Riding the wave of nostalgia that has lead to the revivals of Arrested Development, Wet Hot American Summer – not to mention the upcoming Fresh Prince of Bel Air remake – Netflix’s new sequel series Fuller House has just debuted its entire first season. The premise is largely the same, with a new gender flip as D.J. (Candace Cameron Bure) returns to San Francisco to raise her three boys after her husband dies. Like her father before her, she gets some help from her younger sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and best friend/kooky neighbor Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber).
Though the series has expanded to focus on a new generation of Tanners, the original cast was quick to sign on to the project, with Bob Saget (Danny Tanner), John Stamos (Jesse Katsopolis), Lori Loughlin (Becky Donaldson-Katsopoli), and Dave Coulier (Joey Gladstone) all returning to the show in a reduced capacity. One of the biggest questions during preproduction was if Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – the twins who shared the role of Michelle Tanner – would return. Executive producer Robert L. Boyett released a statement confirming they wouldn’t appear, and we now know how that was incorporated into the show.
Addressing the youngest sister’s absence head on, with Danny saying “Michelle sends her love, but is busy in New York running her fashion empire.” Clearly a dig at the real life Olsen twins who left their child-acting empire behind them to found The Row, their own fashion line. This was followed by a fourth wall breaking look, as everyone threw some serious shade to the audience, and presumably, Mary Kate and Ashley. Check out the video below:
OMG!! This is the BEST!!! @fullerhouse #MichelleTanner pic.twitter.com/z2ZnMjYgCq— Ale Santana (@AleeSntn) February 26, 2016
That wasn’t the last Olsen-dig of the series. In another scene Ramona Gibbler (Soni Bringas) brags that she bought a new dress: “An Elizabeth and James by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen”. This indicates that the fashion mogul Olsen twins exist in this universe separate from Michelle Tanner, making Fuller House feel a bit like it’s set on Earth-2. Not quite ready to let the joke end there, Kimmy remarks, “At these prices no wonder they don’t need to act anymore!”
THE BEST LINE from #FullerHouse!!! Yasss @andreabarber! I CAN’T EVEN!!! pic.twitter.com/a8uyN6vnzf— Reneé J. Larson (@iamreneejai) February 26, 2016
While it feels out of place on this particular show, which built its empire on forgiveness and genuine sweetness, it does feel in line with the new revival that was made because people were asking for it and paying attention. The Olsen twins didn’t want to attend the family reunion, and apparently are not above getting a little good-natured ribbing for it.
Fuller House season 1 is currently available to stream on Netflix in its entirety.
