Jaleel White recently addressed why there will not be aFamily Mattersrevival, even though longtime fans have called for it. White played Steve Urkel, who went from being a character only intended to be in one episode to becoming one of the most iconic television characters of the 1990s. The sitcom debuted in September 1989 and aired for nine seasons, with the story of Urkel and the Winslow family culminating inFamily Matters' final episode, released in July 1998, and cementing a beloved legacy that continues to endure decades later.
The series was a hit for how it blended heartfelt family comedic moments with wacky sci-fi sequences, thoughthe final season struggled after recasting a key characterand switching networks. Audiences who grew up withFamily Matterswould like to see it follow in the steps ofThat ’70s ShowandFull Houseas classic sitcoms to get sequel series or even a fully fresh revival but Jaleel White mad it clear why that won’t happy.
What Jaeel White Said About A Revival
The Actor Cites The Loss Of Cast Members Over The Years
While speaking at ’90s Con 2024 (viaPeople),White provides several reasons why he does not believe aFamily Mattersrevival would work well. This includes the fact that"We’ve lost cast members,“which refers to Michelle Thomas passing away in 1998 and Rosetta LeNoire passing away in 2002, who played the respective roles of Myra Monkhouse and Estelle Winslow. White also emphasized that"Life has changed"too much for theFamily Matterscharacters, as has the world around them. Read White’s additional comments below:
I really study why our shows work. And it has nothing to do with me not loving our old property, are you kidding me? I loveFamily Mattersmore than any of you guys could ever loveFamily Matters.I also know our strengths and weaknesses the way a coach would know his lineup. I’m not going to try us out on the field for anything less than absolute victory.
Part of the magic ofFamily Matterswas that it was always prolonged with Steve not getting the girl. Then came [alter ego] Stefan and it created this other dynamic. Just doing a reboot ofFamily Matterswhere Steve is married to Laura, there’s no tension there. You’d watch for one episode and discover my voice is a little deeper and get mad at that.
If Michelle had been here I might have given it the old college attempt to create the triangle of Michelle and Kellie, but without that I just don’t want to do it as a straightFuller Housereboot, it wouldn’t work.
Are we really going to tellFamily Matterswithout smartphones? I feel like the magic in what you watched didn’t have any of those components and it belongs only in the ’90s.
What This Means For A Family Matters Revival
A Sequel Series Is Not Going To Happen
White’s comments make it clear thataFamily Mattersrevival is not currently in the works and is highly unlikely to ever happen. He has a thorough understanding of what madeFamily Mattersa hit in the 1990s and recognizes that too many of the key elements would be missing in a potential revival. This is partly due to the loss of essential cast members, including Thomas, whose absence would already make a revival narratively impossible given what previously transpired in the original series.
The 50 Best Sitcoms Of All Time
Sitcoms are one of the most popular formats of TV shows, and the best sitcoms of all time showcase exactly why they continue to dominate.
Classic sitcoms likeFull HouseandRoseanneare among the few that have had successful revivals in the form ofFullerHouseandThe Conners. White emphasizes that these sitcom revivals are exceptions as opposed to the rule, and thatFamily Mattersdoes not have what is needed for a similarly successful sequel series. If aFamily Mattersrevival was to become a reality, White would need to be at the forefront of it, but this will not happen due to a variety of factors.
Our Take On Jaleel White’s Comments
He Is The Best Judge Of Whether A Revival Could Work
As White indicates, much ofFamily Matters' success was due to it being a product of taking place in and being released during the 1990s. Taking the series out of the 1990s may fundamentally change too much about the series, which already will not feel the same due to missing actors.It is better to rewatch and celebrateFamily Mattersin its original form,and to look forward to White being part of the cast in theupcomingStar Wars: Skeleton Crewseries, along with the original cast’s other projects.
Family Matters Remains A Pop Culture Staple Today
Reginald VelJohnson Paid Homage On A Competition Series
Like many sitcoms from the ’80s and ’90s,Family Mattersworks because it’s pretty timeless. Even today, fans can go back and have a great time watching episodes thanks to the heartwarming scenes and hilarious shenanigans. On top of the ability to rewatch the show and iconic lines like “Did I do that?,“Family Mattersstays in the eye of modern pop culture whenever the cast pops up somewhere.
Jaleel White might not be as active as he once was but he continues to work, popping up in Netflix’s 2022 basketball film,Hustle. He even reprised the role of Urkel through voice work in an episode ofScooby-Doo and Guess Who? before doing the same for theUrkel Saves SantaChristmas special. This has helped bringFamily Mattersback to the forefront. On top of that Reginald VelJohnson played a variation of his TV dad in a string of commercials and recently had a run inDancing with the Stars.
Although VelJohnson’s prior injury played a part in him not lasting very long on the competition series, he made sure to take fans down memory lane with his performances. His legendary role as Carl Winslow was brought up several times but it was when he returned for the finale that audiences got a true treat.VelJohnson and pro partner Emma Slater performed a dance set to the theme song fromFamily Mattersto a huge ovation from the live crowd.
Where To Watch Family Matters Today
The Iconic Sitcom Is Available To Stream
While a revival is apparently not happening, according to Jaleel White, those who want to enjoy the fun that comes fromFamily Matterscan find the sitcom on a couple of streaming services.All nine seasons are currently available to stream on both Hulu and Max. Hulu with ads costs $9.99 per month, while the version without ads comes in at $18.99 per month. Max has the same price with ads but the ad-free version costs $16.99 and the “ultimate” ad-free version is $20.99. There is also an option to bundle the two services.
Of course, streaming partners change constantly so there’s no guarantee thatFamily Matterswill always be available in that manner. For anyone who wants to make sure they always have access, the sitcom can be purchased in full on Apple TV, Amazon, and Fandango at Home. The show is also available on DVD for physical collectors online.
Source: ’90s Con 2024 (viaPeople)
Family Matters
Cast
Family Matters is a classic sitcom that follows the Winslow family, a middle-class family living in Chicago that engages in several misadventures while sharing heartfelt experiences with one another. The show tackles several major real-world issues while keeping the core of the show light at heart, and also featured the breakout role of Jaleel White as the super nerd Steve Urkel.
