A new podcast episode of Couch Potatoes Unite!, which is based on a blog of the same name hosted at our website: couchpotatoesunite.wordpress.com. In this episode, recorded in February 2021, our panel of CPU! small townies – specifically, moderator Chief Couch Potato Kylie, Nick, Sarah, Jordon, Josh, and new panelist (to the panel but not to the podcast) Jana – gathered “Around the Water Cooler” to chat for the last time as a panel about the final season, Season 6, of the quirky Canadian comedy depicting a riches to rags family with hearts of gold, i.e. Schitt’s/Schitt’$ Creek as well as to Look Back at the entire series, now that the series is all said and done. As always, if you have not watched any of Schitt’s/Schitt’$ Creek, be aware that there are, most definitely, MAJOR SPOILERS! Tell us what you think, and/or if there are other shows you’re interested in CPU! covering, below; email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com; or check out our Guestbook at the website, our Facebook page, our Twitter (@cpupodcast), or our Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite). Until next time, until next episode…buh bye!
Executive Producer/Chief Couch Potato: Kylie C. Piette Associate Producers: Krista Pennington and Selene Rezmer
Editor: Kylie C. Piette Logo: Rebecca Wallace Marketing Graphic Artist: Krista Pennington
Theme Song: Written by: Sarah Milbratz Singers: Sarah Milbratz, Amy McDaniel, Kels Rezmer Keyboard: Kels Rezmer Bass: Ian McDonough Guitar: Christian Somerville Engineer/Production: Kyle Aspinall/Christian Somerville
Who: “Schitt’s (Schitt’$) Creek” is a Canadian sitcom, which aired on cable network Pop in the United States for six seasons (2015-2020).
What: “Schitt’s Creek,” created by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, is based on a series of situations contrasting a once-rich family and their worldly big-city attitudes with sudden small-town living and the honest, down-to-earth, hard-working residents of fictional town Schitt’s Creek.
SYNOPSIS
The series stars Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose, a wealthy video store magnate, and Catherine O’Hara as his wife Moira, a formerly successful soap star. The family loses their fortune when their business manager fails to pay their taxes. They are forced to rebuild their lives with their sole remaining asset: a small town named Schitt’s Creek, which they had bought their son as a joke birthday gift years before. The story revolves around the family’s life living in two adjacent rooms of a rundown motel with their pampered twenty-something adult children, David and Alexis, played by Dan Levy and Annie Murphy, respectively. The cast also features Chris Elliott, Jennifer Robertson, and Emily Hampshire as series regulars.
When: Season 6 aired from January 7, 2020, to April 7, 2020, on cable network Pop in the United States (after first airing on the CBC in Canada) with a total of 14 episodes.
Where: The action is set primarily in the fictional town of Schitt’s Creek, which we can only guess is somewhere in Ontario, Canada, since that is where the show is filmed.
Why: To find out why individual podcast panelists started watching this show, listen to our series of podcast episodes via the links below!
How – as in How Was It? – THOUGHTS
We previously caught up on Schitt’s Creek with our “Catching Up on Schitt’$ Creek” miniseries, in which we discussed the first four seasons of the show in two parts. We subsequently discussed Season 5 after it finished airing. You can listen to prior episodes in this Water Cooler series here and at our audio feeds (Apple/iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Castbox, and Amazon Music):
Seasons 1-2
Seasons 3-4
Season 5
Our Schitt’$ Creek resident townies once again experienced panel changeover, though Nick, Sarah, Josh, and Jordon return, as does your Chief CP, while one panelist new to the panel but not to the podcast joins us “Around the Water Cooler” to talk about the final season, Season 6, of this quirky comedy, as well as to Look Back at the show as a whole, now that all is said and done. In tonight’s episode, we reminisce about the Rose family dynamics and contributing personalities, the folks the Roses have met and befriended in the town, and the all around fun of this show, which only reached peak level by series’ end.
This episode was recorded in February 2021, and there are, without question, MAJOR SPOILERS, as the panelists cover key plot points of Season 6 and, really, of the whole show as part of our Looking Back proceedings. Listen at your own risk, and let us know what you think by commenting below!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@cpupodcast), Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite), Pinterest (@cpupodcast), or email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com – or subscribe to this blog, the YouTube channel, our Apple/iTunes channel, our Stitcher Radio channel , find us on Google Play, on Spotify, on Castbox, on iHeartRadio, and on Amazon Music to keep track of brand new episodes. In the meantime, let us know what you think! Comment or review us in any of the above forums – we’d love your feedback!
