Storyline

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 Aired

1989-09-22
Last Aired

1998-07-17
Creator

William Bickley
Genre

Comedy, Family
Seasons

9
Episodes

215
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

ABC, CBS

Keywords:

chicago, illinois middle class spin off sitcom familiar

Stream and watch Family Matters

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Season 7

Season 8

Season 9

1. The Mama Who Came to Dinner

Mother Winslow moves in and immediately begins to usurp Carl's authority. Eddie wants to go out with h...More

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.Less

24mins 1989-09-22

2. Two-Income Family

Hariette loses her job to automation, forcing the family into austerity measures while Carl stews over...More

Hariette loses her job to automation, forcing the family into austerity measures while Carl stews over the family debts.Less

24mins 1989-09-29

3. Short Story

Rachel writes a short story with characters that seem all too familiar; Carl becomes obsessed with the...More

Rachel writes a short story with characters that seem all too familiar; Carl becomes obsessed with the family's out of proportion water bill.Less

24mins 1989-10-06

4. Rachel's First Date

The Winslows finally get to be alone together when Rachel accepts a date with a man from the church ch...More

The Winslows finally get to be alone together when Rachel accepts a date with a man from the church choir.Less

24mins 1989-10-13

5. Straight A's

Eddie comes home with straight A's on his report card and the whole family is proud of him. Rodney com...More

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.Less

24mins 1989-10-20

6. Basketball Blues

Carl's efforts to get Eddie psyched for a pro basketball career is enhanced by a visit from basketball...More

Carl's efforts to get Eddie psyched for a pro basketball career is enhanced by a visit from basketball star Bolton.Less

24mins 1989-11-03

7. Body Damage

Rachel takes an unauthorized spin in the classic automobile that Carl plans to drive in the Columbus D...More

Rachel takes an unauthorized spin in the classic automobile that Carl plans to drive in the Columbus Day Parade.Less

24mins 1989-11-10

8. Mr. Badwrench

Self-proclaimed handyman Carl decides to install a shower in Mother Winslow's quarters while she's out...More

Self-proclaimed handyman Carl decides to install a shower in Mother Winslow's quarters while she's out of town.Less

24mins 1989-11-17

9. Stake-Out

After Carl is on an all-night stakeout with his attractive new partner, Harriette finds a room key to ...More

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.Less

24mins 1989-11-24

10. False Arrest

The Winslows are aghast to discover that their TV idol has been arrested for assaulting a police offic...More

The Winslows are aghast to discover that their TV idol has been arrested for assaulting a police officer - Officer Carl Winslow.Less

24mins 1989-12-01

11. The Quilt

Laura sells a quilt Grandmother Winslow considered an heirloom.

Laura sells a quilt Grandmother Winslow considered an heirloom.Less

24mins 1989-12-08

12. Laura's First Date

Laura wants to go to an upcoming dance with a good-looking boy. Carl and Eddie try to find Laura a dat...More

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.Less

24mins 1989-12-15

13. Man's Best Friend

Carl has a rule he intends to enforce not pets in the house until he meets a big, playful puppy who fo...More

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.Less

24mins 1990-01-05

14. Baker's Dozens

Thanks to Rachel's brainstorm, Carl could become the "king of tarts" if he shares his secret recipe fo...More

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.Less

24mins 1990-01-12

15. The Big Reunion

Carl decides to lose weight before going to his high-school reunion.

Carl decides to lose weight before going to his high-school reunion.Less

24mins 1990-01-19

16. The Party

A "No Guests" rule spells no fun for Eddie, who's left in charge of the house while the adults are awa...More

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.Less

24mins 1990-02-02

17. The Big Fix

Eddie persuades Laura to date a guy he's indebted to.

Eddie persuades Laura to date a guy he's indebted to.Less

24mins 1990-02-09

18. Sitting Pretty

Laura's babysitting service floods the house with children at a bad time on the night Carl has invited...More

Laura's babysitting service floods the house with children at a bad time on the night Carl has invited his captain over.Less

24mins 1990-02-16

19. In a Jam

Eddie wants to do the right thing when faced with protecting Steve from a bully who threatens to beat ...More

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.Less

24mins 1990-03-16

20. The Candidate

Eddie places image over integrity in his class president bid when image-maker Laura offers a thousand ...More

Eddie places image over integrity in his class president bid when image-maker Laura offers a thousand points of light to illuminate his campaign.Less

24mins 1990-03-23

21. Bowl Me Over

The men vie with the women in a bowling match and Carl's philosophy about accepting defeat gracefully ...More

The men vie with the women in a bowling match and Carl's philosophy about accepting defeat gracefully ends up in the gutter when Hariette aces him out.Less