Did they do that? A retrospective podcast of the classic sitcom Family Matters is coming soon. This is our latest project that aims to explore nostalgia for old TV hits.
iHeartMedia’s podcast division, “Welcome to the Family With Telma and Kellie,” is co-hosted by cast members Kelly Williams (who played middle daughter Laura Winslow) and Thelma Hopkins (Aunt Rachel). In each episode of the podcast, the duo shares their personal thoughts on the making of “Family Matters,” one of the longest-running comedies with a black cast, discussing their favorite episodes and characters, and bringing other cast members into the conversation.
Guest appearances on “Welcome to the Family” include series producer Bob Boyette, Reggie VelJohnson (Carl Winslow), and Sean Harrison (Wald Fuld). Hopkins and Williams will also answer listener questions about the show. In the first episode, the hosts discuss their personal journeys to joining the series, their favorite moments from filming the pilot, and the episode’s storyline.
The podcast will premiere on the iHeartRadio app and all major audio platforms on November 5th. New episodes are released every Wednesday. (Listen to the trailer below.)
Williams said in a statement: “To this day, ‘Family Matters’ is one of the most streamed sitcoms, and it was an honor to be able to reminisce about my childhood, grow up on this show, and experience the same things that my character, Laura Winslow, went through. Not to mention, I also got to play my surrogate mother, Thelma. Thelma is one of my best friends and truly a part of my family and family.” We’re able to reconnect with our fans and hear how the show has affected them, and we hope they enjoy listening to these episodes as much as we enjoyed making them. ”
Hopkins added, “My time on ‘Family Matters’ was one of the highlights not only of my career, but of my life. The friendships I made have lasted for decades, so it’s extremely satisfying to be able to relive these episodes with Kelly, who I consider one of my ‘kids,’ and talk about each episode, from the storylines you know to the behind-the-scenes things you don’t know.” What’s fun for me is that I can really see myself as the main character in the movie. Now I’m ‘member of the audience’ and I love it, welcome to the family, everyone! ”
“Welcome to the Family” is produced by Audiation, a New York-based podcast company that partners with brands, celebrities and creators to produce commissioned original series. Audition’s original works include “Gender Spiral with Ally Beardsley and Babette Thomas,” “Leaving the Island,” and “Four Strings and the Truth.”
ABC aired nine seasons of “Family Matters” from 1989 to 1998. All episodes of “Family Matters” are currently available on Disney’s Hulu.
A spin-off of Perfect Strangers, Family Matters followed the Chicago-based Winslow family. Its breakout character was Steve Urkel, a genius nerdy boy played by Jaleel White, whose famous catchphrase was “Did I do that?” (Steve Arkell, who lived next door to the Winslows, was smitten with Laura.) According to Hulu’s show description, “The extended Winslows redefine the word ‘together’ as chaos, chaos and laughter tear apart their home.”
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ms. Williams began her acting career at the age of four. Her breakout moment was a home video audition filmed by her father that won her the iconic role of Laura Winslow in “Family Matters.”
Hopkins is an actress and singer who first found fame as a member of the pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn. She began her career as a teenager in Detroit singing background vocals on some of Motown’s most memorable hits such as “Reach Out,” “Hard It Through the Grapevine,” and “That’s the Way Love Is,” as well as the classic soundtrack for the Isaac Hayes film “Shaft.” After his singing career, Hopkins appeared in sitcoms such as “Bosom Buddies,” “Gimme a Break!” and “Family Matters,” which was nominated for multiple NAACP Image Awards and won a BET Comedy Award. Her film work includes “The Wood,” “Running Out of Time,” and “The Matrix Resurrections.” She recently appeared in “Brewster’s Millions: Christmas,” and has appeared in the Netflix series “Dead to Me,” as well as “Family Reunion,” “The Family Business,” and the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” She also appeared in the Amazon series “Clean Slate” alongside George Wallace and Laverne Cox.
The ensemble cast of “Family Matters” also included Joe Marie Payton, Rosetta Renoir, Darius McCrary, Kelly Chaigne Williams, Valerie Jones, Joseph and Julius Wright, Thelma Hopkins, Jamie Foxworth, Michelle Thomas, Orlando Brown, and Judyan Elder. Bryton James, who played Richie Crawford on eight seasons of Family Matters, recently said he is working on the idea of an animated reboot of the sitcom.
Listen to the trailer for “Welcome to the Family.”
