We Watched Every Single Family Matters Halloween Episode

Yes, we did that.
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Website: www.phelous.com
Twitter: @AllisonPregler
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#FamilyMatters #Halloween #SteveUrkel #ReginaldVelJohnson #JaleelWhite #DariusMcCrary #KellieShanygneWilliams #JoMariePayton #RosettaLeNoire #BrytonJames #ShawnHarrison #JaimeeFoxworth #TelmaHopkins #PhelanPorteous #Phelous #AllisonPregler

[@wstine79]

"Here's your problem. Someone set this Urkel doll to Stevil."

[@cheneethompson5756]

I agree with phelous and Allison! Stevil is definitely the best Halloween episode!

[@brentparker7359]

What makes the transformation of "Family Matters" even weirder is that it started out as a spinoff of "Perfect Strangers," via the character of Harriet. Imagine if another supporting sitcom character got their own show and then some random minor character took over and changed the whole genre. It's like if Frasier Crane had an annoying neighbor who turned out to be a wizard and all of a sudden "Frasier" turned a full-blown fantasy show.

[@AbsoluteTravisT]

Well, he wasn't a wizard but let's not ignore just how much of Frasier became Niles' ever constant will they won't they with Daphne.

[@christopherwall2121]

NILES: Frasier, has Eddie always had three heads? FRASIER: .... _CAM WINSTON!_

[@brentparker7359]

@@christopherwall2121 Brilliant! :)

[@brentparker7359]

@@AbsoluteTravisT Yes, but that is a convention of the sitcom genre. Frasier Crane was introduced to "Cheers" as an obstacle for Sam and Diane's Will They/Won't They romance.

[@christopherwall2121]

@@brentparker7359 It was always going to be a Cam Winston joke, he's the only one of Frasier's neighbors who was really memorable.

[@andrewollmann304]

We are all talking about Jaleel White, but let’s not forget the awesomeness that was Reginald VelJohnson, either.

[@WAEVOICE]

Thank you! There's a very good reason Carl was the only character to appear in every episode.

[@RGF91]

COME ON, DUDE WAS IN DIE HARD!

[@rogue7723]

His speech towards the cops was _badass._ 😃

[@cheneethompson5756]

Urkel is the best part of family matters!

[@MediaNutso]

@@RGF91 And in Ghostbusters.

[@PotluckB]

I was a very NERVOUS child, and easily scared... and I remember Stevil being legitimately terrifying to me when I saw the episode. Steve's warning at the beginning of the episode was for me and I DIDN'TLISTEN.

[@Popcultureguy3000]

Are you one of those guys who grew up to end up *_LOVING_* horror like Stephen King or my cousin or are you still a regular at the Weeny Hut?

[@Magicghost23]

Family matters made jumping the shark It’s official sport.

[@Tyrgermanic]

Jaleel White is very underrated. He was the number 1 nerd and cool guy of the 90s at the same time.(Urkel and Sonic) But when he's Stephan he's not just rehashing Sonic.

[@chavesa5]

Dude must have had a wild 90s. I'm surprised it hasn't hit tell-all stage yet.

[@sockpuppy8811]

It's kinda funny that by the end of its run, Familly Matters's Halloween specials were somehow less bonkers than regular episodes

[@danielgehring7437]

Let's all just take a moment to appreciate that amazing makeup job Allison's wearing.

[@Cheezitnator]

To be honest, her makeup is usually fabulous and unique. 😊 But I also love those skeleton earrings.

[@arealconservative8712]

48:29 Funny note about this scene-- there was an episode in season 7 (when the show was on ABC) that ended with Steve being unable to sleep. So he turned on the TV to "see what's on CBS," and he immediately fell asleep. Stevil II was from the season that aired on CBS, so clearly the network was firing back with this joke.

[@Faction.Paradox]

The trajectory of Family Matter will always be the wildest shit to me, imagine if you tuned in to current It's Always Sunny & Maureen Ponderosa was travelling to a parallel universe.

[@MrSkerpentine]

Family Matters walked so Riverdale could run

[@ShinGallon]

The instant Phelous said "I'm Urkel" my brain went to that MST3K skit. That show is responsible for like 80% of my sense of humor.

[@notsyzagts7967]

So your humor is 80% stale movie riff-memes; got it.

[@TimTE01]

Vampire Urkel was wearing a glove when he held the garlic cheese. He’s outsmarted us all.

[@AllisonPregler]

He took it out with his hand that didn’t have a glove.

[@TheCinemaBizarro]

​@@AllisonPregler He also wore anti garlic sunscreen. He came prepared!

