TSM goes Step by Step to the Full House of Family Matters

[wnyxmcneal]

bob barron knows a lot about Full House.

Yes, I do. Seen every episode about a million times.

 

[wnyxmcneal]

The series finale of Family Matters may have been the most inexplicable half hour of television I've ever seen. My friend and I were just gobsmacked by the inanity while watching it during a BET marathon of the show during Christmas break.

To be fair, it wasn't supposed to be the series finale.

Yeah, I know that. Though I really wonder where the hell they would have gone with the show if they hadn't gotten canceled. Would it have revolved around the married adventures of Urkel and Laura?


Incidentally, the Full House series finale is also in the Top 5 Most Bizarre finales. The other three; St. Elsewhere, Roseanne, and Alf.

Explain this point further. What makes it bizarre? It's a pretty standard series finale, and not nearly as out there as the other finales listed.

Michelle's 5th birthday was the 100th episode.

I was at the movies all day, so a lot of thsese posts might require a response

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

I just remember the whole amnesia/dream sequence angles being really out there by Full House standards but my memories are foggy since I haven't seen the episode in seven or eight years.

 

[wnyxmcneal]

I saw the last Full House for the first time years after it had originally aired, and I expected that the amnesia plot device was an excuse to shoehorn lots of flashbacks to prior episodes into this finale, and yet contrary to the memories of many in this thread I don't think there was a single one. Am I wrong?

There were no flashbacks, though it was the first time in a while that they had brought up the mom, and it was one of the only times they touched on the fact that Michelle never got to knew her.

Regarding Steve, I thought it was a cool payoff to the Season 8 storyline of DJ trying to find the right guy, and they had already written out both Viper and Nelson.

 

[wnyxmcneal]

I just remember the whole amnesia/dream sequence angles being really out there by Full House standards but my memories are foggy since I haven't seen the episode in seven or eight years.

There was one scene where Michelle's memory talked to her, but that was it. It's really not at the level at the other finales you mentioned. At the end, the family hugs and expresses their love for each other.

One of the few times both Olsens were on-screen together, too. I always hated that Stephanie got the D plot in the finale

 

[wnyxmcneal]

How about when Jesse's "papali" or whatever dies and Michele and everyone else is devastated despite knowing him for like 2 days or so

He really must have made a real impression in those 48+ hours

and yes the eppy where Joey turns heel as a business man when everyone thinks he's a joke is awesome

This is inaccurate. They had known Papouli for years. He showed up in an episode circa 90-91. It's the episode where Jesse gets engaged to Becky, and some Greek guy has the hots for DJ. This is also the episode where we meet Greek Michelle.

Joey turned heel twice:

The first was when he gets his big comedy gig bumped because Phyliss Diller shows up and takes his spot.

The second is when the family points out that he's a man child who watches cartoons, so he couldn't have possibly stolen a car. He flips on them for thinking he's a joke.

Urkel's appearance on Step By Step was the second episode. A shrewd way of making sure people get into the show.

 

[strummer]

Hard to believe that Full House has been in syndication for almost 20 years now. I think it started in 1991

and Wiki reminds me that they started airing in syndie in the summer of 91. Yep I remember them airing on my NBC affiliate in the morning hours ( I think it was 11)

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Looking at the wikipedia entry on TGIF brought up a lot of long dormant memories. I had totally forgotten about the black Party of Five show they had in the mid '90s and the proto Two and a Half Men where a single dad raised his kid with his brother who was the placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers towards the end of TGIF's run. And the post Full House Olsen Twins vehicle Two of A Kind. That was a favorite of my fourth grade class and needless to say, we were devastated when it was canceled. I wonder if their cute red headed babysitter went on to do anything after the show.

*checks IMDb*

...nope!

 

[strummer]

This is inaccurate. They had known Papouli for years. He showed up in an episode circa 90-91. It's the episode where Jesse gets engaged to Becky, and some Greek guy has the hots for DJ. This is also the episode where we meet Greek Michelle.

