Do you think that the rest of the cast was resentful of Jaleel? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PrettyinPink55 · 01-29-2009, 02:54 AM

I mean, the show first started out about The Winslow family, and slowly, season by season progressed into "the Steve Urkel show," it's safe to say. I mean, almost every episode in the later seasons was about Steve and one of his inventions going wrong.
And I know that Jaleel was originally set to be a guest start, right? But the audience liked him so much that he became a regular. He wasn't even in the first couple of episodes...without him, it's a completely different show!!!

Do you think that the cast resented Jaleel or the writers for making him the main character, or giving his character such emphasis when the show seemed to start off on a completely different premise? The show was still about The Winslows, but mostly, it was about Steve and Laura and Steve and Carl and Steve and Eddie and Steve and Estelle. It was still a family show, but it seemed to be more focused on Steve and his relationship with The Winslows.

What do you guys think?

DSfan · 01-29-2009, 04:43 PM

It's definitely a possibility. JoMarie Payton-France ended up leaving the show midway through its last season so we can assume she was upset throughout the show. With the others though, I guess it didn't really matter as long as they were still being paid. However, they might have been upset that their characters were not as popular.

Lorimar Television · 01-29-2009, 09:12 PM

I don't think that they were mad at Jaleel. I think the cast was mad at the writers for completely changing the show to center all around him.

PrettyinPink55 · 01-30-2009, 12:08 AM

I never thought about them blaming the writers! It's just something that I've always wondered about.
And Jaleel probably got paid more than the other actors, right?
Anyone know of any other backstage controversies of the show, besides the two Harriets? I am always interested in this type of stuff lol!!!

By the way, anyone else think they could've done a better job casting the 2nd Harriet? She was nothing at all like the first!!! She was so much more soft-spoken...it just didn't work for me...

GeorgiaboyJeff! · 01-30-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

By the way, anyone else think they could've done a better job casting the 2nd Harriet? She was nothing at all like the first!!! She was so much more soft-spoken...it just didn't work for me...

I know it reminds me a lot of how they replaced Vivian on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. They replaced both moms with a light skin soft spoken woman who wasn't as nearly as good as an actress as the ones before them were..

GCW · 02-07-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

I never thought about them blaming the writers! It's just something that I've always wondered about.
And Jaleel probably got paid more than the other actors, right?
Anyone know of any other backstage controversies of the show, besides the two Harriets? I am always interested in this type of stuff lol!!!

By the way, anyone else think they could've done a better job casting the 2nd Harriet? She was nothing at all like the first!!! She was so much more soft-spoken...it just didn't work for me...

I read on Urkel.net that Reginald Vel Johnson (Carl) did not like it in the beginining saying he admits his ego was bruised at first but accepted it later on. Also Kellie Shanyae (sp?) Williams (Laura) did not like the focus on Urkel either at first saying her classmates used to ask about Jaleel White (Urkel) but never asking about her character. It did not bother Darius McCary (Eddie) at all, Telma Hopkins (Rachel) accepted it, I don't know how Rosetta LeNoire (Mother Winslow) felt about it, and we all know how JoMarie Payton (Harriette) felt.

And I agree, they did a terrible job casting the second Harriette it is like they did not even try to get a decent replacement, might as well of written her out.

catlover79 · 02-07-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebafan1

I don't think that they were mad at Jaleel. I think the cast was mad at the writers for completely changing the show to center all around him.

If they were, I don't blame them one bit. I think the writers, producers, AND ABC were much more to blame than Jaleel.

Lorimar Television · 02-07-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

If they were, I don't blame them one bit. I think the writers, producers, AND ABC were much more to blame than Jaleel.

I agree. Jaleel was not at fault.

Furienna · 02-20-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GCW

I read on Urkel.net that Reginald Vel Johnson (Carl) did not like it in the beginining saying he admits his ego was bruised at first but accepted it later on. Also Kellie Shanyae (sp?) Williams (Laura) did not like the focus on Urkel either at first saying her classmates used to ask about Jaleel White (Urkel) but never asking about her character. It did not bother Darius McCary (Eddie) at all, Telma Hopkins (Rachel) accepted it, I don't know how Rosetta LeNoire (Mother Winslow) felt about it, and we all know how JoMarie Payton (Harriette) felt.

And I agree, they did a terrible job casting the second Harriette it is like they did not even try to get a decent replacement, might as well of written her out.

Urkel.net? LOL! I have to check that site out some time!

Now, this was interesting information. I have to point out though, that Thelma Hopkins did leave "Family Matters" for another show, so she might not have been so happy either.

Mr. Television · 02-20-2009, 09:41 PM

Well if it wasn't for Jaleel, the show might have only been on a couple years if that long. The show was considered another Cosby clone at first and most critics dismissed it. Ratings were not that great. I'm sure that their might have been some resentment but I think they were very lucky that Jaleel guest starred on an episode and saved the show. I watched the show in its original run and during the first season, I didn't even watch it every week. I considered it the weak link on the TGIF lineup. After Jaleel joined the cast, I never missed a show. I do agree though that the show got more outrageous as the years went on.

Marvo301 · 02-20-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

If they were, I don't blame them one bit. I think the writers, producers, AND ABC were much more to blame than Jaleel.