[@phactress891]

As a child, my absolute favorite thing about any holiday in the 90s was all the holiday special episodes of my favorite family sitcoms/kid's shows. So much cozy nostalgia for me!

[@mathieuleader8601]

Imagine if Steevil showed up on Baywatch Nights with a Holbie puppet saying "WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME DADDY!" in Baby Sinclair's voice

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

"What do you know about evil puppets named Urkel?"

[@mathieuleader8601]

Homer's time travelling toaster caused Judy to be erased from the timeline Homer meant for Urkel to be erased but things did not go to plan.

[@shmikex]

My dark theory why the Winslows put up with Urkel is because Urkel saw them kill Judy, and he used that to get what he wanted from them.

[@Kentrc11]

Steve Urkel always walks funny because he's been carrying the Family Matters show.

[@radioactive_moose]

Key and Peel did a great horror themed sketch about Family Matters worth watching.

[@BigK13372]

Yeah. That was the one starring the kid from Everybody Hates Chris. And in said sketch Jaheel White apparently has the power of the String-String Fruit

[@patrickjohnson1649]

Shame they couldn’t get Jaleel White.

[@rainydayjules]

Fun fact: Jaleel White had a fun little cameo in the finale of season 2 of The Afterparty, and since Ben Schwartz was a main in season 1, the show had two Sonics!

[@gregmark1688]

Imagine the brainstorming that went into creating the character of Steve-il: "How about 'Count Urkula'?" "No." "Urklestein's Monster?" "No." "Urklezilla!" "Definitely not." ... "Predaturkle?" ... "I got it! Steve-ill!! Get it?? Like 'evil', only it's 'STEVE-il'!! Get it? Huh? Get it?" "glaarghlleblurrhghgllll...."

[@jonothanthrace1530]

You know, "Standard family sitcom except the dad and his friend are time-travelers" sounds like a solid premise for a show.

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

That sounds like a family with an absent father with extra steps

[@phonybeautrain6520]

​@@skeetsmcgrew3282funny you say that because that made me think of Rick and Morty with this premise

[@averyeml]

Jaleel White is such an absolutely slept on actor. I’m glad he got into voice acting but yeah, being Urkel burnt people out on him which is a bummer because he’s got this GREAT physicality and comedic timing and ability to make himself into so many disparate characters. He could’ve absolutely dominated as a character actor.

[@thescaredshadow]

Stevil sticking his hand into Carl's back and using him as a ventriloquist doll, is the best Mortal Kombat fatality that's never been used.

[@turbotime1964]

As a baby boomer who came of age in the 1970s/early 80s, I never understood the appeal of Family Matters to the GenX crowd. It seem like mindless silly sop to me. Then I realized FM followed the same trajectory that Happy Days - one of my favorite shows growing up - did. Initially a family show about growing up, a minor support character breaks out to become the star and the show becomes funky. In Happy Days case, a car mechanic greaser suddenly develops super powers when he snaps his fingers and the show goes from teen dates and proms to jumping over sharks (literally) and encountering aliens and ghosts and other weirdness. The kicker was when Fonzie fought the devil's nephew over Chachi's soul, which I remember thinking this show has gotten so bad it's hilariously good. So I guess when Urkel is shrunk or go back in time or whatever, the GenX crowd had a similar take. Also, interesting, both shows had a family member that got wiped from existence - the Cunningham's eldest son Chuck and the Winslows youngest daughter Julie. Both disappeared with no explanation.

[@phonybeautrain6520]

Well, History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes.

[@Magmaster13]

Allison's Jaleel White is basically a Fran Drescher impression.

[@phonybeautrain6520]

The most unexpected crossover between The Nanny and Family Matters

[@MissAshley42]

Only by analyzing this show can we ensure that the plague known as Urkel Mania never again haunts our doorsteps. Thank you for your research.

[@TheCommenterDragon]

"Family Matters" is one of my all time favorite 90's sitcoms! Jaleel White's performance as Steve Urkel is absolutely iconic, Just as the character of Steve Urkel is positively legendary he wasn't just a tv nerd, Urkel was the greatest and most memorable tv nerd that ever lived!

[@1Lanavis1]

True. He ate that

[@marcusfridh8489]

He even did guest appearances in step by step and full house

[@TheCommenterDragon]

@@marcusfridh8489 Jaleel also guest starred on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Not as Urkel but as a different character.

