Hot Rods to Heck is the seventh episode of the seventh season of Family Matters, which aired on ABC on November 10, 1995. It was directed by Joel Zwick and written by Fred Fox Jr.
Synopsis[]
Urkel finds himself competing with another in a long line of Laura's boyfriends, this time drag racer Curtis Williams. Eventually, the two get on each other's nerves so much that Urkel is left with no choice but to soup up his Isetta and challenge the big-talking Curtis to a winner-take-all race. Soon Myra sets Laura straight when she reveals Steve's real reason he's competing in the race. Meanwhile, Eddie learns how to compromise between him living at home and inviting his friends over at home.
Plot[]
When Urkel warns Laura not to ride with her boyfriend, Curtis, in his car because of his reckless driving habits, Laura is shocked that he would forbid her (unbeknownst to her, however, is that Steve is trying to protect her). He is annoyed with Steve at Astro Burger, and eventually, the two challenge each other to a winner-take-all drag race. Urkel decides to soup up his Isetta for the race so it can now go at supersonic speed.
Meanwhile, Carl gives Eddie a piece of his mind after he invites his friends over to the Winslow house after curfew and warns him not to do it again. The next night, he ignores his father's warning and invites Waldo and his frat buddy, Bone Crusher, to the house again. This time, Carl has a fit about it and tells his buddies to leave so he can talk to his son. Eddie tells his dad when he was still living in his apartment, he didn't mind having his friends over all the time. Carl says that was when he was living on his own, but he lives in his house and doesn't like it when he invites his friends at 3:30 in the morning. The next day, he compromises between living at home and inviting his friends over after curfew.
At the racing lot, Laura blames Steve for meddling with her love life. However, Myra doesn't see it that way and wisely sets her straight. She points out that since Urkel started going steady with her, he was less dependent on the Winslows because she kept him distracted from his issues. Myra mentions that typically he would never get in between Laura and Curtis if he wasn't a good guy, which he saw the latter was a good man. It was his profession as a drag racer made Steve very nervous and for a good reason due to what happened with his cousin, Cleotus. Myra points out his real reason that he's putting his car, $500 and his life on the line was to make sure Laura stays out of danger because he cares about her as his friend. Myra mentions that if this is how she will treat him, then he's better off without her in his life. Only then Laura is remorse in how she treated Steve and realizes that Myra is right. He shows up for the race in his upgraded Isetta to face Curtis. The race kicks off with the two cars evenly matched as they leave the exits. Eventually Steve wins the match, but he's almost injured in the process, when he crashes through a pile of hay bales. Curtis thinks the rocket propeller he got on his car was cool and asks Urkel about it. However, Laura sets him straight by telling him off that she could've been injured in his car, if it wasn't for Steve putting himself on the line to keep her out of his car. Curtis leaves and she apologizes to both Urkel and Myra for mistrusting their judgment.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Reginald VelJohnson as Carl Winslow
- Jo Marie Payton as Harriette Winslow (credited as Jo Marie Payton-Noble)
- Rosetta LeNoire as Estelle Winslow (non-appearance)
- Darius McCrary as Eddie Winslow
- Kellie Shanygne Williams as Laura Winslow
- Bryton James as Richie Crawford (non-appearance as Bryton McClure)
- Jaleel White as Steve Urkel
- Shawn Harrison as Waldo Geraldo Faldo
- Michelle Thomas as Myra Monkhouse
Guest[]
Recurring[]
- Juan Lamont Pope as Curtis Williams (credited as J. Lamont Pope)
Cameo[]
- Lamont Johnson as Bone Crusher
- Jarrad Paul as Kevin
- Steven Rozic as P.J. (credited as Steve Rozic)
Trivia[]
- This episode marks the 2nd time that someone else other than Urkel and Harriette set Laura straight. The first time was Maxine back in Par For the Course.
- Steve improves on the BMW Isetta so that now it can go at supersonic speed, making it the only known Isetta in the Family Matters universe to attain such speeds. This creates another similarity between him and Sonic the Hedgehog, another character played by Jaleel White. The first similarity appears in Sink or Swim, where Steve reveals that like Sonic he too has aquaphobia. Another similarity is that Steve worked at Mighty Weenie, a hot dog restaurant, around this time, and Sonic is a big fan of chili dogs. Their names also begin with the letter S too. Sonic's Uncle Chuck also shares a similarity with Steve; like Steve, he is an inventor. In addition, they're both skilled musicians—Sonic plays the electric guitar and is a singer, while Steve plays the accordion and sings as well.