The BEST episodes of Family Matters season 9

Every episode of Family Matters season 9, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Family Matters season 9!

The Winslows, a middle-class Black family living in Chicago, deal with various misadventures — many of which are caused by their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel.

Last Updated: 3/18/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Throw Urkel from the Train
star
7.77
104 votes

#1 - Throw Urkel from the Train

Season 9 - Episode 18 - Aired 6/18/1998

Laura's not impressed by Maxine's rich new boyfriend D'Andre.

Directors: Joel Zwick
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dumb Belle of the Ball
star
7.70
97 votes

#2 - Dumb Belle of the Ball

Season 9 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/1997

When Myrtle ends up hospitalized after saving Eddie from being hit by an oncoming car, he promises to take her to the debutante ball. Myrtle is thrilled when her Prince Charming, Eddie Winslow - "the gravy on her biscuits," escorts her to the Biloxi Debutante Ball. Meanwhile, Laura disappoints Carl when she goes to the Sizzle Club in a skimpy dress after agreeing to change into something less revealing.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pop Goes the Question
star
7.45
99 votes

#3 - Pop Goes the Question

Season 9 - Episode 20 - Aired 7/3/1998

Armed with flowers and diamond rings, Urkel and Stephan each pop "the big question" to an unsuspecting Laura. Aware that Stephan is Carl's personal favorite and seems to be the logical choice, Laura is torn between the two men. While Urkel decides that stepping aside and moving all the way to Russia is the gentlemanly thing to do, Laura struggles with her dilemma -- choose the man she wants to marry or risk losing him forever.

Directors: Joel Zwick
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Lost in Space (2)
star
7.35
103 votes

#4 - Lost in Space (2)

Season 9 - Episode 22 - Aired 7/17/1998

Urkel has to come to the rescue when a wandering satellite punctures the spacecraft in which he's traveling, preventing him and a team of astronauts from re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. With the two other astronauts on board unconscious, it's up to Urkel to repair the ship -- from the outside. Meanwhile, as Carl tries to help Harriette understand her son's need to be a police officer, Eddie's meter maid duty takes a dangerous turn. Urkel releases the satellite but starts floating away and was really in peril, but was able to use the satellite's thrusters to make it back to the spacecraft and return home to Laura.

Directors: Joel Zwick
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
star
7.20
98 votes

#5 - Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Season 9 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/16/1998

Urkel decides to call it splitsville with Myra, but freaks out when she beats him to the punch. Although he is surprised that Myra broke up with him, Urkel decides that it's all for the best and goes to his true love, Laura. But when Myra turns up at the Winslows claiming that she made a mistake and wants "her man back," she discovers Urkel and Laura in a passionate kiss. Meanwhile, Eddie quits school and decides to become a police officer - just like his dad.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Who's Afraid of the Big Black Book?
star
7.13
89 votes

#6 - Who's Afraid of the Big Black Book?

Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/17/1997

Unbeknown to Urkel, Laura has given him Eddie's Little Black Book to use as an invitation list to Eddie's 21st birthday party, and all of ex-girlfriends show up. While Eddie isn't having a happy birthday party surrounded by his exes, Carl is promoted to police captain after proving to Commissioner Geiss that he is the one qualified for the job, which Geiss had initially given to his son.

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They Shoot Ducks, Don't They?
star
7.12
64 votes

#7 - They Shoot Ducks, Don't They?

Season 9 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/26/1997

When Commissioner Geiss and Carl go on a duck-hunting excursion, Urkel shows up at the lake with a camera to "shoot" the ducks. Urkel is shocked and dismayed to discover that Geiss and Carl are actually trying to slaughter innocent feathered fowl. Meanwhile, Kelly "borrows" her mom's diamond earrings for a hot night out at the Sizzle Club and comes home an earring short.

Watch Now:Apple TV
A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Read
star
6.97
89 votes

#8 - A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Read

Season 9 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/24/1997

Urkel doesn't mind at all when a chemistry experiment allows him to eavesdrop on the thoughts of everyone around him, but being able to hear what people are thinking soon becomes far too overwhelming. Meanwhile, Carol becomes a troop leader for the Junior Woodsmen.

Directors: Joel Zwick
Watch Now:Apple TV
Lost in Space (1)
star
6.95
101 votes

#9 - Lost in Space (1)

Season 9 - Episode 21 - Aired 7/10/1998

The long-running family sitcom that made Urkel a nerd for the ages comes to a close after nine seasons. The two-part series finale sends Urkel into space as a student astronaut. It seems NASA wants to test his prize-winning artificial-gravity invention in space - with him on board. Unfortunately, this means that Urkel will have to postpone his other mission: to marry Laura. Meanwhile, back on terra firma, Harriette conspires to get Eddie reassigned to a precinct desk job out of fear for his safety.

Directors: Joel Zwick
Watch Now:Apple TV
Out with the Old
star
6.81
133 votes

#10 - Out with the Old

Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/1997

Steve undergoes an image makeover in order to take part in a kissing auction hosted by Laura's sorority; Carl feels threatened by Hariette's promotion and raise and decides to moonlight as a parking attendant.

