Why did they create the Stephan character? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GARFIELDKOOL · 06-30-2007, 06:01 PM

It was like the writers tried to play with the viewers' intelligence. They could have just made Laura fall in love with Steve. They didn't have to create Stephan, because obviously, we all knew it was Urkel without his glasses. Stephan was just pointless and it got kind of annoying.

Furienna · 06-30-2007, 07:13 PM

I never liked Stephan either. Actually, I hated him, until Steve's clone became Stephan, so there at least were both a Steve and a Stephan.

GCW · 07-03-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

It was like the writers tried to play with the viewers' intelligence. They could have just made Laura fall in love with Steve. They didn't have to create Stephan, because obviously, we all knew it was Urkel without his glasses. Stephan was just pointless and it got kind of annoying.

I agree, he was just a pointless character and just took away screen time from the other characters. As for playing with the viewers intelligence they did that numerous times on this show. I mean a transformation chamber, a cloning machine, a teleportation pad, a time travel band, what started as a nice family sitcom even with the addition of Urkel in the earlier seasons turned into an unrealistic science fiction mess in the later seasons.

Furienna · 07-03-2007, 04:55 PM

I still like the show when it was "science-fictiony" too. But of course, Stephan was pointless. Okay, they could have had him in one episode, but not as much as they did.

Ireneparalegal · 07-03-2007, 08:10 PM

I hated Urkel and then they bring that fool! PLEEEEEEEEZE...
I guess the writers couldn't see Laura with Urkel so they had to make a new guy. I guess if they brough in a new actor, it would ruin it for the fans who just couldn't see Laura with anyone but Urkel. I could see it now, they bring in some suave young guy and people would feel sorry for Urkel because his heart would be broken. Therefore, use the same actor and there is no "hard feelings." JMO.

One reason I only watched Family Matters during its first run. I just can't watch it in reruns.

Furienna · 07-04-2007, 12:32 AM

Wow... I love Steve, and then someone says she hates him. That really makes me sad, Irene! And wasn't it the same writers, who decided to have him with Laura in the end anyway? Nah, I don't think that's Stephan's reason for being. But then, I don't know what his reason for being is anyway.

catlover79 · 07-04-2007, 12:35 AM

I HATED the whole Stephan thing, and that to me was Family Matters' true jump the shark moment. Not only was it a stupid idea, it also showed that the writers were starting to run out of ideas.

Ireneparalegal · 07-04-2007, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furienna

Wow... I love Steve, and then someone says she hates him. That really makes me sad, Irene! And wasn't it the same writers, who decided to have him with Laura in the end anyway? Nah, I don't think that's Stephan's reason for being. But then, I don't know what his reason for being is anyway.

Sorry.

I just don't get the reason for him being either.

Furienna · 07-04-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I HATED the whole Stephan thing, and that to me was Family Matters' true jump the shark moment. Not only was it a stupid idea, it also showed that the writers were starting to run out of ideas.

Yes, it was at that point, that the show went less and less realistic. Up until then, everything on the show could have happened to people in real life. I'm not going to complain about the later "unrealistic" seasons, because I love Steve. But the show really changed.

LincolnHeightsfan · 07-05-2007, 02:59 PM

I didn't mind it when Stephan was just an occasional charachter. Before he became a seperate person in the Season 7 Finale. It was a mistake doing that, because in just a year's time Laura fell for Steve anyways.

p4poetic · 11-08-2009, 07:38 PM

Stefan wasn't a 'character'. He was an alter-ego, at least originally. When he became a character and person it was actually very creepy. The only good thing about it was seeing Jaleel White showing his immense versatile talent.

And definitely not a jump the shark moment in the show. The show was still in its prime and 'Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool' was one of its most memorable moments in history.

Jessica · 11-08-2009, 07:55 PM

I never liked Stefan either. They probably made him cause the viewers was curious how Jaleel would act when he wasn't Steve Urkel. But no I don't like Stefan, I mean, he wasn't real. It would be better if they made Steve "cool" in one episode, but not make him another person.

Furienna · 11-09-2009, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p4poetic

The only good thing about it was seeing Jaleel White showing his immense versatile talent.