Remember, new episodes and blog posts are published weekly! Next Wednesday, a miraculously revived and re-staffed panel – a panel that has experienced an incredible amount of turnover since its inception – makes an astounding return to the CPU! (Virtual) Water Cooler, ready to digest the final two seasons, Seasons 6 and 7, of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., after some of the previous composition of our resident SHIELD panel jumped the shark in 2020. Stay tuned for our newly reconstituted panel’s reaction to Marvel’s erstwhile on-again, off-again and most trippy TV entry – next week!
Lingering Questions
1) Will we ever see the full (or at least prolonged scenes of) Moira’s (O’Hara) infamous “Crowpocalypse” movie? Can we get a full rendition of the Schitt’s Creek Community Theater production of “Cabaret?” Someone make these things happen!
ANSWER: We do not get to see the full movie in Season 6, but we see a reasonably sizable clip of said film as well as a teaser/trailer for the hot new Interflix release of “Crows 3: The Crowening.” While we do not get to see either full versions of Moira’s movie or of Season 5’s riveting rendition of the Schitt’s Creek Community Theatre’s performance of “Cabaret,” our panel votes strongly that the producers and cast should consider lengthening the audience-consumable versions to use as bonus features on home video release (DVD/Blu-Ray) or should produce specials, reunion or otherwise, featuring these stunning productions. It’s what we all want, right?
2) Will we see David (D. Levy) and Patrick’s (Noah Reid) wedding? Or, will they elope, and will Johnny (E. Levy) and Moira renew their vows with the leftover, no doubt lavish, potential wedding setup, as panelist Sarah predicts? Will Ted (Dustin Milligan) propose to Alexis (Murphy)? Will we have a double wedding?
ANSWER: We see David and Patrick’s wedding, though it is not what either they or we expect; however, they do not elope but get married in town. Johnny and Moira do not renew their vows. Ted does not propose to Alexis. There is only one wedding that the audience is entreated to witnessing. Listen to tonight’s podcast episode for details.
3) Will Alexis actually make it to the Galapagos Islands to meet Ted?
ANSWER: Alexis does not make it to the Galapagos Islands at any time. She stays to help David plan his wedding and to broaden her public relations experience supporting her mother’s “Crows 3” film release.
4) Will any of the Roses opt to leave Schitt’s Creek? Will Johnny and Moira opt to stay?
ANSWER: Three out of four Roses find a path out of Schitt’s Creek by series’ end. Only David opts to stay to reside with his new husband Patrick and his best friend Stevie (Hampshire).
5) Will Stevie make it out of town, as Chief CP Kylie predicts?
ANSWER: Stevie tries her hand at being a flight attendant for some “hot” up-and-coming airline called “Larry Air;” however, this is an unsuccessful attempt by her to escape the town she calls home, and she ends up returning permanently, though her decision evolves into a much better career position for her overall. Listen to tonight’s podcast episode for details.
6) Will the community performing arts center be named after Moira, as panelist Josh predicts?
ANSWER: It will not.
7) Will Moira direct another fabulous musical production to preserve her Schitt’s Creek legacy? If so, what should she direct? What would she direct?
ANSWER: She will not. Moira is far too distracted by her seemingly revived film and television acting career to focus upon directing further community theater productions in Schitt’s Creek.
PARTING SHOTS
Schitt$ Creek remains universally recommended by the final version of our CPU! panel to fans of the actors in the cast, particularly of Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, and to fans of comparable and/or influential fare like Arrested Development, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Riches, and director/actor Christopher Guest’s feature films, in which Levy and O’Hara made many joint appearances. The panelists agree that anyone who watches this comedy “can get something out of it,” particularly whatever the viewer wants to get out of it, because the show is an easy, low-risk binge and, therefore, low commitment overall. The humor is distinctly the show’s own and may not appeal to everyone; however, it is subtle and satirical all at the same time. The characters have some caricature-like qualities, but they embody those qualities so completely, they become fully fleshed out personae for the viewer and accessible to anyone, regardless of background, resulting in a final season and corresponding series finale that satisfies beyond expectations and to the great praise of every member of our Schitt’$ Creek panel. Additionally, the panel continues to laud the comedic performances of the four main actors and the writing and generally characterizes the show as “better and better” the more one watches, so much so that several panelists identified the sixth season as their favorite of the entire bunch. In any event, the panelists find the show “fun,” delightfully “weird,” and believe that those who give it half a chance (which we recommend is the first three to six episodes) and a respectable try to connect to it will have as much fun as we have had watching and discussing this now Emmy-winning comedy!
THE FUTURE OF THE SHOW
Ended! Schitt’$ Creek concluded with this sixth and final season. All Schitt’$ Creek seasons are available to stream on Netflix.