Directors: Joel Zwick
Watch Now:Apple TV
Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone
star
6.81
48 votes

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

Season 9 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/31/1997

Stevil, the mischievous ventriloquist dummy, is back to haunt Urkel on Halloween, 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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Polkapalooza
star
6.68
94 votes

#12 - Polkapalooza

Season 9 - Episode 17 - Aired 6/12/1998

Eddie gets a new apartment but Carl overstays his welcome. Meanwhile, Laura goes to the biggest polka fest with Steve only to find out he has done a lot in the community through polka, and has become more attracted to him.

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Drinking and Jiving
star
6.65
94 votes

#13 - Drinking and Jiving

Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/10/1997

Goody-two-shoes Laura has her first beer---and her second and third---at a fraternity party, where she's later rescued by a gallant Urkel. Meanwhile, Carl and Harriette keep their anniversary plans a secret from each other, but not from Eddie, who finds himself in the middle of their fight. When Urkel arrives at a fraternity party to discover a drunken Laura dancing on tables, he takes her home and she kisses him passionately. The next morning when Urkel proclaims that the kiss "was the kind that changes things forever," Laura protests that she doesn't remember - but does she? Meanwhile, Carl and Harriette's wedding anniversary turns into a bone of contention when they both make elaborate - but very different - plans.

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Crazy for You (1)
star
6.65
65 votes

#14 - Crazy for You (1)

Season 9 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/23/1998

In the first half of this special two-part episode, Myra spies on Urkel's every move with her elaborate "Stevie-Glasses-cam". She is shocked to learn of his upcoming Saturday night date with Laura. When she tells Stefan about her rival's pending date with "her Stevie," Stefan agrees to help rain on their parade. Meanwhile, Carl tries to control Eddie's trigger-happy finger during police training. Judyann Elder takes over the role of Harriette.

Directors: Richard Correll
Writer: Jim Geoghan
Watch Now:Apple TV
Original Gangsta Dawg
star
6.64
96 votes

#15 - Original Gangsta Dawg

Season 9 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/5/1997

Jaleel White dons another persona, that of Urkel's visiting hip-hop cousin, O.G.D. (short for Original Gangsta Dawg), who makes a bad first impression on the Winslows - hitting on Laura, spouting controversial ideas, and influencing 3J in a decidedly negative fashion. Meanwhile, a crooked thug who is owed $4,000 by O.G.D. arrives in town looking to collect on the debt. Singer Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott has a cameo.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Grill of My Dreams
star
6.51
92 votes

#16 - Grill of My Dreams

Season 9 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/9/1998

Everyone duck! Urkel begins training to become a master teppanyaki chef at a Japanese steakhouse a part of his journey along the self-improvement highway. Laura surprises Urkel at the restaurant while he's slicing and dicing, and he lives up to the specialty of the house - The Tsunami Supreme. Meanwhile, Commissioner Geiss goes on vacation and leaves his talking pet parrot, Andre, in Carl's care and the bird learns some new words: "Geiss is an idiot."

Directors: Gary Menteer
Watch Now:Apple TV
Crazier for You (2)
star
6.49
88 votes

#17 - Crazier for You (2)

Season 9 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/30/1998

Urkel is shocked to discover that Myra has been spying on him, but he thinks she's really snapped her cap when she starts dressing like Laura. Meanwhile, Harriette discovers that her wedding ring was originally intended for another woman.

Watch Now:Apple TV
A Pain in Harassment
star
6.21
91 votes

#18 - A Pain in Harassment

Season 9 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/28/1997

Steve gets a chance at a $1 million basketball shot. Will he end up rolling dough, or will he get "nothing but net"? Harriette's new boss has a reputation for being tough, but his employees are blindsided by his verbal abuse as well. Meanwhile, Urkel tries to win a million dollars with a basketball half-court shot in L.A.

Directors: Joel Zwick
Watch Now:Apple TV
Whose Man is It Anyway?
star
6.20
80 votes

#19 - 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.

Directors: Richard Correll
Writer: Meg DeLoatch
Watch Now:Apple TV
Trading Places
star
6.19
89 votes

#20 - Trading Places

Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/7/1997

When Laura seems distant and distracted, a jealous Stefan cooks up an elaborate plan to swap places with Urkel - the "man" to whom he suspects Laura is attracted. Laura knows something's up when Stefan (as Urkel) is a miserable tutor and Urkel has a heck of a time filling in for Stefan at a fashion photo shoot. Meanwhile, Eddie decides to follow Carl around on "the beat" with a video camera.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Don't Make Me Over
star
6.17
87 votes

#21 - Don't Make Me Over

Season 9 - Episode 19 - Aired 6/26/1998

Myrtle Urkel tries for the last time to get Eddie. This time, Laura and Maxine give her a complete and total makeover. Myrtle comes out looking terrific, but Eddie still does not like her. So she decides to stop chasing him.

Directors: Joel Zwick
Watch Now:Apple TV
Deck the Malls
star
5.15
96 votes

#22 - Deck the Malls

Season 9 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/19/1997

Steve gets all wrapped up in the Christmas spirit when he takes a job as a gift-wrapper, but the new gig leaves him little time to spend with Myra; Carl plays Santa at the mall and appoints Laura to be his elf; a disappointed Richie learns that his mom won't be with him for the holidays.

Watch Now:Apple TV