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Shape Up
Season 4, episode 8
Shape up
Air date November 9, 1990
Writer(s) Jeff Franklin
Director Joel Zwick
Previous Viva Las Joey
Next One Last Kiss

Shape Up is episode eight in season four of Full House. It originally aired on November 9, 1990.

Opening Teaser[]

See #Quotes.

Synopsis[]

It is getting close to Kimmy's 14th birthday. Of course, D.J. is among the invited guests to the birthday party, which is scheduled to take place at a local hotel's indoor swimming pool. Stephanie is learning to practice the recorder for music appreciation class, and every time she practices "On Top of Old Smoky", she hits a wrong note. D.J. does not want to hear it when she is making a collage for Kimmy's birthday card, so she "requests" that Stephanie either not practice in their room or go practice somewhere else (see Quotes).

After eating a box of cookies in her and Stephanie's room, D.J. becomes even more anxious about her appearance, (compared to Kimmy's skinnier body, and her flashy bathing suit) so she not only ditches the box of cookies that Kimmy retrieves later but also secretly begins starving herself. D.J. feels she is too overweight to be seen in a bathing suit, and tapes cut-out pictures of skinny models on the kitchen fridge to keep herself from getting food out of it. Becky advises her that the best way to lose weight is to eat all the right foods (see Quotes). Meanwhile, Jesse brings home some wedding cake samples, and Michelle sees it as an opportunity to literally have her cake and eat it too (eliciting applause from the studio audience). When everyone else offers it to D.J., she just decides to eat a water pop instead (see Quotes).

Also, later at night, she is preparing to weigh herself and is shocked upon stepping on the scale (see Quotes). Stephanie is still learning to practice "On Top of Old Smoky", but still hits a wrong note. When Jesse tries to help, he too hits the wrong note, and when Michelle comes in during their practice session, he plays the wrong note really loud, causing a piece of Stephanie's gum to land on Michelle's forehead.

The next morning, Stephanie notices D.J. hasn't been eating anything, and catches D.J. giving her sandwich to Comet, but D.J. forces her to "pinky swear" that she will stay quiet about her skipping so many meals (see Quotes).

When the family all go to the gym, as everyone is working out, D.J. gets off the stair-climber and collapses to her knees. Stephanie is close by and sees it happen, and alerts Danny; this, in turn, alerts everyone else to D.J.'s aid, and Jesse hands her his water bottle. Stephanie begins to tell the secret, but D.J. stops her, and they all go home.

D.J.'s dizzy spell makes Stephanie afraid that D.J. will make herself sick if she continues going on empty. She feels she has no choice but to break the promise and tell the adults about it, and this time, it is the guys (including Joey) who give their two cents (see Quotes). Jesse responds by telling her that she did the right thing by stopping her sister from doing any more damage to herself.

Upstairs in her and Stephanie's room, after she shows him more pictures of models that inspired her fasting, Danny helps D.J. realize that her outside does not matter to her friends as much as what is on her inside (see Quotes). He reminds her (as the inspirational music plays) of who the real D.J. is, in that she should see herself the same way her friends see her: she has a good heart and cares about people, and that is why they care about her in return. After their talk, they hug (as the music stops), and she decides to go to Kimmy's party anyway and have fun with her friends. Heeding all the words and taking all the advice given to her today, D.J. promises Danny that she will exercise the right way and eat healthy, starting with a salad—with dressing on the side rather than on the salad itself, followed by a roll with no butter. They then head downstairs for dinner (as the audience applauds and the EP credits appear).

Quotes[]

[In the teaser, Jesse and Michelle are in the kitchen.]
Jesse: Okay, Shorty, what cereal have you been bugging your uncle Jesse to buy for breakfast?
Michelle: Fiber Bears!
Jesse: [taking the box from behind his back] You got it, dude!
Michelle: I'm glad I woke you up.
Jesse: Me too. If you hadn't come and jumped on my stomach, I would have missed a beautiful sunrise this morning. I'll get the milk.
[While he does so, Michelle turns the cereal box upside down, so all the cereal ends up in and around her bowl. Then she starts searching it until she finds the toy.]
Michelle: Here he is! Party Teddy!
Jesse: Michelle! What about breakfast?
Michelle: Two eggs, over easy. Thank you.