While our Schitt’$ Creek coverage is primarily done, don’t be surprised if these series make an appearance or two in coming discussions, from time to time. In the meantime, from our panel of small townies, Schitts, and/or Roses to you, thank you for listening to our Schitt’$ Creek Water Cooler Series, which now officially comes to a close. To discover other shows discussed by CPU!, check here. For now, we bid you adieu!
Patrick (Noah Reid), David (Dan Levy), Alexis (Annie Murphy), and Stevie (Emily Hampshire) bid goodbye to the heads of the Rose family, Johnny (Eugene Levy) and Moira (Catherine O’Hara), as they begin their road trip to California to support Moira’s rejuvenated acting career and Johnny’s burgeoning role as head of the Rosebud Motel franchise operation.
A new podcast episode of Couch Potatoes Unite!, which is based on a blog of the same name hosted at our website: couchpotatoesunite.wordpress.com. In this episode, recorded in March 2021, the remaining CPU! enthusiast who enjoys a little Will with her Grace – Chief Couch Potato Kylie – triumphantly returns to the Water Cooler to continue a new companion feature to our interview-style series on CPU! entitled “Shark Jumpers’ Anonymous,” in which panelists – and about to be former-panelists – explain why they are making leaps and bounds over predatory fish (or like trees and leaving). In “Final Thoughts,” any panelist who persevered after the panel jumped that proverbial shark is invited back to the Water Cooler, whether solo or with a partner, to discuss their Final Thoughts about the hitherto discarded show following the airing of its series finale and whether completing the watch is worth the effort in the end. If you have not viewed any of Will & Grace, the show discussed in this episode, be aware that there are MAJOR SPOILERS! Tell us what you think, and/or if there are other shows you’re interested in CPU! covering, below; email us at: couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com; or check out our Guestbook at the website, our Facebook page, our Twitter (@cpupodcast), our Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite), or our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/couchpotatoesunite. Until next time, until next episode…buh bye!
Executive Producer/Chief Couch Potato: Kylie C. Piette Associate Producers: Krista Pennington and Selene Rezmer
Editor: Kylie C. Piette Logo: Rebecca Wallace Marketing Graphic Artist: Krista Pennington
Theme Song: Written by: Sarah Milbratz Singers: Sarah Milbratz, Amy McDaniel, Kels Rezmer Keyboard: Kels Rezmer Bass: Ian McDonough Guitar: Christian Somerville Engineer/Production: Kyle Aspinall/Christian Somerville
Who: “Will & Grace,” a situation comedy that aired on NBC from 1998 to 2006 until it was revived on the same network in 2017, airing until 2020, for eleven total seasons between the two runs.
What: Created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, Will & Grace focuses on the friendship between best friends Will Truman (Eric McCormack), a gay lawyer, and Grace Adler (Debra Messing), a straight interior designer.
SYNOPSIS
Will & Grace is set in New York City and also features Will and Grace’s friends Karen Walker (Megan Mullally), an alcoholic socialite, and Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes), a flamboyantly gay actor. The continuing interplay of relationships features the trials and tribulations of dating, marriage, divorce, and casual sex as well as comical key stereotypes of gay and Jewish culture.
When: The second series finale aired on April 23, 2020, after three additional revival seasons, in which Season 9 consisted of 16 episodes and Seasons 10 and 11 consisted of 18 episodes each.
Where: The show is set in New York City, New York (mostly in Manhattan).
Why: Listen to the first podcast episode in this series for the panelists’ individual stories on how they found Will & Grace.
How – as in How Was It? – THOUGHTS
CPU! reviewed the original run and the first revival season, Season 9, of Will & Grace before two of the remaining panelists decided to “jump the shark” in 2019. To catch up on prior CPU! episodes regarding this series, listen via our handy links below:
Looking Back at the Original “Will & Grace,” Seasons 1-8
Season 9
Shark Jumpers’ Anonymous: November 2019
In November 2019, CPU!’s coverage of Will & Grace on the podcast went the way of the dodo. The remaining panelists – Jeremy and Emily D – found themselves at a Fonzie-inspired crossroads: an inability and sheer lack of desire to proceed forward in watching the revived sitcom about four Manhattan friends of various sexual orientations and codependences and their escapades, trials, and tribulations. As such, though they visited the Water Cooler in the past to talk about a show they once loved, they elected to undergo our interview-style feature entitled “Shark Jumpers Anonymous (SJA),” in which panelists – and about to be former-panelists – explain why they are making leaps and bounds over predatory fish (or like trees and leaving).
