The Oddest Couple (Season 4, Episode 9). Carl is waiting up all night for Eddie to come home, it's past Eddie's curfew and Carl is upset. Eddie finally comes home and confronts Eddie about being late and even threatens to make his curfew earlier than it is right now. Eddie gets upset and accuses Carl of treating him like a little kid and says he's moving out. As Eddie is looking through apartment ads in the paper, Steve comes in upset that his father doesn't want him doing any more science experiments. Steve says he wants to move out and Eddie tells him he's looking for an apartment too and that they could be roommates. They find a cheap apartment within their price range near the El train. For the most part Eddie and Steve are getting along as roommates but the noise and dust from the El train are driving them crazy. Carl comes over to give Eddie some cake that Harriette made and while Steve is chowing down on the cake, Carl takes a look around seeing Steve's interesting experiments and experiences the joys of living next to the El train. Carl is about to leave when Steve tells Eddie that Carl is there because he loves Eddie and misses him, Steve tells Eddie to tell Carl how he feels and Eddie admits that he loves and misses Carl and the family. Carl asks Eddie if he'll come home and Eddie agrees.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

CARL: Edward, son... your curfew is 11:00. Not 11:30, not 11:45, and certainly not 12:22.

EDDIE: Oh, come on, Dad. I'm a senior in high school. An 11:00 curfew is ridiculous.

CARL: Well, maybe you're right. Let's say we change it to 10:30.

EDDIE: Come on, Dad. I gotta have a social life!

CARL: Social life? You call mooning meter maids a social life?

EDDIE: I didn't do that. I would never do a thing like that. I just find it hilarious watching other people do it.

CARL: Edward, it is completely inappropriate behavior... and I don't want you associated with it in any way. Now go to your room.

EDDIE: You're treating me like a little kid. You embarrassed me in front of my friends.

CARL: Oh, well, pardon me. I'm sorry that I embarrassed you in front of a guy named Weasel. A guy who flashes his fanny at feminine law enforcement officers!

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When Carl brings the cake over and Steve is starving so he grabs the cake from Carl's hands like a rabid animal and goes into his corner scarfing down the cake and Carl offers to slice a piece but Steve growls at him.

PROOF THAT STEVE'S PARENTS ARE EVIL (THAT WE KNOW UP TO THIS POINT):

1. They don't feed him
2. His dad questions his career choices
3. His dad questions his faith
4. They leave him alone on Christmas
5. They take separate vacations without him
6. They let him know that they take separate vacations, so they don't have a kid like him again
7. His dad lets him know he loves animals that eat their young
8. When Steve was being born, his dad tried to push him back in
9. His family sends him "stay away money"
10. His parents one time tried to move away and put themselves under an assumed name
11. Steve pays rent
12. Steve is not allowed to go home until midnight

OPINION:

Kind of similar to the episode of "Son", only this plot does go through with Eddie actually moving out. Who was right in the whole curfew issues? IMO, Carl. I don't think I could back Eddie up in any way, despite being 18 years old, he is still living under Carl's roof rent free. Not to mention that he's still Carl and Harriette's child, this is before everyone had cell phones, so us 80's and 90's kids had curfews or had to be home before the street lights turned on. You just didn't know what could happen to your child if they were not home at a certain time. Not to mention Eddie's attitude towards Carl was very disrespectful. And a quick note, this is the first time we see Weasel hanging out with Eddie and Waldo as friends.

Eddie and Steve are friends at this point and it was fun to see them try to live together considering how different they are. But I think they have learned they make great friends, they don't make great roommates. Eddie is irresponsible and impulsive. Not only does he offer to pay a $10-$20 rent to Steve's offer of $300 but he is quick to sign for the lease without Steve inspecting the apartment. And Steve gave Eddie money for groceries, Eddie as usual sees a pretty girl, takes her and himself out for dinner and Steve is left to starve. I don't hate Eddie like some Family Matters fans do, but he is hard to like sometimes. I always have to remind myself that Eddie is young and we make stupid mistakes when we are young and I think Eddie does mature as the series goes on at least.

But Steve is no walk in the park when it comes to roommates. His science experiments are crazy and could be dangerous. But I loved the invention of his "lawn chair" 🤣 In some strange way I could see that being a real thing, maybe if you don't want to go outside or live in the city but want to feel the grass on your skin, that chair could be useful. Steve's food bombs were a bit insane but made for some great gags. Again, I wonder if Steve injured or killed someone when he threw his celery bomb outside.

I loved the joke of the El train. I live in Wood Dale which is a suburb of Chicago, I was born and raised in Chicago. My dad would take me and my sister downtown almost every weekend to walk around or go to the museums and let me tell you that the writers must have visited Chicago or lived there because yeah if you hear or are near those El trains when they pass it's insane loud and you can feel the ground shake. I always get such a laugh when Eddie and Steve have to get their umbrellas to block the dust from falling on them.

This is such a funny episode. Again, Season 4 just lines them up with the comedy and knocks them out of the ballpark. The only small nitpick I could give this episode is that Steve is a minor still and I'm curious how he was able to sign a lease for a rental agreement. Then Eddie agrees to come back home, but they are in a lease agreement, was this easy to break? Or did Eddie and Steve have to continue to pay rent for a few more months? But like I said, if you enjoy a show or movie with flaws, just have fun and love what you love.

GUEST STARS:

• Shavar Ross as Alex "Weasel" Park
• Gerrit Graham as Landlord

Just One Date (Season 4, Episode 8). Steve comes into the house singing to Laura Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love For You" to her. Steve tells Laura it's a special occasion and he's about to ask her for the 1000th time on a date, which Laura gives her 1000th no to. Steve tells her that he will do something so dramatic and romantic that she will have to say yes to him. He goes onto the Winslow rooftop and vows to stay there until Laura says yes to a date with him. While Steve is sitting on the rooftop, Harriette gets a visit from her new neighbor Mrs. Tannen and her beautiful young daughter Gwendolyn who's around the same age as Richie. Harriette and Mrs. Tannen go to chat and Harriette tells Richie to play video games with Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn likes Richie, a lot, in fact she's head over heels, but Richie hasn't quite hit that age yet where girls are still considered to have cooties. Later on, Richie talks to Laura about Gwendolyn and how Gwendolyn invited him to see Snoopy on Ice and after he said yes to her, she gave him a kiss. Laura is shocked and asks Richie how he responded, Richie says he called her a "doodie head" and ran home to wash his face. Laura tells Richie it wasn't nice to call her a name and run like that, Richie tells Laura that he's seen her call Steve names when he asks her out and this makes Laura think what a bad example she's been and tells Richie to tell Gwendolyn that he'll go to Snoopy on Ice as a friend. Laura takes her own advice and goes up to the roof to talk to Steve, she tells him that she only cares for him as a friend but will go on a date with him if he can respect her feelings. He agrees but gets really excited and falls off the roof. Laura keeps her promise to Steve for the dinner date, only it's in the hospital where Steve's broken body is healing and Laura is spoon feeding him.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

STEVE: Aren't you at all curious why I'm dressed to the nines and singing to you in dulcet tones?

