By an "Urkel", I mean a character who has nothing to do with the show concept and is so foreign and alien to it and the intent, but who becomes the breakout star who hijacks the series. The series becomes centered around them, the series mutates to become unrecognizable from the original concept, the other characters become superfluous like some vestigial organ, and the quality deteriorates to ridiculousness. It is the negative, inversion of the "Fonzie", which is a breakout character who does not act as a detriment to the show or the other cast members.
What if Cheers, Moonlighting, or whatever other show was afflicted? Steve Urkel himself was brought in rather last minute from a totally different script, and was intended as a one off guest. Therefore, it may not even be just the concept of a negative breakout character. One could argue Steve Urkel himself as a free floating character that could have latched onto other shows.
What if Cheers, Moonlighting, or whatever other show was afflicted? Steve Urkel himself was brought in rather last minute from a totally different script, and was intended as a one off guest. Therefore, it may not even be just the concept of a negative breakout character. One could argue Steve Urkel himself as a free floating character that could have latched onto other shows.
Last edited: