Quote:
Originally posted by Salience:
okay, you act like that show was good! They were a stereotypical working class family, and I NEVER understood the dang Urkel/UrkELL crap. I still can't figure out why it was on for so long!
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Salience, I wasn't trying to act like the show was good, though I was a loyal viewer. I was trying to say that the show needed an element to separate itself from the Cosby Show. I'll say this much though on the length of the show:
Family Matters premiered Sept. 17, 1989 and ended July 21, 1998.
I think one of the reasons that the show lasted so long was that Urkel became a staple in the ABC TGIF lineup, was an integral part of the strong ratings, and that the Steve/Myrtle/Urquelle thing was an attempt by the screenwriters to keep fresh scripts and routines that would have otherwise gotten stale. The thing was, that Urkel was getting older and more mature, and his Urkel routine was getting REALLY old. The Urqelle thing was IMHO an attempt to prevent Jaleel White from being typecast in future TV/movie roles. In the 1997-98 season, the show moved to CBS and by that time, Urkel and Laura were engaged. I did see the last episode, which was rather okay, but I would have preferred to see them get married, and have the show end on a great note. You are right though, it lasted about a season or two too long.
Just my .25 cents
Match Game '73
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