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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)

    #1 - Karate Kids

    S8:E8

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

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

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

    #2 - Choir Trouble

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

    #3 - Cheers Looking at You, Kid

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

    #4 - Whose Man Is It Anyway?

    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:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Family Matters Season 7 Episode 16 - Tips For a Better Life
    6.6/10(123 votes)

    #5 - Tips For a Better Life

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

    #6 - Original Gangsta Dawg

    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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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Family Matters

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  7. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 1 - The Mama Who Came to Dinner
    6.7/10(300 votes)

    #7 - The Mama Who Came to Dinner

    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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  8. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 3 - Short Story
    6.7/10(221 votes)

    #8 - Short Story

    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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  9. Family Matters Season 1 Episode 6 - Basketball Blues
    6.7/10(200 votes)

    #9 - 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

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

    #10 - A Test of Friendship

    S3:E14

    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:Unknown

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  11. Family Matters Season 5 Episode 20 - Opposites Attract
    6.7/10(136 votes)

    #11 - Opposites Attract

    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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  12. Family Matters Season 9 Episode 7 - Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone
    6.7/10(149 votes)

    #12 - Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone

    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 22 - Rock Video
    6.8/10(175 votes)

    #13 - 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

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

    #14 - Do the Right Thing

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

    #15 - Busted

    S2:E19

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

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:David W. Duclon

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

    #16 - The Good the Bad and the Urkel

    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:Rich Correll
    Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss

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

    #17 - Daddy's Little Girl

    S3:E5

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

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

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

    #18 - Love and Kisses

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

    #19 - Rumor Has It

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

    #20 - An Officer and a Waldo

    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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  21. Family Matters Season 6 Episode 17 - Ain't Nothin' But an Urkel
    6.8/10(127 votes)

    #21 - Ain't Nothin' But an Urkel

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

    #22 - What's Up Doc?

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

    #23 - Little Big Guy

    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:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

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

    #24 - Chick-a-Boom

    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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  25. Family Matters Season 8 Episode 21 - Flirting with Disaster
    6.8/10(112 votes)

    #25 - Flirting with Disaster

    S8:E21

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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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 Rich Correll and written by Unknown, it aired on 11/1/1996. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Choir Trouble".