Why didn't they spin Urkel off? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GARFIELDKOOL · 06-11-2005, 09:10 AM

They sure should have. Family Matters over the years turned into the Urkel Show, if you ask me. By focusing on him, he ruined a decent show. I actually like season 1 the best when they focused on the family. Even Judy had some screen time. FM was good until about 1993. It wasn't worth watching after that. It was too much Urkel show. And that Stephan sh*it got on my nerves! That was corny. From what I know, Jo Marie Payton France had animosity towards Jaleel White. Can you balme her?! This was her show, her character was spun off of Perfect Strangers and she took a back seat to this cartoon character!

Mr. Monitor · 06-11-2005, 08:58 PM

Well I agree with you to an extent.

They could've scaled back Jaleel's role a bit thereby allowing the other characters to grow and develop even further. But at the same time, Family Matters wouldn't have lasted as long as it did without the 'Steve Urkel' character. Like it or not, the character was very popular during that time- not to mention very profitable. People wanted to see Steve Urkel which allowed Family Matters to enjoy high ratings and crossover success but I agree that they oversaturated Jaleel White's role throughout the series run.

Gabgirl · 06-12-2005, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

They sure should have. Family Matters over the years turned into the Urkel Show, if you ask me. By focusing on him, he ruined a decent show. I actually like season 1 the best when they focused on the family. Even Judy had some screen time. FM was good until about 1993. It wasn't worth watching after that. It was too much Urkel show. And that Stephan sh*it got on my nerves! That was corny. From what I know, Jo Marie Payton France had animosity towards Jaleel White. Can you balme her?! This was her show, her character was spun off of Perfect Strangers and she took a back seat to this cartoon character!

Hmm, that really did ruin Family Matters after they started to primarily focus on Urkel. Don't get me wrong, I started out liking the Urkel character when he was just a guest star, but after they made him the focal point...the premise of the show just went out the door. I've always wanted to see a E!True Hollywood story on this show, because there was so much that had to go on behind the scenes that was NOT pretty. I mean, they went from a show about Harriet and her family, to basically having them all play second fiddle to some clumsy nerd. It got so bad the show was rarely referred by its name, people would just say "I'm going to go watch Urkel". The show was rarely referred to as Family Matters. Then it got even worse when they added all those alter ego characters Jaleel White was playing(Stephan, Myrtle, etc). I don't know if TPTB felt a show featuring a black family(that wasn't Cosby) couldn't make it without all the buffonery, or what...but it was clear the change had to cause problems on the set. I'm sure Jo Marie Payton took it for as long as she could before she walked. I don't blame Jaleel per se, because he didn't ask for this to happen...the real problem was with those who created the series. They never should've taken this show and switched its premise just for the sake of ratings.

As for the question, No....I really don't think Urkel should've had his own show. Just like people got bored with him on FM...it would've happened just the same if he offically had his own sitcom. To be honest, he probably wouldn't have lasted more than a couple of seasons.

troopoleon8897 · 06-12-2005, 02:08 PM

Im Not Against What Yor Saying But You Cant Say The Show was Not Good Because i wouldn't have been on the air for their complete run that it did had i realize that you don't perfure the later series but you have to realize that it only survived because of this and some people had to enjoy it because it was on for that long.

GARFIELDKOOL · 06-12-2005, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troopoleon8897

Im Not Against What Yor Saying But You Cant Say The Show was Not Good Because i wouldn't have been on the air for their complete run that it did had i realize that you don't perfure the later series but you have to realize that it only survived because of this and some people had to enjoy it because it was on for that long.

Not to be rude, but that sounds like baby talk. You misspelled some words too.

troopoleon8897 · 06-12-2005, 03:56 PM

I know i was just in a hurry and it is so hot out that i just wanted to get off the computer so my wording didn't come out very right

dave insinga · 06-12-2005, 04:00 PM

a spin off show wouldn't have worked unless it was eary on if they spun him off at the end of that series it would have flopped.People were sick of that character by the end of the 9th season the only time it worked was FRAZIER
which wasn't as good as cheers.Urkei had a good run be happy with that.

Brent88 · 06-12-2005, 05:11 PM

They would have had to do it early(like right after he first appeared), because by the time the show ended, he was too old for the Urkel character(he really was the last couple of years), that's why they created Stefan and all the other variations of him.

Mr. Television · 06-12-2005, 05:18 PM

By the time the show ended it was his show anyway. Their was no need for a spin-off.

Gabgirl · 06-12-2005, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

By the time the show ended it was his show anyway. Their was no need for a spin-off.

EXACTLY!!!