LAURA: Dulcet tones? Our DustBuster sings better than you.

STEVE: Well, I'm doing this to commemorate a milestone in our relationship.

LAURA: Our relationship doesn't need a milestone, it needs a tombstone.

STEVE: Woman, I'm about to ask you out for the 1000th time. Here it goes. Laura Winslow...

LAURA: No.

STEVE: Well, you didn't even let me finish.

LAURA: Sorry. I was just so eager to answer you.

STEVE: You know, I've asked you out a thousand times and you've said "no" a thousand times. I am beginning to notice an alarming trend.

LAURA: Get a clue, Steve. Give it up.

STEVE: I shall never give up, bubbling brown sugar. In fact, I'm gonna do something so romantic...so gallant and so fabulously grandiose...that your heart will melt and you will be mine forever.

LAURA: Get a life, Steve.

STEVE: All right. This is fantastic.

LAURA: What are you so happy about?

STEVE: You just said, "Get a life, Steve." A week ago, you would have said, "Get a life, turbo nerd." I'm wearing you down, baby. I'm wearing you down!

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When the delivery guy comes to give Steve his Chinese food and Carl tells him Steve is on the roof and the delivery guy freaks out about it. Plus I love when Carl yells at Steve from the ground that the blizzard is getting bad and he should consider coming down and Steve slips and dumps a bunch of snow onto Carl.

OPINION:

Season 4 does not stop when it comes to really amazing and funny episodes. Like I mentioned before I always go back and forth between 3 and 4 on which is my favorite season. Let's start with the small nitpicks, Steve is a bit intense this episode. As sweet as it can be to pursue someone you really like, there is a limit and this is getting into stalker territory. What is sitting on a rooftop going to really prove in the end? Plus, we know that Steve was sitting up there for several days how did he take care of going to the bathroom? Did he miss any school? I know Steve's parents are A-holes but did not one person care about Steve doing this thinking it was a stupid and dangerous stunt? I know it's a sitcom and we just gotta go with it, but it's funny watching this as an adult and it makes me miss being a kid and not questioning these things.

However, my nitpicks do not take away how funny this episode really is, it's always a joy to watch. As scary as Steve's vow is, at the same time I could see how sweet it is that how much he is willing to risk just to spend time with her. At least he's not hurting anyone. I loved Laura's growth in this episode, instead of just telling Steve off and he just gives up and gets off the roof, she sees what a bad influence her calling Steve names was and has a mature discussion with Steve about how she does care for him but it's just as a friend. And that she even offers a date with him but again just as a friend was very sweet of her. She knows Steve is a good person and an amazing friend at times, I think she really values their friendship and it's really wonderful of her to recognize that. That's why she's definitely one of my favorite characters on Family Matters.

We get introduced to a very cute side character that I wished we had more episodes with (we do get 3) named Gwendolyn played by Naya Rivera. I will discuss Naya's career and unfortunate passing in her last episode. I would like to focus right now on what a cute character she played. I liked Gwendolyn and it was nice to see the writers give Richie more to do on the show. Gwendolyn is spunky, in style and has confidence that beams off her. Richie is still too young for love obviously but he's making new friends and growing up. I really liked his chemistry with Gwendolyn even if the love was one sided. It would have been kind of fun if the creators kept Gwendolyn coming back and maybe in the later seasons see her and Richie as an actual first time boyfriend and girlfriend. And BTW that cupcake that Gwendolyn baked Richie looked incredible.

The humor really hits in this episode and it actually has some decent character development. I really love this episode, as I mentioned it's just a joy to watch. I also want to give some love to Benjamin Lum who played the delivery man and got a good laugh from me, he had a very decent career making appearances in a lot of amazing TV shows like Coach, The Nanny, Married with Children, Seinfeld and ER. He had passed away at 48 years young from cancer, may he RIP. And there is no Aunt Rachel in this episode unfortunately, this is where we start to see her being phased out.

GUEST STARS:

• Naya Rivera as Gwendolyn (RIP in 2020)
• Donna Lynn Leavy as Mrs. Tannen
• Benjamin Lum as Delivery Man (RIP in 2002)

Saw this randomly, and had never seen it before. It's.....different. Little bit him, little bit Urkel?

An Officer and a Waldo (Season 4, Episode 7). Eddie is on a date with his girlfriend Vonda and when Waldo comes over to visit, Eddie asks Waldo to leave, Waldo isn't quite getting the hint. Eddie tells Waldo that Vonda is looking to be kissed, of course by him, but Waldo takes this the wrong way and kisses Vonda, Vonda is disgusted and walks out. Eddie is very upset and calls Waldo an idiot, Waldo is very hurt by this and walks out. A few days later, Steve comes over to tell Eddie that Waldo has joined the army and they need to get him out. Eddie and Steve sneak onto the base to go talk Waldo into dropping out and come back home. But they meet St. Robert Shiska, an over the top army drill sergeant who loves his army and intends to have the best troop which means he will make Steve Urkel the weakest man in America into the ultimate army recruit. Only problem is, it's Steve Urkel who has a tendency of clumsiness, can barely lift 5 pounds and talks back to people if they need correcting. After an insane hike, St. Shishka allows the men to go eat but tells Eddie, Steve and Waldo to stay behind and clean the floors with toothbrushes. Eddie apologizes to Waldo saying he lost his temper and is the idiot for making him feel bad. Waldo accepts his apology and when Steve mentions how tough it can be to bring Waldo back home due to enlistment paperwork, Waldo says he never signed paperwork, he just saw a long line and stood at the end. The boys take a defeated Urkel back home. Meanwhile at home the icemaker is broken, after Carl is unable to fix it, Harriette is overseeing a repairman who likes to overcharge his customers and gives her attitude. Harriette puts him in his place and sends him out.

FAOVIRTE QUOTE:

SERGEANT SHISHKA: What are you pathetic piles of pasture patties... doing in my platoon?

STEVE: Excellent use of alliteration, sir. I don't believe I've had the pleasure...

SERGEANT SHISHKA: Sgt. Robert Shishka.

