Family Matters - "Little Big Guy"

Original Air Date: September 22, 1995

Directed by: Richard Correll

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: Carl (Reginald VelJohnson) is frustrated when Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) moves in but even moreso when Urkel’s machine shrinks them both to the size of dolls.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In an early scene, Richie (Bryton McClure) enters the house and tries to sneak past Carl with an obviously fake cat’s tail sticking out of his jacket. Carl opens the jacket to reveal a longhair ginger tabby cat.

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - fake cat tail sticking out of Richie's Bryton McClure's jacket

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons in Richie's jacket

Carl reminds Richie that he told him not the bring the stray cat into the house. Richie replies, “But I love Mr. Buttons!”

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons in Richie's Bryton McClure jacket

Mr. Buttons turns on Carl when he tries to take him from Richie (actually the cat’s growls are only dubbed in . . . you can see by the gif that without sound the cat’s actions and Carl’s reactions are perfectly harmless). Carl drops the cat who then runs upstairs. Carl tells Richie to go get him.

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - Carl Reginald VelJohnson lifting longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons being picked up then dropped by Carl Reginald VelJohnson animated gif

After they have been shrunken and trapped on the kitchen table, Carl and Urkel decide to get some sleep and settle down on a piece of bread for a bed with marshmallows for pillows and a slice of American cheese for a blanket. Unfortunately the window is open and Mr. Buttons enters, jumping up onto the table.

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons on table

They turn to see the cat snarling at them. Mr. Buttons chases them into a potato chip can.

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons close

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - Carl Reginald VelJohnson and Urkel Jaleel White facing giant longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons snarling

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - giant longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons towering over Urkel Jaleel White and Carl Reginald VelJohnson animated gif

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - Carl Reginald VelJohnson chased into potato chip can by giant longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - Carl Reginald VelJohnson and Urkel Jaleel White inside potato chip can with giant longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons peering in

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons looking at potato chip can

An obviously fake cat then pushes the can so that it rolls around.

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - fake longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons pushing potato chip can

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - real and fake longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons chasing Urkel Jaleel White and Carl Reginald VelJohnson into potato chip can and rolling them around animated gif

Urkel and Carl use a lighted match to finally scare the cat away.

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - Carl Reginald VelJohnson running from potato chip can with giant longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons watching

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - Carl Reginald VelJohnson and Urkel Jaleel White using lighted match to scare away giant longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons

When the rest of the family returns home from a trip, the machine is accidentally activated. Mr. Buttons, who was inside the machine, runs out the door.

Family Matters - Little Big Guy - longhair ginger tabby cat Mr. Buttons running from machine

Carl and Urkel return to normal size. But since Mr. Buttons was also exposed to the growth rays, he makes a final appearance as a giant cat looking in through the kitchen window, licking his chops.