If there’s one thing that Rewatchable’s Freaks and Geeks rewatch has reminded us, it’s how far geeks have come since Urkel and Screech reigned supreme as kings of the nerds.
The idea of the geek has changed dramatically over the years. Gone is the stereotypical pocket protector/suspender wearing egghead, but the intelligence is here to stay. Whether smarts have gained respect or the fashions of those intent on collecting knowledge have just improved with time, geeks on TV nowadays don’t look or sound the same as they used to.
Steve Urkel
If you grew up during the TGIF reign, you know all about Steve Urkel and the glories of the phrase, “Did I do that?” *snorty laugh* Whether he was stumbling into things or just wreaking general havoc on the lives of the Winslow family, Urkel displayed quite plainly that while geeks may be book smart, there’s usually some unfortunate quality to balance the incredible smarts.
In the case of Urkel, it’s his inability to do much of any physical activity or, well, sometimes even walk a straight line that balances the incredible genius that creates the Urkel bot. There’s no geek on TV now that can match the stereotypes checked off by Urkel, and that’s saying something because we have a Sheldon Cooper.
Screech Powers
Right around the same time that Urkel was reigning supreme on Friday nights, there was a second geek that left a distinct impression in the history of geeks on TV. Screech Powers, nerdy best friend to one of the coolest guys at Bayside High, may have looked dramatically different to Steve Urkel, but they had quite a bit in common.
Screech also built himself a robot during his high school years, and he was also physically inferior to his more athletically gifted friends. He may not have worn the typical geek garb, but his tie-dyed t-shirts and high waisted, elastic pants set him apart from the jeans and leather jackets of the ‘cool’ kids.
Stuart Minkus
There are few character names that scream geek from a mile away. Let’s face it, even the names Steve Urkel and Screech Powers wouldn’t immediately cause visions of pocket protectors and black frame glasses if we didn’t already know the faces that go with the names. Poor Stuart Minkus didn’t stand much of a chance.
The most important evolutionary quality to Stuart Minkus is his desire for power and his vision of being everyone’s boss in the not-so-distant future. Minkus knew that he was doomed to be a geek in school, and he wholeheartedly embraced the label. He sucked up to his teachers, he turned in homework early, and he made it his job to ruin each and every curve available.
Sure, he gave in to temptation a time or two, but for the most part, Minkus was happy to be a ‘geek’ and knew that his Eden was lying just past the wondrously awful world of high school.
Sam Weir/Neal Schweiber/Bill Haverchuck
We lump the ‘geek’ boys of Freaks and Geeks together because they each embody one or two qualities of the geek stereotypes of the past while pushing it into new ground as well. Sam Weir is that awkward kid that has the potential to be a total babe if puberty is kind to him. It’s clear that Sam is happy with his choices and just wants the pressures of high school to leave him alone with his friends.
Neal is that precocious kid that wants to grow up too soon, but just hasn’t found his footing yet. Neal’s inability to hold his enthusiasm back at times is reminiscent of both Urkel and Screech. He just can’t harness that passion yet, but there’s hope for him.
Bill Haverchuck is the physical embodiment of the stereotype to a tee. He’s tall, lanky, and when you add in the trademark glasses and general lack of trend awareness when it comes to his clothes, you see him and just think ‘geek’ which is clearly what the show was going for. None of these guys are nearly as awkward as Urkel, so we can see the geek label’s evolution from the coordination-ally challenged, smart guy to more of the ‘I love what I love and I don’t care what you think’ type.
Alex Dunphy
This takes us to the present where we see ‘geeks’ like Alex Dunphy rule our screens. Her label tends to come more from her ‘cool’ sister Haley than anything else, but Alex has taken the label and worn it with pride, which is not uncommon these days. She’s an incredibly smart, driven girl that has embraced her love of cello and A’s with gusto and isn’t afraid to admit it.
Alex Dunphy would proudly wear a ‘geek’ button as a badge of honor, and she’d probably carry a bag of them to hand out to anyone that asked her for one. She represents the newest version of the ‘geek’ stereotype.
She’s a pretty girl that thinks there are more important things going on in the world than having a boyfriend or finding the perfect hairstyle for her face shape. Sure, she has boy trouble just like any girl her age, she just refuses to let it change or affect her very promising future, a quality geeks of any era would be proud to call defining.
Stiles
‘Geek’ culture has come into its own in the last decade or so, as the idea of being a passionate fan of properties like Star Wars or Harry Potter has evolved from being ‘dorky’ to being ‘geek chic.’ Teen Wolf‘s Stiles doesn’t fit the physical or study-driven stereotype that’s been handed down from Urkel to Minkus to Alex Dunphy. He’s a different type of ‘geek’ altogether.
Stiles’ geekdom comes more from standing out in a crowd than anything else. Yes, he’s a Star Wars fan. Yes, he may not know exactly what to do with his feelings toward Lydia (think season 1 Stiles). His brand of ‘geek’ comes more from existing outside the norm than anything else.
He and his best friend, Scott, are simply not the cool kids, and even being a werewolf doesn’t change that… much. All we can say is, being a geek on TV sure has come a long way from Urkel in the late 80s.
Need more ‘Freaks and Geeks’? Check these out:
Freaks and Geeks: Where are they now?
Why Freaks and Geeks deserves a rewatch: A superfan’s account
Everything I know about Freaks and Geeks I learned from tumblr
Fandom Throwback: What 1999 looked like in pop culture
Glee vs. Freaks and Geeks quiz: How well do you know your McKinley High Schools?