Miracle on Elm Street is the eleventh episode of the sixth season in this television sitcom on Family Matters, which was aired from ABC on December 16, 1994. It was directed by Richard Correll and written both by Fred Fox Jr. and Jim Geoghan.
Plot[]
Richie brings home a homeless man (Art Evans) for Christmas, much to the Winslow's annoyance but he winds up teaching them a holiday lesson about the meaning of the season. After Carl helps him out and find him a home, the homeless man tells Carl that he is Santa Claus and remembers the gift that he wanted when he was a kid. Meanwhile, Eddie accidentally throws out Laura's rag doll from her childhood. Laura becomes heartsick over the doll's apparent fate, prompting Urkel to visit a landfill in an all-out attempt to rescue the doll.
Synopsis[]
Little Richie's decision to bring a homeless man home for Christmas lands him in serious trouble with Carl and upsets his family. However, Ben has a lot of lessons that he teaches them about the meaning of the season. As time wears on, the family starts appreciating his lessons about Christmas.
Laura is distraught after Eddie accidentally tosses her cherished childhood doll, Emily, to the dump. She tells him there was a reason why she put her next to her bed, not in the box and blames him for ruining her Christmas. She kept refusing to talk to him until he finds her. Immediately, Steve finds out how distraught and heartbroken Laura is over losing Emily and sets Eddie straight for his lame-brained decision in tossing her doll out as a result. Urkel told him that had he not tossed Emily out, she would've looked forward to Christmas. Steve heads down to the dump to find Emily and make Laura happy again as his Christmas gift to her, using a metal detector.
At the house, Ben reveals to Carl that he was really Santa Claus, disguised as a homeless man and explains why he did give him and his family the lessons. He wanted to find a family who understood the true meaning of Christmas and found success with The Winslows. He apologizes to him for not getting him the gift that he wanted.
At the dump, Steve teams up with a friendly dog named Howard and they search high and low for Emily, Laura's cherished childhood rag doll. Urkel gets distracted by a nudie magazine but Howard barks at him as a reminder to find the doll. Together it took 16 hours to find Emily but they managed to do so.
On Christmas day, Harriette and the rest of the family are happily opening presents. Laura still feels distraught and heartsick over the loss of her doll. Urkel comes over to the Winslow house and he gives Emily back to her as her Christmas gift. He tells her that he got the doll because he loves her and would do anything for her. Laura's real happy that he found her doll and thanks him for saving her Christmas by hugging him. Waldo is Waldo in giving Eddie the same pajama present from last year (at least he has a spare). More so when everyone learns that his family sets off fireworks on Christmas despite it being a 4th of July celebration. Soon, Richie notices a gift addressed to Carl from Santa Claus. Carl opens it and it turns out to be an old space helmet toy that he wanted back when he as was a child, which is now a Collector's Item. He finally thanks Santa for the long awaited gift. Then the Winslows extend their Holiday cheer to Steve and Howard.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Reginald VelJohnson as Carl Winslow
- Jo Marie Payton as Harriette Winslow (credited as Jo Marie Payton-Noble)
- Rosetta LeNoire as Estelle Winslow
- Darius McCrary as Eddie Winslow
- Kellie Shanygne Williams as Laura Winslow
- Bryton James as Richie Crawford (credited as Bryton McClure)
- Jaleel White as Steve Urkel
- Shawn Harrison as Waldo Geraldo Faldo
Guest[]
Recurring[]
Cameo[]
- Art Evans as Ben
- Max the Dog as Howard the Dog
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This is the last episode to air in 1994.
- Steve finding Laura's cherished childhood doll is also in the flashbacks with Harriette's argument proving Urkel's loyalty to the Winslows in What's Up Doc?.
- Reginald VelJohnson and Art Evans both appeared in Die Hard 2.