A nerd is a person seen as overly intellectual , obsessive , introverted , or lacking social skills . Such a person may spend inordinate amounts of time on unpopular, little known, or non-mainstream activities, which are generally either highly technical, abstract, or relating to niche topics such as science fiction or fantasy , to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Additionally, many so-called nerds are described as being shy , quirky , pedantic , and unattractive .
44-401: A nerd is a person who is intellectually knowledgeable or bright, but socially inept. Nerd(s) or The Nerd(s) may also refer to: Nerd Originally derogatory , the term "nerd" was a stereotype, but as with other pejoratives, it has been reclaimed and redefined by some as a term of pride and group identity. The first documented appearance of the word nerd is as the name of
88-464: A board in the hallway so that it would be visible to all their classmates. In an interview with NBC affiliate WMC-TV , Principal Bobby White stated that the general idea is to fight pop culture with pop culture. One teacher at the school claimed to have "Urkeled" up to 80 students per week, although after five weeks, the number dropped to 18. In syndication, Steve is incorporated into the teaser scene of "Rachel's First Date". His first appearance in
132-550: A creature in Dr. Seuss 's book If I Ran the Zoo (1950), in which the narrator Gerald McGrew claims that he would collect "a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker too" for his imaginary zoo. The slang meaning of the term dates to 1951. That year, Newsweek magazine reported on its popular use as a synonym for drip or square in Detroit , Michigan . By the early 1960s, usage of
176-543: A nerd is someone that is not socially adept enough. Additionally, he says that the reason why many smart kids are unpopular is that they "don't have time for the activities required for popularity." Stereotypical nerd appearance, often lampooned in caricatures , can include very large glasses , dental braces , buck teeth , severe acne and pants worn high at the waist. Following suit of popular use in emoticons, Unicode released in 2015 its "Nerd Face" character, featuring some of those stereotypes: 🤓 (code point U+1F913). In
220-431: A nerd, and cause otherwise appealing people to be considered nerdy simply for their intellect. It was once thought that intellectuals were nerdy because they were envied. However, Paul Graham stated in his essay, "Why Nerds are Unpopular", that intellect is neutral, meaning that you are neither loved nor despised for it. He also states that it is only the correlation that makes smart teens automatically seem nerdy, and that
264-955: A perfect duplicate of himself. Myra is initially excited, but eventually realizes that two Steves are too much. Laura proposes that one of the Steves be permanently turned into Stefan, so that she and Myra can both be with the one they love. Stefan becomes a recurring character and eventually proposes to Laura in the ninth season. After weighing her choices in the episode "Pop Goes the Question", Laura chooses Steve over Stefan. Stefan leaves and does not appear again. In 2010, Westside Middle School in Memphis , Tennessee , outlined its dress code policy on sagging pants, asking students to pull them up or get "Urkeled". Teachers would forcibly pull students' pants up and attach them to their waist using zip ties . Students would also have their photo taken and posted on
308-450: A person who is intelligent, respectful, interesting, and able to earn a large salary. Stereotypical nerd qualities are evolving, going from awkwardness and social ostracism to an allegedly more widespread acceptance and sometimes even celebration of their differences. Johannes Grenzfurthner , researcher, self-proclaimed nerd and director of nerd documentary Traceroute , reflects on the emergence of nerds and nerd culture: I think that
352-460: A regular member of the cast in season two. In the opening credits for seasons five to nine, White was the only regular whose character's name appeared alongside his own during the opening credits. Season nine did not have the same credit sequence showing all the actors, it simply listed their names across the bottom of the screen, but White was listed "as Steve Urkel" there as well. Jo Marie Payton , who played Harriette Winslow, admitted that she felt
396-460: Is unrequited until the series' end. Throughout the series, Urkel is central to many of its running gags , primarily property damage and/or personal injury resulting from his inventions going awry or his clumsiness. The character became associated with catchphrases including " I've fallen and I can't get up! ", "I don't have to take this. I'm going home.", "Did I do that?", "Whoa, Mama!", and "Look what you did!" Steve Urkel first appeared in
440-441: Is an alteration of the 1940s term " nert " (meaning "stupid or crazy person"), which is in itself an alteration of " nut " (nutcase). The term was popularized in the 1970s by its heavy use in the sitcom Happy Days . Because of the nerd stereotype, many intelligent people are often thought of as nerdy. This belief can be harmful, as it can cause high-school students to "switch off their lights" out of fear of being branded as
