The new Fuller House season is due to debut this week; one character, however, that fans won’t be seeing back is Lori Loughlin’s Aunt Becky – why? Debuting in 2016, the show is entering its fifth and final season. The 18-episode last-outing is split into two, with the second half set to roll out sometime next year.
Netflix’s spin-off sequel to the hit late ’80s/early ’90s family sitcom Full House centers on DJ Tanner, the eldest of the Tanner sisters, who, like her father, has been widowed at a young age. While the story primarily revolves around her, Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Kimmy (Angela Barber), the show also features some of the older cast members, including Danny (Bob Saget), Joey (Dave Coulier) and of course, Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) and Aunt Becky. With the offshoot wrapping up, fans may be expecting to see the full cast of characters come together for at least a complete show. Sadly, that’s not going to be the case with Loughlin not returning for Fuller House season 5.
It has to do with the actress’ involvement in the massive college admissions bribery case that broke out back in March. Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, reportedly paid half a million dollars to get their two kids into USC, either by faking athletic records or cheating their SAT scores. Shortly after the scandal was publicized, both Hallmark and Netflix fired her from When Calls the Heart and Fuller House respectively.
Loughlin’s castmates have either expressed their support for the actress or totally refused to comment on the matter, but since her firing most of them claim that they don’t know how the show will handle her absence in Fuller House’s final season (to be fair, they were asked before filming began). Netflix has also remained mum on the matter and has given no indication whatsoever about any plans to approach the tricky situation. While Aunt Becky didn’t appear in every episode in the last four seasons of the spin-off, this comes at an odd time considering that the older cast has just decided to move back to San Francisco, including Danny and Becky nabbing their old jobs hosting Wake Up, San Francisco.
Desperate Housewives actress Felicity Huffman is also embroiled in the scandal, supposedly doling out $250,000 to get in on the same scheme. However, while William H. Macy’s wife settled, Loughlin and her husband are holding out on their case. Additional charges have been made that could ultimately result in up to 40 years in prison. No final verdict has been made thus far, but given the actress’s circumstances, even if Netflix decided to allow Loughlin to appear in Fuller House, she may not be available for production .
In any case, it’s not like Fuller House viewers aren’t already used to an incomplete extended Tanner clan. Up until now, Michelle Tanner is still a no-show at the iconic San Francisco home as Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen who alternately played the role in Full House refuse to reprise their breakthrough role. The twins are now fashion moguls and have long retired from acting. And if Michelle won’t appear in the sequel series, viewers won’t mind Aunt Becky missing for the rest of its run.
