1 00:00:05,047 --> 00:00:06,965 -I'm sorry, let me untie it. -Oh no, I got it. 2 00:00:06,965 --> 00:00:08,091 -No, no, I got it. -No, no. 3 00:00:08,091 --> 00:00:09,468 No, don't Steve! 4 00:00:09,468 --> 00:00:11,970 [Glass shattering] 5 00:00:11,970 --> 00:00:15,057 -Did I do that? -[Laughing] 6 00:00:15,057 --> 00:00:18,227 He's a nerd and the big hit on ABC's 'Family Matters.' 7 00:00:18,227 --> 00:00:19,895 He became one of the most recognized 8 00:00:19,895 --> 00:00:21,438 people on television. 9 00:00:21,438 --> 00:00:23,899 He's got my lips, my laugh, my voice and all. 10 00:00:23,899 --> 00:00:25,609 Did I do that? 11 00:00:25,609 --> 00:00:29,279 There was a doll, cereal, lunchboxes, t-shirts. 12 00:00:29,279 --> 00:00:30,864 He was huge. 13 00:00:30,864 --> 00:00:34,076 He was the first Black nerd. And he was weird, 14 00:00:34,076 --> 00:00:37,371 and he was adorable, and he was super smart. 15 00:00:37,371 --> 00:00:40,207 The show made its way into the top 12, 16 00:00:40,207 --> 00:00:42,626 and then made its way into the top six. 17 00:00:42,626 --> 00:00:45,087 -Mr. President. -Hello. 18 00:00:45,087 --> 00:00:46,338 Wow. 19 00:00:46,338 --> 00:00:48,715 Everything about him was White and weird, 20 00:00:48,715 --> 00:00:50,550 so it made him, as a character, 21 00:00:50,550 --> 00:00:52,803 easy to write for the writers. 22 00:00:52,803 --> 00:00:54,096 There was no representation. 23 00:00:54,096 --> 00:00:56,181 "Finally we got something we can write for." 24 00:00:56,181 --> 00:00:58,475 I knew 'Family Matters' was a White show from day one. 25 00:00:58,475 --> 00:01:01,061 'Family Matters' was never a Black show to me. 26 00:01:01,061 --> 00:01:02,604 No, no. Hold, hold on a second, honey. 27 00:01:02,604 --> 00:01:05,023 [narrator] 'Family Matters' was a hit show that would 28 00:01:05,023 --> 00:01:07,693 prove to be brutally tough on its stars. 29 00:01:07,693 --> 00:01:09,111 Now what were you saying, Judy? 30 00:01:09,111 --> 00:01:11,029 It was a unwritten rule that these people on top 31 00:01:11,029 --> 00:01:13,240 can basically get away what they wanted to. 32 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,867 The way that it was so cutthroat, abrupt... 33 00:01:15,867 --> 00:01:17,494 no one cares. 34 00:01:17,494 --> 00:01:20,664 Everybody in this industry, whether you know it or not, 35 00:01:20,664 --> 00:01:22,582 has been touched inappropriately. 36 00:01:22,582 --> 00:01:24,710 For the young Black actors involved, 37 00:01:24,710 --> 00:01:26,837 the effects were devastating. 38 00:01:26,837 --> 00:01:28,630 You grow up and maybe 39 00:01:28,630 --> 00:01:30,882 your cuteness becomes not so cute. 40 00:01:30,882 --> 00:01:32,634 Now what do they do with you? 41 00:01:32,634 --> 00:01:34,136 If you Black, you should be happy 42 00:01:34,136 --> 00:01:35,804 to be invited to the party. 43 00:01:35,804 --> 00:01:38,348 The last time they saw me, they saw me as a little girl. 44 00:01:38,348 --> 00:01:39,683 You can't believe everything that you 45 00:01:39,683 --> 00:01:41,601 read in the news, period. 46 00:01:41,601 --> 00:01:44,187 How did one of America's favourite Black sitcoms 47 00:01:44,187 --> 00:01:47,190 end up exploiting the actors who made it a hit? 48 00:01:47,190 --> 00:01:48,817 Eddie, get a life. 49 00:01:48,817 --> 00:01:51,862 Child stardom can be very dark. 50 00:01:51,862 --> 00:01:53,238 [Overlapping voices] Ladies and gentlemen! 51 00:01:53,238 --> 00:01:54,823 You are about to be entertained! 52 00:01:54,823 --> 00:01:57,159 Getting the laugh is the greatest addiction. 53 00:01:57,159 --> 00:01:58,160 They want more of it, they want more of it. 54 00:01:58,160 --> 00:01:59,453 She was getting death threats. 55 00:01:59,453 --> 00:02:01,747 It [beep] with your head! He's out of his skull! 56 00:02:01,747 --> 00:02:03,915 That's what took her down. This is a crazy story. 57 00:02:07,002 --> 00:02:09,504 Judy Winslow, come on down! 58 00:02:09,504 --> 00:02:11,173 [Laughing] [Clapping] 59 00:02:11,173 --> 00:02:13,759 Let's see how you did. 60 00:02:13,759 --> 00:02:17,220 I'm Jaimee Foxworth and I'm most known for being 61 00:02:17,220 --> 00:02:20,640 Judy Winslow on 'Family Matters.' 62 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:23,060 The daughter of a singer, and the younger sister of 63 00:02:23,060 --> 00:02:26,021 two actresses, Jaimee Foxworth starts working 64 00:02:26,021 --> 00:02:29,858 in show business from a young age. 65 00:02:29,858 --> 00:02:33,195 Jaimee, she had this big eyes and smile, 66 00:02:33,195 --> 00:02:34,863 and people would fall in love with her. 67 00:02:34,863 --> 00:02:37,032 Ah, just cute as a button. 68 00:02:37,032 --> 00:02:38,825 Hi, my name is Gwyn Foxx. 69 00:02:38,825 --> 00:02:41,828 I am Jaimee Foxworth's mother. 70 00:02:41,828 --> 00:02:43,789 Skipper! Skipper! 71 00:02:43,789 --> 00:02:47,376 We want Skipper! Three Skipper dolls! 72 00:02:47,376 --> 00:02:49,503 When I first started acting, 73 00:02:49,503 --> 00:02:51,963 I was around six years old? 74 00:02:51,963 --> 00:02:53,673 I did a series of commercials. 75 00:02:53,673 --> 00:02:55,258 I did Barbie doll commercials. 76 00:02:55,258 --> 00:02:58,804 I did NutraSweet commercial, McDonald's commercial. 77 00:02:58,804 --> 00:03:00,430 When Jaimee is nine, 78 00:03:00,430 --> 00:03:02,391 her mother takes her to an open call 79 00:03:02,391 --> 00:03:05,185 audition for a major role in a new sitcom 80 00:03:05,185 --> 00:03:07,145 called 'Family Matters.' 81 00:03:07,145 --> 00:03:08,647 Let me hold him. 82 00:03:08,647 --> 00:03:11,149 'Family Matters' had already shot a pilot. 83 00:03:11,149 --> 00:03:12,359 I want to hold him. 84 00:03:12,359 --> 00:03:14,194 You can hold him when you get older. 85 00:03:14,194 --> 00:03:16,113 And the little girl, it didn't work out. 86 00:03:16,113 --> 00:03:17,739 And so what they decided to do was 87 00:03:17,739 --> 00:03:20,534 have an open call for Judy Winslow. 88 00:03:20,534 --> 00:03:22,452 And when I say open... 89 00:03:22,452 --> 00:03:23,954 it was open. 90 00:03:23,954 --> 00:03:26,957 There were, like, hundreds of girls, 91 00:03:26,957 --> 00:03:30,001 just for that one part. They kept bringing her back. 92 00:03:30,001 --> 00:03:33,046 You know, they were testing her with the family. 93 00:03:33,046 --> 00:03:34,464 I did seven auditions. 94 00:03:34,464 --> 00:03:36,883 I would just go in and give the same personality, 95 00:03:36,883 --> 00:03:38,927 just kind of be me. 96 00:03:38,927 --> 00:03:41,555 Judy was kind of close to my personality. 97 00:03:41,555 --> 00:03:44,391 After seven auditions, Jaimee joins the cast 98 00:03:44,391 --> 00:03:47,727 alongside 13-year-old, Darius McCrary. 99 00:03:47,727 --> 00:03:49,229 Today I'm gonna do your laundry, 100 00:03:49,229 --> 00:03:51,314 and after that I'm gonna wash your car and 101 00:03:51,314 --> 00:03:52,607 mow the lawn. 102 00:03:52,607 --> 00:03:54,651 Who are you and what have you done with our son? 103 00:03:54,651 --> 00:03:56,695 [Laughing] 104 00:03:56,695 --> 00:03:58,488 Forget about our son, let's keep this one. 105 00:03:58,488 --> 00:04:00,866 [Laughing] 106 00:04:00,866 --> 00:04:02,200 I'm Darius McCrary. 107 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,786 That's two Cs, one small C, big C. 108 00:04:04,786 --> 00:04:07,289 And, ah, I'm Irish. 109 00:04:07,289 --> 00:04:08,582 Oh my God, oh my God. 110 00:04:08,582 --> 00:04:10,625 The first day... 111 00:04:10,625 --> 00:04:14,421 meeting the cast, table read... 112 00:04:14,421 --> 00:04:18,383 it was Hollywood history. It was epic. 113 00:04:18,383 --> 00:04:19,801 And so the energy was amazing. 114 00:04:19,801 --> 00:04:21,887 And I remember shooting the pilot. 115 00:04:21,887 --> 00:04:25,015 I actually got Jason Bateman's dressing room, 116 00:04:25,015 --> 00:04:26,391 okay, so I knew I was gonna end up being 117 00:04:26,391 --> 00:04:29,603 a teen heartthrob, just, just by default. 118 00:04:29,603 --> 00:04:33,899 Darius, he was just very much like a teenager. 119 00:04:33,899 --> 00:04:35,692 Just sitting there like, "Hey girl." 120 00:04:35,692 --> 00:04:37,569 Like, "I've been here for hours doing my work. 121 00:04:37,569 --> 00:04:39,112 Nice to meet you." 122 00:04:39,112 --> 00:04:41,990 When I walked in and I saw, you know, 123 00:04:41,990 --> 00:04:44,117 her sitting with everybody at the table read, 124 00:04:44,117 --> 00:04:46,912 she actually looked like she belonged. 125 00:04:46,912 --> 00:04:48,622 She had felt really good. 126 00:04:48,622 --> 00:04:49,956 ♪ 127 00:04:49,956 --> 00:04:52,834 ♪ YOU KNOW THE NIGHTTIME, DARLING ♪ 128 00:04:52,834 --> 00:04:56,087 ♪ IS THE RIGHT TIME. ♪ 129 00:04:56,087 --> 00:04:58,507 'Family Matters' emerges on the coattails of 130 00:04:58,507 --> 00:05:02,260 'The Cosby Show' on NBC, when other networks 131 00:05:02,260 --> 00:05:04,763 start looking for the next hit Black sitcom. 132 00:05:04,763 --> 00:05:07,015 Mom I wanted my eggs scrambled. 133 00:05:07,015 --> 00:05:10,227 -Coming right up. -[Laughing] 134 00:05:10,227 --> 00:05:12,646 I think that we could credit 'The Cosby Show' for opening 135 00:05:12,646 --> 00:05:16,399 the doors for the industry to go, "Wait a minute. 136 00:05:16,399 --> 00:05:18,902 Black people want to see themselves on TV? 137 00:05:18,902 --> 00:05:21,738 Ooh, Black people want to see themselves a lot on TV. 138 00:05:21,738 --> 00:05:23,532 Oh, we need to get some more of that." 139 00:05:23,532 --> 00:05:29,371 ♪ 140 00:05:29,371 --> 00:05:31,790 Family Matters was about a police officer, 141 00:05:31,790 --> 00:05:34,417 a Chicago cop, and his family. 