[@mathieuleader8601]

I like to think Urkel is a descendant of Old Man I can see Beauty's stepbrothers asking old man "Did you let my sister stay at a spooky castle with a demonic beast?" OLD MAN: *DID I DO THAT!*

[@CartoonTriper]

[Pull a gun] *SOMEBODY CALL THE 911!*

[@Alucard-A-La-Carte]

OH MY GOD, someone ELSE grew up with Urkel's plaintive wail of "SOMEBODY CALL 911!!" ricocheting around their brains for 30 years! Or at least noticed how weird it was upon rewatch. I saw it when I was 7 and visiting my grandparents...yeah, not a fun day. And makes where the show went EVEN MORE surreal. Watching this show as it came out was GENUINELY bizarre.

[@totz_the_plaid9625]

The ProZD clip was hilariously unexpected!

[@SwiftNimblefoot]

Maybe the reason Urkel was not affected by the garlic cheese and the sunlight was that he is a dhampir? Urkel, the Daywalker! :P

[@SunyCartoons]

I never watched Family Matters, but holy shit I might have to give it a watch because I never knew it was insane like this.

[@GendoRokabundi]

The ‘wong kid’ plot was reused in 2011 in Tim Allen’s Last Man standing sitcom. Like not just the ‘took home a kid in the wrong costume’ subplot, but literally an Asian child, complete with the ‘Wong kid’ joke.

[@gracestarkes2644]

I'm really happy you ranked Stevil at the top. It's the standout Family Matters episode and, in my opinion, the best Halloween special in TV sitcom history. You can’t get any better than Stevil!

[@cheneethompson5756]

I agree! Stevil is one of my fave Halloween episodes! Next to the bank heist episode!

[@cosmiccats15-ju9ic]

Wow, I totally blanked out on how hyped up the live studio audience on Family Matters used to get!

[@Quantaur]

A+ to you guys for referencing that MST3K skit!

[@TonyGearSolid]

So I just realized that thanks to the Steve Urkle jetpack crossover saga, time travel machines, transformation chambers and clones are also canon for Full House and Step by Step.

[@lotus-prince]

I was more of a Fresh Prince guy, so I've barely seen any Family Matters. The one and only episode I've ever seen in its entirety is Stevil. Incredible. :-D

[@marcusfridh8489]

I saw both, and step by step, full house, and many more

[@cheneethompson5756]

Fresh prince, family matters, full house, step by step, and boy meets world are all shows I love to watch!

[@amandabaker4678]

I am guessing that turning Harriet into a Jack-in-the-box is a reference to the famous _Twilight Zone_ episode called "It's a Good Life" about a little boy with mental powers.

[@sacredsin7282]

“He was a bad man, so I turned him into a Jack in the Box. A Jack in the Box that still had his bad face.”

[@radioactive_moose]

Dark And Stormy Night is the most underrated episode.

[@notavailable2590]

TGIF also had the Sabrina the Teenage Witch time travel crossover, and the slasher episode of Boy Meets World.

[@cheneethompson5756]

I agree!!

[@cheneethompson5756]

Great shows!

[@tonymata8070]

The Stevil episodes terrified me when I was a little boy, and especially since I watched Night of the Living Dummy.

[@cathr5385]

Guys, thank you! Allison you've entertained me for five years (and informed me) with your wonderful videos but tonight of all nights I needed this as my asshole brother's family descends on us. Bless You. I really needed a laugh and I hope you guys are well.☺

[@AllisonPregler]

Thank you! Hope things get better for you!

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@AllisonPregler Sadly Allison the actor that portrayed Lou aka Lt. Murtaugh Barry Jenner passed away in 2016 at age 75. 😢♥🌹🪦

[@ricksandstorm]

Wow, didn't expect this to drop at the same time as AVGN came out with one about the same thing. Great minds think alike! :D

[@Dimensioneer88]

Figured this would be helpful: 0:00 Intro 2:28 Dog Day Halloween 11:39 Whose Kid Is It Anyway? 20:42 Best Friends 26:04 Dark and Stormy Night 33:38 Stevil 44:09 Stevil 2 53:00 Ranking the Episodes

[@wstine79]

So this is how Allison and Phelous celebrate their first Halloween as a married couple? By watching every FAMILY MATTERS Spooky episode? Sweet!

[@HalfTimeLazer]

never have I needed something so badly without knowing it until now

[@pearl_kill_Gaming]

Did you guys notice how in almost every episode they pick on Ol carl about his weight. Maaan shiiiid he just trying his best

[@batoutofmel4959]

Now I want to see that one Key & Peele sketch again.

[@batoutofmel4959]

Oh shit man, Cherie Johnson, she was in DIAMOND COBRA VS THE WHITE FOX.

