How was Family Matters a spinoff from Perfect Strangers? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 09-06-2002, 11:16 PM

I was wondering how was Family matters a spinoff from perfect strangers. I know harriet was a character on perfect strangers but that doesn't tell me anything. Usually there is a pilot episode featured on the parent show before the characters have their own show. If anyone was a perfect strangers watcher, let me know how family matters was created.

Sean Snow · 09-07-2002, 12:07 AM

Even if there isn't a episode where they move on, its' still a spinoff. The entire point of FM was to show Harriett's home life, they wouldn't need a transition episode for that. And even if they did need one, its' still a spinoff because Harriett originated on "Perfect Strangers". ANd shouldn't this be on the Spinoffs board?

alf8mycat · 09-07-2002, 04:28 AM

I wanted to say it was a spin off in the same way that the show Mat LeBlanc got after he played a character on Married With Children once, but Harriet was a regular character on Perfect Strangers, and Matt's character was a one time deal I think.

Family Matters was a spin off, because it was a show spun off from Perfect Strangers that was about a character on the show. That's how most spin offs work anyways right?

TVFactFan · 09-07-2002, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by alf8mycat
I wanted to say it was a spin off in the same way that the show Mat LeBlanc got after he played a character on Married With Children once, but Harriet was a regular character on Perfect Strangers, and Matt's character was a one time deal I think.

Family Matters was a spin off, because it was a show spun off from Perfect Strangers that was about a character on the show. That's how most spin offs work anyways right?

Well i just found out that family matters was a spinoff from PS but Family never made any reference back to PS. And then I saw no transition from PS to FM. I was looking to see if there was a hint to the viewing public that the character harriet was spinning into her own series. But i saw no type of transition, I guess Family Matters was a spinoff with no transition from PS which is why i never knew these two shows were connected.

SimpsonsFan · 04-24-2005, 02:17 PM

Reginald VelJohnson guest starred on PS as Carl in a season 4 eps, a few months later they got they're own spin-off show with FM.

Mr. Television · 04-24-2005, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpsonsFan

Reginald VelJohnson guest starred on PS as Carl in a season 4 eps, a few months later they got they're own spin-off show with FM.

Yea that was really the pilot episode because it introduced Harriets Husband.

SimpsonsFan · 04-24-2005, 02:28 PM

Was Harriette really supposed to be the star though? Because Reginald VelJohnson's name is the first name we see in the opening credits, not Jo Marie Payton.

Mr. Television · 04-24-2005, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpsonsFan

Was Harriette really supposed to be the star though? Because Reginald VelJohnson's name is the first name we see in the opening credits, not Jo Marie Payton.

I think they were both supposed to be the stars. Maybe they thought Reginald Vel Johnson was a bigger name having just appeared in Die Hard. I don't know. I think as the show went on he was the more important star because of his scenes with Steve.

TVFactFan · 04-24-2005, 02:46 PM

There should havebeen a crossover episode between FM and PS since both shows were connected and based in the same city.

SimpsonsFan · 04-24-2005, 02:50 PM

Another thing is that most of the time when a character gets their own spin-off, their name is in the title of the show(The Jeffersons,Maude,Gloria,The Ropers,Rhoda,Phyllis,LouGrant,Fish,Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C,The Andy Griffith Show,Tabitha,Hello Larry,Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, Joanie Loves Chachi, Archie Bunker's Place, and so on) but Harriette's name isn't in the title, it's not like they called it "Harriette's Family" or something.

TVFactFan · 04-24-2005, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpsonsFan

Another thing is that most of the time when a character gets their own spin-off, their name is in the title of the show(The Jeffersons,Maude,Gloria,The Ropers,Fish,Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C,The Andy Griffith Show,Tabitha,Hello Larry,Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, Joanie Loves Chachi, Archie Bunker's Place, and so on) but Harriette's name isn't in the title, it's not like they called it "Harriette's Family" or something.

Or "The Winslows"-lol

SimpsonsFan · 04-24-2005, 05:18 PM

It is kind of hard to believe that FM is a spin-off because:

1. Harriette's 1st/last name isn't in the title
2. Harriette isn't the star
3. Jo Marie Payton's name isn't listed 1st in opening credits
4. no crossover eps with any PS characters
5. no pilot eps from PS

Another thing, did you guys know that 2 PS cast members(not characters) guest starred on FM, Melanie Wilson was the 1st, she guest starred in a season 7 eps, and Mark-Linn Baker was the 2nd, he guest starred in a season 9 eps, the interesting thing is that he played a character that would fire Harriette from her job. On PS, Baker and Payton played characters that worked together.

