"Family Matters" (1989) TV series 1989-1998

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Creators:

William Bickley
Michael Warren
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | unknown

Release Date:

22 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Plot:

Long-running "Perfect Strangers" spin-off series centering on the Winslow family and their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel.

Plot Keywords:

Neighbor | Spin Off | Nerd | Sitcom | Police Officer

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 8 wins & 15 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 15	10:00 PM	NIK	The Looney Bin	#6.4
Wed. July 15	10:30 PM	NIK	Twinkle Toes Faldo	#7.20

Cast

Reginald VelJohnson	...	Carl Otis Winslow / ... (215 episodes, 1989-1998)
Kellie Shanygne Williams	...	Laura Lee Winslow (214 episodes, 1989-1998)
Darius McCrary	...	Edward 'Eddie' James Arthur Winslow / ... (207 episodes, 1989-1998)
Jaleel White	...	Steven 'Steve' Quincy Urkel / ... (204 episodes, 1989-1998)
JoMarie Payton	...	Harriette Winslow / ... (201 episodes, 1989-1998)
Rosetta LeNoire	...	Estelle 'Mother' Winslow / ... (121 episodes, 1989-1997)
Bryton McClure	...	Richie Crawford (95 episodes, 1990-1997)
Telma Hopkins	...	Rachel Crawford (94 episodes, 1989-1997)

(more)

Series Directed by
Richard Correll		(85 episodes, 1989-1998)
John Tracy		(47 episodes, 1991-1997)
Joel Zwick		(32 episodes, 1989-1998)
Gary Menteer		(27 episodes, 1990-1998)
James O'Keefe		(7 episodes, 1989-1991)
John Bowab		(3 episodes, 1989)
Gerren Keith		(3 episodes, 1990)
Kelly Sandefur		(3 episodes, 1994-1996)
Gregg Heschong		(3 episodes, 1995-1997)
Peter Baldwin		(2 episodes, 1989)

Series Writing credits
William Bickley		(211 episodes, 1989-1998)
Robert L. Boyett		(211 episodes, 1989-1998)
Thomas L. Miller		(210 episodes, 1989-1998)
Michael Warren		(210 episodes, 1989-1998)
Fred Fox Jr.		(39 episodes, 1990-1998)
Jim Geoghan		(30 episodes, 1991-1998)
David W. Duclon		(27 episodes, 1990-1998)
Gary Menteer		(25 episodes, 1990-1998)
Stephen Langford		(24 episodes, 1990-1998)
Sara V. Finney		(15 episodes, 1990-1995)
Vida Spears		(15 episodes, 1990-1995)
Gary M. Goodrich		(13 episodes, 1991-1998)
Pamela Eells		(8 episodes, 1989-1991)
Sally Lapiduss		(8 episodes, 1989-1991)
Meg DeLoatch		(8 episodes, 1995-1998)
Regina Stewart		(7 episodes, 1991-1993)
Fred Rubin		(7 episodes, 1995-1997)
Joseph Cvar		(5 episodes, 1992-1996)
Sheila M. Anthony		(5 episodes, 1993-1996)
Felicia D. Henderson		(5 episodes, 1994-1996)
Gregory Thomas Garcia		(5 episodes, 1996)
Ken Kuta		(4 episodes, 1989-1990)
Robert Blair		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Alan Eisenstock		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Larry Mintz		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Timothy Stack		(3 episodes, 1997-1998)
Ron Geiger		(3 episodes, 1998)
Barry Gold		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Geoff Gordon		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Gordon Lewis		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Janet Lynne Jackson		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)
Bob Illes		(2 episodes, 1993-1995)
James R. Stein		(2 episodes, 1993-1995)
Reginald VelJohnson		(2 episodes, 1995-1997)
Beverly D. Hunter		(2 episodes, 1997-1998)
Mike Dawson		(2 episodes, 1998)

