"I would love to be on 'Breaking Bad,'" says Jaleel White, best known for playing teen nerd Steve Urkel on nine seasons of the sitcom "Family Matters." He repeats for emphasis: "I would love to be on "Breaking Bad."
Hahaha, you may say. "Breaking Bad"? The incredibly gritty and intense AMC drama about a chemisty teacher turned methamphetamine kingpin? Steve Urkel, he of the high-waisted pants and nasal catchphrase, on "Breaking Bad"? That, you laugh, would be like the dad on "Malcolm in the Middle" starring on "Breaking Bad."
Except that Malcolm's dad -- Bryan Cranston -- does star on "Breaking Bad." And has won three consective Emmys for it.
Cranston's success in breaking his "Malcolm" typecasting has been one model for White as he continues to establish himself outside the role that made him famous. Now a writer as well as an actor, the 35-year-old has worked steadily since "Family Matters" wrapped in 1997, logging recent turns "Psych," "House," and "NCIS."
We talked with him at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, where he is promoting his upcoming SyFy series, "Total Blackout," in which contestants have to undergo a series of frightening challenges in total darkness. (They may have to reach into a tank, for example, with no idea what's inside. In the dark, an eel and a teddy bear can be equally frightening.) White hosts the show.
Now a sharp-dressed, deep-voiced man who bears no resemblance to Urkel, he talked with us about his own fears, why he sympathizes with Bristol Palin, and his respect for both Cranston and Giancarlo Esposito, who played "Breaking Bad" villain Gustavo "Chicken Man" Fring.
"Total Blackout" is all about facing the things that scare you. What scares you, whether it's a big-picture fear or something like hating snakes?
I probably used to have a fear of failure, personally. But I think I've definitely overcome that. I'm a father now so I have a two-year-old daughter. The second you get that child in this world to help you realize it's not about you. But other than that, I don't like possums.
Why a fear of failure? You were a huge success right out of the gate.
That's the reason why. Because you know how it happened. You know that there's a lot of happenstance, a lot of moon, stars and dust that add up to create success. And you can't control all of that.
