Full House - The Complete First Season Review

Set in San Francisco, family-friendly sitcom Full House centers around the adventures of a widowed father, his three children, and his two best friends. Danny (Bob Saget of America's Funniest Home Videos ) is a straight-laced sportscaster, Joey (David Coulier) is a fun-loving stand-up comedian, and brother-in-law Jesse (John Stamos) is an Elvis-obsessed rocker. Danny's children include 11-year-old D.J. (Candace Cameron), five-year-old Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and baby Michelle (big-eyed future superstars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen). Created by Jeff Franklin ( Laverne and Shirley ), the show ran on ABC for eight seasons. In the pilot, "Our Very First Show," Joey and Jesse, who are both looking for a place to live, move into Danny's townhouse after the death of his wife (who was killed by a drunk driver). The deal is that they'll have to help look after the kids. It's a task for which both men are ill equipped. The fun comes from the trouble the girls get into each week and the many messes Joey and Jesse create in their attempts to set things right--particularly when it comes to cooking, cleaning, and diaper-changing--but also from the cheesy 1980s styles on display, like Jesse's big hair, spandex pants, and string ties. The Complete First Season includes all 22 episodes plus the original un-aired pilot with John Posey as Danny. (In Franklin's commentary on "Our Very First Show," he notes that Paul Reiser was also considered for the role.) Noteworthy guest stars include Phyllis Diller ("But Seriously Folks"), Stacy Q ("D.J. Tanner's Day Off'), and Candace's brother Kirk "Growing Pains" Cameron ("Just One of the Guys"). While Full House was never a magnet for major awards, the program developed a large following during its long run (while the house got fuller yet), followed by an even longer after-life in syndication. --Kathleen C. Fennessy