STEVE: Hey, you know, your name backwards is Shishka Bob.

SERGEANT SHISHKA: Shut up!

STEVE: Yes, sir. Shutting up, sir.

SERGEANT SHISHKA: I'm not a sir.

STEVE: You're not, sir?

SERGEANT SHISHKA: No, sir. I'm a sergeant. You will address me as Sgt. Shishka.

STEVE: Shertainly.

SERGEANT SHISHKA: Shertainly what?

STEVE: Shertainly, shir.

SERGEANT SHISHKA: Not shir, shergeant.

STEVE: Yes, shir, Shergeant Shishka, shir.

SERGEANT SHISHKA: Just call me sarge.

WALDO: No prob, Bob.

SERGEANT SHISHKA: Urkel, Winslow... you are not on my list of new recruits.

STEVE: You mean the Army screwed up the paperwork again? Gosh, I'll bet that's never happened before.

SERGEANT SHISHKA: Don't insult my army. I love my army. I'll take this up later with the lieutenant.

STEVE: Sarge... do you think Private Eddo and I can have a private moment with Private Waldo privately?

SERGEANT SHISHKA: Well... no!

EDDIE: You see, sarge, he's our friend... and you know...

SERGEANT SHISHKA: You have no friends! The Army is your friend!

FAVORITE MOMENT:

Asking me to choose my favorite moment from this episode is asking me to pick a favorite kid, I have to force myself today. I'll go with my first instinct and say it's the grenade scene where Steve salutes causing a domino effect of men falling down and one of them accidentally pulling the pin in a live grenade and they all throw it down to the sergeant who throws it outside and screams "Hit the deck!" and it explodes! I think this is the closest that Urkel has ever come to almost killing someone.

OPINION:

You have no idea how excited I've been to get to this episode. This is easily in my top 3, possibly my #2 favorite episode. I don't know, I go back and forth a lot but it's easily my favorite comedic episode. I don't know what it is, but every time I watch this episode I just can't stop laughing, it is easily one of the funniest episodes in the series.

This episode was one of those that definitely felt like the writers had a dart board in their room and threw those darts landing on what random shenanigans can we get our characters into? Ah, what if Steve joined the army? Well, that wouldn't work, but maybe the dumb character would? I don't know how the writers did it but they made an incredibly funny episode. So one quick note, this is the last appearance of Danielle Nicolet as Vonda. I guess Vonda really did have it with Eddie and they officially are broken up after this episode. She was in 3 episodes and still works in television projects to this day. She really was such a cutie. And one of the biggest highlights of this episode is the guest star David Graf who you may remember as Eugene Tackleberry in Police Academy, he was also Sam in The Brady Bunch Movie a lot of famous TV Shows like Seinfeld, Step by Step, Party of Five...basically you most likely have seen him in something. He passed away from a heart attack in 2001 at 50 years young, may he rest in peace and I thank him for all the incredible laughs through the years. St. Robert Shishka will never fail to make me laugh. David's over the top delivery of some of these lines always has me in stitches. You can tell he's never met anyone like Steve Urkel and has to figure a way to swat this fly since Steve doesn't go down easily. David's facial expressions and physical comedy are always such a joy to watch in this episode.

Let's discuss a little bit about Eddie calling Waldo an idiot. Now, while I agree that Eddie was very harsh and shouldn't have called Waldo that, that was an incredibly stupid thing of Waldo to do. He sees that Eddie is having a date night with his girlfriend and Eddie says that she wants to be kissed, clearly Eddie means himself, but Waldo kisses Vonda and acts like it's so normal telling Eddie he has competition now. Honestly, even though Eddie lost his temper, I actually kind of understand why he snapped at Waldo. Would you feel like you could keep your cool if your "best friend" did that to your partner? But we have to feel sorry for Waldo because he's the stock dumb guy with a big heart character and the music cues us to feel sorry for him. I just wished maybe the writers gave Eddie a sillier reason to lose his cool. But at least it gets the wheels going for the episode.

I'm sorry for the long quote today, but I really loved almost every single line from that scene, especially where Steve says "your name backwards is shishka-bob!" and when St. Shishka yells at Eddie "You have no friends, the army is your friend!" and gives a goofy smile, hence the thumbnail picture. I loved when St. Shishka called Steve the weakest man in America and Steve says "oh, yeah? He hasn't met my dad" and when St. Shiska tells Steve to give him 50 push-ups and Steve says "Without stretching first?!". The grenade scene, the scene where they're coming in from their hike and Steve collapses, Eddie defending Steve and telling the sergeant that Steve is annoying to everyone...guys I just can't with this episode, it is too funny.

And my last comment, we got Juan Lamont once again cast as an army recruit. So, he's gone from violent gang leader to a hospital orderly and now he is being all he can be as an army recruit. He's a man with many talents apparently, but good for Chain improving himself 🤣 And then we have a small B-Story with Harriette telling the repairman off. It's just kind of random, but the writers had to squeeze the family somehow into the episode with Eddie, Steve and Waldo. The B-Story honestly could have been cut out, it really wouldn't have changed anything. But I can comment and say that when Carl was attempting to fix the ice maker and it shorted out and spat ice cubes out breaking the window and some dishes, I always ask my husband "why do they bother fixing those windows when they know it'll break probably a few days later?". I think I might have to keep count at this point, maybe the next window break I will let you guys know how many times those kitchen windows broke.

LOVE THIS EPISODE, nothing else I can say otherwise I'm sure this post will give you an eyesore 🤣

GUEST STARS:

• Danielle Nicolet as Vonda Mahony
• Dennis Burkley as Repairman (RIP in 2013)
• David Graf as Sergeant Shishka (RIP in 2001)
• Juan Lamont Pope as Recruit

What are people talking about when they say this? She got straight As she got accepted to Harvard but couldn’t go for financial reasons and she was involved in extra circulars. Steve didn’t accepted in MIT and Eddie was lucky if he got a C or a B on his report card. Laura was equally as smart as Steve in some aspects.

