‘Growing Up Urkel’ With Jaleel White | Higher Learning | The Ringer

[@Maimuna_joy]

I think they did a great job having him on the show and holding him accountable and getting clarification. Great job Van and Rachel.

[@shotarokaneda7525]

Great job. Without even hating or making it weird, but when he avoided a question they took him back to be honest. Because he is a good brother, but he had some weird ideas about our community plus our sisters and mothers, so we just wanted to be sure.

[@kkTrinese]

Rachel looking like cousin Faith from soul food with that bandana on lol

[@andreadrummer3096]

Pblahahahaha!!!

[@southside_smooth]

I can’t unsee it. 😂😂😂

[@shantelspeaks]

That's a fact! 😂

[@NotoriousSSV]

Nah man not "the family f-d my husband" Faith 😂

[@kindahere4this]

Lmao

[@Adore7_AUM]

Interesting... my opinion was not changed by this interview. Bless his heart. ~ African-American woman

[@lovestarlet2021]

Write for authenticity not for an audience, that’s why Jaleel has to clarify a lot of stuff in his book. It’s almost like a performance even when he’s answering some things.He wants to be on. He wants to tell a story. Tell the story. Not as a screenwriter, but as a brother that is reflecting and telling what was. That’s the part of the black woman I love he said to Lindsay, I heard it. I wish he wasn’t so in his head about how he answers questions, Jaleel it is what it is. Say it, not with that laugh, just say it no chaser. You will and still are that guy. I want to see him in more roles. Loved how he broke down the NY Undercover. Talk like that give us the real, not for the reaction, or how you want the reader to feel and guess what? It’s OK. You’re ok. Great interview and yes he needed a crew.

[@FocalPointElisa]

I'm only 9mins in to this episode, but this comment is everything! Genuine energy.

[@Shesaphantomm]

I’ve heard a few actors have this mindset that they always have to be entertaining. Their first thought when interacting with people is to entertain them. I wonder if it’s a safe space or defense mechanism, either way it’s an odd way to interact with real people and tell a real story lol.

[@tiffanibanks7218]

Well said 👏🏾 👏🏾 working in a barbershop for a summer would’ve helped him 😉

[@mikayocc]

I agree - he looks like he's playing a part and trying to say all the "right" things, but it didn't feel "real". I'm glad Van and Rachel challenged him on some of his comments/generalizations.

[@aisharedux781]

Bingo! Am an author and agree with this. If he brought his heart to the pen and included more of his internal struggle rather than projecting it to the Black community. But maybe he hasn’t worked through those things.

[@Knizzle28]

Lmao Jaleel tried to work his way out with the basketball story with the two black girls. Van brought the question right back around.

[@Brittal009]

Right. The basketball story was a horrible example.

[@iamtammyetv1534]

Constantly bringing up black women was weird and un necessary (over compensating probably), talk about white women if anything, which his wife is 😂 and there's definitely a correlation between him feeling picked on for being "nerdy" and his views on black women, and black people as a whole, he REALLY tried to deflect whenever it was brought up.

[@bowling4clarity817]

Spot on . Imo

[@korbymarks]

I enjoyed this interview with Jaleel White. I’m happy he’s doing well. Van and Rachel, great job and great show!

[@Litldman99]

SMH poor Jaleel. He just don’t understand. I wish the best for him.

[@JaMooni16]

"This is the part that I love about black women. Come on with!" Is fucking crazy 😢 And he doesn't even notice with full confidence makes me angry and sad. This is America

[@chocolatedoll1488]

that's why his statement is bs

[@JaMooni16]

And he keeps doing it throughout the episode obliviously

[@chocolatedoll1488]

@JaMooni16 facts I left couldn't watch it tell me whats your thought fr

[@mrsrussell]

THIS

[@mrsrussell]

Yeah, I made it 1/2 way then fast forward to the end

[@karendee2752]

The set lighting is too dark

[@CVW05]

I agree.

[@PuppyBeyoncesmom]

I also agree.

[@TheKimberlyRobin]

One fill light would have been perfect!

[@creamycazz1]

Ikr lately I always have to brighten my phone screen whenever I watch

[@theraeway596]

I agree, the set overall is too neutral/deep toned in my opinion. Need some lights up in there!

[@shawnleonard7827]

29:08 Appreciated seeing Jaleel in a long-form setting. As an 80s baby that grew up in Inglewood, I can absolutely relate to the fact that being a square was frowned upon and made you a proverbial and literal mark. Shout out to my fellow nerds that also made it, living their best lives! Best year of the pod yet, Van and Big Rach!

