Muskrat Love is the eleventh episode of the fourth season in this television sitcom on Family Matters, which aired from ABC on January 8, 1993. It was directed by John Tracy and written by Regina Stewart.
Plot[]
While Eddie tries to date a girl that his friends think is undesirable, Laura tries to get Maxine out of a date with Ted that Laura set up. Meanwhile, thinking it would boost her self-esteem, Carl gives Harriette exercise equipment for her birthday, to no surprise, it makes her feel worse.
Synopsis[]
The scene begins at Vanderbilt High School as everyone tries to dunk Steve but fails miserably. Then Laura ends up using her arm and succeeds in dunking the nerd into the water. During that time, Harriette thinks that she's fat and Carl tries to tell her otherwise. At the Fortune telling booth, Eddie makes a date with the cute, smart, and witty, Melissa Robbins, after confusing her for another girl who looks like her. However, Weasel convinces him to ditch the date and save his reputation. Laura still hasn't forgiven Ted Curran for the rumors he and his friends made about him scoring with her two months back, will regret setting Maxine up with him.
Later on at the house, Carl tries to brighten Harriette's mood by buying her an exercise trampoline and an invitation at Chicago's premiere health spa, Hip Whippers. To no surprise, it makes her feel worse and assumes that he agrees with her that she's fat. Then she calls his presents, insensitive and unromantic. In the living room, Eddie was studying when Judy, Richie and Mother Winslow comes home from their time hanging out with Kris Kross at the Ritz Carlton. Estelle mentions how sweet and kind the boys were in hanging out with them for the day. They leave and Laura enters the living room, calling Eddie out for breaking his date with Melissa because he listened to his "friend" Weasel instead of standing his ground.
Later on in the living room, Carl makes Harriette realize that no matter how much she thinks she's fat, he still thinks of her as beautiful in his eyes and she shouldn't let her insecurities bother her. He gives her a diamond bracelet that he should've bought her for her birthday gift.
At the dance, Weasel tries to hit on Laura but she gives him two choices: either walk away or get carried away. Weasel walks away and Waldo talks to Laura about what happened and encourages her that she doesn't have to keep dwelling on the past. Then, they noticed Melissa going to the dance with Steve because of Eddie breaking his date with her. While dancing with Ted, Maxine realizes that he wanted to go with Laura that she brings him over to her and makes them realize that they were meant to go to the Sadie Hawkins dance. Melissa thanks Steve for going to the dance with her. Urkel tells her that no thanks are necessary because their friends. Eddie shows up a few minutes later and rails on Weasel for making him skip out on his date with Melissa. Weasel tries to defend himself but Eddie was too angry and disgusted to hear his excuses. He tells Weasel off that even though Melissa isn't a cover girl, he likes her anyhow and sees her beautiful in his eyes. Eddie also warns Weasel that if he keeps wanting a girl for her looks, then Weasel will miss on the girl itself. He walks away and apologizes to Melissa for his actions and dances with her.
In the end credits, Steve and Maxine shares a dance with each other after their respective dates went back to Eddie and Laura.
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
- 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 (credit only)
Guest[]
Recurring[]
- Cherie Johnson as Maxine Johnson
- Shavar Ross as Alex "Weasel" Park
- Patrick J. Dancy as Ted Curran
Cameo[]
- Michole Briana White as Melissa
- Susan Dawkins as Guess Your Weight Girl
Trivia[]
- The dance between Steve and Maxine was written in as Maxine was one of several female characters considered as Steve's eventual girlfriend later in the season. However, it was decided that the personality they had created for Maxine was too much of a clash with Steve’s personality. Maxine was then written as Waldo's girlfriend later on in "Pulling Teeth". (citation needed)
- Instead, Maxine and Steve remain friends. Ted's cousin Myra eventually took over as Steve's potential girlfriend and compliment due to their intelligence.
- This episode is the second time Shavar Ross played a friend of one of the main characters who criticizes their date for not being “popular enough” and influences them to dump the girl they like. Like he did as Weasel for Eddie to dump Melissa, the first time he did that was in the episode “Beauty is in the Eye of Arnold” of the sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes” when he played Arnold Jackson’s best friend Dudley. He criticized Arnold’s date Molly for not being “popular enough” and convinced Arnold to dump Molly for a more popular girl.
Quotes[]
- Laura: Hello, slime ball. Why aren't you out walking our non-existent, soon-to-be-neutered dog?
- Eddie: Been talking to Melissa, huh?
- Laura: Yeah. She really liked you, Eddie. Why'd you dump her?
- Eddie: Butt out, Laura. It's a guy thing.
- Laura: Uh-oh. Here comes something stupid and shallow.
- Eddie: It is not stupid and shallow. I can't take Melissa to the dance because she's not pretty enough. That's neither stupid nor shallow.
- Weasel: Yo, Winslow, you're just in time. Look what the nerd dragged in. Cute couple, huh? A boy and his dog.
- Eddie: You've got a lot of nerve, you played-out, cold-hearted, bow-legged, banana-brained, gum-slapping, trash-talking, pig.
- Weasel: You talking to me?
- Eddie: Yes.
- Weasel: Just checking. Go ahead.
- Eddie: Weasel, you are the last person that should be giving me advice about girls, because, buddy, check this out, you're alone.
- Weasel: Just temporarily.
- Eddie: Listen, Melissa may not be a cover girl, but you know what? I find her very attractive. Let me tell you something, Weasel... if all you look for is the float with Miss America on it, the whole parade is gonna pass you by.