I have gone through the thread because the topic is fascinating. I think Jaleel White is feeling slighted, but when you are in the era of The Cosby Show being a copy it is expected that maybe fans would take to contrast shows like Martin and Living Single that broke ground for middle class young black people.
He is doing a disservice to those shows groundbreaking element that Family Matters just couldn't have since Cosby basically saved family sitcoms after the era of Sanford and Son, Good Times, and Jeffersons. Even Married With Children was originally playing off Cosby Show when it was suppose to be called Not The Cosbys.
I know Cosby isn't as revered anymore due to his legal issues, but he was a comedic genius that stressed doing it without vulgarity or stereotypes. Sadly for White and FM cast, people not of the generation when comparing the two will see Ice cream compared to an icicle.
Even when the show went into the ridiculous they made sure to make it a dream episode.
Now this is where context is needed. TGIF was a blockbuster block, but Friday Night was also known as "Friday Night Death Slot" because it was believed youth were out that night. To Family Matters credit, they delivered and the network backed them. ABC turned it into a bonanza ratings spot, but not before the marketing of TGIF. CBS was the king of Friday Night with Dallas and Falcon Crest. It still goes back to wanting to copy the success of Cosby Show though.
The first issue is you can’t compare Family Matters to Living Single, it’s like comparing a Nickelodeon show to Friends. One show was family oriented while the other was for adults. The problem is we lump all things Black together. If you are to rank these shows in its appropriate categories, for Black family shows, Family Matters would rank behind Cosby.
I see the argument for this in terms of categories, but then Family Matters if we are just using families will still have to contend with Sanford and Son(single father yes, but still there are families like that), Fresh Prince, The Jeffersons, Good Times, My Wife and Kids, 227, House of Payne and I know this sitcom didn't even get mentioned yet. However, I see why people group all of it together as sitcom.
It just different twists and viewpoints because there were family elements such as Gina having her parents who weren't hood dispelling what Jaleel is saying.
Heavy d killing drug dealers, Clifton Powell as the perfect villain, live shows..people respected roc… whoa whoa whoaaa
Now if Roc cast says they get overlooked I doubt there would be any backlash because they do get overlooked.
Family matters was a good show when it was still centered on the Winslow family, it turned to shit when it became the Steve urkel show
I think it was a good show that perhaps went on too long to the point they didn't know what to write. The terrible stuff is much more in the latter episodes and seasons much more than other shows that ran that long on air. It has affected the show's legacy.
Not trying to tear it down, but it shouldn't be anywhere near the top 15, IN MY OPINION...granted, it's debatable, but i think that there needs to be a certain standard about what we call top black shows...like if you for example are putting homeboys from outer space over family matters..
.what are we doing here? 
This is where the whole debate heats up. It is going to have strong competition for top 10 ever. You got legitimate shows that people still watch til this day that even got one night reimagined live like this episode.
That’s the thing the show wasn’t based on a geek..he literally was supposed to be a 1 and done character for 1 episode and literally the fans loved his character so much they wanted him back..than he became the show… he literally was an extra that became the main character.. that’s basically never happened b4.. he became a multi millionaire off that.. now why is he mad.. take your money and be happy nig you exceed all expectations and than some
Now if we are comparing shows as is, you know which other classic shows had this same scenario that didn't override the whole show to its detriment?
These classic characters were not suppose to be recurring roles, but fans loved their performances so much they gave them regular roles.
He believed he was the draw. He believed he was gravity. It’s the system, stupid. Bill Reilly thought the same way. Tucker Carlson thought the same way. These guys don’t believe they’re a figment of the machine’s imagination. 50 cent thinks the same way.
Some say this guy's ego was out of control too for What's Happening.
you must have REALLY liked it when it moved to CBS. It was pretty terrible especially when the original mom was replaced.
You dudes coming down on Jaleel need to cut him some slack. No matter what he does, he will always be known as Urkel. i bet he still has people coming up to him asking him to say "Did I do that?" That can weigh on a person psychologically. I think about all the stuff Dustin Diamond (screech from saved by the bell) had to go through and how his life was destroyed just from being screech. Like all these people are millionaires and we should not feel sorry for them, but being known for one thing for the rest of your life can mess with you mentally. He's the only one that has any credibility on speaking about a show where he was a main character and wanted to get credit from the cultural. To your original point, he's wrong because Family Matters was not THAT show. It spoke on issues that were important to us occasionally, but as someone previously stated it was a family show, but in the way Cosby was a family show.
He wasn't the first child actor typecast though. Another topic all together, but does Different Strokes count as a black show?
He did have other various roles though.
One thing that people seem to also forget is that he was almost on the cosby show as Rudy, but bill switched it to a girl at the last minute. Would have been seeing two boys in the house as opposed to just Theo. I think looking back he wants Family Matters to have more cutural credibility, but it just doesn't and there shouldn't be anything wrong with that.
, good storylines, good acting for the most part so i don't understand the hate it's just not as important culturally as some of the others shows.
