Family Matters backdrop
Comedy•Family

The Best Episodes of Family Matters Season 1

Every episode of Family Matters Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Family Matters Season 1!

Binge this in 8h 48m•Peaking at 7.5/10

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.

Airs on
ABCCBS
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons9

All123456789

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Family Matters Season 1 Episode 12 - Laura's First Date
    7.5/10(224 votes)

    S1:E12

    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.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 9 - Stake-Out
    7.4/10(208 votes)

    S1:E9

    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.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 17 - The Big Fix
    7.4/10(197 votes)

    S1:E17

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

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 19 - In a Jam
    7.3/10(186 votes)

    S1:E19

    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.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 10 - False Arrest
    7.2/10(211 votes)

    S1:E10

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

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 11 - The Quilt
    7.2/10(209 votes)

    S1:E11

    Laura sells a quilt Grandmother Winslow considered an heirloom.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Family Matters

    READ
  7. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 15 - The Big Reunion
    7.2/10(195 votes)

    S1:E15

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

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 21 - Bowl Me Over
    7.2/10(181 votes)

    S1:E21

    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.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 7 - Body Damage
    7.1/10(205 votes)

    S1:E7

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

    Director:James O'Keefe
    Writer:Ken Kuta

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 14 - Baker's Dozens
    7.1/10(193 votes)

    S1:E14

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 5 - Straight A's
    7.0/10(215 votes)

    S1:E5

    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.

    Director:John Bowab
    Writers:Geoff Gordon, Gordon Lewis

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 13 - Man's Best Friend
    7.0/10(192 votes)

    S1:E13

    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.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 16 - The Party
    7.0/10(193 votes)

    S1:E16

    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.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 4 - Rachel's First Date
    6.9/10(226 votes)

    S1:E4

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

    Director:John Bowab
    Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 8 - Mr. Badwrench
    6.9/10(204 votes)

    S1:E8

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

    Director:John Bowab
    Writers:Larry Mintz, Alan Eisenstock

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 18 - Sitting Pretty
    6.9/10(191 votes)

    S1:E18

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

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 20 - The Candidate
    6.9/10(180 votes)

    S1:E20

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 2 - Two-Income Family
    6.8/10(250 votes)

    S1:E2

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

    Director:James O'Keefe
    Writer:Robert Blair

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 22 - Rock Video
    6.8/10(179 votes)

    S1:E22

    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.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 1 - The Mama Who Came to Dinner
    6.7/10(307 votes)

    S1:E1

    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.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writers:Michael Warren, William Bickley

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 6 - Basketball Blues
    6.7/10(205 votes)

    S1:E6

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

    Director:James O'Keefe
    Writer:Barry Gold

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 3 - Short Story
    6.6/10(227 votes)

    S1:E3

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

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writers:Michael Warren, William Bickley

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Laura's First Date" is the best rated episode of "Family Matters" season 1. It scored 7.5/10 based on 224 votes. Directed by Richard Correll and written by Unknown, it aired on 12/15/1989. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Stake-Out".