142 00:05:34,417 --> 00:05:37,838 ABC wanted to have shows that featured Black families 143 00:05:37,838 --> 00:05:39,840 to hit that demographic. 144 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:42,259 And the network had this hugely, 145 00:05:42,259 --> 00:05:44,052 highly rated Friday night. 146 00:05:44,052 --> 00:05:45,929 -Hey everybody. -Hi, Carl. 147 00:05:45,929 --> 00:05:47,639 I've got big news. 148 00:05:47,639 --> 00:05:51,017 'Family Matters' premieres in September 1989, 149 00:05:51,017 --> 00:05:55,814 as part of ABC's historic TGIF Friday night lineup, 150 00:05:55,814 --> 00:05:59,150 alongside iconic sitcoms, 'Perfect Strangers' 151 00:05:59,150 --> 00:06:00,986 and 'Full House.' 152 00:06:00,986 --> 00:06:03,446 -Hi, we're back. -Reminding you it's TGIF. 153 00:06:03,446 --> 00:06:05,490 That's means, 'thank goodness it's funny'. 154 00:06:05,490 --> 00:06:06,867 My name's Rich Correll. 155 00:06:06,867 --> 00:06:09,786 I was one of the key directors of the TGIF lineup, 156 00:06:09,786 --> 00:06:12,247 and in doing that I became series director 157 00:06:12,247 --> 00:06:13,665 on 'Family Matters.' 158 00:06:13,665 --> 00:06:16,668 Let me get this straight... you and... 159 00:06:16,668 --> 00:06:18,545 With a coveted primetime spot, 160 00:06:18,545 --> 00:06:21,089 'Family Matters' is a life changer for Jaimee, 161 00:06:21,089 --> 00:06:23,466 Darius, and their families. 162 00:06:23,466 --> 00:06:25,218 This is beautiful. 163 00:06:25,218 --> 00:06:27,596 An opportunity like this comes along once, 164 00:06:27,596 --> 00:06:30,056 maybe twice in a lifetime. I want a bike. 165 00:06:30,056 --> 00:06:32,642 -What do you want, Judy? -A pony. 166 00:06:32,642 --> 00:06:34,060 [Laughing] 167 00:06:34,060 --> 00:06:36,813 -The kid's got potential. -You guys! 168 00:06:36,813 --> 00:06:39,482 A sitcom is a huge goal because that's 169 00:06:39,482 --> 00:06:40,984 steady income coming in. 170 00:06:40,984 --> 00:06:43,194 Like, you can feed your family, you kind of can, 171 00:06:43,194 --> 00:06:45,405 you know, let your hair down and get relaxed and, 172 00:06:45,405 --> 00:06:48,742 and set yourself up instead of working two or three jobs. 173 00:06:48,742 --> 00:06:49,868 Come on. 174 00:06:49,868 --> 00:06:51,286 Come on, just do everything that I do. 175 00:06:51,286 --> 00:06:52,829 Despite its early promise, 176 00:06:52,829 --> 00:06:55,832 'Family Matters' tests poorly with audiences. 177 00:06:55,832 --> 00:06:57,834 After just 11 episodes, 178 00:06:57,834 --> 00:07:00,045 it is on the verge of getting cancelled. 179 00:07:00,045 --> 00:07:01,963 Ow! Ow! 180 00:07:01,963 --> 00:07:03,715 No, no, no! 181 00:07:03,715 --> 00:07:06,843 [Kids mimicking] No, no, no! 182 00:07:06,843 --> 00:07:09,846 So the story of this police officer and this family and 183 00:07:09,846 --> 00:07:12,223 kind of these problems became a bit mundane. 184 00:07:12,223 --> 00:07:14,851 I'm wet, I'm cold, 185 00:07:14,851 --> 00:07:16,895 and I'm cranky- Don't mess with me. 186 00:07:16,895 --> 00:07:18,229 [Laughing] 187 00:07:18,229 --> 00:07:20,690 Everybody was good, but it just didn't have... 188 00:07:20,690 --> 00:07:21,858 the spark. 189 00:07:21,858 --> 00:07:24,402 That phone is gonna ring any minute. 190 00:07:24,402 --> 00:07:26,071 -That's right. -Yeah, that's right. 191 00:07:26,071 --> 00:07:27,697 ♪ 192 00:07:27,697 --> 00:07:30,784 The producers are told to come up with a breakout element, 193 00:07:30,784 --> 00:07:32,702 or say goodbye to the show. 194 00:07:32,702 --> 00:07:34,621 ♪ 195 00:07:36,581 --> 00:07:38,708 Hi Mr. Winslow. 196 00:07:38,708 --> 00:07:40,710 I'm Steve Urkel. 197 00:07:40,710 --> 00:07:43,797 And so they brought in this kid, Jaleel White. 198 00:07:43,797 --> 00:07:45,674 When he auditioned he was 12 years old. 199 00:07:45,674 --> 00:07:47,342 He was the only guy that came in with the big glasses 200 00:07:47,342 --> 00:07:48,843 and doing the nerdy voice. 201 00:07:48,843 --> 00:07:51,012 And I said, "Look, this kid is nerdy and 202 00:07:51,012 --> 00:07:55,725 he's really funny, but I want him to be a kid that 203 00:07:55,725 --> 00:07:58,436 wherever he goes, there's a disaster happening." 204 00:07:58,436 --> 00:07:59,437 Better get going, kids, 205 00:07:59,437 --> 00:08:00,855 don't wanna miss the big dance. 206 00:08:00,855 --> 00:08:02,148 Have a good time. Nice to meet ya. 207 00:08:02,148 --> 00:08:03,358 Hi Laura. 208 00:08:03,358 --> 00:08:05,360 [Laughing] 209 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:06,986 These are for you. 210 00:08:06,986 --> 00:08:09,739 Wow, are you wearing a bra? 211 00:08:09,739 --> 00:08:11,950 [Laughing] 212 00:08:11,950 --> 00:08:13,743 The character of Urkel was supposed to be like 213 00:08:13,743 --> 00:08:15,245 a one-off character, where he was supposed to 214 00:08:15,245 --> 00:08:19,290 come in and just do maybe one episode. 215 00:08:19,290 --> 00:08:22,502 Did I mention my dad knows Wayne Newton? 216 00:08:22,502 --> 00:08:24,295 [Laughing] 217 00:08:24,295 --> 00:08:28,091 Urkel steals the show from his very first scene. 218 00:08:28,091 --> 00:08:29,592 Get out of here, goat face. 219 00:08:29,592 --> 00:08:34,848 [Laughing] 220 00:08:34,848 --> 00:08:37,058 Excuse me. 221 00:08:37,058 --> 00:08:39,936 And in the audience, there was a fraternity 222 00:08:39,936 --> 00:08:42,564 there from Cal State Northridge. 223 00:08:42,564 --> 00:08:44,941 You know, these weren't kids, they were older guys. 224 00:08:44,941 --> 00:08:46,901 And after the scene ended, 225 00:08:46,901 --> 00:08:48,945 we started to do another scene, 226 00:08:48,945 --> 00:08:51,906 and in between the next scene these guys started 227 00:08:51,906 --> 00:08:55,785 to chant, "Urkel, Urkel." 228 00:08:55,785 --> 00:08:58,329 He ends up being a massive hit and the 229 00:08:58,329 --> 00:09:00,498 most likeable character on the series. 230 00:09:00,498 --> 00:09:02,042 Excuse me. 231 00:09:02,042 --> 00:09:04,252 Then he came on and did the other scenes, 232 00:09:04,252 --> 00:09:06,713 and it was like he was the best known comedian 233 00:09:06,713 --> 00:09:08,548 in the world, like, right off the top. 234 00:09:08,548 --> 00:09:10,717 When my dad said you fixed me up with Laura, 235 00:09:10,717 --> 00:09:13,011 why, I thought I'd wet my pants. 236 00:09:13,011 --> 00:09:14,596 [Laughing] 237 00:09:14,596 --> 00:09:17,015 Because Urkel is this nerd, he just really, 238 00:09:17,015 --> 00:09:18,558 really says what's on his mind, 239 00:09:18,558 --> 00:09:22,061 he doesn't have any filters, he goes for the gusto in life. 240 00:09:22,061 --> 00:09:24,939 He's just there, and you're attracted to that. 241 00:09:24,939 --> 00:09:27,108 Nice house for a cop. 242 00:09:27,108 --> 00:09:28,485 He was goofy and nerdy and 243 00:09:28,485 --> 00:09:29,903 would say really funny things. 244 00:09:29,903 --> 00:09:31,404 And him being a good actor, 245 00:09:31,404 --> 00:09:32,781 he could really handle that role. 246 00:09:32,781 --> 00:09:33,990 Thank you, uh... 247 00:09:33,990 --> 00:09:35,492 What's your name, sugar? 248 00:09:35,492 --> 00:09:36,993 Steve. 249 00:09:36,993 --> 00:09:39,412 You know, he was the first Black nerd... 250 00:09:39,412 --> 00:09:42,832 and he was weird, and he was adorable, 251 00:09:42,832 --> 00:09:44,751 and he was super smart. 252 00:09:44,751 --> 00:09:47,170 Wow, thank that fraternity, will ya? 253 00:09:47,170 --> 00:09:48,880 So I don't know who these guys are, 254 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:50,423 but boy, did you help my future. 255 00:09:50,423 --> 00:09:52,217 But I'm just like, thank you so much. 256 00:09:52,217 --> 00:09:54,677 -That's pretty good. -I wish I could find 'em. 257 00:09:54,677 --> 00:09:57,430 Before long, Jaleel White's one episode appearance 258 00:09:57,430 --> 00:09:59,891 turns into a permanent role. 259 00:09:59,891 --> 00:10:01,309 They decided to, you know what? 260 00:10:01,309 --> 00:10:04,604 Let's shift him into the show. 261 00:10:04,604 --> 00:10:06,981 Instead of being just the neighbour that comes by 262 00:10:06,981 --> 00:10:09,442 every so often, we're gonna make every episode 263 00:10:09,442 --> 00:10:11,361 basically about Steve Urkel. 264 00:10:11,361 --> 00:10:13,780 The character breeds new life into the show. 265 00:10:13,780 --> 00:10:17,325 It's a big relief for the cast. 266 00:10:17,325 --> 00:10:19,160 In the beginning, everybody loved it. 267 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:20,286 Everybody thought this was great. 268 00:10:20,286 --> 00:10:21,538 That means that we get to, 269 00:10:21,538 --> 00:10:23,414 we get more years on the show and, 270 00:10:23,414 --> 00:10:26,543 you know, we get to take care of our families. 271 00:10:26,543 --> 00:10:29,212 But the honeymoon phase doesn't last long, 272 00:10:29,212 --> 00:10:30,755 and the new dynamic 273 00:10:30,755 --> 00:10:33,174 threatens to tear the cast apart. 274 00:10:33,174 --> 00:10:35,802 He literally started screaming from the back and 275 00:10:35,802 --> 00:10:38,930 he was like, "Why can't you just act"? 276 00:10:38,930 --> 00:10:41,432 It was the most embarrassment I've ever felt. 277 00:10:41,432 --> 00:10:43,142 ♪ 278 00:10:48,690 --> 00:10:50,316 As you know, he plays Steve Urkel, 279 00:10:50,316 --> 00:10:52,485 everybody's favourite nerd on 'Family Matters', 280 00:10:52,485 --> 00:10:54,779 which as they say airs on another network. 