Last night, Mark-Paul Gosselaar surprised Jimmy Fallon on 'Late Night' by showing up dressed as Zack Morris from 'Saved By the Bell' -- complete with giant mobile phone. Fallon's been obsessed with putting together a 'Saved By the Bell' reunion, and Gosselaar (who now stars in TNT's 'Raising the Bar') gamely agreed to participate -- if Fallon can get everybody else on board.
It got us thinking about which of our favorite '90s sitcoms need to hold reunions, like, yesterday. 'The Today Show' already hosted a 'Cosby Show' reunion, but here are some more meet-back-ups we really, really want to see:
1. 'Full House' (1987-95)
We just published a "where are they now" update on the 'Full House' cast, and the Olsen twins, Candance Cameron Bure, Bob Saget and John Stamos are still very much on the radar, but wouldn't you like to see them all growed up, together?
What Happened to the Full House cast?
Ratings for 'Full House,' which began its run in '87, were low at first, with critics panning the cheese factor of the San Francisco-set sitcom. For its second season, ABC moved the Tanners to the family-friendly TGIF lineup, and the show about a widower raising his three daughters with the help of his brother-in-law and best friend found its groove. (Cheese factor? What cheese factor?)
Running eight seasons, 'Full House' became iconic pop candy for Generation X. Just a taste of what it gave us: eye-rolling references for later dorm-room talks, John Stamos' "bad guys just need a hug" lesson -- and the Olsen twins, adorable-little-Michelle-turned-billion-dollar-empire-controlling entertainment tycoons. Name another sitcom with a track record like that ... Exactly. -- By Ryan McKee
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Bob Saget
Played: Danny Tanner
Then: As a stand-up comic, he introduced himself to America on HBO's '9th Annual Young Comedians Special' by joking, "I just married my girlfriend of seven years. That's her age, I'm going to jail." In 1987, ABC hired Saget for 'The Morning Program,' a show that awkwardly mixed news with comedy and became an industry joke. Luckily, 'Full House' began and he could jump into Danny Tanner's skin. No one seemed to notice the character was the antithesis of his dirty stage act.
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Bob Saget
Played: Danny Tanner
Now: The Philadelphia native, now 53, is arguably the most successful 'FH' alum (not counting the Olsens' net worth). After missteps directing 'Dirty Work' and starring in the sitcom 'Raising Dad,' Saget hit stand-up with a renewed, filthy vigor. After raunchily memorable cameos in 'Half Baked,' 'Entourage' and 'The Aristocrats,' Saget became a top touring act. He produced the 'March of the Penguins' spoof 'Farce of the Penguins' (with voice work from former co-stars Jodie Sweetin, Dave Coulier, Lori Loughlin and John Stamos) and Comedy Central Roasted him last year. Currently he's the narrator of 'How I Met Your Mother' and stars in the probably soon-to-be-canceled sitcom 'Surviving Surburbia.'
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John Stamos
Played: Jesse Katsopolis
Then: In the early '80s, Stamos became Blackie Parrish on 'General Hospital,' garnered a Daytime Emmy nomination and wooed female viewers for two years. The short-lived sitcom 'You Again?' followed, and then rock-n-roller Uncle Jesse was born. Writers agreed to change the character's last name from Cochran to Katsopolis to reflect Stamos' Greek heritage. He also started jamming with the Beach Boys, which set up later guest-star appearances by the band and Uncle Jesse's brief music stardom with Jesse and the Rippers.
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John Stamos
Played: Jesse Katsopolis
Now: The 45-year-old Stamos is still living his musical dreams. He's appeared in the Broadway productions 'How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,' 'Cabaret,' 'Nine' and just announced he'll star in the upcoming revival of 'Bye Bye Birdie.' While he's been busy, 2005 was his most hectic year: divorcing Rebecca Romijn, starring in 'Jake in Progress,' a sitcom about an eligible bachelor who just can't commit (art imitating life?) and joining the cast of 'ER' as Tony Gates. Recently, he acted as roast master and skewered Bob Saget on his Comedy Central Roast.
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Dave Coulier
Played: Joseph "Joey" Gladstone
Then: This hockey enthusiast began as a stand-up comic and voice actor. He recorded voices for 'The Jetsons,' 'Scooby Doo' and 'Yogi Bear' before being cast as Danny's live-in bromance. Playing a comedian in the show, Joey used his nightclub act to entertain Danny's daughters with Bullwinkle impressions, Popeye quotes and the old "Cut It Out" routine. Through the 'Full House' run, he continued doing voiceover work, playing Peter Venkman on 'The Real Ghost Busters' cartoon series.
