they did it to? A retrospective podcast on classic sitcom”Family matters” coming soon, in the latest project to get nostalgic for the old days.
“Welcome to the family with Telma and Kellie,” from iHeartMedias podcast division, is hosted by actors Kellie Williams (who played middle daughter Laura Winslow) and Telma Hopkins (Aunt Rachel). In each episode of the podcast, the duo will share their personal reflections on making “Family Matters,” one of the longest-running sitcoms with a black cast, and discuss their favorite episodes and characters — as well as bring some other cast members into the conversation.
Guests on “Welcome to the Family” will be series producer Bob Boyett, Reggie VelJohnson (Carl Winslow) and Shawn Harrison (Waldo Faldo). Hopkins and Williams will also answer listener questions about the show. In the first episode, the hosts will discuss their personal journey to joining the series, their favorite moments from filming the pilot and the episode’s storyline.
The podcast premieres November 5 on the iHeartRadio app and all major audio platforms. New episodes will be available weekly on subsequent Wednesdays. (Listen to the trailer below.)
Williams said in a statement: “To date, ‘Family Matters’ is one of the most streamed sitcoms and it’s an honor for me to be able to go back in time and remember what it was like as a child growing up on the show and going through some of the same things that my character, Laura Winslow, did. Not to mention doing it with my surrogate mother’s, my closest family member, Telma is truly one of my close friends and my family. as well as reconnecting with the fans and hearing how show influenced them.We hope fans enjoy listening to these episodes as much as we’ve enjoyed making them!
Hopkins added, “My time on ‘Family Matters’ was one of the highlights of not only my career, but my life, the friendships I made have lasted for decades, so it’s incredibly gratifying to relive those episodes with Kellie, who I consider one of my ‘kids,’ and talk about every episode – from the story you don’t know, to the fun for me. Really watching as an ‘audience member’ now, and I love it! Welcome to the family!”
“Welcome to the Family” is produced by Audiation, a New York-based podcast company that produces commissioned and original series in collaboration with brands, celebrities and creators. Audition originals 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 1989-1998. All episodes of “Family Matters” are currently available on Disney’s Hulu.
“Family Matters,” which was a spinoff of “Perfect Strangers,” followed the Chicago-based Winslow family. Its breakout character was nerdy boy genius Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, whose famous catchphrase was “Did I do it?” (Steve Urkel, who lived next door to the Winslows, had a crush on Laura.) Per Hulu’s description of the show: “The extended Winslow family redefines the word ‘togetherness’ as their home splits at the seams with chaos, confusion and laughter.”
Born and raised in Washington, DC, Williams began her acting career at the age of 4. Her breakout moment came with a home video audition, filmed by her father, that secured her the iconic role of Laura Winslow on “Family Matters.”
Hopkins is an actress and singer who first rose to fame as a member of the pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn. She began as a teenager in Detroit singing background vocals on some of Motown’s most memorable hits such as “Reach Out”, “Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “That’s The Way Love Is”, as well as Isaac Hayes’ classic soundtrack from the film “Shaft”. After her singing career, Hopkins appeared in sitcoms including “Bosom Buddies,” Gimme a Break! and “Family Matters,” earning multiple NAACP Image Award nominations and a BET Comedy Award. Her film credits include “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 starred in the Amazon series “Clean Slate” alongside George Wallace and Laverne Cox.
The ensemble cast of “Family Matters” also included Jo Marie Payton, Rosetta LeNoire, Darius McCrary, Kellie Shanygne Williams, Valerie Jones, Joseph and Julius Wright, Telma Hopkins, Jaimee Foxworth, Michelle Thomas, Orlando Brown and Judyann Elder. Bryton James, who played Richie Crawford for eight seasons of “Family Matters,” recently said he’s working on an idea for an animated reboot of the sitcom.
Listen to the trailer for “Welcome to the Family”:
