Bob Saget's Most Heartwarming Full House Moments
The death of one of America's favorite TV dads, Bob Saget, came as one of the biggest shocks of the new year. The outpouring of love for the actor and comedian on social media has shown how much he was admired by his fans and his peers and how much he will be missed.
Before his familiar voice provided the narration for the CBS comedy "How I Met Your Mother," Bob Saget was famous for his role as Danny Tanner on the ABC family sitcom "Full House." Also starring John Stamos, Candace Cameron Bure, and the Olsen twins, "Full House" was about a family dealing with the everyday challenges of love and life. As the patriarch, Danny would often give fatherly advice to his three daughters and help them learn important lessons along the way.
The show aired for eight seasons from 1987 to 1995 and was a staple in the lives of Gen Xers and millennials. Though "Full House" provided its share of laughs, there were also some truly wholesome moments over the years. Here are some of the scenes where Saget warmed the hearts of viewers with his performance.
Season 1, Episode 1: Our Very First Show
The very first episode of "Full House" introduced us to Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), along with his daughters DJ (Candace Cameron Bure), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and Michelle (Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen). After the death of Danny's wife, the family decided to make a new start in a new home in San Francisco. Danny enlisted the help of his brother-in-law, Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos), and best friend, Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier), to live with them and help raise the kids.
As the family adjusts to their new living situation, DJ has a particularly hard time accepting the changes. Unwilling to share a room with her little sister, DJ moves her things into the garage. When Danny finds out, he pleads with her to move back into her regular room. This begins a battle of wills until finally, Danny decides it's time for a heart-to-heart with his eldest daughter. He asks DJ what mom would do in this situation, to which DJ wistfully replies: "She would've caught me before I moved into the garage. Mom knew everything I did before I did it."
Of course, Danny understands her grief — the girls lost their mother, and he lost a wife. Yet Danny assures DJ that they are all there for each other. In a heartfelt plea, he tells her: "We're still a family, and now is when we really need to stick together." This scene is not only a tear-jerker but also sets the foundation for the continuing themes of the series: family, love, and solidarity.
Season 1, Episode 9: The Miracle of Thanksgiving
In this Season 1 holiday episode, Danny and the guys want to make Thanksgiving special for the kids since it's the first one without their mom. Although no one knows how to make a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, they all come together to try and make the holiday perfect. Of course, nothing is ever perfect, as the Tanner family soon finds out. DJ's turkey comes out of the oven still frozen, and Stephanie accidentally drops Mom's famous "Picture Perfect Pumpkin Pie." Convinced the day is now ruined, both DJ and Stephanie despondently run away.
Teaming up, Danny and Jesse decide to split up and have a talk with the girls. Jesse goes after Stephanie, and he shows her an old family photo album to help cheer her up. When Stephanie sees a picture of a little girl and asks who she is, Jesse answers that it is her mother, Pam. His mood suddenly darkens at the memory of his sister, but he forces himself to bury the pain.
When Danny goes to check on them, he finds Jesse in a foul mood. Danny tries to get Jesse to open up about his grief, which upsets him even further. Yet despite Jesse saying that he doesn't want to talk about his feelings, Danny prods him until he tearfully admits how much he misses his sister. Danny assures Jesse that talking about her death is healthy and helps keep the memory of Pam alive. In a time when it was discouraged for men to show emotion, this scene was quite powerful. It also reminded audiences of the bond between Jesse and Danny and how their shared loss allowed them to grow closer together.
Season 1, Episode 17: Danny's Very First Date
In this Season 1 episode, it's been one year since Pam's death. Stephanie's Honeybee troop is having a meeting in the house, which is filled with 6-year-olds dressed as bees (joined by Joey, of course). The troop leader, Linda (Karen Kopins), is an attractive brunette who catches Danny's eye, and Joey and Jesse encourage him to ask her out. While he worries that it may be too soon, Danny's comrades assure him that he is ready to take this step.
Danny decides to bite the bullet and ask Linda out on a date. This is a big milestone for him, but it also presents a challenge for DJ and Stephanie. Danny's guilt gets the best of him, and he waffles back and forth between going on the date and canceling, not wanting to upset his girls. Meanwhile, Stephanie and DJ also struggle with the idea of their dad dating again, mainly because they worry that it will dishonor their mother's memory.
After a chat with Joey about their dad's happiness, DJ and Stephanie decide to have a talk with Danny. They voice their concern that their mother might not be okay with their dad dating, but Danny tells them that this is not the case. In fact, he and their mom once talked about this very situation, and she had said she wanted him to find love again. Danny assures the girls that he will always love their mom, and no one could ever take her place.
Danny having this important talk with his kids is yet another great example of how "Full House" beautifully covered tough issues — and how Saget's warmth and geniality made him the perfect candidate to deliver these poignant moments.
