Family Matters is an 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 Winslows' 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.