X
  • 1989
  • TV-14
  • ABC
  • 1989
  • TV-14
  • ABC
Family Matters

Summary A perfect spin-off from Perfect Strangers: Family Matters focused on Harriet Winslow (the elevator operator from the Chronicle) and her family of sorts. Carl Winslow, her husband, was a dutiful cop, and a gruff and lovable father to three kids: Eddie Winslow, the rebel son; Laura Winslow, the smart-aleck daughter; and cute little Judy Wi...

Created By: William Bickley, Michael Warren

  • 1989
  • TV-14
  • ABC
  • 1989
  • TV-14
  • ABC

Family Matters

9 Seasons
Season 1 Premiere: Sep 22, 1989
Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 9 Critic Reviews
51
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 30 User Ratings
7.3
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary A perfect spin-off from Perfect Strangers: Family Matters focused on Harriet Winslow (the elevator operator from the Chronicle) and her family of sorts. Carl Winslow, her husband, was a dutiful cop, and a gruff and lovable father to three kids: Eddie Winslow, the rebel son; Laura Winslow, the smart-aleck daughter; and cute little Judy Wi...

Created By: William Bickley, Michael Warren

Where to Watch

All Seasons

View All Seasons
9 Seasons

Top Cast

View All
View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 9 Critic Reviews
51
44% Positive
4 Reviews
22% Mixed
2 Reviews
33% Negative
3 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 9 Critic Reviews
51
44% Positive
4 Reviews
22% Mixed
2 Reviews
33% Negative
3 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
83
Jun 7, 2013
Family Matters offers a picture of black family life that takes its middle-class ordinariness for granted, which is unusual for TV. Even more unusual, it's a show you can watch with your whole family, and chances are, everyone will get a few good laughs out of it.
By Ken Tucker FULL REVIEW
80
Aug 16, 2013
Family Matters has assembled one of the most broadly appealing casts seen in recent years. Reginald VelJohnson, who played the sympathetic cop in the movie "Die Hard," is almost irresistible as a character. And yet the show's concept is so familiar that Family Matters will have to struggle to be fresh, to avoid going over old ground, to give its characters texture and definition. The potential for some excellent comedy is certainly here. [18 Sept 1989, p.1D]
By Eric Mink FULL REVIEW
70
Jul 2, 2013
With his deft timing and vaudeville hamminess, White brings such extravagant high spirits to the role that he is hard not to like.
By Richard Zoglin FULL REVIEW
40
Aug 16, 2013
A homogenous Cosby Show clone with no distinguishable character...It's inoffensive and sometimes affectionate, as when the clan pulls together in the second episode after Harriette loses her job. It might play, then, on ABC's benign made-for-baby-sitters Friday lineup.[21 Sept 1989, p.3D]
By Matt Roush FULL REVIEW
40
Aug 16, 2013
Though inoffensive, this is as standard as sitcom gets. [22 Sept 1989, p.1]
By Rick Kogan FULL REVIEW
25
Aug 16, 2013
There are plenty of black faces on this show, but there should be red faces at producing a comedy with so few laughs. Family Matters makes "The Cosby Show" still look fresh. Family Matters makes "Father Knows Best" look fresh. The writing is practically nonexistent. [22 Sept 1989, p.29]
By Ed Siegel FULL REVIEW
20
Aug 16, 2013
One of the most forgettable [newcomers].[22 Sept 1989, p.C28]
By Howard Rosenberg FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 30 User Ratings
7.3
80% Positive
24 Ratings
17% Mixed
5 Ratings
3% Negative
1 Rating

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 30 User Ratings
7.3
80% Positive
24 Ratings
17% Mixed
5 Ratings
3% Negative
1 Rating

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

 View All
Production Company:
  • Bickley-Warren Productions
  • Lorimar Television
  • Miller/Boyett Productions
  • Warner Bros. Television
Initial Release Date: Sep 22, 1989
Number of seasons: 9 Seasons
Rating: TV-14
Genres:
All Details

Awards

Young Artist Awards
• 3 Wins & 14 Nominations
Image Awards (NAACP)
• 6 Wins & 9 Nominations
BMI Film & TV Awards
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations

Related Shows

Samurai Jack

93
Universal Acclaim

Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal

91
Universal Acclaim

Battlestar Galactica (2003)

89
Universal Acclaim

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock

89
Universal Acclaim

The Baby-Sitters Club (2020)

87
Universal Acclaim

Game of Thrones

86
Universal Acclaim

The Pacific

86
Universal Acclaim

Harley Quinn

86
Universal Acclaim

Shogun (2024)

85
Universal Acclaim

Rick & Morty

85
Universal Acclaim

The Last of Us

84
Universal Acclaim

Lost

84
Universal Acclaim

X-Men '97

82
Universal Acclaim

The Midnight Gospel

82
Universal Acclaim

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

82
Universal Acclaim

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

82
Universal Acclaim

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

82
Universal Acclaim

Star Wars: Visions

81
Universal Acclaim

Toy Story That Time Forgot

81
Universal Acclaim

The Legend of Vox Machina

81
Universal Acclaim

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017)

81
Universal Acclaim

Station Eleven

81
Universal Acclaim

Related News

What to Watch on Netflix Right Now

What to Watch on Netflix Right Now

Jason Dietz

Get a list of the best movies and TV shows recently added (and coming soon) to Netflix, updated frequently. You can also find a list of titles leaving Netflix this month.

  • tv show
What to Watch on Hulu Right Now

What to Watch on Hulu Right Now

Jason Dietz

Get a list of the best movies and TV shows recently added (and coming soon) to Hulu, updated frequently.

  • tv show
What to Watch on Disney+ Right Now

What to Watch on Disney+ Right Now

Jason Dietz

Get a list of the best movies and TV shows recently added (and coming soon) to Disney's streaming service, updated frequently.

  • tv show
April TV Preview (2024)

April TV Preview (2024)

Jason Dietz

The month ahead will bring a series adaptation of the videogame Fallout plus Netflix newcomer Ripley, Park Chan-wook's miniseries The Sympathizer, a sequel to Emmy winner The Jinx, Idris Elba's weirdest project to date, and more.

  • tv show
What to Watch on Paramount+ Right Now

What to Watch on Paramount+ Right Now

Jason Dietz

Find a list of the best movies and TV shows recently added to Paramount+ and Paramount+ With Showtime, plus a list of titles coming soon to the streaming services.

  • tv show
What to Watch on Prime Video Right Now

What to Watch on Prime Video Right Now

Jason Dietz

Get a list of the best movies and TV shows recently added (and coming soon) to Amazon's Prime Video, updated frequently.

  • tv show