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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!

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...
Genres:ComedyFamily
Network:ABC

Worst Episodes Summary

"Cheers Looking at You, Kid" is the worst rated episode of "Family Matters". It scored 6.4/10 based on 112 votes. Directed by John Tracy and written by James R. Stein, it aired on 3/24/1995. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Choir Trouble".

  • Cheers Looking at You, Kid
    6.4/10112 votes
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    #1 - Cheers Looking at You, Kid

    Season 6 Episode 20 - Aired 3/24/1995

    Carl and Henriette 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

  • Choir Trouble
    6.5/10147 votes
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    #2 - Choir Trouble

    Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 12/20/1991

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Original Gangsta Dawg
    6.5/10126 votes
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    #3 - Original Gangsta Dawg

    Season 9 Episode 10 - Aired 12/5/1997

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Whose Man Is It Anyway?
    6.5/10116 votes
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    #4 - Whose Man Is It Anyway?

    Season 9 Episode 16 - Aired 6/5/1998

    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: Rich Correll

    Writer: N/A

  • Short Story
    6.6/10205 votes
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    #5 - Short Story

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/1989

    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

    Writer: Michael Warren, William Bickley

  • Basketball Blues
    6.6/10186 votes
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    #6 - Basketball Blues

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/3/1989

    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

  • A Test of Friendship
    6.6/10139 votes
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    #7 - A Test of Friendship

    Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 1/10/1992

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

    Director: Rich Correll

    Writer: N/A

  • Tips For a Better Life
    6.6/10114 votes
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    #8 - Tips For a Better Life

    Season 7 Episode 16 - Aired 2/9/1996

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

    Director: Joel Zwick

    Writer: David W. Duclon

  • The Mama Who Came to Dinner
    6.7/10281 votes
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    #9 - The Mama Who Came to Dinner

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/1989

    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

    Writer: Michael Warren, William Bickley

  • Rock Video
    6.7/10165 votes
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    #10 - Rock Video

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 4/27/1990

    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: N/A

  • Do the Right Thing
    6.7/10139 votes
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    #11 - Do the Right Thing

    Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 1/18/1991

    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: N/A

    Writer: Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

  • Busted
    6.7/10145 votes
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    #12 - Busted

    Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 2/15/1991

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

    Director: Rich Correll

    Writer: David W. Duclon

  • The Good the Bad and the Urkel
    6.7/10143 votes
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    #13 - The Good the Bad and the Urkel

    Season 2 Episode 24 - Aired 4/19/1991

    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: Rich Correll

    Writer: Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

  • Daddy's Little Girl
    6.7/10139 votes
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    #14 - Daddy's Little Girl

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 10/18/1991

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

    Director: Rich Correll

    Writer: N/A

  • Love and Kisses
    6.7/10139 votes
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    #15 - Love and Kisses

    Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 2/28/1992

    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: N/A

  • Rumor Has It
    6.7/10140 votes
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    #16 - Rumor Has It

    Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/1992

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • An Officer and a Waldo
    6.7/10146 votes
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    #17 - An Officer and a Waldo

    Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/1992

    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

  • Opposites Attract
    6.7/10127 votes
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    #18 - Opposites Attract

    Season 5 Episode 20 - Aired 3/18/1994

    Urkel develops hiccups after being robbed.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Felicia D. Henderson

  • What's Up Doc?
    6.7/10117 votes
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    #19 - What's Up Doc?

    Season 6 Episode 21 - Aired 3/31/1995

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • She's Back
    6.7/10113 votes
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    #20 - She's Back

    Season 7 Episode 6 - Aired 11/3/1995

    Myrtle, Urkel's cousin from Biloxi, squares off with Greta over Eddie's affections.

    Director: Joel Zwick

    Writer: N/A

  • Chick-a-Boom
    6.7/10106 votes
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    #21 - Chick-a-Boom

    Season 8 Episode 11 - Aired 11/22/1996

    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

  • Flirting with Disaster
    6.7/10105 votes
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    #22 - Flirting with Disaster

    Season 8 Episode 21 - Aired 3/28/1997

    Eddie is most definitely flirting with disaster when he tries to date a woman much older than him. Meanwhile, Steve is causing Carl's homeowner insurance to skyrocket.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Two-Income Family
    6.8/10221 votes
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    #23 - Two-Income Family

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/1989

    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

  • Mr. Badwrench
    6.8/10186 votes
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    #24 - Mr. Badwrench

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/1989

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

    Director: John Bowab

    Writer: Alan Eisenstock, Larry Mintz

  • Son
    6.8/10142 votes
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    #25 - Son

    Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 1/11/1991

    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: N/A

    Writer: Jose Rivera