Family Matters: How the Show Was Connected to Perfect Strangers

Two of the most popular sitcoms during the 1980s and 1990s were Perfect Strangers and Family Matters, both of which made it to ABC’s primetime “TGIF” lineup. Anyone who was around between 1986 and 1998 remembers characters like the nerdy Steve Urkel, with his bumbling “Did I do that?” catchphrase, and the strangely happy-go-lucky Balki Bartokomous from the fictional Mediterranean island of Mypos. What they might not have realized is that the two shows were actually connected.

Both series began airing in the late 1980s, with PerfectStrangers being the older of the two thanks to its debut in 1986. They overlapped for several years afterward. But those who were paying close attention may have caught on to a little detail that connected Family Matters and Perfect Strangers in another unique way.

Family Matters Wouldn’t Exist Without Perfect Strangers

Perfect Strangers was about Wisconsin native Larry Appleton, who had just moved to Chicago and was ready to enjoy the bachelor life. That plan was upended when Balki — his previously unknown family member from overseas — dropped in for an extended stay. The sitcom followed the duo’s development while the naive and upbeat Balki adjusted to life in America under Larry’s well-meaning but often misplaced guidance.

Both characters would work at the Chicago Chronicle newspaper, with Larry’s connections as a reporter helping Balki get a job in the mailroom. They’d eventually marry two best friends and start their own separate lives, but the premise kept Perfect Strangers on the air for a solid eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. The show’s success also paved the way for the progressive series Family Matters.

Family Matters Is Actually a Perfect Strangers Spinoff

Family Matters featured the Winslows, a middle-class family also based on Chicago. Lasting longer than its predecessor, Family Matters ran from 1989 to 1997 and centered on policeman Carl Winslow and his busy life dealing with his large household. One of the show’s most famous characters was Urkel, the neighbor who had a crush on Carl’s daughter Laura. However, actor Jaleel White allegedly caused controversy on the set.

Yet Family Matters was a Perfect Strangers spinoff, developed by producers Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett. Carl’s wife Harriette Winslow first appeared on Perfect Strangers as an elevator operator in the office building that housed the Chicago Chronicle, where Larry and Balki worked. Carl also debuted on the show in an episode called “Crimebusters,” in which he helped Larry get a scoop for an investigative report. His appearance set the stage for Family Matters, which also cemented that the two series existed in the same fictional universe well before such things became popular on TV.