Top photo: Lietmotiv from Washington, DC, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Every family has experienced that uncomfortable moment when an unexpected visitor arrives and the house is anything but ready. Dirty dishes are waiting, belongings are scattered, and suddenly everyone is trying to make the place look respectable.
Now imagine that visitor is your mother, and she is not impressed with what she sees.
That is the situation facing Danny Tanner in The Return of Grandma, an early episode of Full House from 1987. Danny is determined to prove that he, Jesse, and Joey can manage the household, but a surprise visit turns his plans upside down.
And when three concerned mothers become involved, the Tanner men discover that keeping a house running involves more than good intentions.
A Messy Morning in the Tanner Household
The Tanner family is still adjusting to its unusual living arrangement. Danny Tanner, played by Bob Saget, is raising his three daughters with help from his brother-in-law Jesse and his friend Joey Gladstone.
Both men have moved into the home to help after the death of Danny’s wife, Pam.
But sharing family responsibilities does not mean the household always runs smoothly.
One morning, Danny discovers that the house is in a terrible state. The kitchen and other rooms need attention, and keeping everything organized seems to have become more difficult than anyone anticipated.
Jesse, played by John Stamos, has also brought home an unexpected addition to the family: a turtle named Bubba.
According to the episode’s story, Jesse believes the turtle saved his life while he was returning from a musical performance.
The girls quickly become interested in Bubba and persuade Danny to let the animal stay.
The turtle is another reminder that the Tanner household is hardly a quiet or predictable place.
But the real trouble begins when Danny learns that his mother is coming to visit.
Grandma Claire Is Coming From Seattle
Danny’s mother, Claire Tanner, played by Alice Hirson, has been an important source of support for the family.
After Pam’s death, Claire helped her son care for the girls before Jesse and Joey moved in.
Now she is returning from Seattle for a visit.
Unfortunately, Joey has forgotten to pass along an important telephone message.
Danny is surprised to discover that his mother is coming that very day.
He immediately becomes concerned about the appearance of the house.
It is not simply that he dislikes having visitors see the mess. Danny wants Claire to know that he can take care of his children and home without requiring her constant assistance.
He and his housemates have accepted the responsibility of running the family household, and he wants to demonstrate that their arrangement is working.
There is just one problem: the house does not offer much evidence of their success.
The Cleaning Plan Falls Apart
Danny, Jesse, and Joey decide that they must clean the house before Claire arrives.
They head out with the girls to purchase cleaning supplies, hoping to transform the messy rooms before their visitor sees them.
At first, there appears to be enough time.
But Joey has misunderstood Claire’s arrival time.
Instead of arriving much later in the afternoon, she appears while the house is still in disorder.
It is exactly the situation Danny had hoped to avoid.
Claire sees the mess, and her concern about how the household is being managed becomes difficult to ignore.
Danny has wanted to prove that he is independent. Instead, the visit appears to confirm his mother’s worries.
But Claire does not simply stand back and watch.
She decides that the family needs more help.
Three Mothers Decide the Men Need Help
Claire contacts the mothers of Jesse and Joey, bringing additional visitors into the already crowded Tanner household.
Jesse’s mother, Irene Cochran, is played by Rhoda Gemignani. Joey’s mother, Mindy Gladstone, is portrayed by Beverly Sanders.
Now Danny, Jesse, and Joey find themselves facing three mothers who are concerned about the state of the house.
The women believe the men may need someone to help manage the family more permanently.
They even consider moving in to take responsibility for the household.
For Danny and his housemates, the suggestion is alarming.
They appreciate their mothers’ concern, but having the women take over would undermine the independence they have been trying to establish.
The men insist that they can solve the problem themselves.
They ask the mothers to give them an opportunity to clean the house and demonstrate that they are capable of handling their responsibilities.
It sounds like a reasonable arrangement.
Unfortunately, the family’s newest pet is about to create another unexpected complication.
Bubba the Turtle Creates Another Problem
Just when the men need to concentrate on restoring order, Bubba goes missing.
The search for the turtle interrupts the cleaning effort and adds to the confusion.
Instead of making the house look better, the search creates even more disorder.
For Danny, the timing could hardly be worse.
His mother and the other women are expecting proof that he, Jesse, and Joey can manage the house. Yet every attempt to solve one problem seems to produce another.
The situation captures one of the pleasures of early Full House: a small household problem becomes increasingly complicated because everyone is trying to help in a different way.
Eventually, Stephanie finds Bubba, bringing the turtle problem to an end.
The men also get an opportunity to demonstrate that they are serious about maintaining the home.
Claire begins to recognize that her son can handle the responsibilities of his family without requiring her to move back in.
The episode moves toward an affectionate resolution, reminding viewers that the mothers’ interference comes from genuine concern.
Why The Return of Grandma Is Still a Familiar Family Story
The Return of Grandma was written by Russell Marcus and directed by Joel Zwick.
Alongside Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier, the episode features Candace Cameron as D.J., Jodie Sweetin as Stephanie, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen sharing the role of Michelle.
Alice Hirson, Rhoda Gemignani, and Beverly Sanders portray the three visiting mothers whose concern drives much of the comedy.
At its heart, the story explores a familiar family situation: parents who want to help their adult children, and adult children who want the chance to prove they can manage on their own.
Danny’s determination is understandable. He has already experienced a difficult loss, and caring for his daughters is his most important responsibility.
His mother wants the family to be safe and comfortable, but Danny also needs the confidence that comes from making his own decisions.
Jesse and Joey are part of that process. They may be inexperienced in some aspects of household management, but they are committed to helping their friend and his daughters.
The episode turns those ordinary concerns into comedy through a messy house, three worried mothers, and one small turtle that causes an extraordinary amount of trouble.
For viewers who remember Full House from its early years, The Return of Grandma offers another example of the warmth and humor that helped make the Tanner family familiar.
Sometimes growing into a new responsibility means making mistakes, accepting help, and learning how to do better the next time.
And sometimes the hardest person to convince that you have grown up is your own mother.
Do you remember The Return of Grandma? Would you have let the three mothers move in, or given Danny, Jesse, and Joey another chance to clean the house?
Sources
- tvmaze.com
- rottentomatoes.com
- rottentomatoes.com
- thetvdb.com
- tvmaze.com
- tv.apple.com
- Wikipedia: List of Full House episodes