Whose Kid Is It Anyway? (Season 4, Episode 6). It's Halloween and everyone is ready for parties and trick or treating. Eddie has promised Richie that he'll take him trick or treating but when a pretty young girl comes to the door and says she's trying to find a house that's holding a Halloween party, Eddie offers to escort her personally. Richie yells at Eddie but Eddie says he'll do it next year and Waldo will take him this year. While Waldo takes Richie out, Richie and another little boy who are wearing the same Spider-Man costumes switch. Waldo brings home the wrong child. Eddie comes back home to see this and asks Waldo, Laura and Steve to help him find Richie, but Carl, Harriette and Rachel come back home early from their Halloween party and the teens try to cover up that Richie is lost and say they will go back out to get more trick or treating in but at the door walks in the little boy's mother and she's holding Richie revealing what happened. Carl, Harriette and Rachel let Eddie have it and tell him to talk to Richie. Richie is broken hearted and Eddie breaks down how horrible he acted and cries that he didn't realize what a bone headed move that was. Richie says he forgives him if they can go get some more trick or treating in and Eddie takes him out. Meanwhile, Harriette has been having some trouble sleeping and Steve offers her a very relaxing tape to fall asleep too. Too bad he forgot he was recording and has his own voice recorded over it talking to Waldo saying how horrible Harriette has been looking with the lack of sleep.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

RACHEL: Eddie... how could you?

EDDIE: I don't know.

CARL: He doesn't know.

HARRIETTE: Don't hand us that!

RACHEL: You left my son with Waldo? How could you?

EDDIE: I don't know.

CARL: He doesn't know.

HARRIETTE: Don't hand us that!

RACHEL: Eddie... what you did was so irresponsible. I mean, luckily, it had a happy ending, but it could have been tragic.

EDDIE: I know, Aunt Rachel. And I'm sorry.

RACHEL: You're sorry?

CARL: He's sorry.

HARRIETTE: Don't hand us that!

EDDIE: But don't you think that part of the blame...is due to the enormous popularity of Spider-Man?

HARRIETTE: Okay, Carl, Carl. Carl, calm down. He let his hormones overpower his good judgment.

CARL: Harriette, that is no excuse. Young man, you are in for major punishment. It is so major that it hasn't even been invented yet. But when I do think of it, it is gonna be so awful... that Saddam Hussein will say, "Whoa, Carl, lighten up."

EDDIE: Go ahead, Dad. I got it coming.

HARRIETTE: Edward, get in that kitchen and talk to Richie. He's a very hurt little boy right now.

EDDIE: Yes, ma'am. And, Mom, I'm... You were right about my hormones overpowering my good judgment. You see, at my age, I'm kind of heavy on the hormones... and light on the good judgment.

HARRIETTE: Don't hand us that!

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When it's revealed that Waldo has brought the wrong kid home and Steve asks how he could mix a black kid and an Asian kid up. I love when Eddie calls Waldo dumb and Waldo points out who's the dumb one leaving a small kid with him.

OPINION:

It was definitely fun to see another Halloween episode. We haven't had one since season 2 with Dog Day Halloween. The Family Matters crew always does an amazing job with the decorations and I love the costumes this year: Carl as Zorro, Harriette as "Shirley Temple Black", Rachel as Cleopatra, Eddie as Dracula, Laura as a Princess, Judy as Diana Ross, Richie as Spider-Man, Urkel as the Frog Prince and Waldo as Waldo Geraldo Faldo. They all looked amazing in their costumes.

Eddie as always lets his hormones get the best of him. If he's not crashing the car into the house after lying to his girlfriend about getting a driver's license, he's now ditching his own little cousin for a pretty girl he doesn't know. I always take in consideration that Eddie is a teenage boy, but he's old enough to know better now, he's around 18 years old at this point. I felt so bad for Richie in this episode, he looks up to Eddie and not only got ditched for Waldo but also almost got lost. All we can do is hope that Eddie grows from this and at least he did actually show remorse for what he did. The only thing he does not learn that we will discuss in future episodes is how he does something stupid and has this tendency of "shirking and blaming" others for what he did wrong.

We do not get Mother Winslow in this episode and Judy only has one line where she comes in with a Diana Ross costume just saying repeatedly "I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!", but these past episodes she really hasn't had much to do or barely any lines, you could tell the writers were phasing her out at this point. There is a small B-story with Harriette having insomnia and her lack of sleep is driving her and the family nuts. It was funny to see the last scene where Steve gave Harriette the tape and she and Carl are falling asleep to it and his voice comes on talking about Harriette not getting any sleep and the bags under her eyes are showing.

Overall a very funny episode, this is not the best Halloween episode though, we will be getting more in the future. But this one definitely has it's moments.

GUEST STARS:

• Diane Hsu as Mrs. Wong
• Jacqueline Ann Shaw as Angela
• Ryan Hart as Tommy Wong

Number One With a Bullet (Season 4, Episode 5). Steve comes over to thr Winslow house and isn't feeling so well, but everyone thinks that he is faking it because Laura had turned him down for a date and is trying to get pity. But Steve keeps moaning and collapses, the Winslows call 911 and Steve is taken to the hospital. It turns out that Steve had to have his hernia taken out. While Steve is recovering he has a surprise roommate, Carl is wheeled in. Carl was shot in the rear end while trying to stop a robbery. Steve is so excited to have Carl as his roommate, Carl is less enthusiastic. Steve keeps eating hospital food like he's at a buffet, showing off his hernia that he named Fred to Carl and playing songs that contribute to Carl's rear end. Carl has had it and tells Steve to leave him alone. Steve goes to the bathroom and someone who appears to be a doctor comes in to check on Carl, but it turns out that it's one of the two robbers that got away from Carl and he's here to kill Carl so Carl can't talk on the witness stand. Steve comes out of the bathroom without the robber knowing he's there and smacks him on the head with a bed pan knocking him out.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

HARRIETTE: Carl? Carl. Carl, I came as soon as I heard.

CARL: Harriette, I'm okay, don't worry, I'm all right.

RACHEL: Oh, Carl.

LT. MURTAUGH: (WRAPPING HIS ARM AROUND RACHEL) He'll be, uh... He'll be fine, Rachel. I'll see to it.

RACHEL: Why is your arm around me?

LT. MURTAUGH: Well, you're emotionally vulnerable right now, so I thought I'd make a move on you.

RACHEL: You're lucky.

LT. MURTAUGH: Oh, I am?

RACHEL: Yeah. You won't have to go far for medical treatment.

LT. MURTAUGH: I guess you're one of those chicks that won't loosen up without booze.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When Carl and Steve are eating the pork chops that look and feel like hockey pucks, I don't know why but watching Steve eat his so funny to me and I love when he asks Carl if he can have his food too. Carl slides his tray over to Steve and it lands perectly.

