What if Steve Urkel never joined the cast? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

howierules86 · 05-18-2011, 07:31 AM

Something I was thinking about the other day when I saw the DVD set of Season 1 of "Family Matters" at Target (no, I didn't buy it), got me to thinking: If Steve Urkel had never been introduced as a character on "Family Matters," and the show continued to focus on the Winslows like it was supposed to, do you think the show would have lasted as long as it did, and would you have continued watching the show longer than you would have with Urkel?

Marvo301 · 05-18-2011, 02:36 PM

I suspect that without Urkel Family Matters would have had a much shorter run. Personally I would have preferred the show without Urkel or at least with a lot less Urkel. But Urkel was the breakout character of this show and the ratings increased significantly when he became a main character so I expect he was responsible for the show lasting longer than it otherwise would have.

LeeBlue · 05-18-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I suspect that without Urkel Family Matters would have had a much shorter run. Personally I would have preferred the show without Urkel or at least with a lot less Urkel. But Urkel was the breakout character of this show and the ratings increased significantly when he became a main character so I expect he was responsible for the show lasting longer than it otherwise would have.

Family Matters is a favorite show and I would have watched with or without Steve.. 'Cause the Winslow family was terrific. However, I also suspect the show wouldn't have lasted as long.

principehomura · 05-18-2011, 03:57 PM

When I was a little kid, I remember that me and my friends watched it mainly beacue for Urkel.

Never saw the show again as a 'grown-up', but still the impression is that Urkel was Family Matters' key to success

MrCleveland · 05-18-2011, 04:47 PM

No Urkel...No "Family Matters".

But I wonder if Jaleel White was sick of being Urkel? (I think it would be funny if Jaleel White was in a movie and someone would say "Did Urkel Do That"?...Think of "harold and Kumar").

Jamie in CA · 05-27-2011, 01:37 PM

Urkel was the show. If he's not there, the show probably only lasts a season or two. And he was tired of the character. I remember him saying that if he ever sees that character again, he'd want someone to put him out of his misery. His acting career was defined by Steve Urkel. He never made it as an adult actor.

Cliff Barnes · 06-08-2011, 09:03 PM

It's true-there would have been no show without Steve. He was the breakout star and the reason that the ratings increased to the level of staying on beyond a season and more.

Furienna · 06-16-2011, 01:13 PM

It makes you wonder though. What would it have been like without Steve? Nah, it probably wouldn't have lasted as long.

Mr. Television · 06-16-2011, 01:34 PM

I don't even know if the show would have made it to a second season if they didn't bring Steve in. The critics didn't care for it. It wasn't generating any buzz and the ratings were mediocre. I was a big fan of PS and I was disappointed in the early episodes of FM. I would watch the show sometimes but it was the one TGIF show I didn't care if I missed or not. After Steve joined, I watched every week.

05-18-2011, 07:31 AM	#1
howierules86 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 05, 2007 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 29,693	What if Steve Urkel never joined the cast? Something I was thinking about the other day when I saw the DVD set of Season 1 of "Family Matters" at Target (no, I didn't buy it), got me to thinking: If Steve Urkel had never been introduced as a character on "Family Matters," and the show continued to focus on the Winslows like it was supposed to, do you think the show would have lasted as long as it did, and would you have continued watching the show longer than you would have with Urkel?
	__________________ I love me some Susanna Hoffs - http://www.susannahoffs.com And many other very talented ladies too. Last edited by howierules86; 05-18-2011 at 07:47 AM.

05-18-2011, 02:36 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I suspect that without Urkel Family Matters would have had a much shorter run. Personally I would have preferred the show without Urkel or at least with a lot less Urkel. But Urkel was the breakout character of this show and the ratings increased significantly when he became a main character so I expect he was responsible for the show lasting longer than it otherwise would have.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

05-18-2011, 03:57 PM	#4
principehomura Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 24, 2010 Location: SEA, Napa, Lanford, NY \| Rome (WI), Coeur d'Coeurs, Stars Hollow, Sunnydale \| Twin Peaks, BAL, Deadwood, WA \| Tardis, Galactica Posts: 757	When I was a little kid, I remember that me and my friends watched it mainly beacue for Urkel. Never saw the show again as a 'grown-up', but still the impression is that Urkel was Family Matters' key to success
	__________________ Frasier, Mom, Roseanne, The Conners Picket Fences, Pushing Daisies, Buffy, Gilmore Girls Twin Peaks, The Wire, Deadwood, X-Files - Frasier, Niles and Martin Crane, Dale Cooper, Fox Mulder Christy Plunkett, Buffy Summers, Rory Gilmore, Becky Conner, Dana Scully - Roseanne Barr, David E. Kelley, David Milch, Amy Sherman, Bryan Fuller, Steven Bochco - Anna Faris, Marlee Matlin, Jane Levy, Lecy Goranson, Jennifer Esposito, Melissa J. Hart - Kelsey Grammer, David H. Pierce, Michael J. Fox

05-18-2011, 04:47 PM	#5
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,228	No Urkel...No "Family Matters". But I wonder if Jaleel White was sick of being Urkel? (I think it would be funny if Jaleel White was in a movie and someone would say "Did Urkel Do That"?...Think of "harold and Kumar").
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

06-16-2011, 01:34 PM	#9
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 even know if the show would have made it to a second season if they didn't bring Steve in. The critics didn't care for it. It wasn't generating any buzz and the ratings were mediocre. I was a big fan of PS and I was disappointed in the early episodes of FM. I would watch the show sometimes but it was the one TGIF show I didn't care if I missed or not. After Steve joined, I watched every week.
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05-27-2011, 01:37 PM	#6
Jamie in CA Jamie as in James Occasional Poster Join Date: May 27, 2011 Location: Torrance, California Posts: 56	Urkel was the show. If he's not there, the show probably only lasts a season or two. And he was tired of the character. I remember him saying that if he ever sees that character again, he'd want someone to put him out of his misery. His acting career was defined by Steve Urkel. He never made it as an adult actor.

06-08-2011, 09:03 PM	#7
Cliff Barnes Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2005 Posts: 163	It's true-there would have been no show without Steve. He was the breakout star and the reason that the ratings increased to the level of staying on beyond a season and more.

06-16-2011, 01:13 PM	#8
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	It makes you wonder though. What would it have been like without Steve? Nah, it probably wouldn't have lasted as long.