Review: the later seasons of Family Matters

What started off as a cautionary tale of getting too close to your neighbor, and the inexplicable reasons for constantly letting that neighbor in your home, turned into why that neighbor is now part of that family that matters. That could've been handled with some gravitas and charm with some heartfelt being felt by hearts. But, uh, no. The late seasons of Family Matters basically turned into Steve Urkel becomes even more Steve Urkel. Gone are his endearing qualities replaced by more high pitch maneuvering and goofy mix-ups. Also, the grandma didn't die. That would've been something. Carl himself become more straight man pandering, not letting Reginald VelJohnson do any acting.

Did family really matter in Family Matters? Eddie and Laura were too dependent on their family, learning lessons from them each week. These 2 chuckleheads can clearly not make it in the real world, because they are too busy mattering about family. That's not even a huge beef with late seasons of the show. Where is Rachel? And if Rachel is gone, how come her son Richie is there with a new cuter Hip-Hopier kid named, uh, 3J. What did 3J offer? More shenanigans for the kids! Which is no trust in your established characters. Why can't they carry the show anymore? Because the writers are lazy and their laziness got in the way so many years ago that this train was wrecking years ago. We got more Stefa Urkel and situations where his science made crazy things happen, or more special episodes about guns, but we got less heart. And for a show subsequently lacking heart it meant doom. Family Matters was shoved over to CBS for its last season on Friday nights, a great place for a show to fade away. It also had Steve living with the Winslows, which- I don't get at all. Family Matters was hijacked by the nascent Steve Urkel upon its arrival. When thought and reason entered their child viewers minds, that spelled doom for a show not willing to make itself better or break from a mold of its break-out character. Waldo was kind of funny though. Kind of.