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 9 Episode Guide
22 Episodes 1997 - 1998
Episode 1
Out with the Old
23 mins
Steve is finally fed up with Myra's refusal to let him change the way he looks. In her eyes, she sees him a perfect 10, the way he is. However, he doesn't see it the same way as her. He feels as long as he dated her, he'll still remain a geek with the hitched up pants and squeaky voice. He makes the executive decision to goes through with the makeover despite her pleading. He even takes speaking lessons from his doctor and the deep voice Sheila. On the night of the kissing contest held by the sorority, Laura wages high for Stefan, but loses the bet to one of her sorority sisters. Greta is the next to bet for Eddie, but she loses to her rival, Myrtle. Finally, Steve shows up in his new look, a green buttoned down shirt, with black slacks reaching to his ankles, new black shoes, no suspenders and oval silver rimmed glasses. He spoke with his new deep voice. While many girls bet for Steve, Laura is impressed by his new look, wins the bet and they share a kiss. Meanwhile, Carl is jealous of Harriette's high promotion that he ends up a second job being a moonlight parker.
Episode 2
They Shoot Ducks, Don't They?
Fri, Sep 26, 1997 23 mins
Urkel tags along with Carl and Commissioner Geiss on a duck hunting trip.
Episode 3
Dumb Belle of the Ball
Fri, Oct 3, 1997 23 mins
After Myrtle has protected Eddie from an accident by moving him out of the way. He ends up accompanying her to her party in Mississippi.
Episode 4
Drinking and Jiving
Fri, Oct 10, 1997 23 mins
When Laura gets drunk at her sorority party one night, Maxine calls Steve to come down to the sorority house to take her home. He gets into a fight with one of the guys as he tries to remove her. After he takes her home, Laura ends up kissing him before passing out. The next morning, Urkel uses frozen peas to nurse a shiner he received from his fight with one of the guys. Later on, she recovers from her hangover and admits to Maxine that she's starting to fall in love with Steve. Meanwhile, Carl and Harriette are quarreling over their anniversary. Carl wants to watch the Bears game against the Packers, but Harriette wants to go on a romantic cruse at Lake Michigan. Eddie is fed up with their fighting that he sets them straight and tells them to compromise before he gets a headache.
Episode 5
Who's Afraid of the Big Black Book?
Fri, Oct 17, 1997 23 mins
Eddie takes his pranks on Laura too far by inviting her ex-boyfriends over to the house whenever Stefan is around. Laura decides to fight fire with fire by conning Steve into helping her get even with her dim-witted brother. She uses his black book, which contains phone numbers of Eddie's previous girlfriends, and invites them over on his birthday. When he and Greta arrive to his birthday party to see his ex-girlfriends, they are incensed by the whole thing. Finally, Steve sets both Eddie and Laura straight on how ungrateful they were to have each other. Steve admits that he was always jealous of them because his parents never loved him and that the Winslows were like his own family. Both siblings apologize soon after. Meanwhile, Commissioner Geiss learns a lesson that sometimes it's better if a more experienced cop, like Carl, is promoted to captain over an inexperienced cop, like his son.
Episode 6
A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Read
Fri, Oct 24, 1997 23 mins
Steve's latest invention accidentally gives him the ability to read minds- thinking it will be a good thing & change the whole world- until the Winslows feel that their privacy is invaded- including Laura- when Steve learns she's been attracted to him. Meanwhile, Carl becomes a troop leader for Richie, 3J and the Junior Woodsmen.
Episode 7
Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone
Fri, Oct 31, 1997 30 mins
Today is Halloween and Steve plans to spend a nice, quiet one with his friend, Laura. Unfortunately, Stevil, his evil ventriloquist dummy, is back with a vengeance with Steve's ex-girlfriend, Myra's, help in putting him back together. This time he's not alone. His sidekick, Carlsbad, is going to help him try to take over Steve and Carl's souls and place them into their dummy forms while they pose as the real Steve and Carl. Can Steve and Carl stop them before they wreak havoc in the Winslow House?
Episode 8
Trading Places
Fri, Nov 7, 1997 23 mins
Stefan suspects that Laura is starting to show feelings for Steve. He decides to switch places with the nerd to find out the truth.
Episode 9
A Pain in Harassment
Fri, Nov 14, 1997 30 mins
Harriet Winslow gets verbally abused by her boss Mr. Benner who of which insults her directly in the office after that she get Mr. Benner's position after he gets fired.
Episode 10
Original Gangsta Dawg
Fri, Dec 5, 1997 30 mins
Steve's gangster cousin, Cornelius aka OGD decides to hide out in the Winslow house to avoid Fresh Squeeze.
Episode 11
Deck the Malls
Fri, Dec 19, 1997 23 mins
Urkel and the Winslows get jobs at the mall for during the holidays.
Episode 12
Grill of My Dreams
Fri, Jan 9, 1998 23 mins
Steve convinces Mr. Tanaka (Pat Morita), the owner of a Japanese restaurant, to teach him how to cook Japanese food. Feathers fly when Carl cares for his boss' beloved, but stubborn, parrot.
Episode 13
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
Fri, Jan 16, 1998 23 mins
Steve is ready to calls it quits in his relationship with Myra but is shocked when she tells him she doesn't want to see him anymore. He's now free to be with his true love, Laura. A few weeks later, Myra makes a visit to the Winslow House, deeply regretting her decision. Unfortunately, Steve does not want to reconcile. Meanwhile, Eddie quits college and decides to go to the Police Academy to be a cop like his dad.
