The time has finally come for all of you sitcom fans. Family Matters The Complete First Season is finally on DVD!

Release Date: June 8, 2010
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 484 Minutes
Info: 22 Episodes/3 Discs

“Hi, everybody!” Fans of ’90s sitcoms know those words mean Steve Urkel has come to call, bringing lots of geeky, goofy fun with him. A spinoff of Perfect Strangers, Family Matters began as the at-home adventures of elevator operator Harriette Winslow and her multigenerational family. But midway through the first season, Jaleel White made a one-shot appearance as neighborhood nerd Urkel. With oversized glasses, undersized body, screechy voice and indomitable self-confidence, Urkel proved irresistibly funny, turning White into an overnight sensation and a new star of the show. Join Urkel and the Winslows for the 22-episode debut season of the hit series that proclaims love matters, laughing matters, Family Matters!

First off, I find it incredibly interesting that Steve Urkel appears prominently on the DVD cover as well as the episode guide and on all 3 discs considering the show is called “Family Matters” and the one person who isn’t even integrated into a full episode of the show until halfway through the season is the main focus. Though Steve becomes part of the family, he isn’t at all what the show is about in the first half of the season. Perhaps only 2 promotional photos were taken with the family, one with Valerie Jones who played Judy Winslow in the first episode and another before Jaimee Foxworth was recast as Judy. Though isn’t that what screen caps are for? Hmmm. Maybe those responsible for the cover thought that fans would forget what was so memorable about the show aside from Steve?

Anyway, as for watching the first season, viewers will be taken back to 1989 when it all began. As I have never seen the series in order and had only seen a few episodes from Season 1 prior to this, it was quite fun to see how this show that became a phenomenon started. Going into the season, one has to remember that sitcoms are not the same as they used to be. There was more of a generic, predictable outline for the plots so this wasn’t exactly groundbreaking television in the story line aspect. The good thing is, the issues are timeless so it works. But this show will make you laugh. One thing that I did not either realize or remember was how unintelligent Eddie was.

I also did not realize that Eddie’s future best friend, Waldo makes his first appearance in the series in episode 16, “The Party” and is not even his friend at that point. Now whether you are buying this DVD for nostalgic reasons or are buying this DVD to find out what out about this pop culture sensation of a show, you will laugh and and find yourself gathering your family and friends to join in on the fun. I must say, if you have seen the other seasons of the show, the first season is moderately entertaining compared to what is to come. The only disappointment is that there are no bonus features. Not one member of the cast was available to take the time out to discuss anything for this DVD? There’s not even a simple side by side slide show of actor portraits from then and now. Even that would have been something. Ah well, I’ll keep hopeful for bonus features in future seasons.

Own Family Matters The Complete First Season today.