By Tonisha Johnson

Hollywood is brimming with the world’s newest stars just waiting to make a huge impact. But not many can say they’ve had a lasting one. Jaleel White can. His career as the ever popular nerd ‘Steve Urkel’ stemmed 9 years when ABC’ Friday night line-up was apart of the party-goers weekend. The world watched young Jaleel mature into the opposite of his nerd legacy, when the ladies found out Mr. White was gorgeous underneath those suspenders and high-water pants.

And Jaleel continues his comedy run with ‘Who Made the Potatoe Salad’? Playing a San Diego man headed to meet his fiancé’ parents isn’t easy. Does Jaleel still have his funny bone? You’ll have to watch when the DVD, Who Made the Potatoe Salad, releases this November.

What was it like working with Eddie Griffin on this project?

Jaleel White: Eddie’ cool. I’ve known Eddie for a minute since our stations were right next to each other; when I did Grown Up for UPN and he did Malcolm and Eddie. So just casually passing each other in the hall. Once you’ve gotten to a certain level you’ve kind of met everybody. But he’s a cool cat. He’s about his comedy and that’s what I love.

What kind of genre do you prefer; because you’ve done comedy mostly?

Jaleel White: Right. I’m still a comedy guy at heart. When people are watching me out there, I want them to have a good time. I think people gravitate to a movie screen or television screen because they’re trying to escape… you know? And they just want a few moments of laughs to forget about what’s going on in their lives. Because of that reason alone I really do love comedy.

With this film your meeting in-laws for the first time. Have you ever personally experienced that?

Jaleel White: I do well with in-laws. I’ve never been married so I’m speaking out of terms but I do well with her parents so-to-speak. So I’ve never really had that problem because I’ve always had a job. So from the time I was like 13, 14, and 15 – anytime someone’s dad wanted to sit me down on the couch, I was like ‘well, what do you want to talk about man’?

Like, yeah because I got it all together right?

Jaleel White: I wouldn’t say altogether but you know… I know my tax returns look like yours…

LOL.

Jaleel White; From that stand point, I’ve never really had problems in that department. I can imagine many people do.

Talk about your transition from being a child actor to an adult actor.

Jaleel White: It’s tough. I’ve got to be honest, it’s tough. I was very fortunate, when I was a kid, to work for the producers that I worked for… they gave me a wealth of training. Not only did they put some duckets in my pockets which helps but they gave me a wealth of training. So as I move forward I can continue to… a lot of people forget that I have at least about 215 episodes of laughter in my head. And that helps when you’re trying to determine what’s good and what’s not. I’ve received every invitation possible for this whole reality TV exploitation period. And I can’t really knock it. I’m a fan of ‘Project Runway’ and a lot of other different things you know? I won’t beat up the genre entirely but I just know that I don’t have no place in it. It makes it kind of tough sometimes because you know you have this whole new legitimate sec of television that I can’t participate in. But on the film side, it seems like everything has been pushing me towards film.

Do you feel like they think your career is over when you’re offered those ‘reality’ type shows?

Jaleel White: I mean definitely. Those people are looking for cheap entertainment. Their frustration is like ‘aww damn, he doesn’t need the money’. I just think it’s very unfortunate when I see certain people do it and they don’t need to do it. There are certain individuals where it’s like, why are you doing this? And there are certain individuals where it’s like ok go ahead and do it.

Why did you take on this project?

Jaleel White: I read the script and I laughed out loud. The director is on the come up. He’s someone I wanted to continue running with in my generation so that meant more to me than anything. I was actually at Prince’ house for a party and Tichina Arnold comes walking up the steps and she grabs me by both of my shoulders and says, “I have one question for you”? And I said yeah and she said ‘Who Made the Potato Salad’? Lol. I was like oh god here we go. She said it was funny as hell. So, I don’t know how she had gotten a copy but she got a copy. And most importantly she thought it was funny as heck. If it’s a good story, I got to do it.

With all those reality shows offers based on the notion that your career is dead; how did you react to the rumors about your death?

