Family Matters
The Winslows are a normal enough family except for one thing: their neighbor Steve Urkel. A genius and a klutz, Steve creates some really weird inventions while driving the Winslows insane and nursing an unrequited crush on the Winslows' second child and first daughter Laura.
- Metascore51
- 1989-1998
- 9 seasons
- ABC
- Action & Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Science Fiction
- TV-G
The Winslows are a normal enough family except for one thing: their neighbor Steve Urkel. A genius and a klutz, Steve creates some really weird inventions while driving the Winslows insane and nursing an unrequited crush on the Winslows' second child and first daughter Laura.
Season 1 Episode Guide
22 Episodes 1989 - 1990
Episode 1
The Mama Who Came to Dinner
Fri, Sep 22, 1989 23 mins
In the pilot episode, viewers meet the rest of Chicago Chronicle elevator operator Harriette Winslow's family. The first plot centers around her husband, Carl, a police sergeant with the Chicago Police Department. He's uptight when he learns that his mother, Estelle (aka Mother Winslow), is moving in - especially since his position as the family's "Head Kahuna" is threatened.
Episode 2
Two Income Family
Fri, Sep 29, 1989 23 mins
Harriette loses her job as elevator operator at the Chicago Chronicle when she asks for a raise. The lack of a second income into the Winslow household puts additional strain on the budget, prompting Harriette to apply for an opening as head of security. Initially, she's turned down, but her impassioned speech about what skills she has makes quite the impression.
Episode 3
Short Story
Fri, Oct 6, 1989 24 mins
Harriette's widowed sister, Rachel Crawford, is a budding freelance writer who has just written a short story. She's really excited when Tomorrow's Woman magazine wants to buy the story, but no one else (except Eddie) wants to celebrate. It seems they've read the story, see negative representations of themselves in Rachel's characters and are offended that she's using her story as a way to express her frustrations about them.
Episode 4
Rachel's First Date
Fri, Oct 13, 1989 23 mins
Recently widowed Rachel is nervous about her first date since the death of her husband.
Episode 5
Straight A's
Fri, Oct 20, 1989 23 mins
To everyone's surprise, Eddie comes home with a report card with straight A's. Eddie's even more surprised, since he knows his academic performance has been what could be best described as marginal. Eddie later finds out his buddy Rodney Beckett was behind the scheme. Things soon become a matter of conscience: Don't say anything and have his parents be proud of him, or tell the truth?
Episode 6
Basketball Blues
Fri, Nov 3, 1989 23 mins
Carl wants Eddie to become a big-time basketball star, and invites star player Will "The Thrill' Morgan over for encouragement. But Morgan sees through Carl's desire to live out his dreams through Eddie and helps set him straight.
Episode 7
Body Damage
Fri, Nov 10, 1989 23 mins
Carl is given accolades for being the officer with the best safety record in Chicago and is chosen to drive an antique police car in a parade. All goes well until Rachel damages it and uses her automobile knowledge to fix it without Carl knowing.
Episode 8
Mr. Badwrench
Fri, Nov 17, 1989 23 mins
Carl wants to build a bathroom for Mother Winslow. Ignoring Harriette's plea to call a contractor to do the work properly, Carl recruits Eddie in an inept attempt to renovate one of the unused rooms downstairs.
Episode 9
Stake-Out
Fri, Nov 24, 1989 23 mins
Carl and his attractive new partner, Vanessa, are involved in a stake-out in a hotel room. Harriette worries (over nothing, as it turns out) that Carl will put aside his professionalism and try to woo Vanessa.
Episode 10
False Arrest
Fri, Dec 1, 1989 23 mins
Carl is working security at a television station where Buddy Goodrich, an actor, tapes a hit show that the rest of the Winslow family loves to watch. Carl asks him to move his car from a front of a fire lane, where he illegally parked, and finds out that the "real" Buddy Goodrich is rude and arrogant. Buddy assaults Carl, taking a swing at him. Carl arrests him. When his family finds out, they believe he was in the wrong and ignore him, and urges him to apologize to Buddy. It is only after Buddy Goodrich visits Carl at his home, unbeknownst to both of them, the rest of the Winslows overhear the conversation in which Buddy admits what he did and tries to bribe Carl, saying he will have have his assistant lie at the hearing, that the Winslow family sees him for the type of person he is. Buddy is thrown out of the house.
Episode 11
The Quilt
Fri, Dec 8, 1989 25 mins
Estelle shows off an heirloom quilt that's been in the Winslow family for more than 200 years. Despite being told not to sell the quilt at the family's garage sale, Laura accidentally does so when a museum curator offers $200 for it. Laura then goes all out to get the quilt back, using a tearful speech to soften up the stubborn curator. Estelle is impressed and lets Laura keep the quilt until it's her turn to pass it down a generation.
