Family Matters

10 Best Episodes of Family Matters

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.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 04, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Family Matters - S5E21

#15 - A-Camping We Will Go (Season 5 - Episode 21)

Urkel tags along on Carl's camping trip in Minnesota and an irritated Carl stubbornly refuses to listen to know- it-all Urkel's words of warning about bears and geysers; Harriette seeks a job.

The episode was rated 8.45 from 22 votes.

Family Matters - S3E20

#14 - Love and Kisses (Season 3 - Episode 20)

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Hoping to win Laura, Urkel strikes a deal with R&B singer Johnny Gill: his treasured baseball card in exchange for serenading her; Carl and Harriette discover that their honeymoon love nest is of the outdoor type.

The episode was rated 8.45 from 33 votes.

Family Matters - S6E14

#13 - The Substitute Son (Season 6 - Episode 14)

The transformation machine turns Urkel into a karate master who defends Laura's honor at a rough longshoreman's bar; Waldo becomes Carl's substitute son when Eddie starts taking his father for granted.

The episode was rated 8.47 from 30 votes.

Family Matters - S3E17

#12 - Food, Lies and Videotape (Season 3 - Episode 17)

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Urkel enrolls in a home economics class with Laura, thinking it'll be a piece of cake, but he soon learns he less than an A-student.

The episode was rated 8.49 from 35 votes.

Family Matters - S9E20

#11 - Pop Goes the Question (Season 9 - Episode 20)

Armed with flowers and diamond rings, Urkel and Stephan each pop "the big question" to an unsuspecting Laura. Aware that Stephan is Carl's personal favorite and seems to be the logical choice, Laura is torn between the two men. While Urkel decides that stepping aside and moving all the way to Russia is the gentlemanly thing to do, Laura struggles with her dilemma -- choose the man she wants to marry or risk losing him forever.

The episode was rated 8.50 from 38 votes.

Family Matters - S7E22

#10 - Dream Date (Season 7 - Episode 22)

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The school prom brings one disaster after another for Laura. First, her date cancels; then she's parked with a dateless Urkel at the dance. The group "Immature" performs.

The episode was rated 8.50 from 28 votes.

Family Matters - S3E18

#9 - My Broken-Hearted Valentine (Season 3 - Episode 18)

Lonely and depressed after breaking up with Ted, Laura grants Urkel a few bittersweet hours of bliss as her valentine; Gwendolyn charms Richie with "yucky goo-goo stuff"; and Harriette and Carl search for admirable qualities in each other.

The episode was rated 8.51 from 39 votes.

Family Matters - S7E16

#8 - Tips For a Better Life (Season 7 - Episode 16)

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Carl issues an ultimatum concerning Eddie's recent drinking habits; meanwhile at the local cafe, female fans become intoxicated by the jazz styling of the ultra cool Stefan Urquette. Eddie, now a member of a fraternity at college but living at home, starts drinking alcohol excessively. Carl demands that if Eddie comes home drunk again, he must move out. After the next incident, Carl tells Eddie to move in with Waldo. But Waldo surprisingly refuses, saying that Eddie becomes obnoxious when he is drunk. Eddie realizes that his father is right; he shouldn't drink alcohol until he is old enough to be responsible. Carl lets him live at home. To earn money to pay for damaging the Winslow house with one of his inventions, Steve plays jazz piano in a local club - after transforming into the suave Stefan Urquelle. The highlight of his show is when Laura sings a love song with his accompaniment, followed by a passionate kiss.

The episode was rated 8.52 from 25 votes.

Family Matters - S8E7

#7 - Stevil (Season 8 - Episode 7)

Ventriloquist Steve's look-alike dummy comes alive on Halloween.

The episode was rated 8.53 from 36 votes.

Family Matters - S6E19

#6 - My Bodyguard (Season 6 - Episode 19)

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After failing to foil a robbery, Carl is assigned to protect Urkel, who stopped the thief; the boss's daughter comes on to Eddie.

The episode was rated 8.54 from 26 votes.

Family Matters - S7E18

#5 - My Big Brother (Season 7 - Episode 18)

Urkel volunteers as a Big Brother to a touch street kid who's mastered pick pocketing skills but harbors a secret about his reading ability. Through a charity, Steve becomes a mentor for a tough but charming inner-city nine-year-old, 3J. While tutoring him, Steve discovers that, although 3J is smart, he is illiterate. At first, 3J rejects Steve's help, preferring to survive with his natural talents as always. But Steve excites him about the wonderful worlds of imagination one can find in books, and 3J decides to make his life better by learning to read. Meanwhile, Carl finds Harriette's secret savings account book. He is upset that she hid it from him. But later, he regrets arguing with her when she gives him an expensive gift for which she was secretly saving money.

The episode was rated 8.57 from 23 votes.

Family Matters - S6E13

#4 - An Unlikely Match (Season 6 - Episode 13)

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Urkel sets an example of forgiveness after getting harassed by a gang of ruffians at school - when he discovers the ringleader has leukemia, he organizes a bone marrow drive; and a police-auction bargain overshadows Carl's good judgment.

The episode was rated 8.58 from 26 votes.

Family Matters - S7E3

#3 - Bugged (Season 7 - Episode 3)

Steve has a secret crush on Agnes fellow bug collector. Steve meets a gorgeous bug collector, Agnes Pritzker, on the Internet and invites her over to trade insect specimens. Steve fantasizes about kissing her and feels so guilty that he confides in Laura. Laura tells him to confess to his girlfriend, Myra, if it bothers him so much. Steve worries about Myra's reaction, but when he tells her about his thoughts of cheating on her, she says it's okay to fantasize, just not to act on it. Meanwhile, Harriette insists that Carl allow her boss, Nick Neidermeyer (Orbach), to play poker with him and his buddies in their weekly game. Nick wins repeatedly, makes obnoxious jokes and acts rudely. But Carl and the others endure it so Harriette doesn't get in trouble at work. Finally, at the next game, Harriette confronts Nick about his behavior and finds out that he will be transferred to a lower division and has no power over her anymore. Carl and Harriette throw Nick out of the house.

The episode was rated 8.67 from 30 votes.

Family Matters - S6E9

#2 - Paradise Bluff (Season 6 - Episode 9)

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Urkel's life flashes before him atop Paradise Bluff, where Myra hands him an ultimatum; and Harriette rates her mate and finds Carl needs to spice up his technique - at barbecuing.

The episode was rated 8.67 from 24 votes.

Family Matters - S7E20

#1 - Twinkle Toes Faldo (Season 7 - Episode 20)

Eddie and Urkel don't tap dance around the fact that Waldo is a klutz on the basketball court, so Waldo takes tap dancing lessons to improve his agility. Elsewhere, getting accepted to Harvard means the world to Laura, until she l earns her parents can't pay the tuition.

The episode was rated 8.81 from 26 votes.

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