107: Family Matters Never Did a Gay Episode

“Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool” (November 12, 1993)

Yep, we finally figured out a way to talk about Family Matters. When Laura asks Steve why he is the way his is, he says he’s born this way — but then he uses science to become someone else. The metaphors are easy to make, even if the writers probably didn’t have anything gay in mind when they made this episode. Prepare for an overview of all the Family Matters lore you forgot you knew.

Listen and subscribe to your new favorite classic RPG podcast, Square Roots: Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Twitter • Facebook

Listen to Katherine discuss the history of pineapples with Andrew Ti on Smart Mouth.

Watch how Perfect Strangers previewed Family Matters back in the day. Also? Urkel-os! Also? Do the Urkel!

Watch Veronica Mars’ AWOL mom in the opening credits to TGIF’s Free Spirit. Also check her out as Prank, the proto-Harley Quinn to Mark Hamill’s Trickster on the 90s Flash series.

Read the L.A. Times piece comparing Urkel to The Fonz.

Why did Jo Marie Payton leave Family Matters midway through the last season?

Watch Drew’s video compilation of every LGBT joke ever on the history of The Simpsons.

This episode’s outro track is “A Full Rotation” by Repetition, which is not on any of the streaming services so may just listen on YouTube?