A spinoff of Perfect Strangers, Family Matters began as the at-home adventures of elevator operator Harriette Winslow and her multigenerational family. But midway through the first season, Jaleel White made a one-shot appearance as neighborhood nerd Urkel. With oversized glasses, undersized body, screechy voice and indomitable self-confidence, Urkel proved irresistibly funny, turning White into an overnight sensation and a new star of the show.
Carl is not happy about his mother coming to live in his already crowded household.
The Winslows must cut costs when Harriette loses her job.
Rachel's first published short story hits too close to home for certain members of the family.
Desperate for some time alone with Harriette, Carl encourages Rachel to start dating again,
Carl and Harriette are thrilled when Eddie brings home an unexpected straight-A report card.
Carl and Eddie attempt to install a new shower for Grandma Winslow.
Rachel and Harriette wreck Carl's vintage patrol car.
Harriette gets jealous when Carl goes on a lengthy stakeout with a policewoman.
Carl charges an egotistical celebrity with assault after being pushed to the limit.
Carl pushes Eddie to try out for the high school basketball team despite the boy's reluctance.
Laura sells a quilt Grandmother WInslow considered an heirloom.
Laura gets more dates than she can handle.
The children bring home a stray dog that has a habit of chewing on things.
The family works hard to fill an order for thousands of Carl's lemon tarts.
Carl decides to lose weight before going to his high-school reunion.
While his parents are away, Eddie's friends throw a wild party.
Eddie talks Laura into going out with nerdy Steve Urkel
The Winslow home fills with children when Laura starts a baby-sitting service.
Eddie gets himself in trouble when he defends Steve from a bully.
Laura helps Eddie run for class president.
The WInslows have a battle-of-the-sexes bowling match.
The Winslow family makes a music video for a television contest.
Rachel plans to open a restaurant when the local burger hangout burns down.
Rachel surprises Steve with an invitation to a candlelight dinner at her restaurant.
Steve and Laura get married in a class project.
Steve steals an orangutan from a science lab; Carl steps on a treadmill booby-trapped with a bomb.
Steve challenges another student to a rope-climbing competition to impress Laura
Steve looks forward to kissing Laura when they act as Romeo and Juliet in the school play.
Steve and Carl appear in a television grudge match to settle a disagreement.
Carl buys a hot rod for Eddie, hoping it will be the road to a father-son bonding session; and Urkel strengthens his bond with Laura using a new wonder glue he invented.
Carl meets Harriette's new piano teacher; Steve is unable to escort homecoming queen candidate Laura to the school dance.
Steve finds himself the object of romantic attention; Carl considers wearing a toupee.
Steve offers to drive Laura to a cheerleading competition in Cincinnati
The Winslows find themselves indebted to Steve
Laura doesn't want Stefan to change anything about himself for her, while Urkel - as his nerdy self - is a 10 in Myra's eyes. Meanwhile, hoping to improve his vision, Carl steps into Urkel's transformation chamber.
After a vengeful Myra tampers with Urkel's transformation chamber, Carl steps into it and steps out as an Urkel-like nerd.
Eddie and Waldo share an apartment; Steve tries to be a son to Carl.
Steve accidentally shrinks himself and Carl in his transformation machine.
Laura and Steve have an unexpected encounter in the shower.
Urkel, fearing Myra's jealousy, hides his attraction to a fellow bug collector.
Steve transports himself, his clone and the Winslows to Paris, where romance blossoms for Laura, and Steve is held captive by a beautiful scientist.
Steve transports himself, his clone and the Winslows to Paris, where romance blossoms for Laura, and Steve is held captive by a beautiful scientist.
Carl's attempt to rescue Steve from the clutches of his kidnapper leads to a mad dash around Paris.
Steve gets a make-over in preparation for Laura's sorority auction; Carl is threatened by Harriette's promotion.
Urkel tags along when Carl goes duck hunting with his boss; Laura loses her mother's diamond earrings.
