Tag: Fuller House

Upfronts 2017: 3 takeaways for upcoming TV season

The sun may be out, but I’m more excited to stay in and watch these new shows.

Networks hosted upfronts presentations over the last week, presenting all their new shows and lineups for the fall and midseason.

Here are three takeaways:

‘American Idol’ is back…on ABC

Apparently the singing reality shows aren’t dead yet.

It’s been only one year since “American Idol” went off the air, but it’s being revived on a new network after a reported bidding war among multiple networks.

This move is beyond me, because “AI” had been dwindling in popularity for years, with more focus on the judges than the winners.

If it can go back to its Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood days, great. Katy Perry was the first judge announced, and I can see her vibing with the other judges and singers. Simon Cowell will not be returning, however. He declined, plus he judges NBC‘s “America’s Got Talent.”

CW owns superhero shows

Does Greg Berlanti ever sleep? Or does he live at the CW office?

Berlanti produces multiple shows for the broadcast network, including all of the superhero shows.

CW will gain yet another superhero show in “Black Lightning.” The new action drama will not be part of the Arrowverse, so crossover episodes won’t extend to five.

But still, that’s a lot of superheroes on one network.

Reboots galore

“Roseanne.” “Dynasty.” “Will & Grace.”

After so-called success of “Fuller House” and “Gilmore Girls,” networks are clamoring for that nostalgia glory. I don’t either reboot was that successful, but I get the capture-the-old mentality (even if I also think it’s super risky).

I didn’t watch “Roseanne,” “Dynasty” or “Will & Grace” in their time, so I’m a bit behind. I’m hoping they’ll be on Netflix this summer.

Also, here are 3 new shows I’m excited to watch this fall:

  • “Young Sheldon” (CBS): I can’t deny my love for “The Big Bang Theory,” so count me excited for this prequel about your favorite physicist during his childhood.
  • “The Good Doctor” (ABC): I’m nervous how this show will handle itself since it focuses on a character with autism, but I think it could be a great conversation starter. My suggestion? Take notes from “Speechless.” Also, after his run on “Bates Motel,” I’m ready to see more Freddie Highmore on TV.
  • “Alex, Inc.” (ABC): If this show is three-quarters of what Zach Braff‘s other TV show, “Scrubs,” was in its early seasons, I’ll be happy.

Mother’s Day 2016: 5 TV moments when moms don’t have it all together

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 4, 2016.

While moms are sometimes expected to be superheroes, it’s not always the case.

Moms are only humans, so even they mess up, freak out and/or need help some days.

Here are five moments where TV moms did just that:

RACHEL, “FRIENDS”

Episode: “The One Where Emma Cries,” season 9

First-time mothers learn a lot as they go. For new mom Rachel, that included letting her daughter sleep.

The day she brings home Emma, her newborn daughter with Ross, Rachel is so enamored that she decides to hold her sleeping baby, which wakes her up.

She should’ve listened to Monica, who’d advised against it. Emma wails for hours, and Rachel can’t figure out how to calm Emma down.

Fortunately she has friends to help, especially Monica, who seems to have the way to make Emma sleep.

 

CLAIRE, “MODERN FAMILY”

Episode: “Under Pressure,” season 5

Sometimes a reality check can be good.

Out of the three Dunphy kids on “Modern Family,” Alex is by far the smartest. But she’s also a perfectionist, and SAT prep gets to her so much that she decides to see a therapist after a birthday meltdown.

On the same episode/day, her mom, Claire, goes to parent-teacher conferences. By the way, Claire is the type of mom who wants her kids to have fun … and maybe didn’t do as well as Alex in school.

While Alex realizes she works so hard to be noticed, Claire realizes Alex’s classes are a lot to handle … and then stresses out in front of teachers.

The mother-daughter pair meet up after the therapy session, and Claire tells Alex how proud of her she is.

 

DJ, “FULLER HOUSE”

Episode: “Our Very First Show, Again,” season 1

Raising three kids with someone helping you is hard enough … imagine handling that on your own.

After her husband dies, DJ Fuller has family and friends help her raise her three boys. But they all have other obligations.

When they have a goodbye party and Jesse sings “Forever” to his wife, Rebecca, she tears up a bit.