That's the only thing, that I like about that character. It gave Jaleel a chance to show what a great actor he was.

WonderYearsfan · 01-21-2010, 06:12 PM

I think the Stephan storyline was a good idea.... IF they would have just had him in that one episode, Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool. It made a nice storyline but when they kept bringing the charachter back and back and eventually made him into a seperate person, then it was just plain annoying. Stephan should have remained a one episode charachter, same with Myrtle Urkel, it seems like in the show's later years all they ever did was keep recycling the whole Stephan plot, and the whole Steve's cousin Myrtle plots. If they were that short of ideas, then mabye they should have just cancelled the show after Season 5.

90sfan · 04-10-2011, 08:56 PM

I liked him, I wish he would have been on more to be honest.

06-30-2007, 06:01 PM	#1
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	Why did they create the Stephan character? It was like the writers tried to play with the viewers' intelligence. They could have just made Laura fall in love with Steve. They didn't have to create Stephan, because obviously, we all knew it was Urkel without his glasses. Stephan was just pointless and it got kind of annoying.

07-03-2007, 08:10 PM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I hated Urkel and then they bring that fool! PLEEEEEEEEZE... I guess the writers couldn't see Laura with Urkel so they had to make a new guy. I guess if they brough in a new actor, it would ruin it for the fans who just couldn't see Laura with anyone but Urkel. I could see it now, they bring in some suave young guy and people would feel sorry for Urkel because his heart would be broken. Therefore, use the same actor and there is no "hard feelings." JMO. One reason I only watched Family Matters during its first run. I just can't watch it in reruns.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

07-04-2007, 12:35 AM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I HATED the whole Stephan thing, and that to me was Family Matters' true jump the shark moment. Not only was it a stupid idea, it also showed that the writers were starting to run out of ideas.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-30-2007, 07:13 PM	#2
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	I never liked Stephan either. Actually, I hated him, until Steve's clone became Stephan, so there at least were both a Steve and a Stephan.

07-03-2007, 04:55 PM	#4
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	I still like the show when it was "science-fictiony" too. But of course, Stephan was pointless. Okay, they could have had him in one episode, but not as much as they did.

07-04-2007, 12:32 AM	#6
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	Wow... I love Steve, and then someone says she hates him. That really makes me sad, Irene! And wasn't it the same writers, who decided to have him with Laura in the end anyway? Nah, I don't think that's Stephan's reason for being. But then, I don't know what his reason for being is anyway.

07-05-2007, 02:59 PM	#10
LincolnHeightsfan Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 28, 2007 Posts: 40	I didn't mind it when Stephan was just an occasional charachter. Before he became a seperate person in the Season 7 Finale. It was a mistake doing that, because in just a year's time Laura fell for Steve anyways.

11-08-2009, 07:38 PM	#11
p4poetic Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 08, 2008 Posts: 77	Stefan wasn't a 'character'. He was an alter-ego, at least originally. When he became a character and person it was actually very creepy. The only good thing about it was seeing Jaleel White showing his immense versatile talent. And definitely not a jump the shark moment in the show. The show was still in its prime and 'Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool' was one of its most memorable moments in history.

11-08-2009, 07:55 PM	#12
Jessica Retro fan Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 09, 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 9,034	I never liked Stefan either. They probably made him cause the viewers was curious how Jaleel would act when he wasn't Steve Urkel. But no I don't like Stefan, I mean, he wasn't real. It would be better if they made Steve "cool" in one episode, but not make him another person.

01-21-2010, 06:12 PM	#14
WonderYearsfan Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2010 Posts: 45	I think the Stephan storyline was a good idea.... IF they would have just had him in that one episode, Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool. It made a nice storyline but when they kept bringing the charachter back and back and eventually made him into a seperate person, then it was just plain annoying. Stephan should have remained a one episode charachter, same with Myrtle Urkel, it seems like in the show's later years all they ever did was keep recycling the whole Stephan plot, and the whole Steve's cousin Myrtle plots. If they were that short of ideas, then mabye they should have just cancelled the show after Season 5.

04-10-2011, 08:56 PM	#15
90sfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 21, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 109	I liked him, I wish he would have been on more to be honest.