Tag: Full House

Father’s Day 2015: 5 TV dads who stepped up to the plate

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on June 20, 2015.

It’s hard to be a dad.

Raising a family is difficult enough when it’s planned, but life can be full of unexpected surprises.

In honor of Father’s Day, here are some TV dads who stepped up to the plate.

LUKE DANES, “GILMORE GIRLS”

While Luke (Scott Patterson) helped take of Rory Gilmore, the daughter of his love, Lorelai, fatherhood wasn’t really on his radar.

And then April Nardini (Vanessa Marano) showed up. The smart preteen won over the heart of the diner owner after she conducted a science experiment to determine who her father was.

And once Luke got to know her, he couldn’t let her go, and he even fought for custody when her mother moved.

BARNEY STINSON, “HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER”

Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), the legendary playmaker, was probably the last character on HIMYM anyone would expect to have a child.

But after his “perfect month,” Barney found out he would become a father. No one was quite sure how he would handle it, but the precious moment in the series finale where he holds his daughter for the first time and promises to always love her was one of the best scenes of the finale.

JOEY GLADSTONE AND JESSE KATSOPOLIS, “FULL HOUSE”

Give these two credit for stepping up to take care of Danny’s three girls.

They dropped everything in their lives — including volatile, elusive careers in comedy and music — to move in and love three young children … and they clearly had no idea what they were doing.

And even when Jesse (John Stamos) tried to run away from responsibility in season 1, he came back, knowing how much those girls meant to him.

MR. TURNER, “BOY MEETS WORLD”

The hunky teacher becomes … a dad?

Mr. Turner, everyone’s favorite English teacher, took care of Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong) when his parents flaked out on him.

Shawn needed a solid influence, and Mr. Turner was that, along with being the cool guy to whom Shawn could relate.

UNCLE PHIL, “THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR”

Uncle Phil had kids, but taking care of his nephew wasn’t really in his plan.

Will (Will Smith) was the opposite of Uncle Phil (James Avery). Chaotic vs. reserved. Wild vs. proper.

They didn’t always get along, but in time, Uncle Phil provided the fatherly influence Will needed in his life.

Honorable mentions go to:

Which TV dads do you think stepped up to the plate?

Top 5 TV weddings to make you feel better about yours

Ah, wedding season.

June is here, which means many of us are dressing up and watching friends and family declare their love for their partners. But not every wedding goes off without a hitch.

In no particular order, here are my top 5 TV weddings:

Monica and Chandler, “Friends“

Monica and Chandler are definitely the more stable couple in the “Friends” world. But their wedding was not so stable.

Chandler, of course, freaked out, and Joey almost missed the ceremony due to a movie role.

Plus there was the whole who’s-actually-pregnant question.

In the end, they got married, vowing to stand by each other, and Chandler even tried to dance at the reception.

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Lily and Marshall, “How I Met Your Mother“

On their wedding day, nothing seemed to go right for Lily and Marshall, who were finally tying the knot after a broken engagement, a cancelled Atlantic City at-sea wedding and many years together.

The harpist went into the labor, Lilly’s ex showed up and Marshall shaved a part of his head. Lilly tried to keep it together, but she finally panicked.

And no, the actual wedding wasn’t the focus, but their intimate outside ceremony was, and it even included some crying from Barney, who claimed no one should get married.

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Miranda and Steve, “Sex and the City“

The perfect wedding for the down-to-earth couple.

Miranda wasn’t the one who necessarily wanted marriage, but after proposing to longtime (albeit on-and-off) lover Steve, she finds making the moment not so over-the-top and cliche was a challenge (“I have a child – the jig is up!” she says to someone trying to help her find a dress for the occasion).

But the couple finds a beautiful, tranquil garden. And Miranda wears an understated maroon outfit. Simple and fit for them.

Jim and Pam, “The Office“

Another wedding gone wrong. Quite the theme on TV.

This lovely couple tries to go with the punches, but in the end, they sneak off to marry in a secret ceremony.

Who wouldn’t want a guy like Jim? He’s a sweetie who tries to make the best of the situation.

And here’s where everyone swoons: “And Plan A was marrying her a long, long time ago. Pretty much the day I met her.”

*Note: This is the only episode of “The Office” I’ve ever watched.