Eddie feels obliged to escort Myrtle to the ball after she saves his life.
Complete episode guide for Family Matters with detailed information about every season and episode including air dates, summaries, ratings, and streaming availability in United States.
This episode guide is organized by seasons, making it easy to track your viewing progress or find specific episodes. Use the episode information to plan your binge-watching sessions or catch up on missed episodes.
Carl plans to dance circles around a fierce rival at an upcoming contest.
Steve takes the blame when Eddie crashes the car into the house.
Carl is trapped inside a railroad boxcar with Steve.
Carl must save Steve and Laura who have been taken hostage during a Halloween robbery.
Steve's cousin, the Belle of Biloxi, sets out to win Eddie's love.
Laura is jealous when Steve pays attention to another girl.
The unlikely pair of Steve and Laura team up on a science project.
Steve amazes everyone when he stands up to a bully in school.
Eddie finds himself in a pinch with a hardened pool hustler.
Lonely Steve puts his fondest Christmas wish in a note addressed to the Winslows.
Carl contends with Lake Wannamuck's frigid waters while on an ice fishing trip.
Eddie's fight with his father disturbs the whole family.
Steve is jealous when Laura falls for the new basketball player at school.
Steve tries to lend a hand when Carl is determined to overcome his fear of heights.
Aunt Rachel rescues Steve when his punch is spiked at a party.
Steve and Eddie visit a gambling hangout to raise money after Eddie wrecks the family car.
During Black History Month, Laura and Urkel hope their fellow students will gain appreciation for other cultures and races with a new class. But all they get is a bunch of threats from a few racist classmates. Laura breaks down in tears and feels sorry for herself, but Estelle's story behind her first library card gives her new inspiration.
Steve and Carl both learn a lesson about when to take credit for their achievements.
The unexpected visit of a mysterious person from Harriette's past leaves Carl speechless.
Steve tells anyone who will listen that he plans to go steady with Laura.
Carl dreams that he is facing Two-Gun Urkel, the most annoying gunslinger in the West.
Steve schemes to take Laura to a concert; Carl regrets the results of a hostage case.
Steve visits a hypnotherapist who takes him on a journey through his subconscious mind.
Laura's behavior suddenly changes when she meets Carl's new partner; surf's up for Steve.
Steve acts as his own lawyer when he sues Carl over the death of a pet beetle.
Steve builds a robot that looks and talks and chases after Laura--just like him.
Steve tries out for the basketball team; Laura is ignored by the other cheerleaders on the squad.
Steve goes undercover to help Carl catch the gang members who wrecked Rachel's restaurant and beat up Eddie.
Rachel makes drastic changes in her life when she meets a charming stranger; Carl goes under cover as a woman.
Laura dreams about the future after telling Steve to get out of her life.
Steve looks for revenge after he is set up by Carl's boss in a poker game; Harriette helps out at the restaurant.
When Rachel becomes the new church choir director, Steve sings off-key and the choir rebels
Steve reluctantly agrees to help Eddie cheat on a chemistry test.
Eddie and Steve land in jail when Eddie's smooth-talking cousin Clarence "borrows" a car.
Steve's prison pen pal mistakes Carl for Steve when she comes for a visit; Eddie learns about family history.
Steve takes a cooking class that leaves everyone rolling in the dough; Carl's new video camera gets crushed.
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.
Laura runs for student council president with Steve's help; Harriette becomes the neighborhood watch person.
Steve hires singer Johnny Gill to serenade Laura; Carl and Harriette take a second honeymoon.
Steve's plan to boost Waldo's confidence backfires when Waldo asks Laura for a date.
Steve succeeds in alienating the entire family when he becomes a guest in the Winslow home.
Urkel's robot double fights crime; a new shampoo changes the women.
Steve, Waldo, and Eddie appear on a television dating show; Carl's birthday attracts little attention from the family.
A short story comes to life when Steve writes about Johnny Danger and a plot to silence Laura's aunt before she talks.