CPU!, thus, continues the SJA companion feature, “Final Thoughts” tonight with this episode. In “Final Thoughts,” any panelist left standing after a panel collectively decides to jump the shark, determined to complete their watch of the controversial series in question, is invited back to the Water Cooler to discuss, in whatever format they wish, whether or not watching the series in question is worth the effort in the end. Let’s face it, most often the person sticking to and through any given series will be the panel moderator, and most often, the panel moderator will be I, your friendly neighborhood Chief Couch Potato. For tonight’s Final Thoughts about Will & Grace, this formula holds true. After all, no one had expressed interest in restarting a full panel since our SJA episode, so I invited myself back to the Water Cooler, in a manner of speaking and from a certain point of view, all by myself, to talk to my heart’s content about my Will & Grace-related Final Thoughts, including any Looking Back observations, Parting Shots, and Recommendations (or lack thereof) that I might have for this erstwhile revived sitcom.
Do you agree or disagree with my Final Thoughts? I recorded my ramblings in March 2021, and there are, without question, MAJOR SPOILERS, as I discuss key plot points of all seasons of Will & Grace but especially of the final seasons, Seasons 10 & 11. Listen at your own risk, and let us know what you think by commenting below!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@cpupodcast), Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite), Pinterest (@cpupodcast), or email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com – or subscribe to this blog, the YouTube channel, our Apple/iTunes channel, our Stitcher Radio channel , find us on Google Play, on Spotify, on Castbox, on iHeartRadio, on Amazon Music, and now on Patreon(!) to keep track of brand new episodes. In the meantime, let us know what you think! Comment or review us in any of the above forums – we’d love your feedback!
Remember, new episodes and/or blog posts are published weekly! Next Wednesday, our Schitt’$ Creek panel triumphantly returns a final time to the CPU! Water Cooler to recap and review the final season, Season 6, of the acclaimed comedy and to Look Back at the whole fold of cheese, now that all is said and done. Ew, David! Stay tuned for all the bad impressions – next Wednesday!
FINAL RATING & RECOMMENDATION
Kylie’s Final Grade: B
Kylie’s take: yes, the revival started off rocky, but once Debra Messing got her groove back, the old chemistry clicked. Did it feel like an echo of a bygone era? Perhaps, a little, but the newer episodes do not want for laughs as the revival continued to improve with each new season. Kylie thinks any self-professed Will & Grace fan should stick with the three revival seasons through to the end; the new series finale, at least, is superior to the former one, and who won’t miss these characters again when a little time has passed? Should the show be revived a second time? Absolutely not, but the one revival it did have made those of us who giggle at Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen have something of the last laugh when it all went to plan and, just maybe, when it offered up something better than the first try at a series finale that never went over well with even the show’s most ardent fanbase. At any rate, these three seasons form a solid revival out of the sea of revival garbage that permutated the pop culture landscape for a hot minute, and there are worse pursuits on which to spend one’s time. Kylie recommends all eleven seasons of Will & Grace, particularly if you like to laugh at the imperfections of wildly imperfect folks, regardless of their sexual orientation and/or potential platonic co-dependency, the latter of which might make any self-respecting psychiatrist’s head spin. Take that one for a ride, poodle. There are worse things, Judith!
THE FUTURE OF THE SHOW
Ended! Will & Grace ended after three revival seasons and eleven total seasons, including the original run. The original eight seasons of Will & Grace are currently available to stream on Hulu and at NBC’s streaming app; the revival seasons are not currently available for subscription or free streaming. Did you watch Will & Grace from beginning to end – original run and revival run as well? Let us know in the comments, and tell us what you thought of any or all of its eleven total seasons! And stay tuned! Though our Will & Grace coverage is finally done with the publication of Kylie’s Final Thoughts, don’t be surprised if it makes an appearance or two in coming discussions, from time to time.
In the meantime, poodles, thank you for listening to our episodes pertaining to Will & Grace, which now officially end. To discover other shows discussed by CPU!, check here. For now, we bid you adieu!
Will & Grace finally move out…only to move in together outside the city. Good thing Jack and Karen will never be far behind.
A new episode of Couch Potatoes Unite!, which is based on a blog of the same name hosted at our website: couchpotatoesunite.wordpress.com. In this episode, recorded in September 2020, our newly “fuller” (really! again!) panel of fans of all things Tanner/Tanner-Fuller–including moderator Kristen; Leslie; Samantha; Jared; a panelist new to the panel but not to the podcast, namely Stephanie; and brand new CPU! panelist Justin – gathered “Around the Water Cooler” to chat for the last time as a panel about the final season, Season 5, of the revival Netflix sequel series Fuller House as well as to Look Back at the entire series, now that the series is all said and done, in the sixth episode of CPU!’s Full/er House series (we previously looked back at original series Full House in Episode One and recapped prior seasons of Fuller House in subsequent episodes). Tell us what you think, and/or if there are other shows you’re interested in CPU! covering, below; email us at: couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com; or check out our Guestbook at the website, our Facebook page, our Twitter (@cpupodcast), or our Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite). Until next time, until next episode…buh bye!
