Family Matters
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Family Matters

Family Matters

6.8(334 votes)
9 Seasons
215 Episodes
September 22, 1989
ComedyFamily

Overview

A long-running dramedy centering on the Winslow family, a middle-class African American family living in Chicago, and their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel. A spin-off of Perfect Strangers.

Status

Ended

Created By

Michael Warren, William Bickley

Network

ABC, CBS

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Seasons & Episodes

Season 1

Season 1

September 22, 1989
Episodes

Episodes

The Mama Who Came to Dinner
Episode 1
The Mama Who Came to Dinner
September 22, 198924m7.5

Mother Winslow moves in and immediately begins to usurp Carl's authority. Eddie wants to go out with his friends, but he has a strict curfew that complicates things with Carl.

Two-Income Family
Episode 2
Two-Income Family
September 29, 198924m8.5

Hariette loses her job to automation, forcing the family into austerity measures while Carl stews over the family debts.

Short Story
Episode 3
Short Story
October 6, 198924m8.5

Rachel writes a short story with characters that seem all too familiar; Carl becomes obsessed with the family's out of proportion water bill.

Rachel's First Date
Episode 4
Rachel's First Date
October 13, 198924m8.0

The Winslows finally get to be alone together when Rachel accepts a date with a man from the church choir.

Straight A's
Episode 5
Straight A's
October 20, 198924m7.0

Eddie comes home with straight A's on his report card and the whole family is proud of him. Rodney comes over and tells him that he changed the grades on the report cards on the school computer. Eddie doesn't want to tell the truth because he fears that he will hurt Carl's feelings.

Basketball Blues
Episode 6
Basketball Blues
November 3, 198924m

Carl's efforts to get Eddie psyched for a pro basketball career is enhanced by a visit from basketball star Bolton.

Body Damage
Episode 7
Body Damage
November 10, 198924m8.0

Rachel takes an unauthorized spin in the classic automobile that Carl plans to drive in the Columbus Day Parade.

Mr. Badwrench
Episode 8
Mr. Badwrench
November 17, 198924m7.0

Self-proclaimed handyman Carl decides to install a shower in Mother Winslow's quarters while she's out of town.

Stake-Out
Episode 9
Stake-Out
November 24, 198924m8.0

After Carl is on an all-night stakeout with his attractive new partner, Harriette finds a room key to Louie's Love Grotto in his pocket.

False Arrest
Episode 10
False Arrest
December 1, 198924m

The Winslows are aghast to discover that their TV idol has been arrested for assaulting a police officer - Officer Carl Winslow.

The Quilt
Episode 11
The Quilt
December 8, 198924m

Laura sells a quilt Grandmother Winslow considered an heirloom.

Laura's First Date
Episode 12
Laura's First Date
December 15, 198924m

Laura wants to go to an upcoming dance with a good-looking boy. Carl and Eddie try to find Laura a date. Carl asks Steve Urkel to take Laura to the dance, while Eddie asks one of his friends to take her out. When Laura finds out what happened, she is humiliated.

Man's Best Friend
Episode 13
Man's Best Friend
January 5, 199024m

Carl has a rule he intends to enforce not pets in the house until he meets a big, playful puppy who follows the kids home from school.

Baker's Dozens
Episode 14
Baker's Dozens
January 12, 199024m

Thanks to Rachel's brainstorm, Carl could become the "king of tarts" if he shares his secret recipe for lemon tarts, which were a big hit at a local restaurant.

The Big Reunion
Episode 15
The Big Reunion
January 19, 199024m8.0

Carl decides to lose weight before going to his high-school reunion.

The Party
Episode 16
The Party
February 2, 199024m

A "No Guests" rule spells no fun for Eddie, who's left in charge of the house while the adults are away for the weekend.

The Big Fix
Episode 17
The Big Fix
February 9, 199024m

Eddie persuades Laura to date a guy he's indebted to.

Sitting Pretty
Episode 18
Sitting Pretty
February 16, 199024m

Laura's babysitting service floods the house with children at a bad time on the night Carl has invited his captain over.

In a Jam
Episode 19
In a Jam
March 16, 199024m

Eddie wants to do the right thing when faced with protecting Steve from a bully who threatens to beat him up, which could get Eddie creamed as well.

The Candidate
Episode 20
The Candidate
March 23, 199024m7.0

Eddie places image over integrity in his class president bid when image-maker Laura offers a thousand points of light to illuminate his campaign.

Bowl Me Over
Episode 21
Bowl Me Over
April 13, 199024m

The men vie with the women in a bowling match and Carl's philosophy about accepting defeat gracefully ends up in the gutter when Harriette aces him out.

Rock Video
Episode 22
Rock Video
April 27, 199024m

When Eddie's big ego threatens to disband his group during the making of a rock video for a contest, the rest of the Winslows offer some ideas.

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Top Cast

Reginald VelJohnson

Reginald VelJohnson

Carl Winslow

Darius McCrary

Darius McCrary

Eddie Winslow

Kellie Shanygne Williams

Kellie Shanygne Williams

Laura Winslow

Jaleel White

Jaleel White

Steve Urkel

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