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Becky and Jesse, “Full House“

Any time Jesse sings on “Full House,” I’m in.

Course you have to watch him finally make his way to the chapel first before his wedding. And that trek includes skydiving, a truck of tomatoes and a bus filled with a gospel choir.

But by the end, with all the 80s/90s fashion, there’s crooning to “Forever” and “Jailhouse Rock,” so you can’t go wrong there.

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What are your favorite TV weddings?

In honor of Father’s Day, the best TV dads are…

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on June 13, 2014.

Since I picked the best TV moms for Mother’s Day, it’s only fair I pick the best TV dads for Father’s Day.

My top picks are:

Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, “The Cosby Show“

Not only was this a breakthrough show for African-Americans on TV, it featured one great dad. He’s so great, in fact, he’s No. 1 on the “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time” list by TV Week.

Dr. Huxtable knew how to be tough, but he could always make his kids laugh.

He poked fun at his kids too, especially his son, Theo, including the time when Theo begged to get his ear pierced.

All fun aside, he taught his children how to love and how to grow.

Danny Tanner, Jesse Katsopolis and Joey Gladstone, “Full House“

With this ’90s sitcom, it was impossible to pick just one of these three “dads.”

Danny was the biological dad, Jesse was the uncle and Joey was the lifelong friend. They all took care of Danny’s three children when his wife died.

Danny needed Joey and Jesse. He needed support.

The trio worked together, balancing each other out.

Phil Dunphy, “Modern Family“

Phil might not know how to be the best dad, but he tries.

And he tries with flair.

He’s not afraid to be a dork or to be vulnerable.

Plus he wants to help, even if it’s in a quirky way. I would love to have his “Phil’s-osophy” book.

Burt Hummel, “Glee“

On Glee, it’s crystal clear how much Burt loves his son, Kurt, because of the journey Burt has taken on the show.

Viewers saw him accept his son, who is gay; stand up for his son; and even learn the “Single Ladies” dance as a high school graduation gift.

The scenes Burt and Kurt have together always bring a smile to my face or a tear to my eye.

Other notable fathers include:

Obviously there are many more great TV dads. Let me know your favorites in the comments.

Also, don’t forget to tell the father figure in your life how much you appreciate him.

The best TV moms are…

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 8, 2014.

In honor of Mother’s Day 2014, I thought this would be a good opportunity to pick the best TV moms.

My top picks are:

Lorelai Gilmore, “Gilmore Girls“

I’ve already talked about my love for  “Gilmore Girls” before, but I am a big fan of the character Lorelai.

She’s a fun mom. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the Gilmore Girls movie nights or the all-night junk food binges?

But she’s also a tough mom. Lorelai could be blunt with Rory, her daughter whom she had at 16, and she wasn’t afraid to tell her to be careful.

Clair Hanks Huxtable, “The Cosby Show“

Clair Huxtable balanced it all. She was a lawyer, a wife and a mom to five children.

The Cosby Show was one of those great, almost timeless family sitcoms. And Clair was a mom who kept everyone together.

She laughed with her children, taught them life lessons and still made time to poke fun at her husband, playfully, of course.

Rebecca Katsopolis, “Full House“

Rebecca Katsopolis was the woman needed to balance out all the men on this ’90s family sitcom.

Before she was a mom to twins Nicky and Alex, she became a stand-in mom for D.J., Stephanie and Michelle, her co-host Danny’s three daughters.

Rebecca taught D.J. how to properly apply make-up and offered to take Stephanie to a mother-daughter slumber party.

She was the mom they needed when Danny was unsure how to proceed. And viewers loved her for it.

Amy Matthews, “Boy Meets World“

Amy took care of three somewhat-wild children, and her husband, who sometimes made rash decisions. And she managed to be honest with her children about growing up.

Most of all, she took Topanga and Shawn in as her own.

Other notable mothers include:

Obviously there are many more great TV moms. Let me know your favorites in the comments.

Also, don’t forget to tell the mother in your life how much you appreciate her.

‘Fuller House’: Mixed feelings on Netflix reboot of ‘Full House’

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Feb. 29, 2016. Season 2 of “Fuller House” hits Netflix on Dec. 9.

We may not always have the milkman, the paperboy or evening TV…but we do still have “Full House.”

It’s just “Fuller House” now.

