Steve Urkel

Steve Urkel
Family Matters character
First appearance	Rachel's First Date (only in syndicated episodes), Laura's First Date (in first run episodes)
Last appearance	Lost in Space (Part 2)
Created by	Thomas L. Miller Robert L. Boyett William Bickley Michael Warren
Portrayed by	Jaleel White
Information
Nickname(s)	Urk Man Jerkel (by various school bullies) Urkie (by JerryJamalJameson) Uncle Steve (by Richie) Stevie (by Myra)
Gender	Male
Occupation	Student, inventor, scientist
Family	Herb Urkel (father; revealed in "Man's Best Friend") Diane "Roberta" Urkel (mother; revealed in "Man's Best Friend" & "Hot Wheels")
Spouse(s)	Laura Winslow (wife)
Significant other(s)	Myra Monkhouse (ex-girlfriend)
Relatives	Myrtle May Urkel (cousin) "Big Daddy" Urkel (uncle) Cecil Urkel (uncle) Cornelius Eugene "Original Gangsta Dawg" Urkel (cousin) Julie Urkel (cousin) Oona Urkel (aunt) Omar Urkel (uncle) Ernie Urkel (uncle) Stefan Urquelle (clone, originally alter-ego) Muriel Urkel (aunt) Cleotus Urkel (cousin) Dirk Urkel (cousin)

Steven Quincy Urkel, generally known as Steve Urkel or simply Urkel, is a fictional character on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters, portrayed by Jaleel White.^[1] Originally slated to have been a one-time only character on the show, he soon became its most popular character.^[2][3][4][5]

Steve was the epitome of a geek/nerd, with large, thick eyeglasses, "high-water" or "flood" pants held up by suspenders, multi-colored cardigan sweaters, and a high-pitched voice.^[6] He professed unrequited love for neighbor Laura Winslow, perpetually annoyed her father, Carl, and tried to befriend her brother, Eddie. Amongst the rest of the family, Harriette, Rachel, and "Mother" Estelle Winslow were more accepting and caring of Urkel.

Throughout the series' run, Steve was central to many of its recurring gags, primarily gratuitous property damage and/or personal injury as a result of his inventions going awry or his outright clumsiness.^[7] He became known for several catchphrases uttered after some humorous misfortune occurred, including "I've fallen and I can't get up!" after he accidentally got drunk in one episode and fell off the edge of a building, "Did I do that?" (previously used by Curly in the 1934 Three Stooges short Punch Drunks), "Whoa, Mama!" and "Look what you did" (if, rarely, someone else caused the damage). Additionally, he frequently insinuated "You love me, don't you?" to Laura Winslow, the usual object of his affection.

In 1999 TV Guide ranked him number 27 on its 50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time list.^[8]

Character development

White's first appearance as Steve came in the episode "Laura's First Date", the twelfth episode of the first season (though in syndication he first appears in "Rachel's First Date"), as the Winslow family's next door neighbor who Carl set up to take Laura to a junior high school dance. Though he was intended to be a one-time only character, White was quickly promoted to recurring guest and became a full-time series regular by the end of the first season.

Steve was portrayed as a highly intelligent but annoying and extremely clumsy person who fondly admired the Winslow family. His strained relationship with his own parents led him to admire Carl and Harriette as father and mother figures, respectively, and caused him to be a regular, often uninvited guest at the Winslow house. Estelle has always been delighted to see Steve and she treats him like he's part of the family. Some of the Winslows, particularly Carl, Eddie, and Laura, did not always reciprocate Steve's admiration; despite this, he was always loyal to the Winslow family and would go out of his way to help them or anyone in need. As time progressed, the Winslows grew to love Steve, and he and Laura got engaged to be married in the third-to-last episode.

Steve had many catchphrases and running gags, several of which were phased out in later seasons. "Did I do that?" is the most popular catchphrase; usually uttered after Steve caused one of his famous messes. Steve would also say, "At least no one got hurt", after a major accident occurred, after which someone else (usually Carl) would usually shout "Not yet!" and chase Steve. Other catchphrases include:

• "Got any cheese?"
• "I'm wearin' you down baby. I'M WEARIN' YOU DOWWWN!!" and "You love me, don't you?" said when Laura showed the slightest appreciation in Steve
• "Look what you did!", when someone caused a mess or accident in front of him, though frequently the accident was indirectly caused by Steve. (For example, by his insisting that someone push the button to something, or by his knocking that person down.)
• "I don't have to take this! I'm going home!" when Carl was mad at Steve for something and demanded Steve go home. This line was said only once by Carl Urkel when a fed up Stefan ordered him to go home in Season 6.

Steve would often sing a song to the tune of "Camptown Races", which would annoy someone in the room next to him, usually Carl, to which that person would yell his name three times increasing in tone each time in order to get Steve to stop. During episodes which involved his transformation chamber, Steve would often pour his special creation, called "Boss Sauce," into the machine, and if anyone asked him what he was doing, he would quietly reprimand them, "Ssssh! Not while I'm pouring!" ^[9] and "WWHHOOOAAAA Mama" whenever he saw a beautiful woman.

