Mama's Wedding is the nineteenth episode of the fourth season of Family Matters, which aired on ABC on March 5, 1993. It was directed by Gary Menteer and written both by Sara V. Finney and Vida Spears.
Synopsis[]
Carl finally comes to terms with his mother's impending marriage to Fletcher but the two get into a fight over the wedding arrangements. He wants a big wedding bash for them. However, Estelle just wants a small, simple ceremony, which Carl eventually agrees to. However, his original plan for a huge bash might come to fruition anyway, since Eddie had planned a huge house party for a weekend his parents would be out of town. Only thing is, Waldo needs proof reading skills because he wrote inaccurate invitations to the house party, advertising the gathering as the same night as the wedding. End result, Estelle and Fletcher gets a wedding they'll remember for a long time. Whereas, Eddie is grounded by Carl to serve time in his room for his plans to have a party.
Plot[]
Estelle and Fletcher are gathering the family for an announcement. When she asks if Steve's coming over, Laura informs her that Diane has just told her that he's in the shower. Before, she could finish, Urkel appears in a towel. Fletcher announces that he and Estelle have set the date for their wedding. Judy asks Estelle if she's thinking about being a June bride. She tells Judy no and immediately announces that she and Fletcher are moving the wedding date forward to make their cruise honeymoon trip in the Caribbean that they got a 50% on a nice first class room. Carl announces he has plans for a big bash, but Estelle disagrees. Fletcher asks for a nice, small and quiet affair, which he tries to ignore. Steve wants to attend the wedding, but when he's told no by Carl and Laura, Estelle lets the two have it with her tirades. They reluctantly allow him to attend.
The next day in the kitchen, Carl is seen quarreling with Fletcher about the wedding arrangements between him and Estelle. He still wants to throw a big bash for her and his future step-father. However, Fletcher keeps telling him that it's too expensive for it and all they want a nice, small, quiet affair just between their family and friends. Carl's mother, Estelle, agrees with him and points out how disappointed she is in him for having not listened to her in what she wanted. However, her words fall on deaf ears as all he understands is his plans for a big wedding bash are ruined. Carl is upset by this turn of events and decides not to go.
Meanwhile, Eddie, Steve, Waldo and Weasel are watching a Chicago Bulls basketball game. Eddie decides to have a huge flyer party at his house next Saturday when Carl and Harriette go out of town for their anniversary. Urkel is against it and warns not to have one because he is aware Carl's rage very well from last time. Eddie reassures him they can clean up after the party in time when his parents come home on Sunday night. He asks Waldo to make a thousand fliers. When he complains his hand will be tired, Steve suggests that he makes one and Xerox it to save time. Waldo takes his suggestion to heart.
In the kitchen, Harriette tells a disheartened Carl about the caterer calling for suggestions about the appetizers on how it should have a nice chardonnay and liver pate. He tells her that Estelle has just told him that she wants a small affair so he tells her that she needs to call the caterer and tell him to make Kool-Aid and Cocktail Weenies. Harriette becomes concerned and asks Carl what happened. He refuses to tell her about it, but mentions that he's done with the whole wedding affair. Estelle goes to talk to Carl and ask about his big wedding plans. He admits that all the time she's made sacrifices just to get him the things that he wanted. Carl admits that Estelle has done so much for him over the years and he wants to do something for her in return. They reminisce about the time where Carl was ten and his best friend has just got a new bicycle. He wanted one but his father said they couldn't afford it. Then Estelle took the money that she saved for a new dress and bought him that bike. She told him that his happiness meant more to her than a new dress for the reunion. That's why Carl wanted to plan the wedding and give Estelle a huge ceremony. He didn't care if it was going to put a dent in his savings, he wanted to her to have a huge bash as his thanks to her. Carl apologizes for going too far and lets Estelle decides what she wants. She tells him she wants a garden ceremony at the house with their family and friends. She also wants it with the moonlight shining under the stars. Carl thinks it's a great idea and agrees to make it happen for Estelle, unaware that his original plans for a big wedding may unwittingly come to fruition.
On the day of the wedding, Carl, Fletcher and Skippy head outside. Steve runs inside the living room and elicits pleasantries with the three older men as they head outside. Once they're gone, he frantically tells Eddie that the wedding may hit a serious snafu. He becomes serious, asks Urkel what's wrong and why the wedding may have a problem. He mentions that Waldo wrote inaccurate invitations on Eddie's flyer party and of which he is clearly against. Shocked by this, he asks Steve how he knew of the mess up on the invitations. He mentioned he grabbed a copy from Waldo and he noticed a huge discrepancy on the date, which advertised it on the same night as Estelle and Fletcher's wedding. Steve shows the flier to Eddie who becomes increasingly worried. He mentions that because of Waldo's mistake in inaccurately promoting the flyer party on the wedding date, the Winslow's backyard has over 100 crazed teens ready to party and are still coming in. Horrified that Estelle's wedding may be ruined because of his party plans that is meant for next Saturday when Carl and Harriette leave town for their anniversary, Eddie runs outside with Steve to the back to confront both Waldo and Weasel at once.