484-617: Is delighted when he comes over, much to Carl's chagrin. Later episodes suggest that Steve's attachment to the Winslows stems from his bad relationship with his own family. Urkel often hints that most of his relatives, including his (never seen) parents, despise him and refuse to associate with him. This culminates in the two moving to Russia without him, and Urkel moving in with the Winslows. The show's plots reveal that Steve has at least four relatives who care about him. They are Uncle Ernie, Uncle Cecil (who, despite his gambling problems, visits
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#1732773278559528-407: Is difference. The yearning to be understood, to find opportunities to share experiences, to not be left alone with one's bizarre interest. At the same time one derives an almost perverse pleasure from wallowing in this deficit. Nerds love deficiency: that of the other, but also their own. Nerds are eager explorers, who enjoy measuring themselves against one another and also compete aggressively. And yet
572-619: Is enamored with the smoother Stefan, but she asks that he turn back into Steve when Stefan's self-centeredness becomes apparent. Steve improves the formula in the season five episode "Stefan Returns". He reduces its negative effects on his personality and invents a "transformation chamber", allowing him to become Stefan at will. He changes into Stefan several times – even while dating Myra – but circumstances force Steve to turn into his normal self again. With his narcissistic tendencies toned down, Laura falls deeply in love with Steve's alter-ego. A major factor in creating and extensively utilizing Stefan
616-482: Is fiercely protective of and obsessed with Laura Winslow, and this admiration extends to the rest of the Winslow family. His attempts to help the Winslows often go awry. This puts him at odds with the family patriarch, Carl , who routinely throws Urkel out of his house. He has been shown to take responsibility for his own mistakes and reimburses the Winslows for damage he's caused. Steve is close to Harriette Winslow, who
660-487: Is most commonly seen wearing suspenders, brightly colored shirts, and high-water pants. His hobbies include polka dancing and accordion playing. His motor vehicle of choice is the small three-wheeled Isetta . Unlike his friends, he is not interested in popular culture or sports, though he enjoys playing basketball and attempts to join the school team. This causes Myra to be attracted to Urkel but he shows little interest in her, mainly due to her stalker behavior. While he
704-411: Is unpopular with his schoolmates, Urkel is a brilliant student and is on a first-name basis with his teachers. He is a genius inventor, and his fantastical but unreliable gadgets (including a transformation device and a time machine ) are central to many Family Matters plots and gags, especially during later seasons. Urkel sometimes breaks the law as a result of peer pressure . He is depicted learning
748-673: The United States, a 2010 study published in the Journal of International and Intercultural Communication indicated that Asian Americans are perceived as most likely to be nerds, followed by White Americans , while non-White Hispanics and African Americans were perceived as least likely to be nerds. These stereotypes stem from concepts of Orientalism and Primitivism , as discussed in Ron Eglash's essay "Race, Sex, and Nerds: From Black Geeks to Asian American Hipsters". Some of
792-463: The Urkel character hogged much of the show's attention and disrupted the close family relationship she had formed with the rest of the cast. Payton took particular umbrage when Jaimee Foxworth , who played youngest sibling Judy Winslow, was dismissed to make more room for Urkel plotlines. Payton felt particularly close to Foxworth, who was the baby of the cast. Payton experienced increasing burnout over
836-588: The Urkel home to keep an eye on him), Aunt Oona from Altoona (played by singer Donna Summer ), who is like a mother to him, and cousin Myrtle. In the series finale, Steve is non-bothered when he tells Laura that his parents won't be able to attend their wedding because their favorite episode of The Mod Squad will be airing in Russia, and later responds to Carl talking about how proud he is of his future son-in-law by saying "Thanks, Dad." Urkel dresses unfashionably and
880-411: The character to audiences upon repeated viewings, the creators added a scene with Steve to the show's fourth episode "Rachel's First Date", which became his first appearance in syndication. Steve joined the main cast beginning with the season-two premiere "Rachel's Place". Family Matters co-creator Michael Warren named the character after his friend, writer and director Steve Erkel. Due to the show and
924-545: The character's tremendous popularity during the early 1990s, Erkel encountered difficulties using his own name. He received many prank phone calls from "Laura" asking for "Steve", and businesses found his name to be suspicious. Warren stated that had he known the character would reappear for years, he would not have named him after his friend. Steve Urkel embodies the stereotype of a socially inept intellectual who means well but often messes things up. Despite his intelligence, his actions often come across as clumsy and foolish. He