Family

The Urkels are very intelligent people; Steve and his family were known to do the Sunday crossword puzzles in pen in about 20 minutes. In fact, Steve himself was known for considering his teachers and school officials as equals, calling them by their given names instead of Mr., Mrs., or Ms. He is also fluent in Japanese which he sometimes speaks to Principal Shimata, Vanderbilt High's Japanese-American principal.

However, on many occasions, it is said or referenced that Steve's parents have nothing but total contempt for him, and do their best to avoid him at all times. For example, when he was born his parents tried to push him back in, and his parents do not own a car because he was born in one. He also once mentioned that his parents do not feed him every day. This perhaps explains why he spends his time at the Winslows and not at his own home. However, when Steve was Stefan in Season 5's episode "Dr.Urkel and Mr.Cool", they started to show their love for him and introduced him to his relatives. It may be assumed that his parents, although nerds, are very shallow people and prefers Stefan's company rather than Steve's.

The viewers see that Steve has at least four relatives who do care about him. In an early episode, entitled "The Big Fix – AKA Mercy Date," his uncle Ernie, drives him on his date with Laura, and takes a picture. He also has a good relationship with his "Aunt Oona from Altoona" (notably played by Donna Summer). She also visits Steve in two episodes and is a mother figure to him aside Estelle. He also mentions his Uncle Cecil throughout the series, so it implies that Uncle Cecil cares for Steve. His cousin, Myrtle is very close to him and treats him like her brother. Other relatives included Myrtle's father "Big Daddy" (played by Reginald VelJohnson in a dual role) who did not think Eddie was a good choice for his daughter except when bribed with cash. It was mentioned in Season 2 that Big Daddy and the other relatives(excluding Oona, Cecil, Ernie and Myrtle) pay Steve a lot of money not to visit them. However, they tolerated him after he got a makeover and was less clumsy. Steve has a gangster cousin from Detroit named Cornelius Eugene Urkel (also played by White) who went by the moniker "Original Gangsta Dawg". He tries to avoid him at all costs. Steve also has another cousin named Julie, that's D.J.'s friend and lives in San Francisco. In his first episode, "Laura's First Date", Steve's father is mentioned in the line: "Did I mention my dad knows Wayne Newton?"

In 1995, his parents moved to Russia without Steve, because he did not want to go, apparently abandoning him. Steve was then allowed to live with the Winslows; however, in a 1997 episode, a subplot has Steve visiting his parents.

In addition to his parents, his family also included his cousin, Myrtle Urkel, whose innocent infatuation with Laura's brother, Eddie, was equal to Steve's for Laura. However, Eddie never grew to like Myrtle unlike Laura who did grow to like Steve (thanks in some part to Myra demanding his undivided attention to her).

Stefan Urquelle

During the fifth season episode "Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool," Urkel devised the ultimate plan to win Laura's heart: transforming his DNA using a serum called "Cool Juice" to suppress his "nerd" genes and bring out his "cool" genes. This resulted in the alter ego known as Stefan Urquelle, played by White in more casual attire and with a smoother delivery. Initially, Laura is enamored with Stefan, but asks that he turn back into Steve when Stefan's self-centered, narcissistic attitude comes out.

Steve later improved the formula to limit the effects it had on his new personality, and re-dubbed the formula "Boss Sauce." He also invented a "transformation chamber," which allowed him to turn into Stefan for extended periods of time. He changed into Stefan several times—even while dating Myra—but some circumstance caused him to change back into Steve each time. In the Season 6 two parter episode: To Be or Not To Be, Steve was stuck as Stefan for a while, after Carl was accidentally transformed into Carl Urkel, due to Myra's tampering with the transformation chamber. Late in the sixth season, Steve transformed into Stefan as part of an inventors competition at Walt Disney World; however, Laura sabotaged the transformation chamber to prevent him from turning back into Steve. During his extended stint as Stefan, he proposed to Laura in front of Cinderella Castle. Laura accepted, but their engagement was broken off when Myra appealed to Stefan and Laura revealed her sabotage. While everyone liked Stefan, Myra disliked him immensely, believing he was a joke to her and thought her "Steviekins" is perfect the way he is.

In the seventh season finale "Send in the Clones", Steve created a cloning machine. He came to believe it did not work though it did create another Steve. To clear up the situation, Laura proposed that one of the Steves be turned into the suave Stefan.

The permanent Stefan made several more appearances throughout the series and proposed to Laura again before the series finale. After weighing her choices in the flashback episode "Pop Goes the Question," Laura chose Steve over Stefan. He left and never reappeared again. It could be assumed that he accepted their relationship, after he learned from his mistake in the episode "Crazy For You" when he teamed up with Myra to stop their date.