281 00:10:54,779 --> 00:10:56,656 Would you welcome 14-year-old, Jaleel White? 282 00:10:56,656 --> 00:10:59,450 [Applauding] 283 00:10:59,450 --> 00:11:01,411 By the early 90s, 'Family Matters' is one of 284 00:11:01,411 --> 00:11:04,539 the most successful sitcoms on television, 285 00:11:04,539 --> 00:11:07,458 largely because of Steve Urkel. 286 00:11:07,458 --> 00:11:10,545 The show made its way into the top twelve and then 287 00:11:10,545 --> 00:11:12,630 made its way into the top six. 288 00:11:12,630 --> 00:11:14,132 You've seen Steve Urkel on TV, 289 00:11:14,132 --> 00:11:15,800 but may not recognize the name. 290 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:17,760 And then he became one of the most recognized 291 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,305 people on television, much like Fonzie was 292 00:11:20,305 --> 00:11:22,390 when Winkler was playing him on 'Happy Days.' 293 00:11:22,390 --> 00:11:23,975 We had been through this before, 294 00:11:23,975 --> 00:11:26,019 so we saw what was going on and we went, 295 00:11:26,019 --> 00:11:28,062 "Oh man, this is gonna work." 296 00:11:28,062 --> 00:11:30,023 Ladies and gentlemen, here is the reason that 297 00:11:30,023 --> 00:11:33,735 ABC's stock soared 12 points in the last quarter. 298 00:11:33,735 --> 00:11:36,487 -[Applauding] -[Chuckling] 299 00:11:36,487 --> 00:11:39,449 Urkel's TV popularity is just the beginning. 300 00:11:39,449 --> 00:11:42,535 Before long, he is a cultural phenomenon. 301 00:11:42,535 --> 00:11:45,038 Let me introduce you to the Urkel doll! 302 00:11:45,038 --> 00:11:48,207 He's got my lips, my laugh, my voice, and all. 303 00:11:48,207 --> 00:11:49,876 Did I do that? 304 00:11:49,876 --> 00:11:53,338 There was a doll, there was cereal, Urkel-Os. 305 00:11:53,338 --> 00:11:55,381 Lunchboxes, t-shirts... 306 00:11:55,381 --> 00:11:58,343 there was all type of merchandise for Steve Urkel. 307 00:11:58,343 --> 00:12:00,970 He was huge. 308 00:12:00,970 --> 00:12:04,265 Yo girls... Sweat patrol. 309 00:12:04,265 --> 00:12:06,684 As Urkel gets bigger, the other cast members 310 00:12:06,684 --> 00:12:08,686 begin to feel overshadowed. 311 00:12:08,686 --> 00:12:12,065 I'd give anything to be like Steve Urkel. 312 00:12:12,065 --> 00:12:14,484 When Jaleel showed up and became this kind of 313 00:12:14,484 --> 00:12:15,985 centre point of the show, no doubt about it, 314 00:12:15,985 --> 00:12:19,697 the other cast members were like, "Well, okay, 315 00:12:19,697 --> 00:12:21,741 but this was like a show about us and now 316 00:12:21,741 --> 00:12:23,284 it's kinda about this kid." 317 00:12:23,284 --> 00:12:27,455 I think along the way it got to be a little resentful, 318 00:12:27,455 --> 00:12:30,208 but it was just an adjustment that we had to make. 319 00:12:30,208 --> 00:12:34,253 They kinda had to accept that I was there. 320 00:12:34,253 --> 00:12:36,631 That was a process. 321 00:12:36,631 --> 00:12:38,007 For Jaimee Foxworth it's about 322 00:12:38,007 --> 00:12:39,634 more than acceptance. 323 00:12:39,634 --> 00:12:42,971 Jaleel's presence causes her bigger issues. 324 00:12:42,971 --> 00:12:45,848 Hail, Winslows... Well, man. 325 00:12:45,848 --> 00:12:47,767 When I met Jaleel for the first time, he was nice. 326 00:12:47,767 --> 00:12:50,561 He had a good personality, he was sweet. 327 00:12:50,561 --> 00:12:53,398 But as time progressed with me on the show, 328 00:12:53,398 --> 00:12:55,274 this is all personally me, 329 00:12:55,274 --> 00:12:57,777 it just turned into 330 00:12:57,777 --> 00:13:00,238 this boy that would just 331 00:13:00,238 --> 00:13:02,198 pick on me for no reason. 332 00:13:02,198 --> 00:13:04,826 There was a scene where I had to open the door 333 00:13:04,826 --> 00:13:06,661 for an older woman. 334 00:13:06,661 --> 00:13:08,496 Oh, hi Ms. Bradley, come on in. 335 00:13:08,496 --> 00:13:10,206 Thank you, Judy. Is your mother home? 336 00:13:10,206 --> 00:13:12,542 And for some reason I couldn't get the words out. 337 00:13:12,542 --> 00:13:14,544 Yeah, he's upstairs clipping his toenails. 338 00:13:14,544 --> 00:13:16,004 [Laughing] 339 00:13:16,004 --> 00:13:17,547 Jaleel was getting frustrated. 340 00:13:17,547 --> 00:13:19,298 Like, he would actually come from where he was supposed to 341 00:13:19,298 --> 00:13:21,467 walk in, and he would kinda like pace around and then 342 00:13:21,467 --> 00:13:23,928 he would go away, and then by the third time I think 343 00:13:23,928 --> 00:13:27,974 I did it, he literally started screaming from the back. 344 00:13:27,974 --> 00:13:30,143 And he was like, "Why can't you just act? 345 00:13:30,143 --> 00:13:31,561 Why can't you act? Like dang, 346 00:13:31,561 --> 00:13:32,812 why can't this girl-?" And I mean, 347 00:13:32,812 --> 00:13:34,147 it was the most embarrassment 348 00:13:34,147 --> 00:13:35,648 I've ever felt. 349 00:13:35,648 --> 00:13:38,359 Because it was in the middle of a whole studio audience, 350 00:13:38,359 --> 00:13:40,153 it was in the middle of the producers, the writers, 351 00:13:40,153 --> 00:13:41,446 the people that were paying me. 352 00:13:41,446 --> 00:13:42,864 It was just embarrassing. 353 00:13:42,864 --> 00:13:45,116 And at the time I was like 12 years old. 354 00:13:45,116 --> 00:13:48,286 The onset drama doesn't stop Urkel's rise. 355 00:13:48,286 --> 00:13:49,746 You gave me good advice, Dad. 356 00:13:49,746 --> 00:13:51,205 Steve helped me to see that. 357 00:13:51,205 --> 00:13:53,374 Well, actually Al just had the good sense to listen to 358 00:13:53,374 --> 00:13:54,792 my good sense about your good sense. 359 00:13:54,792 --> 00:13:56,377 Am I making any sense? 360 00:13:56,377 --> 00:13:59,297 ABC cashes in on his guest appearances on other 361 00:13:59,297 --> 00:14:03,051 TGIF shows, including 'Full House.' 362 00:14:03,051 --> 00:14:04,802 You shift the weight, and you go, you see? 363 00:14:04,802 --> 00:14:07,180 And it's a strut and it's cool, 364 00:14:07,180 --> 00:14:09,057 and it's a strut and it's cool. 365 00:14:09,057 --> 00:14:11,642 -Like that, see? -Very inspiring. 366 00:14:11,642 --> 00:14:13,311 Seeing life on the 'Full House' set 367 00:14:13,311 --> 00:14:15,897 also reveals to the cast of 'Family Matters' 368 00:14:15,897 --> 00:14:17,899 that White and Black shows 369 00:14:17,899 --> 00:14:20,026 are not treated equally. 370 00:14:20,026 --> 00:14:22,570 'Family Matters' was on the same lot as 'Full House', 371 00:14:22,570 --> 00:14:26,783 and I had the opportunity of going over on their set, 372 00:14:26,783 --> 00:14:30,161 and it was like day and night... 373 00:14:30,161 --> 00:14:31,454 White and Black. 374 00:14:31,454 --> 00:14:33,289 You know, the treatment, 375 00:14:33,289 --> 00:14:35,666 I mean, their stage was nicer, 376 00:14:35,666 --> 00:14:38,044 their schoolroom was nicer, 377 00:14:38,044 --> 00:14:40,088 the decor was nicer. 378 00:14:40,088 --> 00:14:43,591 It was just a whole 'nother feeling with 'Full House' 379 00:14:43,591 --> 00:14:45,802 than it was with 'Family Matters.' 380 00:14:45,802 --> 00:14:47,345 I mean, they straight out told us that, that, 381 00:14:47,345 --> 00:14:49,138 that we would never be paid like the people on, 382 00:14:49,138 --> 00:14:51,224 on 'Full House.' Straight up. 383 00:14:51,224 --> 00:14:52,767 I love you. 384 00:14:52,767 --> 00:14:54,268 I love you all. I love you. 385 00:14:54,268 --> 00:14:56,979 And I can just say, without going into 386 00:14:56,979 --> 00:15:00,024 the actual quote of what Jaimee made, 387 00:15:00,024 --> 00:15:03,277 she was getting paid lesser than anybody, 388 00:15:03,277 --> 00:15:05,321 than anyone there. 389 00:15:05,321 --> 00:15:06,614 Get a plastic surgeon, 390 00:15:06,614 --> 00:15:08,574 we need an emergency beak job. 391 00:15:08,574 --> 00:15:09,826 [Laughing] 392 00:15:09,826 --> 00:15:11,786 I got extra credit for spelling platypus right. 393 00:15:11,786 --> 00:15:14,413 Now now, hold, hold on a second, honey. 394 00:15:14,413 --> 00:15:17,416 Jaimee starts getting fewer and fewer lines. 395 00:15:17,416 --> 00:15:20,503 He's so cute. 396 00:15:20,503 --> 00:15:23,297 Now, what were you saying, Judy? 397 00:15:23,297 --> 00:15:25,842 Miller and Boyett had promised that she would have 398 00:15:25,842 --> 00:15:28,886 storylines around her at least six episodes, 399 00:15:28,886 --> 00:15:32,056 and that never happened. 400 00:15:32,056 --> 00:15:33,724 Oh, thanks Richie. 401 00:15:33,724 --> 00:15:35,768 You're out of this world, little buddy. 402 00:15:35,768 --> 00:15:38,312 -[Laughing] -It was my idea. 403 00:15:38,312 --> 00:15:40,648 Yeah, but I took it out of the dumpster. 404 00:15:40,648 --> 00:15:42,733 [Laughing] 405 00:15:42,733 --> 00:15:44,735 Yeah, but I held your feet. 406 00:15:44,735 --> 00:15:47,196 I politely asked them maybe four times, 407 00:15:47,196 --> 00:15:49,031 "When do you think Jaimee's gonna have, you know, 408 00:15:49,031 --> 00:15:52,660 those episodes"? And the final answer 409 00:15:52,660 --> 00:15:54,787 that I got, he looked at me 410 00:15:54,787 --> 00:15:57,999 and he said, "When pigs fly." 411 00:15:57,999 --> 00:16:00,293 For Jaimee, losing out on storylines 412 00:16:00,293 --> 00:16:02,962 is just the beginning. 