Why The Family Revival Won't Happen, Explained By Star Jaleel White

Jaleel White recently addressed why there won't be a Family matters revival, even though longtime fans have been asking for it. White played Steve Urkel, who went from being a character destined to only appear in one episode to one of the most iconic television characters of the 1990s. The sitcom debuted in September 1989 and aired for nine seasons, with the story of Urkel and the Winslow family culminating in Family matters' final episode, released in July 1998, and cementing a beloved legacy that continues to endure decades later.

The series was a success for combining heartfelt family comedy moments with wacky sci-fi sequences, although the final season struggled after recasting a key character and switching networks. Audiences that grew up with Family matters I would like to see him follow in the footsteps of That 70s show and Full house like classic sitcoms to get sequels or even a whole new revival, but Jaleel White has made it clear why that won't be a happy one.

What Jaeel White Said About a Revival

The actor cites the loss of cast members over the years

Speaking at 90s Con 2024 (via People), White provides several reasons why he does not believe in a Family matters revival would work well. This includes the fact that “We lost cast members” which refers to the passing of Michelle Thomas in 1998 and the passing of Rosetta LeNoire in 2002, who played the respective roles of Myra Monkhouse and Estelle Winslow. White also emphasized that “Life has changed” too much for the Family matters characters, as well as the world around them. Read White's additional comments below:

I really study why our programs work. And it has nothing to do with the fact that I don't love our old property, are you kidding me? I love Family matters more than any of you could love Family matters. I also know our strengths and weaknesses the same way a coach would know his lineup. I will not test us on the field for anything less than an outright victory.

Part of the magic of Family matters was that it always dragged on with Steve not getting the girl. Then it came [alter ego] Stefan and that created this other dynamic. Just doing a reboot Family matters where Steve is married to Laura, there is no tension. You'd watch an episode and find out my voice is a little deeper and you'd be mad about it.

If Michelle were here, I might have tried the old school thing of creating Michelle and Kellie's triangle, but without that I just don't want to do it as a sequel. Most complete house restart, it wouldn't work.

Will we really tell Family matters without smartphones? I feel like the magic of what you watched had none of those components and only belongs to the 90s.

What this means for a family affairs revival

A series sequel will not happen

White's comments make it clear that one Family matters the revival is not currently underway and is highly unlikely to happen. He has a complete understanding of what he did Family matters a hit in the 1990s and recognizes that many of the key elements would be missing from a potential revival. This is in part due to the loss of key cast members, including Thomas, whose absence would already make a revival narratively impossible given what happened previously in the original series.

Classic series like Full house and Roseane are among the few who have had successful revivals in the form of More complete Home and The Conners. White emphasizes that these sitcom revivals are exceptions rather than the rule, and that Family matters doesn't have what it takes for a similar successful series sequel. If a Family matters If the revival were to become a reality, White would need to be at the forefront of it, but that will not happen due to a variety of factors.

He is the best judge of whether a revival could work

As White indicates, much Family mattersThe success was due to the fact that it was a product that occurred and was released during the 1990s. Taking the series out of the 1990s could fundamentally change a lot of things in the series, which will no longer look the same due to the lack of actors. Better watch it again and celebrate Family matters in its original form, and hope that White is part of the cast in the next Star Wars: Skeleton Crew series, along with other projects from the original cast.

Family Matters remains a staple of pop culture today

Reginald VelJohnson paid tribute in a competition series

Like many comedies from the 80s and 90s, Family matters It works because it's quite timeless. Even today, fans can go back and enjoy watching episodes thanks to the heartwarming scenes and hilarious antics. In addition to the ability to rewatch the show and iconic lines like “Did I do that?” Family matters is at the center of modern pop culture whenever the cast appears somewhere.

Jaleel White may not be as active as he once was, but he continues to work, appearing in Netflix's 2022 basketball film, Toil. He even reprized the role of Urkel through voice work in an episode of Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? before doing the same for the Urkel saves Santa Claus Christmas Special. This helped to bring Family matters back to the forefront. Additionally, Reginald VelJohnson played a variation of his TV father in a series of commercials and recently appeared in Dancing with the stars.

Although VelJohnson's previous injury contributed to him not lasting long in the competition series, he made sure to take fans down memory lane with his performances. His legendary role as Carl Winslow was mentioned several times, but it was when he returned for the finale that audiences were in for a real treat. VelJohnson and her professional partner Emma Slater performed a dance to the theme song from Family matters to a huge ovation from the live crowd.

Where to watch Family Matters today

The iconic sitcom is available to stream

While there apparently isn't a revival happening, according to Jaleel White, those who want to enjoy the fun that comes Family matters You can find the sitcom on some streaming services. All nine seasons are currently available to stream on Hulu and Max. Hulu with ads costs $9.99 per month, while the ad-free version costs $18.99 per month. Max is the same price with ads, but the ad-free version costs $16.99 and the “ultimate” ad-free version costs $20.99. There is also the option of bundling the two services.

Of course, streaming partners change constantly, so there's no guarantee that Family matters it will always be available this way. For those who want to always have access, the sitcom can be purchased in full on Apple TV, Amazon and Fandango at Home. The show is also available on DVD for physical collectors online.

Source: '90s Con 2024 (via People)