Send in the Clone is the twenty-fourth episode of the seventh season finale in this television sitcom on Family Matters, which was aired from ABC on May 17, 1996. It was directed by Richard Correll and written by both David W. Duclon and Gary Menteer.
Plot[]
Urkel's cloning machine can make exact duplicates of anything; including himself, causing double trouble throughout the household (and putting Myra in a frenzy over her "Stevie-kins"). Then Laura has an idea: Put the Urkel clone into the transformation chamber and make the alter-ego Stefan a permanent human.
Synopsis[]
Urkel has invented a new cloning machine, which allows him to clone objects, and persons, ranging from tomato plants and stools to himself, which last yields disastrous results. Soon it becomes double trouble with for the Winslows as the original Steve and his clone meet.
Carl loses his patience with the two Steve when they were playing chess and demands the cloning machine so they can double more of his money. But the original Urkel reveals that he and his clone have destroyed it. He mentions that they felt it was too unethical to do that and are concerned of the consequences that will follow if the cloning machine fell into the wrong hands. The original Steve mentions that some corrupted leader could clone himself and cause trouble for his country. The enraged Carl tells Harriette to hold him back before he strangles both Steves to their respective deaths.
Later, the two Steves fight over Myra, while they were dancing to polka music. Immediately, the fed-up Laura shows up and is annoyed by their behavior. She immediately diffuses the situation before it gets worse by grabbing both Urkels's ears. After calming everything down, Laura calls them to their senses about what they have learned. Myra believes one and one is fun, but Laura wholeheartedly disagrees with her and tells them all what she really thinks about the situation. She points out that Steve has really created a mess of things by cloning himself, and that it is causing many more problems than solutions. In that moment, the original Steve realizes that Laura is right and thinks there is no solution to the problem of how to handle his surrogate. Laura comes up with a good solution to the problem--she suggests that the original Steve could transform the cloned Steve permanently into Stefan. That way, she argues, she and Myra will both be with the man they love.
The cloned Steve is seen using the "Boss Sauce" formula as he and the original Steve silence Myra from interrupting. The original Steve and the cloned Steve both proclaim that they are going to miss each other. But Laura intervenes, telling them to stop with the goodbyes. Just as the cloned Steve is about to step inside, Myra quickly stops him, giving him one last kiss. This gives him second thoughts, of regretting to become Stefan. He asks to stay and bids the original Steve to become Stefan instead. This, however, the original Steve declines; instead, he strictly tells the cloned Steve to get into the chamber at once. Laura then engages the chamber.
The plan works as soon as Steve opens the chamber door. Stefan steps out of the chamber and sees Laura, who is happy about this. Stefan is impressed to meet his creator, Steve, face to face for the first time, as the latter is also impressed to meet his counterpart. Both Myra and Laura are relieved to be with the man they love. Stefan kisses Laura, happy to be with her permanently, instead for a week. Steve admits that he will miss his clone, but he always wants Laura to be happy, by giving Stefan to her. Myra, however, makes him think otherwise as she reveals that she likes the real thing better. She kisses him as Stefan and Laura continue to do so.
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 and Stefan Urquelle
- Shawn Harrison as Waldo Geraldo Faldo
- Michelle Thomas as Myra Monkhouse
Recurring[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This is the final appearance of Waldo, but he was mentioned in season 8's "Love Triangles."
- Towards the end of the seventh season, William Bickley, one of the executive producers, decided not to renew Shawn Harrison's contract, citing that the interaction between Waldo and his girlfriend Maxine were apparently not enough for a dramatic contrast. This is why Waldo makes his last appearance in this episode.
- The cloning machine was one of Steve's few inventions that did not malfunction or cause harm.
- But had the show continued to its tenth season, it would have been revealed, in "Death Of A Stefan," that the machine did not make permanent clones, resulting in Stefan fading away and his cool and suave personality merging into Steve.
- This marks the first time Stefan and Steve meet.
- With Stefan permanently around, he and Laura are able to pursue a real relationship and Myra no longer has to be worried about wanting Steve back now that Stefan remains.
- An effect on camera for Jaleel White playing the two Steves (one of the Steves becomes Stefan) seen together at the same time and a stunt double for both Steve and Stefan is used.
- The episode was meant to make Stefan a regular character. However, when the writing and producing staffs were discussing the eighth season during a pre-production meeting, it was decided that the effect of having two Jaleel Whites on-screen for a majority of the season would be far too time consuming. With the Paris episodes already in the works, they decided to make Stefan a model there instead.
- The original Steve mentions about his invention falling into the wrong hands of a corrupted leader. The reference of the corrupted leader is revealed in the next few episodes.