413 00:16:02,962 --> 00:16:05,590 My mom had a parking spot that was 414 00:16:05,590 --> 00:16:08,551 maybe 60 steps from the set. 415 00:16:08,551 --> 00:16:10,803 And a lot of the co-stars had their parking spaces 416 00:16:10,803 --> 00:16:12,680 there as well. 417 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,266 One day I drive up and somebody's 418 00:16:15,266 --> 00:16:17,226 in the parking space. 419 00:16:17,226 --> 00:16:19,937 So I go inside, and I said, you know, "Well, 420 00:16:19,937 --> 00:16:24,066 could you find out who's parked in Jaimee's spot"? 421 00:16:24,066 --> 00:16:28,404 And I was told, "Well, that's no longer your spot anymore. 422 00:16:28,404 --> 00:16:31,032 That's Jaleel's spot." 423 00:16:31,032 --> 00:16:34,035 From there, we had to park in... 424 00:16:34,035 --> 00:16:36,495 it was basically like the public garage. 425 00:16:36,495 --> 00:16:37,872 I'm not better than anybody, 426 00:16:37,872 --> 00:16:41,167 but the walk from there, it was just so far. 427 00:16:41,167 --> 00:16:44,003 That walk felt like a walk of shame. 428 00:16:44,003 --> 00:16:45,546 Like, it was like, this is your place now. 429 00:16:45,546 --> 00:16:46,881 This is how... 430 00:16:46,881 --> 00:16:48,174 you know, this is where they put you. 431 00:16:48,174 --> 00:16:49,258 This is your role. 432 00:16:49,258 --> 00:16:53,387 Your role is, is becoming non-existent. 433 00:16:53,387 --> 00:16:55,556 So Grandma, are you gonna be a June bride? 434 00:16:55,556 --> 00:16:57,808 Not exactly, honey, we'd like to 435 00:16:57,808 --> 00:17:00,228 get hitched sooner than that. 436 00:17:00,228 --> 00:17:02,521 -How much sooner? -In two weeks. 437 00:17:02,521 --> 00:17:04,732 -[Spitting] -[Laughing] 438 00:17:04,732 --> 00:17:07,610 As 'Family Matters' raps shooting on season four, 439 00:17:07,610 --> 00:17:10,947 Jaimee's worst fears come true. 440 00:17:10,947 --> 00:17:14,158 There was a weird moment where I thought that 441 00:17:14,158 --> 00:17:15,660 we were going on hiatus, 442 00:17:15,660 --> 00:17:18,496 I thought we were going on break, and... 443 00:17:18,496 --> 00:17:21,374 everybody started crowding around me. 444 00:17:21,374 --> 00:17:23,834 And then Mr. Reggie kneeled down, 445 00:17:23,834 --> 00:17:26,921 and he started crying, and he kept saying, 446 00:17:26,921 --> 00:17:28,297 "You're a very good actress. 447 00:17:28,297 --> 00:17:29,882 I wanna let you know you're a very good actress. 448 00:17:29,882 --> 00:17:31,884 You're a strong girl. You are... 449 00:17:31,884 --> 00:17:33,302 you are great at what you do." 450 00:17:33,302 --> 00:17:36,055 And I just remember being like, "What is going on"? 451 00:17:36,055 --> 00:17:38,849 ♪ 452 00:17:38,849 --> 00:17:41,644 I didn't get any tools or material that would 453 00:17:41,644 --> 00:17:43,896 prep for the season coming up, 454 00:17:43,896 --> 00:17:45,398 but I didn't think anything about it. 455 00:17:45,398 --> 00:17:46,732 I just thought they were late. 456 00:17:46,732 --> 00:17:49,527 And so I call up Jaimee's agent and I was like, 457 00:17:49,527 --> 00:17:51,862 "Did they send anything over because, you know, 458 00:17:51,862 --> 00:17:53,823 hiatus, you know, we only got a couple more days 459 00:17:53,823 --> 00:17:55,700 before we have to be back at set." 460 00:17:55,700 --> 00:17:57,577 And she was like, "No, honey, 461 00:17:57,577 --> 00:17:59,328 I haven't gotten anything." 462 00:17:59,328 --> 00:18:02,164 Heidi ho, angel toes. 463 00:18:02,164 --> 00:18:05,835 They had already started shooting for the new season. 464 00:18:05,835 --> 00:18:08,504 A couple of months later, Jaimee's agent calls me and 465 00:18:08,504 --> 00:18:10,006 said, "Honey, I'm sorry they're not gonna 466 00:18:10,006 --> 00:18:11,924 bring her back." 467 00:18:11,924 --> 00:18:13,509 And Daddy, you got to help me. 468 00:18:13,509 --> 00:18:15,136 Mom will kill me. 469 00:18:15,136 --> 00:18:17,888 Well take it easy, sweetheart. I tell you what, 470 00:18:17,888 --> 00:18:19,682 we'll wait 'til your mom is in a real good mood 471 00:18:19,682 --> 00:18:21,726 and then I'll explain things to her. 472 00:18:21,726 --> 00:18:24,645 Jaimee's firing doesn't sit well with her TV mom, 473 00:18:24,645 --> 00:18:26,314 Jo Marie Peyton. 474 00:18:26,314 --> 00:18:28,399 We sent her upstairs and she never came back down. 475 00:18:28,399 --> 00:18:30,693 I asked Bill this, "What happened"? 476 00:18:30,693 --> 00:18:32,403 And he said, "Well nobody's gonna notice, Jo." 477 00:18:32,403 --> 00:18:35,281 And I resented that. It was hurtful. 478 00:18:35,281 --> 00:18:38,909 It was like you didn't care anything about Black families. 479 00:18:38,909 --> 00:18:43,039 Carl and Harriette would never throw their kids away. 480 00:18:43,039 --> 00:18:45,291 I just think that if you have a show that's 481 00:18:45,291 --> 00:18:47,335 revolving around a Black family 482 00:18:47,335 --> 00:18:49,045 that you would do more research, 483 00:18:49,045 --> 00:18:52,089 especially as to how they would be around their kids. 484 00:18:52,089 --> 00:18:55,718 And 90% of Black families, the youngest child is gonna 485 00:18:55,718 --> 00:18:59,930 be the child that's more cuddled, and around, 486 00:18:59,930 --> 00:19:03,726 and not pushed away feeling like that child wasn't 487 00:19:03,726 --> 00:19:06,145 involved, you know, it just didn't make sense. 488 00:19:06,145 --> 00:19:08,397 Tom Miller, may he rest in peace, 489 00:19:08,397 --> 00:19:10,191 famously fired people. 490 00:19:10,191 --> 00:19:12,568 You know, unfortunately, Jaimee's mother and 491 00:19:12,568 --> 00:19:15,446 their family kind of asked for that, in a lot of, 492 00:19:15,446 --> 00:19:16,739 in a lot of their behaviours. 493 00:19:16,739 --> 00:19:18,866 The way that it was so cutthroat, abrupt, 494 00:19:18,866 --> 00:19:22,745 no one cares. This is the industry. 495 00:19:22,745 --> 00:19:24,789 None of this shit is a given. 496 00:19:24,789 --> 00:19:27,416 This shit can be taken from you immediately. 497 00:19:27,416 --> 00:19:30,503 I mean the minute you hear 'Cut', it's over. 498 00:19:39,887 --> 00:19:43,307 This little girl 499 00:19:43,307 --> 00:19:45,559 who had come on the show as the little kid, 500 00:19:45,559 --> 00:19:47,395 and we all love her, 'cause the littlest ones 501 00:19:47,395 --> 00:19:49,188 are the most precocious and sassy. 502 00:19:49,188 --> 00:19:51,482 And they're the ones we love to see grow up. 503 00:19:51,482 --> 00:19:54,110 We can't wait to see them grow up. 504 00:19:54,110 --> 00:19:56,237 And so... 505 00:19:56,237 --> 00:19:59,031 that doesn't happen. 506 00:19:59,031 --> 00:20:01,826 After her firing, Jaimee struggles to overcome 507 00:20:01,826 --> 00:20:04,453 her experiences on 'Family Matters.' 508 00:20:04,453 --> 00:20:07,915 I had a summer of literally sitting in my room crying for 509 00:20:07,915 --> 00:20:10,126 a minute, wondering, am I good enough? 510 00:20:10,126 --> 00:20:11,877 Wondering, like, how was the show gonna go on? 511 00:20:11,877 --> 00:20:14,088 It was so many thoughts. 512 00:20:14,088 --> 00:20:16,424 I was thinking, I'm not a great actress. 513 00:20:16,424 --> 00:20:19,218 Maybe I grew out of my cute years. 514 00:20:19,218 --> 00:20:22,847 Whatever it was, it kind of affected my, 515 00:20:22,847 --> 00:20:25,015 my self-esteem. 516 00:20:25,015 --> 00:20:28,060 Meanwhile, it's business as usual on 'Family Matters.' 517 00:20:28,060 --> 00:20:29,979 The show's ratings aren't affected by 518 00:20:29,979 --> 00:20:32,314 Judy's unexplained disappearance. 519 00:20:32,314 --> 00:20:34,483 But ripples of her abrupt firing are 520 00:20:34,483 --> 00:20:35,901 felt by the community. 521 00:20:35,901 --> 00:20:40,197 Her leave of absence felt disrespectful. 522 00:20:40,197 --> 00:20:42,658 It felt disrespectful to the show, 523 00:20:42,658 --> 00:20:45,161 it felt disrespectful to the audience. 524 00:20:45,161 --> 00:20:47,455 I think it's unfair to leave an audience guessing 525 00:20:47,455 --> 00:20:51,417 what the hell happened and why? 526 00:20:51,417 --> 00:20:54,420 -[Gasping] -[Cheering] 527 00:20:54,420 --> 00:20:56,672 And with the ratings going up, as soon as 528 00:20:56,672 --> 00:20:59,091 Jaleel White hit that show running, guess what? 529 00:20:59,091 --> 00:21:00,760 We don't need to know what happened to her. 530 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:02,261 We're going through the roof right now. 531 00:21:02,261 --> 00:21:03,429 Let's just keep moving. 532 00:21:03,429 --> 00:21:04,847 Keep moving, don't look back, 533 00:21:04,847 --> 00:21:07,099 nothing to see here, people, keep moving. 534 00:21:07,099 --> 00:21:09,226 These aren't the droids you're looking for. 535 00:21:09,226 --> 00:21:11,645 Oh like a secret thing. Oh, yeah, I like that. 536 00:21:11,645 --> 00:21:13,397 And then Jaleel was carrying the ----ing show, 537 00:21:13,397 --> 00:21:15,816 let's just keep it real. I mean let's just keep it real. 538 00:21:15,816 --> 00:21:17,526 I mean, we were carrying it together, 539 00:21:17,526 --> 00:21:19,069 we were a great team... 540 00:21:19,069 --> 00:21:21,238 but I mean Jaleel was Michael Jordan. 541 00:21:21,238 --> 00:21:23,991 You know, we were the Bulls. 542 00:21:23,991 --> 00:21:26,744 Scotty Pippin here. [Laughing] 543 00:21:26,744 --> 00:21:29,371 This looks like a polka crowd. 544 00:21:29,371 --> 00:21:32,249 -[Laughing] -A one and a two and a... 545 00:21:32,249 --> 00:21:34,919 Part of Urkel's success comes from the fact that he solves 546 00:21:34,919 --> 00:21:38,380 a problem for the show's predominantly White writers. 