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#1732773278559968-502: The consequences when finding himself in situations outside of his control. During the season five episode "Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool", Urkel devises a plan to win Laura's heart. In a spoof of the original Nutty Professor film, he transforms his DNA using a serum, suppressing his "nerd genes" and bringing out his "cool genes". This creates the alter ego Stefan Urquelle, also played by Jaleel White in more stylish attire. Initially, Laura
1012-518: The course of the show because the production staff gave White free rein to misbehave. She felt that the focus on Urkel had made the show jump the shark . She almost quit when the show moved to CBS but agreed to stay for the first several episodes until the role of Harriette was recast. Payton was replaced by Judyann Elder . In an interview with Entertainment Tonight , Payton recalled an instance in which White insisted upon inserting something that would have violated Broadcast Standards and Practices , to
1056-458: The difficulties to White's young age and being surrounded by other teenagers, which VelJohnson (who himself never had children) found overwhelming. On the whole, VelJohnson had "nothing but good memories" of working with White. The Urkel Dance was a novelty dance that originated in the season two episode, "Life of the Party". It incorporated Urkel's hitched-up pants and nasal voice. The dance
1100-525: The figure of the nerd provides a beautiful template for analyzing the transformation of the disciplinary society into the control society. The nerd, in his cliche form, first stepped out upon the world stage in the mid-1970s, when we were beginning to hear the first rumblings of what would become the Cambrian explosion of the information society. The nerd must serve as comic relief for the future-anxieties of Western society. ...The germ cell of burgeoning nerdism
1144-676: The introduction of the Steve Urkel character on the television series Family Matters , nerds have been seen in all races and colors as well as more recently being a frequent young East Asian or Indian male stereotype in North America. Portrayal of "nerd girls", in films such as She's Out of Control , Welcome to the Dollhouse and She's All That depicts that smart but nerdy women might suffer later in life if they do not focus on improving their physical attractiveness . In
1188-473: The late 1990s. American Splendor regular Toby Radloff claims this was the movie that inspired him to become "The Genuine Nerd from Cleveland, Ohio ." In the American Splendor film, Toby's friend, American Splendor author Harvey Pekar , was less receptive to the movie, believing it to be hopelessly idealistic, explaining that Toby, an adult low income file clerk, had nothing in common with
1232-538: The media, many nerds are males, portrayed as being physically unfit, either overweight or skinny due to lack of physical exercise. It has been suggested by some, such as linguist Mary Bucholtz , that being a nerd may be a state of being "hyperwhite" and rejecting African-American culture and slang that "cool" white children use. However, after the Revenge of the Nerds movie franchise (with multicultural nerds), and
1276-487: The mid-twentieth century. Steve Urkel Steven Quincy Urkel is a fictional character on the American ABC / CBS sitcom Family Matters , portrayed by Jaleel White . Originally slated for a single appearance, he broke out to be the show's most popular character , gradually becoming its protagonist . Due to the character's off-putting characteristics, a tendency to stir up events, and his role in
1320-414: The middle class kids in the film who would eventually attain college degrees, success, and cease being perceived as nerds. Many, however, seem to share Radloff's view, as "nerd pride" has become more widespread in the years since. MIT professor Gerald Sussman , for example, seeks to instill pride in nerds: My idea is to present an image to children that it is good to be intellectual, and not to care about
1364-405: The nerd's existence also comprises an element of the occult, of mystery. The way in which this power is expressed or focused is very important. In the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds , Robert Carradine worked to embody the nerd stereotype; in doing so, he helped create a definitive image of nerds. Additionally, the storyline presaged, and may have helped inspire, the "nerd pride" that emerged in
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1408-429: The original broadcasts is in the 1989 episode " Laura's First Date ". In the episode, Carl and Eddie separately set up dates for Laura for a dance or party. The first thing known about Steve is that he allegedly ate a mouse . He later makes reference to a mouse when speaking to Carl, implying that it might be true. Prior to Steve Urkel's introduction, the show was at risk of cancellation due to mediocre ratings. After Urkel
1452-443: The peer pressures to be anti-intellectual. I want every child to turn into a nerd – where that means someone who prefers studying and learning to competing for social dominance, which can unfortunately cause the downward spiral into social rejection. Individuals who are labeled as "nerds" are often the target of bullying due to a range of reasons that may include physical appearance or social background. Paul Graham has suggested that
