Confession time: I love Full House. I love the almost unbearable cheesiness, I adore the earnestness with which characters profess their love or disdain for one another. I love John Stamos, on almost every conceivable level. I love Dave Coulier and Bob Sagat, for both portraying wholesome comedian types, when in reality one is almost exactly as clean cut as his onscreen persona, and the other has a mouth filthier than the coin pouch of a sailor with thrush. I love the Olsen Twins, if for no other reason than they played the same character on screen. I love DJ and Stephanie, partly because they embody the dynamic between my sister and I, and partly because their fashion choices - particularly their liberal implementation of bangles into any and every outfit - mirror mine.
But most of all, I love Kimmy Gibbler. Yes, THAT Kimmy Gibbler. The girl next door who bounded in and got groaned at a lot. Remember? Of course you do; you probably groaned as well. And it always struck me as odd that a family like the Tanner’s, whose defining characteristic was, if nothing else, inclusion, would berate a unique, gangly, loping individual for being a little bit off. She was the Jughead Jones of the show; a proto-hipster with mismatched fashion choices, outspoken opinions and apparently bereft of foot hygiene.
And somehow, I managed to talk with Andrea Barber, who played Kimmy Gibbler on Full House throughout the entire run of the show. Once I stopped giggling insanely, we got down to the questions.
Paul: Andrea, thanks for talking with me! Let's start with Kimmy. Could you run through how you landed the role?
Andrea: Of course, Paul, it's my pleasure! Regarding how I landed the role of Kimmy -- I actually auditioned for the role of DJ first, and clearly got rejected for that. ; ) The producers called me a few days later and asked me to come in again, but this time to read for the role of a neighbor girl they were creating. And the rest, as we know, is history. Kimmy was only supposed to appear in a couple of episodes, but it ended up turning into an 8-year gig. Not bad!
Paul: Absolutely. Could you talk us through starting out on set? Obviously you were bombarded with a new hectic schedule, but how did you feel personally about Kimmy at first? Was much of Kimmy based on you?
Andrea: It actually wasn't too hectic at first -- I was only in 5 episodes that first season and it eventually grew into a full-time role. I was only 11 years old at the time, so my memory is a little fuzzy, but I don't think I had any strong feelings about Kimmy at first. I think she started off simply as the requisite best friend, and eventually the annoying shtick came later after the writers realized that struck a chord with our audience. I always found Kimmy endearing in a wacky way, never annoying or malicious. She always had good intentions. And no, I don't think Kimmy was based on me -- I have never been anything like her!
Paul: That wouldn't be a bad thing, though, she always struck me as the character I could relate to - it was like she bounded in from the set of Degrassi, with all this real world baggage. Um... Could you talk about the foot thing?
Andrea: Oh the foot thing! I always hated the foot joke! I mean maybe it was funny the first time. But it ran waaaay too long and it wasn't even really that creative of a joke, in my opinion! The foot gimmick haunts me to this day -- people STILL ask me to this very day if I have stinky feet. Seriously people?!? I have ridden in parades as a celebrity guest, and people will yell at me from the side of the street: "DON'T TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES!" Needless to say, I am ready to bury the foot thing!
Paul: This sort of brings up my beef. So to speak. The Tanner's seemed a wee bit... intolerant towards Kimmy. Would you agree?
Andrea: Ha! Yes, I certainly would agree. I don't think anyone would disagree that the Tanners were intolerant toward Kimmy. The real question is: did she deserve it? And when you break it down, no, I don't think Kimmy deserved to be treated like that. I mean, yes she was crass and irritating and abrasive, and furthermore I realize the banter between the Tanners and Kimmy was all a comedic device used to further the gags of the show -- Kimmy was a comedy scapegoat in this way. But she was always so one-note, portrayed as this annoying kid who didn't care what others thought and so it was okay to treat her like the Tanners did. But I think Kimmy did care very deeply for the Tanners, and this was seen only very briefly, like in the forgotten birthday episode. I really enjoyed those multi-faceted moments, and I only wish there had been more time to explore these other sides of Kimmy.
Paul: How about the episode where Kimmy got drunk at the frat party? It always blew my mind how close minded they were, though I guess they're a wholesome bunch, plus their mother/wife/sister got killed by a drunk driver. Did fans ever send any hate your way, being conditioned as it were to see you as a 'bad influence'?
Andrea: Oh yes, the frat party episode! I actually didn't mind that one -- I thought it sent a good message about confidence and staying in control. Did you know I had never experienced being drunk when I filmed that episode? (I was a good kid -- ha!) I had to go around asking people what it was like so I could act the part. Crazy! And I never received any hate mail. Fans would usually volley between saying, "You're so annoying!' and "You're so funny!" Full House fans are the best -- they still remember and some even watch it still to this day. I've got nothing but love for the Full House fans!
Paul: So do you have any regrets, on behalf of Kimmy? Would she have made any choices differently if you could have made them for her? And what would you say to the Tanners during those points where you were being ridiculed if you could say it in your own voice, or if you could stand up for Kimmy?
