The Full House House

Telling the students I’m from San Francisco is easier than telling them I lived in Oakland for 7 years. Lately, I’ve been drawing a map of the United States with an over-exagerrated east coast and a severely malnourished west coast. Michigan gets more land mass than it should and I leave off Alaska and Hawaii. I do mention that I grew up in Massachusetts and drove across the country (leaving out the tidbit that Sarah did most of the driving) where I landed in San Francisco at the age of 23.

Lies.

I landed in Berkeley at the age of 24.

Regardless, describing San Francisco is easier than incanting Oakland. I was in one class of 14 year olds where I did mention Oakland and I almost said, “You know, Tupac Shakur’s hometown?” I don’t think that would be enough.

When speaking of San Francisco I assume that the most recognizable landmark would be the Golden Gate Bridge; the spanning art-deco and red suspension bridge that connects San Francisco to… to… well, no one who doesn’t live in the Bay Area would know so why bother. But, it’s not. In class today I mentioned the Golden Gate Bridge but was met with blank stares until I said, “Okay, Full House? Do you know Full House? That show is set in San Francisco.”

Now, they know. Full House is in syndication here, dubbed in Japanese. And I could’ve guessed by the way some of the girls have their hair styled; side ponytails and oversized clips. The show is very popular. One student excitedly asked me after school, “You know Full House?” and I told him that the show started in America when I was his age, like 20 years ago.

Innocent adolescents, precocious pre-adolescents, foolish adults whose attentions orbit the children’s existence. Is this the message Japan is receiving about America? Unchallenged sitcom writing and a basic directing formula is shaping how the international community perceives us? Then again, I remember thinking the same thing as the show progressed beyond its first season. Sitcoms can be oversimplified and our lives are anything but. I really didn’t like this show; the adults weren’t mean enough, the kid actors had hyphenated names, and the situations were too cutesy. Blech. Made Family Ties look like The OC.



I’ve known people who’ve made pilgrimages to see the Full House house when they visit San Francisco. They mark their words with badges of honor. We all have interests that stir the pot of tastelessness, for sure. And, I believe, that picture of the steppe-like houses was popular before the show aired its intro. I guess you can only go to so many museums, walk the GG bridge, Baker Beach, North Beach, SoMa, cable cars, Union Square, Mission, Castro, etc. Why not stop and take a photo for a laugh while you’re in a beautiful scenic park. Or maybe out of complete seriousness. Whichevs.

I have mixed feelings for the people who live in those houses. If anyone really does. I sympathize with the way their house must be treated like a national landmark but, then again, it must have cost a bundle to purchase and then live the Tanner home lifestyle. If that’s their choice may the lords of syndication help them.