Series Produced by
William Bickley	....	executive producer / co-executive producer (207 episodes, 1989-1998)
Michael Warren	....	executive producer / co-executive producer (207 episodes, 1989-1998)
Kelly Sandefur	....	producer / co-producer / ... (203 episodes, 1989-1998)
Thomas L. Miller	....	executive producer (202 episodes, 1989-1998)
Robert L. Boyett	....	executive producer (201 episodes, 1989-1998)
David W. Duclon	....	executive producer / co-executive producer (188 episodes, 1990-1998)
Fred Fox Jr.	....	supervising producer / co-executive producer / ... (188 episodes, 1990-1998)
Jim Geoghan	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer / ... (164 episodes, 1991-1998)
Gary Menteer	....	co-executive producer / producer / ... (163 episodes, 1990-1998)
Rebecca Misra	....	co-producer / associate producer (147 episodes, 1990-1996)
Jeff Luini	....	associate producer / co-producer (118 episodes, 1993-1998)
Stephen Langford	....	supervising producer / producer / ... (117 episodes, 1993-1998)
Miles Kristman	....	coordinating producer (68 episodes, 1995-1998)
Sara V. Finney	....	producer / co-producer (49 episodes, 1993-1995)
Vida Spears	....	producer / co-producer (49 episodes, 1993-1995)
Fred Rubin	....	supervising producer (48 episodes, 1995-1997)
Rebecca Falk	....	co-producer / producer (45 episodes, 1996-1998)
Gary M. Goodrich	....	co-producer / executive producer (22 episodes, 1997-1998)
Alan Eisenstock	....	supervising producer (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ronny Hallin	....	coordinating producer (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Larry Mintz	....	supervising producer (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
James O'Keefe	....	consulting producer / producer (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Harriette Regan	....	co-producer (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Robert Blair	....	producer (15 episodes, 1989-1990)
Pamela Eells	....	co-producer (11 episodes, 1990-1991)
Sally Lapiduss	....	co-producer (11 episodes, 1990-1991)
Meg DeLoatch	....	co-producer (9 episodes, 1998)
Gayle A. Miller	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1998)
Paula A. Roth	....	producer (1 episode, 1989)
Bob Illes	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Charles O'Brien	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Jesse Frederick		(106 episodes, 1989-1998)
Bennett Salvay		(106 episodes, 1989-1998)
Steven Chesne		(78 episodes, 1989-1998)
Gary Boren		(53 episodes, 1992-1998)

Series Cinematography by
Gregg Heschong		(168 episodes, 1990-1997)
Larry David Blumenthal		(23 episodes, 1997-1998)
Monroe P. Askins Jr.		(16 episodes, 1989-1990)
J. Bruce Nielsen		(2 episodes, 1995)

Series Film Editing by
Jim Miley		(182 episodes, 1989-1997)
Kenny Tintorri		(22 episodes, 1997-1998)
Robert Bramwell		(3 episodes, 1989-1991)
John Randle		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)

Series Casting by
Anthony Sepulveda		(98 episodes, 1990-1994)
Joanne Koehler		(45 episodes, 1996-1998)
Geraldine Leder		(25 episodes, 1994-1995)
Elayne Teitlebaum		(24 episodes, 1995-1996)
Melinda Gartzman		(16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Barbara Miller		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Lynn Griffin		(205 episodes, 1989-1998)
David Marshall		(25 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Set Decoration by
Melody Lavigna		(192 episodes, 1990-1998)
Bonnie Dermer		(16 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Makeup Department
Sheila Evers	....	makeup artist (159 episodes, 1991-1998)
Debbie Pierce	....	hair stylist (135 episodes, 1991-1998)
Eddie M. Barron	....	hair stylist (113 episodes, 1992-1997)
Don L. Cash	....	makeup artist (94 episodes, 1992-1996)
Billie Jordan	....	makeup artist (41 episodes, 1989-1991)
Edna Sheen	....	makeup artist (35 episodes, 1991-1993)
Kenneth Walker	....	hair stylist (30 episodes, 1991-1993)
Kelcey Fry	....	makeup artist (26 episodes, 1996-1998)
Delray Todd	....	hair stylist (25 episodes, 1990-1991)
Fay Kelly	....	hair stylist (21 episodes, 1997-1998)
Ann Wadlington	....	hair stylist (18 episodes, 1991-1992)
Ron Walters	....	makeup artist (18 episodes, 1991-1992)
Lola Kemp	....	hair stylist (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Pinky Cunningham	....	hair stylist (8 episodes, 1995-1996)
Penelope	....	makeup artist (7 episodes, 1991)
Cyndilee Rice	....	makeup artist (7 episodes, 1997-1998)
Frank Fontaine	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1992-1993)
Debra Denson	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Wynona Price	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1996)
Todd McIntosh	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1992-1993)
June Josef	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1994)
Beverly Jo Pryor	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1995)
Ronald W. Smith	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1991)
Ralph Gulko	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1992-1993)
Larry Abbott	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (2 episodes, 1993)