1496-444: The point that he and Payton nearly came to physical blows with each other. White is one of the few living members of the cast with whom Payton no longer speaks regularly. Still, she speaks well of her experiences, appreciating Urkel's impact on the show's popularity and the resulting residuals . Reginald VelJohnson , in a 2022 interview with Entertainment Tonight , acknowledged that White could be difficult to work with. He attributed
1540-477: The reason nerds are frequently singled out for bullying is their indifference to popularity or social context, in the face of a youth culture that views popularity as paramount. However, research findings suggest that bullies are often as socially inept as their academically better-performing victims, and that popularity fails to confer protection from bullying. Other commentators have pointed out that pervasive harassment of intellectually-oriented youth began only in
1584-491: The show's plotlines, he is considered a nuisance by the original protagonist's family, the Winslows. However, they come to accept him over time. The character epitomizes a geek or nerd of the era, with large, thick eyeglasses , flood pants held up by suspenders , bad posture, multi-colored cardigan sweaters , saddle shoes , and a high-pitched voice . He professes love for his neighbor Laura Winslow. This love often leads to mishaps that trigger plot points and crises, and
1628-410: The show's twelfth episode, " Laura's First Date ", where he is introduced as a nerdy young boy who takes Laura Winslow out on a date. Despite him being madly in love with her, Laura finds Steve grating and doesn't return his affection. While initially intended to be a minor character, Urkel became very popular with audiences for his oddball antics, and became a recurring character. To naturally introduce
1672-479: The song that accompanies the dance was produced and distributed in limited numbers. A T-shirt was also produced featuring lyrics and Urkel's likeness. Rick Sanchez pays homage to The Urkel Dance with "The Rick Dance" in the Rick and Morty episode " Ricksy Business ". At the height of his popularity in 1991, several Urkel-branded products were released. They included a short-lived fruit-flavored cereal, Urkel-Os, and
1716-630: The stereotypical behaviors associated with the "nerd" stereotype have correlations with the traits of Asperger syndrome or other autism spectrum conditions. The rise of Silicon Valley and the American computer industry at large has allowed many so-called "nerdy people" to accumulate large fortunes and influence media culture. Many stereotypically nerdy interests, such as superhero , fantasy and science fiction works, are now international popular culture hits. Some measures of nerdiness are now allegedly considered desirable, as, to some, it suggests
1760-491: The term had spread throughout the United States, and even as far as Scotland. At some point, the word took on connotations of bookishness and social ineptitude. An alternate spelling, as nurd or gnurd , also began to appear in the mid-1960s, or early 1970s. Author Philip K. Dick claimed to have coined the "nurd" spelling in 1973, but its first recorded use appeared in a 1965 student publication at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Oral tradition there holds that
1804-557: The word is derived from knurd ( drunk spelled backwards), which was used to describe people who studied rather than partied. The term gnurd (spelled with the "g") was in use at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by the year 1965. The term "nurd" was also in use at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as early as 1971. According to Online Etymology Dictionary , the word
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1848-423: Was introduced, several scripts had to be hastily rewritten to accommodate the character, while several first-season episodes that had been completed had new opening gag sequences filmed featuring Steve trying to push open the Winslows' front door while the family holds it shut. The addition of Steve immediately helped the show boost its modest ratings. White was credited as a guest star in the first season and became
1892-518: Was popular enough to appear on another show, Step by Step , when the Steve Urkel character appeared in a crossover in the season one episode, "The Dance". Jaleel White also performed the song in character during the 5th Annual American Comedy Awards . Bea Arthur (from Maude & The Golden Girls ) joined him on stage to "Do The Urkel", after which she said, "Hey, MC Hammer , try and touch that !" A promotional cassette single of
1936-483: Was the simple fact that doing the distinctive voice of Steve Urkel was starting to cause damage to Jaleel White's throat, so having him play a character who could speak in a normal voice gave him time to recover (White could still sound like Steve, but with less weight on that he was able to avoid any long-term issues). In the seventh-season finale "Send in the Clones", Steve creates a cloning machine and winds up creating
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