Executive Producer/Chief Couch Potato: Kylie C. Piette Associate Producers: Krista Pennington and Selene Rezmer
Editor: Kylie C. Piette Logo: Rebecca Wallace Marketing Graphic Artist: Krista Pennington
Theme Song: Written by: Sarah Milbratz Singers: Sarah Milbratz, Amy McDaniel, Kels Rezmer Keyboard: Kels Rezmer Bass: Ian McDonough Guitar: Christian Somerville Engineer/Production: Kyle Aspinall/Christian Somerville
Who: “Fuller House,” an American family situation comedy and sequel to Full House, which is available via the Netflix streaming service as an original series, which means, for the record, that it is available to Netflix subscribers exclusively, as it is Netflix produced original content.
What: The series centers around DJ Tanner-Fuller (Candace Cameron Bure), a veterinarian and widowed mother of three sons, whose sister and best friend—the mother to a teenage daughter—provide support in her sons’ upbringings by moving in with her and into DJ and her sister’s childhood home.
SYNOPSIS
After the sudden death of DJ Tanner-Fuller’s (Bure) husband, Tommy, who was fulfilling his hazardous duties as a firefighter, DJ accepts the help of her sister, Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and her best friend, Kimmy (Andrea Barber), as they move in to take part in raising DJ’s three sons: 13-year-old Jackson (Michael Campion), 7-year-old Max (Elias Harger), and baby Tommy Jr. (Dashiell and Fox Messitt). Kimmy’s teenage daughter, Ramona (Soni Nicole Bringas), also moves in with DJ, Stephanie, Kimmy, and DJ’s children. Most of the Full House ensemble cast reprise their roles on Fuller House, either as regular cast members or in guest appearances, with the exception of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who alternated in the role of Michelle Tanner on Full House.
When: Netflix released Season 5 in two parts: 9 episodes on December 6, 2019, and 9 episodes on June 2, 2020, for a total of 18 episodes.
Where: The show is set in San Francisco, California.
Why: Listen to the podcast series, via the various embedded links below, for the panelists’ individual stories on how they found Fuller House.
How – as in How Was It? – THOUGHTS
So many CPU! regulars, including frequent CPU! contributor and panelist Kristen, love Full House and were particular excited, at least initially, by the Netflix revival of this long dormant sitcom, creating a brand new chapter for the series, which the streaming channel calls Fuller House. In fact, Kristen saw an opportunity for a new CPU! podcast series, in which CPU! panelists look back at the program that started it all while looking forward “Around the Water Cooler” as new seasons of the reboot are released. Thus, herein we offer the sixth and final episode of said CPU! series covering the various versions of this sitcom, which we at CPU! call our “Full/er House Series.” Listen to our previous episodes in this series, in which we Look Back at Full House as well as review and recap previous seasons of Fuller House, via embedded links below:
Episode One: Looking Back at “Full House“
Episode Two: “Fuller House,” Season 1
Episode Three: “Fuller House,” Season 2
Episode Four: “Fuller House,” Season 3
Episode Five: “Fuller House,” Season 4
Most frequent panelist Kristen returns to serve as main moderator and is, in turn, rejoined by her fellow series panelists Leslie, Samantha, and Jared, all of whom proved game to return for this sixth and final episode of our “Full/er House” series (another prior panelist departed the podcast for life’s greater journeys). They are, in turn, newly and more fully joined by one panelist new to the panel but not to the podcast, namely Stephanie (who previously Looked Back at Reign), and by a brand new panelist, embarking upon his CPU! journey for the first time – Justin!
In this latest and final CPU! Fuller House episode, the panel discusses their favorite and least favorite moments from the fifth and final season of the reboot. In sum, the panel’s reactions to Season 5 are universally more overwhelmingly positive and genuinely heartfelt, in terms of an average rating, compared to reactions recorded to previous seasons. Listen to this last podcast episode in our Series, if you have watched all five seasons of Fuller House, and gauge whether you agree or disagree with our panelists’ final take.
