Family Matters
an Episode Guide
by Russell Wodell
Last updated:
Thu, 25 Oct 2018 21:00
Family Mattersan Episode Guide
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| aired from: Sep 1989 to: Jul 1998 | 215 eps | ABC / CBS | 30 min | stereo | closed captioned |
regulars:
recurring characters:
"If only their house was as big as their hearts! Seven years ago, Harriette and Carl Winslow generously invited Harriette's nephew to move into the small home they shared with their two children in suburban Chicago. The scourge of Carl's existence - his imperious mother - moved in soon after. As if that weren't enough, the Winslows have since made room for Steve Urkel, a nerdy, irksome family friend who has taken up residence because his parents left the country without him. Now under one bulging roof, this extended family of seven redefines the word "togetherness" as their home splits at the seams with chaos, confusion and laughter."Harriette and Carl Winslow are the backbone of this odd brood. The dry-witted Harriette, who some might say wears the pants in the family, has her hands full with not only working full-time at a department store but also tending to the needs of her ever-growing family. Carl, a tough Chicago cop, is a teddy bear of a man in a grizzly's body. Like many dads, he is beleaguered, put-upon and taken for granted, and charged with putting bread on the table, doing household repairs and suffering the traditional "slings and arrows" of fatherhood, such as tax return preparation, hormonal teenagers, and the annoying and inventively irritating suitor of his daughter, Steve Urkel.
"Completing the Winslow family is Mother Winslow and Richie Crawford , Harriette and Carl's eight-year-old nephew. Mother Winslow, Carl's mother, possesses a fresh, open-minded attitude towards life that endears her to the grandchildren but confounds her son. Carl (whose lack of extraordinary talent, incidentally, is a regular target for her acerbic critical remarks). An outspoken and opinionated matriarch, Mother Winslow's special brand of wisdom and understanding provides the family with history and texture.
"Harriette and Carl's offspring include Eddie and Laura. Eddie, 19, is a typical, hormonal college guy whose interests include hanging out with his buddy Waldo Faldo - who has a heart of gold and a head full of air - girls, teasing his sisters, girls, testing his parents' patience and girls. Laura is a bright and gregarious 18-year-old who has clearly inherited her mother's take-charge personality and clever wit. Like Eddie, Laura is occupied by the trials and tribulations of dating - that is, when she's not busy dodging the relentlessly lovesick Urkel.
"A brainy, cheese-fixated nerd, Urkel, 18, burst into the Winslow's house five-and-a-half years ago, worming his way into the Winslow household before they knew what hit them. A constant source of irritation to friends and strangers alike, Urkel is madly in love with Laura and hopeful that she will return his devotion one day; unfortunately for him, that day isn't coming anytime soon, so for the moment he has lent his heart to his equally cerebral, jealous girlfriend Myra. As for Carl, no matter how hard he tries to avoid Urkel, he is often the victim of the young man's string of mishaps and accidents.
"With such diverse personalities, needs and hopes crowded under one roof, it's no wonder there's always something wonderful or weird going on, which is what makes Family Matters the unique slice of middle-class Americana that it is. And as the Winslows brace themselves for life's inevitable ups and downs, they continually prove that what matters most is family."
(Warner Brothers)
Production Credits
Created by William Bickley & Michael Warren
Developed by/Executive producers: Thomas L. Miller & Robert L. Boyett
Co-executive producers: William Bickley and Michael Warren
Consulting producer: James O'Keefe
Producer: Robert Blair
Supervising producers: Alan Eisenstock & Larry Mintz
Coordinating producer: Ronny Hallin
Co-producer: Harriette Ames-Regan
Associate producer: Kelly Sandefur
Executive script consultants: Barry Gold, Ken Kuta
Story editors: Geoff Gordon & Gordon Lewis, Sally Lapiduss & Pamela Eels
rc:
Mother Winslow moves in and immediately begins to usurp Carl's authority.
