The first episode of Family Matters premiered on September 22, 1989. Which means that this week is the series’ 20th anniversary. Where’s the love? Where’s the fanfare? And most importantly, WHERE’S THE DVD RELEASES? Come on, every season of Full House is on DVD! Why no love for Urkel and the Winslows?

Well, don’t worry, Family Matters fans. This black nerd won’t let you down. I have scoured the halls of YouTube and found 19 hilarious moments from the ABC TGIF series to show you. Why 19? Cause I like PRIME NUMBERS! IT’S A PRIME LIST!

TALKBACK: What are your favorite moments from Family Matters?

1. THE URKEL DANCE

What Urkel list isn’t complete without the single most ridiculous yet awesome dance in the world? Don’t worry about why a kid has his own song. Or his own dance. Or that everyone at the party knows the dance. Just know it’s the Steve Urkel dance, and it’s better than Elvis. Heck, even Bea Arthur did the Urkel Dance! So do the Urkel! Do the Ur-Ur-Ur-Ur-Ur-Ur-Ur-Urkel!

2. URKEL AND MYRA DUELING ACCORDIANS

This is hands down my favorite Family Matters moment of all-time. Laura tries to get Urkel to give Myra a chance. They find out they share a taste in accordians. And what happens next is Urkel history. If you would’ve told me there would be a sitcom where two black people would play accordians and dance to polka music, I would have slapped you in the face. But it happened. And happened uber-well. Consider your face non-slapped.

3. STEVE URKEL BECOMES STEFAN URQUELLE

With the help of cool juice or boss sauce, Jaleel White turned from the geeky Steve Urkel to the GQ Stefan Urquelle. I can’t help but think this was an attempt for us to see an older Jaleel in a different light (and to probably save some of his “Li’l Jaleel Whites” from being crushed by uber-tight pants). But for whatever reason, it was gold. Check out Stefan Urquelle’s first appearance (Part 1 and Part 2).

I could also take this time to explain that Stefan returned for other episodes until eventually Steve cloned himself and turned one of the clones into Stefan… but, well, I just don’t have time to explain that. I have a shark to jump.

4. MYRTLE URKEL

You know I’m gonna say it? A BLACK MAN IN A DRESS IS HILARIOUS! But this was inevitable. What’s better than one Urkel? Two Urkels! And make one a female Urkel! So enter Myrtle Urkel, the Belle of Biloxi. Fiddle-e-dee. Myrtle is really funny though, even if watching Jaleel in drag flirting with Eddie can be… awkward.

Interesting factoid: You may have noticed a large gap between the first and second appearance of Myrtle Urkel. According to this interview, a young Jaleel White cried after doing this episode because he thought his fellow jocks at school would make fun of him.  Guess he never heard of Grandmama? Oh wait, yes he has. Grandmama guest starred on Family Matters.

5. LAURA FEELS LIKE AN URKEL

Next to the dueling accordians, this is one of my absolute favorite Family Matters moments. After losing the meaning of Christmas by being mean to Steve, an angel that looks like the brotha from Good Morning Miss Bliss gives us “Steve Winslow” and “Laura Urkel” to teach Laura Winslow a lesson. It’s 1/3 It’s a Wonderful Life, 1/3 Freaky Friday and 1/3 HILARIOUS!!! And gee, when Harriette comes in with a gingerbread house that she just built, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS TO IT? I love Laura Urkel. She’s the geeky girl of my dreams.

6. BRUCE LEE URKEL

Hey kids? Have trouble with bullies? Then just create a transformation chamber, gather the DNA of Bruce Lee, and beat those bullies up! That’s what Urkel do. Yes, I know the clip is in Spanish. But it’s Steve Urkel kicking @$$. Does it matter?

7. URKELBOT

Yes, Urkel made a robot. And yes, the best use of Boogaloo Shrimp ever (he’s inside Urkelbot). Feel free to skip the middle, Urkelbot-less part. You know what you came here for.

8. URKEL-O’S

THE MAN HAD HIS OWN CEREAL!!! Don’t hate on Urkel, son! Where’s your fruit-flavored cereal? That’s what I thought! Get Urkel-ized with Urkel-O’s.