Steve acquires a car and asks Carl to teach him to drive. It is very dangerous to Carl's health.
When Steve hears a lie about Laura from the guys at school, he decides to silence the rumor at any cost.
Carl and Steve share a hospital room.
Richie is upset when Eddie's hot Halloween date conflicts with his promise to take his little brother trick or treating.
Eddie and Urkel try to get Waldo out of boot camp; Harriette and Carl catch a shady repairman.
Steve commemorates his 1,000th attempt to date Laura with a sit-in on the roof.
Eddie's sloppy habits and Steve's scientific experiments cause issues when the two become roommates.
Eddie's teacher arrives for a surprise visit just in time to witness the resulting chaos when Harriette goes on strike.
Laura and Steve switch bodies after her guardian angel grants her a wish at Christmas.
Eddie learns a lesson about caring for other people's feelings after he breaks a date with a girl.
Eddie is pursued by a college more interested in his ability to play basketball than his grades; Laura sets her sights on Harvard.
Laura and Ted arrange a blind date for Steve with Ted's cousin Myra.
Eddie meets singer Tracie Spencer and she falls for him; Steve helps Carl get a look at Harriette's diary.
Laura becomes Steve's valentine; Steve arranges a date for Richie with Gwendolyn.
Steve, Eddie, and Waldo become trapped on a fire escape while at a party; Carl's widowed mother finds a new man.
The family reception turns into a wild party when Mother Winslow marries Fletcher.
Steve makes a date for Laura's friend Maxine with Waldo; Richie loses a baby tooth with Carl's help.
Laura uses a phony ID card to get into a male strip club, where she sees "Steve, the Sensuous" performing on stage.
Steve discovers a new love interest when Myra makes a pass at him; Eddie unknowingly buys a stolen car stereo.
Steve worries that Myra will learn about his reputation as a nerd when he takes her to the high-school prom.
Laura wants to be friends until Steve takes her advice and becomes serious about his relationship with Myra.
Obsessive Myra invades Steve's school; Harriette faces a possible layoff.
Eddie's gambling debts earn him a visit from a tough guy.
Eddie hires Waldo, who is down on himself, to work at the Mighty Weenie.
Steve gets a better partner for the basketball tournament after Eddie dumps him. The NBA's Larry Johnson guest stars.
Steve undergoes a personality change when he drinks his secret elixir.
Laura tricks a disrespectful used-car salesman; Steve is close to ruining Eddie's love life.
Steve and Laura reject the affectionate advances of their respective dates at the drive-in.
Urkel and Carl are stranded on a stalled subway with a car full of grouchy shoppers. Urkle teaches everyone, including Carl that Christmas is a state of the heart, and can be celebrated anywhere and with anyone.
Steve is the center of attention at a mall when Myra begins to flirt with him.
Eddie decides to skip college in favor of a career in the entertainment business.
When Eddie is teased by the guys about his virginity, Steve steps in and eases his mind.
Eddie needs Carl's help when he is harassed by two cops; Steve wreaks havoc at the dentist.
When accident-prone Steve is blamed for a chemistry lab explosion, Laura represents him at a school trial.
Carl experiences a nightmare in which Steve and Laura are married and have Urkel look-alike children.
Steve and Carl end up in the ring as substitutes against Luke and Butch of the "Bushwackers" wrestling duo.
Waldo envies Eddie's scholarship; Carl fears a test he must take to get a promotion.
Steve suffers from a severe attack of the hiccups when he is robbed; Laura finds romance.
Chaos ensues when Steve convinces Carl to let him go along on a camping trip.
Steve ends up in a nunnery when he discovers Myra has entered a convent.
Steve's awkward Aunt Oona visits, and chaos erupts when she holds a singing contest.
Laura asks Steve to take more ooze juice to turn himself into the irresistible Stefan Urquelle.
Steve tries to help his homeless friend and gets trapped in the school's bomb shelter.
