Hello, The Internet!™, and welcome to this spinoff episode of The Daily Zeitgeist we’re calling The Iconograph: a show about icons.

In this episode, Miles and Jack are joined by writer/actor/comedian/podcaster Jacquis Neal to talk about another young scientist who stole America's heart (and probably did something bizarre and farcical with it):

Steve Urkel, as played by Jaleel White

We'll explore the character's creation, transmogrification, eventual cancellation and much more!

Hello, The Internet!&trade;, and welcome to this spinoff episode of The Daily Zeitgeist we&rsquo;re calling The Iconograph: a show about icons.
In this episode, Miles and Jack are joined by writer/actor/comedian/podcaster Jacquis Neal to talk about another young scientist who stole America's heart (and probably did something bizarre and farcical with it):
Steve Urkel, as played by Jaleel White
We'll explore the character's creation, transmogrification, eventual cancellation and much more!

There’s more news and less comprehension today than any historical period that didn’t involve literal witch trials, and trying to stay on top of it all can feel like playing a game of telephone with 30 people, except everyone’s speaking at the same time and like a third of them are openly racist for some reason. From Cracked co-founder Jack O’Brien, THE DAILY ZEITGEIST is stepping into that fray with some of the funniest and smartest comedic and journalistic minds around. Jack and co-host Miles Gray spend up to an hour every weekday sorting through the events and stories driving the headlines, to help you find the signal in the noise, with a few laughs thrown in for free.

The Daily Zeitgeist

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts. 

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts.&nbsp;

Podcasts from iHeartRadio

Icon #2 Steve Urkel: He DID Do That

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3c278c5e-86fa-4437-8033-b39f005911be/transcript

On Today’s episode of Muppet Trendsure Island, Jack and Miles discuss the Curse of Home Alone 2, Peter Cullen and Optimus Prime, the flash flood in the Himalayas, and the Police Deputy of the Year. 

On Today&rsquo;s episode of Muppet Trendsure Island, Jack and Miles discuss the Curse of Home Alone 2, Peter Cullen and Optimus Prime, the flash flood in the Himalayas,&nbsp;and the Police Deputy of the Year.&nbsp;

Muppet Trendsure Island 8/27: Home Alone 2, Optimus Prime, Police Deputy of the Year

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6584f5d9-b9f6-4c1a-8a6f-b4b301598fd3/transcript

In episode 2116, Jack and Miles are joined by writer, humorist, filmmaker, and author of Horror's New Wave: 15 Years of Blumhouse,Dave Schilling, to discuss… Jed York Net Worth 200M Of Parents Money... Caught In A Trailer Park Trying To Pay For Sex, Undercover Cop That Tried To Buy Weed At Concert Also A Congressman? Brilliant Midterm Strategy Sir! Cops Are 3D-Printing Fake Flock Cameras As “Bait”, How The Cat In The Hat Became The Killer Clown Of 2026 and more!
49ers owner Jed York arrested on suspicion of engaging in prostitution
Is Sex Work Decriminalization the Answer? What the Research Tells Us
Prosecutors drop prostitution charges against New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, more than year after scandal broke
Prosecutors Say There’s No Evidence of Sex Trafficking In Robert Kraft Case
Robert Kraft: A case study in caution for the anti-trafficking sector
NFL PERSONAL CONDUCT POLICY League Policies for 2022
GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HIV AMONG FEMALE SEX WORKERS: INFLUENCE OF STRUCTURAL DETERMINANTS
East Palestine Demographic Statistics
49ers’ sale of minority stake sets record with $8.6 billion valuation
Hakeem Jeffries: "No one from the Trump Cartel is getting a pass."
Police Are Putting Up Fake 3D-Printed Flock Cameras and Swooping In to Arrest People Who Vandalize Them
'Cat in the Hat' panic in England and Ireland: Police on alert
'Killer cat in the hat' sparks police response after knife-wielding man told residents to 'lock your doors' in major UK city
Cat in the Hat ‘serial killer’ isn’t real, say police
Viral 'Cat in the Hat' TikTok trend sparks fun fake videos but also real fear
The Cat in the Hat is terrorising TikTok — but how did this horror trend get so out of hand?
What's not enjoyable about the minor panic over a Cat in the Hat prowling the sunny south-east?
Police issue statement after creepy 'Cat in the Hat’ spotted in Warrington
Creepy Cat In The Hat
Cat in the Hat is a Stalker
Cat in the Hat Horror
VIDEO: Hewitt PD arrests Grinch at city's Christmas Tree Lighting
4.6 million views and a police statement: TikTok turned Dr Seuss into a horror story
The original Cat in the Hat costume worn by Mike Myers in the ‘CAT IN THE HAT’ film is now being auctioned off by Propstore.
Killer clown sightings mapped out across the UK as craze continues to terrify
10 years ago, a wave of ‘killer clowns’ wreaked havoc on our streets – but then what happened?
Not Clowning Around: How Clowns Went From Funny to Scary
​The great clown panic of 2016: ‘​a volatile mix of fear and contagion’
Mike Myers Was Legally Required to Be in His Worst-Rated Movie
Dueling Horse-race Films. Cat in the Hat woes. T3 Wraps it up. Angels Play at The Playboy Mansion.

