Camp Warner Bros, Week 8 is all Family Matters and lots of Urkel

In the late 80’s I didn’t watch much television. I was aware of what cultural touchstones were out there and one of the largest was certainly the TGI-Fridays block of programming that was on ABC. It was equal, if not superior to the Must-See-TV era where Thursday night belonged to NBC. From 1989 to 1997 it was one of the largest cultural juggernauts on the planet that created a classic character and was go-to family viewing for a generation or two of kids. Family Matters was one of the lead television shows and every single season is available on disc or to stream at home.

It’s amazing to watch Family Matters now. When someone mentions that show it’s very probable that the first thing they’ll think of is Urkel. The overly smart kid in suspenders with the high pitched voice was one of the first viral things to happen to the post-80’s world. Because his antics happened before pre-social media his bits became something that had to be seen. Back then it was up to the DVD player and having a parent with the wherewithal to record it. Of course all of that depended on the VCR not being stuck blinking 12:00.  That was a middle class problem circa 1989 and parents were secretly jealous of their tech savvy friends (or their kids..) who could program that monstrosity.

However, Urkel wasn’t intended to become a lynchpin for Family Matters. At its core, the show was actually a spin-off of Perfect Strangers. Harriett, played by Jo Marie Payton was a recurring character on that show. If you’re like me and wondered by a building would hire someone to push the elevator buttons for you, then it was logical that the company decided to lay her off. That aspect was part antiquated thinking of the boom mid-80’s, but it allowed her character to have a life of her own.

The back history of Family Matters is fascinating, with Jaleel White’s Urkel taking up a majority of the ink. His success fueled the show, which fueled the backlash; which in turn added to the cast resenting a recurring character whose profile grew to the reason for the show existing. Do you remember Do The Urkel? That was his dance from the second season of the show and is lovingly cringe worthy. It’s also something that kids will still laugh out loud to and want to do. For proof of that, just search #DoTheUrkel on social media and watch the nostalgia.