Jaleel White saved one of many biggest TGIF comedies of all time from being canceled after one season. Steve Urkel was initially imagined to be a one-off on Household Issues (which is streamable with a Max subscription). But the lovable nerd remained on the present and have become a fan-favorite character. As a part of the forged, White discovered himself collaborating in some main moments, together with an epic meals struggle scene. Apparently, the actor pleaded to be included in that, but it surely did not fairly pan out the way in which he thought.
Earlier than turning into the breakout star of among the best sitcoms ever, Jaleel White appeared on Household Issues sporadically throughout its first season. He made his debut on the episode “Laura’s First Date” and later appeared on “Man’s Finest Good friend”. White not too long ago appeared at ‘90s Con and defined (by way of EW) that he needed extra materials on the time:
And I went, and I begged. , I used to be, like, ‘I am 13, I used to be like, please, give me something, I am going to do something.’ He is like, ‘You will do something?
Because it seems, the then-young actor ought to’ve been extra cautious when utilizing the phrase “something.” In the course of the Season 1 episode “Baker’s Dozen,” a neighborhood restaurant affords to purchase Carl’s lemon tart recipe so long as he can present 1,200 tarts in 48 hours. In the end, the stress of baking so many tarts results in to a full-on meals struggle among the many Winslows.
Little did Jaleel White know that if he needed in on that food-centric installment, he’d must get a bit messy (which Steve was identified to do). White bought actual about his response to not solely being added to the episode as he requested but in addition studying what can be required of him:
They used to ship a driver to your home with the script at night time of the rewrite. Driver introduced the script, and I opened the script, and my jaw dropped to the ground at Steve Urkel exhibits up on the finish of the meals struggle, and the complete Winslow household simply pelt him with pies. And I am like, ‘That is not how I needed it to be precisely.’
Watch out what you would like for, proper? Steve’s look within the episode concerned him getting into the Winslow residence in the midst of the meals struggle to ask for a snack. After all, that motivated the Winslow clan to throw, with full pressure, a number of lemon tarts at their annoying neighbor’s means.
Once I rewatch that notorious pie scene, it actually does really feel just like the forged was training their throwing arms, given how onerous they threw the pies. The Urkel actor confirmed that getting hit by a number of baked items was no laughing matter:
And I’ve a sense these pies, at the moment, got here further onerous. I simply bought pummeled, and I took it, and I do not forget that was the primary week that I ended up because the promo that they ran all through ABC all week. It was simply me strolling into the door and getting hit by a pie.
Clearly, ABC felt that the food-fight scene can be successful (no pun meant) with audiences, so it is smart as to why the community would tease it in promos. That was additionally removed from the one food-related scene to be featured on the present. Steve would get hit once more with pie throughout Season 3, when he tried to cease a meals struggle between Carl and Lieutenant Murtaugh. The gawky genius would obtain his simply desserts once more whereas attempting to cease a Boston Creme struggle between buddies Maxine and Laura. Significantly, Steve could not catch a break.
If something although, I respect the sheer dedication Jaleel White needed to his craft, even when it did not end up as he thought. He stays probably the most recognizable sitcom stars within the historical past of TV, and it is undoubtedly simple to see simply why that is the case. In comedy, you typically simply must take the pie and, given how a lot enjoyment Household Issues has introduced me and others, I am actually glad White was up for the problem.