On December 15, 1989, an episode of Family Matters aired named Laura’s First Date. Laura Winslow was accidentally set up with two guys, one of whom was a doofus. Family Matters co-creator Michael Warren named the one-time character after his friend, Steve Erkel.



The character (Urkel) was an amazing success, saving the show (which was in the ratings dumpster), and inspiring a dance, a cereal and a boardgame.



Meanwhile, Steve Erkel-with-an-E found it very hard to make restaurant reservations. He would get prank calls and endure a decade worth of “Oh, like the Nerd?” comments when he mentioned his name.



On June 6, 2012, I accidentally started playing a character named Adam Goldberg.

And last night, I realized that I’ve gone from from a fun friend of a show to a guy who can’t get a table. What was once a good gag (”Wait a minute!” vs “Did I do that?”) has turned into random ass strangers shit talking me, and me paying $13* for the privilege.



Which was not one of the labors of Hercules, to be sure, but it’s still something.



I’m not saying I got nothing out of Harmontown; my apartment is decorated with the work of friends I met there. I have a signed copy of Dan’s book in the corner of the room, a Christmas coaster. There’s a bead bracelet that says Mulraine denoting one of fan-cords I otherwise confuse. I’ve gotten a set of dice and some fanart. I’ve been to Dan’s mansion a few times, met (and befriended!) many people I wouldn’t have met in other walks of life.



But I can’t be the person I’m treated as any more. (And this is why Dan quit Reddit, then Twitter, and soon Foursquare and Smoke Signl or whatever comes next.)



I‘m not pointing fingers; it’s not like there weren’t clues, but like Urkel-with-a-U, I confused attention for acceptance. So after three years, whose decision is it?



I did that.

