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The Worst Episodes of Family Matters

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

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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.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Family Matters Season 8 Episode 8 - Karate Kids
    6.2/10(140 votes)

    S8:E8

    As a playground supervisor, Steve has a tough time controlling the bullies.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Family Matters Season 5 Episode 20 - Opposites Attract
    6.3/10(137 votes)

    S5:E20

    Urkel develops hiccups after being robbed. School newspaper reporter Laura and editor Ziggy engage in a series of conflicts ... before falling for each other.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Felicia D. Henderson

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  3. Family Matters Season 3 Episode 13 - Choir Trouble
    6.5/10(154 votes)

    S3:E13

    Steve joins the Winslows at church with faith that he'll get into the choir, but he's kicked out by new choir director Rachel, whose position has gone to her head.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Family Matters Season 6 Episode 20 - Cheers Looking at You, Kid
    6.5/10(118 votes)

    S6:E20

    Carl and Harriette send Laura off unchaperoned to cheerleading championships in Omaha where Laura's handsome partner Gary looks a lot like trouble in Urkel's spying eyes.

    Director:John Tracy
    Writer:James R. Stein

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  5. Family Matters Season 9 Episode 16 - Whose Man Is It Anyway?
    6.5/10(121 votes)

    S9:E16

    Cousin Myrtle dukes it out in the boxing ring with Greta to win Eddie for her own. Meanwhile, 3J longs to find his birth mother.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. 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

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Family Matters

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  7. Family Matters Season 7 Episode 16 - Tips For a Better Life
    6.6/10(124 votes)

    S7:E16

    Carl issues an ultimatum concerning Eddie's drinking. Meanwhile, female fans become intoxicated with Stefan Urquelle.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:David W. Duclon

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  8. Family Matters Season 9 Episode 10 - Original Gangsta Dawg
    6.6/10(131 votes)

    S9:E10

    Urkel's hip-hop cousin, O.G.D., makes a bad first impression on the Winslows.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. 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

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  10. 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

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  11. Family Matters Season 3 Episode 14 - A Test of Friendship
    6.7/10(147 votes)

    S3:E14

    The Winslows are ripped off when Carl dozes off; Urkel takes the heat after helping Eddie cheat on a chemistry test.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Family Matters Season 9 Episode 7 - Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone
    6.7/10(153 votes)

    S9:E7

    Stevil, the mischievous ventriloquist dummy, is back to haunt Urkel, but now he's brought along a nightmarish sidekick, Carlsbad. Together Stevil and Carlsbad attempt to take over the souls of Urkel and Carl - wreaking havoc on the whole Winslow household.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. 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

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  14. 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

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  15. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 16 - Do the Right Thing
    6.8/10(148 votes)

    S2:E16

    Carl finds a diamond bracelet and wrestles with doing the right thing, as does Steve, who holds in his hands the academic fate of his romantic rival Todd, who needs Steve's tutoring skills.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

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  16. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 19 - Busted
    6.8/10(153 votes)

    S2:E19

    When Eddie cracks up the family car, Steve suggests raising repair money at an illegal gambling hangout.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:David W. Duclon

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  17. Family Matters Season 2 Episode 24 - The Good the Bad and the Urkel
    6.8/10(154 votes)

    S2:E24

    In a dream, Carl and Steve duel over a compost heap as Old West characters Carl and Two-Gun Urkel - the most annoying gunslinger in the West.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

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  18. Family Matters Season 3 Episode 5 - Daddy's Little Girl
    6.8/10(149 votes)

    S3:E5

    Laura's behavior suddenly changes when she meets Carl's younger new partner and surf's up for Steve.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Family Matters Season 3 Episode 20 - Love and Kisses
    6.8/10(145 votes)

    S3:E20

    Hoping to win Laura, Urkel strikes a deal with R&B singer Johnny Gill: his treasured baseball card in exchange for serenading her; Carl and Harriette discover that their honeymoon love nest is of the outdoor type.

    Director:John Tracy
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Family Matters Season 4 Episode 4 - Rumor Has It
    6.8/10(150 votes)

    S4:E4

    As rumors begin to fly that Ted has "scored" with Laura, Urkel must warn her that the guy she's dating means to boost his rep by ruining hers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Family Matters Season 4 Episode 7 - An Officer and a Waldo
    6.8/10(154 votes)

    S4:E7

    Eddie's insult sends Waldo off to join the Army; Harriette and Carl set up a sting to catch a shady repairman.

    Director:John Tracy
    Writer:David W. Duclon

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  22. Family Matters Season 6 Episode 17 - Ain't Nothin' But an Urkel
    6.8/10(128 votes)

    S6:E17

    Another transformation-chamber mishap turns Urkel into a gyrating Elvis with a hunka hunka lot of explaining to do during a meeting with an MIT recruiter (Kline).

    Director:Kelly Sandefur
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Family Matters Season 6 Episode 21 - What's Up Doc?
    6.8/10(126 votes)

    S6:E21

    A therapist helps the Winslows get to the root of their tensions by reflecting on life with Urkel.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Family Matters Season 7 Episode 1 - Little Big Guy
    6.8/10(129 votes)

    S7:E1

    Urkel and his transformation chamber move in with the Winslows--where he creates havoc by shrinking himself and Carl in an experiment gone awry.

    Director:Richard Correll
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Family Matters Season 8 Episode 11 - Chick-a-Boom
    6.8/10(114 votes)

    S8:E11

    Steve invents some musically-activated gunpowder, but Myra mistakes it for pepper when she uses it to prepare a big dinner for Carl's commissioner!

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Greg Garcia

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Karate Kids" is the worst rated episode of "Family Matters". It scored 6.2/10 based on 140 votes. Directed by Richard Correll and written by Unknown, it aired on 11/1/1996. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Opposites Attract".