547 00:21:38,380 --> 00:21:41,800 There was a tradition that was carried into the late 80s 548 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:47,139 and early 90s, in which the writers' rooms were all White. 549 00:21:47,139 --> 00:21:52,353 And now these writers had to write for Black families and 550 00:21:52,353 --> 00:21:54,355 Black characters and Black shows. 551 00:21:54,355 --> 00:21:57,066 [Humming] 552 00:21:57,066 --> 00:21:58,692 Did that always translate? 553 00:21:58,692 --> 00:22:00,486 No, it did not. 554 00:22:00,486 --> 00:22:02,988 My parents told me not to come home 'til10. 555 00:22:02,988 --> 00:22:05,199 When the show changes its focus to Urkel, 556 00:22:05,199 --> 00:22:07,034 the writing gets easier. 557 00:22:07,034 --> 00:22:09,703 -Got any cheese? -[Laughing] 558 00:22:09,703 --> 00:22:12,831 Steve loved cheese, polka, 559 00:22:12,831 --> 00:22:14,625 he played the accordion. 560 00:22:14,625 --> 00:22:15,960 -Did he eat mice? -He did. 561 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:17,503 Yeah, he ate mice. Bottom line is- 562 00:22:17,503 --> 00:22:19,630 -Yeah, that's weird. -Everything about the kid. 563 00:22:19,630 --> 00:22:20,965 He was a weird Black guy. 564 00:22:20,965 --> 00:22:23,968 Yeah, everything about him was White and weird. 565 00:22:23,968 --> 00:22:25,302 Yes. 566 00:22:25,302 --> 00:22:27,012 So it made him, as a character, 567 00:22:27,012 --> 00:22:29,557 easy to write for the writers. 568 00:22:29,557 --> 00:22:32,268 They were excited now, like, they were hyped now. 569 00:22:32,268 --> 00:22:33,561 They were like, "Ah. finally!" 570 00:22:33,561 --> 00:22:35,729 'Blerds' didn't exist in the mainstream. 571 00:22:35,729 --> 00:22:38,524 "Finally, we got something we can write for." 572 00:22:38,524 --> 00:22:41,443 I knew 'Family Matters' was a White show from day one. 573 00:22:41,443 --> 00:22:43,654 'Family Matters' was never a Black show to me. 574 00:22:43,654 --> 00:22:45,656 See that? 575 00:22:45,656 --> 00:22:48,158 I know that, man, and you cool. 576 00:22:48,158 --> 00:22:50,828 But you sure you can't help me with no diving watch? 577 00:22:50,828 --> 00:22:53,122 Yeah, I'm sure. 578 00:22:53,122 --> 00:22:55,833 After roles in major movies like 'Big Shots' and the 579 00:22:55,833 --> 00:22:58,794 Oscar winning 'Mississippi Burning'... 580 00:22:58,794 --> 00:23:00,588 It's okay to be afraid? 581 00:23:00,588 --> 00:23:04,008 Darius knows that being a Black kid in a White industry 582 00:23:04,008 --> 00:23:05,718 isn't always easy. 583 00:23:05,718 --> 00:23:07,970 Tell him what you saw. 584 00:23:07,970 --> 00:23:10,848 As a Black child star, it's so difficult because 585 00:23:10,848 --> 00:23:14,894 we're not allowed to be anything other than perfect. 586 00:23:14,894 --> 00:23:17,479 If I'm on time, I'm late. 587 00:23:17,479 --> 00:23:19,148 My mom used to have me on set early. 588 00:23:19,148 --> 00:23:20,941 If you speak up, you say the wrong thing, 589 00:23:20,941 --> 00:23:23,903 you speak out of place, you have to know your place. 590 00:23:23,903 --> 00:23:26,405 If you don't, if you make that mistake, 591 00:23:26,405 --> 00:23:28,282 there is no coming back from that. 592 00:23:28,282 --> 00:23:29,408 [Knocking] 593 00:23:29,408 --> 00:23:31,285 Oh my God, Eddie, open the door. 594 00:23:31,285 --> 00:23:34,538 Hang on, my pet, Steve Urkel to the rescue. 595 00:23:34,538 --> 00:23:37,207 Having to get cheap laughs on a sitcom doesn't always 596 00:23:37,207 --> 00:23:40,919 fit with Darius' ambition to be a serious actor. 597 00:23:40,919 --> 00:23:44,381 At times this leads to tension with Jaleel White. 598 00:23:44,381 --> 00:23:47,843 I'm not gonna say that I was ever jealous of Jaleel. 599 00:23:47,843 --> 00:23:50,596 What I probably was a little bit envious of was 600 00:23:50,596 --> 00:23:53,390 that he got to be this clown. 601 00:23:53,390 --> 00:23:55,059 And I'm 'a be honest, I mean 602 00:23:55,059 --> 00:23:57,353 I did an episode where I dressed up as Urkel 603 00:23:57,353 --> 00:23:59,938 because I went into the transformation chamber. 604 00:23:59,938 --> 00:24:02,524 Wowzers, it worked. 605 00:24:02,524 --> 00:24:04,652 And it's so easy to clown. 606 00:24:04,652 --> 00:24:07,029 It's not that he wasn't great at it or brilliant at it, 607 00:24:07,029 --> 00:24:09,490 but I was like damn, like, if I got to do some of 608 00:24:09,490 --> 00:24:12,701 this silly shit, I'd be funny as hell too. 609 00:24:12,701 --> 00:24:14,453 I had to play the straight man. 610 00:24:14,453 --> 00:24:16,789 Even Jaleel White isn't always comfortable with 611 00:24:16,789 --> 00:24:18,624 what he's asked to do on set. 612 00:24:18,624 --> 00:24:20,417 -And Myrtle, Myrtle. -Myrtle. 613 00:24:20,417 --> 00:24:22,586 Yeah, Myrtule, Myrtle's the one that's a... 614 00:24:22,586 --> 00:24:25,589 Myrtle's the one that's a pain in the butt to play. 615 00:24:25,589 --> 00:24:28,092 One creative decision puts him in the middle of a 616 00:24:28,092 --> 00:24:32,137 conflict between adult cast members and the writers. 617 00:24:32,137 --> 00:24:34,390 Jo Marie and Reggie at that time, 618 00:24:34,390 --> 00:24:36,392 were very sensitive to 619 00:24:36,392 --> 00:24:38,769 putting Black men in dresses. 620 00:24:38,769 --> 00:24:41,689 And they, they heaped that on me. 621 00:24:41,689 --> 00:24:44,191 And they, they, they let me know 622 00:24:44,191 --> 00:24:46,402 that I was not doing 623 00:24:46,402 --> 00:24:50,114 our race a service 624 00:24:50,114 --> 00:24:52,491 by putting on that yellow dress. 625 00:24:52,491 --> 00:24:55,953 Myrtle, this is our son, Edward. 626 00:24:55,953 --> 00:24:59,164 -Well, hello there. -[Laughing] 627 00:24:59,164 --> 00:25:02,543 I cried like a baby at the end of that tape. 628 00:25:02,543 --> 00:25:06,171 I just broke and I just cried, cried, cried. 629 00:25:06,171 --> 00:25:07,631 I was like damn, they definitely gonna 630 00:25:07,631 --> 00:25:09,466 make fun of me at school for this. 631 00:25:09,466 --> 00:25:11,343 I mean, I'm like, I'm like, I'm full... 632 00:25:11,343 --> 00:25:13,429 I'm like, I had gone there. 633 00:25:13,429 --> 00:25:15,055 What are you doing? 634 00:25:15,055 --> 00:25:17,099 I'm your dream come true. 635 00:25:17,099 --> 00:25:18,767 My dad was like, "He will never 636 00:25:18,767 --> 00:25:20,269 play this character again. 637 00:25:20,269 --> 00:25:24,398 He shouldn't have to carry the burden of 638 00:25:24,398 --> 00:25:28,986 some adults making a child feel bad 639 00:25:28,986 --> 00:25:32,239 for playing a girl just in fun." 640 00:25:32,239 --> 00:25:34,241 Keep her away from me, she's crazy. 641 00:25:34,241 --> 00:25:37,286 Crazy about you, you big hunk of hominy. 642 00:25:37,286 --> 00:25:38,912 And these are White producers, 643 00:25:38,912 --> 00:25:40,998 so they're not thinking about this stuff. 644 00:25:40,998 --> 00:25:43,250 There were so many things that were overlooked 645 00:25:43,250 --> 00:25:47,087 concerning us as Black people, 646 00:25:47,087 --> 00:25:48,922 as Black performers. 647 00:25:48,922 --> 00:25:51,133 Anything would've set it off. 648 00:25:51,133 --> 00:25:54,178 As the sitcom landscape changes in the mid 90s, 649 00:25:54,178 --> 00:25:57,598 'Family Matters' starts to lose its appeal. 650 00:25:57,598 --> 00:25:59,767 The producers' attempts to steady the ship 651 00:25:59,767 --> 00:26:02,060 get ever more desperate. 652 00:26:02,060 --> 00:26:04,354 It got to a point where it just got preposterous. 653 00:26:04,354 --> 00:26:06,231 It was just one after the next. 654 00:26:15,115 --> 00:26:17,618 As 'Family Matters' approaches its 8th season, 655 00:26:17,618 --> 00:26:19,495 it's already one of the longest running 656 00:26:19,495 --> 00:26:21,830 Black sitcoms of all time. 657 00:26:21,830 --> 00:26:25,167 [Audience laughing] 658 00:26:25,167 --> 00:26:28,378 And it became, really, appointment television. 659 00:26:28,378 --> 00:26:29,838 You know, it was back before streaming. 660 00:26:29,838 --> 00:26:32,466 Back in my day before there was streaming, 661 00:26:32,466 --> 00:26:34,134 you had to make an appointment to all 662 00:26:34,134 --> 00:26:36,094 sit down and watch at the same time. 663 00:26:36,094 --> 00:26:38,388 And we did. 664 00:26:38,388 --> 00:26:41,767 But with the rise of sitcoms like 'Friends' and 'Frasier', 665 00:26:41,767 --> 00:26:44,978 ratings for 'Family Matters' start to drop. 666 00:26:44,978 --> 00:26:48,649 Its writers start grasping at straws trying to keep up. 667 00:26:48,649 --> 00:26:52,027 You idiot! 668 00:26:52,027 --> 00:26:54,279 The producers of 'Family Matters' introduced 669 00:26:54,279 --> 00:26:59,201 more and more fantastical stories and characters. 670 00:26:59,201 --> 00:27:01,537 [In sync] Isn't this fun? 671 00:27:01,537 --> 00:27:03,330 As far as the characters were concerned, 672 00:27:03,330 --> 00:27:05,457 it got to a point where it just got preposterous. 673 00:27:05,457 --> 00:27:06,917 It just got to the point where it was just like, 674 00:27:06,917 --> 00:27:08,794 yeah, you're gonna play Albert Einstein. 675 00:27:08,794 --> 00:27:10,170 You're going to play Bruce Lee. 676 00:27:10,170 --> 00:27:12,464 It was just one, one after the next. 677 00:27:12,464 --> 00:27:14,299 ♪ 678 00:27:14,299 --> 00:27:16,301 [Cheering] 679 00:27:16,301 --> 00:27:18,554 The outlandish plots become so infamous 680 00:27:18,554 --> 00:27:20,681 that they're later satirized. 