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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 spin-off of Perfect Strangers.

Genres:ComedyFamily
Network:ABC

Lowest Rated Episodes Summary

The worst episode of "Family Matters" is "Cheers Looking at You, Kid", rated 6.4/10 from 109 user votes. It was directed by John Tracy and written by James R. Stein. "Cheers Looking at You, Kid" aired on 3/24/1995 and is rated 0.0 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "Original Gangsta Dawg".

  • Cheers Looking at You, Kid
    6.4/10 109 votes

    #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

  • Original Gangsta Dawg
    6.4/10 122 votes

    #2 - 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?
    6.4/10 111 votes

    #3 - 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

  • Choir Trouble
    6.5/10 144 votes

    #4 - 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

  • Tips For a Better Life
    6.5/10 111 votes

    #5 - 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

  • Short Story
    6.6/10 197 votes

    #6 - 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

  • Opposites Attract
    6.6/10 123 votes

    #7 - 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?
    6.6/10 113 votes

    #8 - 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

  • Chick-a-Boom
    6.6/10 102 votes

    #9 - 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
    6.6/10 101 votes

    #10 - 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

  • The Mama Who Came to Dinner
    6.7/10 272 votes

    #11 - 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

  • Basketball Blues
    6.7/10 180 votes

    #12 - 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

  • Rock Video
    6.7/10 161 votes

    #13 - 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

  • Whose Kid Is it Anyway?
    6.7/10 143 votes

    #14 - Whose Kid Is it Anyway?

    Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/1992

    Richie is upset when Eddie's hot Halloween date conflicts with his promise to take his little cousin trick or treating.

    Director: John Tracy

    Writer: N/A

  • An Officer and a Waldo
    6.7/10 142 votes

    #15 - 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

  • Ain't Nothin' But an Urkel
    6.7/10 116 votes

    #16 - Ain't Nothin' But an Urkel

    Season 6 Episode 17 - Aired 2/24/1995

    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: N/A

  • Little Big Guy
    6.7/10 120 votes

    #17 - Little Big Guy

    Season 7 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/1995

    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: Rich Correll

    Writer: N/A

  • She's Back
    6.7/10 110 votes

    #18 - 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

  • Best Years of Our Lives
    6.7/10 109 votes

    #19 - Best Years of Our Lives

    Season 7 Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/1995

    Urkel could use some help designing a float for homecoming; and Carl believes he's helping his mom by encouraging her to "slow down."

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Nightmare at Urkel Oaks
    6.7/10 112 votes

    #20 - Nightmare at Urkel Oaks

    Season 8 Episode 10 - Aired 11/15/1996

    Eddie dreams that he is getting married to Myrtle Urkel, of all people, in her Southern plantation.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • What Do You Know?
    6.7/10 104 votes

    #21 - What Do You Know?

    Season 8 Episode 19 - Aired 2/28/1997

    Eddie's plan misfires when he transforms into Urkel to compete on a game show.

    Director: Rich Correll

    Writer: N/A

  • Pound Foolish
    6.7/10 105 votes

    #22 - Pound Foolish

    Season 8 Episode 22 - Aired 4/25/1997

    Donna Summer reprises her role as Urkel's Aunt Oona from Altoona, who has put on weight but anticipates taking it off in her nephew's new-fangled fat-compression chamber.

    Director: Jason Bateman

    Writer: N/A

  • Two-Income Family
    6.8/10 213 votes

    #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
    6.8/10 179 votes

    #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

  • A Test of Friendship
    6.8/10 136 votes

    #25 - 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