I had forgotten he was in that episode. This also had Stamos in a dual role as his Greek cousin or was that another episode?

and looks like I combined the Joey heel turns. I think the Phyllis Diller episode is where he turn into the stereotypical 80s businessman

 

[wnyxmcneal]

Stamos as Stavros was after the Papouli death episode, as Uncle Jesse came back from Greece with Stavros in tow.

Yes, the Phyllis Diller episode is where he becomes Joe Gladstone for a week before he realises that comedy is his true passion.

On Our Own wasn't a really Party of Five rip-off. The first season was meant to piggyback on the success of Mrs. Doubtfire. Of course, that storyline ran its course, so by Season 2 it was more about the family, particularly on the hunky teenager. Jurnee Smollett was on that show, though apparently the whole family was an R-n-B group.

Brother's Keeper had the kid from Liar Liar. Two Of A Kind/Brother's Keeper/Boy Meets World was the last gasp of TGIF as they cancelled it and in 2000-2001 decided to air more older skewing sitcoms, which of course, flopped.

In 2003, they began airing more family oriented sitcoms again, including George Lopez, but again, it only lasted a season

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Brother's Keeper had the kid from Liar Liar. Two Of A Kind/Brother's Keeper/Boy Meets World was the last gasp of TGIF as they cancelled it and in 2000-2001 decided to air more older skewing sitcoms, which of course, flopped.

Don't forget Odd Man Out starring the aforementioned, much hyped EVD.

Also, wasn't The Norm Show dumped in the post TGIF lineup for its last season?

Fake edit---misremembered the title of Norm's first post SNL sitcom. Don't want to be strangled by a hobbit!

 

[KingPK]

I just remember the whole amnesia/dream sequence angles being really out there by Full House standards but my memories are foggy since I haven't seen the episode in seven or eight years.

There was one scene where Michelle's memory talked to her, but that was it. It's really not at the level at the other finales you mentioned. At the end, the family hugs and expresses their love for each other.

One of the few times both Olsens were on-screen together, too. I always hated that Stephanie got the D plot in the finale

Stephanie had a plot in that episode?

 

[wnyxmcneal]

I'm always wary about saying bad stuff about Maine. Wouldn't want a fat man to sit on me!

By the time it moved to Fridays, The Norm Show was called Norm, due to a trademark dispute because of a comic strip called The Norm. So you were kind of wrong.

The 2000-2001 TGIF lineup was Two Guys and a Girl Trouble With Normal, Norm and Madigan Men. Madigan Men was really funny and had the best theme song ever, which I can never find and would kill to have.

All 4 shows were cancelled and I believe ABC went to dramas the next season

 

[wnyxmcneal]

I just remember the whole amnesia/dream sequence angles being really out there by Full House standards but my memories are foggy since I haven't seen the episode in seven or eight years.

There was one scene where Michelle's memory talked to her, but that was it. It's really not at the level at the other finales you mentioned. At the end, the family hugs and expresses their love for each other.

One of the few times both Olsens were on-screen together, too. I always hated that Stephanie got the D plot in the finale

Stephanie had a plot in that episode?

Yes, Stephanie was in the school production of Romeo and Juliet along with a guy in her class that she liked. She was very excited about doing a kissing scene with him, though he was a pussy and kept pussing out.

Michelle ended up cock-blocking (vag blocking?) her and Stephanie flipped on her. Then Michelle ended up having the accident and Stephanie felt guilty, even though she was completely justified.

Again, pretty shitty way to go out, although Danny didn't have anything to do either.

 

[A Happy Medium]

When did Full House move to Tuesdays?

Also. Step by Step was probably my favorite. I always thought it was funny how they used Six Flags: Great America for the wide shot at the end, and then threw in some water to make it look better.

 

[Psycho Penguin]

When did Full House move to Tuesdays?