Series Production Management
Victor Hsu	....	unit production manager (98 episodes, 1991-1995)
Miles Kristman	....	unit production manager / production supervisor / ... (94 episodes, 1991-1998)
R. Robert Rosenbaum	....	executive in charge of production (40 episodes, 1989-1991)
Andrew Reeder	....	production manager / unit production manager (25 episodes, 1990-1991)
Leslie Jackson Houston	....	unit production manager (14 episodes, 1989-1990)
Stewart Lyons	....	unit production manager (2 episodes, 1990)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carl Dubliclay	....	first assistant director (185 episodes, 1990-1998)
Catherine Schlesinger	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (165 episodes, 1991-1998)
Kevin Tracy	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (98 episodes, 1991-1995)
Robert Altshuler	....	second assistant director (69 episodes, 1995-1998)
Lorraine Raglin	....	second assistant director (19 episodes, 1990-1991)
Leslie Jackson Houston	....	first assistant director (14 episodes, 1989-1990)
León	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 1989)
Warren Gray	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 1990)
Brian Whitley	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 1990)
Regina Gordon	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1989-1990)
Patrick Regan	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (5 episodes, 1990)
Stewart Lyons	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1990)
Virgil L. Fabian	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1995)

Series Art Department
Gary Ramirez	....	property master (162 episodes, 1991-1998)
Renita Lorden	....	property master (41 episodes, 1989-1991)
Greg Richards	....	greens foreman (9 episodes, 1991)
Lynn Griffin	....	supervising art director (2 episodes, 1990)
Mike Brooks	....	construction foreman (unknown episodes)
Dan Capello	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)
Jack Martin	....	construction general foreman (unknown episodes)
Joaquin Navarro	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Ron Yates	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Rick Himot	....	sound re-recording mixer (207 episodes, 1989-1998)
Charlie McDaniel	....	sound re-recording mixer (188 episodes, 1990-1998)
Russ Gary	....	sound mixer (170 episodes, 1991-1998)
Catherine Flynn	....	sound editor (52 episodes, 1989-1992)
Terry Fiyalko	....	sound editor (43 episodes, 1994-1996)
Jeff Simmons	....	sound editor (35 episodes, 1996-1998)
Jim Ford	....	sound mixer (32 episodes, 1989-1991)
Eric Levinson	....	sound editor (22 episodes, 1990-1994)
Kathy Oldham	....	sound editor (22 episodes, 1993-1994)
David E. Fluhr	....	sound re-recording mixer (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Deni King	....	sound editor (11 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ken Kobett	....	sound editor (9 episodes, 1993)
James D. Young	....	sound editor (9 episodes, 1996)
Patrick Lucatorto	....	sound mixer (3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Todd Grace	....	sound editor (3 episodes, 1994)
Bill Remhild	....	sound mixer (2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Eric Williams	....	sound editor (2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Ross Davis	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Otis Van Osten	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Kelly Sandefur	....	visual effects (3 episodes, 1996-1998)