Actually it was us, the people who watched the show, who were most to blame. Family Matters was struggling with low ratings until Steve Urkel showed up. The ratings increased and the writers, producers, and ABC noticed. So we saw more and more of Urkel. And the stories got more and more Urkelcentric as we continued to watch in large numbers. So if the rest of the cast had a beef it was really with us.

catlover79 · 02-20-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Actually it was us, the people who watched the show, who were most to blame. Family Matters was struggling with low ratings until Steve Urkel showed up. The ratings increased and the writers, producers, and ABC noticed. So we saw more and more of Urkel. And the stories got more and more Urkelcentric as we continued to watch in large numbers. So if the rest of the cast had a beef it was really with us.

That's a very good point, too. As an adult, I much prefer the non-Urkelcentric episodes of FM (in reruns). But as a kid, I was caught up in Urkel's antics. I'm embarrassed about that now.

Mr. Television · 02-20-2009, 10:12 PM

It was the same thing with HD. The first 2 seasons were not very successful and then as soon as Fonzie became a major character, the ratings took off. Maybe some of the cast should look at the HD cast for inspiration. If anyone had a right to be angry about that change it was Ron Howard and he and Henry Winkler became good friends. Chances are if it wasn't for Jaleel, Jo Marie would today be remembered as the elevator operatort on Perfect Strangers.

Marvo301 · 02-20-2009, 10:19 PM

I always thought the Urkel character would have been better in smaller doses. Five or six Urkel episodes a year would have been great and I'm sure very funny. Something we would have all been looking forward to. But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.(I mean I like Pizza but I wouldn't eat it 7 days a week.) In the case of FM and Urkel it was way too much.

Furienna · 02-20-2009, 10:19 PM

Who knows what might have happened, if Steve hadn't come along? But yes, chances are that we wouldn't even remember this show today. Because as much as FM changed from its original premiss over the years, Steve made us watch it and remember it.

01-29-2009, 02:54 AM	#1
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Do you think that the rest of the cast was resentful of Jaleel? I mean, the show first started out about The Winslow family, and slowly, season by season progressed into "the Steve Urkel show," it's safe to say. I mean, almost every episode in the later seasons was about Steve and one of his inventions going wrong. And I know that Jaleel was originally set to be a guest start, right? But the audience liked him so much that he became a regular. He wasn't even in the first couple of episodes...without him, it's a completely different show!!! Do you think that the cast resented Jaleel or the writers for making him the main character, or giving his character such emphasis when the show seemed to start off on a completely different premise? The show was still about The Winslows, but mostly, it was about Steve and Laura and Steve and Carl and Steve and Eddie and Steve and Estelle. It was still a family show, but it seemed to be more focused on Steve and his relationship with The Winslows. What do you guys think?
	__________________ ♥♥♥

01-29-2009, 09:12 PM	#3
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	I don't think that they were mad at Jaleel. I think the cast was mad at the writers for completely changing the show to center all around him.
	__________________ Some of my favorite theme songs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-e...89CsiJpV_irnNw

02-20-2009, 09:41 PM	#10
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Well if it wasn't for Jaleel, the show might have only been on a couple years if that long. The show was considered another Cosby clone at first and most critics dismissed it. Ratings were not that great. I'm sure that their might have been some resentment but I think they were very lucky that Jaleel guest starred on an episode and saved the show. I watched the show in its original run and during the first season, I didn't even watch it every week. I considered it the weak link on the TGIF lineup. After Jaleel joined the cast, I never missed a show. I do agree though that the show got more outrageous as the years went on.
	__________________ Sonny

01-29-2009, 04:43 PM	#2
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	It's definitely a possibility. JoMarie Payton-France ended up leaving the show midway through its last season so we can assume she was upset throughout the show. With the others though, I guess it didn't really matter as long as they were still being paid. However, they might have been upset that their characters were not as popular.

01-30-2009, 12:08 AM	#4
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	I never thought about them blaming the writers! It's just something that I've always wondered about. And Jaleel probably got paid more than the other actors, right? Anyone know of any other backstage controversies of the show, besides the two Harriets? I am always interested in this type of stuff lol!!! By the way, anyone else think they could've done a better job casting the 2nd Harriet? She was nothing at all like the first!!! She was so much more soft-spoken...it just didn't work for me...

02-20-2009, 10:12 PM	#13
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	It was the same thing with HD. The first 2 seasons were not very successful and then as soon as Fonzie became a major character, the ratings took off. Maybe some of the cast should look at the HD cast for inspiration. If anyone had a right to be angry about that change it was Ron Howard and he and Henry Winkler became good friends. Chances are if it wasn't for Jaleel, Jo Marie would today be remembered as the elevator operatort on Perfect Strangers.

02-20-2009, 10:19 PM	#14
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I always thought the Urkel character would have been better in smaller doses. Five or six Urkel episodes a year would have been great and I'm sure very funny. Something we would have all been looking forward to. But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.(I mean I like Pizza but I wouldn't eat it 7 days a week.) In the case of FM and Urkel it was way too much.

02-20-2009, 10:19 PM	#15
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	Who knows what might have happened, if Steve hadn't come along? But yes, chances are that we wouldn't even remember this show today. Because as much as FM changed from its original premiss over the years, Steve made us watch it and remember it.