Andrea Barber and Jodie Sweetin, former stars of the beloved television show "Full House," recently engaged in a nostalgic discussion about the series on their podcast, "How Rude, Tanneritos." The actresses took to Reddit to explore fans' "unpopular opinions" surrounding the show. They found themselves in strong agreement with one particular sentiment: the series should have addressed the presence of Pamela Tanner, the deceased mother of the Tanner girls, more frequently.
Pamela Tanner, who passed away before the events of "Full House," played a significant yet understated role in the storyline. By the fourth season, her character seemed almost forgotten. Jodie Sweetin expressed that it would have been nice to see more of Pamela in the show, while Andrea Barber suggested that including more pictures of Pam around the Tanner household could have preserved her memory. Sweetin humorously added that instead of Stephanie having a random headshot photo of Danny, it could have been one of her and her mom.
The actresses acknowledged the challenges inherent in sitcoms, which are typically designed to be light-hearted and humorous, making producers hesitant to introduce somber themes. As Jodie Sweetin pointed out, "I guess you can't get too dark in a sitcom," but she also believed that over time, the show could have approached the topic differently so it would no longer evoke sadness.
"She's talked about a little bit in season 1." – Andrea Barber
The discussion also veered into the dynamics within the Tanner household. The actresses noted that Michelle's character often appeared as a "tyrant," largely due to Danny's favoritism toward his youngest daughter. Reflecting on how Pamela's memory could have been woven into the narrative, Barber remarked that it doesn't need to be overly sentimental:
"Yeah. It doesn't have to be sappy with the violins and crying," – Andrea Barber
Sweetin and Barber agreed that a more casual mention of Pamela in later seasons could have sufficed:
"Like, no. You could just have a casual mention in these later seasons." – Andrea Barber
Andrea Barber, who portrayed family friend Kimmy Gibbler on "Full House," and Jodie Sweetin, who played Stephanie Tanner, continue to share insights and reflections from their time on the show through their podcast. Their discussion about Pamela Tanner highlights both the complexities and opportunities in balancing humor with heartfelt elements in sitcom storytelling.