Finding Waldo and Weasel at the altar, Eddie immediately yells at them for screwing up big time. Because of them in wrongly and inaccurately writing invitations for the party on the same night as his grandmother, Estelle's wedding, he's going to be in big trouble when his family discovers their flyer party. Eddie points out that it was supposed to be for next Saturday when Carl and Harriette leave town for their anniversary. Waldo mentions that Eddie should go easy on him by cutting him a little slack because he only got the date wrong on one flier, and blames his mother for Xeroxing them over countless of times. The furious Eddie demands that Waldo and Weasel get rid the the kids from school right away despite making $1,500 from admissions because he's concerned they're going to ruin Estelle's wedding to Fletcher. Weasel tries to make him see the bright side and had already informed the teens. He mentions that they'll be supportive and quiet throughout the ceremony. Once Estelle and Fletcher say their vows and marry, then they'll start the flyer party.
Eddie's fears of his family finding out about his flyer party comes into fruition anyway. Carl immediately walks over behind the four boys and hears the conversation. He is furious to find out about Eddie's plans to have a party with the kids at his school on the same night as Estelle's wedding and shouts at him. Realizing they're busted, Waldo, Weasel and Steve leave immediately, not wanting to risk Carl's anger. Eddie tries to lie his way out of trouble. However, Carl doesn't believe him and asks him to tell the truth. Once the truth is out, he mentions for now, they'll have Estelle's wedding. He also mentions shortly after the ceremony, the family will have a funeral service ready for Eddie. He protests and Carl yanks him away to walk Harriette down the aisle. Despite the disruption, Estelle and Fletcher's wedding proceeds smoothly. They end up getting a wedding they're going to remember for a long time.
At the reception, Eddie tries to flirt with a cute girl, but Carl catches him in the act. Still nervous, he tries to talk his way out of his punishment. Carl is unmoved and tells Eddie off that if unintentionally ruining a wedding ever becomes an Olympic event, he'd win the gold. Taking him away to one side, Carl admonishes him for screwing up big time by almost ruining Estelle's wedding with his own party plans and having uninvited guests over. A wedding which he had intended to be a small, private affair between family and close friends. Carl tells Eddie to start convincing him why he shouldn't be grounded for the rest of his life. He tells Carl about the $2,000 they made from admissions for the flyer party. That Eddie wants him to keep it for his and Harriette's anniversary trip. Joyful for the money, Carl tells him that he loves him. However, he still grounds Eddie to serve time in his room for the month of May.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Reginald VelJohnson as Carl Winslow
- Jo Marie Payton as Harriette Winslow
- Rosetta LeNoire as Estelle Winslow
- Darius McCrary as Eddie Winslow
- Kellie Shanygne Williams as Laura Winslow
- Jaimee Foxworth as Judy Winslow (final appearance)
- Bryton James as Richie Crawford (credited as Bryton McClure)
- Jaleel White as Steve Urkel
- Telma Hopkins as Rachel Crawford
- Shawn Harrison as Waldo Geraldo Faldo
Guest[]
Recurring[]
- Shavar Ross as Alex "Weasel" Park
- Naya Rivera as Gwendolyn
- Arnold Johnson as Fletcher Thomas
Cameo[]
- Ron Taylor as Pastor Peeble
- Jester Hairston as William
Gallery[]
.jpg "Jaleel White (sitting).jpg (145 KB)")
_(episode).jpg "Mama's Wedding (2) (episode).jpg (18 KB)")
.jpg "Telma Hopkins (using microphone).jpg (174 KB)")
Trivia[]
- This episode marks Jaimee Foxworth's final appearance as Judy Winslow. She is eventually written out of the show, with her existence also retconned with future episodes stating that Carl and Harriette only have two kids: Eddie and Laura.
- This episode also marks Naya Rivera's final appearance as Gwendolyn.
- The song Rachel sings is "Inseparable" by Natalie Cole.
- The gag where Urkel trips on a phone cord is later removed from rerun airings to cut down on time.
Quotes[]
- Waldo: Goodness gracious. I am shocked and dismayed.
- Eddie: What are you talking about?
- Waldo: Your parents are just now getting married.
- Eddie: No, man, my grandmother is getting married.
- Waldo: Oh, my God. It's worse than I thought.
- Eddie: Look, Waldo, you make up a thousand flyers.
- Waldo: But I'll get writer's cramp.
- Urkel: Make one... then Xerox it!
- Carl: One hundred and fifty extra people at what was supposed to be a small family affair. Now, can you give me one good reason why I shouldn't ground you for the rest of your life?
- Eddie: Well, we took in $2,000, Dad, and we want you to have it.
- Carl: I love you, son.
- Eddie: Heh, heh.
- Carl: You're a fine young man. You'll be spending the month of May in your room, but you're a fine young man.