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Dave Coulier
Played: Joseph "Joey" Gladstone
Now: These days Coulier, 49, can be heard voicing various characters for 'Robot Chicken' and taking Rick Moranis' place in 'Bob & Doug,' a cartoon spin-off of 'Strange Brew.' He's continued performing stand-up, his squeaky clean act being the antithesis to Saget's routine, and has hosted a number of clips shows, including 'The World's Funniest Videos,' 'America's Funniest People' and 'Animal Kidding.' Reality TV sucked him into a season of 'The Surreal Life' and 'Skating With Celebrities,' as Nancy Kerrigan's partner. After meeting Alanis Morissette at a hockey game in 1992, the two dated for a while. Tabloids have outed him as the possible 'Mr. Duplicity' in her vitriolic song 'You Outta Know.'
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Candace Cameron
Played: DJ Tanner
Then: Following in the footsteps of her famous older brother, Kirk, Candace started appearing in guest roles on 'Punky Brewster,' 'St. Elsewhere' and 'Who's the Boss.' During her stint as Donna Jo Tanner, the eldest, level-headed daughter, she also played Sally Field's daughter in the film 'Punchline' and Eric Stoltz's younger sister in 'Some Kind of Wonderful.'
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Candace Cameron
Played: DJ Tanner
Now: After appearing in a number of TV movies, including 'No One Would Tell' alongside Fred Savage, Cameron, now 33, took a hiatus from acting to raise a family. Dave Coulier had introduced her to Russian NHL player Valeri Bure and the two were married in 1996. By 2002, they had three children. Cameron has returned to acting, co-starring alongside Randy Travis in the Christian film 'The Wager.' She's fondly looked back on her child-stardom in 'I Love the '80s' and '50 Cutest Child Stars: All Grown Up.' A fundamentalist Christian like her brother, the actress will show up in more religious productions like the upcoming 'To the Wall' with Stephen Baldwin.
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Jodie Sweetin
Played: Stephanie Tanner
Then: As the story goes, the original script called for only two daughters, but producers added the role of "Stephanie" after seeing Sweetin's audition. So at age 5, Sweetin began growing up in front of America as the high-pitched, precocious middle Tanner daughter. She even had her own catchphrase, "How rude," which inspired a generation of girls to call their parents rude whenever they didn't get their way.
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2. 'Growing Pains' (1985-92)
How awesome would it be if Leonardo DiCaprio showed up? (We can all dream, right?)
3. 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air' (1990-96)
Ditto, with Will Smith. And we totally want to see the Carlton dance in its present-day form.
4. 'Home Improvement' (1991-99)
Admit it, gals, you had a crush on Jonathan Taylor Thomas back in the day. Don't you want to see how all three of Tim "Tool Time" Taylor's boys turned out?
5. 'Family Matters' (1989-97)
Can Jaleel White still do that annoying Urkel laugh? The world wants to know.
6. 'Boy Meets World' (1993-2000)
Admit it, guys, you had a crush on Topanga, aka Danielle Fishel, and want to see how she's filled out, er, turned out.
7. 'Step by Step' (1991-97)
Most of the kids from the show have left acting since the show went off the air. We'd love to find out how they've kept busy all these years.
Which of your favorite shows should hold a reunion? Which child stars are you most curious about? Sound off in the comments!
Reader Comments (71)
Mary at 6:22AM on Jun 10th 2009
I religiously watched 6 out of the 7 shows listed. Most of the shows I still watch and I would love to see their reunions.
Slicric at 6:23AM on Jun 10th 2009
All these cutesy-wutesy, powder-puff, sugar-coated shows SUCKED! Not even close to funny!
June at 6:59AM on Jun 10th 2009
What kind of newstories are these? All about a bunch of shows and celebrities we don't care about. This is exactly what I expect from our current environment. A bunch of no talk lip service of inaction pretending to offer something only for the sake of it.
Deborah at 7:36AM on Jun 10th 2009
I loved saved by the bell and family matters, Full House and Step by Step was pretty good also.
My favorite is Saved by the Bell, i still watch the reruns and wonder why my son is not more like Zack. lol
Wombat at 7:41AM on Jun 10th 2009
Deborah- Maybe because your son has a brain!
Sandra at 11:25AM on Jun 11th 2009
I would love to see Fresh Prince as a reunion show
kevin at 7:56AM on Jun 10th 2009
I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw Screech on TV doing advertisement for an adult porn shop.
Traci at 8:10AM on Jun 10th 2009
I would watch a reunion of anyone of these shows...Boy Meets World being my favorite! Does anyone know where I can get the Seasons on DVD?
chris at 8:18AM on Jun 10th 2009
Every single one of the shows mentioned sucked and were NOT funny or even entertaining. Shows that should be making a comeback are Friends, Will and Grace, and The King of Queens.
shannon at 8:23AM on Jun 10th 2009
How about Wings? That show was halarious and different and Tim Daly is smokin' hot!