Ice Station Winslow is the fourteenth episode of the second season of Family Matters, which aired on ABC on January 4, 1991. It was directed by Richard Correll and written by Gary Menteer.
Synopsis[]
Eddie and Judy have a lesson in showing appreciation to family. In Eddie's case, Steve tags along on his and Carl's ice fishing trip to Lake Wannamuck, and proves to lend a crucial helping hand when Carl falls through thin ice. This harrowing experience teaches Eddie a valuable lesson in what the consequences were if Urkel hadn't been around to rescue Carl and promises to spend more time with him. Meanwhile, with Richie being the baby of the household, Judy feels like she's getting less attention and ruins his penguin costume in retaliation. Laura admonishes her for being selfish and soon teaches her that there are some advantages to being the older kid.
Plot[]
Harriette is in the kitchen, spraying her potted plant when Eddie and Carl comes home. Eddie complains that his father needs to get a real snow blower. Carl refuses and cites he doesn't need one when he has his son blowing it for him. Harriette tells Eddie nice try but that's how his father is. Carl has plans for a father and son activity with Eddie at the bowling alley but he refuses and bails. When he asked why, Harriette tells him he's getting old and their son is too busy. She suggests that if Carl wants to spend time with Eddie, he needs to haul his butt into gear and plan ahead.
Judy is excited to show her mom the good grade she got on her spelling test. Harriette is distracted putting a penguin costume together for Richie and Judy feels ignored.
In the living room, Harriette is rolling up socks when she notices that some of Eddie's socks are missing. Laura comes down the stairs with her bra stuffed with his socks. Harriette convinces her to let nature take its course and she'll blossom eventually. An angry Rachel comes down the stairs with a torn beak from her son's penguin costume. Before she tells Harriette about it, she notices Laura's stuffed bra. She asks if she used Kleenex to stuff her into her bra. Laura admitted she used Eddie's socks and Rachel nods. She tells her that her mother once used bean bags when they were growing up. Rachel tells Harriette that she had caught Judy ripping off the beak of Richie's penguin costume. Harriette reveals that she's probably jealous of him because she's no longer the baby of the house. She tells Rachel they need to work it out on their own like they used to. Steve comes in the Winslow home to notices Laura's stuffed bra and he faints.
In the kitchen, Urkel is fanning himself with a plate when Eddie comes in. Carl comes in with all the fishing gear and tells them they're going ice fishing and he decides to tag along. He tries to convince Urkel to stay home because it's a father and son outing and they don't need him to come along. However, Steve decides to go anyway, much to Carl's dismay.
The next day, Carl drags a reluctant Eddie along on an ice fishing trip to the lake. Tempers are already flaring on the thin ice between the two Winslow men. Their patience grows even shorter when Steve shows up and becomes an ace at ice fishing with his choice of bait, cheese.
At the Winslow house, Richie performs his penguin show with Rachel and Laura likes it, thinking it was cute, but Judy is less than thrilled. She complains it's not fair because everyone lavishes him with attention just because he's cute and she gets ignored for good things that she does. However, Laura sets her straight by reminding her that she was once in their cousin's shoes, while they were growing up. Judy is shocked by this because she couldn't remember that time. Laura mentions that she was jealous of Judy in grabbing all the attention their family gave her just for being the baby of the family and ignoring her. Out of spite, she was willing to do whatever it took to get it all back. Laura mentions that she put all her toys in Judy's bed with intentions of burying her. Laura tells Judy that there's a lot of advantages to being the older child: she gets to stay up later, pick out her own clothes and has someone who looks up to her as a role model. Judy never realized it that way and apologizes to Richie for the way she reacted.
Out on the icy lake, Steve is singing about ice fishing until Carl tells him to shut up because that's the worst thing that they have to hear, aside not being able to catch fish. Eddie complains they should leave soon, but his father refuses and tempers flare. Finally Carl decides to listen to him and calls off the trip. Steve calls Eddie a wuss, causing him to chase the nerd around. That is until the ice shows sign of weakening and they're told not to move by Carl. He convinces Urkel to go first because he's the lightest of all three of them and once he's safe, Eddie can move. Steve moves and makes it to the buoy. Eddie is the next lightest and he also makes it as well. Finally it is Carl's turn and he's doing fine. That is until he falls through the ice due to his weight. Fortunately, Urkel saves him out from the ice water by pulling him to safety with Eddie's help. A shaken Eddie finally realizes that he may not have had a father to argue if had things turned out differently. He decides to spend time more time with Carl for a lot of father and son activities, as long as he agrees not to go ice fishing again.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Reginald VelJohnson as Carl Winslow
- Jo Marie Payton as Harriette Winslow (credited as Jo Marie Payton-France)
- Rosetta LeNoire as Estelle Winslow
- Darius McCrary as Eddie Winslow
- Kellie Shanygne Williams as Laura Winslow
- Jaimee Foxworth as Judy Winslow
- Bryton James as Richie Crawford (credited as Bryton McClure)
- Jaleel White as Steve Urkel
- Telma Hopkins as Rachel Crawford
Guest[]
Recurring[]
Cameo[]
- Michael Chambers as Himself
Trivia[]
- On the Season 2 DVD, this is the only episode to be the syndicated version. The uncut version can be found on Hulu.
- In the cold open to "Dedicated to the One I Love", Eddie mentions he wished he was going fishing in Alaska, which would likely involve ice fishing. However, in this episode, he tells Carl he doesn't think he's an "ice fishing kind of guy".
- This episode scene showing Urkel rescuing Carl from drowning under the ice is referenced in "What's Up Doc?" when Harriette countered her family's argument in while he is annoying, he has also come to their aid.
- This episode marks the first time Eddie took his father for granted in wanting to spend time with him. The episodes that will follow this theme are "Hot Wheels" and "The Substitute Son".
- Eddie and Carl's discussion on wanting a snow blower and Carl's reply that he doesn't need a snow blower when he has Eddie comes up again in "The Oddest Couple".
Quotes[]
- Harriet: You're old.
- Carl: You didn't say I was old last night.
- Harriet: No, you went to sleep before I could say anything.
- Harriet: I'm missing four pairs of Eddie's socks. Do you happen to have any idea where they are?
- Laura: Search me.
- Harriet: No need. What are you up to?
- Laura: Hopefully about a 38D.
- Harriet: Honey, just let nature take its course. You will blossom any day now.
- Laura: Ah, yeah, well, in the meantime I'll just work on my balance.
- Rachel: Harriette, we've got to talk. [noticing Laura has stuffed her chest] Kleenex?
- Laura: Socks.
- Urkel: Here we are, the Three Amigos. Carlos, Eduardos, and... Stevos. I'm having a mucho grande time, guys.
- Urkel: What kind of bait you fellas using?
- Carl: Worms.
- Urkel: I'm using cheese. You fellas wanna try some?
- Carl: No thanks.
- Urkel: You'll catch more fish.
- Carl: Steve... you use the bait that you want, and we'll use the bait that we want.
- Eddie: Yeah.
- Carl: And we'll just see who catches the first fish.
- Urkel: [catching a fish] And then what?
- Eddie: Dad, when are we leaving?
- Carl: What are you talking about? We're having big fun here.
- Eddie:[Sarcastically] Oh, really? Why wasn't I told?
- Carl: Are you implying that you're not having a good time?
- Eddie: Dad, I'm not implying. I'm telling you straight out.