SimpsonsFan · 06-14-2005, 08:50 AM

Steve was funny mainly because of the characters he annoyed (Carl,Laura,Eddie), Florence was funny on The Jeffersons mainly because of George, they tried giving Florence her own spin-off show, but it only lasted 4 eps, because she just wasn't funny w/o George, if Steve got his own spin-off, we probably would have gotten the same result.

Sailormoonfan44 · 06-18-2005, 02:49 PM

The Sci-Fi episode are perfect for the Urkel Show!

GCW · 06-20-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpsonsFan

Steve was funny mainly because of the characters he annoyed (Carl,Laura,Eddie), Florence was funny on The Jeffersons mainly because of George, they tried giving Florence her own spin-off show, but it only lasted 4 eps, because she just wasn't funny w/o George, if Steve got his own spin-off, we probably would have gotten the same result.

Yeah this is true I laughed more at the character's reactions to him than I did at Urkel himself.

SimpsonsFan · 06-22-2005, 10:02 AM

If he got his own spin-off show, it would have ruined FM early on.

06-11-2005, 09:10 AM	#1
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	Why didn't they spin Urkel off? They sure should have. Family Matters over the years turned into the Urkel Show, if you ask me. By focusing on him, he ruined a decent show. I actually like season 1 the best when they focused on the family. Even Judy had some screen time. FM was good until about 1993. It wasn't worth watching after that. It was too much Urkel show. And that Stephan sh*it got on my nerves! That was corny. From what I know, Jo Marie Payton France had animosity towards Jaleel White. Can you balme her?! This was her show, her character was spun off of Perfect Strangers and she took a back seat to this cartoon character!

06-12-2005, 02:08 PM	#4
troopoleon8897 Let's Go!! Senior Member Join Date: Jun 28, 2004 Location: Not Hell, But the same Zip Code Posts: 1,751	Im Not Against What Yor Saying But You Cant Say The Show was Not Good Because i wouldn't have been on the air for their complete run that it did had i realize that you don't perfure the later series but you have to realize that it only survived because of this and some people had to enjoy it because it was on for that long.
	__________________ 2006 TV DVD Wish List The Wonder Years - Seasons 1 & 2 .11.07.06. In each life some rain falls, but you also get some Sun... My DVDs

06-12-2005, 04:00 PM	#7
dave insinga Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 19, 2005 Posts: 590	the show ran too long to spin urkel a spin off show wouldn't have worked unless it was eary on if they spun him off at the end of that series it would have flopped.People were sick of that character by the end of the 9th season the only time it worked was FRAZIER which wasn't as good as cheers.Urkei had a good run be happy with that.

06-12-2005, 05:11 PM	#8
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	They would have had to do it early(like right after he first appeared), because by the time the show ended, he was too old for the Urkel character(he really was the last couple of years), that's why they created Stefan and all the other variations of him.
	__________________ Brent

06-12-2005, 05:18 PM	#9
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	By the time the show ended it was his show anyway. Their was no need for a spin-off.
	__________________ Sonny

06-11-2005, 08:58 PM	#2
Mr. Monitor Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 27, 2004 Posts: 402	Well I agree with you to an extent. They could've scaled back Jaleel's role a bit thereby allowing the other characters to grow and develop even further. But at the same time, Family Matters wouldn't have lasted as long as it did without the 'Steve Urkel' character. Like it or not, the character was very popular during that time- not to mention very profitable. People wanted to see Steve Urkel which allowed Family Matters to enjoy high ratings and crossover success but I agree that they oversaturated Jaleel White's role throughout the series run.

06-12-2005, 03:56 PM	#6
troopoleon8897 Let's Go!! Senior Member Join Date: Jun 28, 2004 Location: Not Hell, But the same Zip Code Posts: 1,751	I know i was just in a hurry and it is so hot out that i just wanted to get off the computer so my wording didn't come out very right

06-14-2005, 08:50 AM	#11
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	Steve was funny mainly because of the characters he annoyed (Carl,Laura,Eddie), Florence was funny on The Jeffersons mainly because of George, they tried giving Florence her own spin-off show, but it only lasted 4 eps, because she just wasn't funny w/o George, if Steve got his own spin-off, we probably would have gotten the same result.
	__________________ I miss Urkel, 3rd Rock, and the old Simpsons!

06-18-2005, 02:49 PM	#12
Sailormoonfan44 Sailor Moon's Fan Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 12, 2005 Location: Olando, Florida Posts: 30	The Sci-Fi episode are perfect for the Urkel Show!
	__________________ Don't have a cow! Have a cookie!

06-22-2005, 10:02 AM	#14
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	If he got his own spin-off show, it would have ruined FM early on.