[@Hennyondarocks]

Poppa’s house on cbs with Damon Wayans Sr and Jr is restoring that feeling of black sitcoms

[@sherwood9917]

The irony is that the overwhelming majority of people who will buy his book out of genuine interest and just to support are Black women. How ironic.

[@marquisebrooks9204]

This was a good conversation really enjoyed it

[@2zai207i]

I really wish Van and Rachel would hold people accountable for their negligence.

[@xMXWLx]

i definitely understand his point and his views on things so much more. thank you both for giving him the platform.

[@NN12nn12]

I’m glad Jaleel explained how things went left in the previous interview. It confirmed to me that I understood what he was saying but I also see why people took it the wrong way. Also I’m glad he got a chance to clarify on a platform like this. Lastly I’m very grateful and impressed how you both did your homework and really carved out some good questions for Jaleel. I’ve watched several of his interviews and he’s been getting a lot of the same questions. Probing questions asked with compassion and humor got better responses and made for a more enjoyable conversation to listen to.

[@EliteBlackSash]

Grew up getting to see it all. Jeffersons, Good Times, The Cosby Show, Family Matters, Martin, Living Single, A Different World, Fresh Prince, Moesha, Sister Sister, The Harvey Show, Hangin’ With Mr Cooper, All That / Kenan and Kel, The Wayans Show, The Jamie Foxx Show, man.. what an Era…. The 70s - 90s… Black Television and Black Music was on another level. I think a huge part that never gets mentioned is the big part that HBCUs / Black College culture played in what was popular in music and television. We lost that and we lost a lot of the Demand for there to be an emphasis on excellence and substance, regardless of whether it’s an upscale black family or a poor black family or wherever the musician is from, excellence was the standard.

[@hedbill8786]

It's crazy how people see things so differently. I'm just looking through the comments trying to get a feel how people liked it and there people saying opposite things.

[@latoyasimpson8990]

What did you think? Some comments are very nice, which I’m confused about 😂

[@tacrewgirl]

Great interview with Jaleel White and clarification of his previous statements.

[@issedoesit279]

Great discussion. Kudos to both Van and Rachel for the nuanced interview. I think Jaleel was holding back some but i appreciated him elaborating on his prior comments.

[@nicolej615]

Jaleel is the epitome Of “I see both sides.”

[@TheKimberlyRobin]

Excellent interview!!! I’m ready for a Black entertainment podcast from all cultural segments we encompass.

[@TrvisXXIII]

Jaleel has become a favorite guest interview of mine with the limited times he’s done them. Wish he did more of these

[@dtdtdtdtification]

y'all have done some awesome interviews, but this is easily top 3

[@dtdtdtdtification]

ny undercover was my FAVORITE show. damn shame how it ended

[@Knizzle28]

Van is really quiet in this interview. That’s never good. He got a lot to say about Jaleel that he’s not saying.

[@jamineleph5207]

Yeah. He can hear how Jaleel is coming off and he’s taking it easy on him.

[@latoyasimpson8990]

As soon as Jaleel said barbershops and basketball and Van said community and family…..i said oh, Van is clocking him.

[@JD-hy1pe]

Dope interview! Appreciated Jaleel’s perspective and just ordered his book.

[@Jaizensama]

Great! This is the interview he needs to have.

[@tumimashego]

Mayyyyne, I was too quick to judge him after the hood comments. He cleared it up well and made so much sense. Lesson learned. Loved the conversation. Definitely getting his book!!

[@cuteiswhatIaimfor]

I don’t think he cleared it up that well. I appreciate him backtracking. But I’m not buying his supposed explanation for “hood”. I think he’s a snob but that’s jmo.

[@real_Hamilton]

​@@cuteiswhatIaimforI listened to the whole statement that you're referring to and for me it was never even that offensive in the first place. I got exactly where he was coming from and I just think this era of culture has become too sensitive. A comedian these days can barely even make a joke without being cancelled by these "woke" nutjobs

[@frederickreese8398]

Not really.

[@Thejanaylee]

Rachel saying her and Jaleel are a lot likeeee

[@dazestr88]

Frfr that says alot

[@jamineleph5207]

IKR. 🤦🏾‍♂️ The difference is Rachel didn’t come out of her childhood with a weird ass view of how black women are lol.

[@kingdunfri1142]

This was a great interview!!!

[@dbrownn211]

This was great, I like him as a guest on this show!!

