Although several beloved ABC TGIF sitcoms have had reboots and revivals over the years — with varying degrees of success — Family matters will probably never be among them, star Jaleel White shared.
Speaking during 90s Con 2024 in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Sunday, September 15, the actor, who famously played Steve Urkel, gave several reasons why he doesn’t think Family matters revival could succeed.
“That’s the hardest question I’ve had to answer in a very long time,” White, 47, said during a panel titled “The Evolution of Jaleel White.” “But I’m really studying why our shows work. And it has nothing to do with not loving our old estate, are you kidding me? I do Family matters more than any of you could love Family matters“, he told the crowd.
But, he continued, “I also know our strengths and weaknesses the way a wounded coach knows his lineup. I’m not going to test us on the field for anything less than absolute victory.”
First, he noted, “We’ve lost cast members,” referring to actresses Michelle Thomas and Rosetta LeNoire, who died in 1998 and 2002, respectively.
Reginald VelJohnson and Jaleel White in a 1990 episode of ‘Family Matters’.
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Jaleel White reveals he plays Steve Urkel Family matters It left his voice damaged for years
Thomas played Myra Monkhouse, the girlfriend of White’s Urkel, who partly made Kellie Shanygne Williams’ Laura Winslow jealous and ended up with Steve.
“Part of the magic Family matters it was that it always dragged on so Steve didn’t get the girl. Then he came [alter ego] Stefan and it created this other dynamic,” he said. “I’m just doing a reboot Family matters where Steve is married to Laura, there is no tension. You’d watch one episode and you’d find that my voice was a little bit deeper and you’d get mad at that,” he said with a laugh.
“If Michelle was here, I might try the old college Michelle and Kellie triangle, but without that, I just don’t want to do it straight. Fuller House reboot, it wouldn’t work.”
White called Full house and Fuller House star Candace Cameron Bure is a “dear friend” and showed off his cast for what their 2016 Netflix revival is “capable of doing.” Fuller House ran for five seasons, following the stories of grown-up DJ Tanner (Cameron Bure), sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and best friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), who live together in the Tanners’ childhood home.
But for family matters, “life has changed,” he continued. “Shall we really say Family matters without smartphones? I feel like the magic in what you were watching didn’t have any of those components and it just belongs in the ’90s.”
The cast of ‘Family Matters:’ Where are they now?
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Jaleel White as Steve Urkel in ‘Family Matters’ 1990 and 2023 ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Alberto Rodriguez/GA/Getty
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“These restarts have a responsibility,” he added, emphasizing Roseanne revival The Conners as a rare success story. “Give you a little of the old, but don’t neglect the brand new. I liked it, I’m committed to that if I touch something Family matters at this moment.”
Elsewhere on the panel, White talked about how he damaged his voice playing Urkel over the years, but said the highlight of his time on the show was “being able to do a half-hour of comedy at the highest level.”
“I wouldn’t do anything differently,” he added. “It was a great experience and it was a small sacrifice for one hell of a legacy.”
White will share more about his life and career in his upcoming book, Growing up Urkel, out this November.
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Source: HIS Education