Family Matters’ Jaleel White Reveals The Other Steve Urkel Catchphrases That Were Tested Before ‘Did I Do That,’ And I’m So Glad They Didn’t Stick

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It’s undeniable that the classic TV show Family Matters, with its unforgettable character Steve Urkel played by Jaleel White, stands among the best comedy series aired during TGIF. The show was defined by Steve’s relentless pursuit of neighbor Laura Winslow, his knack for damaging household items, and the iconic catchphrase “Did I do that?” Although White experimented with various catchphrases initially, it’s a relief they didn’t end up becoming synonymous with this beloved sitcom.

There was no doubt that Steve Urkel was uncoordinated. It seemed like he couldn’t go through one scene without breaking something. On the bright side, it gave live-studio audiences a real laugh when they heard him say the famous catchphrase “Did I do that?” right after. However, in a clip for a new episode of Pod Meets World, Jaleel White revealed that there were other catchphrases Family Matters tried out first before they landed on that iconic line, and I’m so glad they didn’t work out:

They experimented with countless catchphrases that didn’t work. The very first attempt was Steve, who would accidentally knock over an end table or a lamp and say, ‘Pardon me.’ That was it; he simply said ‘Pardon me.’ Afterwards, they attempted to use one that was already popular, like ‘I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.’ We tried out a few others, but ‘Did I do that?’ seemed to stick. It’s something you throw to the audience as a joke.

Reflecting on it now, those phrases do ring a bell. Steve Urkel would say “excuse me” when knocking over furniture or repeat “I’ve fallen and can’t get up!” repetitively. Fortunately, neither of these became widely recognized as the iconic catchphrase.

The original lines were amusing initially, but they seem less effective now. The “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” joke brings back memories of those Life Alert commercials, which are hardly comical. Instead, the line “Did I do that?” perfectly encapsulates the guilty conscience of the beloved ABC character whenever he accidentally knocks something over.

Similar to what Gabriel Iglesias expressed during his Netflix show “Mr. Iglesias“, performing in front of a live audience is crucial because it offers instant feedback on which humor elements resonate best. Just like Jaleel White, he attributed the popularity of the catchphrase “Did I do that” to the valuable input provided by the studio audience.

In those days, it was primarily focused on the instant feedback from the live audience. They were there to provide real-time input on what was successful. There was no social media back then, which is something I fondly remember about old-school television. We didn’t have to contend with criticism from the naysayers.

Previously, Jaleel White shared the background of the iconic catchphrase, explaining how the way it was delivered made “Did I do that” so well-known. It makes sense because it highlighted Steve Urkel’s squeaky voice even more. Additionally, his embarrassed expression when saying that line added an extra touch. It seems studio audiences had a knack for choosing the aspects of Family Matters that would become lasting elements. This is part of the reason why Steve Urkel, initially a side character, has become more beloved by fans than the main characters over time.

It’s great that “excuse me” and “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” didn’t become Steve Urkel’s well-known phrases, as “Did I do that?” made a significant cultural impact instead. This phrase became iconic for the lovable character.

Enjoy listening to the iconic phrase from all nine seasons of Family Matters, now available with your Max subscription.

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2025-01-09 22:40