Whatever Happened to "Judy Winslow" From 'Family Matters?' Jaleel White Explains... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-15-2011, 02:01 PM

What did happen to Judy Winslow on Family Matters? She just disappeared.

Oh, Lord. Shoot, I didn’t get an explanation. Her momma asked for too much and they sent her upstairs. That was it. Back then, family television had a way of getting away with certain things that, obviously, you couldn’t get away with now.

Like sending Urkel to space?

Exactly. My producers, Tom Miller and Bob Boyett, are famously known for having fired Valerie Harper and replacing her with Sandy Duncan. They had a Broadway mentality about performers. If you became a problem on the set, they would replace you. [With Judy Winslow,] they just didn’t feel the role needed to be replaced. In one regard they were right—it didn’t stop the run of the show. But in the long run—when pop culture does what it does; everything is over-analyzed nostalgically—obviously it’s a key mistake.

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/osc...31-year-career

TVFactFan · 10-15-2011, 09:57 PM

She was never missed because she was the youngest daughter with a small role. At the time, I never asked where she was because I didn't care-lol

old grouch · 10-16-2011, 10:04 AM

Poor Judy. Life wasn't very kind to her after she left the show either.

DanaDane · 12-18-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

Poor Judy. Life wasn't very kind to her after she left the show either.

she made her own choices

ThomasE · 02-06-2012, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Exactly. My producers, Tom Miller and Bob Boyett, are famously known for having fired Valerie Harper and replacing her with Sandy Duncan. They had a Broadway mentality about performers. If you became a problem on the set, they would replace you. [With Judy Winslow,] they just didn’t feel the role needed to be replaced. In one regard they were right—it didn’t stop the run of the show. But in the long run—when pop culture does what it does; everything is over-analyzed nostalgically—obviously it’s a key mistake.

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/osc...31-year-career

Excellent! In the long run, it messes you up because people do analyze (like myself) and bring this stuff up. I with that producers would think about that more and keep the elements consistent.

TVFactFan · 02-06-2012, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Excellent! In the long run, it messes you up because people do analyze (like myself) and bring this stuff up. I with that producers would think about that more and keep the elements consistent.

Thomas I find it hard to believe that in 1993 you were saying "Where is Judy"

lol

I know I wasn't because her role was so small in previous seasons

ThomasE · 02-06-2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Thomas I find it hard to believe that in 1993 you were saying "Where is Judy"

lol

I know I wasn't because her role was so small in previous seasons

Oh really? Then you don't know me as well as you thought you did. LOL.

MrCleveland · 02-08-2012, 05:25 PM

Well...there's ALWAYS Fan Fiction.

But yeah, Judy suffered from what many call "Chuck Cunningham Syndrome". They disappear without notice.

Furienna · 02-12-2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

She was never missed because she was the youngest daughter with a small role. At the time, I never asked where she was because I didn't care-lol

Even if the Judy character wasn't needed to keep the flow of the show going, it was a really bad choice to just make her disappear like that. After all, she was Carl's and Harriette's daughter and had been that for four entire seasons. They could have kept her instead of Richie, who "only" was their nephew. But I guess he was still "a cute little kid", why pre-teens aren't that interesting in a sitcom, as they're too old to be "cute little kids" and too young to have teenage problem episodes. The people behind this show hardly used Judy after the first season either, after which I think she only had like two sub-plots. And they should have given her more to do. Not to mention how she soon would have been a teenager, so she could have been used in a more interesting way.

Furienna · 02-12-2012, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaDane

she made her own choices

But some times, what happens in your life is what makes you do bad choices.

TVFactFan · 02-12-2012, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furienna

Even if the Judy character wasn't needed to keep the flow of the show going, it was a really bad choice to just make her disappear like that. After all, she was Carl's and Harriette's daughter and had been that for four entire seasons. They could have kept her instead of Richie, who "only" was their nephew. But I guess he was still "a cute little kid", why pre-teens aren't that interesting in a sitcom, as they're too old to be "cute little kids" and too young to have teenage problem episodes. The people behind this show hardly used Judy after the first season either, after which I think she only had like two sub-plots. And they should have given her more to do. Not to mention how she soon would have been a teenager, so she could have been used in a more interesting way.

Well that's the main reason why I didn't realize she was gone because of how her role was decreased in the previous seasons. Urkel became so popular that you didn't have time to say.."where is judy?"

PracTz · 02-12-2012, 04:53 PM

I don't think it would have hurt the show's flow if just one time one of them said something like 'Judy's sure enjoying her boarding school in Siberia!'

TVFactFan · 02-12-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PracTz

I don't think it would have hurt the show's flow if just one time one of them said something like 'Judy's sure enjoying her boarding school in Siberia!'

I guess they should have since she was in 70 episodes-lol

Furienna · 02-13-2012, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Well that's the main reason why I didn't realize she was gone because of how her role was decreased in the previous seasons. Urkel became so popular that you didn't have time to say.."where is judy?"

It wasn't all Steve's fault though. They gave other characters, like Waldo and Lieutenant Murtaugh, a lot of screen time as well, but poor Judy was pushed into the background, with only a line here and there.

Furienna · 02-13-2012, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PracTz

I don't think it would have hurt the show's flow if just one time one of them said something like 'Judy's sure enjoying her boarding school in Siberia!'

Yeah, that almost would have been better than just pretending that she never had existed.

10-15-2011, 02:01 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Whatever Happened to "Judy Winslow" From 'Family Matters?' Jaleel White Explains... What did happen to Judy Winslow on Family Matters? She just disappeared. Oh, Lord. Shoot, I didn’t get an explanation. Her momma asked for too much and they sent her upstairs. That was it. Back then, family television had a way of getting away with certain things that, obviously, you couldn’t get away with now. Like sending Urkel to space? Exactly. My producers, Tom Miller and Bob Boyett, are famously known for having fired Valerie Harper and replacing her with Sandy Duncan. They had a Broadway mentality about performers. If you became a problem on the set, they would replace you. [With Judy Winslow,] they just didn’t feel the role needed to be replaced. In one regard they were right—it didn’t stop the run of the show. But in the long run—when pop culture does what it does; everything is over-analyzed nostalgically—obviously it’s a key mistake. http://www.vanityfair.com/online/osc...31-year-career
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-08-2012, 05:25 PM	#8
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	Well...there's ALWAYS Fan Fiction. But yeah, Judy suffered from what many call "Chuck Cunningham Syndrome". They disappear without notice.
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

10-15-2011, 09:57 PM	#2
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,070	She was never missed because she was the youngest daughter with a small role. At the time, I never asked where she was because I didn't care-lol

10-16-2011, 10:04 AM	#3
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Poor Judy. Life wasn't very kind to her after she left the show either.

02-12-2012, 04:53 PM	#12
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	I don't think it would have hurt the show's flow if just one time one of them said something like 'Judy's sure enjoying her boarding school in Siberia!'