Premiered this week thirty years ago..and man was it bad. Yeah I have
gone on and on about the corny 1st season. This is supposed to be a
celebration so let’s focus on the good. And despite what some may think,
there was good in this show. Was it brilliantly written comedy? No. Was
it compelling drama? Heck no. What it was wholesome family
entertainment, and what’s wrong with that? I managed to find ten
episodes that I like the best. It was supposed to be five but…yeah, as
usual that didn’t happen.
Before we do my list let’s go through teh CA one. The episodes they picked (spoilers I guess if you haven’t see that video) are “Another Opening, Another No Show” which isn’t a bad episode but not on my list. “Road to Tokyo” which I hated, simple as that. “Silence is not Golden” which I did a whole review of discussing how this epispde tried really hard..but was just to soft. And “The Wedding” which I discussed at length before, for me it was a disappointing episode ruined by an inane plot. Oh and did I miss one? Well there was one I agreed with which I will save for the end.
So here is my top 10, in broadcast order. I wanted to cover every season so no more than two per season. Oh and nothing from Season 1. Sorry, I just couldn’t pick one. Though the Kirk Cameron episode comes close.
“Goodbye Mr.Bear” (Season 2)
This episode begins as a run in the mill one about Danny trying to rally the family into a house cleaning day. Things gets interesting when Stephanie loses Mr.Bear, and she is very upset. Turns out the girls mother had given Stephanie Mr.Bear the day she came home with Michelle. The results in the family watching the video of that day, and our one time seeing Pam Tanner. This turns into a very sweet episode that I have to like. Oh and FYI, Michelle hid Mr.Bear.
Season two was better as they fixed a lot of things. It wasn't perfect, did we need the grandparents as regulars? Things got a little better with season three including a Scott Baio appearance which was good and of course we would meet Comet, who stuck around unlike other sitcom pets. The episode where Stephanie drives a car through the house is classic. Just watch this clip and see how Michelle nails her line "
“Aftershocks” (Season 3)
I bought this one up awhile back, this episode takes place shortly after the San Francisco Earthquake in 1989. We see the family just sort of going with their lives, except for Stephanie who is unwilling to leave her dad’s side. The acting is very good here and the reason for Stephanie’s behavior is sound, even if they get to it a little to easily. I’ll share the clip again, where we see Stephanie freak out which is so out of character that it makes the scene, well, disturbing.
“Those Better Not Be the Days”(Season 3)
Yeah this episode is a gimmick, but damn if I don’t enjoy anyway. When the girls begin acting ungrateful the guys imagine life years later when the girls are adults and still ungrateful. The real sad part is that future Danny imagines isn’t as far off thirty years later. At least the girls aren’t still at the house…oh yeah. Anyway, It’s a cute episode and the flashback scenes are great because the guys are clearly just having a good time with the concept.
sorry for the lousy video
Shape Up (Season 4)/Crimes and Michelle's Demeanor (Season 4)
Season 4 was ruled by Michelle, one of my favorite episodes is about her first punishment and she is adorable every second. And "Shape Up" is a great example with her stealing the show. Of course that’s just the B story. The A story is what it’s here. So many episodes try and fail to cover something serious. For instance there was an episode about Alzheimer’s, that failed. This is good because of the talk Danny and DJ have at the end, which is one of the better talks of the series.
Since that clip sucked, here is one from “Crimes and Michelle’s Demeanor” which I love
“Secret Admirer” (Season 4)
If you’ve read my stuff you should know I am a sucker for the little bottle shows that aren’t very heavy on plot. Just characters interacting. And man does this show cover that criteria. Beautifully! Thanks to that little brat Rusty a love letter circulates with everyone thinking someone else sent it to them. It’s silly but it also works. I love this episode.
Before I continue let me repeat, I loved Season 4, but I wanted to include the length of the series so I had to roll on. But Fuller House (not the new series the episode about Jesse leavings to live with Rebecca) and Stephanie Gets Framed (Steve Urkel one) deserves mentions.
“The Devil Made Me Do It” (Season 5)
This episode came around just about the time Michelle had grown old enough that she was losing that cuteness that defined her character. Basically that’s what this episode is, with Michelle talking to a devil and angel version of herself. Of course Mary Kate and Ashley working together for once. First she disobeys Jesse and then runs away when Jesse tells Danny. The solution is cliche, Jesse tricks her into wanting to come home after she runs away, but it’s still good. The clip below involves the B plot of the episode.
Season 5 was only ok, there some were good like the episode where DJ gets her learners permit, and yes I skipped the episode where Rebecca’s gave birth to Nicky and Alexander, it’s just ok.
“Grand Gift Auto” (Season 6)
This is another small episode, and I really like it. I think it’s because the format is different. There’s basically one story, and the whole family is there from start to finish unlike so many episodes where a character is stuck in a B story cameo and then is gone. It also takes a while to get to the point which is refreshing once in awhile. After it turns out Joey’s gift to DJ, a car, was stolen the family keeps him out of jail but convincing the cop Joey is a lovable, trusting guy. This makes Joey think the family just laughs at him, so they all point out that he does have a place in their family.
Season six was dominated by DJ’s first real boyfriend Steve who I never really liked. I was glad when he was gone from the show. I already commented on the Disney one awhile back in a crossover with my friend Moviefan12, and let’s just say it was not an oversight!
"The Test" (Season 7)
Who am I to pass up a good gimmick? After getting all worried about her SAT's DJ has a nightmare which is just so silly. But a funny kind of silly. And hey, Vanna White cameo!
“The Last Dance” (Season 7)
Finally, an episode dealing with a heavy subject is done right. The subject is about the death of Jesse’s grandfather. We meet the man and spend some time with him (plus we met him back in Season 4) so there is a better connection when he passes. The emotions aren’t sugarcoated, there are real tears. And it’s really well done. Especially at this point where the episodes were getting goofier. The only gripe is that the episode is so serious that Joey basically disappears.
There was a follow up with Jesse and his cousin, with John Stamos in a dual role, which is good too. We met Gia in an episode about Stephanie being pressured to smoke. Speaking of Gia….
“Stephanie’s Wild Ride” (Season 8)
Looking it over the final season was better than I thought. The first episode set in San Francisco was great. Another episode about Kimmy getting drunk which has a fantastic scene between her and DJ (where we finally learn the girls lost their mother from a drunk driver). Though the season wasn’t perfect, the donkey episode??? I like this one because D.J. has finally reached the point where she can step in as surrogate mother. She does this when Stephanie wants to go with her friend Gia with some hot rodders. DJ refuses to let her go because it’s dangerous. The final scene between the two is fantastic. Gia was the character I hated at first but learned to really like, and i do think the episode played it safe not seriously injuring her in the car accident. I guess “some bumps and bruises” is just as good.
So I mentioned in the start that I did agree with one on the CA list. That episode is the final episode, “Michelle Rides Again, Part 2”. I really liked the final episode the way it harked back to the past without resorting to gimmicks like clips. The best scene is when the guys have to tell Michelle, who has amnesia, where her mother is. Man is that heartbreaking! Here is the final scene of the series :
This was all of course my list, feel free to comment on any episodes you think I may have missed. Ok as I said this show wasn’t sophisticated and brilliant and it probably wont change your life or anything….but I’ve enjoyed it for thirty years with no end in sight. I leave you with the opening theme which set a standard for goofy 80’s theme’s!
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