Also. Step by Step was probably my favorite. I always thought it was funny how they used Six Flags: Great America for the wide shot at the end, and then threw in some water to make it look better.

Season 5.

 

[wnyxmcneal]

1991.

I like Step By Step, but it got really bad once Carol was pregnant and Lily was born. Last two seasons were unwatchable.

 

[A Happy Medium]

Yeah....and, looking back, that Disney episode was pretty lame.

 

[Richard]

One thing about Step by Step that always bugged me was that Lilly's last name was "Foster-Lambert". I know the idea was to give her both surnames used by the family, but Foster was Carol's ex-husband's name. I wonder if the writers even though about how odd this was.

 

[Psycho Penguin]

What bothered me about Step by Step is where the fuck Brandon and Cody went to. I don't think they explained either one. It's like when lily born, the other kids became expendable. And thats another show that got screwed by ending without a finale.

 

[NoCalMike]

Did Comet make it through the entire Full House series? I seem to have lost my memory of the last couple seasons, I know I watched them all, but they seemed to be much more forgettable and the fact that it seems I run into a lot more of the older episodes in syndication.

 

[Psycho Penguin]

Yes. I remember him in the finale.. I remember Michelle asked if she still liked dogs, which was a HUGE goof since you can't 'forget' you like dogs, it's an instinct.

(Fun facts: The first Comet was the first Air Bud, and I named my dog Comet after that dog.)

 

[SFH]

"Danny, Martin Tanner is dead."

 

[Taxman]

Three pages in and no mention of the groundbreaking Black History Month episode of Family Matters? They dropped the N Bomb on TGIF for crying out loud.

 

[wnyxmcneal]

BUTT knows that that is one of my favourite episodes.

re: Comet- Yes, Comet stayed throughout the show's run. In fact, the season 8 premiere was based around him, as he ran all throughout San Fran. In fact, I think that episode was even filmed on location.

Re: Step By Step-

Brandon went to hang out with Judy Winslow. Cody they explained, he just went back on the road. He showed up in the next to last episode, which was awesome. The final episode involved Lily trying to sabotage the family's plan to sell the house, and she eventually succeeded. It sucked

 

[Byron The Bulb]

That dog was the coolest part of the show. They should have given him a spin-off.

 

[Haws Bah Gawd]

I remember the gun violence episode of Family Matters. Laura gets beat up by some bullies, and eventually a friend of hers' gets shot by the same bullies because they wanted her shoes. At the end of the episode both Jaleel and Kelly(I think that was the name of the actress that played Laura) speak to the viewing audience (out of character, of course) about the dangers of guns. Pretty heavy stuff for TGiF. The "African-American person" episode was also pretty heavy by TGiF standards.

 

[wnyxmcneal]

Her name was Kelly Shaneygne (sic) Williams.

In that episode they hold a rally for people to turn on their guns, and no one does until the end. Carl also laments that back in the day, the only thing they had to fear was a zit before the prom.

 

[Mattdotcom]

Carl shoulda talked about pulling his gun and shooting a kid with a toy laser gun.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

I remember the gun violence episode of Family Matters. Laura gets beat up by some bullies, and eventually a friend of hers' gets shot by the same bullies because they wanted her shoes. At the end of the episode both Jaleel and Kelly(I think that was the name of the actress that played Laura) speak to the viewing audience (out of character, of course) about the dangers of guns. Pretty heavy stuff for TGiF. The "African-American person" episode was also pretty heavy by TGiF standards.

Also, Freddy Prinze Jr made his acting debut in that episode. He had two lines during the scene at "The Give Up Your Guns" rally.

And I've said it once and I'll say it again but the best episode of Family Matters is clearly the one guest starring The Bushwhackers. As a mark, I was confused as hell when they showed up as bad guys.

I can't believe a TGIF thread is about to be four pages long and I started it. Well, I can believe the latter half. I cause the former's not to hard when you realize me and bob have made up about 75% of the posts.