Randomness Ensues

Steve Urkel Goes Afro Samurai In Fox ADHD Parody Short


Family Matters is one of those shows that was inescapable in the ’90s. (Debatably) Lovable nerd Steve Urkel’s shrill voice and quotable catch phrases ensured that the show would have a permanent spot in the TGIF lineup. With each week, viewers couldn’t wait to see what Urkel would do to the hapless Winslows.

Then 1998 hit, and nobody wanted to deal with a now-grown Jaleel White that was still playing a late-blooming teenager.

Fox ADHD decided that the gawky geek needed a bit of love. To bring Urkel into the 21st century, though, he’d need a bit of a makeover.

Enter Urkel-san: a 90-second short that places Urkel and the Winslows into a setting that would be right at home in Afro Samurai. Carl Winslow turns into a bloodthirsty demon, Urkel-san unleashes the power of Stefan as an Afro Samurai wannabe, and Laura well… Laura’s Laura.

It’s a silly, fun little parody that plays wonderfully on the nostalgia of ’90s kids everywhere.

About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

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