Then, the next day, she has a sick child, work, a dog who’s about to give birth, and more.

So when she goes to take care of her baby, she talks to him, saying she’s scared and unsure because she doesn’t know how she’ll handle everything.

Little does she know her family and friends, who are about to leave, can hear her through the baby monitor.

Of course, this sets the reboot in motion, as sister Stephanie and best friend Kimmy decide to step up for DJ.

 

KITTY, “THAT ’70S SHOW”

Episode: “The Kids Are Alright,” season 6

When Red Foreman has a heart attack, he’s forced to rest and not work.

That means his wife, Kitty, has to pick up the slack. A lot of slack.

While Eric, their son, is preparing to leave town for college, Kitty picks up extra shifts at the hospital to help pay for everything, on top of taking care of her husband and the house.

But once Eric realizes Kitty can’t handle it all — he catches her doing laundry at about midnight because she’s between shifts and it’s the only time she can, and then finds her asleep on laundry — he agrees to stay home to help out.

 

LILY, “HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER”

Episode: “Band or DJ?” season 8

While most of “How I Met Your Mother” revolves around Ted and his love life (this episode is no different), there are moments where other characters get some focus.

In this episode, Lily and Marshall are dealing with the struggles of having a newborn, their son Marvin. In this episode, he’s crying … and producing empty diapers.

So Lily takes Ted up to the roof to talk. And she admits she wishes she wasn’t a mom sometimes, and that she hasn’t painted in months because she’s busy taking care of Marvin.

But she pulls through for her son, just like Ted has to move on from Robin. See, it all ties together!

 

So don’t forget to thank you mother or motherly figure in your life this weekend. Happy Mother’s Day!

New Year’s 2017: 3 wishes for the new year

New Year’s resolutions may not happen, but I can hope these wishes come true, right?

As we usher in 2017, here are my wishes for TV.

No more crossovers

This might be an unpopular opinion, but these two-, three-, and now four-part crossover episodes are too much.

With the success of The CW‘s superhero shows, I get the marketing behind combining all the shows over a week, with each individual show airing a new episode. But when they started these with “The Flash” and “Arrow,” it wasn’t entirely necessary to watch both shows to keep up.

But the recent 4-part crossover between “The Flash,” “Arrow,” “Supergirl” and “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” ended that. I didn’t watch the “Supergirl” part. But “The Flash’s” part ended on a cliffhanger, so then I had to watch “Arrow.” And then “Legends of Tomorrow” finished the saga.

That’s a lot of time to spend on one “event.” And I watch only “The Flash” regularly.

Even though they show what’s happened, it’s still confusing. I felt lost keeping up with some of the story lines because I didn’t know the characters. But I’d be confused not watching the episode of “The Flash” because I might miss stuff.

It shouldn’t be a requirement to watch four shows to fully understand one week of programming. It’s like being an outsider on a show you don’t watch…except you do.

Keep shows available online for at least a month

I made a similar plea for this last year, but I still wish for it.

With Hulu for only subscribers now, it’s more difficult to keep up with weekly TV. It’s doable since networks post content on the websites, but some networks still make you wait eight days unless you verify a cable provider.

But most networks give you only two weeks to watch a show. During midseason breaks, you might get the chance to catch up, but it’s not a guarantee.

We all need time to catch up, even with our favorite shows. So give us a break. Especially in a binge-watching culture, some people would rather watch a few episodes at a time instead of week-to-week.

CBS All Access is the next up and coming thing, especially with “The Good Wife” spinoff “The Good Fight” coming exclusively to it in 2017 (though the first episode will air Feb. 19 on CBS), I’m guessing it won’t be long before TV show won’t ever be free online, but I don’t want to subscribe to multiple TV streaming services.

end the revival trend

“Fuller House.” “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.” “The Exorcist.”

So many shows and movies are rebooted, revived, etc. And yes, it’s great nostalgia. But I’m done.

“The Exorcist” was creepy but predictable. “Fuller House” isn’t that good of a show. “Gilmore Girls” filled a need to hear the final four words…and then sent fans into a tizzy over what’s next.

Sometimes it’s better to just let a show end in its time and be good, instead of filling an empty void in our hearts.

What do you want for TV in 2017?

‘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”?