Family Matters backdrop
Comedy•Family

The Worst Episodes of Family Matters

Every episode of Family Matters ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Family Matters!

Binge this in 3d 9h•Peaking at 10.0/10

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 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    Family Matters Season 1 Episode 6 - Basketball Blues
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #1 - Basketball Blues

    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

  2. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 10 - False Arrest
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #2 - False Arrest

    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

  3. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 11 - The Quilt
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #3 - The Quilt

    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

  4. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 12 - Laura's First Date
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #4 - Laura's First Date

    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:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 13 - Man's Best Friend
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #5 - Man's Best Friend

    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:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 14 - Baker's Dozens
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #6 - Baker's Dozens

    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

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Family Matters

    READ
  7. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 16 - The Party
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #7 - The Party

    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:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 17 - The Big Fix
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #8 - The Big Fix

    S1:E17

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

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 18 - Sitting Pretty
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Sitting Pretty

    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:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 19 - In a Jam
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - In a Jam

    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:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 21 - Bowl Me Over
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Bowl Me Over

    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:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 22 - Rock Video
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Rock Video

    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:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 3 - Marriage 101
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Marriage 101

    S2:E3

    For a class project, Laura is "married" to Steve for a day. Meanwhile, one of Carl's sergeants casts his eye on Rachel.

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 4 - Flashpants
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Flashpants

    S2:E4

    A braggart with a badge transfers to Carl's division just in time for the precinct's annual dance contest, which Carl and Harriette aim to win by dancing circles around their fierce rival.

    Director:Gerren Keith
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 5 - The Crash Course
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - The Crash Course

    S2:E5

    Eddie crashes the car through the front of the house while trying to impress his girlfriend.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 6 - Boxcar Blues
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Boxcar Blues

    S2:E6

    Carl gets trapped inside a railroad boxcar with Steve and a cargo of cattle.

    Director:Mark Linn-Baker
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 7 - Dog Day Halloween
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Dog Day Halloween

    S2:E7

    Steve and Laura are held hostage during a Halloween bank robbery.

    Director:Gerren Keith
    Writer:David W. Duclon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 8 - Cousin Urkel
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Cousin Urkel

    S2:E8

    Steve's cousin from Biloxi sets out to sweep Eddie off his feet.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 9 - Dedicated to the One I Love
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Dedicated to the One I Love

    S2:E9

    Harriette points out the obvious when seductive neighbor Loretta sets her sights on Carl; and Laura may soon regret steering Steve to a shy young girl when she finds herself jealous of his attentions.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 10 - The Science Project
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - The Science Project

    S2:E10

    Everyone vies to be partners with budding scientist Steve, who teams up with Laura for a science project - an A-bomb.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 11 - Requiem for an Urkel
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Requiem for an Urkel

    S2:E11

    Steve charges like a raging bull to the boxing ring when a bully threatens to pummel any guy who asks Laura out.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:David W. Duclon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 12 - Fast Eddie Winslow
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Fast Eddie Winslow

    S2:E12

    Eddie is cornered by a tough pool hustler.

    Director:Gerren Keith
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 13 - Have Yourself a Very Winslow Christmas
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Have Yourself a Very Winslow Christmas

    S2:E13

    Alone and fending for himself during the holidays, Steve shatters Laura's old fashioned Christmas ornament along with holiday visiting privileges at the Winslows'. Meanwhile, Carl does battle with other shoppers as he searches for a scarce teddy bear for Richie.

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:David W. Duclon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 14 - Ice Station Winslow
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Ice Station Winslow

    S2:E14

    When Carl, Eddie and Steve go ice fishing at Lake Wannamuck, Carl has a potentially critical accident; and at home, Judy dislikes the fuss made over Richie.

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 15 - Son
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Son

    S2:E15

    After an escalating spat with his father, grounded Eddie escapes from the house to keep a date, and Harriette must mediate a father-son feud when Carl gets tired of Eddie's attitude and Eddie threatens to move out.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Jose Rivera

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"Basketball Blues" is the worst rated episode of "Family Matters". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by James O'Keefe and written by Barry Gold, it aired on 11/3/1989. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "False Arrest".