[@leejohn_bns]

Maybe it's just me but this Jaleel sounded like he was beating around the bush throughout the whole interview.

[@real_Hamilton]

Jaleel is really good at telling stories. It's never boring listening to him talk

[@frederickreese8398]

Sometimes, in explaining, you dig a deeper hole.

[@junkfoodvegan]

Jaleel was so quick to get defensive when Van asked about WW at the 50:30 mark.

[@mustermas]

That he did def a triggering spot

[@rsekaionline]

Such a great show today! Great content.

[@deaconddd]

As a young black kid growing up in Southern California in the 90’s I can relate some of the the perspective Jaleel had especially as someone who was thrust into the zeitgeist of black culture in the 90’s. Hard to explain unless you were there and went through it. To be an insider and an outsider in that culture particularly was a psychological mindf@ck for real. It was a time where black culture was moving past the gang and crack era of the 80’s into a very heightened sociopolitical time and the emergence of the black elite. You really had to find your tribe and navigate that time with a strong sense of self or you would get chewed up and spit out. I personally had some near brushes with Hollywood adjacent folks and the industry and it was hella scary to me. I couldn’t imagine being cast in hit black tv show at that time in my life.

[@shantelspeaks]

Great interview. Better than I expected.

[@JustHere4TheVideos]

I am old. Urkel is an adult talking about urkEL! I loved urKEL! Got the audible. Merry Christmas guys. Let me know if you need a bookkeeper.

[@Brittal009]

The Bianca Lawson explanation still doesn’t make sense…

[@LAWoman323213]

Read the book

[@mrsrussell]

​@@LAWoman323213 Im not supporting him because he didn't clear it up. This was his opportunity to clear it up, but he didn't. He seems like he was cocky then and now and upset Black girls weren't falling all over him.

[@mustermas]

@@mrsrussellso you ain't read and like prejudging

[@mr.m6397]

Man I love this show!!! Thank ya’ll for this black content!

[@ChimmywiththeLongCovid]

As a fan of the podcast, this interview was overly hyped. I think Jaleel is out of touch with reality and has been for a while. You could have inerviewed a regular degular person and that may have garnered more interest. Van: I loved the conversation you recently had with Marc Lamont Hill. You seemed to focus on your phone a bit more than usual but your answers and responses still gave food for thought. Your intellect ain't nothin' to play with!

[@RedisNotaFlavor]

great interview.

[@latoyasimpson8990]

I’m 16 minutes in and this man is so out of touch and he still doesn’t get it. There’s no way he said barbershop food and basketball for black communities.

[@b.chells6980]

I was hoping for someone else.

[@DanielLaurentSME]

Schultz

[@b.chells6980]

@ absolutely not

[@leewilson5151]

Schultz’s hype man?

[@DDropp]

😂

[@Litldman99]

Yeah Schultz hype man

[@Cell2000]

Great Interview

[@mm0llss]

Great conversation, glad yall brought him on! Continuing to highlight our similarities and embracing differences can truly bring us together as a community and world. How we’re meant to be.

[@vuyimbityana3688]

Great interview and interaction 🥂

[@lakersin556]

I always feel a bit more intelligent when I listen to you guys. 😂 keep it up, fam. ✌️

[@akaziaj]

Jaleel showing what good media training can do.

[@MiguelCastro-hm1mm]

Good to see you Jaleel. You've come a long, long way! 👍🏽

[@aisharedux781]

I do appreciate that Jaleel’s sentiments opened up this discourse. Black family viewing, urban viewing, mainstream while Black etc. I love that we are thinking more of the nuances of it all. I would’ve loved some more heart centered reflections on his experiences as a child star coming of age in the business but I also see how him having a more objective observation of things work because he is a decades long working actor and expert in the field.

[@rebornefit]

Don’t like him. Don’t speak on BW in your book based off of two or three women. Not interested in hearing from BM who can’t speak honestly bc they know how dead wrong their own biases are. BS. Bye. Didn’t want to even watch this but I did and he’s disingenuous at best.

[@jamineleph5207]

THANK YOU! With some of these comments I’m like “Did we watch the same interview??” I really wanted to like him, too. I haven’t seen anything Jaleel in a long time and I kinda hoped he was just a nerd like me who got bullied a little bit and had to figure some stuff out, but at the end of the day I know who I am.✊🏾 Jaleel comes off like he’s trying to be an ally to black people 😭 and it made my ears bleed.

