Most Memorable Episodes Of Full House

Source: Warner Bros.

It’s nearly impossible to qualify and classify the greatest episodes of Full House because there were just too many to count! But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to try! Today we’re going to take a little jaunt down nostalgia lane, so here are the 12 greatest episodes of Full House with plenty of honorable mentions within the mix!

12. Luck Be A Lady: Parts 1 and 2

“Luck Be a Lady” was a two-part episode bringing the second season to a conclusion. This episode was evidence of the show actually hitting its stride. Full House was almost cancelled after one season–the story seemed to be all over the place. With the introduction of Lori Loughlin as Rebecca Donaldson, and the subsequent romance between she and John Stamos (Jesse Cochran/Katsopolis), the show finally had some through-line, and a thread that was engaging to a wider demographic. “Luck Be a Lady” saw the gang travel to Lake Tahoe, and provide a delightful comedy of errors including children gambling, love triangles and a hoped-for elopement between Jesse and Becky. Of course, D.J. and Stephanie played detective, and blew the cover on the secret wedding plans. Eventually, Becky decided against it, and really left things in the air for Season 3.

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11. Honey, I Broke The House

Jumping into Season 3, we enjoyed a recurring theme when Stephanie accidentally trashed Joey’s classic ride, by driving it through the house. This followed Danny’s classic car being trashed in Season 1, and Jesse’s red, Ford Mustang convertible being gouged in Season 5 in the episode “Driving Miss D.J.” Basically, every male adult on this show owned a classic car at some point, and once it was revealed, it was trashed in the following scene. The best thing about “Honey, I Broke The House,” was the pure enjoyment Stephanie took in playing “driver,” while in Joey’s car. Yes, Joey was a noob for leaving the keys in the ignition, and parking the car in the backyard. But to see the repeated reactions to the car in the kitchen…? It was Full House at its best. “There’s a car in the kitchen!”

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10. No More Mr. Dumb Guy

John Stamos must be one of the world’s most charming human beings… ever. And he is genuinely funny. He proved time and time again in Full House, that he could do a lot with very little on the page. One unsung episode putting the character of Uncle Jesse on full display was “No More Mr. Dumb Guy.” It is cataloged in Season 3, Episode 13 to be precise. Becky invites Jesse to a cultural arts festival, and Jesse does his best to cram for this intelligence test, as one of Becky’s former college professors will also be in attendance. Jesse decides to flake, until he meets Mr. Professor, who is obviously interested in Becky since there are no longer inappropriate lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Jesse quickly gets dressed, crashes the party, says everything wrong, makes the audience laugh a lot and once again strains his relationship with Becky.

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9. The Legend of Ranger Joe

Another comedy of errors, “The Legend of Ranger Joe” offered Joey yet another opportunity of really hitting it big in the world of entertainment… this time with his puppet, Mr. Woodchuck. “Did somebody say… wood!?” Sorry if that’s a voice that haunts your dreams. Like so many of the best episodes of Full House, when one of the house members gets an opportunity to do something really great, they most likely screw it up. It’s a winning formula for learning lessons, and oftentimes winning the prize through adversity. In this particular episode, Joey is offered the opportunity to replace a TV living legend, Ranger Roy, played by none other than Barney Martin (Morty Seinfeld), and in the process, he almost kills him. Eventually, Joey proves his worth by displaying how amazing he is with the kids and scores the job. This is also the “Tea for Two” episode.

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8. 13 Candles

Remember D.J.’s 13th birthday party? It was a dance party that was hosted by the Tanners, and no one in the family was actually invited to attend…? Stephanie, feeling left out, enlisted Michelle to take Polaroids of the party, but Michelle, being a tyke, was only able to capture the ceiling. This episode featured traditional, family back and forth, a Daffy Duck Film Festival and D.J. really, really wanting to kiss a boy named Kevin who was at the party. Kimmie Gibbler and Kathy Santoni hatch a scheme to get D.J. and Kevin together, little do the teens and pre-teens know, all the adults can hear what’s going on from the upstairs fireplace. The party gets busted up by the big boys, lights come on, D.J. is embarrassed and Becky fixes it. D.J. finally gets her kiss from Kevin, and credits roll.

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7. Five’s a Crowd

Jumping forward from first kisses to first make out sessions, “Five’s a Crowd” was the episode involving D.J. and a young man, Pete, who played in a band, The Funky Tongues. He took a liking to D.J., and asked her out on a date. Through some finagling–because D.J. knew her dad wouldn’t go for the idea–D.J. ends up on a date with Pete, in his van, at the drive-in. When the guys learn this, they bail on their black tie event, and venture to the drive-in to bust up the premarital make out sesh. At first they bust up the make out session of two old folks–that’s comedy–but eventually find the right van, and commandeer the evening. Yes, D.J. and Pete do a little making out, before she explains that she’s uncomfortable, and Pete respectfully opts for a snack run.

