Family Matters (TV series)

From the Winslows to the Nerd

While Family Matters originally focused on the Winslow family, later episodes centered almost exclusively on Urkel. Plots centered on his unrequited, long-standing crush for Laura; his unannounced visits to the Winslow home at inopportune times; and his constantly backfiring inventions wreaking havoc on the Winslows (with comic foil Carl the most frequent victim). His visits were so frequent, that Richie would call Urkel "Uncle Steve." Despite the perceived annoyance, everyone always stuck up for Urkel and appreciated his help and company (although this realization usually didn't happen until after a series of misunderstandings).

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Aside from Urkel, Eddie and Laura had other friends. Eddie's friends were Rodney Beckett (during the first and second seasons; Randy Josselyn was the series' lone white regular), the streetwise Weasel (Shavar Ross) and dim-witted Waldo Geraldo Faldo (Shawn Harrison). Laura's best friend in the first season was Penny. Starting in the second season, Laura's best friend was Maxine (Cherie Johnson).

Related Topics:
Randy Josselyn - Shavar Ross - Shawn Harrison - Cherie Johnson

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During the fourth season, in an effort to rid herself of Urkel, Laura and her then-boyfriend Ted introduced him to Ted's cousin Myra Monkhouse (Michelle Thomas). She was a pretty girl who had huge crushes for nerds. Urkel tried his best to devote himself to Myra, but his heart always stayed true to Laura. In the end, Urkel's dream finally came true: Laura's feelings for him softened in later seasons, and during the 1997-1998 season, the two fell in love and became engaged. This was much to Myra's chagrin, who always saw Laura as a competitor for Urkel's affections; the two never got along.

Related Topics:
Myra Monkhouse - Michelle Thomas

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As time went by the characters and stories changed. Richie grew up, Steve made increasingly incredible and more improbable inventions, including a transformation chamber, which he often used to change into cool, sexy Stefan Urquelle to get to Laura. Also notable, he invented a cloning machine, a long story of how Stefan became permanently real. Eddie, who attended the police academy so he could follow in his father's footsteps, also gained a steady girlfriend in Greta McClure (Tammy Townsend). Carl and Hariette took in a local youth named 3J (Orlando Brown who was introduced as part of an episode paying tribute to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program). Urkel's cousin from Biloxi, Myrtle Urkel (also played by White), often tried to attract and flirt with Eddie.

Related Topics:
Stefan Urquelle - Tammy Townsend - Orlando Brown - Big Brothers Big Sisters of America - Biloxi - Myrtle Urkel

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