[@JohnnyWednesday]

This is exactly how people get trapped forever inside television programs

[@bingbong9076]

They just announced a new animated Urkel Christmas movies so I hope that we can see more of the Urkel holiday review train this year

[@adamcraig7842]

They should have made another Stevil sequel where Carlsbad assembles his own twisted parody of the Winslow family: Maximum Carlnage.

[@CodeNameX001]

I eagerly await the day where Jaleel White gets the leading role in an Oscar Bait movie, and his career gets a giant resurgence.

[@thegirlleastlikelyto]

Hell yeah he deserves it, sincerely. Really underrated guy.

[@ronniegladue1863]

And he wins the Oscar for Best Actor and his acceptance speech is "Did I do that???"

[@Kitsunefan9]

The Stefan Urquelle shit was really some of the absolute wildest shark jumping in sitcom history

[@kingvulturo]

Oh i wish Phelous and Allison had little dolls of themselves for a reveal at the end.

[@Duragizer8775]

If you go by _X-Files_ logic, then Sir Steven could be a different type of vampire from the Winslows, one who doesn't share their weaknesses for garlic and sunlight. But then that's just me overthinking it.

[@suikofan]

Man I forgot how batshit crazy Family Matters got

[@shaunwatson6354]

I hate Family Matters with a passion, chiefly because of Urkel (and related characters like Myrtle, Stefan, Stevil, etc.) but also because of the long-running storyline with Laura. Thank you for doing what I never *would*.

[@liteflightify]

It’s prime “family friendly” late 80s/early 90s cheese. It is a bit more bearable than, say, Full House because: black, but also because you gotta give Jaleel White props. Steve and his other characters were annoying, but you can’t deny his commitment and versatility. While Carl and Harriett’s actors did have talent even if most of their material was slog.

[@sockpuppy8811]

​@@liteflightify It probably help that Family Matters had gone completely mad by the end of its run, If anything Urkel travelling through time, inventing cloning machine or jumping from the Eiffel Tower was memorable....If for all the wrong reasons.

[@davidhouston6475]

Thank you for taking one for the team for us. Your sacrifice will be duly noted.

[@badman3000]

Family matters is the only show that will deal with stuff like racial profiling or teenage drinking and then also introduced the machine that can turn you into Bruce Lee and cloning.

[@cheneethompson5756]

Family matters became sci-fi out of nowhere! And I still enjoy watching it!

[@Spectra651]

To this day the Stevil episodes are still my favorite out of the entire series, and not *just* because I imagine they traumatized every kid who owned one of those talking Urkel dolls around that time.

[@DalekTheSupreme]

I've heard Urkel referenced but somehow I never knew the name of the show he was from until now. Anyway, incredible video. Gotta love it when sitcoms get ridiculous.

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

🐸🦸You might not remember Allison but Steve Urkels novelty song "Do The Urkel Dance" was actually released on a now very rare promotional audio cassette single back in the day! LOL!🤓🤔📻🕺

[@jonothanthrace1530]

Vampire-Carl looks uncannily like Little Richard circa his Baywatch episode.

[@Karpens16]

I dont think I've seen Family Matters since before I was a teenager. I witnessed Stephon, I witnessed several iterations of Robo-Steve, I saw the death of TGIF...

[@candydemure]

You made me chuckle every time with the "somebody call 911" bit.

[@mathieuleader8601]

Imagine if the first Steevil episode had the distorted version of the theme this video had at the start for the Halloween special it would have really amped up the fear factor

[@MrZerothejedi]

I just keep thinking when it comes to Lincoln the Bank Robber, that the robber dressed up like that because no police officer would be willing to come close to re-enacting his assassination.

[@MinmoKitty]

I never watched Family Matters growing up because I had a boy who would relentlessly pursue me so I couldn't stand Steve but now I see I missed out. Great video and props for the MST3k clip-the only thing I really know about Urkel.

[@OrochiFlamez]

Now this is an episode right up my alley.

[@EpicJasonX9000]

The only thing that’s scarier than Urkel, is Creepy Pasta Barney (which btw I hope that Let’s Riff & the Donut Repair Club videos will finally be re-uploaded at some point since I love the Riffs videos). It would be cute & a lot of fun to see more Let’s Riffs videos with you and Phelan. ^-^

[@TheCinematicPackrat1]

I've watched this video a few times, and I'm just now noticing that in the closing credits scene of Whose Kid Is It Anyway, Carl and Harriette are apparently sleeping with the lights on.

[@arubinojr5670]

1:42 Can't say I remember that but I admit I admire Harriet's moxie. They are having guests for dinner and no old timey pirate shenanigans are going to get in the way.

[@movieforge01]

Lighting in that room is amazing.