This podcast was recorded in September 2020, and there are, without question, MAJOR SPOILERS, as we cover major plot points and comedic situations portrayed in all five seasons of Fuller House. Listen at your own risk, and let us know what you think by commenting below!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@cpupodcast), Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite), Pinterest (@cpupodcast), or email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com – or subscribe to this blog, the YouTube channel, our Apple/iTunes channel, our Stitcher Radio channel , find us on Google Play, on Spotify, on Castbox, on iHeartRadio, on Amazon Music, and now on Patreon(!) to keep track of brand new episodes. In the meantime, let us know what you think! Comment or review us in any of the above forums – we’d love your feedback!
Remember, new episodes and blog posts are published weekly! Next Wednesday, after CPU! jumped the shark watching Will & Grace with our “Shark Jumpers Anonymous” episode published in 2019, and given that the series finale aired in spring 2020, Kylie, the Chief Couch Potato and the last United Couch Potato to persevere with watching the entire series, revival in tow, returns to the Water Cooler, all by her lonesome, to offer you her Final Thoughts about Will & Grace, in the second published iteration of the companion feature to our “Shark Jumpers Anonymous” episodes. In “Final Thoughts,” anyone who did not jump the shark in the previous “SJA” episode visits the moderating microphone a final time for the relevant series to offer their individual Parting Shots about a show that their co-panelist(s) simply could not complete on their own, for whatever the reason. Stay tuned!
Lingering Questions
Old Questions
1) REPEAT QUESTION: Will Michelle, aka Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, ever return to the show? (And why are they so snooty about it…it launched their careers, and the ability they had to start their alleged fashion empire?)
FINAL ANSWER: No. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen do not return to the show; in fact, apparently they were not even asked to appear in the final season, as they had declined to appear in all of the other seasons.As for the parenthetical question, we guess we will never know.
2) REPEAT QUESTION: Will we see any of Michelle’s friends?
FINAL ANSWER: No.
3) Will DJ and Steve get married – finally?
ANSWER: Yes!
4) What will Stephanie and Jimmy’s baby girl be named?
ANSWER: Danielle “Danni” Jo, honoring father Danny and sister Donna Jo (aka DJ).
5) Will there be a double wedding, with DJ/Steve and Stephanie/Jimmy, or even a triple wedding, with Kimmy/Fernando?
ANSWER: Triple wedding action all the way!
6) But seriously, will Michelle return? Or, will Stephanie and Jimmy name their daughter “Michelle” as an homage to the never-seen youngest Tanner sister, off doing her fashion thing?
ANSWER: But seriously, aside from a cheesy reference or two, Michelle was told to “cut it out.” By it, I mean “her.” Michelle never returned to the Full House universe.
7) Will we see Joey’s kids again (the panel votes “no”)?
ANSWER: The panel’s wish was granted. Joey’s kids do not reappear in Season 5.
8) How will the show handle the departure of Lori Loughlin, who was caught up in the college admissions scandal of 2019 and who is expected to go to trial related to charges for bribery, and others, after attempting to fix college admissions with financial incentives at prestigious schools on behalf of her daughter? Or, will Loughlin actually be allowed to make an appearance in this final season?
ANSWER: Lori Loughlin does not appear in the final season, presumably because she was serving her prison sentence at the time of filming. The show suggested that Aunt Becky was off visiting/caring for her mother in Nebraska.
9) Will Kimmy and Fernando finally remarry, whether in the previously theorized triple wedding or not? What’s going on with them?
ANSWER: They reunite and get married as part of that triple wedding scenario. Nothing but happy endings on this show!
10) Will there be a happy ending? It’s Full(er) House, right? Will the show be able to make up for the lack of a satisfying ending, denied to the flagship series upon its abrupt 1995 cancellation?
ANSWER: Listen to tonight’s podcast episode for the panel’s answer to these questions.
11) Will the begrudging CPU! “Full/er House Series” panelists come around in the end?
ANSWER: Listen to tonight’s podcast episode for the panel’s answer to these questions.
12) How many panelists will there be at the last? Our panels are full at six or seven, and this panel has experienced quite the roller coaster in panel composition!
ANSWER: We finally achieved a full panel, which has not been true since Season 1! What a comeback for Fuller House and for CPU!’s Full/er House Series Panel!
PARTING SHOTS
Our panel, yet again comprised of old and new panelists alike, offers up a mostly universally agreeable set of fresh opinions, showing less variety and disagreement than that generally inspired by prior seasons. All but one panelist declares that Season 5 is one of the best of the show’s total five if not the reigning best, as the panel opines that Fuller House finished on a surprisingly strong note, a pleasant twist for many of the panelists who begrudgingly stuck around after emerging from the viewing of the “messy” penultimate fourth season. In fact, even though new panelist Justin holds a special soft spot for the risks taken in the fourth season as well as for some of the Season 4 directorial choices, even he can agree that the fifth season marked an out-of-the-ballpark homerun of a strong finish for a show that has been notoriously plagued by ups and downs, from producer/creators accused of harassment and bullying-type behavior who are then asked to step away to the ignominious departure of Aunt Becky, due to her real-life portrayer’s flirtation with some decidedly non-family friendly financial wheeling and dealing.