[As D.J. munches on a box of cookies, Stephanie comes in...]
Stephanie: Hey Deej, look what I got from school today: a recorder. Any requests?
D.J.: Yes, please don't play.
Stephanie: "On Top of Old Smoky"? You got it!
[She starts playing, then hits a wrong note (which is actually an octave higher than normal).]
D.J.: Oh yeah, that's not gonna drive me nuts.
Stephanie: This happens to be my homework for music appreciation.
D.J.: Well, when it happens to be music, I'll appreciate it. Will you please practice somewhere else? I'm making a collage for Kimmy's birthday card.
Kimmy: [walking in] Howdy, girls.
D.J.: Kimmy [covers up her best friend's b-day card], you're not supposed to be in this room.
Stephanie: I've been telling her that for years. [She leaves.]


D.J.: There is no way I'm wearing a bathing suit in front of everyone until I look like one of these models. [She shows her best friend a fashion magazine (shown in infobox photo).]


Becky: Deej, if you wanna lose a couple of pounds, all you have to do is eat sensibly. You could have boiled fish, lean chicken without the skin, fresh fruits, delicious steamed vegetables, a nice whole grain pasta with a light tomato sauce and just a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
D.J.: Becky, I'm trying to keep my mind off of food.
Becky: Sorry. The most important thing is to keep the junk food out of the house.


[Jesse calls everyone to the kitchen.]
Jesse: Alright, we need you guys to help me and Becky pick out our wedding cake.
Becky: I thought we decided on a chocolate cake.
Jesse: Well, we did but chocolate's not just chocolate anymore. [lifts off the box top, revealing samples of different kinds of cake.] See what I mean?
Michelle: Whoa, baby!
Jesse: You see, you got your dark chocolate, your white chocolate, your chunky chocolate, your mocha choco-chocolate, your double-fudge chocolate, your triple chocolate-chocolate-chocolate, and carrot cake. [Everyone looks at him.] Well, the carrot cake was sitting there so lonely. No one picks carrot cake.
Michelle: Let's pig out!
Danny: Now, now, Michelle, you're not being very polite.
Michelle: I'm sorry. Let's pig out, please!
Joey: Come on, Deej. You're gonna miss the cake.
D.J.: Oh, who needs cake when you can lick ice on a stick. [licks it] Mmm, wet and cold and... that's about it.
Michelle: I can't take it. I need that cake! [She crawls on the table and starts shoveling cake in her mouth.]
Danny: Whoa, Michelle! Michelle!
Jesse: Alright, Michelle. Michelle? Which one do you like the best?
Michelle: [with her mouth still full] Chocolate.
Danny: Let's go give her a bath.


[In the morning, D.J. goes to weigh herself.]
Stephanie: You need some weighing music [as before, she plays the song on the recorder, hitting that sour note].
Jesse: [enters their room] Steph, have mercy on my ears, will ya?
D.J.: This can't be right! Two days and I've only lost half a pound? I'm going off this stupid diet.
Jesse: Good. You don't need to be on a diet anyway. You wanna shape up a little bit, just exercise. In fact, why don't you work out at Michelle's gym?
D.J.: Oh, yeah, like I really want Michelle's body.
Jesse: They have an adult gym down there, too. I tell you what, Saturday we'll get the whole family to go down there. They can all use a little toning up. Of course, in my case I'd just be toning tone.
Stephanie: I'll provide the workout music. [Once again, she plays and hits the bad note, then Michelle walks in.]
Michelle: [with hands on hips] Stephanie!
Stephanie: Yes, Michelle?
Michelle: You are not good.
Jesse: Ah, see, she's just missing one note, here. [He takes the recorder and he plays the song, then hits that same note.] Michelle: You are not good, too.
Jesse: Wait a minute, there's something stuck in here. [He turns it around and blows through it and a wad of gum shoots out and lands on Michelle's forehead.]
Stephanie: That's where I stuck my gum!
Michelle: That is not funny.


[D.J.'s fast is underway, as Kimmy comes over.]
D.J.: I'm skipping lunch, you want my sandwich?
Kimmy: Yeah, sure. [looks in it] Ham, again? [gives it back] I've been eating your lunch for three days, and every sandwich is ham. [Stephanie's listening in from the kitchen staircase.] Did your dad hit a pig with his car?
D.J.: Bye, Kimmy [waving]. [Kimmy leaves.]
Stephanie: [coming downstairs] D.J., you're giving your lunches to Kimmy?
D.J.: Yeah. So what?
Stephanie: You've been skipping breakfast and dinner, too. I'm not an expert on this, but shouldn't a person eat?
D.J.: Uh, you're right Steph. I'll eat my sandwich.
Stephanie: You promise?
D.J.: I promise. [She takes a bite.]
Stephanie: Much better. Now get yourself an apple and a glass of milk, and your basic food groups are covered. [She leaves and heads upstairs, when...]
D.J.: [spits it out into a napkin] Come here, Comet. Look what I have for you – people food. [She feeds it to him as Stephanie comes back downstairs and sees it.] You're lucky. Dogs don't have to wear bathing suits.
[Cut to a closeup of a stunned and unhappy Stephanie.]