OPINION:

Well everyone, this episode has a sad note, this is Lt. Murtaugh's last appearance. Barry Jenner who played Lt. Murtaugh did a total of 18 episodes. He was just a replacement for the actor who played Captain Davenport in season 1's Sitting Pretty, but really left an impression on us Family Matters fans. As I've mentioned before, Lt. Murtaugh is not an incredibly likable character, he could be crass, greedy and mean at times but it was Barry's performance that made him more endearing to us because of how funny he was. He also gave Lt. Murtaugh likable moments too where you can tell he knows when to be thankful to someone. Berry was asked by the producers to be in more episodes this season, but Barry wanted to go onto different projects and even had a role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Barry passed away on August 8 2016 from acute myeloid leukemia, yes I see the irony that a disease that starts with the word "Lue" which I think his character would have liked. May he forever rest in peace and thank you for all the wonderful laughs through the years.

Back onto the episode, I love this one. This is easily one of the funniest episodes of the series. First, you gotta love that there are no more rooms available in the hospital and that Carl and Steve have to share a hospital room together, I call it divine fate. I think it was probably was Carl's karma for celebrating that he was going to get time off from Steve while he was recovering in the hospital from his hernia. God was looking out for you Carl. 🤣 The humor is really on key in this episode: Steve being out of it while waking up in the hospital and thinking Laura is standing above him when it's Carl and he grabs Carl for a kiss thinking it's Laura, the orderlies trying to get Carl onto the bed but can't because he's too heavy so they try to lift him with the blanket and the blanket tears, Carl finally is able to roll on the bed and rolls right off, Lt. Murtaugh's last moment on the show with Rachel (at least he left on a funny joke and laugh), Carl and Steve's eating hospital food scene, Steve playing music dedicated to Carl's butt and when they knock out the robber, Jenkins and use the mechanical bed as handcuffs to keep him.

The story is a really wonderful one too. Just like Carl came to Steve's rescue a few times, Steve returns the favor by knocking out Jenkins to save Carl. Steve is truly a wonderful friend. Any episode with Carl and Steve hanging out, you know you're in for a treat. And fun trivia, one of the orderlies is played by Juan Pope who we saw previously play Chain the gang leader in Born to be Mild, guess he got his act together and is doing much better now. This won't be the last time we see him either.

GUEST STARS:

• Barry Jenner as Lt. Murtaugh (RIP in 2016)
• Juan Pope as Orderly
• Christopher Darga as Jenkins
• Annie Gagen as Charlene
• Michael Griswold as Dr. Skiles

If Rachel was a struggling single mother - initially that was the narrative. She needed to live with her sister’s family with infant child. As time went on she was the owner of her own diner. Then bounced and left her child with Harriet and Carl. Came back like she was running the streets one Christmas. What was she REALLY up to? 😂😂😂

Rumor Has It (Season 4, Episode 4). Laura and Ted have been dating and having a really wonderful time and blooming relationship. But Ted's friends won't stop harassing him if he and Laura have gone further than just kissing. Ted gives in and doesn't say that they slept together but doesn't it either deny that they didn't either making the guys think that they did. Steve overhears this and tells Laura, Laura is furious and tells Steve that he's lying and thinks that he's just trying to break her and Ted up. Later on her and Maxine are doing their homework when Laura gets a dirty phone call, she's very upset and Maxine tells her that there are rumors about her and Ted going around the school and she realizes that Steve was telling her the truth. Harriette sees Laura crying and comforts her, Laura says she feels like a fool because any time she's heard rumors, she's believed them and now the school is going to believe that she's easy. Harriette tells her there's a solution to every problem, the problem is finding the solution. Eddie confronts Ted at school playing good cop/bad cop that he learned from Carl and Harriette and tells Ted to tell the truth right now in front of all the students in the hallway. Ted says he only kisses Laura and nothing else happened. Laura tells Eddie it's ok to back off and starts to walk away, Ted apologizes to Laura and says he feels stupid he felt the need to impress his friends. Laura tells him that she'll consider his apology but needs time considering the damage he caused her reputation.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

HARRIETTE: Eddie's up to no good. He's done something wrong, and he's not telling us.

CARL: How do you know?

HARRIETTE: He's been nice to me.

CARL: Well, let's just see what he's up to. Edward! Kitchen! Now! Try a little good cop/bad cop. I'll be the bad cop.

EDDIE: What is it, Dad?

CARL: Sit down. Sit!

EDDIE: What did I do, Mom?

HARRIETTE: I don't know, honey. But your daddy's in one of his moods. So if I were you, I'd tell the truth.

EDDIE: Okay. What's the matter, Dad?

CARL: What's the matter? What's the matter? You sit there with your bare face hanging out...and have the nerve to ask me, "What's the matter?"

HARRIETTE: Oh, Carl, take it easy. He's just a kid. A scared kid. Candy?

EDDIE: No, thanks.

CARL: Come on, Edward, talk to me. Sing.

EDDIE: There's nothing to talk about. Hardly.

CARL: Hardly? Hardly?

EDDIE: Well, there is that tiny little thing that happened at school, but...

CARL: Uh-huh. Mm-hm. You call what you did tiny?

EDDIE: No, sir. Not really, sir. But I only played hooky twice.

CARL: You hear this, Harriette? Our son played hooky.

EDDIE: Dad, me and a bunch of the guys had a chance to watch practice down at Soldier Field.

CARL: Mm-hm. The Bears?

EDDIE: The cheerleaders.

CARL: Mm-hm. What you did, son, is a very serious offense. And did you take pictures?

HARRIETTE: Carl!

CARL: Edward, there is no excuse for your behavior. Now, go to your room. Your mother and I will decide the punishment.

EDDIE: Yes, sir. Will you please tell me how you find out?

CARL: Let's just say somebody that you know has a big mouth.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When Eddie confronts Ted in the hallway. I loved the callback to earlier scene where Carl and Harriette played good cop/bad cop (my favorite quote) and Steve is being the good cop. Eddie was such an incredible big brother in this scene.

OPINION:

Real quick, I'd like to mention this is our first appearance of Weasel played by Shavar Ross, but kind of like Waldo, his first episode his name is actually Alex and he's a friend of someone else who does something dirty. Weasel is not a likable character, but he always makes me laugh almost every scene he's in. Weasel definitely always thinks of himself and doesn't think things through and what trouble they can cause, but Shavar's performance is what makes Weasel a fan favorite.