The much-anticipated reboot premiered Friday, and I have mixed feelings about it.

Let me first say that I love “Full House,” but I wasn’t ready for reboot.

I didn’t think “Girl Meets World,” the reboot of “Boy Meets World,” worked. While it was fun to see the cast members reunite, the Disney show missed the spark of its predecessor.

“Fuller House” has a similar problem. But, after the first two episodes, it improved.

The Netflix show’s first episodes were jam-packed with nostalgia and old gags. From “How rude!” to an Elvis baby costume, a lot was there…including an awkward break-the-fourth-wall moment acknowledging the absence of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who played Michelle Tanner in “Full House.”

The premiere takes place 29 years after “Full House.” It focuses on D.J. Fuller (formerly Tanner) (Candace Cameron Bure), who’s trying to balance work and family life after her husband died.

So, basically it’s “Full House” with reverse gender roles. Guess who checks in to help out? Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber).

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just makes some plots, such as episode’s 2 moving in and sharing rooms, boring. And the first episode was filled with exposition, even though I bet 90 percent of people watching the show already knew the basics.

But by episode 3, the plots improved. They weren’t all rehashed from “Full House,” and they incorporated the use of modern items such as smartphones, Uber and social media.

Issues such as parenting and moving on cross over well between the two shows, but “Fuller House” takes a moment to look at other problems such as infertility. It was refreshing to see this type of comedy tackle bigger issues while still maintaining its loving, always-ending-in-a-hug moments.

At times the plots came out forced, such as a “Dancing with the Stars”/“Dirty Dancing” moment at a club with Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy and D.J.’s high school boyfriend Steve’s (Scott Weinger) attempts to date her. It also could be stale with the old jokes and format (one conflict for the kids, one for the adults), but it still provided laughs.

The problem with these reboots is that expectations are too high, so it’s impossible to please people. But I will say “Fuller House” is better than “Girl Meets World.”

If you loved “Full House,” give “Fuller House” a chance, but try to keep your expectations at bay. It’s still enjoyable, but you won’t be saying “Holy chalupas,” the catchphrase of Max, DJ’s middle child.

What do you think of “Fuller House”?

‘Full House’ shouldn’t be revived, even if it ‘Boy Meets World’ has been

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Sept. 11, 2014.

Just because a show was good in the ’90s doesn’t mean it will be good now.

Case in point: “Girl Meets World.”

Sorry, Disney, but the show doesn’t work.

So, John Stamos, as much as I love Uncle Jesse, please don’t revive “Full House.”

“Girl Meets World,” a spin-off of “Boy Meets World,” should’ve been destined for success. It had the nostalgia factor. It was going to have Cory and Topanga. And old cast members of “Boy Meets World” kept coming out of the woodwork to guest star. Even Minkus (Lee Norris) and Harvey “Harley” Keiner (Danny McNulty) came on the show.

Not to say “Girl Meets World” is not successful — it has been renewed for season 2, and it’s the No. 1 TV show for kids 2 to 14, according to Entertainment Weekly. But it’s failing to conjure the magic of its predecessor.

When I finally sat down to watch some episodes of “Girl Meets World” a few weeks ago, I was disappointed.

I’m a huge fan of “Boy Meets World.” I’ve seen every episode multiple times. I hate when Cory and Topanga aren’t together. I love how the parents take care of Cory and his friends.

But “Girl Meets World” does not have the same dynamic.

Yes, it’s a family show. Yes, Riley (Cory and Topanga’s daughter) and her friend, Maya, have similar characteristics to Cory and Shawn. But the show comes off as a cheesy rehashing of the original, with copied to-the-tee plot lines and forced moral lessons, which came off so naturally on “Boy Meets World.”

Part of the problem with “Girl Meets World” is simply the passage of time. Cory and Topanga were wonderful to watch as kids and students, but they aren’t as relatable as adults. Not everyone who watched “Boy Meets World” is at the stage in life where kids are on the horizon, much less in middle school — which is where Riley is.

This is probably why “Friends” will never return. As much as fans clamor for a reunion, co-creator Marta Kauffman has made it clear the show is about being in your 20s — when your friends are your family — so a movie reunion will never happen. Chandler and Monica had a family at the end of the show’s 10-year — why would we want to watch that?