681 00:27:20,681 --> 00:27:24,017 -This is [beep] Gene. -Whoa! 682 00:27:24,017 --> 00:27:25,352 Wha-wha-what's the matter, Reg? 683 00:27:25,352 --> 00:27:28,647 In the next episode, Steve Urkel turns Carl into 684 00:27:28,647 --> 00:27:31,817 a giant sandwich and accidentally eats him?! 685 00:27:31,817 --> 00:27:33,986 But wait, that's hilarious, but it's hilarious. 686 00:27:33,986 --> 00:27:36,321 Come on. I'm an actor, Gene! 687 00:27:36,321 --> 00:27:38,532 This was supposed to be about me and my family. 688 00:27:39,992 --> 00:27:42,244 The desperate writing doesn't pay off. 689 00:27:42,244 --> 00:27:44,204 With every outrageous storyline, 690 00:27:44,204 --> 00:27:46,665 ratings continue to plummet. 691 00:27:46,665 --> 00:27:49,543 It's a business. You've gotta get good ratings. 692 00:27:49,543 --> 00:27:51,420 You have to have funny scripts. 693 00:27:51,420 --> 00:27:54,256 Big daddy, this is Edward, 694 00:27:54,256 --> 00:27:57,175 the man who hushes my puppies. 695 00:27:57,175 --> 00:27:58,760 [Laughing] 696 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:00,429 It became corny. 697 00:28:00,429 --> 00:28:02,723 And when you don't 698 00:28:02,723 --> 00:28:05,475 leave a show or stop a show when it's at 699 00:28:05,475 --> 00:28:09,146 its sweet spot, people get turned off. 700 00:28:09,146 --> 00:28:13,859 ABC cuts its losses and sells the show to CBS. 701 00:28:13,859 --> 00:28:16,820 When we moved to CBS, I was actually a little nervous 702 00:28:16,820 --> 00:28:18,530 about that because I didn't really think that the 703 00:28:18,530 --> 00:28:24,786 character at that point could grow anymore. 704 00:28:24,786 --> 00:28:26,538 [Audience laughing] 705 00:28:26,538 --> 00:28:28,165 I didn't feel the character in my heart, 706 00:28:28,165 --> 00:28:30,542 and it probably reflects in the work, 707 00:28:30,542 --> 00:28:32,628 and I have no problem saying that 'cause the bottom line, 708 00:28:32,628 --> 00:28:34,338 is, is, you know, it's a business, 709 00:28:34,338 --> 00:28:37,758 and at that point people are just making so much money. 710 00:28:37,758 --> 00:28:39,968 When JoMarie Peyton leaves partway through 711 00:28:39,968 --> 00:28:43,639 season nine, the writing is on the wall. 712 00:28:43,639 --> 00:28:45,265 [Squeaking door] 713 00:28:45,265 --> 00:28:48,685 Oh, Carl, I am so glad you're home. 714 00:28:48,685 --> 00:28:51,521 Harriette, we need to talk. 715 00:28:51,521 --> 00:28:53,315 I know. Have you been listening to this? 716 00:28:53,315 --> 00:28:55,192 They had changed my TV mom. 717 00:28:55,192 --> 00:28:56,985 We moved into a whole 'nother network, 718 00:28:56,985 --> 00:28:58,654 which is really the kiss of death. 719 00:28:58,654 --> 00:29:02,032 In July 1998, 'Family Matters' is 720 00:29:02,032 --> 00:29:05,410 quietly canceled while on hiatus. 721 00:29:05,410 --> 00:29:08,205 Look, most great sitcoms, 722 00:29:08,205 --> 00:29:10,332 there's the glory days of the sitcoms 723 00:29:10,332 --> 00:29:12,668 and the great days of them being these 724 00:29:12,668 --> 00:29:14,461 great shows that have these huge ratings, 725 00:29:14,461 --> 00:29:16,672 and little by little by little, they start to fade. 726 00:29:16,672 --> 00:29:18,757 It, it was kind of like... 727 00:29:18,757 --> 00:29:20,550 their moment was gone. 728 00:29:20,550 --> 00:29:22,552 ♪ 729 00:29:22,552 --> 00:29:25,013 After nearly a decade of playing Eddie Winslow, 730 00:29:25,013 --> 00:29:27,140 moving on from the character isn't easy 731 00:29:27,140 --> 00:29:28,642 for Darius McCrary. 732 00:29:28,642 --> 00:29:30,519 My name is Eddie Winslow, 733 00:29:30,519 --> 00:29:33,522 better known as the Prince of Love. 734 00:29:33,522 --> 00:29:35,148 [Laughing & cheering] 735 00:29:35,148 --> 00:29:36,566 Okay, I love 'Family Matters.' 736 00:29:36,566 --> 00:29:39,152 I love Eddie Winslow being in my closet, 737 00:29:39,152 --> 00:29:42,030 'cause I can pull him out whenever I want to. 738 00:29:42,030 --> 00:29:45,784 But I'm 'a be honest, it's part of why I believe 739 00:29:45,784 --> 00:29:49,538 I've worked so hard throughout my career. 740 00:29:49,538 --> 00:29:53,542 ♪ 741 00:29:53,542 --> 00:29:56,420 While the role let Darius make his name as an actor, 742 00:29:56,420 --> 00:30:00,132 it also thrust him into precarious situations. 743 00:30:00,132 --> 00:30:01,508 There's so much shit that I've experienced when 744 00:30:01,508 --> 00:30:04,428 I look back in retrospect where I'm like, 745 00:30:04,428 --> 00:30:06,346 "That was inappropriate." It's just hard for me to talk 746 00:30:06,346 --> 00:30:10,017 about this, man, because I've seen some shit. 747 00:30:10,017 --> 00:30:12,602 I had had my back rubbed so many times and 748 00:30:12,602 --> 00:30:15,355 I was like, what the ----? 749 00:30:15,355 --> 00:30:18,900 And that's why I said, everybody in this industry- 750 00:30:18,900 --> 00:30:20,610 [clapping]- whether you know it or not, 751 00:30:20,610 --> 00:30:23,613 has been touched inappropriately. 752 00:30:23,613 --> 00:30:25,365 Children actors at that time were 753 00:30:25,365 --> 00:30:27,117 very vulnerable and not protected. 754 00:30:27,117 --> 00:30:28,493 It was just, you know, 755 00:30:28,493 --> 00:30:30,454 it was a unwritten rule that, you know, 756 00:30:30,454 --> 00:30:32,164 these people on top basically can get away 757 00:30:32,164 --> 00:30:34,708 what they wanted to. 758 00:30:34,708 --> 00:30:37,085 When Darius first leaves 'Family Matters', 759 00:30:37,085 --> 00:30:39,629 he struggles to find another major role. 760 00:30:39,629 --> 00:30:41,673 [Gunfire] 761 00:30:41,673 --> 00:30:43,050 Anybody need a ride? 762 00:30:43,050 --> 00:30:44,593 Got a brand new chopper waiting for us 763 00:30:44,593 --> 00:30:46,428 on the other side of the bridge. 764 00:30:46,428 --> 00:30:49,765 He briefly stars in the sci-fi series 'Freedom', 765 00:30:49,765 --> 00:30:52,726 but it's canceled mid-season. 766 00:30:52,726 --> 00:30:55,228 Darius McCrary, we watched him grow up. 767 00:30:55,228 --> 00:30:57,606 He was already cute, and then he got handsome 768 00:30:57,606 --> 00:30:58,857 and then he became thump thump, 769 00:30:58,857 --> 00:31:00,192 thump thump, thump thump. 770 00:31:00,192 --> 00:31:03,653 And he would've been so easy 771 00:31:03,653 --> 00:31:06,156 to spin into something else 772 00:31:06,156 --> 00:31:07,741 on a Black show, on a White show, 773 00:31:07,741 --> 00:31:09,910 on a purple show. 774 00:31:09,910 --> 00:31:12,245 Now you're speaking my language. 775 00:31:12,245 --> 00:31:13,455 He's talented. He's Black, 776 00:31:13,455 --> 00:31:15,207 and he's talented, and he's gorgeous. 777 00:31:15,207 --> 00:31:17,959 So why didn't he get an opportunity? 778 00:31:17,959 --> 00:31:20,587 Hi, I'm T, I'm new in town. 779 00:31:20,587 --> 00:31:21,922 I remember. 780 00:31:21,922 --> 00:31:24,174 Professionalism in this business is 781 00:31:24,174 --> 00:31:27,010 what defines your success. 782 00:31:27,010 --> 00:31:29,012 Yeah I think it's harder for Black actors to, to, to... 783 00:31:29,012 --> 00:31:30,806 and actresses to get back on that, 784 00:31:30,806 --> 00:31:32,349 to get a second chance. 785 00:31:32,349 --> 00:31:35,352 In the years after she is fired from 'Family Matters', 786 00:31:35,352 --> 00:31:38,313 Jaimee Foxworth continues to struggle 787 00:31:38,313 --> 00:31:40,774 with the feeling of rejection. 788 00:31:40,774 --> 00:31:42,776 There was a period of time between, 789 00:31:42,776 --> 00:31:45,153 I think it was 17 to 19, where I was going 790 00:31:45,153 --> 00:31:48,281 on auditions, but I was actively, like, 791 00:31:48,281 --> 00:31:49,616 declining them. 792 00:31:49,616 --> 00:31:51,368 And my mom was like, "What is going on with you"? 793 00:31:51,368 --> 00:31:54,746 Like I just didn't want to feel that rejection, 794 00:31:54,746 --> 00:31:56,373 that anxiety... 795 00:31:56,373 --> 00:31:58,667 anything that I felt before on set, 796 00:31:58,667 --> 00:32:00,752 I didn't want to feel it. 797 00:32:00,752 --> 00:32:04,798 I just didn't want to relive that trauma that I had. 798 00:32:04,798 --> 00:32:07,425 To deal with that reality, 799 00:32:07,425 --> 00:32:10,929 and feeling like you're unwanted by the industry, 800 00:32:10,929 --> 00:32:12,556 let alone the show you're on, 801 00:32:12,556 --> 00:32:15,642 and to continue to validate that space. 802 00:32:15,642 --> 00:32:17,811 And then the crushing weight of how it makes you feel 803 00:32:17,811 --> 00:32:19,271 emotionally and psychologically is an 804 00:32:19,271 --> 00:32:25,443 adult weight... on a child. 805 00:32:25,443 --> 00:32:30,407 I was trying to escape the whole Judy Winslow. 806 00:32:30,407 --> 00:32:31,867 You know, you have a name behind you. 807 00:32:31,867 --> 00:32:33,743 I kinda wanted to be normal. 808 00:32:33,743 --> 00:32:35,453 I just wanted to be like, "Hey, let me just, 809 00:32:35,453 --> 00:32:36,872 you know, hang out with regular people. 810 00:32:36,872 --> 00:32:38,248 I don't want to be in the industry anymore. 811 00:32:38,248 --> 00:32:39,833 I just want to do normal stuff." 812 00:32:39,833 --> 00:32:43,628 But that snowballed into drinking, getting high, 813 00:32:43,628 --> 00:32:46,715 and just not being my authentic self. 814 00:32:46,715 --> 00:32:51,178 To play a role or become a character and have to 815 00:32:51,178 --> 00:32:53,180 live up to that for the rest of their lives, 816 00:32:53,180 --> 00:32:55,932 it creates a duality in the brain of 817 00:32:55,932 --> 00:32:58,268 what's real and what's not real. 818 00:32:58,268 --> 00:33:03,023 I think that sometimes we see child actors get into things 819 00:33:03,023 --> 00:33:05,483 that are dangerous or get into substances, 820 00:33:05,483 --> 00:33:07,527 because what's real and what's not real, 821 00:33:07,527 --> 00:33:09,321 the lines are very blurry. 