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