Behind the Scenes Drama That Took Family Matters off the Air

One of the best family sitcoms of the 1990s was Family Matters. It ran from September 1989 and came to a close in July 1998. It ran for 9 seasons and amassed 215 episodes. We grew up with Family Matters and to this day, we can relate to many of the characters as when we first saw them in the 1990s. Family Matters remains an iconic show and perhaps one of the most heartwarming shows that American television has ever produced.

▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 - Intro
00:24 - The Trouble With Urkel
01:57 - What Happened to Judy?
03:57 - Harriette Looks Different
05:29 - Pushing the Boundaries
06:12 - Outro

But behind the façade of this family sitcom, there was a lot of drama and controversy that caused tension for the Family Matters cast. Looking back, it’s truly a wonder how they managed to keep the show on the air for 9 years!

Without a doubt, the character Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, eventually became the star of the show. Even if you haven’t watched Family Matters, you probably know about Urkel and his shenanigans. But did you know that many of the cast members had difficulty working with Jaleel White? Did you know that there was tension revolving around how popular and overshadowing Urkel was?

That’s not all. If you’ve watched Family Matters since the first season, you’ll remember that one of the Winslow kids was Judy Winslow – played by child actress Jaimee Foxworth. Yet, after a few seasons, we stopped seeing the character and she pretty much disappeared. So, what did happen to the character and the actress who played her?

These are just some of the challenges and drama that happened to the Family Matters cast and threatened the show’s popularity. Luckily, it managed to stay on the air for 9 years and 9 seasons but eventually, the show had to be taken off the air.

Join FactsVerse to learn more about the behind-the-scenes drama that took Family Matters off the air…

Behind the Scenes Drama That Took Family Matters off the Air

[JohnnyDouchbag-nryf]

When urkel started changing into a different character every episode it jumped the shark

[Farrah]

When you talked about Urkel's popularity, I was immediately reminded of a similar thing many years before. On "Good Times", despite the ensemble cast of characters, the character, JJ Evans, played by Jimmie Walker stole the show.

[errab]

The show was great and did well for its time, I'll remember it fondly.

[avejoe]

Family Matters was a fantastic sitcom. I like the show and all characters. Urkel was the best character. Amazing Facts.

[ddbjg]

Michelle Thomas was great on family matters

[Farrah]

This show was a wonderful show. I wish that more sitcoms today would be more family friendly.

[dude]

Don’t forget that there was also the original Judy in the Pilot.

Also I have always wondered why the Winlows moved homes.

In the first pilot show they were living in an Condo or some kid of Apartment and then moved to the new house without and explanation.

[amandadean]

Interesting! Say what they will Urkel was definitely my favorite character.

[zafrier]

My theory about what happened to Judy was that when Steve and Carl time traveled that somehow made them forgot about her.

[josephclegg]

The Judy character should have been brought back like they did Aunt Rachel. Aunt Rachel was brought back in the 6th season, and the Christmas episode in season 9, not as a main character, but as a guest character. The same could have been done for Judy. Judy should have been there when the family went to Disney World, and both Aunt Rachel and Judy should have been there along with Mother Winslow when the family went to Paris. There's a fanfiction website explaining that was a supposed 10th season, and Judy would have returned for nuptials of Steve and her sister, Laura, and explained that she had been living with her Aunt Rachel in Detroit helping her take care of a sick relative, but this is kinda hard for me to believe, because if that was the case, how come she didn't return when Aunt Rachel visited the family in season 6 and 9, and how come Aunt Rachel never said anything about her? And there's an episode in season 7 when Carl is getting audited, and he mentions to the auditor that 6 people live with him, and that included Harriette, Eddie, Laura, and Steve(cause at this time is when Steve had moved in with the family), along with Richie and supposedly Aunt Rachel, but this too is hard for me to believe, because if Aunt Rachel was staying in Detroit, how could she still be living with them, and how come Carl didn't mention Judy to the auditor? There is another episode where Steve invented a time machine and Carl and Steve go back in time to the first day he and Harriette moved into the house and Carl alters his future by writing himself a letter on some things that would be good at investing in and he loses his family, and Steve mentions there's no Eddie or Laura. He didn't mentioned Judy. Also, when Carl and Harriette adopted 3J, and he was scared that they were going take him back to the children shelter that he started doing extra chores around the house, and Harriette told him that if doing chores around the house was the only way he had to stay there, Eddie and Laura would have been gone years ago. Harriette never said anything about Judy.

[SirKnight]

It was also supposed to be Jo Marie Payton's show, with Vel Johnson and the rest being support.
Michelle Thomas was amazing and loved. Judy was annoying 90% of the time. As were the other little kids. They didn't fit.
Mother Winslow was a great character too. If I had to rate my favorite characters it would be Urkel, Carl, Mother Winslow, Waldo Geraldo Faldo, Myra Monkhouse, Eddie, and Lt. Murtaugh. The rest were okay.

[dude]

Also the last Mrs Harrett Winslow was the head Sister in the episode where the guys break into the Nun place to find Myra

[greghannibal]

I thought it went off the air because the plots were getting stupid. I didn't even know the term "jump the shark", but when they all time traveled onto that pirate ship my young mind thought, "oh, this is stupid now." I tried to watch again later and Urkle cloned himself and then went "nope."

[VicR]

I’m not pleased with Judy Ann Elder’s performance. She was better as Gina’s mother on Martin.

[leelee]

I’m a huge fan o family matters but only season 1 thru 4 after this seasons the shape became too much life a sci-fi show. Also does anyone know whatever happened to the baby twins who played little Richie on season one?

[gregorycanfield]

Here we go again with all the Urkel bashing. The Urkel character wasn't responsible for Judy Winslow disappearing. Judy was given practically nothing to do, in the first place. Why doesn't anyone question that? What would the show have been like without Urkel? Pretty bland, in my opinion. Watch the first few episodes from Season One. It was the same show you'd seen a hundred times before. Just with different actors. The Urkel thing might have been taken too far, but Jaleel White's character gave the show the spark that was needed. Amazing that nothing is mentioned here about Steve and Laura. I loved watching them together. There actually was a character that I liked better than Urkel. That was Laura Winslow. Jaleel was great as Urkel, but Kellie S Williams was just as great as Laura.

[jamesorsby]

"The producers simply wanted to get rid of the character, and they hoped that the audience wouldn't notice."
OOPS!

[BrokenneckYgor]

An elderly hippie who was bisexual and morbidly obese tried to revive the show featuring characters playging large mice

[haveaseatmarj]

I remember stopped watching my fav as soon as I saw the new Harriet; There was so much confusion.

[chitlynn]

and just like ‘martin, ’ i was done after season 4.