[@aquarius-woman5364]

I'm so glad more black women are waking up

[@reginahughes7929]

@@rebornefit He has an issue with his mom. Something about the way she interacted with his dad. That’s why he hates BW.

[@michaelbraddock5728]

Jaleel White's book was A California classic

[@kidocorn1524]

We are getting great information

[@rooseveltwilliams3272]

Enjoyable fast pace show and I liked it 😀

[@fourtime7]

Nice interview.

[@Spencer-k2m]

The cowboy hat landed perfectly 👌🏽

[@prissylily25]

This was a really fun interview! I’m glad they allowed for Jaleel to speak his peace. I’ll be listening to his audio book on my drive home for the holidays. I look forward to it. ❤

[@chafrajayfra32]

It was great to see Jaleel.

[@BougieSuzy]

Great episode 🎉 I really enjoy Jaleel White, he's relatable and enjoyable to listen to and watch.

[@reginahughes7929]

Everything JW says, he always has to explain it. So you never know what he actually means. Although tbh we do know . 🙄It makes him very unlikable.

[@PuppyBeyoncesmom]

Yep 👍🏾

[@1saxophone]

Agreed! He's no different than AnnaMarie. They have so many cultural indictments on blackness, and I know Van heard that bullsh*t!

[@mikayocc]

And he laughs everything off so it doesn't seem genuine.

[@latoyasimpson8990]

I couldn’t imagine going on a date with him. He seems like a know it all which is probably why some women were turned off.

[@LucianAdams-p6h]

This show is with Jaleel White is very Zen , thanks, and happy holidays 😊

[@marcusrock5355]

I went to the same HS Jaleel went to. I know EXACTLY where he’s coming from

[@LAWoman323213]

South Pasadena High, right?

[@marcusrock5355]

@ yup

[@demoss75]

I was in Jack and Jill with him and I'm slightly confused lol

[@Yentirb68]

Something about this man feels like he’s cosplaying a “type” of black guy

[@mrsrussell]

THIS

[@teamhav7588]

🎯

[@renata13725]

Great interview.😀

[@KnightFoxx1190]

Thought Warriors. I love ya’ll!!!

[@deouzjh99]

That 'shoot your shot' in your twenties stuff was a BAR 🔥

[@jamineleph5207]

36 minutes in and i’ve clocked at least three misogyny violations. Jaleel is lowkey toxic, but being who he is, I get it.

[@FocalPointElisa]

He is a Sag...so....

[@melw3202]

Definitely, I think it was attitude he was conditioned to take on back in 90s that never left him. He’s got to adapt to todays world

[@xMXWLx]

1:21:33 van is correct. idk why they flipped out. thats a BRILLIANT movie idea. the nerds were the underdogs and the audience hoped for them to win. now that theyve won, all these years later, they should be the bosses, CEOs and elites that the audience would cheer for the demise. good idea van.

[@Actionzoozooo]

😂😂😂😂😂 so much hate in comments. What? Did y’all think Urkel was gonna grow up normal? This is the best out come in my opinion. Dude seems as regular as the next person who grew up in the 90s. Y’all thinking about it too much.

[@jamineleph5207]

😂 I did not! He is more self-aware than I expected but I had set the bar in the basement. He still cringe af

[@letlovereign-]

It bothers me he says he survived his parents mistakes. Umm it was their decisions that got you to where you are. Also I feel like he is reverse engineering a lot of these answers.

[@frederickreese8398]

The point is that you and Ms. Lawson didn't have chemistry. She was not trying to use you

[@geraldinewinfrey1345]

I really did enjoy this 1:14:01 interview very much with Jarrell one of my favorite child actor😊

[@Skeezer66]

As a person with parents from different social/economic backgrounds, I get and see where he's coming from. Being black is never just one thing, and if you feel you're treated as a stranger by people you think should get you, but don't, there's a need to explain and overexplain because you have these different perspectives that get misunderstood.

[@shaybay2021]

Glad I clicked to watch - I didn't think I would enjoy the interview, but I did. I may even go and buy the book now.

[@kindahere4this]

A Different World was it for me; for me Claire made the Cosby Show; Martin was on; in Livin Color; and Parent Trap Robert Townsend the Legend 👏🏽

[@leewilson5151]

I thought the guest was going to be Alex from Flagrant.

[@jamineleph5207]

I really did. Damn.

