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Episode guide

Essential Family Matters Episodes

ABC, 1989 to 1998

Our 4 character guides for Family Matters point to 19 key episodes across 7 seasons. Of those, 4 turn up in two or more guides, so they come first, followed by every episode in air order.

Season and episode numbers follow the original broadcast order.

The essentials(4)

Episodes that matter to more than one character, the most shared first.

  1. Season 1, Episode 1

    "The Mama Who Came to Dinner"

    In 2 guides
    • Carl Winslow: Carl's mother moves into the crowded Winslow house in the series premiere.
    • Eddie Winslow: Eddie fights his strict curfew as Grandma Winslow moves in.

  2. Season 1, Episode 12

    "Laura's First Date"

    In 2 guides
    • Steve Urkel: Steve makes his first appearance, already smitten with Laura.
    • Laura Winslow: Laura's dance date plans lead to the first appearance of Steve Urkel.

  3. Season 5, Episode 8

    "Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool"

    In 2 guides
    • Steve Urkel: Steve's experimental formula turns him into the smooth Stefan Urquelle for the first time.
    • Laura Winslow: Steve becomes Stefan Urquelle to win Laura, but she ends up asking for the nerd back.

  4. Season 9, Episode 20

    "Pop Goes the Question"

    In 2 guides
    • Steve Urkel: Steve and Stefan both propose to Laura, and she says yes to Steve.
    • Laura Winslow: Torn between Steve and Stefan, Laura accepts Steve's marriage proposal.

Every key episode by season(19)

Season 1(4 episodes)

  1. Season 1, Episode 1

    "The Mama Who Came to Dinner"

    An essential, in the guides for Carl Winslow and Eddie Winslow. Read the notes

  2. Season 1, Episode 5

    "Straight A's"

    • Eddie Winslow: Eddie's perfect report card turns out to be a friend's computer prank.

  3. Season 1, Episode 11

    "The Quilt"

    • Laura Winslow: Laura sells a quilt that Grandma Winslow treasures as a family heirloom.

  4. Season 1, Episode 12

    "Laura's First Date"

    An essential, in the guides for Steve Urkel and Laura Winslow. Read the notes

Season 2(1 episode)

  1. Season 2, Episode 12

    "Fast Eddie Winslow"

    • Eddie Winslow: Eddie loses a bet to a pool hustler and drags Steve into the trouble.

Season 5(3 episodes)

  1. Season 5, Episode 8

    "Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool"

    An essential, in the guides for Steve Urkel and Laura Winslow. Read the notes

  2. Season 5, Episode 15

    "Good Cop, Bad Cop"

    • Eddie Winslow: Eddie is racially profiled during a traffic stop, and Carl confronts the officers.

  3. Season 5, Episode 19

    "That's What Friends Are For"

Season 6(1 episode)

  1. Season 6, Episode 23

    "We're Going to Disney World, Part 2"

    • Laura Winslow: Laura's engagement to Stefan collapses after she admits sabotaging his machine.

Season 7(4 episodes)

  1. Season 7, Episode 1

    "Little Big Guy"

    • Carl Winslow: One of Steve's inventions shrinks Carl and Steve to a tiny size.

  2. Season 7, Episode 5

    "Walking My Baby Back Home"

    • Eddie Winslow: Eddie brings Greta home late and runs afoul of her father, his boss.

  3. Season 7, Episode 20

    "Twinkle Toes Faldo"

    • Laura Winslow: Laura gives up her Harvard dream when she learns her family cannot pay for it.

  4. Season 7, Episode 24

    "Send In the Clone"

    • Steve Urkel: Steve's cloning machine copies him, and the clone goes through the transformation chamber to become a permanent Stefan.

Season 8(2 episodes)

  1. Season 8, Episode 16

    "Father Time"

    • Carl Winslow: A time-travel stock tip makes Carl the world's richest man, until he sees what it cost his family.

  2. Season 8, Episode 23

    "The Brother Who Came to Dinner"

    • Carl Winslow: Carl has to arrest his estranged brother Frank.

Season 9(4 episodes)

  1. Season 9, Episode 18

    "Throw Urkel from the Train"

    • Carl Winslow: Steve stows away on Carl's train to Washington, D.C., and helps him see that turning down a transfer years earlier was the right call.

  2. Season 9, Episode 20

    "Pop Goes the Question"

    An essential, in the guides for Steve Urkel and Laura Winslow. Read the notes

  3. Season 9, Episode 21

    "Lost in Space, Part 1"

    • Eddie Winslow: Rookie officer Eddie is kept on parking duty by his worried mother.

  4. Season 9, Episode 22

    "Lost in Space, Part 2"

    • Steve Urkel: In the series finale, Steve makes it back from outer space as a hero.

Seen them all? Test yourself with the Family Matters trivia quiz, or meet the Family Matters characters.

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