Series Stunts
Eddie L. Watkins	....	stunt coordinator (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Lavern Whitt	....	stunt double (3 episodes, 1991-1993)
Philip Tan	....	stunt coordinator (3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Brian Avery	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Erik Betts	....	stunt double: Erkle (unknown episodes)
Kelsee King-Devoreaux	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Will Leong	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Buck McDancer	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Marcus Salgado	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Monty L. Simons	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gene Williams	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ray Woodfork	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ben Batzdorff	....	gaffer (193 episodes, 1990-1998)
John O'Brien	....	video controller (2 episodes, 1995)
David B. Nowell	....	director of photography: Paris (2 episodes, 1996)
Bill Silic	....	chief lighting technician: Paris (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Casting Department
Barbara Miller	....	executive in charge of casting (207 episodes, 1989-1998)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gina Trikonis	....	wardrobe: women / wardrobe supervisor (205 episodes, 1989-1998)
Palmer Brown	....	wardrobe: men (144 episodes, 1989-1996)
Bianca Dorso	....	costumer / costumer: women / ... (65 episodes, 1990-1998)
Joseph Watts	....	costumer (58 episodes, 1995-1998)
Bernie White	....	costumer (58 episodes, 1995-1998)

Series Editorial Department
Leo Papin	....	on-line editor (77 episodes, 1991-1994)
Kathy Duerr	....	on-line editor (68 episodes, 1995-1998)
Richard Garibaldi	....	final colorist (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Laurie Higgins Tobias	....	music editor / music coordinator (160 episodes, 1989-1997)
Gregory Sill	....	music supervisor / music director (134 episodes, 1990-1997)
Jesse Frederick	....	composer: theme music / composer: theme song / ... (24 episodes, 1989-1997)
Bennett Salvay	....	composer: theme music / composer: theme song (24 episodes, 1989-1997)
Stuart Goetz	....	music editor (21 episodes, 1997-1998)
Richard Berres	....	musical director / music director (12 episodes, 1989-1997)
Sara Sheranian	....	music editor (6 episodes, 1990)
David Sibley	....	music supervisor (1 episode, 1992-1997)

Series Other crew
Joyce Webb	....	continuity supervisor / script supervisor (159 episodes, 1991-1998)
Shane Keller	....	production coordinator (132 episodes, 1992-1997)
Dan Fendel	....	technical coordinator (116 episodes, 1993-1998)
Stephen Langford	....	executive script consultant / story editor (74 episodes, 1990-1993)
Vida Spears	....	executive script consultant / story editor (74 episodes, 1990-1993)
Sara V. Finney	....	executive script consultant / story editor (73 episodes, 1990-1993)
Gary M. Goodrich	....	story editor / executive script consultant (72 episodes, 1994-1997)
Nora Trueblood Adams	....	executive to executive producer / executive coordinator (52 episodes, 1989-1992)
Regina Stewart	....	story editor / executive story editor (49 episodes, 1991-1993)
Sheila M. Anthony	....	story editor (49 episodes, 1993-1995)
Judi Elterman	....	technical coordinator (48 episodes, 1991-1993)
Gregory Thomas Garcia	....	story editor / executive story editor (46 episodes, 1995-1997)
Erik Emi	....	technical coordinator (42 episodes, 1989-1991)
Pamela Eells	....	executive script consultant / story editor (36 episodes, 1989-1991)
Sally Lapiduss	....	executive script consultant / story editor (36 episodes, 1989-1991)
Meg DeLoatch	....	story editor / executive story consultant / ... (35 episodes, 1996-1998)
Felicia D. Henderson	....	story editor (25 episodes, 1994-1995)
Gary Menteer	....	consultant (25 episodes, 1994-1995)
Janet Lynne Jackson	....	story editor (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Timothy Stack	....	creative consultant (22 episodes, 1997-1998)
Barry Gold	....	executive script consultant (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Geoff Gordon	....	story editor (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ken Kuta	....	executive script consultant (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Gordon Lewis	....	story editor (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Janet Litton	....	executive coordinator (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Charlene Seeger	....	creative consultant (13 episodes, 1990-1991)
David Scott Richardson	....	story editor (9 episodes, 1989-1990)
Sheila Lauder	....	continuity supervisor (4 episodes, 1992)
Michael Chambers	....	robot choreographer (2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Sandra Pearson	....	continuity supervisor (2 episodes, 1992)
Daniel P. Johnson	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1995)
Damian Mcknight	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes, 1995-1998)

Series Thanks
The First A.M.E. Church Choir	....	special thanks (1 episode, 1991)
Palmer Brown	....	in loving memory (1 episode, 1996)

