Family Matters (Seasons 1–9)

Family Matters (1989) is a beloved American family sitcom you can watch online on iFILM. Set in Chicago, it follows the Winslow household — cop Carl (Reginald VelJohnson), his wife, three kids, and the grandma who keeps everyone honest — as they navigate everyday middle-class life with warmth and plenty of chaos.

The show was designed as a spin-off of Perfect Strangers and a straightforward family comedy. Then Steve Urkel walked through the door. Played by Jaleel White, the accident-prone, suspender-wearing, nasal-voiced nerd next door turned a supporting part into one of the most recognizable characters of 1990s American television. The series ran nine seasons — first on ABC, then CBS — until 1998.

Few sitcoms can point to a single guest appearance that redirected the entire run. That Urkel did it in one episode says something about what the show actually was: flexible, funny, and willing to follow its best idea wherever it led. Stream all seasons of Family Matters online on iFILM.