Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber reflect on Full House's early “racy” episode

Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber , known for their roles as Stephanie Tanner and Kimmy Gibbler on Full House , are revisiting some of the sitcom’s early missteps, including one particularly uncharacteristic episode from Season 1. During the latest episode of their rewatch podcast How Rude, Tanneritos !, the duo, along with original Full House producer Karen Miller, discussed the fifth episode of the show, “Sea Cruise,” which aired in 1987.

The episode, which veers away from the family-centric tone Full House became known for, raised some eyebrows both then and now. Sweetin didn’t hesitate to address the episode’s reputation, asking Miller directly, “Was ‘ Sea Cruise ’ the worst episode that we ever did as a show?” Miller didn’t mince words in her response, admitting, “It was a disaster.”


The episode in question shifts its focus away from the Tanner girls and zeroes in on the male leads—Danny (Bob Saget), Joey (Dave Coulier), and Jesse (John Stamos)—as they embark on a midnight fishing trip. What starts as a male bonding experience soon turns into something else when Jesse’s rock star ex-girlfriend and her backup singers join the group, leading to flirty interactions that feel out of place for the family-friendly sitcom.

Miller recalled that the episode’s odd tone didn’t fit Full House’s identity, saying, “I wouldn’t even say it was the boys’ fantasy to do that episode. But it turned out to be this weird episode. It was just so out of character for Full House.” Sweetin and Barber had already revisited “Sea Cruise” during an August 2023 episode of Tanneritos, where they discussed how the episode strayed from the show’s heartwarming, family-oriented storytelling.

Barber noted that “Sea Cruise” gave fans a glimpse of what the show might have been if it had followed series creator Jeff Franklin’s original concept—three single male comedians living together. Franklin himself revealed on the podcast that Full House initially began as House of Comics, a much edgier take on three bachelors without children, a far cry from the beloved family comedy it became. Though “Sea Cruise” may not hold up as a fan favorite, it offers an interesting peek into the early creative challenges Full House faced as it found its footing.