822 00:33:09,321 --> 00:33:11,281 With me, I like to block things out. 823 00:33:11,281 --> 00:33:15,285 And if drinking, smoking, hanging out, you know, 824 00:33:15,285 --> 00:33:16,995 with people I shouldn't be hanging out with blocks 825 00:33:16,995 --> 00:33:19,748 those feelings, then I'm gonna take that road. 826 00:33:19,748 --> 00:33:22,959 I didn't learn until I got late into my 30s that 827 00:33:22,959 --> 00:33:24,753 that's just not the way to go. 828 00:33:24,753 --> 00:33:28,882 I believe Hollywood creates co-dependence. 829 00:33:28,882 --> 00:33:32,761 So a lot of children become codependent adults, 830 00:33:32,761 --> 00:33:34,721 and they don't have the mechanism or the 831 00:33:34,721 --> 00:33:36,640 ability to function on their own. 832 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:39,601 And you always have to remember that once you stop 833 00:33:39,601 --> 00:33:42,646 making somebody money, you no good to nobody. 834 00:33:42,646 --> 00:33:45,899 To me, this was like career suicide. 835 00:33:54,991 --> 00:33:59,913 It ran its mouth about having a temporary restraining order. 836 00:33:59,913 --> 00:34:03,166 I've had a restraining order for the past two years. 837 00:34:03,166 --> 00:34:05,085 Throughout the 2010s, 838 00:34:05,085 --> 00:34:07,295 Darius makes headlines for problems in 839 00:34:07,295 --> 00:34:08,880 his personal life, 840 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:11,883 including a string of divorces, custody battles, 841 00:34:11,883 --> 00:34:15,887 and allegations of spousal abuse. 842 00:34:15,887 --> 00:34:18,098 The image of wholesome Eddie Winslow 843 00:34:18,098 --> 00:34:20,892 as an abusive adult fuels the interest 844 00:34:20,892 --> 00:34:22,936 of Hollywood tabloids. 845 00:34:22,936 --> 00:34:24,938 It's safe to say that Officer Winslow would be 846 00:34:24,938 --> 00:34:27,565 none too proud finding out that his darling boy from 847 00:34:27,565 --> 00:34:30,527 'Family Matters', actor Darius McCrary, recently 848 00:34:30,527 --> 00:34:33,238 tried to mow down his girlfriend, Karrine Steffans. 849 00:34:33,238 --> 00:34:34,990 I can't take Melissa to the dance because 850 00:34:34,990 --> 00:34:36,616 she's not pretty enough. 851 00:34:36,616 --> 00:34:38,910 That's neither stupid nor shallow. 852 00:34:38,910 --> 00:34:41,371 [Laughing] 853 00:34:41,371 --> 00:34:42,998 Television for a lot of people is, 854 00:34:42,998 --> 00:34:45,583 I don't have to be involved in anything except laughing. 855 00:34:45,583 --> 00:34:47,752 You make me laugh, you make me feel good. 856 00:34:47,752 --> 00:34:48,962 I want to know these things, 857 00:34:48,962 --> 00:34:50,213 but when it comes to the drama, 858 00:34:50,213 --> 00:34:53,300 I will now involve myself by speaking out. 859 00:34:53,300 --> 00:34:55,302 But you don't want to love the reality that goes with it 860 00:34:55,302 --> 00:34:57,304 because it reminds you too much of yourself. 861 00:34:57,304 --> 00:35:00,348 And that's why you judge harshly. 862 00:35:00,348 --> 00:35:03,643 Darius tries to defend himself to the media. 863 00:35:03,643 --> 00:35:07,147 None of these allegations are true. 864 00:35:07,147 --> 00:35:11,151 And it's really saddens me and it hurts me actually. 865 00:35:11,151 --> 00:35:13,028 I'm just going to say that, you know, 866 00:35:13,028 --> 00:35:15,030 you can't believe everything that you read 867 00:35:15,030 --> 00:35:16,865 in the news, period. 868 00:35:16,865 --> 00:35:21,870 People will lie to get what they, what they want... 869 00:35:21,870 --> 00:35:23,955 and, and it's unfortunate... 870 00:35:23,955 --> 00:35:25,915 it's unfortunate. 871 00:35:25,915 --> 00:35:28,668 Wherever the truth lies, reputations made 872 00:35:28,668 --> 00:35:31,171 in the tabloids tend to stick... 873 00:35:31,171 --> 00:35:34,883 especially for former child actors. 874 00:35:34,883 --> 00:35:37,052 Most people make mistakes in their 20s or whatever, 875 00:35:37,052 --> 00:35:38,678 but you don't hear about it. 876 00:35:38,678 --> 00:35:39,971 They don't even, no one else knows about it. 877 00:35:39,971 --> 00:35:41,765 So by the time they mature, then, 878 00:35:41,765 --> 00:35:43,099 you know, their life is straightened on 879 00:35:43,099 --> 00:35:44,392 they're doing what they're supposed to do, but... 880 00:35:44,392 --> 00:35:46,311 for us, it's all over the media. 881 00:35:46,311 --> 00:35:47,604 They make us look bad. 882 00:35:47,604 --> 00:35:48,605 They make us think that, you know, 883 00:35:48,605 --> 00:35:50,023 we're the only people, you know, 884 00:35:50,023 --> 00:35:51,983 who go through this. 885 00:35:51,983 --> 00:35:53,526 What a thug. 886 00:35:53,526 --> 00:35:55,278 [Laughing] 887 00:35:55,278 --> 00:35:57,489 Come on, girls. 888 00:35:57,489 --> 00:36:00,158 It's even harder being a Black child actor 889 00:36:00,158 --> 00:36:02,827 because the lens is on you more. 890 00:36:02,827 --> 00:36:05,747 They already expect you to be... 891 00:36:05,747 --> 00:36:07,082 to turn out to be a thug. 892 00:36:07,082 --> 00:36:08,792 They already think that this is a one-off. 893 00:36:08,792 --> 00:36:11,836 Like, you're, you're good when you're cute, 894 00:36:11,836 --> 00:36:13,129 but when you get older, let's see if 895 00:36:13,129 --> 00:36:14,714 you don't turn into that thug that you are. 896 00:36:14,714 --> 00:36:17,092 Let's see if you don't turn to being a drug addict or 897 00:36:17,092 --> 00:36:20,095 drug dealer or mismanaging your money. 898 00:36:20,095 --> 00:36:22,305 After avoiding acting work for years, 899 00:36:22,305 --> 00:36:24,849 Jaimee is strapped for money. 900 00:36:24,849 --> 00:36:26,434 She is presented with an offer that 901 00:36:26,434 --> 00:36:29,020 seems innocuous at first. 902 00:36:29,020 --> 00:36:30,480 There was this Black woman, and she was like, 903 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:32,732 "Hey." You know, "You look like you'll be great to do, 904 00:36:32,732 --> 00:36:34,526 you know, music videos." 905 00:36:34,526 --> 00:36:35,819 She kept saying like, "Snoop Dogg. 906 00:36:35,819 --> 00:36:37,195 It's a rap video." 907 00:36:37,195 --> 00:36:39,280 So I was like, "No, I can't." 908 00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:41,074 You know, "I don't, I don't think I wanna do that." 909 00:36:41,074 --> 00:36:43,827 But I took her card anyway. 910 00:36:43,827 --> 00:36:47,080 Maybe a month later I was just like, you know what? 911 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:48,790 I'm not where I want to be. 912 00:36:48,790 --> 00:36:50,625 I don't have the money that I want. 913 00:36:50,625 --> 00:36:52,168 I'm not buying the things that I want. 914 00:36:52,168 --> 00:36:54,963 And so I got me a bottle of Cristal, 915 00:36:54,963 --> 00:36:57,173 and I drank it in my room, like half of it, 916 00:36:57,173 --> 00:36:58,466 and then I was like, you know what? 917 00:36:58,466 --> 00:36:59,926 I'm gonna call that lady. 918 00:36:59,926 --> 00:37:04,139 She was like, "I can pick you up right now." 919 00:37:04,139 --> 00:37:05,807 I still felt like doing the music video 920 00:37:05,807 --> 00:37:07,183 was still a bad look. 921 00:37:07,183 --> 00:37:09,018 So even me getting in the car with her, 922 00:37:09,018 --> 00:37:12,939 I felt like I was doing something bad. 923 00:37:12,939 --> 00:37:14,732 When they arrive at the shoot, 924 00:37:14,732 --> 00:37:18,903 Jaimee realizes she's not there for a music video. 925 00:37:18,903 --> 00:37:20,947 Before I can even make a decision, 926 00:37:20,947 --> 00:37:23,324 here comes the director... 927 00:37:23,324 --> 00:37:25,326 and he's like, "This is how much you're gonna get paid, 928 00:37:25,326 --> 00:37:27,328 and it's not, it's not even gonna be what you think it is. 929 00:37:27,328 --> 00:37:29,289 What you think it is, it's totally different. 930 00:37:29,289 --> 00:37:30,999 It's gonna be classy. It's gonna be on the, 931 00:37:30,999 --> 00:37:33,084 along the lines of 'Playboy.' 932 00:37:33,084 --> 00:37:34,961 It's gonna be very, you know, seductive. 933 00:37:34,961 --> 00:37:38,214 It's not gonna be..." My dumb ass was like, 934 00:37:38,214 --> 00:37:41,593 "Well, you know, it sounds attractive." 935 00:37:41,593 --> 00:37:44,220 That day, Jaimee stars in the first of 936 00:37:44,220 --> 00:37:46,556 a series of adult films. 937 00:37:46,556 --> 00:37:48,558 She doesn't tell anyone that she's leading 938 00:37:48,558 --> 00:37:52,604 a double life under the stage name, Crave. 939 00:37:52,604 --> 00:37:54,147 You grow up and you, 940 00:37:54,147 --> 00:37:57,108 maybe your cuteness becomes not so cute, 941 00:37:57,108 --> 00:37:59,986 or maybe your cuteness becomes beautiful and 942 00:37:59,986 --> 00:38:01,946 now what do they, what do they do with you? 943 00:38:01,946 --> 00:38:05,033 And it's got to be so tough to 944 00:38:05,033 --> 00:38:07,869 navigate this rebrand, 945 00:38:07,869 --> 00:38:09,829 which is just growing up? 946 00:38:09,829 --> 00:38:13,875 I don't think that child actors get 947 00:38:13,875 --> 00:38:16,085 a taste of what it is to be "normal". 948 00:38:16,085 --> 00:38:19,297 It sets up a lot of pressure because you're a child 949 00:38:19,297 --> 00:38:22,425 growing up in a business that's 950 00:38:22,425 --> 00:38:24,427 not "real life". 