Production Companies

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
• Bickley-Warren Productions
• Lorimar Television
• Miller/Boyett Productions
• Warner Bros. Television

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1989-1997) (USA)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1997-1998) (USA)
• KANAALTWEE (2004) (Belgium) (TV)
• Warner Bros. Television

Other Companies

• Compact Sound Services  re-recording
• Four Media Company  post-production services
• Laser Edit  post-production services
• Transition Music  music provided by
• Warner Bros. Studio Facilities  sound post-production

Runtime:

30 min (215 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

Reginald VelJohnson is the only cast member to appear in all 215 episodes of the series.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the Winslow's, home guests would always walk out the front door and then to the left, but in the picture that is shown as the Winslow's home there is no walkway to the left. There are a few stairs outside that lead up to the front door, but walking to the left after exiting through the front door would only lead you into a wall.

Quotes:

Steve Urkel: Hi everybody!
Estelle Winslow: Hi honey.
Rachel Crawford: Steve, did it ever occur to you that when the door is closed we're trying to keep unwanted people out?
Steve Urkel: Oh, I'd better lock it then!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Friends: The One with Two Parts: Part 1 (#1.16)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

As Days Go By

SSSSSTTTTTTEEEEEEVVVVVEEEEE!!!!!!!

I watched this show for a long time, I watched in reruns and when it was on TGIF, that ABC Friday lineup (Thank God it's Friday) The truth be known this show would be absolutely nothing without Steve Urkel. The show was essentially a typical sitcom of the eighties that was goody two shoes and nothing ever really bad happened. In a way it remained that way even after the show but Steve Urkel made it so much funnier.

The show was about the Winslow family, the burly man of the house, Carl Winslow, his wife Harriot, an elevator operator, her sister, Rachel, Carl's grandmother, Estelle, and their children, Laura, the smart girl, Eddie, the cool guy, Judy, the average girl, and Rachel's little boy, Richie.

I was watching this show when Urkel became a phenomenon. There were Urkel dolls, toys, everyone was saying his catch-phrases, ‘Did I do that?' ‘Salutations,' and his pig-life laugh. I have to admit, he still cracks me up. He was incredibly clumsy too, he had a tendency to destroy almost anything he touched. And I remember ‘Do the Urkel,' the guest appearances by Shanice, Freddie Jackson, Donna Summer (as Aunt Una from Altoona), and I watched almost everyone of the early shows in first run. This was great stuff.

Many people do not know this, but this show was actually a spin-off of Perfect Strangers, where Harriot Winslow was an elevator operator at the Chicago Chronicle, where Balki and Larry worked. This show outlasted Perfect Strangers by five years. The show was hilarious. Early in the show there was Carl's boss, who was hilarious, Lieutenant Murtaugh. After he left, the show lost some of it's hilarity. Then there was the incredibly stupid Waldo Geraldo Faldo, a friend of Eddies. It was much funnier in it's first few seasons, but never seemed to capture the early years in it's later shows.

I think part of the reason it did was the early years with Urkel seemed to be a little more fun. There was the episode where Steve had a dream sequence where his computer destroyed the world. There were very good episodes about Urkel being a nerd and not being able to fend for himself. As the show went on it became a little off the wall, like Stefan Urkel, Steve's suave alter ego becoming a separate person. Still there were some great episodes all the way through.

The show was definitely on it's last leg in the 1995-1996 season. They just seemed to run out of stuff to do. The situation was not helped when soon after the show was moved to CBS. I actually watched one or two episodes on CBS, it was terrible. The best part of the show to me was watching Carl and Steve go at it. Carl was a great foil to Steve Urkel. It was always funny to watch Steve's futile attempts to go after Laura Winslow. You always wanted him to get with her, you know, pulling for the underdog.

This is a great show. If you ever get a chance to watch it in reruns watch it, it is very funny. On occasion there were some serious issues dealt with, like under-aged drinking, racism, gang violence, sexism and some other things. It was actually pretty cool, the show did not always have a happy ending either, something else that was pretty cool about the show. Anyways I think it's cool, and I think it is still funny.