Jaleel White: To be honest it was more annoying than anything. I would have been distraught if somebody had frozen my bank account. I was going to a Yankee game in New York and my phone just started blowing up back in June. About 5 or 600 phone calls that began with ‘I’m Alive’ and that was just more annoying than anything. It was definitely something done maliciously. I haven’t responded to it then and I have to now because of different projects that are going to start coming out. In the end it caused me no harm. My life is terrific. Its funny how people will treat when your show is on the air and its on and poppin’ and when your show is now in syndication. It is interesting because you know it’s like... it’s really the internet world that wants to sign you a legacy. Its cool just make sure you do it with some people that’s a little more well established. Cause that’s what I did. Don’t assign me to these cats who didn’t make any money and didn’t stay on for 9 years. I’m really proud of my legacy. How many people have 200 episode packages?

You’ve been acting for most of your life; how has the industry changed from then to now?

Jaleel White: I say the number one way the industry has changed is this craze to be famous. It’s everywhere. When I was a kid and going on auditions; the other kids in school didn’t know what I was doing. And quite frankly, I didn’t even understand what I was doing. My mom wanted to keep me in the business for a certain time period because it would help me raise money for going to college. I come from 2 parents, high school sweethearts who went to Crenshaw High and it really wasn’t that complicated. And all of a sudden this incredible accident happened when I was 12 years old till I was 21. Now the difference is, everybody wants to be famous. They want to be famous and they don’t want to be good at anything. They just want to be seen. I want free gift bags.

Hey man, sometimes those gift bags suck.

Jaleel White: My boy was telling me about a gift bag he got the other night. He said it was like a T-Shirt, a bottle of shampoo and I forgot what the other thing was. But it was like 3 things that don’t belong together in a gift bag.

LOL

Jaleel White: For me all my life, it amazes me and it’s kind of been surreal for me to, you know, to continue to press forward. But the only thing I’ve really cared about was to continue to be good. Whatever role I played I had to be convincing. These cats nowadays, they don’t care about that, they just care about being famous. Between You Tube and Break.com you can make yourself famous.

Have opportunities for blacks in the industry improved?

Jaleel White: I would have to say my opinion on that has kind of matured. I’ll never forget Will Smith saying ‘I love being black’. He said ‘when Tom Cruise does Enemy of the State, it’s just another movie’. When he does a movie like ‘Enemy of the State’, it’s an event for his people. Lol. In the weirdest way… how can I say it… if your white, you’re just competing against more people? If you’re black then you’re competing against an executive that’s saying you can’t sell to anybody but black people. Each race and each side has its own inherent problems.

Talk about your role in ‘Dreamgirls’?

Jaleel White: Aww, that’s a rumor. From what I hear it’s going to be a spectacular movie. I will tell you that my hunches are somebody’ gonna get nominated out of that. We’re gonna be so proud as a people.

Who would you nominate out of that film?

Jaleel White: Oh. Eddie in a heart beat. And Jennifer Hudson. Now mind you, this is what I’ve heard.

So talk about your role in ‘Dreamgirls’?

Jaleel White: Well, there’s really no confirmation that I’m even in the movie. I guess you’ll just have to go see the movie.

What did you enjoy most about making ‘Dreamgirls’?

Jaleel White. The size of the production; it’s just an incredible thing to be associated with. An average person will never be able to comprehend what it is to be working on a 4 or 5 million dollar production on a television show versus working on a 100 million dollar movie. The production is crazy; if Beyonce just throws a look over her shoulder, it’s a 2 hour lighting set up. They making people look sexy. It turns into something else; like I’m happy to be apart of this and I want to hold up my end of the bargain.

What can we look forward to seeing from you?

Jaleel White: A lot more film efforts. I can definitely say that. Next year is going to be a really exciting year.

What advise would you give others who aspire to be like you?

Jaleel White: Gladys Knight said this when I was a kid to my mother; fame doesn’t always come with fortune. You want to be very careful that if you are on the road to becoming famous that you want to receive all the accoutrements that come with it. Love what you do and know that you do it well. That’s key.