LISTEN: Bokeh Creeper by Solomon

In episode 2116, Jack and Miles are joined by writer, humorist, filmmaker, and author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Horrors-New-Wave/Blumhouse/9781668094259">Horror's New Wave: 15 Years of Blumhouse,</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dwschilling">Dave Schilling</a>, to discuss&hellip; Jed York Net Worth 200M Of Parents Money... Caught In A Trailer Park Trying To Pay For Sex, Undercover Cop That Tried To Buy Weed At Concert Also A Congressman? Brilliant Midterm Strategy Sir! Cops Are 3D-Printing Fake Flock Cameras As &ldquo;Bait&rdquo;, How The Cat In The Hat Became The Killer Clown Of 2026 and more!
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49712639/49ers-owner-jed-york-arrested-pleads-no-contest-misdemeanor-charges">49ers owner Jed York arrested on suspicion of engaging in prostitution</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.aclu.org/publications/sex-work-decriminalization-answer-what-research-tells-us">Is Sex Work Decriminalization the Answer? What the Research Tells Us</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/24/robert-kraft-prosecutors-drop-sex-case-against-patriots-owner.html">Prosecutors drop prostitution charges against New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, more than year after scandal broke</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/robert-kraft-sex-work-trafficking-florida-823153/">Prosecutors Say There&rsquo;s No Evidence of Sex Trafficking In Robert Kraft Case</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.freedomunited.org/robert-kraft-caution-for-the-anti-trafficking-sector/">Robert Kraft: A case study in caution for the anti-trafficking sector</a></li>
<li><a href="https://nflpaweb.blob.core.windows.net/website/Departments/Salary-Cap-Agent-Admin/2022-NFL-Personal-Conduct-Policy.pdf">NFL PERSONAL CONDUCT POLICY League Policies for 2022</a></li>
<li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4297548/">GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HIV AMONG FEMALE SEX WORKERS: INFLUENCE OF STRUCTURAL DETERMINANTS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ohio-demographics.com/east-palestine-demographics">East Palestine Demographic Statistics</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/49ers-sale-of-minority-stake-sets-record-with-8-6-billion-valuation">49ers&rsquo; sale of minority stake sets record with $8.6 billion valuation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://x.com/RepJeffries/status/2092047513310171610">Hakeem Jeffries: "No one from the Trump Cartel is getting a pass."</a></li>
<li><a href="https://futurism.com/future-society/police-fake-3d-printed-flock-cameras-arrest">Police Are Putting Up Fake 3D-Printed Flock Cameras and Swooping In to Arrest People Who Vandalize Them</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.haberler.com/cat-in-the-hat-panic-in-england-and-ireland-police-2303285/">'Cat in the Hat' panic in England and Ireland: Police on alert</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/yorkshire-cat-in-the-hat-sparks-police-response-knife-wielding-man">'Killer cat in the hat' sparks police response after knife-wielding man told residents to 'lock your doors' in major UK city</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/24/cat-in-the-hat-serial-killer-isnt-real-say-police/">Cat in the Hat &lsquo;serial killer&rsquo; isn&rsquo;t real, say police</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyqy29jn74o">Viral 'Cat in the Hat' TikTok trend sparks fun fake videos but also real fear</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.euronews.com/culture/2026/08/24/the-cat-in-the-hat-is-terrorising-tiktok-but-how-did-this-horror-trend-get-so-out-of-hand">The Cat in the Hat is terrorising TikTok &mdash; but how did this horror trend get so out of hand?