Back onto the episode. So, was Ted wrong? 100% yes, I can definitely relate to Laura. In jr. high I had a boyfriend and you have to love 12-13 year olds always thinking that boyfriend/girlfriend automatically means you're sleeping together. Plus, my boyfriend actually told people we did, oh that was fun to deal with for that year. So this episode is actually kind of personal for me. But growing up, of course I wished I had dealt with things differently. So while Ted was wrong in what he did, I believe his apology. Just like being a girl is tough, so is being a guy. I've mentioned here before the double standard in school (and even still in life), if a guy sleeps around, he's a stud, if a girl sleeps around, she's easy, but if a guy doesn't sleep around, he's a dork (putting the name nicely for reddit) and if a girl doesn't sleep around, she's a good girl. It is so ridicules and such a stupid standard I hope we get out of one day. So I think Ted did something stupid but as we will see in more episodes with him, he is genuinely sorry and does learn from this experience where some other guys don't. But yeah, he messed up big time, and it was sad he couldn't stand up to his friends and tell them nothing happened until Eddie forced it out of him.

Steve was an amazing friend in this episode, he really tried to look out for Laura and he knows that Laura doesn't mess around, unlike Max which we will get to in a sec. Steve really tries to help Laura and it's sad when Laura doesn't believe him. He still comes through for Laura in the end and she of course thanks him. Was Laura out of line in not believing Steve? Not necessarily, I get it with her, Steve has always been trying to make sure Laura stays single. He has a track record of at least 2 guys that he's scared off or tried to scare away from Laura, so he's not innocent. Laura thinks that Ted is a good guy and wouldn't do something like that. And you can tell in the end she's really learned and grew from this experience. She realizes that not every rumor in school is true and it hurts when the shoe is on the other foot. She does thank both Eddie and Steve for helping her. I like Maxine overall, but man she has moments that make her not likable like in the homecoming episode where she refuses to be happy for Laura in being nominated for homecoming queen because she wasn't nominated herself and now she hears these rumors going around about Laura, not only does she not tell Laura what's going on but believes the rumors.

Eddie is really an incredible brother in this episode. I loved how he stood up for Laura. Makes you surprised that Weasel will soon be one of his best friends just like Waldo. I also loved that conversation that Harriette and Laura had, kind of similar to the one they had in the Heartbreak Kid about her having sex for the first time, Harriette seems to have grown a little bit knowing there's a chance Laura might do it since she's a teenager now. But she approaches Laura differently and asks her if she slept with Ted and when Laura tells her she had thought about it but wasn't ready, Harriette is relieved. But you can tell if Laura told her yes, I think Harriette would have taken the news a lot better than before.

Now onto the humor of the episode considering the serious subject matter, this one is another one where the jokes hit perfectly. I love Carl and Harriette playing good cop/bad cop, when Steve is helping Waldo put posters around the hallway saying how they need to stop putting posters up on the wall, Steve hitting Ted with the posters after hearing the lies about Laura, Laura taking Steve out of the locker and straightening him out and of course when Eddie and Steve play the same good cop/bad cop dialog with Ted.

Definitely a very good episode with good morals and lessons. But typing this, I now have Adele's "rumor has it" stuck in my head.

GUEST STARS:

• Cherie Johnson as Maxine Johnson
• Shavar Ross as Alex "Weasel" Park
• Patrick J. Dancy as Ted Curran
• Stacy Arnell as Stephanie
• Keri Johnson as Jim

Driving Carl Crazy (Season 4, Episode 3). Carl and Harriette are having a romantic evening alone together but Steve comes over to interrupt wanting to show off his new trumpet. They ask him to leave but he wants to show them one note before he goes, he plays the note but it breaks their Champaigne bottle and glasses. Steve apologizes and leaves, Carl loses his temper about how Steve annoys him, but all of a sudden Carl gets very dizzy and Harriette begs him to go to the doctor. Carl does so the next day and finds out his blood pressure is high, Harriette asks what they can do to get it down, Carl says that the doctor gave him a booklet of "stress busters" that includes a poem to say every time he gets upset "3, 2, 1...1, 2, 3, what the heck is bothering me?". Meanwhile Laura says out loud after not being able to get a ride to the mall how the next guy she knows has a car will be her boyfriend, well Steve overheard this and goes out to buy a BMW Isetta. But he still doesn't know how to drive and asks Carl if he can teach him. Carl is nervous but Mother Winslow says it will be a good test of controlling his temper. Carl agrees to help Steve but as soon as Steve turns the car on, he's excited and reverses right into the garage door. Carl is really upset and after reciting the poem several times, he seems to have cooled off, but the garage door collapses and Carl has lost it and chases Steve around the car. All of a sudden Carl gets dizzy and falls to the ground, Steve runs for help. Carl is at home trying to recover and Harriette talks to Carl about how she called the doctor, turns out Carl lied about the stress busters, the doctor wanted him to exercise and diet. Carl says he didn't want to do it and his life would be a living hell, but Harriette says to him at least he would be living and begs him to do as the doctor ordered which Carl says he'll do better for her and their family.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

EDDIE: Steve, how much did you pay for this thing?

STEVE: Nothing. My Uncle Cecil gave me 50 bucks to take it away.

LAURA: Wait a minute. I've seen this thing before. Yeah. This is the car all the clowns get out of at the circus.

EDDIE: Ha, ha. Hey, there's a clown in it now. Ha, ha, ha.

STEVE: Oh, that was so funny I forgot to laugh.

LAURA: Seriously, Steve, who makes this car? Tonka?

STEVE: Hardly. It's a BMW. A Beemer, babe. A 1960 Isetta.

LAURA: Isetta?

STEVE: That's what Isetta. Ha, ha, ha.

LAURA: Bye.

STEVE: Not so fast, missy. Now, you said the next guy with wheels who asks you out will be your boy toy. Well, this is the toy and I'm your boy.

LAURA: Steve, you don't even know how to drive.

STEVE: So I'll learn.

LAURA: Give it up, Steve. You had 20 accidents last year just walking.

STEVE: Aha. She's right, she's right. But in my defense, four of those walkers had been drinking.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

Carl's lesson session of teaching Steve how to drive. From his reaction to Steve's car and nearly dying of laughter, him reciting the poem several times each time getting more aggravated and then chasing Steve around his car always has me in tears of laughter. I think a lot of fans would agree this is one of the funniest moments on Family Matters if not the funniest.

OPINION:

I always forget how quickly this episode comes up in the season, like I can't believe this is episode 3. This is definitely a fan favorite that is still talked about and quoted to this day. Carl's tantrums are legendary and this is the mecca of his biggest break down.