[@charvonnehamilton2116]

How many times is he going to say "as a black woman" 😂

[@jamineleph5207]

a LOT, my friend 😭

[@Injustice360]

Sanford and Son is the best Black sitcom

[@chocolatedoll1488]

yes good times and Jefferson was the best to me

[@leejohn_bns]

1:40:03 everything is coming but the Florida residents 😂

[@mariajohnson7702]

Jaleel the late great Mr. John Singleton is the reason Ice Cube is a household name in terms of film or television he gave him his first film role

[@emerald.sapphire.amethyst72]

First of all, I have to say this is a well done interview, and I think you guys did a really great job with keeping it real. As for Jaleel‘s answers. I think that he was very true and as honest as he could be without hurting anybody’s feelings. And I can fully understand how and why he married, who he married because of how black women behave when he was young. I know in my 20s I stopped dating black men, because of how they behaved. That kind of stuff does shape you in ways that is detrimental sometimes, but to keep on trying and failing is not healthy. I read the book, and how some of those females behaved in that book towards him were just downright cruel. It shows black women in a light that’s not positive, but I do understand how Jaleel was trying not to Hurt the women that he did mention. He did try to focus on his own naivety. But there is no two ways of shaking it around that those girls didn’t behave nicely at all. And I don’t care if they’re friends with those two or not. A lot of of the ways in which the women and the men in Jalil’s life moved around him shaped who he is. Personally, I think his parents got more right than they got wrong, and he was one of the success stories. You never heard about scandalous stuff that he’s in. Why because he did not act like a complete ass. He always acted like a gentleman. That was the one thing that made us all fall in love with him and Stefan. So I have to say this was a beautiful interview, I love that he did clarify his earlier statements, but even though he did try, I still believe that what he said wasn’t wrong. It’s just how he said it. Maybe should have been delivered in a better way, but he was certainly not wrong. When I was young, my mom didn’t let us watch Martin. Because she always thought it was buffoonish, and it depicted Black people in a bad light, so no I was not allowed to watch that until I got much older, and it was already in rerun stage. Living single my mom was more flexible with that one but family matters I could watch at any point in time, the whole TGIF lineup I was able to watch, so I don’t see where he was wrong in any of this. Maybe he should’ve said it more nicely. Maybe he could’ve said it in a more politically sappy way, but he wasn’t lying. Anyways I just thought this was a good interview and I’m gonna stop here because I said enough. Take it or leave it.

[@Shesaphantomm]

LMAO not he heard yall talking shit and called y’all. Decent interview, I got from this that Jaleel is exactly who everybody thinks he is. He seems to have “grown” but not evolved in many ways.

[@dtdtdtdtification]

in living color is a GREAT CALL

[@Spencer-k2m]

Van you’re a stud.

[@leundrewilliams2433]

Good shit

[@karlettakelly1807]

I'm getting Red Pill vibes, but I appreciate the "Urkel validation " for our community.

[@Cappy3131]

I don't like Jaleel never have I didn't like Family Matters. The reason he has to be so careful speaking is because he wants black women to support his book so he can make some money.

[@roycewynn6769]

Jaleel White interview 👌🏾

[@ejhutch15]

Rachel looking like a true L.A. Queen!

[@Beangie-v3v]

I can’t agree when he says that you watch a show based on what you can identify with. That’s only partially true. I wouldn’t vote for family matters as being a number one show because the character Urkel just got on my nerves. If they had taken him out, I would enjoy the show more. So it wasn’t what I couldn’t identify with. I just didn’t like to show very much.

[@1saxophone]

25:49 Ya'll being fake AF! Jaleel is whining and bitching covertly STILL!! You SAID what you said and you realized how stupid it sounded, but are to stubborn to just say i heard ya'll my bad, and I learned from it.

[@ChildhoodMemories-s2k]

Isn't Jaleel the guy that got married and was talking about "Black Love" on social media with his wife? If he was, I wish that was brought up in the convo.

[@jamineleph5207]

“I’m black and my white wives love me. That’s black love, I don’t see the issue.” 😂

[@Tambuzi729]

Did yall hear Jaleel said he was worried about Orlando from that’s so Raven people forget Orlando Brown played on Family Matters as 3j.

[@VocallyYours3]

🗣️Sometimes when you marry individuals who aren’t your exact racial dynamic, it’s hard to listen to who/what they have to say. 🙅🏽‍♂️

[@Redjack10]

What.

[@ravenjmain]

I understand Jaleel not wanting to do a reboot but he’s definitely missing an opportunity by not doing a family matters podcast. In this age people would easily listen to hour long episodes talking about the show and the ins and outs. Especially if Jaleel is associated with it.

[@sfrvnko7818]

I understand what he said for sure. S/o to him