951 00:38:24,427 --> 00:38:28,264 It's totally different, and you are supposed 952 00:38:28,264 --> 00:38:30,225 to act like something you're not, 953 00:38:30,225 --> 00:38:31,309 which means that of course you're gonna 954 00:38:31,309 --> 00:38:33,311 make mistakes because you're a kid. 955 00:38:33,311 --> 00:38:35,522 While Jaimee's bills are getting paid, 956 00:38:35,522 --> 00:38:37,815 the work takes its toll. 957 00:38:37,815 --> 00:38:39,359 The money just wasn't the only thing 958 00:38:39,359 --> 00:38:40,568 that was attractive. 959 00:38:40,568 --> 00:38:42,487 I also had a plethora of weed. 960 00:38:42,487 --> 00:38:44,030 I was drinking. 961 00:38:44,030 --> 00:38:47,909 I put myself in a position of, "Well, you're here now. 962 00:38:47,909 --> 00:38:51,120 You might as well go for it. You might as well do it." 963 00:38:51,120 --> 00:38:52,789 'Family Matters', it's definitely... 964 00:38:52,789 --> 00:38:55,208 it's sparked a lot of Black people 965 00:38:55,208 --> 00:38:56,834 who wanted to become actors. 966 00:38:56,834 --> 00:38:58,294 I just don't think they know the price 967 00:38:58,294 --> 00:38:59,796 you have to pay to do it. It's a, it's a 968 00:38:59,796 --> 00:39:01,381 it's a heavy burden, you know, 969 00:39:01,381 --> 00:39:03,591 to be famous, it is... it's a heavy burden. 970 00:39:11,849 --> 00:39:14,644 Nearly 20 years after their emotional final episode, 971 00:39:14,644 --> 00:39:17,105 'Family Matters' remains the third-longest running 972 00:39:17,105 --> 00:39:19,649 African-American sitcom ever made. 973 00:39:19,649 --> 00:39:21,025 [Laughing] 974 00:39:21,025 --> 00:39:24,445 It went 215 episodes. It was amazingly successful. 975 00:39:24,445 --> 00:39:26,155 Yes! 976 00:39:26,155 --> 00:39:27,407 [Cheering] 977 00:39:27,407 --> 00:39:29,784 Miller-Boyett, who were the executive producers, 978 00:39:29,784 --> 00:39:32,704 their names were synonymous with success, period. 979 00:39:32,704 --> 00:39:34,080 We didn't get no awards, 980 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:35,832 but we made a whole lot of money. 981 00:39:35,832 --> 00:39:39,377 We're gonna have a Bossaroma TV funfest. 982 00:39:39,377 --> 00:39:41,880 Despite its success, 'Family Matters' doesn't get 983 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:46,843 the same accolades as other sitcoms from that era. 984 00:39:46,843 --> 00:39:50,179 It touched so many households and so many hearts. 985 00:39:50,179 --> 00:39:51,723 Now the sad thing about it, 986 00:39:51,723 --> 00:39:53,558 the part that breaks my heart, 987 00:39:53,558 --> 00:39:56,311 is that Warner Brothers just celebrated 100 years, 988 00:39:56,311 --> 00:39:58,396 and we're not even mentioned in that. 989 00:39:58,396 --> 00:40:00,481 We're not looked at as one of the most successful 990 00:40:00,481 --> 00:40:03,735 Black sitcoms by a lot of different standards. 991 00:40:03,735 --> 00:40:06,529 We were too White to be accepted or talked about at 992 00:40:06,529 --> 00:40:09,699 the BET Awards, and not White enough to be talked 993 00:40:09,699 --> 00:40:13,870 about at the Emmys, and to be respected. 994 00:40:13,870 --> 00:40:17,540 Darius continues to act, and in 2022, 995 00:40:17,540 --> 00:40:20,418 he starts a podcast called, 'I'm Not Laughing', 996 00:40:20,418 --> 00:40:22,211 which he hosts with 'Family Matters' 997 00:40:22,211 --> 00:40:24,714 co-star Kellie Williams. 998 00:40:24,714 --> 00:40:27,300 What's up, Sis? [Laughing] 999 00:40:27,300 --> 00:40:30,845 Darius uses the platform to address issues in Hollywood, 1000 00:40:30,845 --> 00:40:33,640 including racism and exploitation... 1001 00:40:33,640 --> 00:40:35,725 The name of our show is 'I'm Not Laughing', 1002 00:40:35,725 --> 00:40:37,268 and we call it that because we've been laughing at 1003 00:40:37,268 --> 00:40:39,145 stuff that ain't funny for way too long. 1004 00:40:39,145 --> 00:40:40,813 -No, it's not. -This stuff is not funny. 1005 00:40:40,813 --> 00:40:44,067 And, life growing up as a Black child star. 1006 00:40:44,067 --> 00:40:48,154 When we became adults, I ran into an executive, 1007 00:40:48,154 --> 00:40:52,367 and people, who revealed kind of like they were 1008 00:40:52,367 --> 00:40:55,578 almost disappointed that 1009 00:40:55,578 --> 00:40:57,914 I wasn't messed up. 1010 00:40:57,914 --> 00:40:59,874 I had a good friend at my house one time telling me, 1011 00:40:59,874 --> 00:41:01,459 you know, "You should get like a DUI or something. 1012 00:41:01,459 --> 00:41:03,336 It would make you interesting." 1013 00:41:03,336 --> 00:41:05,672 My self-esteem was, was very low. 1014 00:41:05,672 --> 00:41:10,051 I started smoking, just disrespecting myself... 1015 00:41:10,051 --> 00:41:12,387 because I didn't know where to place my anger. 1016 00:41:12,387 --> 00:41:14,764 Jaimee leaves the adult film industry. 1017 00:41:14,764 --> 00:41:17,642 She goes on reality TV seeking help with her 1018 00:41:17,642 --> 00:41:20,687 drug addiction and to restore her image. 1019 00:41:20,687 --> 00:41:23,690 At that time, I felt like I had to make sure that 1020 00:41:23,690 --> 00:41:26,526 I wasn't letting America down because the last time 1021 00:41:26,526 --> 00:41:28,861 they saw me, they saw me as a little girl. 1022 00:41:28,861 --> 00:41:30,780 And I was feeding into the stereotype of 1023 00:41:30,780 --> 00:41:33,574 being a child star. 1024 00:41:33,574 --> 00:41:36,703 It was like a public apology... 1025 00:41:36,703 --> 00:41:39,330 that now I believe that I really didn't have to 1026 00:41:39,330 --> 00:41:41,249 give to people. 1027 00:41:41,249 --> 00:41:44,460 She did whatever she had to do, and yes, 1028 00:41:44,460 --> 00:41:47,880 she found adult film. Make your money, honey. 1029 00:41:47,880 --> 00:41:50,133 Stay safe and make your money, 1030 00:41:50,133 --> 00:41:52,719 because no one can step into your shoes and live the 1031 00:41:52,719 --> 00:41:55,012 reality that you do unless they've gone through 1032 00:41:55,012 --> 00:41:56,681 what you've gone through. 1033 00:41:56,681 --> 00:41:59,183 In 2009, more than a decade and a half 1034 00:41:59,183 --> 00:42:01,769 after the final episode of 'Family Matters', 1035 00:42:01,769 --> 00:42:05,314 Jaimee has a son, and finally finds peace. 1036 00:42:05,314 --> 00:42:06,691 I made a prayer to God, and I was like, 1037 00:42:06,691 --> 00:42:08,860 "If, if you just give me the healthiest son, 1038 00:42:08,860 --> 00:42:11,779 I will stop today." And I stopped. 1039 00:42:11,779 --> 00:42:13,614 And I haven't had a craving since. 1040 00:42:13,614 --> 00:42:15,366 I started to get myself together. 1041 00:42:15,366 --> 00:42:18,119 I was clearheaded. 1042 00:42:18,119 --> 00:42:21,497 I started structuring my life differently. 1043 00:42:21,497 --> 00:42:24,500 I had to literally take care of a human being. 1044 00:42:24,500 --> 00:42:27,086 So, you know, he changed my life in that way. 1045 00:42:27,086 --> 00:42:28,629 And he says it a lot. He's like, 1046 00:42:28,629 --> 00:42:30,089 "I'm a life changer." [Laughing] 1047 00:42:30,089 --> 00:42:33,885 He says that to me. [Laughing] It's hilarious. 1048 00:42:33,885 --> 00:42:35,970 She loves herself now. 1049 00:42:35,970 --> 00:42:39,056 She's had to go through all of that darkness. 1050 00:42:39,056 --> 00:42:41,434 She's put in the work. 1051 00:42:41,434 --> 00:42:44,437 I've been through so much and the fact that 1052 00:42:44,437 --> 00:42:47,982 I was able to turn my life around... 1053 00:42:47,982 --> 00:42:51,319 and if I wasn't let go, and the way that I was 1054 00:42:51,319 --> 00:42:53,905 let go from 'Family Matters', I think that 1055 00:42:53,905 --> 00:42:57,492 my path in life would've been different. 1056 00:42:57,492 --> 00:43:00,244 I'm too sexy for my shirt, 1057 00:43:00,244 --> 00:43:02,246 too sexy for my clothes, 1058 00:43:02,246 --> 00:43:06,793 too sexy for my friends. And, ah... ha, ha... 1059 00:43:06,793 --> 00:43:10,963 As a 47-year-old man looking back on 'Family Matters', 1060 00:43:10,963 --> 00:43:14,217 it's pretty awesome. It's pretty cool, you know? 1061 00:43:14,217 --> 00:43:16,135 I mean, it's something that my children will be able to 1062 00:43:16,135 --> 00:43:18,429 look at, their children will be able to look at, and... 1063 00:43:18,429 --> 00:43:20,139 I'm a, I'm a great part of history, 1064 00:43:20,139 --> 00:43:22,141 a great part of Hollywood history. 1065 00:43:22,141 --> 00:43:23,893 They look pretty good. 1066 00:43:23,893 --> 00:43:26,729 Judy, Dad made them. How good can they be? 1067 00:43:26,729 --> 00:43:30,775 [Laughing] 1068 00:43:30,775 --> 00:43:32,401 Of course I know I'll love 'em. 1069 00:43:32,401 --> 00:43:35,363 [Laughing] 1070 00:43:35,363 --> 00:43:39,033 As a Black performer in this crazy business, 1071 00:43:39,033 --> 00:43:43,204 if you don't figure out a constructive way to 1072 00:43:43,204 --> 00:43:46,791 manage the disappointment, and the pain, 1073 00:43:46,791 --> 00:43:48,584 and the knockdowns, and the, 1074 00:43:48,584 --> 00:43:50,503 "Oh my goodness, this is so unfair," 1075 00:43:50,503 --> 00:43:53,297 it will turn into bitterness. 1076 00:43:53,297 --> 00:43:56,717 The game was supposed to be set equally. 1077 00:43:56,717 --> 00:43:58,761 The game is not set equally. 1078 00:43:58,761 --> 00:44:00,429 But now that we know that, 1079 00:44:00,429 --> 00:44:02,265 we know how to play the game now.