Mr. Television · 04-24-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpsonsFan

It is kind of hard to believe that FM is a spin-off because:

1. Harriette's 1st/last name isn't in the title
2. Harriette isn't the star
3. Jo Marie Payton's name isn't listed 1st in opening credits
4. no crossover eps with any PS characters
5. no pilot eps from PS

Another thing, did you guys know that 2 PS cast members(not characters) guest starred on FM, Melanie Wilson was the 1st, she guest starred in a season 7 eps, and Mark-Linn Baker was the 2nd, he guest starred in a season 9 eps, the interesting thing is that he played a character that would fire Harriette from her job. On PS, Baker and Payton played characters that worked together.

I heard that MLB guest stared but I never saw that episode. It is strange that he didn't play Larry.

SimpsonsFan · 04-24-2005, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

I heard that MLB guest stared but I never saw that episode. It is strange that he didn't play Larry.

I know, Bronson Pinchot had become a regular on Step By Step during it's 6th season, and while FM was in it's 8th, which means BP was available to at least appear on FM, and since MW and MLB were also available, it is strange that we don't see any crossovers.

Karen* · 04-24-2005, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpsonsFan

I know, Bronson Pinchot had become a regular on Step By Step during it's 6th season, and while FM was in it's 8th, which means BP was available to at least appear on FM, and since MW and MLB were also available, it is strange that we don't see any crossovers.

After he appeared on Step by Step, Bronson Pinchot became the star of the short-lived series Meego. Didn't that show crossover with FM?

09-06-2002, 11:16 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,057	How was Family Matters a spinoff from Perfect Strangers? I was wondering how was Family matters a spinoff from perfect strangers. I know harriet was a character on perfect strangers but that doesn't tell me anything. Usually there is a pilot episode featured on the parent show before the characters have their own show. If anyone was a perfect strangers watcher, let me know how family matters was created.

09-07-2002, 04:28 AM	#3
alf8mycat Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 21, 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 77	I wanted to say it was a spin off in the same way that the show Mat LeBlanc got after he played a character on Married With Children once, but Harriet was a regular character on Perfect Strangers, and Matt's character was a one time deal I think. Family Matters was a spin off, because it was a show spun off from Perfect Strangers that was about a character on the show. That's how most spin offs work anyways right?
	__________________ Stifle it will ya.

04-24-2005, 02:17 PM	#5
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	Reginald VelJohnson guest starred on PS as Carl in a season 4 eps, a few months later they got they're own spin-off show with FM.
	__________________ I miss Urkel, 3rd Rock, and the old Simpsons!

04-24-2005, 02:50 PM	#10
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	Another thing is that most of the time when a character gets their own spin-off, their name is in the title of the show(The Jeffersons,Maude,Gloria,The Ropers,Rhoda,Phyllis,LouGrant,Fish,Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C,The Andy Griffith Show,Tabitha,Hello Larry,Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, Joanie Loves Chachi, Archie Bunker's Place, and so on) but Harriette's name isn't in the title, it's not like they called it "Harriette's Family" or something.
	Last edited by SimpsonsFan; 04-25-2005 at 10:58 AM.

09-07-2002, 12:07 AM	#2
Sean Snow moo Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	Even if there isn't a episode where they move on, its' still a spinoff. The entire point of FM was to show Harriett's home life, they wouldn't need a transition episode for that. And even if they did need one, its' still a spinoff because Harriett originated on "Perfect Strangers". ANd shouldn't this be on the Spinoffs board?

04-24-2005, 02:28 PM	#7
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	Was Harriette really supposed to be the star though? Because Reginald VelJohnson's name is the first name we see in the opening credits, not Jo Marie Payton.

04-24-2005, 02:46 PM	#9
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,057	There should havebeen a crossover episode between FM and PS since both shows were connected and based in the same city.

04-24-2005, 05:18 PM	#12
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	It is kind of hard to believe that FM is a spin-off because: 1. Harriette's 1st/last name isn't in the title 2. Harriette isn't the star 3. Jo Marie Payton's name isn't listed 1st in opening credits 4. no crossover eps with any PS characters 5. no pilot eps from PS Another thing, did you guys know that 2 PS cast members(not characters) guest starred on FM, Melanie Wilson was the 1st, she guest starred in a season 7 eps, and Mark-Linn Baker was the 2nd, he guest starred in a season 9 eps, the interesting thing is that he played a character that would fire Harriette from her job. On PS, Baker and Payton played characters that worked together.