A cool fraternity tells Eddie to lose Steve as a friend.
On a dark and stormy Halloween night Winslows play Pass the Ghost Story, in which Carl and Harriette are 19th-century vampires licking their chops over the wayfaring Sir Steven (Urkel).
On the golf course, Steve accuses Carl of kissing up to his boss; Laura misses her curfew.
Steve asks Carl to help him pass a swimming test; Rachel tries to return a dress.
Steve and Myra run into trouble when they pull over to park; Carl thinks he is a lousy lover.
Carl and Steve find themselves flying alone when their pilot bails out on them.
Richie brings home a homeless person on Christmas.
Steve and Eddie eat Waldo's final exam; Carl has some news about his boss' girlfriend.
When the school bully is diagnosed with leukemia, Steve organizes a bone marrow drive.
The transformation machine turns Urkel into a karate expert to fight bullies.
After she is robbed, Laura considers arming herself, but instead she organizes a gun turn-in program.
Carl and Steve find themselves balanced on a church tower while trying to rescue Mr. Looney.
Steve accidentally transforms himself into Elvis; Carl and Harriette are appointed marriage counselors.
Laura and Myra fight over Steve; Richie's class visits Carl at the precinct.
After Steve is threatened, Carl acts as his bodyguard; Eddie is hit on by his boss' daughter.
Steve tags along on Laura's cheerleading trip to Omaha, Nebraska; Harriette and Carl look forward to a weekend alone.
The Winslows see a counselor to discuss the family's tension and hostility.
Steve travels to Walt Disney World to participate in an inventors contest.
Steve, in his alter ego, must tell Myra that he plans to marry Laura; Eddie and Waldo are lost.
Steve and Carl face off in a dance contest; Laura dates Waldo's friend.
Urkel causes more problems when he moves in with Eddie and Waldo.
Stefan Urquelle calms an unruly class when Steve tries to substitute teach.
When Eddie is forbidden to see his girlfriend, he asks Steve to arrange secret meetings.
When Steve goes to Russia, his Southern-belle cousin Myrtle visits the Winslows.
Steve tries to protect Laura from a smooth-talking senior by challenging him to a drag race.
Steve, Myra, and Laura join the talk show circuit to discuss unsatisfying romances.
Being struck by lightning three times keeps Urkel from going outside.
Steve volunteers to build the senior-class float for the homecoming parade.
Carl agrees to let Steve decorate the Winslow household for the Christmas season.
Steve must do some fast thinking to go on a senior class bicycle trip with Myra.
Carl, Eddie and Steve have to bail Waldo out of jail.
After he mistakenly ingests Laura's diet pills, Steve destroys Carl's garage.
Steve and Carl are threatened by thugs in the warehouse that houses Steve's experiments.
Steve gets a job at a coffee shop to help pay for repairs on the Winslows' home.
Eddie reluctantly signs up to take ballet lessons to improve his basketball skills.
Steve becomes a big brother to a street-smart fourth grader who can't read.
Laura falls under a passionate spell from Steve's aphrodisiac.
Waldo takes tap dancing lessons to improve his agility.
Eddie and Waldo are in for a shock when they go to a bar where they think the Chicago Bears hang out.
Steve tries to make the night special when he and Laura go to the senior prom together.
Carl lands the lead role in a movie while moonlighting as a security guard.
Steve gets a big suprise when he accidentally clones himself.
Steve finds popularity among the technologically inclined at BIT; Laura makes a break and moves in with Myra.
The Winslows realize their true feelings for 3J when he runs away from his group home.
Eddie argues to his girlfriend about her modeling when Steve sees Greta nude in Laura's art class, only for Laura to reveal the shocking truth. Meanwhile, Neidermeyer takes Richie and 3J's football and he refuses to give it back. Nick is soon in for a hard lesson in respecting people's property when he is nearly arrested for trying to break in to his own home.
Steve is spooked when his ventriloquist dummy comes to life and sets out to torment the Winslows.