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6. The Day of The Rhino

“Rigby is a rip-off! Rigby is a rip-off!” There’s nothing like learning how to stick it to the man. In an odd twist, this episode saw Joey teach Michelle and her friend Denise–none other than Jurnee Smollett-Bell–how to protest when someone screws you over. This, over a Rigby the Rhino action figure that was not much bigger than a child’s thumb. We’re talking serious false advertising (according to Michelle). It was quite comical, and played out well for the protesters, who saw their favorite TV character show up at the house to right all wrongs. But, the gold of this episode lay in the subplot. D.J. and Steve were gifted tickets to Phantom of The Opera, and due to some unexpected circumstances, the audience was able to enjoy a little battle of/the difference between the sexes featuring Danny, Jesse and Steve vs. Vicky, Becky and D.J.

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5. The Bicycle Thief

Who could forget the episode where Michelle’s bike goes missing? The pink bike with the basket, and the “Crime Catchers” lady that is always sexually harassing Joey? That was borderline uncomfortable to watch at times, wasn’t it? This may have been the greatest Full House comedy of errors, as everyone went looking for the bike, and the Crime Catchers set up their HQ in the Tanner household. The gag: everyone found Michelle’s bike–three bikes of the same model. What to do? The comedy ramped up when police sketches of Jesse began circulating as the bike thief in the neighborhood. How did they do all of this in 22 minutes? It’s quite remarkable if you think about it. All the bikes went back to their rightful owners, and Michelle was left with a face-palming moment when she realized she left her bike at a friend’s house. “Duh!?”

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4. The House Meets The Mouse: Parts 1 and 2

Here’s another two part episode, taking place in Season 6, and the most magical of the Full House repertory. The Tanner clan went to Disney World in this one. It’s one of the most epic Disney commercials of all-time, and some of the most brilliant marketing in television history. When Disney purchased ABC, and basically planted its flag for world domination, the powers who be decided to start sending all of their shows to the Disney parks in order to plant the Disney vacation seed in viewers. Strangely enough, these were all two-part episodes, and they included shows like Step by Step, Boy Meets World and even Roseanne. So strange. Full House was the first to do it, thus making this episode television history, and a stellar trivia question. And yes, there was the whole play of Steve being Aladdin, because Steve (Scott Weinger) was Aladdin.

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3. We Got The Beat

This could very easily be #1 on this list. In fact, the Top 3 were a toss up. If it weren’t for the majesty of John Stamos, “We Got The Beat” would likely sit in the top slot. As it stands, we’ll honor it for the wonder that it is, regardless of its associated ranking. Stephanie Judith Tanner started a band in Season 8, and it was called Girl Talk. This band also featured her best friend at the time, Gia–played by Marla Sokoloff–and they covered Ace of Base. It’s also worth mentioning that Kimmie Gibbler was a part of the band on the keyboard. Brass tacks, this episode was the greatest lesson in “I-told-you-so” possibly ever put on TV… and that’s saying something. Uncle Jesse tried to mentor the band, but the girls were far more interested in what they looked like vs. what they sounded like. They entered a talent show, and stunk up the joint.

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2. The Wedding: Parts 1 and 2

When Jesse and Rebecca finally got married, it was too big for a single episode. There was no way they could fit all of that magic and misadventure into 22 minutes. It included everything from Jesse’s cold feet to skydiving to Becky thinking she was being left at the altar to a huge truck full of tomatoes to Jesse covering one of the most underrated songs of all-time, The Beach Boys’ “Forever.” This wedding finally took place in Season 4, and the writers were smart enough to not end the season with it. If ever there were moments that made Full House seem like legitimate television this two-part episode was it. And that gospel choir backing Jesse while he sang to Becky? Katsopolis was straight, 1990s money! And then… the reception… at the Tanner house!? Ain’t no party like a Tanner party.

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1. Kissing Cousins

If you were to break the entire eight seasons of Full House down into a single, representative episode for a visiting alien culture from another world, it would have to be this one. John Stamos played a double role of Jesse, and his Greek cousin, Stavros, to most satisfying comedic results. Of course, Stavros was a most unsavory character, and Jesse, with his heart of gold and deep-running compassion, refused to see that Stavros had worn out his welcome by the third minute of the episode. Eventually, Becky and the rest of the family had to put together a sting operation to prove that Stavros was a total jerk, and the way they did it was pretty sneaky. The magic culminates with John Stamos fighting himself (fine, his body double), before kicking Stavros to the curb, laying a smooch on his lady and sending the audience to the final credits.

Source: Warner Bros.

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James Sheldon

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