[@katsand92]

They named the Carl puppet "Carlsbad?" when "Barl" was RIGHT THERE?!? Or they could've smashed "Evil" and "Carl" into "Earl" and have a HILARIOUS running gag about everyone mispronouncing it! "It's 'Ee'arl' NOT 'Errl""!!" *cue sitcom laugh*

[@mathieuleader8601]

Alf needed to appear on Family Matters

[@stitchgroover]

I can't believe Lt Murtagh was also Admiral Ross in Deep Space Nine!

[@RichterPhallos]

Holy Crap! Almost an hour! Havent even watched yet, but thumbs up as always and I cant wait to watch it. As soon as my shift is over. And I take a bath and make some popcorn. I have faith (of the HeArT...) this is gonna be good

[@carybeweary7209]

Agent Cooper accidentally erased the wrong Judy from the timeline lol

[@emanuelespinoza9325]

When talking about Eddie's Don King costume, while you two made valid points about his friend Rodney dressing like him in an old episode, I'm surprised you did not mention the fact that he had two attractive ladies dressed as boxers and maybe the writers decided to do that for some reason? That's how I took it.

[@rodrolliv]

In the vampire story, Urkel should have been revealed to be a werewolf imo

[@christopherwall2121]

Hey, yeah!

[@DavyEddyBenny]

It is obvious, Urkel was just a half vampire ala Blade. He was a daywalker.

[@girlfan]

I had no idea there even were multiple Family Matters Halloween episodes so this is going to be a fun watching(/learning experience?)

[@norbertovalle7928]

I love you guys, y’all R my favorite KZbinrs EVERRRRR lol

[@owmyboring3408]

I can't believe they never made Stevil 3: The Bride of Stevil

[@arealconservative8712]

I could see them doing that had there been a season 10. "Call me... Gore-a!"

[@Nuked519]

Watching all of Family Matters for the first time in the matter of a couple months feels jarring.

[@4Legacy]

Roseanne also had some wonderful Halloween episodes. Great video! Happy Halloween

[@Popcultureguy3000]

Any non-canon horror episodes in Rosanne?

[@4Legacy]

@@Popcultureguy3000 there's one where she gets visited by the spirits of Halloween (like A Christmas Carol). But I think that's about the furthest they go outside of the reality of the show.

[@christopherwall2121]

@@4Legacy if they'd gone on for another season, you just know they'd have created their own Stevil or something.

[@mathieuleader8601]

I think it would have been cool if Urkel called into KKCL for Dr. Fraiser Crane show and called into the show to speak about Imposter Syndrome.

[@joeriveracomedy]

Your chef's kiss kinda kills the premise to a bit I'm writing about the death of subtlety & nuance. Thanks for not needlessly announcing your gesture!

[@1000huzzahs]

Welp, you guys certainly DID do that.

[@TimTE01]

Oh, Passions. My Aunt was on that Show.

[@trevingrayek1671]

Best thing Stevil II gave us was that edited clip I’ve seen on Tumblr. Good video

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

🦇Very creative with the Family Matters intro there Allison! They should have used that idea or concept for the actual show! Or in theory when Family Matters died LOL!🎃👻🧟‍♀🧛

[@aliencafe]

I was literally just thinking about what a good idea this type of video would be about Home Improvement, you read my mind!

[@michaelthomas5433]

I miss shows having holiday episodes, especially Halloween ones. The last one I can remember having them was Grimm and they even stopped during the show's run. Of course, I do only stream now so.. maybe I was the problem all along. ?;- )

[@carybeweary7209]

The Goldbergs had a Halloween one because I watched that yesterday I don't know if any have in the last decade though

[@MrSkerpentine]

*WHAT’S THE RUSH?~* [*Animal I Have Become starts playing]

[@frokuprime8778]

This was great would love to see more episodes like this!

[@thingamabobgk2946]

If you guys haven't already done a review of the Home Improvement Halloween episodes then you should consider it. I think your audience (including me) would love it!

[@JanetStarChild]

Hellz yeah! The haunted basement was mind-blowing. Also, I laugh pretty hard every time Tim bonks his head on the pipe going down the stairs. LOL!

[@jnbg61584]

Their Halloween episodes were great, as were Roseanne’s

[@phonybeautrain6520]

As someone whose only expostion to Family Matters is pop culture osmosis, Learning that it goes from family sitcom to Urkel's version of Doctor Who was ... Unexpected. On the other hand, It's a Better Jumping the Shark exemple than Fonzie jumping the shark, In my opinion.

[@carybeweary7209]

Huh. Maybe The Silence got Judy