Episode 12
Laura's First Date
Fri, Dec 15, 1989 30 mins
The episode that ensured "Family Matters'" success. It all began with Laura bemoaning her inability to get a date with cute classmate Mark for the school dance. Eddie and Carl make well-meaning attempts to set Laura up with someone. It is Carl who - in a decision he'd live to regret - sets his daughter up with Steven Q. Urkel. The quintessential nerd drives everyone batty just being himself. Even though Laura eventually gets over her shyness and asks Mark out, Urkel decides to stay until 10 p.m. - the earliest his folks want him home - and makes himself at home!
Episode 13
Man's Best Friend
Fri, Jan 5, 1990 25 mins
Man's best friend isn't a dog, at least in Carl's eyes, when a stray pooch follows the kids home. Carl wants to get rid of the dog, but his feelings begin to change when the dog scares off unwelcome visitor Urkel. Carl soon becomes attached to the dog, but it isn't long before the canine disrupts the family routine.
Episode 14
Baker's Dozen
Fri, Jan 12, 1990 25 mins
Carl's lemon tarts - made using a secret recipe - is a big hit with Rachel's church group. One of her friends is a restaurant manager who wants to buy dozens of the tarts. Carl agrees to turn the kitchen into a makeshift bakery ... and with less than 24 hours to fulfill the contract, the results are disastrous.
Episode 15
The Big Reunion
Fri, Jan 19, 1990 25 mins
Carl tries to lose some weight in time for an upcoming class reunion, where he is expected to perform with his high school band.
Episode 16
The Party
Fri, Feb 2, 1990 30 mins
Carl leaves Eddie in charge of the household while the adults go on an overnight trip. There's one major rule: No guests allowed! Eddie obeys at first, but then Rodney comes over to deliver pizza. Then two pretty girls show up ... and things quickly spiral into a huge house party that Eddie quickly loses control over. Rival football players even play football with Urkel! Only when Carl and Harriette arrive home early does everything calm down ... that is, until Urkel utters from inside the sofa, "Party of the year!"
Episode 17
The Big Fix
Fri, Feb 9, 1990 30 mins
Eddie's flunking algebra and has nowhere else to turn but math-whiz Urkel. Urkel agrees to help Edd-o on one condition: He gets a date with Laura. And just so he'll get what he wants, he takes Eddie's Prince concert tickets for collateral. Laura reluctantly agrees to go with Urkel on a "non-date," which goes just as one would expect. In the end, Harriette assures Laura that Urkel is well satisfied - and then the phone rings!
Episode 18
Sitting Pretty
Fri, Feb 23, 1990 30 mins
Seeking a promotion, Carl invites no-nonsense Capt. Davenport over for dinner. Simple enough, except he doesn't know that Laura - who has opened a baby-sitting service - is looking after dozens of crazy children. Carl is sure his promotion (not to mention job) is down the drain, especially when Capt. Davenport is a little tied up thanks to the kids. But things turn out OK when Capt. Davenport moans, "You ruined the game" and admits he loves children.
Episode 19
In a Jam
Fri, Mar 16, 1990 30 mins
A bully named Bull Watson terrorizes Urkel into giving up his lunch money. Urkel wants Eddie to stick up for him, but gets no sympathy. That is, Rodney witnesses Urkel sticking up for himself and Bull threatening him with serious injury if he refuses to hand over his lunch money. After going to Carl for some advice, Eddie decides to fight Bull ... and easily defeats him.
Episode 20
The Candidate
Fri, Mar 23, 1990 25 mins
Eddie is persuaded to run for class president vs. Margie Flatman. Rodney - and later, Laura - decide that a campaign of style is better than substance, but Eddie eventually sees that Margie is simply more qualified for the job than he is and drops out.
Episode 21
Bowl Me Over
Fri, Apr 20, 1990 25 mins
It's the guys (don't forget Urkel) vs. the gals in grudge match at the bowling alley. The usual hijinks ensue, and a huge argument breaks out. Then a severe thunderstorm knocks out the power, and Estelle later points out that it was God calling everyone to their senses.
Episode 22
Rock Video
Fri, Apr 27, 1990 25 mins
Eddie wants to make a rock video for a TV contest, but finds himself in a bind when his band deserts him. No wonder, Harriette points out: "That was a love letter from Eddie Winslow, to Eddie Winslow!" Eddie decides he needs to change his narcissistic attitude and recruits Urkel and his family to make a rock video ("We Are a Family") that everyone can be proud of.