FAMILY MATTERS: TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE (TV)

Summary

One in this comedy series about the Winslows, an African-American family living in Chicago next door to their annoying neighbor, Steve Urkel.

Urkel’s latest invention, an adjustable television stand, experiences a severe malfunction, causing the television to hurtle up through the floor into Carl and Harriette’s bedroom. Carl, infuriated, chases Urkel through the house. The next day, Carl scolds Eddie for drinking at a party he attended the previous night, as he is not yet of legal drinking age. Carl tells him in no uncertain terms that he does not want Eddie to consume alcohol in the near future. Eddie protests but Carl is adamant about his position; he threatens to evict Eddie if he catches him drinking again. Urkel auditions on his accordion as a performer at a coffee house, hoping to earn money in order to pay off Carl for the damage to his house. His musical stylings prove to be inappropriate for the setting, but he transforms into Stefan and wins the job, opting for a more “cool” stage presence.

Stefan proves to be immensely popular at his new job, particularly with the coffee house’s female clientele. Two weeks later, Carl catches Eddie and Waldo coming back very late at night and realizes that he has been drinking again. Carl sends him to bed and tells him that he expects him to pack up and leave in the morning. Stefan performs again at the coffee house and announces that it will be his last night, as he has already made enough money to pay for the damages to Carl’s house. Laura arrives and requests to perform with Stefan; together they perform a version of “Saving All My Love for You.” Eddie plans to move in with Waldo, but at the last minute Waldo tells Eddie that he cannot, as he is concerned about Eddie’s drinking and is frightened of the change in his behavior when he does so. Waldo leaves and Eddie decides to move in to his frat house instead. He puts on a façade in front of Carl, but soon admits that he is beginning to see Carl’s point about drinking being a “dead end.” Eddie swears that he will not allow alcohol to ruin his life, and Carl embraces him and changes his mind about kicking him out of the house. Includes commercials.

(This program contains audiovisual errors. It represents the best copy available at this time.)

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: February 9, 1996 8:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:27:51
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:42073
• GENRE: Comedy
• SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; TV - Comedy
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1989-1997; CBS - 1997-1998
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV – Commercials – Advil cold relief
  • TV – Commercials – Chef Boyardee pasta
  • TV – Commercials – Citibank credit cards
  • TV – Commercials – Hershey’s chocolate
  • TV – Commercials – McDonald’s restaurants
  • TV – Commercials – Orudis headache relief
  • TV – Commercials – Pepsi soft drink
  • TV – Commercials – Pizza Hut pizza
  • TV – Commercials – “Cinderella” home video release
  • TV – Commercials – “Muppet Treasure Island” motion picture
  • TV – Commercials – “The Big Green” home video release
  • TV – Commercials – “The Lion King” home video release
  • TV – Promos – “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
  • TV – Promos – “Coach”
  • TV – Promos – “Home Improvement”
  • TV – Promos – “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”
  • TV – Promos – “Roseanne”

CREDITS

• Thomas L. Miller … Executive Producer, Developed by
• Robert L. Boyett … Executive Producer, Developed by
• William Bickley … Executive Producer, Created by
• Michael Warren … Executive Producer, Created by
• David W. Duclon … Executive Producer, Writer
• Jim Geoghan … Co-Executive Producer
• Fred Fox Jr. … Co-Executive Producer
• Gary Menteer … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
• Miles Kristman … Coordinating Producer
• Stephen Langford … Supervising Producer
• Fred Rubin … Supervising Producer
• Kelly Sandefur … Producer
• Rebecca Misra … Co-Producer
• Jeff Luini … Associate Producer
• Joel Zwick … Director
• Jesse Frederick … Music by, Theme Music by
• Bennett Salvay … Music by, Theme Music by
• Reginald VelJohnson … Cast, Carl Winslow
• JoMarie Payton Noble … Cast, Harriette Winslow
• Darius McCrary … Cast, Eddie Winslow
• Kellie Shanygne Williams … Cast, Laura Winslow
• Bryton McClure … Cast, Richie Winslow
• Shawn Harrison … Cast, Waldo Geraldo Faldo
• Jaleel White … Cast, Steve Urkel, Stefan Urquelle
• Greg Proops … Cast, Cafe Manager
• La Sondra Zarif … Cast, Girl #1
• Alison Brooks … Cast, Girl #2
• Tangie Ambrose … Cast, Girl #3