Family Matters ambient background
CinebyCineby
Family Matters backdrop

Family Matters

Family Matters
★ 6.8/10•1989•23m•TV-G•Comedy•Family
Similars

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.

StatusEnded
Runtime23m
LanguageEN
First Air DateSep 22, 1989

Episodes

Episode 1 - The Mama Who Came to DinnerE124m

The Mama Who Came to Dinner

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.

Sep 22, 1989

Episode 2 - Two-Income FamilyE224m

Two-Income Family

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

Sep 29, 1989

Episode 3 - Short StoryE324m

Short Story

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

Oct 6, 1989

Episode 4 - Rachel's First DateE424m

Rachel's First Date

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

Oct 13, 1989

Episode 5 - Straight A'sE524m

Straight A's

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.

Oct 20, 1989

Episode 6 - Basketball BluesE624m

Basketball Blues

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

Nov 3, 1989

Episode 7 - Body DamageE724m

Body Damage

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

Nov 10, 1989

Episode 8 - Mr. BadwrenchE824m

Mr. Badwrench

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

Nov 17, 1989

Episode 9 - Stake-OutE924m

Stake-Out

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.

Nov 24, 1989

Episode 10 - False ArrestE1024m

False Arrest

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

Dec 1, 1989

Episode 11 - The QuiltE1124m

The Quilt

Laura sells a quilt Grandmother Winslow considered an heirloom.

Dec 8, 1989

Episode 12 - Laura's First DateE1224m

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 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.

Dec 15, 1989

Episode 13 - Man's Best FriendE1324m

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 follows the kids home from school.

Jan 5, 1990

Episode 14 - Baker's DozensE1424m

Baker's Dozens

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.

Jan 12, 1990

Episode 15 - The Big ReunionE1524m

The Big Reunion

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

Jan 19, 1990

Episode 16 - The PartyE1624m

The Party

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.

Feb 2, 1990

Episode 17 - The Big FixE1724m

The Big Fix

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

Feb 9, 1990

Episode 18 - Sitting PrettyE1824m

Sitting Pretty

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

Feb 16, 1990

Episode 19 - In a JamE1924m

In a Jam

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.

Mar 16, 1990

Episode 20 - The CandidateE2024m

The Candidate

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

Mar 23, 1990

Episode 21 - Bowl Me OverE2124m

Bowl Me Over

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.

Apr 13, 1990

Episode 22 - Rock VideoE2224m

Rock Video

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.

Apr 27, 1990

Actors

Reginald VelJohnson

Reginald VelJohnson

Carl Winslow

Darius McCrary

Darius McCrary

Eddie Winslow

Kellie Shanygne Williams

Kellie Shanygne Williams

Laura Winslow

Jaleel White

Jaleel White

Steve Urkel

Recommendations

The Jeffersons
Still Standing
Stuck in the Middle
The Hogan Family
Step by Step
Father Knows Best
Leave It to Beaver
Roseanne
Major Dad
The Cosby Show
My Three Sons
Married... with Children
A Different World
Life with Derek
American Housewife
Gimme a Break!
The Honeymooners
Cosby
The Donna Reed Show
The Villains of Valley View

Similars

Cheers
Good Times
3rd Rock from the Sun
The European Side
Night Court
A Different World
Cory in the House
Andy Capp
To the Manor Born
Ink
Saved by the Bell
One-Upmanship
Are You Being Served?
Arli$$
All Along the Watchtower
All Our Saturdays
All in Good Faith
What I Like About You
Keeping Up Appearances
El Chavo del Ocho