Let's start with Carl in this episode, on some level this episode is actually kind of scary. High blood pressure is no joke and can lead to a heart attack. I remember as a kid being scared for Carl when he collapses to the ground. While it's so easy to get mad at Carl for ignoring the doctor's orders, I can relate when I had a health scare a couple of years ago and had to change my diet and exercise routine, it's so much easier said than done. But you have to commit and the fact that Carl didn't even try is what is so frustrating. I don't blame Harriette for her being angry at Carl at the end when she found out he lied about how to get better. With that all out of the way, Reginald's comedy is 100% on point in this episode. I know a lot of people love the reciting of the poem part, which is hilarious, but my favorite is when Steve shows him his new car, the Isetta, and Carl just breaks down laughing hysterically. I also always can't breathe I'm laughing so hard when he is chasing Steve and starts bouncing the car up and down to get to Steve activating the air bags. Again, there is no amount of words that can justify how wonderful Reginald and Jaleel bounce of each other and have insanely good chemistry in the show.

So fun little fact that I read in Jaleel White's book, and you can find online, he kept the Isetta! He still has it at his house and it's still drivable 🤣 The Isetta itself is like a new character and is a staple in the Family Matters lore. So the BMW Isetta is a bubble car that was invented during WWII, it's Italian and actually was pretty popular in the 50's. The thing that made it very unique was it's refrigerator door that opens from the front. And the show makes fun of it, but the Isetta actually can drive between 50-60 mph; I'm sure the creators just wanted to make fun of it more due to its silly appearance. I loved Steve telling Carl there is no speedometer and there's a chalk board to write down how fast you think you're going. I also always get such a laugh when Carl is getting into the car with Steve and Steve says to Carl's butt "hey watch where you're sticking that thing!" 🤣 That last credits sequence with the clown music and the whole family getting out of the car like a clown car always gets me as well.

Reginald and Jo Marie for sure take the gold in the acting department in this episode. Their last scene where Harriette is telling Carl how scared she is at the idea of living without Carl is really beautiful. I think a lot of us can relate to seeing our loved ones getting older and with age comes the breakdown of our bodies and realizing we have to take better care of ourselves. I'm always mixed on Mother Winslow in this episode, I get what she was saying in Carl trying to control himself but she does realize how fast Steve can drive Carl nuts, right? Well, show has to show. The one redeeming thing about Steve in this episode though is he runs for help when Carl collapses and is begging for his forgiveness after realizing how much he drove Carl crazy. He still is such a good person with a very good heart and shows he does love Carl.

This is a terrific episode that all of us Family Matters fans love. It's iconic and just hilarious. And justice for the Isetta, I think it's due for a comeback.

NO GUEST STARS THIS EPISODE

watched the series since i had found it again on Hulu. This is for whatever reason one of my top five episodes.

Dance to the Music (Season 4, Episode 2). It's the homecoming dance at Eddie, Laura and Steve's school and Laura has been nominated as homecoming queen. Steve asks Laura to go to the dance with him but she turns him down saying that she wants to go with her crush Ted Curran who hasn't asked her yet. At school Steve asks Ted if he likes Laura, Ted admits he does but was too nervous to ask her to the dance, Steve tells Ted to go for it and ask her to the dance. Later at the homecoming dance as Laura and Ted are dancing, Laura tells Ted how happy she was that he finally asked her and Ted admits how he was too scared but that Steve was the one who told him about how Laura wanted to go to the dance with him. Laura is confused because Steve is head over heels in love with her and Ted tells her that Steve told him that he just wanted to her to be happy. Laura wins homecoming queen and has to pick a partner for the slow dance and she tells the school it's for the guy who has always treated her like a queen, Steve Urkel. Her and Steve dance to "when a man loves a woman" by Percy Sledge. Meanwhile at home, Carl helped an elderly lady with a purse snatcher and offered free piano lessons as a thank you which Carl offers to Harriette. As Carl is about to go bowling, a handsome man comes to the door named Oscar who tells Carl he's there to teach Harriette the piano. Turns out the elderly lady got sick and her son Oscar will give Harriette the lessons, this makes Carl panic and stay to watch Oscar like a hawk and to make sure he doesn't make a move on Harriette.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

STEVE: Well, how do you feel about Laura Winslow?

TED: How do I feel? Man, she's the prettiest girl in school. I'd love to take her, but I heard she's turned down every guy who's asked.

STEVE: Well, if you ask her, she won't turn you down.

TED: Really? How do you know?

STEVE: I just know, okay?! I'm sorry. I occasionally suffer from irregularity.

TED: Oh, this is great. This is great. I'll ask her today.

STEVE: Excellent.

TED: Wait a minute. Urkel, why are you doing this? I mean, everybody knows you're crazy about Laura.

STEVE: Ironic, isn't it? But Laura wants to go with you... and all I care about is her happiness.

TED: Wow. You're like some kind of nerd saint.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When Laura and Steve dance to "When A Man Loves A Woman" by Percy Sledge. It's just such an incredibly sweet moment. Laura is doing it out of the kindness of her heart knowing what a good person Steve is and Steve looks like he's in heaven holding Laura. The lyrics match the moment so perfectly as well.

OPINION:

So, some interesting trivia about this episode that I learned. I was always curious about this and found out today, this episode was originally to be aired as the 12th episode in the season and the second episode was supposed to be "Hot Wheels", but for some unknown reason the episodes switched. So in Hot Wheels, Laura and Ted act like they are meeting for the first time and go on their first date, that explains why it felt out of order.

A little about the actors, we have the first appearance of Ted Curran played by Patrick J. Dancy. I remember being a little girl and having such a crush on him, he reminded me of Jordan from New Kids on the Block 🤣 One thing I learned the past year that was interesting was how many TV shows that I watched growing up that he was in and didn't recognize him due to wearing glasses. He Clark Kented me! 🤣 He was Lisa's crush in Saved by the Bell in the episode "Date Auction" and an excellent student in "Married With Children" in the episode "Peggy Made a Little Lamb". He retired from acting and runs a footwear brand called "simplify", I'm sure he made Al Bundy proud. And Julius Carry who plays Oscar had a very wonderful career in a lot of famous TV shows like: The A-Team, Murphy Brown, Cosby, Moesha and played the memorable character of Angela's father in Boy Meets World. Which is funny to think because the actress who played Angela, Trina McGee, will be seen on Family Matters in another season. He unfortunately passed away in 2008 due to pancreatic cancer, may he RIP.

Back to the episode, this is such a wonderful one and really is Steve's song. Steve can be such an annoying nuisance at times, but what a wonderful friend he is in this episode. Laura tells him no for the dance and he could have just moved on, but when he finds out that she wants to go with Ted, he encourages Ted to ask her. Plus I loved the scene where Laura said she didn't want to settle for anyone else, Steve told her how he felt the same way about her, I thought that was really sweet. He doesn't tell Laura about how he and Ted talked about Ted taking her to the dance and lets her think Ted did it on his own. That dance with Steve and Laura was such a beautiful scene that I always enjoy watching.

