Family Matters (1989)

Name: Family Matters
Rating: 6.8

Rating: 6.8

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.

First Air Date: 1989-09-22

Last Air Date: 1998-07-17

Number of Seasons: 9

Number of Episodes: 215

Created By: Michael Warren, William Bickley

Networks: ABC, CBS

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Reginald VelJohnson as Carl Winslow
Darius McCrary as Eddie Winslow
Kellie Shanygne Williams as Laura Winslow
Jaleel White as Steve Urkel
Jo Marie Payton as Harriette Winslow
Rosetta LeNoire as Estelle Winslow
Bryton James as Richie Crawford
Jaimee Foxworth as Judy Winslow
Telma Hopkins as Rachel Crawford
Shawn Harrison as Waldo Geraldo Faldo

Seasons

Select a Season

None

None (1989)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: The Mama Who Came to Dinner (1989-09-22)

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.
Ep. 2: Two-Income Family (1989-09-29)

Hariette loses her job to automation, forcing the family into austerity measures while Carl stews over the family debts.
Ep. 3: Short Story (1989-10-06)

Rachel writes a short story with characters that seem all too familiar; Carl becomes obsessed with the family's out of proportion water bill.
Ep. 4: Rachel's First Date (1989-10-13)

The Winslows finally get to be alone together when Rachel accepts a date with a man from the church choir.
Ep. 5: Straight A's (1989-10-20)

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.
Ep. 6: Basketball Blues (1989-11-03)

Carl's efforts to get Eddie psyched for a pro basketball career is enhanced by a visit from basketball star Bolton.
Ep. 7: Body Damage (1989-11-10)

Rachel takes an unauthorized spin in the classic automobile that Carl plans to drive in the Columbus Day Parade.
Ep. 8: Mr. Badwrench (1989-11-17)

Self-proclaimed handyman Carl decides to install a shower in Mother Winslow's quarters while she's out of town.
Ep. 9: Stake-Out (1989-11-24)

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.
Ep. 10: False Arrest (1989-12-01)

The Winslows are aghast to discover that their TV idol has been arrested for assaulting a police officer - Officer Carl Winslow.
Ep. 11: The Quilt (1989-12-08)

Laura sells a quilt Grandmother Winslow considered an heirloom.
Ep. 12: Laura's First Date (1989-12-15)

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.
Ep. 13: Man's Best Friend (1990-01-05)

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.
Ep. 14: Baker's Dozens (1990-01-12)

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.
Ep. 15: The Big Reunion (1990-01-19)

Carl decides to lose weight before going to his high-school reunion.
Ep. 16: The Party (1990-02-02)

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.
Ep. 17: The Big Fix (1990-02-09)

Eddie persuades Laura to date a guy he's indebted to.
Ep. 18: Sitting Pretty (1990-02-16)

Laura's babysitting service floods the house with children at a bad time on the night Carl has invited his captain over.
Ep. 19: In a Jam (1990-03-16)

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.
Ep. 20: The Candidate (1990-03-23)

Eddie places image over integrity in his class president bid when image-maker Laura offers a thousand points of light to illuminate his campaign.
Ep. 21: Bowl Me Over (1990-04-13)

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.
Ep. 22: Rock Video (1990-04-27)

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.