The Love God is the tenth episode of the third season of Family Matters, which aired on ABC on November 22, 1991. It was directed by John Tracy and written by Stephen Langford.
Synopsis[]
Eddie wants to date an "easy" girl, named Vonda Mahoney (Danielle Nicolet) but Urkel, feeling sorry for her, decides to counsel her on her ways before their first date. He teaches her the she doesn't have to be "easy" to be popular, because her nice and friendly personality will make her popular by default, much to Eddie's chagrin. Rachel meets a lovely man, who is a complete stranger to her. Meanwhile, Lt. Murtaugh is enjoying a few laughs when Carl must go out in drag as part of an undercover operation. It turns out well, though as Carl manages to catch a wanted man, Murtaugh is ordered to go out in drag for another undercover operation and Carl enjoys a few laughs as well.
Plot[]
At the restaurant Rachel's Place, Steve makes a big mistake and gives it a turn from bad to worse. While that was getting fixed, Eddie spots an "easy" girl named Vonda Mahoney. Eddie walks up to her and asks her if he can do anything for her. Unfortunately, she asked for help on the worst subject: HOMEWORK. So Eddie asks Steve to help him out because he can't figure out what homework from her classes she needs help with. When he does, he finds out Vonda is actually failing Science and Math. In exchange for tutoring Vonda, Steve asks for a favor from Eddie again and takes his dinner reservations to a romantic restaurant that he plans to ask her out later on as collateral.
Rachel meets a wonderful man named Greg whom is a total stranger and asks her out.
Later on, Harriette asks Carl how his day is being in the mugging decoy unit. When he admitted it's going bad, she teaches him: her tricks as a woman. Steve and Laura accidentally witness them kissing and get the wrong idea at first. After Carl explains everything, things calm down.
The next day at Rachel's Place, Steve is tutoring Vonda with the subjects she's having the most trouble with. Laura shows up, pulls him to one side and asks why he's helping Eddie out again. She points out the last time he did so, he almost got expelled. Steve tells Laura he has a plan for Eddie in exchange for tutoring Vonda and pulls out his collateral: reservation tickets to a romantic restaurant. He mentions that Eddie wants to take her there, but he can't do so unless she passes. Laura tells Steve he better know what he's doing for their sake. He reassures her that as long as he has the reservations, Eddie will do as he wants. Two days later, Rachel and her date are getting along well but they soon break up after Rachel remain unsure about committing to a new relationship due to her missing Robert.
Soon Vonda passes her classes and is grateful to Steve. However, when she tries to make a pass at him, he sits her down. Steve points out that he's in love with Laura and doesn't see himself being with anyone else. He wisely tells Vonda the dangers of being an easy girl to anyone taking advantage of her and teaches her how to respect herself. This helps her feel better, but enrages Eddie who wants to beat Urkel up. He is only prevented by Vonda who explains that Steve was teaching her self-respect and refuses to go on a date with someone who beats up his friends. She takes the tickets to the romantic restaurant, rips them in front of Eddie to prove her point and leaves.
Everything turns out well for Carl, having caught the wanted man and earned his commendations. The next day, he tells his family about it. They and even Steve are proud of him. Carl also mentions the commissioner's extreme annoyance with the jealous behavior of Murtaugh and his incompetence. Thus, he is ordered to go out in drag for the next mugging sting operation to earn his commendations. Murtaugh appears in drag, earning laughter from the teens and the other Winslows. He warns Carl not to even think about cracking jokes about him and the two men leave.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Reginald VelJohnson as Carl Winslow
- Jo Marie Payton as Harriette Winslow
- Rosetta LeNoire as Estelle Winslow (credit only)
- 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[]
- Shawn Harrison as Waldo Geraldo Faldo
- Barry Jenner as Lt. Murtaugh
- Danielle Nicolet as Vonda Mahoney
Cameo[]
- Tammy Townsend as Jenny
- Lynn Swann as Greg Johnston
Trivia[]
- Tammy Townsend makes her first appearance in the series as Jenny in this episode. She would return in Season Six as Greta McClure.
Quotes[]
- Eddie: I'm gonna put the moves on Vonda. Word is she's fast.
- Waldo: I could beat her. Those high heels would slow her down.
- Eddie: No, man. Guys who go out with Vonda get instant reps. We'd be studs instead of what we are. You know...
- Waldo: Virgins?
- Harriette: Carl, you don't walk like a woman. You walk like a linebacker.
- Carl: Oh, and I suppose that you know how to walk like a woman.
- Harriette: I've had a few years’ experience. Watch me close. Mm-hm. See, a woman is daintier. More feminine. She glides.
- Urkel: Care to mop my brow?
- Laura: Forget it.
- Urkel: No sweat, my pet?
- Laura: In your dreams.
- Urkel: Hey, this is my dream!
- Laura: Well, then not even in your dreams.
- Urkel: I can't believe this! I'm being rejected in my own fantasy.
- Urkel: Vonda, sit down a sec. Now, we need to talk.
- Vonda: About what?
- Urkel: Well, about reputations. Now, we'll start with mine. Now, I wouldn't be comfortable being a ladies' man. I just want to be one lady's man.
- Vonda: Laura, right?
- Urkel: Yes, indeed. And... Now, if I have the reputation of being a nerd... well, that makes no never mind to me. Because I like myself.
- Vonda: Well, good for you. I'm glad.
- Urkel: Now, uh, you have a reputation too, don't you?
- Vonda: [murmuring] I don't know.
- Urkel: Well, some of the guys in school say that you're, um... Well, that you're, um...
- Vonda: Easy?
- Urkel: Yeah, that's it.
- Vonda: Hey, Steve, I wanna be popular, okay?
- Urkel: But, Vonda, you're terrific. You're pretty, you're smart and you're nice. Like, you don't have to be easy to be popular.
- Vonda: But I want guys to like me!
- Urkel: They will. But first you have to like yourself. Now, do you like yourself?
- Vonda: Not always.
- Urkel: Well, you can change that.
- Vonda: But I'm supposed to go out with Eddie Winslow tomorrow night. Steve, he's expecting me to be very, very grateful.
- Vonda: Uh, Eddie, Steve and I had a nice talk... and he helped me realize that I don't have to be easy to be popular.
- Eddie: You don't?
- Vonda: No, I don't. So from now on, I'm not even gonna kiss on the first date. Thanks to Steve, I have respect for myself now.