As a result, in light of the panel’s rotating roster, and in the end, more of the panelists than before recommend this reboot series to others who might enjoy the admittedly “cheesy” humor, though the overall recommendation by the panel is cautious at best, due to the unevenness of the series, with particular focus upon the middle three seasons. To the extent that the panelists recommend the show, they do so mainly for the nostalgic appeal and “turn your brain off” level of entertainment resulting from the perennially saccharine premise of this well-loved cast and the tongue-in-cheek presentation of its “aw, shucks” humor. Most of the panelists, however, would hesitate to recommend the show to anyone who has not seen the original Full House series, as this reboot series happily and wantonly relies upon running gags, inside jokes, cameos, and callbacks to that original series to fuel the fires of nostalgia that entice fans of this sequel to stay loyal in their watch.
In any event, our panelists proved gleeful if not outright ecstatic when Fuller House served up the hoped-for happy ending that one would expect from this family comedy franchise and continue to advocate that this sequel series and its ham and cheese on rye quality of humor remains easily binged and easily digested, with minimal heartburn or regret, even given its (prior) less well-received moments. As such, our panelists declare that the series finale was all bang and no whimper, leading them to regard watching the less interesting seasons as more worth the time investment at the last. For the discerning viewer seeking direction on whether or not to pick up this series, then, one can obviously glean from the above that the general reaction comes down to it “is what it is;” if you accept the Full(er) House brand on its own terms, you will not be disappointed. As panelist Justin notes in tonight’s episode, comparing it to other popular comedies like Seinfeld or The Office is futile: Full and Fuller House are what they are, and walking into either viewing experience with these mitigated expectations will render the viewing experience all the more enjoyable for anyone who decides not to “cut it out” – that is, either series, from viewers’ respective watch lists.
THE FUTURE OF THE SHOW
Ended! Fuller House concluded with this fifth and final season. All Fuller House seasons are available to stream on Netflix.
While our Full House as well as Fuller House coverage is primarily done, don’t be surprised if these series make an appearance or two in coming discussions, from time to time. In the meantime, from our panel of Tannerino Fannerinos to you, thank you for listening to our Full/er House Series, which now officially comes to a close. To discover other shows discussed by CPU!, check here. For now, we bid you adieu!
A new podcast episode of Couch Potatoes Unite!, which is based on a blog of the same name hosted at our website: couchpotatoesunite.wordpress.com. In this episode, recorded in April 2021, our unbreakably reunited and ever-rotating Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt panel – moderator Chief Couch Potato Kylie, Kristen, Nick, Sarah, Krista, and Eddy (as one of the original panelists departed the podcast for life’s greater journeys) – reconvened On the CPU! (Virtual) Couch for a good old-fashioned Watch Party (and our very own CPU! reunion special) in which we watch and react real time to the small screen (interactive) reunion of the cast of small screen CPU! favorite Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, in Kimmy Vs. The Reverend. If you have not watched this special or the original four seasons of the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt series, be aware that there are MAJOR SPOILERS! Tell us what you think, and/or if there are other shows you’re interested in CPU! covering, below; email us at couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com; or check out our Guestbook at the website, our Facebook page, our Twitter (@cpupodcast), or our Instagram (@couchpotatoesunite). Until next time, until next episode…buh bye!
PS: This audio episode was recorded via Discord; there is some audio feedback as a result. Sometimes, our best technological attempts don’t go perfectly, and we apologize for the sound quality on this episode!
Executive Producer/Chief Couch Potato: Kylie C. Piette Associate Producers: Krista Pennington and Selene Rezmer
Editor: Kylie C. Piette Logo: Rebecca Wallace Marketing Graphic Artist: Krista Pennington
Theme Song: Written by: Sarah Milbratz Singers: Sarah Milbratz, Amy McDaniel, Kels Rezmer Keyboard: Kels Rezmer Bass: Ian McDonough Guitar: Christian Somerville Engineer/Production: Kyle Aspinall/Christian Somerville
Who: “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs. The Reverend” is a Netflix original interactive special, always available on Netflix, as it is Netflix-produced original content.
What: “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend” is a 2020 interactive special for the sitcom created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, and it is directed by Claire Scanlon. It stars Ellie Kemper, Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess and Carol Kane.
