MeTV Request: "Family Matters"

[stevearino]

Dear Weigel Broadcasting, Inc.,

I have a proposal for MeTV: as I'm sure you know, MeTV will be adding the '80s sitcom "Full House" to its regular lineup on Sunday, January 16, in lieu of the recent death of Bob Saget.

That being said, I propose that MeTV acquire another '80s sitcom for 2022.

Its name: "Family Matters," the hit '80s sitcom which ran for 9 years on the ABC Television Network from September 22, 1989 - July 17, 1998.

Created by William Bickley & Michael Warren, "Family Matters" originally was a spin-off of the '80s sitcom "Perfect Strangers," centering on the Winslow family of Chicago: dad Carl (Reggie VelJohnson), a local Police Officer, and mom Harriette (Jo Marie Payton), whose character spun off of "Perfect Strangers."

Carl and Harriette were the proud parents of 3 teenage children: Eddie (Darius McCrary), Laura (Kellie Williams), and Judy (Jaimee Foxworth).

In its first season, "Family Matters" aired Friday nights at 8 P.M. ET on ABC after "Full House," initially ranking #41 in the Nielsen Ratings--that was, until 12 episodes into the season, when Jaleel White joined the cast as Steve Urkel, the nerdy neighbor next door with a hot crush on Laura Winslow.

With Urkel as played by Jaleel White added to the series, "Family Matters" became a Ratings Juggernaut for ABC, and like Henry Winkler helping turn the '70s sitcom "Happy Days" into a hit 15 years earlier, Jaleel White helped turn "Family Matters" into a Top 10 Hit, even spawning Urkel Merchandise such as a Cereal brand called Urkel-O's and a Milton Bradley board game called "Do the Urkel." Jaleel White even appeared as Urkel in a "Full House" crossover.

In May 1997, after 8 seasons, ABC cancelled "Family Matters" due to poor ratings, with rival network CBS picking up the series for a 9th season, with worse ratings than its last ABC season, leading the show to be cancelled permanently, with its Series Finale telecast on CBS on July 17, 1998.

In the Hour-Long Finale titled "Lost in Space" (split into 2 parts for CBS and Rerun Syndication), Steve Urkel became the first student going to Outer Space; in typical Urkel fashion, he ALMOST messed things up--including his life--but upon returning from Space, was Greeted by the Winslow family--including Laura, to whom by this time he was Engaged to be Married.

Tentatively, MeTV shall purchase the exclusive Digital OTA reruns of "Family Matters" starting Sunday, March 6, 2022 by airing Sunday afternoons from 4 P.M. to 6 P.M. ET after its 2-Hour block of companion series "Full House."

Each episode of "Family Matters" shall be showcased 100% Complete, 100% Uncut, AND 100% Unedited, just the way each episode originated on ABC.

And that includes as part of the Uncut, Unedited form, its original theme song for the Pilot, "What a Wonderful World" (Performed by Louis Armstrong), replaced after the 5th episode by Jesse Frederick's "As Days Go By."

Sincerely,
Steve Arino

[SitcomsOffline]

Originally Posted by stevearino

Dear Weigel Broadcasting, Inc.,

I have a proposal for MeTV: as I'm sure you know, MeTV will be adding the '80s sitcom "Full House" to its regular lineup on Sunday, January 16, in lieu of the recent death of Bob Saget.

That being said, I propose that MeTV acquire another '80s sitcom for 2022.

Its name: "Family Matters," the hit '80s sitcom which ran for 9 years on the ABC Television Network from September 22, 1989 - July 17, 1998.

Created by William Bickley & Michael Warren, "Family Matters" originally was a spin-off of the '80s sitcom "Perfect Strangers," centering on the Winslow family of Chicago: dad Carl (Reggie VelJohnson), a local Police Officer, and mom Harriette (Jo Marie Payton), whose character spun off of "Perfect Strangers."

Carl and Harriette were the proud parents of 3 teenage children: Eddie (Darius McCrary), Laura (Kellie Williams), and Judy (Jaimee Foxworth).

In its first season, "Family Matters" aired Friday nights at 8 P.M. ET on ABC after "Full House," initially ranking #41 in the Nielsen Ratings--that was, until 12 episodes into the season, when Jaleel White joined the cast as Steve Urkel, the nerdy neighbor next door with a hot crush on Laura Winslow.

With Urkel as played by Jaleel White added to the series, "Family Matters" became a Ratings Juggernaut for ABC, and like Henry Winkler helping turn the '70s sitcom "Happy Days" into a hit 15 years earlier, Jaleel White helped turn "Family Matters" into a Top 10 Hit, even spawning Urkel Merchandise such as a Cereal brand called Urkel-O's and a Milton Bradley board game called "Do the Urkel." Jaleel White even appeared as Urkel in a "Full House" crossover.

In May 1997, after 8 seasons, ABC cancelled "Family Matters" due to poor ratings, with rival network CBS picking up the series for a 9th season, with worse ratings than its last ABC season, leading the show to be cancelled permanently, with its Series Finale telecast on CBS on July 17, 1998.

In the Hour-Long Finale titled "Lost in Space" (split into 2 parts for CBS and Rerun Syndication), Steve Urkel became the first student going to Outer Space; in typical Urkel fashion, he ALMOST messed things up--including his life--but upon returning from Space, was Greeted by the Winslow family--including Laura, to whom by this time he was Engaged to be Married.

Tentatively, MeTV shall purchase the exclusive Digital OTA reruns of "Family Matters" starting Sunday, March 6, 2022 by airing Sunday afternoons from 4 P.M. to 6 P.M. ET after its 2-Hour block of companion series "Full House."

Each episode of "Family Matters" shall be showcased 100% Complete, 100% Uncut, AND 100% Unedited, just the way each episode originated on ABC.

And that includes as part of the Uncut, Unedited form, its original theme song for the Pilot, "What a Wonderful World" (Performed by Louis Armstrong), replaced after the 5th episode by Jesse Frederick's "As Days Go By."

Sincerely,
Steve Arino

The truth is none of Miller-Boyett nor Bickley-Warren shows do all that well in syndication. While people have fond memories of watching them in first-run, the storylines and jokes/tropes have all aged poorly for watchability in 2022 (see "Too Many Cooks" on Adult Swim which mocked them).

Occasionally, a cable channel will air a marathon of them, but then they end up disappearing off the air again year or two later (See Hangin' With Mr. Cooper and Step By Step recently on TruTV).

Even Full House will be taking off MeTV's schedule as of 1/7/23.