Family Matters

Family Matters

1989
Family Matters
Family Matters

Family Matters

6.6 | TV-G | en | Comedy

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.

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Seasons & Episodes

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1
EP22  Lost in Space (2)
Jul. 17,1998
Lost in Space (2)

In the conclusion of the series finale, astro-nerd Urkel's life hangs in the balance when he takes a dangerous walk in space to patch the damaged spacecraft.

EP21  Lost in Space (1)
Jul. 10,1998
Lost in Space (1)

The first of a two-part series finale sends Urkel into space, which means he'll have to postpone his marriage to Laura.

EP20  Pop Goes the Question
Jul. 03,1998
Pop Goes the Question

Urkel asks Carl for Laura's hand in marriage, but Stefan has already given Laura a ring.

EP19  Don't Make Me Over
Jun. 26,1998
Don't Make Me Over

Myrtle Urkel tries for the last time to get Eddie. This time, Laura and Maxine give her a complete and total makeover. Myrtle comes out looking terrific, but Eddie still does not like her. So she decides to stop chasing him.

EP18  Throw Urkel From the Train
Jun. 18,1998
Throw Urkel From the Train

Laura's not impressed by Maxine's rich new boyfriend D'Andre.

EP17  Polkapalooza
Jun. 12,1998
Polkapalooza

Eddie gets a new apartment but Carl overstays his welcome. Meanwhile, Laura goes to the biggest polka fest with Steve only to find out he has done a lot in the community through polka, and has become more attracted to him.

EP16  Whose Man Is It Anyway?
Jun. 05,1998
Whose Man Is It Anyway?

Cousin Myrtle dukes it out in the boxing ring with Greta to win Eddie for her own. Meanwhile, 3J longs to find his birth mother.

EP15  Crazier for You (2)
Jan. 30,1998
Crazier for You (2)

Urkel is shocked to discover that Myra has been spying on him, but he thinks she's really snapped her cap when she starts dressing like Laura. Meanwhile, Harriette discovers that her wedding ring was originally intended for another woman.

EP14  Crazy for You (1)
Jan. 23,1998
Crazy for You (1)

In the first half of this special two-part episode, Myra spies on Urkel's every move with her elaborate ""Stevie-Glasses-cam"". She is shocked to learn of his upcoming Saturday night date with Laura. When she tells Stefan about her rival's pending date with ""her Stevie,"" Stefan agrees to help rain on their parade. Meanwhile, Carl tries to control Eddie's trigger-happy finger during police training. Judyann Elder takes over the role of Harriette.

EP13  Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
Jan. 16,1998
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

Urkel decides to call it splitsville with Myra, but freaks out when she beats him to the punch. Although he is surprised that Myra broke up with him, Urkel decides that it's all for the best and goes to his true love, Laura. But when Myra turns up at the Winslows claiming that she made a mistake and wants ""her man back,"" she discovers Urkel and Laura in a passionate kiss. Meanwhile, Eddie quits school and decides to become a police officer - just like his dad.

EP12  Grill of My Dreams
Jan. 09,1998
Grill of My Dreams

Everyone duck! Urkel begins training to become a master teppanyaki chef at a Japanese steakhouse a part of his journey along the self-improvement highway. Laura surprises Urkel at the restaurant while he's slicing and dicing, and he lives up to the specialty of the house - The Tsunami Supreme. Meanwhile, Commissioner Geiss goes on vacation and leaves his talking pet parrot, Andre, in Carl's care and the bird learns some new words: ""Geiss is an idiot.""

EP11  Deck the Malls
Dec. 19,1997
Deck the Malls

Steve gets all wrapped up in the Christmas spirit when he takes a job as a gift-wrapper, but the new gig leaves him little time to spend with Myra; Carl plays Santa at the mall and appoints Laura to be his elf; a disappointed Richie learns that his mom won't be with him for the holidays.

EP10  Original Gangsta Dawg
Dec. 05,1997
Original Gangsta Dawg

Jaleel White dons another persona, that of Urkel's visiting hip-hop cousin, O.G.D. (short for Original Gangsta Dawg), who makes a bad first impression on the Winslows - hitting on Laura, spouting controversial ideas, and influencing 3J in a decidedly negative fashion. Meanwhile, a crooked thug who is owed $4,000 by O.G.D. arrives in town looking to collect on the debt. Singer Missy ""Misdemeanor"" Elliott has a cameo.

EP9  A Pain in Harassment
Nov. 28,1997
A Pain in Harassment

Steve gets a chance at a $1 million basketball shot. Will he end up rolling dough, or will he get ""nothing but net""? Harriette's new boss has a reputation for being tough, but his employees are blindsided by his verbal abuse as well. Meanwhile, Urkel tries to win a million dollars with a basketball half-court shot in L.A.

EP8  Trading Places
Nov. 07,1997
Trading Places

When Laura seems distant and distracted, a jealous Stefan cooks up an elaborate plan to swap places with Urkel - the ""man"" to whom he suspects Laura is attracted. Laura knows something's up when Stefan (as Urkel) is a miserable tutor and Urkel has a heck of a time filling in for Stefan at a fashion photo shoot. Meanwhile, Eddie decides to follow Carl around on ""the beat"" with a video camera.

EP7  Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone
Oct. 31,1997
Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone

Stevil, the mischievous ventriloquist dummy, is back to haunt Urkel, but now he's brought along a nightmarish sidekick, Carlsbad. Together Stevil and Carlsbad attempt to take over the souls of Urkel and Carl - wreaking havoc on the whole Winslow household.