A street gang, known as "The Piranhas", has intimidated Richie and 3J from playing at the local park, and when Urkel tries to intervene, he is quickly roughed up. The street gang begin celebrating their possible new place to deal drugs and play rap music until Bruce Lee Urkel (and similar Richie and 3J variants) show up to even the score. After slipping in the Winslows home, Nick fakes needing a wheelchair and threatens to sue Carl. However, his plans are foiled when Harriette and Eddie exploit and expose his scam and send him on his way.
The music group New Edition helps Stefan woo Laura when their long-distance relationship begins to suffer.
Myrtle Urkel pushes Eddie to marry her and has Big Daddy help her apply the pressure.
Carl hopes to get a promotion by hosting a fancy dinner party for his superiors.
Carl and Steve serve on the same jury, where Steve's investigative talent comes into play.
Laura finally gives Curtis the old heave-ho now that Stefan is back to stay. Meanwhile, Carl and Steve get lost in the woods looking for a Christmas tree.
Laura is excited about joining a sorority until she learns Steve has been named the star of its annual geek party.
Laura and Maxine realize they can share almost anything, except their affection for Curtis.
Carl and Steve go back in time together, where Carl ignores Steve's warnings and alters history.
Steve's cousin Myrtle arrives with her sights set on winning the local beauty pageant and Eddie's affections.
Urkel narrates romantic vignettes featuring the Winslows and friends.
Eddie transforms himself into Steve Urkel to compete in a game show, not knowing that Steve is competing in the same show.
Carl invites Harriette to join his poker game; Eddie convinces Steve to fill in for him at work and comes to regret it.
Eddie falls for an older woman; Carl may lose his homeowners insurance because of Steve.
Steve has what he thinks is the perfect solution to help his Aunt Oona lose weight quickly.
Carl's brother, who is in trouble with the law, visits; Steve's invention may give Eddie the upper hand in a boxing match.
Steve and Carl travel back to an 18th-century pirate ship in Steve's latest invention.
Laura drinks too much at a fraternity party; Carl and Harriette make conflicting surprise plans for their anniversary.
For Eddie's 21st birthday bash, Urkel mistakenly uses his little black book for the guest list.
A scientific accident leaves Urkel with the ability to read minds.
The ventriloquist dummy Stevil and his new friend Carlsbad haunt Urkel and Carl.
Stefan and Urkel trade places to test Laura's feelings; Eddie tapes the police department for a school project.
Urkel can win $1 million by sinking a halftime shot at an LA Clippers game; Harriette has trouble with her boss.
Trouble comes to town when Urkel's cousin, Original Gangsta Dawg, pays a visit and clashes with both Carl and Laura.
Steve gets all wrapped up in the Christmas spirit when he takes a job as a gift-wrapper, but the new gig leaves him little time to spend with Myra; Carl plays Santa at the mall and appoints Laura to be his elf; a disappointed Richie learns that his mom won't be with him for the holidays.
Urkel impresses Laura with his new cooking talent and manages to save a Japanese restaurant from a fire; Carl baby-sits a parrot.
Urkel and Myra break up, and Eddie decides to drop out of college to become a cop.
Myra and Stefan work at separating Laura and Steve; Eddie learns an important lesson in firearm safety.
Myra surprises Steve and Laura on their first date; Harriette gives Carl his rink back.
Myrtle and Greta decide to settle their fight over Eddie in the boxing ring; 3J looks for his biological mother.
Urkel takes Laura to Chicago's biggest polka festival in an effort to bond with her.
Carl spends a weekend with Urkel after his nerdy neighbor unwittingly joins him on a business trip.
After a cosmetic makeover, Myrtle decides she likes her old self better.
Laura faces a dilemma when both Urkel and Stefan ask for her hand in marriage.
Urkel and Laura postpone their wedding when he is launched into space in order to test his latest gadget.
Urkel fixes his spacecraft from the outside in order to return to Earth and see Laura again.