with rhyming first and last names: Ralph Malph/Waldo Faldo

(I think the reason the two shows were similar is that they shared some of the same writers and producers)

tiff7 · 03-25-2005, 04:59 PM

Very neat & also very true information! HD & FM are very similar1

Tiff7

http://www.freewebs.com/tiff_lisatony7/

SimpsonsFan · 04-10-2005, 01:27 PM

another similarity is that the youngest daughter on both shows get annoyed by, then fall in love with a certain character
HD-Joanie couldn't stand Chachi, then they fall in love and get married
FM-Laura couldn't stand Steve, then they fall in love and are engaged to be married

SimpsonsFan · 04-14-2005, 04:31 PM

another similarity is that the theme songs changed
HD-Rock Around The Clock then Happy Days
FM-What A Wonderful World then As Days Go By

SimpsonsFan · 04-17-2005, 05:31 PM

Eddie/Fonzie had many girlfriends but finally settled down with one girl.
Fonzie-Ashley
Eddie-Greta

SimpsonsFan · 06-07-2005, 08:09 AM

Steve had a dance contest/Fonzie had a dance contest

Winslows had a dog for 1 eps/Fonzie had a dog for a couple eps

When Carl's back went out he was forced to hang off a door to get it fixed/when Mrs. C's back went out, she was forced to hang off a door to get it fixed

Steve went on jury and proved the suspect was innocent/Fonzie went on jury and proved a suspect was innocent.

Yeah I'm pretty sure the eps are similar because they were written/produced by same people.

Any more additions,comments,questions, or corrections?

GCW · 07-14-2005, 10:56 AM

In both shows the audience applaused loudly for the star of the show everytime they entered the room.

FM - Steve Urkel
HD - The Fonz

SimpsonsFan · 07-15-2005, 09:50 AM

Disappearing child played by different people: Judy-played buy Valerie Jones, then Jaimee Foxworth, Chuck placyed by 3 different actors on HD. FM had a geek party eps, HD had a geek party eps.

HDFan · 09-09-2005, 11:04 PM

Urkel's parents were never around for him just as Fonzi's parents abandoned him.

SimpsonsFan · 09-12-2005, 07:56 AM

characters with funny nicknames

Alex Park-"Weasel"
Warren Webber-"Potsie"

02-27-2005, 02:54 PM	#1
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	Family Matters/Happy Days Family Matters is alot like Happy Days. 1. Produced by the same people (Miller/Bickley) 2. Small character takes over show (Fonzie/Urkel) 3. Child mysteriously disappears (Chuck/Judy) 4. Big father gets annoyed by, then stands up for lead character (Mr. C./Carl) 5. 4 buddies hang-out with each other (Fonzie,Potsie,Ralph,Richie/Steve,Eddie,Waldo,Weasal-althouh he didn't last long)
	__________________ I miss Urkel, 3rd Rock, and the old Simpsons!

03-12-2005, 05:56 AM	#5
hughpuppies Melanie Bernhardt Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 13, 2004 Location: wished I was with the lady in the above picture Posts: 705	More similarities. Fonzie was a ladies man and loved himself/Eddie was a ladies man and loved himself. Potsie wasn't to bright/Waldo wasn't to bright. Richie was supposed to be smart/Steve was smart. Never showed Potsie's Parents least I never seen them/Never showed Steve's parents. (correct me if I am wrong on never showing Potsie's parents) Cunnningham's did not have a pet/Winslow's did not have a pet(dog does not count since it was only one episode.) Potsie could dance/Waldo could dance. Cunningham's had Arnolds to hang out/Winslows had Rachael's Place to hang out. Cunningham kids were in school when show started and then graduated/Winsows kids were in school then eventually graduated. Cunningham's owned Cunningham hardware/Winslow's part owners of Rachael's Place both owned a business. Cunningham's had 2 kids boy then girl/Winslow's had to kids boy then girl Happy days had Ralph who liked to play practicle jokes/Family Matters had Rodney who loved to play practicle jokes.
	__________________ I hope to one day meet Melanie Bernhardt who played Kathy Gordon in 4 Different Strokes episodes.(girl in the wheel chair)