EP6  A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Read
Oct. 24,1997
A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Read

Urkel doesn't mind at all when a chemistry experiment allows him to eavesdrop on the thoughts of everyone around him, but being able to hear what people are thinking soon becomes far too overwhelming. Meanwhile, Carol becomes a troop leader for the Junior Woodsmen.

EP5  Who's Afraid of the Big Black Book?
Oct. 17,1997
Who's Afraid of the Big Black Book?

Unbeknown to Urkel, Laura has given him Eddie's Little Black Book to use as an invitation list to Eddie's 21st birthday party, and all of ex-girlfriends show up. While Eddie isn't having a happy birthday party surrounded by his exes, Carl is promoted to police captain after proving to Commissioner Geiss that he is the one qualified for the job, which Geiss had initially given to his son.

EP4  Drinking and Jiving
Oct. 10,1997
Drinking and Jiving

Goody-two-shoes Laura has her first beer---and her second and third---at a fraternity party, where she's later rescued by a gallant Urkel. Meanwhile, Carl and Harriette keep their anniversary plans a secret from each other, but not from Eddie, who finds himself in the middle of their fight. When Urkel arrives at a fraternity party to discover a drunken Laura dancing on tables, he takes her home and she kisses him passionately. The next morning when Urkel proclaims that the kiss ""was the kind that changes things forever,"" Laura protests that she doesn't remember - but does she? Meanwhile, Carl and Harriette's wedding anniversary turns into a bone of contention when they both make elaborate - but very different - plans.

EP3  Dumb Belle of the Ball
Oct. 03,1997
Dumb Belle of the Ball

When Myrtle ends up hospitalized after saving Eddie from being hit by an oncoming car, he promises to take her to the debutante ball. Myrtle is thrilled when her Prince Charming, Eddie Winslow - ""the gravy on her biscuits,"" escorts her to the Biloxi Debutante Ball. Meanwhile, Laura disappoints Carl when she goes to the Sizzle Club in a skimpy dress after agreeing to change into something less revealing.

EP2  They Shoot Ducks, Don't They?
Sep. 26,1997
They Shoot Ducks, Don't They?

When Commissioner Geiss and Carl go on a duck-hunting excursion, Urkel shows up at the lake with a camera to ""shoot"" the ducks. Urkel is shocked and dismayed to discover that Geiss and Carl are actually trying to slaughter innocent feathered fowl. Meanwhile, Kelly ""borrows"" her mom's diamond earrings for a hot night out at the Sizzle Club and comes home an earring short.

EP1  Out With the Old
Sep. 19,1997
Out With the Old

Steve undergoes an image makeover in order to take part in a kissing auction hosted by Laura's sorority; Carl feels threatened by Hariette's promotion and raise and decides to moonlight as a parking attendant.

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6.6 | TV-G | en | Comedy , Family | More Info
Released: 1989-09-22 | Released Producted By: Lorimar Television , Warner Bros. Television Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

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.

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The tv show is currently not available onine

Cast

Reginald VelJohnson , Darius McCrary , Kellie Shanygne Williams

Director

Pamela Eells

Producted By

Lorimar Television , Warner Bros. Television

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Reviews

Kenyae Kofi This show was such a great show especially in the 90's even though it is 2015 I love this show and think it's a very funny a great family show. I really think if you compare this show with the shows we have now can't even compare to this. I love this show a lot because of Jaleel White and Kellie Shanygne Williams and the little love they had between each other in the show. I thought this show had great jokes and really made me cry of laughter a few times and even taught me personally a few life lessons in not always being a jealous boyfriend and to trust the person you're with. I deeply appreciated this show. As I watched the show I cried when it finally ended. The show will be missed, but in the future I think there should be some more classic shows like these with a full African American cast.
kevinprov This is a fun and funny show. The comedy is not forced, the dialog is natural, and the actors have great timing, and they are FUNNY! The comedy is mixed with touching moments here and there, and while some of that might seem schmaltzy, I never thought so.The situations were unique, and all the actors had chemistry with each other. They seemed like a loving family! The scripts were written for viewers of any age to enjoy. The themes of love, respect, loyalty, honesty, are all timeless and presented in such a natural way. No one is ever mean to each other, and even the funny put-downs here and there are always lighthearted and innocent.The show isn't preachy in teaching its morals; rather it shows us by example what a truly good family can/should be.It's a lovely, warm, fun show. If you've never seen it, you've missed out.
dwacon-2 It is an interesting paradigm.Garry Marshall made Happy Days, a nostalgic look at the 1950's. It plodded along until a background character, Fonzie, became the focus of the show. And, Fonzie went from being a motorcycle riding tough guy to a cartoon character.The same happened with Family Matters. What was originally a Cosby-esquire warm family drama became a surrealistic cartoon starring none other than original one-off character Steve Urkel.Jaleel White made quite a career for himself in those days. He even had a special that showed off his other talents. However, like Gary Coleman, the joke ran dry and his post Family Matters show failed.I'm still waiting for Jaleel to return to acting in some type of bad-ass role. He has the talent and the range. He just needs a chance.
CurtisTaylorJr This was a very enjoyable show, when the character of Steve Urkel played more of a supporting role. Once they writers started to make him the star of the show is when it went downhill. The show worked much better when the cast was more of an ensemble, where no one character took all the screen time. The story lines also became more and more outrageous, to the point the show wasn't even watchable.The best episodes were between 1989 and 1993, although there were a small number of episodes after this that were entertaining. It ran longer than it should have, because the writers ran out of things for Urkel to do and grew increasingly repetitive with each season.