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thejournal.ie/internet-diaries-giant-cat-in-the-hat-ireland-meme-wexford-waterford-carlow-7136991-Aug2026/">What's not enjoyable about the minor panic over a Cat in the Hat prowling the sunny south-east?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/police-issue-statement-creepy-cat-125200140.html">Police issue statement after creepy 'Cat in the Hat&rsquo; spotted in Warrington</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@gtk_unknown2/video/7676279869029862678">Creepy Cat In The Hat</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jxz.lz/video/7676009554919820577">Cat in the Hat is a Stalker</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jordankillan2/video/7677326074476236054">Cat in the Hat Horror</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/hewitt-pd-arrests-grinch-at-citys-christmas-tree-lighting/500-4008164f-e6e7-4399-82bb-b9096e87b53e">VIDEO: Hewitt PD arrests Grinch at city's Christmas Tree Lighting</a></li>
<li><a href="https://gulfnews.com/world/46-million-views-and-a-police-statement-tiktok-turned-dr-seuss-into-a-horror-story-1.500650533">4.6 million views and a police statement: TikTok turned Dr Seuss into a horror story</a></li>
<li><a href="https://x.com/DiscussingFilm/status/2086120708682154274">The original Cat in the Hat costume worn by Mike Myers in the &lsquo;CAT IN THE HAT&rsquo; film is now being auctioned off by Propstore.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://metro.co.uk/2016/10/10/killer-clown-sightings-mapped-out-across-the-uk-as-craze-continues-to-terrify-6182865/">Killer clown sightings mapped out across the UK as craze continues to terrify</a></li>
<li><a href="https://metro.co.uk/2026/08/16/10-years-since-took-streets-killer-clowns-back-29371443/">10 years ago, a wave of &lsquo;killer clowns&rsquo; wreaked havoc on our streets &ndash; but then what happened?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://abcnews.com/US/clowning-clowns-funny-scary/story?id=43137276">Not Clowning Around: How Clowns Went From Funny to Scary</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/oct/31/the-great-clown-panic-of-2016-a-volatile-mix-of-fear-and-contagion">​The great clown panic of 2016: &lsquo;​a volatile mix of fear and contagion&rsquo;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://movieweb.com/mike-myers-required-cat-in-the-hat/">Mike Myers Was Legally Required to Be in His Worst-Rated Movie</a></li>
<li><a href="https://movieweb.com/dueling-horse-race-films-cat-in-the-hat-woes-t3-wraps-it-up-angels-play-at-the-playboy-mansion/">Dueling Horse-race Films. Cat in the Hat woes. T3 Wraps it up. Angels Play at The Playboy Mansion.</a></li>
</ol>
LISTEN: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-143022275/soloman-bokeh-creeper">Bokeh Creeper by Solomon</a>

Hakeem Jeffries = Aspiring Undercover, Cat In The Hat-phobia 08.27.26

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/73be501b-78a3-4872-b07c-b4b20142dbfc/transcript

On this episode of Trended Too Soon, Jack and Miles discuss The loss of icons Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, The Hanover Institute Public Policy - the AI generated news site that's creating "human grade" pro Israel propaganda, H&R Block's reality show Responsibility Island, and how to open your refrigerator when the power's out.

On this episode of Trended Too Soon, Jack and Miles discuss The loss of icons Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, The Hanover Institute Public Policy - the AI generated news site that's creating "human grade" pro Israel propaganda, H&amp;R Block's reality show Responsibility Island, and how to open your refrigerator when the power's out.

Trended Too soon 8/26 Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Hanover Institute, Responsibility Island

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/050acd8f-d030-4d83-8bba-b4b2013db7d8/transcript

Icon #2 Steve Urkel: He DID Do That

In 1 playlist(s)

The Daily Zeitgeist

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips