Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber Talk About Why They Felt ‘Connect’ With Grandma Claire’s Recast in Full House; See Here

As a dedicated fan of Full House since my childhood, I can’t help but share my thoughts on the third episode of season 3, titled “Granny Tanny,” which originally aired on October 20, 1989. This episode holds a special place in my heart for its memorable moments, but also for the mixed feelings it brings back.


On How Rude, their rewatch podcast, Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber looked back at the good and bad times of Full House. In an episode broadcasted on October 20, 1989, Doris Roberts took over as Danny Tanner’s mom, replacing Alice Hirson as Claire Tanner. Although Sweetin and Barber appreciated Roberts’ acting skills, they felt a bit detached from her interpretation compared to Hirson’s. Nevertheless, this episode contained some unforgettable moments, such as Michelle Tanner’s famous catchphrase: “You got it, dude.”

There was a lot going on in Full House ep 3 of season 3

In the third season episode of “Full House,” Granny Tanny was a pivotal point with many events unfolding. According to Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber on their podcast “How Rude” (Tanneritos), there were endearing scenes between John Stamos’ character Uncle Jesse and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Michelle Tanner, but this episode didn’t resonate positively with all the cast members involved.

In the October 20, 1989 episode, a different Claire Tanner, played by Marion Ross instead of Doris Roberts, appeared on screen as Danny Tanner’s (Bob Saget) mother, who felt unwanted since her retirement.

In the first season of “Full House,” Alice Hirson initially portrayed the character of Claire Tanner. For this specific episode, Doris Roberts took over the role. Though Roberts’ impressive resume, featuring five Emmy awards, was acknowledged, Sweetin admitted that she didn’t develop the same bond with this new interpretation of Claire as she did with the original one.

She went on, “The real grandmother had a special, cozy quality about her, I must admit. It just doesn’t feel right calling this new woman Danny’s mom. The true Claire radiated that maternal warmth.”

“I agree with that,” Barber said. “It’s hard to put into words.”

“Sweetin observed that this character seemed a tad more dominating and intrusive. She commented that the latest Claire Tanner appeared to be ‘slightly more monotone’ and ‘less enthusiastic’ compared to the previous grandma Claire,” is one way to paraphrase the original text.

The episode had mixed feelings and memorable moments

Barber commended Doris Roberts’ acting skills but regretted that the recast didn’t succeed. He suspected two possible reasons: either the original actress was unreachable or the producers preferred to focus on Doris Roberts, excitedly thinking, “Doris Roberts! Let’s give her some more screen time, we’ll create this episode specifically for her.”

The actors’ reflections offered a fascinating glimpse into how these episodes influenced both their own experiences and the viewers’ attachment to the characters. According to Sweetin, he wasn’t fond of that particular episode due to a feeling of disconnection. Furthermore, Granny Tanner brought some captivating moments to light. One noteworthy instance was Michelle Tanner’s initial use of “You got it, dude,” which Barber described as the moment when the audience erupted in excitement for the catchphrase.

Barber playfully remarked, “I can imagine [Jeff Franklin] with his pencil, thinking, ‘This was a crowd-pleaser. We’ll use it more in the upcoming episodes.'””Sweetin continued, “It really resonated with the audience… this one was successful.” Introducing Michelle’s famous prop bed made of pencils.

In 1989, there were numerous fans who coveted that endearing bed of the Olsen twins, as Barber remarked with delight. The sisters outshone others with their adorable antics involving the bed’s height and bouncing on it, defying Uncle Jesse’s cautions. We enjoyed witnessing their acting lessons unfold.

“Watching her was a joy, Sweetin remarked. She truly shone. The memory of Michelle dozing off for the first time next to Uncle Jesse remained endearing to Barber.” “That moment struck an emotional chord with me.”

Read More

2024-07-25 11:39