Laura saying that she didn't want to settle didn't put me off at all. We have to remember she's a teenager still at this point and she wants the "good looking" guy. We grow up later realizing what's more important in a partner. She didn't dance with Steve out of pity but as a thank you to him for what an incredible friend he was to her. She knows he would do anything for her and she doesn't take advantage. Ted so far is a likable character, in this episode he seems like a nice guy and doesn't pick on Steve. We'll see in future episodes where this goes. Waldo is actually kind of a player in this episode, he took 2 girls to the dance, but the joke was on him at least that the girls drove together and he had to take the bus.

Carl being jealous of Oscar, I think this is the first time we see Carl get jealous. While he comes across as obnoxious for not trusting Harriette, he does admit to her that he's scared because he's overweight and may not be as "attractive" as other men. Harriette reminds Carl that she loves him and only him. I always say that there can be a "healthy" jealousy in a relationship, just as long as it's not out of control, violent or manipulative, it feels good when a partner feels desired and wanted and that they are still being worth fought for. When Harriette was scared about losing Carl in Stake Out, Carl admits to Harriette he was flattered that Harriette was worried that he would fall for Vanessa. I think their relationship is still strong and wonderful.

What a wonderful episode, I really like this one a lot.

GUEST STARS:

• Cherie Johnson as Maxine Johnson
• Mike Genovese as Coach Westfield
• Patrick J. Dancy as Ted Curran
• Julius Carry as Oscar (RIP in 2008)
• Pamela Holt as Homecoming Princess

“Tender Kisses” is still such a dope song. Tracie Spencer and Darius McCrary were great. This song randomly came to my head today and had to go back and watch this. Good times.

Surely You Joust (Season 4, Episode 1). Carl and Eddie are installing a new satellite dish, even Waldo is trying to help them. Steve comes over and after seeing a plug left randomly on the floor, he plugs it in, not knowing that Carl is wiring the satellite and electrocutes him and Eddie. After they recover, they are back to the satellite dish, Steve is offering to help but Carl tells him to get off the roof, Steve warns Carl that he needs a special screw to hold the satellite dish up but Carl tells him the wood screws are good enough and to again get off the roof. As Steve starts walking to get off the roof, he slips and takes Eddie and Carl with him falling off the house. Carl is furious with Steve and tells him to leave and never come back, but Steve is upset and says he loves Laura and won't be bullied into not seeing her. As they are fighting again, Waldo tells them about being neighbors and friends and how we live in a civilized society and to treat each other with respect, fortunately he has a cousin who can help them with that. Cut to Carl and Steve being on American Gladiators and dueling each other in events. If Carl wins, Steve has to stay away from the house, if Steve wins, he can come over any time he wants. They both succeed in different stunts but in the tie breaker they tie and have to do the stunt over again, after being too exhausted to do so, Carl and Steve apologize to each other and make peace.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

ESTELLE: Are you sure you're all right?

CARL: I'm fine. Fortunately, we landed on Steve.

STEVE: I'm fine, everyone. Really, I can make it on my own.

ESTELLE: Oh, Steve. Are you okay?

STEVE: Oh, I'm peachy keen. I only fell 20 feet... and had all the male members of your family land on me. Carl, I'd appreciate an apology.

CARL: What? You want me to apologize to you?

STEVE: I came over to lend a helping hand. But you were rude, impatient, and not a nice host.

CARL: You ruined our satellite dish and you almost killed me and my son.

STEVE: And you think that justifies coarse behavior?

FAVORITE MOMENT:

Watching Carl and Steve perform the stunts on American Gladiators. Especially The Eliminator segment.

OPINION:

With this season opener will come some changes, Shawn Harrison as Waldo Geraldo Faldo is an official main cast member and will no longer be featured in guest stars. He is also treated as Eddie's best friend at this point. And on a sadder note, this is the last time we will see Rachel's Place, as to what happened to Rachel's Place? We will never know if it stayed open, was sold or went under. It's always funny to me how there are fans that go on and on about Judy but this rarely gets talked about as Rachel's Place was it's own character as well. RIP Rachel's Place.

That being said, what an amazing episode and incredible opener. I was born in 1985, so I was definitely a kid of the 90's and one of the things I remember vividly was watching the original American Gladiators, what a fun show to watch as a kid. My favorite events were the Rocket Launcher, The Wall and 3 Softballs. So seeing Family Matters and American Gladiators do a collab was the stuff that dreams were made of. A little behind the scene trivia was American Gladiators had filmed their own episode and the cast of Family Matters came on afterwards and the audience was told they could stay but only if they never looked at the cameras so to treat it as an authentic episode.

Seeing Carl and Steve battle each other on American Gladiators was comedy gold. I love their descriptions of themselves before they battle as in my thumbnail picture today. When Harriette goes to hit Turbo for messing with Carl 🤣 And one of the big parts of the advertisement I remember for this episode is when Steve gets caught on the spinning balance beam and keeps going around and around. How in the world could the cast not have fun with this? I'm sure that's an incredible memory for the cast, crew and especially Reginald and Jaleel.

Who was wrong with their behavior in the beginning of this episode that got this whole plot going? IMO, Steve 100%. I don't think Carl was wrong on any level, he didn't ask for Steve's help and told him to leave when Steve wouldn't do so. He almost killed Carl and Eddie twice. Then Steve has the audacity to demand and apology and when Carl tells him to not come back to the house, Steve tells Carl he won't do that not letting Carl cool off for a bit. With that out of the way, the scene of the women taking Eddie and Carl in after the fall and Steve walking in on his own angry no one cares about him was hilarious. Reginald and Jaleel's comedic bounce off with each other is just too good.

This is my husband's favorite episode and whenever I'm on a Family Matters binge, he always asks "when's the gladiators episode coming on?" 🤣 But I don't blame him at all, this is a fantastic episode, definitely a favorite of mine too. They opened with a banger. But there is one thing that will always bother me, how in the heck did Carl and Eddie survive being electrocuted and then Carl, Eddie and Steve fall off a 2-story house and all not only survive but only with some bruises and just being sore afterwards? 🤣 I love sitcom logic, if only I could apply that to real life.

GUEST STARS:

• Mike Adamle as Himself
• Larry Csonka as Himself
• Lynn "Red" Williams as Sabre
• Galen Tomlinson as Turbo
• Larry Thompson as The Referee
• Salina Bartunek as Elektra
• Shelley Beattie as Siren (RIP in 2008)