Season 3, Episode 7: And They Call It Puppy Love
Almost everyone has either had a dad or knows a dad that refused to get a family pet, only to then be the one to give it the most love. Of course, Danny Tanner is no exception. In the Season 3 episode "And They Call It Puppy Love," the Tanners are visited by a stray golden retriever named Minnie. DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle are immediately taken with the animal and beg Danny to let them keep her. Being the clean freak that he is, Danny is less than thrilled with the idea and tells them no.
Much to everyone's surprise, DJ observes that Minnie is on the verge of going into labor. The family gets everything ready for Minnie to give birth as they gather together and witness the miracle for themselves (which happens off-screen, of course). Shortly after, Minnie's owner gets in contact with them and comes to pick up Minnie and her litter. The kids are sad to see Minnie and her puppies go but are surprised when her owner offers to let them keep one.
It's tough for a parent to keep their foot down when they've already laid down the law, but it's even tougher when they have an adorable fluffball staring them in the face. This is literally the case when Joey holds up a puppy to Danny, and the lovable critter starts to lick his nose. How could anyone resist? Sure enough, Danny gives in, and the family adopts their newest member — Comet.
Season 3, Episode 20: Honey, I Broke the House
Every kid has done something that they deemed unforgivable and made them fearful of the consequences. This relatable circumstance was well portrayed in "Full House" Season 3, Episode 20, "Honey, I Broke the House." In this memorable episode, Stephanie Tanner commits the worst deed she's ever done in her eight years on earth.
The episode begins with Stephanie chatting up Joey in the backyard, who is tending to his shiny '63 red Rambler. When he leaves to get some touch-up paint, Stephanie decides to go for an imaginary joy ride. With the keys in the ignition, she turns on the car to listen to the radio but instead puts it into reverse. This leads to catastrophic results, as Stephanie accidentally crashes the car into the house.
Fortunately, she is unharmed, but Stephanie knows that she is in very big trouble. Fearful of the consequences, she runs away from home but doesn't make it very far. Jesse finds her hiding out at Becky's (Lori Loughlin) house and brings her back home to face the music. After being sent to her room, Stephanie anxiously awaits her father's punishment.
Guilt-ridden, Stephanie tells her dad that she is undeserving of his forgiveness and his love. While he is furious with her actions, Danny realizes the underlying problem and immediately addresses it. He tells Stephanie that no matter what she does, he will never stop loving her. After all, things can be replaced, "but there's only one Stephanie Judith Tanner." It's an important lesson for Stephanie, and Danny's reassurance confirmed that he truly was the best TV dad.
Season 4, Episode 8: Shape Up
"Full House" was known for tackling tough issues, and one of the major concerns at the time was eating disorders. For young people in the '90s, it seemed there was always a new PSA or after-school special that addressed the dangers of anorexia and bulimia. In this Season 4 episode, the "Full House" writers decided it was time for them to address the issue.
Young women have always been under pressure to stay thin, especially with the impossible beauty standards set for them. In "Shape Up," DJ is struggling with her own body image problems. When her best friend, Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), announces that she is having a pool party for her birthday, DJ is determined to get herself a "bikini body." She does so by starving herself for three straight days and seriously overdoing it at the gym. When she nearly passes out as a result of her unhealthy routine, the family decides to intervene.
When Danny goes to have a talk with DJ, she confesses to her dad that she doesn't like the way she looks and wishes she could look like the models in magazines. The conversation is a difficult one for a dad to have with their daughter, but Danny manages to help DJ see that it doesn't matter what's on the outside — it's what's in a person's heart is that truly matters.
Season 5, Episode 9: Happy Birthday Babies, Part 1
It's Michelle's 5th birthday, and what better way to celebrate than a "Full House" clip show? In "Happy Birthday, Babies (Part 1)," the episode looks back on some of Michelle's classic moments. As the family gets ready to celebrate her birthday party, Danny takes a photo of Michelle to put into her baby book. As it happens, the polaroid makes it to the very last page of the book, indicating that she isn't a baby anymore. This is not good news for Michelle, who yanks the photo out of the book and storms off.
It seems that Michelle is afraid of growing up since she feels that if she does, she won't be special anymore. As the family rushes to her side to console her, Danny sits down with Michelle and tells her that she will always be his "little princess" — just as Stephanie will always be his "little ladybug," and DJ will always be his "little tennis ball head" (why DJ got stuck with that one, we may never know).
The episode not only gave viewers a nice compilation of some of Michelle's best moments on the show but also a sweet moment with Danny and his girls. It showed how much they had all grown — not just their ages, but as people, too. Danny had a lot to be proud of as a father, as did actor Bob Saget. He was not only a TV dad to those young actresses but a dad to all the young people who watched "Full House."