If the key to the “Girl Meets World” was Cory and Topanga, it failed. They aren’t young anymore. They have responsibility, and it was more fun to watch them struggle through life than to see them have it all together.

That’s why “Full House” shouldn’t be revived. Word on the street is Stamos wants to bring the show back and many cast members are on board.

If you are going to bring a TV show back, it needs to have value and purpose. Besides nostalgia, a “Full House” revival doesn’t have value or purpose, and it’s not a fresh idea, either.

“Boy Meets World” and “Full House” still do well in reruns on various networks. It’s partly for nostalgia, but it’s also partly for the fact that the shows are timeless, minus the fashions. (I hope feathered bangs never come back.)

But let’s stick to reruns only, please. Or funny Jimmy Kimmel Live staged reunions. Enjoy.

‘Dancing with the Stars’: the good, the bad and the in between

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on April 28, 2014.

“Dancing with the Stars” is in its 18th season. It premiered in 2005.

Over time, the show has adapted to keep current. There have been host switch-ups, instant dances, partner switch-ups and more.

But are all of these changes good? Here’s my take on the good, the bad and the in between.

The Good: Theme nights

Almost every week on DWTS has a theme. Latin night, Disney night … some are simple, while others are more elaborate.

But the themes give the show focus, and they are fun.

Disney night was new this season. I loved seeing the cast dress up as Cinderella, Ariel and more. Plus, I love listening to Disney music.

But the best theme night, which has been around the past few years, is the most memorable year night.

Celebrities choose a year that meant the most to them and pick the song. Viewers get to see an honest, vulnerable side to the celebrities, or at least more insight into moments we remember.

Who didn’t love Candace Cameron Bure (who played D.J. on “Full House“) dancing to “Jailhouse Rock” as an homage to her years on the ’90s sitcom. Not only that, but Lori Loughlin (Rebecca) and Andrea Barber (Kimmy) were shown during the rehearsal footage. As someone who owns the entire series on DVD, seeing a reunion brought a huge smile to my face.

The Bad: Host switch-ups

When the news hit that Brooke Burke-Charvet was out of her DWTS hosting duties, I was happy. I thought she was stiff and uninviting.

But then it was announced that Erin Andrews was her replacement. And she’s just as stiff. Plus, she says things to the dancers that are way inappropriate. As funny as it may be to have a “DWTS baby,” Andrews asking James Maslow of Big Time Rush about his relationship with Peta Murgatroyd really crossed a line.

In truth, though, no one can compare to Tom Bergeron. He has the talent and the experience to make a great host. But can we please bring Samantha Harris back? She at least knew what she was doing.

The In Between: Guest judges

I’m all for more opinions. Another opinion can be really helpful.

Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli are great judges. They have great chemistry and a good balance on feedback.

In recent seasons, the ABC reality competition has brought in a fourth judge from time to time. It can be fun, if it’s the right person.

Former DWTS pros make great guest judges, because they understand the show and the process. Plus, they know the other contestants, which makes for great TV. Hey, Julianne Hough, did you ever “phone in” a routine?

But bringing in guest judges just for the sake of ratings is annoying. People like Robin Roberts and Redfoo of LMFAO are fun, but they can’t offer true critiques.

The Good: Graphics makeover

This season, new graphics were implemented for when the scores are given.

It’s a small detail, but the look is cleaner and up-to-date.

The Bad: Partner switch-up

This was just implemented this season. Viewers got to choose the new pairings using Twitter hashtags.

It was an odd week. Some people performed well with new partners; others crashed and burned.

It was only the fourth week of competition, so the celebrities were just getting into a good rhythm with their pros. Maybe if the switch-up happened at the halfway point, it would’ve worked out better.

Overall, it was gimmicky. There was so much hype around it, for just one week. To me, it wasn’t worthwhile.

The In Between: The music

I liked the Harold Wheeler Band. They had personality. I was sad to see them go this season.

But, the new band, led by Ray Chew, is good as well. But, there have been a few technical malfunctions this season, and that can really throw off dancers.

Also, while it’s nice to use pre-recorded music to get the true vibe of the song, the increased use of it is frustrating.

Live dancing should yield live music. Plus, as a musician, I appreciate that the band gives people jobs in the entertainment industry.

What do you think? What changes have you appreciated? Did you like the partner switch-up? Let me know in the comments.