| "The Mama Who Came to Dinner" | |
|---|---|
| Family Matters episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Joel Zwick |
| Written by |
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| Featured music | |
| Production code | 445230 |
| Original air date | September 22, 1989 |
| Running time | 21 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
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"The Mama Who Came to Dinner" is the pilot episode and series premiere of the American sitcom Family Matters, which is a spin-off of the American sitcom Perfect Strangers, which is set in Chicago. The episode was directed by Joel Zwick and written by William Bickley and Michael Warren, and originally aired on ABC on September 22, 1989.
In the episode, police officer Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson) and his wife Harriette (Jo Marie Payton) prepare for the arrival of his mother Estelle (Rosetta LeNoire), who is moving in to live with them. While Carl confronts his mother's want to usurp his authority over his family, his son Eddie (Darius McCrary) tries to convince him to let him go to a party.
The episode marks the only appearance of Valerie Jones as Judy Winslow before she was replaced with Jaimee Foxworth in the following episode. In its initial airing, "The Mama Who Came to Dinner" received mixed reviews from critics.