Episode 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 his friends, but he has a strict curfew that complicates things with Carl.
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TV series
Family Matters
1989TV-G9 seasons6.7 / 10
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.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Family Matters is available to stream on DirecTV On Demand, Disney+, Hulu, and YouTube TV in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play, Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Synopsis
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.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 2
Two-Income Family
Hariette loses her job to automation, forcing the family into austerity measures while Carl stews over the family debts.
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Episode 3
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.
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Episode 4
Rachel's First Date
The Winslows finally get to be alone together when Rachel accepts a date with a man from the church choir.
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Episode 5
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.
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Episode 6
Basketball Blues
Carl's efforts to get Eddie psyched for a pro basketball career is enhanced by a visit from basketball star Bolton.
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Episode 7
Body Damage
Rachel takes an unauthorized spin in the classic automobile that Carl plans to drive in the Columbus Day Parade.
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Episode 8
Mr. Badwrench
Self-proclaimed handyman Carl decides to install a shower in Mother Winslow's quarters while she's out of town.
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Episode 9
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.
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Episode 10
False Arrest
The Winslows are aghast to discover that their TV idol has been arrested for assaulting a police officer - Officer Carl Winslow.
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Episode 11
The Quilt
Laura sells a quilt Grandmother Winslow considered an heirloom.
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Episode 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 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.
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Episode 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 follows the kids home from school.
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Episode 14
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.
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Episode 15
The Big Reunion
Carl decides to lose weight before going to his high-school reunion.
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Episode 16
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.
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Episode 17
The Big Fix
Eddie persuades Laura to date a guy he's indebted to.
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Episode 18
Sitting Pretty
Laura's babysitting service floods the house with children at a bad time on the night Carl has invited his captain over.
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Episode 19
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.
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Episode 20
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.
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Episode 21
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.
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Episode 22
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.
Where to watch Family MattersEpisode information updated Jul 22, 2026
More about Family Matters
Cast
Reginald VelJohnsonCarl Winslow
Jo Marie PaytonHarriette Winslow
Rosetta LeNoireEstelle Winslow
Darius McCraryEddie Winslow
Kellie Shanygne WilliamsLaura Winslow
Bryton JamesRichie Crawford
Jaleel WhiteSteve Urkel
Jaimee FoxworthJudy WinslowCredits
- Created by
- Michael Warren, William Bickley
- Written by
- David W. Duclon, Sally Lapiduss, Pamela Eells, Felicia D. Henderson, Greg Garcia, Timothy Stack, Reginald VelJohnson, James R. Stein, William Bickley, Michael Warren, Jose Rivera, Stephen Langford, Alan Eisenstock, Larry Mintz, Rich Correll, Robert Blair
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 215
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
ABCUnited States
CBSUnited States- Bickley-Warren ProductionsUnited States
Lorimar TelevisionUnited States
Miller/Boyett ProductionsUnited States
Warner Bros. TelevisionUnited States
Themes
chicago, illinoisfamiliarmiddle classsitcomspin off
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