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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(144 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 6 Episode 20 - Cheers Looking at You, Kid
    6.5/10(122 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. Family Matters Season 9 Episode 16 - Whose Man Is It Anyway?
    6.5/10(125 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. Family Matters Season 3 Episode 13 - Choir Trouble
    6.6/10(157 votes)

    #4 - 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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  5. Family Matters Season 7 Episode 16 - Tips For a Better Life
    6.6/10(127 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(136 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(305 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(150 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(141 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(156 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(179 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(152 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(159 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(158 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(152 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(150 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(155 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(159 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 10 - Flying Blind
    6.8/10(128 votes)

    #21 - Flying Blind

    S6:E10

    Carl and Urkel must land a plane after their vengeful pilot bails out on a charter flight to Detroit, leaving the m with only their emotional baggage.

    Director:Kelly Sandefur
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Family Matters Season 6 Episode 17 - Ain't Nothin' But an Urkel
    6.8/10(130 votes)

    #22 - 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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  23. Family Matters Season 6 Episode 21 - What's Up Doc?
    6.8/10(130 votes)

    #23 - 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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  24. Family Matters Season 7 Episode 1 - Little Big Guy
    6.8/10(134 votes)

    #24 - 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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  25. Family Matters Season 7 Episode 6 - She's Back
    6.8/10(126 votes)

    #25 - She's Back

    S7:E6

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

    Director:Joel Zwick
    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 144 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, "Cheers Looking at You, Kid".