Episode 14
Crazy for You
Fri, Jan 23, 1998 22 mins
With Steve out of her life, Myra is going to make sure Laura is out of his too. Her theory is, if she can't have her boyfriend back, she'll make sure her rival doesn't either. She and Stefan team up to ensure their happiness is complete. Meanwhile Eddie learns about guns at Police Academy.
Episode 15
Crazier for You
Fri, Jan 30, 1998 23 mins
While Steve and Laura talk about Myra and Stefan, Harriette is upset with them for they did for hurting her daughter and Steve. She confronts them about what they did wrong and tells them that they need to move on there's no way that Steve and Laura will take them back. Immediately, Stefan felt guilty about the whole scenario and wisely steps aside to apologizes to them for his behavior. Unfortuantely, Myra defies her wishes by telling her that she refuses to stop her pursuit until Urkel takes her back and dumps Laura. The next day, Steve found out the truth about her spying on him using a spy cam attached to his new glasses. He was angry that Myra violated his privacy once again by spying on him that he smashed his glasses and confronted her about it. He demanded that she renounce her love for him immediately because there is no way in hell he'll take her back the way she is right now. She still refused and she tried to pose as Laura for their date at Amore. While she managed to gain her rival's forgiveness before she had her arrested for stealing her watch. Steve refused to believe Myra and reminded her that she violated his privacy by spying on him with the spy cam she attached to his new glasses(he ended up wearing his old ones). The dinner scene ends at the Chicago Police Station with Laura being charged for stealing a watch. Next, Myra was charged for violating his privacy by spying on him with a spy cam she set up in her room as surveillance that was attached to his new glasses. Even though, Urkel wasn't charged for anything because he didn't do anything wrong, but he was there for his picture. Meanwhile, Eddie learns the consequences of his actions with guns when he accidentally shot a picture of his sister, who could've been an innocent by stander. Also Carl reveals to Harriette that his wedding ring was for someone else who broke his heart years ago. She is depressed and he makes it up to her by giving her a new wedding ring with her name on it. He asks her to continue being the love of his life.
Episode 16
Whose Man Is It Anyway?
Fri, Jun 5, 1998 22 mins
After breaking up a few fights between Myrtle and Greta, Laura decides that both of them should fight it out in a boxing match for Eddie's love. Meanwhile, Steve and Carl helps 3J locate his birth mother in a diner three blocks off Chicago. She was happy that he's living in a new family who loves him. She explains to him why she gave 3J up for adoption.
Episode 17
Polkapalooza
Fri, Jun 12, 1998 23 mins
Steve and Laura attend the biggest polka festival in all of Chicago. She is surprised and impressed by how much he has contributed to the community through polka music. She loves him even more and enjoys herself there. Meanwhile, Eddie buys a new apartment for him and Greta to live in. Carl comes over to visit him and overstays his welcome by embarrassing him.
Episode 18
Throw Urkel from the Train
Fri, Jun 19, 1998 23 mins
Laura is suspicious of Maxine's wealthy new boyfriend, D'Andre Moore. After D'Andre asks Maxine to deliver an unmarked package for him, police cadet Eddie and his supervisor arrest D'Andre for dealing drugs, and Maxine apologizes to Laura. Steve accidentally goes to Washington, DC, on a train with Carl. En route he must share Carl's puny cabin for the entire trip from Chicago.
Episode 19
Don't Make Me Over
Fri, Jun 26, 1998 23 mins
Myrtle Urkel desperately tries one last time to steal Eddie away from his girlfriend, Greta, by getting a makeover with Laura and Maxine's help. Although the makeover is a complete success and he is impressed by her new, urban look. Myrtle quickly realizes that he's not the one for her. She knows that there are other men out there in this world that will love her and to be there for her. She immediately renounces her love for him and leaves his house. Eddie desperately tries to get her to stick around by telling her that his life would be boring without her mixing it up. His pleas ends up being on deaf ears as Myrtle tells him that he can be with Greta all he wants and that she no longer gives a damn about him. She leaves his house and it depresses him now that she's out of his life.
Episode 20
Pop Goes the Question
Fri, Jul 3, 1998 23 mins
Steve and Stefan arm themselves with roses and rings as they both decide to propose to Laura. Stefan is Carl's choice because he wants Steve to return to his perfect ex-girlfriend, Myra Monkhouse, and marry her instead. Laura struggles with her choice because no matter what happens, her decision will cost her one of the guys. Harriette tells her that no matter what decision she makes, they'll support her. Steve announces that he's not going to propose to her and decides to go live in Russia with his parents. Laura decides that it is him she wants to marry, not Stefan. Steve has been a gentleman to her ever since they met and she deserves that over having a glamorous and shallow life. Carl is not happy with her decision, but he also realizes that it was hers to make.
Episode 21
Lost in Space: Part 1
Fri, Jul 10, 1998 30 mins
As Steve and Laura discuss wedding plans for their guest seating arrangements, NASA comes calling and tells him that he'll go into space to test his anti-gravity invention. Later on, Myra refuses to take no for an answer and sneaks aboard the shuttle to convince Steve to stay with her and give up Laura right away. Meanwhile, Harriette is overly concerned with Eddie's safety, she has him transferred to being a meter maid.
Episode 22
Lost in Space: Part 2
Fri, Jul 17, 1998 30 mins
With the space ship unable to return to Earth, it's up to Steve to save his fellow crewman by gently removing the satellite that got stuck to its side. Once successful, he brings the crew home. Meanwhile, Myra makes one last push to get Urkel to come back to her, by pretending to be his fiancee. The plan fails and she eventually gives up on her pursuit. During that time, Carl helps Harriette understand her son's need to be a police officer. Eddie's meter maid duty takes a dangerous turn.