"The Mama Who Came to Dinner" is the television pilot and series premiere of the American sitcom Family Matters, a spin-off of Perfect Strangers (1986–93) set in Chicago. The episode was directed by Joel Zwick and written by William Bickley and Michael Warren. It originally aired on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on September 22, 1989. Additionally, the episode marks the only appearance of Valerie Jones as Judy Winslow, as 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.