Summary
Full Housestars Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber have explained why they were not fans of a major Tanner family recast, which happened during season 3 of the beloved sitcom. During the season 3 episode “Granny Tanny,” Danny’s mother Claire arrives for a visit, seeking purpose after finally retiring. While the rest of theFull Housecastremains the same as they’ve always been, the guest character is portrayed by Doris Roberts, who replaces Alice Hirson in the role. While not a striking change, it was still one made in the early seasons of the show.
Speaking on their rewatch podcastHow Rude, Tanneritos!(viaPeople), Sweetin and Barber, who played Stephanie Tanner and Kimmy Gibbler respectively, explainedwhy Roberts getting recast as Claire wasn’t something the pair were a fan of.While they praised the new actor’s performance in the role, they ultimately believed she wasn’t as suited for the role as Hirson had been. Check out what Sweetin and Barber had to say below:
Jodie Sweetin:I did not connect with this grandma Claire as much as I did the first one. There was something about the original grandma — and this sounds so awful — that had a warmth to her. This doesn’t seem like Danny’s mom. The original Claire felt like Danny’s mom.
Andrea Barber:I agree with that. It’s hard to put into words.
Jodie Sweetin:This character felt a little more overbearing and pushy. When you watch her … she’s a little more deadpan and a little less effusive than the original grandma Claire was.
Andrea Barber:I feel bad because Doris Roberts, she was so incredible on many levels…. I wonder if the original grandma Claire wasn’t available or if they were just like, ‘Oh, Doris Roberts! Let’s get what we get on her, we’ll write this episode for her.’
Jodie Sweetin:[T]his was not one of my favorite episodes.
Why Sweetin & Barber’s Opinion On Claire Tanner’s Actors Make Sense
Hirson and Roberts' portrayals of Danny’s mother were quite different onFull House, both of them representing the same character, yet often feeling different from one another.The original actor’s version was kind yet authoritative, as, when Danny and the other adults left her to clean the house, she later forced them to do it, threatening to move in with Jesse and Joey’s mother. The version of the character from season 3 was more lost due to her unsure what to do after retirement, the surety of her previous characterization now nullified.
While this change wasn’t detrimental to her character, both actors portraying her in ways that felt important to their episodes, it likely felt like a significant change to theTanner family treefor Sweetin and Barber. Both episodes are memorable in their own ways,yet her original appearance left an impression of what her character was like near the very start of the show.To have Roberts' version change that would have been quite jarring, even if her portrayal is still fondly remembered by those who watched the series.
Why Full House Recast Danny Tanner After The Pilot Episode
The original unaired pilot for Full House starred John Posey as Danny Tanner. Here’s why he was replaced by Bob Saget for the rest of the show.
Even though Sweetin and Barber’s reactions to Claire’s recasting are understandable,both versions of her are still classic parts of the sitcom to this day.Their different versions also help highlight the dynamics of characters in the show, as everyone is a fleshed out, three-dimensional person with plenty of differences to them depending on the situation. While the actors onFull Househave understandable opinions about the recasting, Roberts still had an important part to play with her appearance.
Claire Tanner only appeared in seasons 1 and 3 ofFull House.
Full House (US)
Cast
Full House (1987) is a family sitcom centered on Danny Tanner, a widowed father, who enlists his brother-in-law Jesse and best friend Joey to help raise his three young daughters in San Francisco. The series features themes of family, friendship, and humor, showcasing the everyday challenges and heartwarming moments as they navigate life together. Full House starred Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier.
