Family Matters is an
Emmy Award-winning American
sitcom about an
African-American middle-class family living in
Chicago. The series was
spun-off from
Perfect Strangers and revolves around the Winslow family. Midway through the first season, the show introduced the Winslow's nerdy neighbor
Steve Urkel (played by
Jaleel White), who quickly became its
breakout character, and eventually a main character.
Family Matters aired from September 22, 1989, to September 19, 1997, on
ABC, and moved to
CBS from September 19, 1997, to July 17, 1998. Having aired 215 episodes,
Family Matters is the second longest-running U.S. sitcom with a predominantly
African-American cast, surpassed only by
The Jeffersons.
[www.imdb.com/title/tt0096579/trivia] It was filmed in front of a live studio audience at WB studios in
Burbank, California.
[www.kellie-williams.com/about.htm#HOLLYWOOD%20MATTERS]]
Family Matters was created by William Bickley and Michael Warren (who also wrote for, and were producers of parent series
Perfect Strangers) and developed by Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett (also producers of
Perfect Strangers), it was also executive produced by Bickley, Warren, Miller and Boyett. The series was produced by
Miller-Boyett Productions, in association with
Lorimar Television who co-produced the show until 1993, when
Warner Bros. Television absorbed Lorimar (a sister company under the
Time Warner banner) in 1993). Starting with season three, the series was also produced by
Bickley-Warren Productions. It was often rated TV-PG on
ABC Family although on
Nick at Nite the 1997-1998 episodes are rated TV-G.