9. STEVIL WANTS STEVE’S SOUL

When it comes to Halloween episodes, most sitcoms give you your classic characters in costume. Not Family Matters. They go all-out with a storyline worthy of Child’s Play sequels, as Steve is constantly being chased by Stevil, a ventriloquist dummy who wants Urkel’s soul. And for the series 200th episode, they introduced Carlsbad, Carl’s dummy duplicate. They scare. They steal souls. And they DAAAANCE! Who says sitcoms are dead?

10. URKEL CAMEOS ON FULL HOUSE

What’s got DJ Tanner and the black chick from Camp Cucamonga freaked out? Only the most nerdtastic TV crossover in sitcom history! That’s right, mofos, Steve Urkel guest stars on Full House. And Uncle Jesse trying to teach Urkel how to walk? Comedy gold! Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of Urkel’s Full House cameos. Everywhere you look!

11. URKEL CAMEOS ON STEP BY STEP

Yes, we can’t mention Urkel being on Full House without mentioning he was on Step by Step. If you even know what Step by Step is. It was the show that came on between Family Matters and Dinosaurs. But we get to see the Urkel dance again, yay! Plus, Urkel takes Al to the school dance. Good job, Steve. Al grows up HOT! See the whole episode to get all the Step by Stepness: Part 1 and Part 2.

12. URKEL PLAYING BASKETBALL

You read right. Jaleel White is a good basketball player in real-life, so I guess he pulled his Urkel muscle to get him an episode showing his ballin’ skills. To prove even black nerds have basketball abilities. Except for me. I’m only good at basketball when I play… DOUBLE DRIBBLE! And yes, I knew Laura’s cheer from memory. I know too much about this show.

13. FAMILY MATTERS GUN PSA

Alright, let’s get serious for a second. Let’s stop teen violence and guns in school. SQUASH IT!

14. URKEL BLOWS UP THE WORLD

Did Urkel do that? Yes, he did. In Laura’s dreams, Urkel makes an A-bomb and blows up the earth while Laura’s parents and grandmother sing “That’s life.” Not to mention Max Urkel Headroom. Classic Family Matters at its best.

15. URKEL FINALLY STANDS UP TO LAURA

This clip is for every guy who has ever been used, abused and unappreciated by a woman they have feelings for. After a series of mishaps and Laura’s bad attitude, Urkel is mad as H-E-double popsicle sticks, and he’s not gonna take it any more. You hear that sound? That’s the sound of Urkel’s spine. It just grew in! Take that, Laura! Now share that bed!

16. URKEL BREAKS YOUR HEART

I seriously almost cried the first time I saw this clip. Not only cause it’s sad, but because… I’ve been there. I know how he feels in this moment. So I ask you to watch this touching Family Matters clip. No strings attached. Just the one to my heart.

17. THE URKEL/LAURA/MYRA TRIANGLE

For years, Family Matters was all about Steve trying to get with Laura. But when Myra came into the picture, things changed. Steve wanted Laura, Myra wanted Steve, Laura hated Myra, Myra fought Laura for Steve, Laura fought back, even though Laura didn’t want Steve. I’m sorry, Denise Richards, but THIS is complicated! And when two girls argue in Sitcomland, you know what has to happen… FOOD FIGHT!

18. URKEL’S KISSES MAKE LAURA PREGNANT

Can’t explain it. Just watch it. And then watch this sweet montage of non-pregnant Urkel and Laura kisses.

19. THE RAPPIN’ WINSLOWS

Think the Urkel Dance is the only song? Think again! Back in the Urkel-less early episodes of Family Matters, the Winslows made a music video for a contest. And I can’t think of a better song to end this prime list for a wonderful series.

Whether downhome and sweet or scientifically absurd, Family Matters was a fine program that safely entertained us for 8 ABC years and 1 CBS one. Happy 20th anniversary to you, Urkel and the Winslows. We will continue to love you, as days go by.

TALKBACK: What are your favorite moments from Family Matters?

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This entry was posted on Thursday, September 24th, 2009 at 2:52 pm by Andre BlackNerd and is filed under LISTS/PRIME LISTS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.