This 'Fuller House' is too full
Tyler Wilson/Special to the Press | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 8 months AGO
The folks at Netflix think you want an updated version of the '90s family sitcom, "Full House." Trust me: You really, really don't want more "Full House."
The next stop on the "All Nostalgia, All the Time" train is Netflix's announcement of "Fuller House," a 13-episode season that follows three characters from the original "Full House" series and the promise of guest appearances from most everybody else. OK, the Olsen Twins might be too busy with their fashion line or whatever, but John Stamos is in, and he's offering Greek yogurt coupons to every willing participant.
I grew up on "Full House," right alongside family-friendly sitcoms like "Home Improvement," "Family Matters," "Saved by the Bell" and "Boy Meets World." I've seen every episode of these shows multiple times, and if any particular episode randomly appeared on my TV screen right now, I'd probably watch it.
Not that it's anything worth bragging about, but I'm basically an expert on '90s-era TGIF programming. So believe me when I say this - "Full House" wasn't a good show.
Sure, it was cute and enjoyable for a kid, but I think everybody over the age of 13 probably wanted to smash their face into a pile of bricks with every "Have Mercy!" or cue of schmaltzy, "let's teach a lesson" music.
"Fuller House" could prove to be a better show than its predecessor, but it isn't going to be the show you remembered as a kid. I thought my undying love of "Boy Meets World" would extend some goodwill to the Disney Channel revival, "Girl Meets World," but that's just a show targeted for 10-year-olds which happens to feature characters from the show I liked when I was 10. The 10-year-old me no longer exists, and "Girl Meets World" doesn't come with the memories or emotional attachments of the original.
Netflix must think it knows what it's doing. Even though the revival of cult classic "Arrested Development" left some fans with mixed feelings, the company still seems committed to more episodes in the future. The streaming service has also extended the life of the "Trailer Park Boys" and released an updated CGI version of the cartoon series, "Inspector Gadget." To its credit, the hijinks are basically the same but without the amazing theme song.
Though the trend speaks to a lack of originality in Hollywood, I'm not against every potential update. The six-episode revival of "The X-Files," complete with original stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, could be a fun distraction as long as the series' exhaustive mythology doesn't get in the way. Netflix's "Wet Hot American Summer" prequel series is just too strange to ignore, and Showtime's "Twin Peaks" continuation will be terrific if they can get David Lynch back on board.
Of all the popular shows to bring back, "Full House" sits pretty low on the list. It's higher than "Saved by the Bell," mostly because the world already has five-seasons too much of Screech Powers.
Still, if anyone at Netflix is reading this, please just do what Uncle Joey says and "Cut. It. Out."
Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.
ARTICLES BY TYLER WILSON/SPECIAL TO THE PRESS
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