Ratings effect

In syndication Steve is in the pre-credits introductory scene of "Rachel's First Date", but his first appearance in first run episodes is in the 1989 episode "Laura's First Date", where Carl and Eddie separately set up dates for Laura for a dance or party (both terms used), and the first thing known about him is that he allegedly ate a mouse, and he later makes reference to a mouse when speaking to Carl, implying that it might be true. Prior to Urkel, the show was on the brink of cancellation due to low ratings. After Urkel was introduced, several scripts had to be hastily re-written to accommodate the Steve character, while several first-season episodes that had been completed had new opening gag sequences filmed featuring Steve trying to push open a door while the Winslow family holds it shut. The addition of Steve immediately helped the show boost its modest ratings. White was credited as a guest star in the first season and became a regular member of the cast in season two.

The Urkel Dance

The Urkel Dance was a novelty dance that originated in the episode Life of the Party. It was based around the character of Steve Urkel and essentially incorporated movements which made the dancer's posture more like his. The lyrics instructed the dancer how to pose:

"If you want to do the Steve Urkel dance,
All you have to do is hitch up your pants,
Bend your knees, and stick out your pelvis;
(I'm telling you, baby, it's better than Elvis!)".

It was popular enough to appear on another show, Step by Step. Jaleel White also performed the song, in character as Steve Urkel, on the 5th Annual American Comedy Awards. Bea Arthur joined him on stage to "Do The Urkel,^[10]" after which she said, "Hey MC Hammer, try and touch that!"^[11]

A promotional cassette single of the song that accompanies the dance was pressed and distributed in limited numbers. A t-shirt was also produced featuring lyrics and Urkel's likeness.

Appearances on other shows

• Full House – In the 1991 episode, "Stephanie Gets Framed", Steve is called in to help Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin) deal with her anxieties after she has to get glasses. He was cousin to a friend of D. J.. In the original airing, this episode appeared right after a Family Matters episode where Steve uses a jet pack to rocket through the Winslow's roof and into the air away from Chicago, implying that he landed in San Francisco into the Full House universe.
• Step by Step – In the series' second episode, "The Dance", Steve lands in the Step by Step family's back yard after launching himself with a rocket pack from the living room of the Winslows' house on Family Matters (the two scenes being shown in uninterrupted sequence, as Family Matters and Step by Step aired back to back on television at the time), and then helps his science-fair pen pal, Mark Foster and lifts Alicia "Al" Lambert (Christine Lakin's) spirits after her potential date dumps her just before a school dance. White reprises his "Do the Urkel" dance in the scene where Al gives the boy that dumped her his comeuppance. Also, Steve makes a brief appearance in the episode where Al gets the movie role over her two sisters. He can be seen for 2 seconds snapping a clapboard during the music video part.
• Meego - In this short-lived series, Steve makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the second episode "Love and Money" where he angrily retrieves a television set stolen by Meego. He then appears in the third episode "The Truth About Cats and Dogs" helping out at a model car derby competition.
• Additionally, Steve once received a chain letter and thought he'd send it on to his pen friend Cory Matthews who lived in Philadelphia. The reference is to Ben Savage's character from Boy Meets World, but there were no on-screen crossovers.

Merchandise

At the height of his popularity, Urkel's name was branded to several products including a short-lived fruit flavored cereal known as Urkel-Os and a Steve pullstring doll. There was also a T-shirt line that was created in 2002, but it only lasted a few months because they didn't sale very well.^[12]

Notes

1. ^ Carter, Bill (1997-02-05). "Steve Urkel Is a Hit Notes - Did He Do That? - Review". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE0DF163CF936A35751C0A961958260. Retrieved 2009-01-23. 
2. ^ Horowitz, Joy (1991-04-17). "Snookums! Steve Urkel Is a Hit". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/17/news/snookums-steve-urkel-is-a-hit.html?scp=1&sq=Steve%20Urkel&st=cse. Retrieved 2010-08-20. 
3. ^ Zoglin, Richard (1998-05-18). "Television: Another Teary Farewell". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988375,00.html. Retrieved 2010-08-21. 
4. ^ "Is Uncool Urkel the '90s Answer to the Fonz?". The Los Angeles Times. 1991-01-04. http://articles.latimes.com/1991-01-04/entertainment/ca-7948_1_family-matters. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
5. ^ "Will the Real Steve Please Stand Up?". The Los Angeles Times. 1992-02-04. http://articles.latimes.com/1992-02-04/entertainment/ca-1196_1_family-matters. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
6. ^ Bellafante, Ginia (1996-12-09). "Revenge of The Nerd". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985673,00.html. Retrieved 2010-08-21. 
7. ^ "TELEVISION: YES, URKEL STILL LIVES". Time. 1991-04-01. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972641,00.html. Retrieved 2010-08-21. 
8. ^ TV Guide Guide to TV. Barnes and noble. 2004. pp. 651. ISBN 0-7607-5634-1. 
9. ^ Family Matters TV Show Quotes
10. ^ Do The Urkel(.com) - The Website
11. ^ The House of Diabolique vs. Bea Arthur & Urkel
12. ^ "Family Matters: 1989-1998". People. 2000-06-26. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20131627,00.html. Retrieved 2011-08-15.