SYNOPSIS
Due to the interactive nature of the film, the film offers various possible “endings” that lead to the movie ending earlier or later depending upon choices the viewer makes; however, all early endings result in the audience being re-routed to a choice that extends the story. Kimmy Schmidt (Kemper), now a hugely successful children’s author, plans her wedding to Prince Frederick (guest: Daniel Radcliffe), thirteenth in line for the throne of England. Joining her are her friends Titus Andromedon (Burgess), Lillian Kaushtupper (Kane), and Jaqueline White (Krakowski). When looking in her backpack, Kimmy finds a “Choose Your Own Adventure”-style book that she has never seen in a hidden pocket. After reading the book and realizing that it was not one of hers, she decides to travel to the prison in Durnsville, Indiana, to question Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (guest: Jon Hamm), the man who kept her captive for fifteen years, with Titus coming with her for support.
When: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs. The Reverend was released to the Netflix streaming library on May 12, 2020.
Where: The action is set in and around New York City, New York; Durnsville, Indiana; and somewhere called East Virginia, which could possibly just be more of West Virginia.
Why: Because CPU! had previously discussed the entire series of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt! How could we not have an entire reunion special of our own?
How – as in How Unbreakable is Kimmy Schmidt, Really?
Our Unbreakable(ish) panel of Kimmy Schmidt fans – Kristen, Nick, Sarah, Krista, and newly returning panelist Eddy (one previous panelist departed the podcast for life’s greater journeys) – was ready to reunite, after two years since this specific panel gathered to talk about unbreakable Kimmy antics, upon the release of Netflix’s latest interactive special experiment and the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt cast’s first reunion: “Kimmy Vs. The Reverend.” In fact, Kimmy the Special proved to be a perfect candidate for one of our Watch Parties, also one of our Tier 3 Patreon Perks! Thus, our panelists gathered onto our Virtual Couch via Discord (which actually gave us a few sound quality problems, please bear with us) to watch this interactive special together!
If you, gentle listener, were not already aware, as it has been a minute since we published one of our (in)famous Watch Parties, in these types of episodes, the panelists watch an episode of TV and interact with each other (and the TV) in real time and/or recap and review it immediately following our watch or re-watch. Because we watch it in real time or pause playback to digest something in the moment, there are snippets (faintly) of audio from the special. Be aware that we do not hold copyright to any of the content, none of it is connected, none of it makes sense, and this watch party is as wacky as the special at its heart!
This podcast was recorded in April 2021, and there are, without question, MAJOR SPOILERS, as we watch the special in real time, shout out the interactive options, and react to jokes and sight gags in the moment. Listen at your own risk, and let us know what you think by commenting below!
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Remember, new episodes and blog posts are published weekly! Next week, our Full/er House Series panel triumphantly returns to the CPU! Water Cooler to recap and review the final season, Season 5, and to Look Back at the Netflix-produced revival as a whole! Stay tuned!
PARTING SHOTS& RECOMMENDATION
Our recently reunited Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt panel proves unable to recommend this interactive special to anyone who has never watched a single iota of Kimmy – but also to anyone who has. The panel universally agreed that while the attempt was creative, fresh, and might have been a better footnote on which to end the show than the original series finale, the panel felt that the interactive format largely did not benefit the Kimmy Schmidt property in the end. The panelists observed that adding the interactive element stretched the episode to a less brisk, dully paced hour, instead of its typical half hour, which, therefore, caused some jokes and sight gags to be overused to a point at which the humor is all but wrung from even the naughtiest bits. This unfortunate side effect of the interactive mechanic rendered the exercise somewhat boring to the average CPU! viewer; many of our panelists drudged through a watch of this special a first time and were reluctant but for the podcast to re-watch it. While the panelists enjoyed gamely guest turns by Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm, they also agreed that Kimmy Schmidt in all of her unbreakable glory should probably be done for good now, as there is not much more to mine from the comedic premise here, no matter how enjoyable it might have been to watch Kemper, Burgess, Krakowski, and Kane once more. Though all panelists continued to find reason to laugh when inspired by the show’s over the top characters and absurdist situations, many of them struggled, as they frequently have in the past, with the scattered and somewhat tonally flat reach for gimmicks, even as this interactive special was really one over-the-top gimmick of its own accord. If nothing else, when the humor sticks the landing, which has become less and less often the case throughout the run of anything Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the panelists are reminded of what brought them to this sitcom in the first place and what kept them watching (except in panelist Eddy’s case – he had to be persuaded to return, having all but jumped the shark on the original four-season run). In the end, though, our panel opined that this interactive special and its overall execution, while a spirited try for something zany and new, signified that it is time to stick a fork in the ever Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. To wit, our panel would be more than satisfied to know that this is the last we see of this whimsical but ultimately overdrawn comedy.
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