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The Pillars of the Block: The Unforgettable Shows

TGIF worked because the shows were good. Like, “invite them into your living room every week” good. The characters felt like family. The stories felt like ours. Let’s break ’em down.

Full House

You can’t talk TGIF without the Tanners. Full House was the family sitcom—warm, hilarious, and totally unapologetic about making you feel stuff. Think: widowed dad Danny, his three girls, his rock-and-roll brother-in-law Jesse, and his goofy best friend Joey. That house was chaos, but the good kind.

One minute you’re cackling at Joey’s silly voices or Jesse’s Elvis obsession (remember his hair? Iconic), the next you’re sniffling because Danny’s giving Michelle a talk about being kind. The Tanners solved problems with hugs and honest chats—corny? Maybe. But it worked. And those catchphrases? Stephanie’s “How rude!” Michelle’s “You got it, dude”—we all used those. Admit it.

Family Matters

Family Matters started as the Winslow family’s story, but let’s be real—their nerdy, accident-prone neighbor Steve Urkel stole the whole thing. Guy in high-water pants, suspenders, and that iconic “Did I do that?” line? Comedic gold. His well-meaning but disaster-filled inventions (remember the robot? Yikes) and his never-give-up crush on Laura? We couldn’t get enough.

But it wasn’t just slapstick. The Winslows were a regular middle-class family, and the show didn’t shy away from serious stuff—just wrapped it in humor and heart. Taught us it’s okay to be a little nerdy, y’know? To be you, even if you stand out.

Boy Meets World

Boy Meets World wasn’t just a sitcom for my generation. It was a guidebook for growing up. We followed Cory Matthews from awkward middle school (that bowl cut! ) to college—learned every lesson right with him. Comedy mixed with drama, no sugarcoating the weirdness of being a teen.

Cory and Shawn’s friendship? Him and Topanga’s first love? We lived those moments. And Mr. Feeny? That wise old teacher/neighbor with the perfect advice (“Believe in yourselves” or whatever that sage line was)? Total legend. Show taught us mistakes are okay—just learn from ’em. And that the people who love you? They stick around.

Step by Step

Step by Step was like The Brady Bunch for our time—blended family chaos, but make it funny. Frank Lambert and Carol Foster, two single parents, decide to get married on a whim and merge their families. Cue: Frank’s rough-and-tumble kids clashing with Carol’s more polished ones. Messy? Absolutely. Hilarious? 100%.

But here’s the thing—they always came together. Show made blended families feel normal, like yeah, you fight over the remote or who has to do dishes, but love and laughter fix most things.

More Than Sitcoms: The ‘TGIF’ Event

What made TGIF special? It wasn’t just shows. It was an event. ABC went all in to make it feel like a two-hour party every Friday.

Started with a catchy theme song and those little animated clips with all the stars—you’d see Michelle Tanner next to Urkel, and it felt like they were all hanging out. Remember those? So fun.

Between shows, the cast would pop up—often in character—to introduce the next one, joke around. Felt like all those characters lived in the same world, y’know? Like a big TV family reunion.

And sometimes, they did! TGIF loved crossovers. The “Time Warp” one? Where a magic ball sent Sabrina, Cory, and all those characters to different decades? Total fan candy. Getting to see your faves interact? Unbeatable. My sister and I rewatched that episode like five times.

Laugh Tracks and Life Lessons: The Feel-Good Formula

The TGIF formula was simple, but genius: family stories, goofy humor, big heart, and lines you’d repeat for weeks. These shows were made for the whole family—something for kids (the slapstick), something for parents (the quiet heart moments). No dark stuff, just light, silly laughs and stories that felt like our own.

They didn’t avoid tough stuff, though. Loss, peer pressure, growing pains—they tackled it all, but gently. Never hit you over the head with a lesson. Just… showed it. Like when Cory messed up with Topanga and had to apologize? Or when the Winslows talked about honesty? You walked away going, “Oh, right—that’s how you handle that.”

The Enduring Legacy of a Family Tradition

Eventually, the golden age of TGIF faded. The shows ended, and we all started watching TV differently—streaming, binging, not gathering on the couch as much. ABC tried to bring it back later, but it never felt the same. Magic’s hard to replicate.

But the legacy? Oh, it’s still here. Those shows are on streaming now, reruns everywhere. A whole new generation’s falling in love with the Tanners and Urkel. Proves that feel-good stuff never gets old. In a world that’s always chaos, there’s something nice about going back to those episodes—back to a time when Friday nights were sacred, and all you needed was pizza, family, and TGIF.

TGIF was packed with classics. What was your family’s must-watch? The one you’d beg to stay up for? Drop it in the comments—I’m curious.

The Feel-Good Formula: A Look Back at ABC's Legendary 'TGIF' Lineup