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Jaleel White talks hosting new show ‘Totally ‘90s House
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Add Decider on Google More On: jaleel white HGTV's 'Totally 90's House' Exclusive Sneak Peek: Brian Austin Green, Jodie Sweetin, And More Celebs Celebrate The Aesthetics Of Everyone's Favorite Decade Is There a New Episode of 'Skeleton Crew' Tonight? When Does Episode 3 Drop on Disney+ Jaleel White Had To Change Steve Urkel's Pants To Conceal His "Bulge" On 'Family Matters': "It's Getting A Bit Uncomfortable Watching Him In Tight Jeans" Stream It Or Skip It: 'Make Me Scream' on Prime Video, A Haunted House Sampler Without Many Scares For Jaleel White , the resurgence of the '90s in pop culture today is a matter that is totally "deeper than trends." Instead, the Family Matters alum credits the "connectivity" of the era, which he feels is "missing from this decade."
"We were all watching the same things. We were all listening to the same music. We were taking the same cues," he explained during a visit to DECIDER's studio earlier this week. "And we had fewer channels quite frankly."
Now as the host of Totally '90s House — HGTV 's new home renovation competition series that pits two teams of other '90s stars against each other to transform houses that are stuck in the '90s — White, along with contestants Jodie Sweetin ( Full House ), Beverley Mitchell ( 7th Heaven ), Brian Austin Green ( Beverly Hills, 90210 ), Keshia Knight Pulliam ( The Cosby Show ), Melissa Joan Hart ( Sabrina the Teenage Witch ), and Matthew Lawrence ( Boy Meets World ) get to bask in the nostalgia of the decade that launched them to stardom, while also having a good laugh about the design trends that, unlike them, have gotten worse with age.
"Yeah, what was up with all that carpet in the homes back in the '90s? Especially in the bathroom!" White teased, before later asking, "Whose idea was it to have fuzz on the actual toilet seat?"
During our chat, White also opened up about reuniting with his fellow '90s stars in Totally '90s House and Ben Affleck's "Good Will Dunkin'" Super Bowl commercial, and putting his "own soulful spin" on the comedic influences he translated into Family Matters ' Steve Urkel. Check out our conversation below.
DECIDER: We're going to be talking all things Totally '90s House.
So how was this show pitched to you, and was hosting the show an immediate yes from you?
Yeah, it was an immediate yes. It was a slow walk to a go, but it was an immediate yes, though. The '90s were such an iconic decade and I just identify with so many moments and things and iconography associated with the '90s. That part made it a no-brainer. But the show was pitched to me as two teams of celebrities who basically were from the '90s competing against each other in a DIY contest of who can renovate a home that's stuck in the '90s and bring it into the now. And I get to be the host, so that part's kinda cool.
So fun. And you got to reunite, like you said, with these fellow '90s icons: Jodie Sweetin, Keshia Knight-Pulliam, Beverly Mitchell, Brian Austin Green, Matthew Lawrence, and Melissa Joan Hart. Were you at all involved in recruiting this stellar group of talent to the show?
I was not involved in recruiting. I was given the heads up about certain people, but that was entirely HGTV who made it for this season.
I saw in an interview that you compared teaming up with these stars to a high school reunion. What was it like catching up with them?
You know what? All of our lives have intersected for so long. My life has intersected with Keshia since literally her first day on The Cosby Show . And you know, Brian Austin Green, and obviously I was on Full House [with Jodie Sweetin]. So our lives had been doing like this [waves hands across each other] so much that when this opportunity came — even Melly Jo — I mean I call her Melly Jo, Melissa Joan Hart. I've acted for her because she's a director. She did a Lifetime movie [ The Santa Con ]. I played a character in that for her. It just made sense. It was just like, okay, somebody finally got around to connecting the dots between all of our careers.
As the host of Totally '90s House , were you jealous that you didn't get to get your hands dirty during the renovation process?
Nah, I've renovated enough homes of my own. I actually have. I know enough about chair moldings and cherry wood for one lifetime. But it really was cool getting a chance to interact with a lot of the expert designers, and even learning about my buddy Drew Lachey. I had no idea how far he has come as an expert in interior design.
Completely. And was there a team that you think you would have joined if you were a contestant?
Oh… well see, I can't say that because then I would be tipping my hand. That was very clever of you! That was a clever play. I have to be impartial as the host, but both teams are good. Both teams give it their best shot.
The show really takes viewers back to the '90s with homes decked out with carpeted flooring, valance curtains…
Yeah, what was up with all that carpet in the homes back in the '90s? Especially in the bathroom!
Whose idea was it to have fuzz on the actual toilet seat? Like, what a terrible concept.
Was there a specific '90s home trend that really stuck out to you, or one that reminded you of your own childhood home growing up?
Gosh, you've got the got the brass fixtures everywhere. You've got a lot of glass, a lot of mirrors. A lot of looking at oneself throughout the house, alright? A lot of cherry wood, a lot a built-in entertainment centers that were made for deep TVs. Those are all gone. A lot of curving staircases with wood and the sticks. You know, there's so many different conceits that as soon as you go into a house, you can just tell they were just like, "Ooh, that's a lot of stone on that fireplace. Do we really need that? This is a very Flintstone fireplace" [laughs].
Throughout the show, teams are given walkie talkies, pagers, and landlines to communicate in sort of this time capsule. Did ...
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