03-04-2005, 04:44 PM	#2
Urkel_2003 Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 22, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 167	some more similarities are Both the Fonz and Urkel eventually ended up moving in with the Families on the series. (Although the Fonz moved in with the Cunninghams early in the series, and Urkel moved in with the Winslows later in the series) In both Series during the last season there wasn't that many original charachters left Happy Days: Mr. C, Mrs. C, , Joanie, Fonzie Family Matters: Steve, Carl, Eddie, Laura

03-05-2005, 10:53 AM	#3
GCW Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 708	Also the actor/character who was supposed to be the focus ended up leaving the show. Happy Days - Ron Howard (Richie) Family Matters - JoMarie Payton (Harriette #1) (although her character was replaced the original Harriette who spun off "Perfect Strangers" left.

03-11-2005, 05:42 PM	#4
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	another similarity is that they are both long-running ABC sitcoms Happy Days-11 seasons Family Matters-9 seasons-although ABC canceled it after 8

03-25-2005, 02:23 PM	#6
ugotitdude Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 27, 2004 Posts: 511	both shows had a heavy-set, quick-tempered, yet lovable father: Howard Cunningham/Carl Winslow Fonzie spent Christmas at the Cunningham's so he wouldn't be alone on the 2nd season of Happy Days/Urkel spent Christmas with the Winslows so he wouldn't be alone on the 2nd season of Family Matters Chachi accidentally burnt down Arnold's and it was rebuilt/Urkel accidentally burnt down Leroy's and it was rebuilt as Rachel's Place characters with rhyming first and last names: Ralph Malph/Waldo Faldo (I think the reason the two shows were similar is that they shared some of the same writers and producers)

03-25-2005, 04:59 PM	#7
tiff7 wdwdisneylandnut4life Senior Member Join Date: Jul 26, 2001 Location: Erie, IL Posts: 2,012	Very neat & also very true information! HD & FM are very similar1 Tiff7 http://www.freewebs.com/tiff_lisatony7/

04-10-2005, 01:27 PM	#8
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	another similarity is that the youngest daughter on both shows get annoyed by, then fall in love with a certain character HD-Joanie couldn't stand Chachi, then they fall in love and get married FM-Laura couldn't stand Steve, then they fall in love and are engaged to be married

04-14-2005, 04:31 PM	#9
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	another similarity is that the theme songs changed HD-Rock Around The Clock then Happy Days FM-What A Wonderful World then As Days Go By

04-17-2005, 05:31 PM	#10
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	Eddie/Fonzie had many girlfriends but finally settled down with one girl. Fonzie-Ashley Eddie-Greta

06-07-2005, 08:09 AM	#11
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	Steve had a dance contest/Fonzie had a dance contest Winslows had a dog for 1 eps/Fonzie had a dog for a couple eps When Carl's back went out he was forced to hang off a door to get it fixed/when Mrs. C's back went out, she was forced to hang off a door to get it fixed Steve went on jury and proved the suspect was innocent/Fonzie went on jury and proved a suspect was innocent. Yeah I'm pretty sure the eps are similar because they were written/produced by same people. Any more additions,comments,questions, or corrections?

07-14-2005, 10:56 AM	#12
GCW Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 708	In both shows the audience applaused loudly for the star of the show everytime they entered the room. FM - Steve Urkel HD - The Fonz

07-15-2005, 09:50 AM	#13
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	Disappearing child played by different people: Judy-played buy Valerie Jones, then Jaimee Foxworth, Chuck placyed by 3 different actors on HD. FM had a geek party eps, HD had a geek party eps.

09-09-2005, 11:04 PM	#14
HDFan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 09, 2005 Posts: 6	Urkel's parents were never around for him just as Fonzi's parents abandoned him.

09-12-2005, 07:56 AM	#15
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	characters with funny nicknames Alex Park-"Weasel" Warren Webber-"Potsie"