Par For the Course is the seventh episode of the sixth season in this television sitcom on Family Matters, which was aired from ABC on November 4, 1994. It was directed by Richard Correll and written by Gary M. Goodrich.
Plot[]
Carl's sharp-tongued boss, Capt. Marion Savage (Sherman Hemsley), invites him along on a golf outing. Of course, Urkel also gets invited by Savage to tag along (due to both of them being cheese fans) and the result is exactly what one would expect. Meanwhile, Harriette and Laura have it out when she starts coming in past curfew. The last straw came when Harriette showed up at a party, clad in a robe and curlers, to bring her daughter home.
Synopsis[]
Carl's boss, Captain Marion Savage, invites Steve for dinner and to play golf, to Carl's chagrin. The next day, Caddy Urkel suspects that Captain Savage is cheating in the game and tells Carl about it. This puts the portly cop in a serious dilemma in whether or not that he should tell his boss to stop cheating or tell Steve to buzz off.
Meanwhile, Harriette and Laura have it out when she starts coming in past curfew. The last straw comes when Harriette shows up at a party, clad in a robe and hair curlers, absolutely humiliating Laura, who had lost track of time and she takes Laura home. Laura is furious at Harriette for humiliating her in front of her friends. When Harriette grounds her for acting like a child, Laura angrily responds by not talking to her and vowing to never forgive Harriette for what she did. A few days later, she complains to Maxine about Harriette being too overprotective of her. Laura admits that Maxine's lucky that her mother doesn't butt into her life, but Maxine sets Laura straight saying she is the lucky one. Maxine reveals that she came home from the party around 3:00 a.m. but her own parents didn't care that she came home late and never bothered to acknowledge it or punish her. As a result, Maxine even admits she relates to Steve because his parents are like hers — neglectful and uncaring of her well-being. Before she leaves, she tells Laura that she would rather have Harriette as her mother because she would benefit from it. Maxine also wishes that Laura finds out what it's like to live with her uncaring parents, then she'll understand how lucky she is to have Harriette as a mother who cares about her.
At the golf course, Carl eventually takes Steve's advice and tells Captain Savage to stop cheating at once. The captain actually appreciates Carl's honesty, saying the departmend needs honest officers like him.
Later on, Laura apologizes to Harriette for her shallow nature and staying out past her curfew. Laura explains to Harriette that she understands why she came to the party and got her. Harriette was worried about Laura which Harriette confirms. Laura reveals that she was just highly embarrassed and wanted to die when she saw that Harriette showed up in her night clothes and curlers. Harriette says she doesn't blame Laura and explains to her that it was just way past her curfew and she didn't know if she was still at the party or hurt somewhere. She didn't think to change her clothes, she just wanted to know that Laura was alright. Laura agrees and says that if she was in the same situation she would have done the exact same thing. Impressed with Laura's maturing, Harriette compromises by extending her curfew to 30 minutes later and they reconcile.
During the end credits, a frustrated Carl is at the golf course and he's still trying to hit the golf ball but every golf club that Steve gives him fails. Urkel pulls out the one club that does the job. It turns out to be successful and Carl high-fives Steve for that result.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Reginald VelJohnson as Carl Winslow
- Jo Marie Payton as Harriette Winslow (credited as Jo Marie Payton-Noble)
- Rosetta LeNoire as Estelle Winslow (credit only)
- Darius McCrary as Eddie Winslow (credit only)
- Kellie Shanygne Williams as Laura Winslow
- Bryton James as Richie Crawford (credited as Bryton McClure, credit only)
- Jaleel White as Steve Urkel
- Shawn Harrison as Waldo Geraldo Faldo (credit only)
Guest[]
Recurring[]
Trivia[]
- Jaleel White who was reunite with Hemsley in the 1990 TV movie Camp Cucamonga (along with Full House/Fuller House star Candice Cameron Bure). Jaleel also appeared on The Jeffersons in which Hemsley starred in.
- It is revealed by Maxine that like Steve Urkel's parents, her own parents are neglectful and uncaring about her well-being.
- Urkel was originally going to tell Laura off about how he felt in the way she treats her parents in the similar manner that he told Eddie off back in The Oddest Couple
Goofs[]
- After Urkel hits the ball that bounces around the trees, the ball lands on the ground and disappears just before cutting to the next shot.
- While Captain Savage, Carl, and Harriette are talking Carl's tie clip moves around.