Family Matters

Season 1

TV-G

70%73%

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.

Where to Watch Family Matters • Season 1

22 Episodes

The Mama Who Came to Dinner
E1
The Mama Who Came to DinnerIn 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.
Two-Income Family
E2
Two-Income FamilyHarriette 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.
Short Story
E3
Short StoryHarriette'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.
Rachel's First Date
E4
Rachel's First DateThe Winslows finally get to be alone together when Rachel accepts a date with a man from the church choir.
Straight A's
E5
Straight A'sEddie 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
E6
Basketball BluesCarl 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.
Body Damage
E7
Body DamageCarl 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.
Mr. Badwrench
E8
Mr. BadwrenchCarl 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.
Stake-Out
E9
Stake-OutCarl 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.
False Arrest
E10
False ArrestThe Winslows are aghast to discover that their TV idol has been arrested for assaulting a police officer - Officer Carl Winslow.
The Quilt
E11
The QuiltEstelle 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.
Laura's First Date
E12
Laura's First DateLaura 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
E13
Man's Best FriendMan'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.
Baker's Dozens
E14
Baker's DozensCarl'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.
The Big Reunion
E15
The Big ReunionCarl decides to lose weight before going to his high-school reunion.
The Party
E16
The PartyA "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
E17
The Big FixEddie'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!
Sitting Pretty
E18
Sitting PrettyLaura's babysitting service floods the house with children at a bad time on the night Carl has invited his captain over.
In a Jam
E19
In a JamA 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.
The Candidate
E20
The CandidateEddie 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.
Bowl Me Over
E21
Bowl Me OverIt'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.
Rock Video
E22
Rock VideoEddie 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.