Jaleel White of 'Family Matters' Has New Web Series

By Zach Dionne Posted Jun 10th 2010 10:34AM

The transition from mega-geek Steve Urkel to dapper Stefan Urquelle seems like nothing now that we've seen how cool 33-year-old 'Family Matters' star Jaleel White is these days. Fresh off writing, producing and starring in a new web series, 'Fake It Til You Make It,' White has been making the press rounds, chatting about his days as a '90s sitcom icon and his mastery of characters.

Interview highlights and a clip from the show after the jump!

In 'Fake It Til You Make It,' White plays Reggie Culkin, a former child star turned celebrity image consultant. The definitely not-safe-for-work series takes a humorous, low-budget (think 'Curb Your Enthusiasm') approach to Hollywood swagger. "These people take themselves so seriously that it's really just fun to laugh at them on this hamster wheel. For a lack of a better pitch, it's the other side of 'Entourage,' a more realistic take on what it is to be out here in LA," White tells TV Guide. "I wrote every episode, so people really get a chance to see what my own personal comedic sensibility is and how that's matured." See a quick clip (mild language) below:

Here's a round-up of Jaleel's best comments in his promotions for 'Fake It Til You Make It' and the DVD release of 'Family Matters' season one:

Via Parade:

Premiering with Hulu: "Everyone kept telling us from the beginning, 'You can't get to Hulu, they're only for network shows.' I just put that in the back of my head and kept making our show and then when we were done, we met with Hulu and now those guys feel like brothers. They watched the first three episodes and were like, 'We want it.' That was super-duper flattering."

Becoming a character actor for the ages: "The thing that I'm really focused on right now is creating a collection of characters that different generations will say, 'Well, I like this one better and I like that one better.' There are certain people who know Robert De Niro for 'Meet the Parents' and others who will go, 'No, that's 'Taxi Driver,'' and that's the way good entertainers should be."

Urkel was more than a one-trick pony: "I'm more than just a guy who was in suspenders and high-waters. I was a storyteller. It's just when you're young, you may not get the credit that you deserve."

Via TV Guide:

Urkel's imprint on White's acting: "I learned physical comedy to a degree that most child actors never will. I really just became a student of it -- became obsessed with it to be quite honest."

His origins: "I was basically a black kid whose parents put him into the business so he could go to college. They needed a spark. I didn't know what the heck I was doing. I was just being me, just following my instincts."

What now? "When it comes to the typecasting thing, I always tell people,'You're only as good as your opportunities.' The process is: I need to grow up, mature, become an adult, then surprise people with new stuff like I am with my newest web series."

Via Entertainment Weekly:

What it's like reflecting on 'Family Matters': "Well, how'd you feel looking back at the seventh grade? [Laughs] I always tell people when they talk about the show [that] it was one of my greatest accomplishments. People continue to enjoy the show. It won't go away for good reasons, but at the same time it's like hey, if you were at a bar and talking to a hot chick, you don't want anyone coming up to you with a picture of yourself in the ninth grade! You would consider it a cheap shot!"

Would the erstwhile Urkel ever consider writing an autobiography? "Jay-Z's one of my favorite personalities out there, and he said he tried to write an autobiography and it just got too personal. I'm kind of old school, in that I like the mystery of certain things remaining behind the scenes. But we'll see."

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Tags: Family Matters, Jaleel White

Comments

(80)

Thursday 10 June

By mw

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He's such a handsome man. I wondered what he would look like as an adult after seeing him on Family matters.

Sunday 13 June

By Al Schrader

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Lost the script to Urkel The Movie ? Did I do that ?

By Donna

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Lame. Loser. Liked him better as a geek. That was just sad...

Saturday 12 June

By lee

wow. really. if you just liked him as a nerd, then you should thank yourself and others who typecast people as their "cutesy" roles. He has a lot more potential than just being "did i do that?" all the time. wise up and see that every cloud has a silver lining, but yours is out of sparkles.

love, peace and chicken grease

By Robert Humble

TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE..... STOP THE HATE.... WHILE YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE....

By Jade

He is a good looking guy. I always liked him, very funny.

By kenny

Good looking ?....lmao He looks and acts just like 0bama the fearless leader.

By Lita

Oh, Kenny. Your response to Jade indicates that you bear a strong resemblance to an external hemorrhoid... but with far less personality and appeal. To put it more bluntly, you are a pile.

By sleepyhead

Wowwwweeeeee, URKEL'S ( SP? ) SMA-O-KING!!!!!! Hey, 4 That Matter, So's Will Smith, L L Cool J, oooohhhh YEAH.

By bobbie2851

It may be hard fof jaleel to shake that nerd image,he played it so well.but I wish him well.he's such a great actor

Thursday 20 October

By diana

wish you well jaleel, you are a very handsome man indeed

By COOKIE

i loved that show FAMILY MATTER, i still watch it .Did I DO That//////////////.That part was so funny when STEVE URKEL did that part in the show.For Steve Urkel to look like a geek back inthe day. He!s really a very handsome man.

By Mona

I would love to see him om Dancing With The Stars

By Miamigold@aol.com

The Show is DEAD! and it's not funny,it's only sad...
As for Urkel,sadly he will always be as Urkel he can't shake that.He's not funny!the actors and lines are lame! b o r i n g!
NEXT!

By KNOW IT ALL

SO R U NEXT. MIAMIGOLD

By tracy

hey how can you sit there and say stuff like that about a show and about the person who played in it how would you like it if someone made in front of you like that and said all kinds of things about you you would not like now sit back and relax and stop judging people when you do not know them like that to judge them like you did to Jaleel white.

By lisanie44

I am still so falling in love with Jaleel White and of his coolest sensation, Steve Urkel. He helped put a huge smile on my face as the beloved geeky Steve Urkel of Family Matters. To me, he's my real idol and I will continue to worship the ground that Jaleel White, aka Steve Urkel walked on! He, is not only the cutest guy on the planet, he's fabulously funny! I want Jaleel White to still be around for more than 2 years!

By Deb

Family Matters was one of my favorite shows of the day and I still watch the reruns. All of the cast members were good but White's character, Urkel made the show. If he is as intelligent as he is handsome he WILL outlive the Urkel image. I hope he goes on to do great things

By Kerry Devine

I've been watching reruns of Family Matters and I like it now more then I did back when I was 7 in 1992. I think it's great that he's trying new things but at the same time not bitter about his past like some child actors. I can't wait to see some of these new characters he's talking about, but I hope someday he'll revive Urkel, maybe for a reunion or something.

By Lisa

We're almost done watching the Family Matter first season, that FINALLY came out the other day! He is so funny. And later on, he really is a hunky, handsome guy!

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