Andrea: I have no regrets. Like I said, I wish we could have seen her character evolve over time, but other than that I wouldn't change anything. She had the best one-liners and got the biggest laughs, and that was pretty dang cool. If I could have changed one thing about Kimmy, it would be her wardrobe. EEK! Never loved the wardrobe, ever! But in all seriousness, yes I probably would have made different choices, but that's because I'm nothing like Kimmy! That's the great thing about acting, you get to be a completely different person. I wish we could have met Kimmy's parents and brother, but perhaps those are the type of characters who are funnier off-screen, in the audience's mind. If I could have said one thing to the Tanners, I would have encouraged them to look beyond the leopard prints & neon tights and try to see the good in Kimmy. She was DJ's best friend for a reason. DJ wouldn't have kept her as a friend all those years if Kimmy hadn't been an inherently good person.
Paul: So what's the weirdest, or most controversial thing, that happened to you, or that you made happen on set? And did you ever improvise?
Andrea: Ha ha, I can't think of anything truly "controversial" that ever happened. During one take, the three guys (dressed in tuxedos) all walked out with their pants around their ankles as a joke. (It made our gag reel that year.) I never improvised, personally. I don't think there was a whole lot of improve going on, although sometime the writers would add things into the script during the week -- like for example when Dave Coulier would do his funny voices.
Paul: So given your unique insight into the inner mental workings of Kimmy, what do you think she'd be doing right now if she were real?
Andrea: With Kimmy, I think it would have to be one of two extremes. She would either be working with underprivileged inner city kids, or working as a personal shopper at Nordstrom. Or maybe both! Shopping for new wardrobe for underprivileged youth -- yes, I think that's what she would be doing.
Paul: And this might seem a weird question, but are you familiar with Degrassi or Daria at all? I wanted to ask how you think she'd have fit in if she grew up in either one of those two fictional locations.
Andrea: I have never seen a single episode of either! When my kids are older, no doubt I will become more familiar with them...
Paul: Andrea! For shame! I guess I was trying to figure out how you think Kimmy would fare in a grittier show. She always seemed to me like she had wandered in from the set of a more serious, or weirder, programme's universe. What do you watch on TV, for example? Anything like Mad Men? The Wire? West Wing?
Andrea: No, no, and no. I do not watch anything "cool" or gritty, that I assure you! ; ) Brothers and Sisters is probably my favorite show right now, followed closely by Dancing with the Stars, Project Runway and Amazing Race.
...Are you still my friend?
Paul: Of course we're still friends, Andrea. No judgement here. Alright, let's say Kimmy, as a character, wandered into a storyline from Brothers and Sisters. She's grown up and she's come into herself. How would that go down? Talk me through her interactions with people if, say, she was living next door and wandered across to hang out.
Andrea: You have thrown me a curve ball -- I genuinely do not know how to respond! LOL. I think Kimmy would first make a beeline for the fridge and help herself to a piece of homemade pie. Beyond that, who knows? Despite her seemingly outgoing nature, I think Kimmy is actually a woman of few words. She doesn't talk too much; she tends to sit back and take in the scene around her, absorb it all, and then throw out her zingers or one-liners when appropriate. I sometimes wonder who Kimmy would be close to today, if not DJ?
Paul: Well that's an interesting question! How about relationships, how would Kimmy be with a significant other? Also, would her tolerance for that foot thing wane as she got a bit older?
Andrea: I would hope Kimmy's foot odor problem would be solved once she left adolescence! As for a significant other, I loved Duane ("whatever.") so much! I thought he was the perfect mate for Kimmy, the ying to her yang so to speak. I was so bummed the series ended right when we were getting to know Duane.
Paul: So what you're saying is we need a spin-off? Kimmy and Duane in their own series? I would seriously consider watching that.
Andrea: Now THAT would no doubt become my new favorite show!
Paul: So in closing ,what would you say to people who groaned at Kimmy whenever she entered the room, courtesy of the contempt heaped on her on occasion by the Tanner family? And, if you had a sword and could ride a giant armored cat, would you attack them with the sword whilst riding said giant armored cat?
Andrea: LOL, no I am allergic to cats so I would probably not do that! Kidding. Seriously though, I would tell all those groaners "thanks!" because if they groaned, that means I did my job well. I'm just happy the show was well-liked by so many people and has transcended so many generations. It's something I am proud to have been a part of.
Paul: Andrea, thanks so much for everything - both answering the questions, and bringing Kimmy to life!
Andrea: It was my pleasure.
So what have we learned? I’m honestly not sure. I do know, however, that it’s a relief that Andrea was willing to engage in such a frank dialogue. It’s also a relief to find out that someone’s childhood hero (or one of them anyway) is a terribly nice and engaging person; if she weren’t, I think it’d break my heart a little bit. So if you’re one of those who’ve hated on Kimmy Gibbler, or if you’ve only watched the show in passing and have wondered who that kid with the massive grin is, it’s Kimmy Gibbler. She was weird, and hilarious, and at times frustrating. BUT SHE’S MORE A TANNER THAN ANY TANNER WOULD TURN OUT TO BE.
And I will joust to death anyone who says anything to contradict my blind rage and loyalty.