b: 22 Sep 89 pc: 445230 w: ______________ d: Joel ZwickHariette loses her job to automation, forcing the family into austerity measures while Carl stews over the family debts.
b: 29 Sep 89 pc: 446002 w: Robert Blair d: James O'KeefeRachel writes a short story with characters that seem all too familiar; Carl becomes obsessed with the family's out of proportion water bill.
b: 6 Oct 89 pc: 446001 w: William Bickley & Michael Warren d: Joel Zwickrc: Steve Urkel
The Winslows finally get to be alone together when Rachel accepts a date with a man from the church choir.
b: 13 Oct 89 pc: 446004 w: Sally Lapiduss & Pamela Eells d: John Bowabrc: Rodney Beckett
Eddie turns to miracle tutor Steve Urkel, who hopes to trade his services for a date with Laura.
b: 20 Oct 89 pc: 446007 w: Geoff Gordon & Gordon Lewis d: John BowabCarl's efforts to get Eddie psyched for a pro basketball career is enhanced by a visit from basketball star Bolton.
b: 3 Nov 89 pc: 446003 w: ______________ d: James O'Keeferc: Steve Urkel
Rachel takes an unauthorized spin in the classic automobile that Carl plans to drive in the Columbus Day Parade.
b: 10 Nov 89 pc: 446005 w: Ken Kuta d: James O'KeefeSelf-proclaimed handyman Carl decides to install a shower in Mother Winslow's quarters while she's out of town.
b: 17 Nov 89 pc: 446006 w: Alan Eisenstock & Larry Mintz d: John BowabAfter 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.
b: 24 Nov 89 pc: 446010 w: Sally Lapiduss & Pamela Eells d: James O'KeefeThe Winslows are aghast to discover that their TV idol has been arrested for assaulting a police officer - Officer Carl Winslow.
b: 28 Nov 89 pc: 446008 w: ______________ d: Peter BaldwinLaura sells a quilt Grandmother Winslow considered an heirloom.
b: 8 Dec 89 pc: 446009 w: David Scott Richardson d: Peter Baldwinrc: Penny
Laura is humiliated when her father and Eddie pity her for not having a date for an upcoming dance.
b: 15 Dec 89 pc: 446012 w: ______________ d: Richard CorrellCarl has a rule he intends to enforce not pets in the house until her meets a big, playful puppy who follows the kids home from school.
b: 8 Jan 90 pc: 446013 w: ______________ d: Richard Correllrc: Steve Urkel
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.
b: 11 Jan 90 pc: 446014 w: Ken Kuta d: James O'KeefeCarl decides to lose weight before going to his high-school reunion.
b: 23 Jan 90 pc: 446011 w: Alan Eisenstock & Larry Mintz d: Richard Correllrc: Steve Urkel, Rodney Beckett, Penny
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.
b: 3 Feb 90 pc: 446016 w: Ken Kuta d: Richard Correllrc: Steve Urkel, Penny
Eddie persuades Laura to date a guy he's indebted to.
b: 9 Feb 90 pc: 446017 w: Pamela Eells & Sally Lapiduss d: Richard Correllrc: Penny
Laura's babysitting service floods the house with children at a bad time on the night Carl has invited his captain over.
b: 20 Feb 90 pc: 446018 w: Ken Kuta d: Richard Correllrc: Rodney Beckett
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.
b: 23 Feb 90 pc: 446019 w: ______________ d: Richard Correllrc: Steve Urkel, Rodney Beckett
Eddie places image over integrity in his class president bid when image-maker Laura offers a thousand points of light to illuminate his campaign.
b: 16 Mar 90 pc: 446015 w: Barry Gold d: James O'Keeferc: Steve Urkel
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.
b: 17 Apr 90 pc: 446021 w: Robert Blair d: Richard CorrellWhen 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.
b: 30 Apr 90 pc: 446020 w: Geoff Gordon & Gordon Lewis d: Richard Correll| Back to TOP of Page |
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