Welcome Back! It's a Fuller House with Jason Marsden

It's been a while since I blogged, and for my first post back, I'm talking about the best 90's family comedy in history- Full House. In case you've been living under a rock, it's coming back! In more current news, my beloved Uncle Jesse (John Stamos), just got pulled over for a possible DUI this weekend, which greatly worried me about the fate of this winter's FH  reboot.

The episode I'm watching on Nick at Nite right now is an episode about DJ's tough choice (aptly named DJ's Choice from Season 8) between musician Viper (guitarist of Hot Daddy and the Monkey Puppets) and junior billionaire Nelson. Viper writes a song for DJ, and Nelson hires Frankie Valli to come to the park re-dedication to serenade DJ.

"(Nelson) He's a nice guy, and he pays in cash."- Frankie Valli

It's utterly over the top, which is why the episode plays so well. Much like episodes with famous guest stars (several with the Beach Boys come to mind), FH makes the guest star fit in well to the story. In the end, Donna Jo wisely chooses none of them (because I suspect she's still in love with Steve, who ended up escorting her to the senior prom).  This remains to be seen, but I believe Steve was the love of her life. Only Netflix will tell.

Back to the reason I am fascinated with this episode, dear young billionaire Nelson.
Here  actor Jason Marsden (left) plays Nelson in Full House, circa 1995:

Here he is the same year, playing Eric's best friend, Jason on Boy Meets World. Maybe he can score a drop in on the new Girl Meets World Show. 

He also appeared at the same time (1995-1997) on Step by Step as JT's best friend and Dana's boyfriend, Rich. How did this guy find time to guest star in three sitcoms at the same time? 

That's owed all to talent and a good agent. 

All photos are from IMDB.com

A Note About Celebrating Halloween Part 1: 90's Family Sitcoms

In honor of Halloween, I'm doing my most (and probably only) Halloween-themed event this weekend. Here are my five top sitcom Halloween episodes of 90's sitcoms. Check back for the five best Halloween drama episodes.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch
(Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - but not 7)

A show about a teenage with has tons of Halloween-themed episodes, which makes the selection tough. (While the WB-year episodes in the later season weren't always filled with the best of storylines, and Season 7 was again basically lost season, there is some great material). Season 2's "A River of Candy Corn Runs Through It" is the best, where Sabrina's first mortal Halloween party turns into a disaster, complete with possessed furniture and a river of candy corn. "Good Will Haunting" from season 3 is also a great episode, where another haunting happens at Sabrina's house, during a Halloween double-date (by a creepy possessed doll).

Boy Meets World
(1,2, 5, 7-only in theme)

Point of contention here because Season 5's "And Then There Was Shawn" is not actually a Halloween episode, it was done in February of season 5 on top of the the Halloween-themed "Witches of Pennbrook." but has always been discussed among my friends as the best Halloween sitcom episode. This is my choice, with its "Scream" "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "South Park References." During detention (and during the legendary Cory/Topanga breakup), Shaw, Cory, Topanga, Angela, and a guy named Kenny get sentenced to a horror of detention. Must see line: "We'll always remember he (Kenny) was that tall," where a pencil drilled a hole through Kenny's skull and into the wall and "It's against the Geneva Detention Convention." Jennifer Love Hewitt guest stars as Jennifer Love Fefferman (aka Feffy, who falls in love with Eric before death by library books. "Witches" gets an honorable mention for Jack dating a creepy witch girl (played by Candace Cameron (Bure) of Full House, and a guest appearance from Sabrina.

Home Improvement
(Halloween themed episodes in seasons 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8)

The Taylor clan was long known for elaborate holiday themed episodes including Tim's annual Christmas roof decorating and Halloween scare-offs. Season 3's "Crazy for You" is my favorite, where Jill takes a (successful) try at out-pranking her husband, the self-titled "King of Pranks." Tim believes he is being stalked at his Halloween party by an obsessed fan, Rose, who is actually Al dressed up like a woman. Jill recruits Al, Heidi, Wilson and others to pull off the elaborate prank. The Taylor boys also dress up as the Three Stooges, all as Moe. Great Jill quotes include "Death was a popular costume this year. Black is very slimming," and "The only costume that was left was this or Bob Vila." Honorable mention goes to season 7's "Night to Dismember," where Mark and a friend make a creepy film for school and worry his parents, playing the youngest of three sons on a killing spree.

Step By Step
(Halloween episodes season 4 and 7).

Season 4's "Something Wild" is one part Halloween and one part geek trying to be cool. Mark meets a punk girl (JJ Jenkins- the hottest girl in the 8th grade) that tries to turn him bad. He ends up leaving his family's party to throw eggs at a house (with a Mohawk). Cody also grows the world's largest pumpkin. Great Al line, "Great. Mr. Wizard is in heat." There's also a great scene where carol comments on her daughters' Halloween costumes, Karen the mermaid, and Dana the lady in a suit (she was dressed as Hillary Clinton). "Dream Lover" in season 7 (the lost season after it moved to CBS) was pretty lame. No honorable mention, just an acknowledgement.

Family Matters
(Halloween episodes seasons 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)

Now the season 8 "Steevil" episode gets a honorable mention for showing Laura cut up in the kitchen cabinets, but I'm picking the season 6 episode "Dark and Stormy Night" where Steve tells Little Ritchie a scary 1800's story about the Von Winslow Family. Check out Nana Winslow as Raggedy Anne and Eddie and Waldo as Siamese twins. Plus, Steve says "Didst I do that?"