[After the break...]
Stephanie: D.J., you promised to eat your sandwich. You lied!
D.J.: Comet stole it right out of my hand.
Stephanie: You're lying again!
D.J.: No, I'm not.
Stephanie: Lie number three! When will this end?!
D.J.: Look Steph, I've got one week to look good in a bathing suit in front of my friends. Now, when the party's over, I'll start eating again. But, until then, this is our little secret. Now, give me your pinky.
Stephanie: [eyes widen] No, not the pinky.
D.J.: Yes, the pinky. You have to pinky swear that you won't tell anyone I haven't been eating. Now, hook up. [takes Stephanie's hand and puts her pinky around hers] Now, say it: 'Pinky swear'.
Stephanie: 'Pinky swear'... But I don't like it.
D.J.: Well, too bad. Your lips are sealed.


Michelleseason4

[In the kiddie room at the gym...]
Michelle: [enters] Hi, Zachary. Hi, Kelsey. Hi, kid I don't know.
Jesse: Alright, Michelle. Show us your stuff. Here, loosen up first.
Michelle: [touching her toes] 1... 2... 3. Ready, Freddy.
Joey: Michelle Tanner will now compete in the Iron Munchkin Triathlon. The first event, ooh, the trampoline.
Michelle: [starts jumping] I love this.
Joey: Let's see that again in slow motion [picks her up and brings her down slowly]. [slowly] I...love...this. Okay. Ooh, the next event, the balance beam. Ooh. [She walks on it.] Remember, folks, she's working without a net. And now, for the big finish, Michelle will attempt a single-tuck somersault with no twist.
Danny and Jesse: Oooh!
Joey: We need complete silence while she prepares. [She takes deep breaths.] She's psyched up. And there she goes! [She does it.]
Michelle: Ta-da!
Danny: Perfect ten!
Michelle: I am pumped! [She flexes her muscles (right).]


[The rest of the family is in an aerobics class, and the guys are in the back.]
Instructor: Okay, let's keep it moving out there! [The guys look tired.] Work those bodies! 1...2...3...4... Come on, guys! Staring at women is not a workout.
Joey: Oh, yeah? It's got my heart going pretty good.
Instructor: [aerobic dances over to them] You guys gonna make it here?
Guys: Yes.
Instructor: Oh, yeah? Do you always have tears in your eyes when you exercise?
Guys: Yes.
Instructor: Let's move up front. Maybe it'll help you if you can see me better.
Joey: It couldn't hurt. [They move up.]
Instructor: Move those legs, boys! Come on! Alright, now let's crank it up! [Now double speed] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8! Are you burning?
Guys: I'm burning!
Instructor: Alright, and rest! [The guys fall on the ground.]
Stephanie: D.J.'s gotta see this! [She leaves.]
Instructor: Alright, now that we're all warmed up, let's start the class!
Guys: Aaaaah!


[D.J. is on a stair climber.]
Stephanie: [dashing over from the class] Deej, come on, you're missing all the fun.
D.J.: I'll be right there [gets off and collapses to her knees].
Stephanie: Dad! D.J.! [Hearing this, everyone rushes over.]
Danny: D.J., are you okay?
D.J.: Yeah, I just got a little dizzy.
Jesse: Here, drink this. [He gives her his water bottle, and she takes a sip.]
Joey: How do you feel now, Deej?
D.J.: Uh, I'm okay. I guess I just overdid it.
Stephanie: But D.J...
D.J.: Steph, I'm okay.
Danny: I think we better go get Michelle and go home.

[At dinnertime, D.J.'s just come downstairs from her nap. But of course, after what happened at the gym, everyone's still concerned about her health.]
Joey: Deej, I made your favorite: chicken parmesan. Come here, and check out this sauce.
D.J.: I... can't. I just brushed my teeth.
Jesse: Before dinner?
D.J.: Doesn't anyone care about dental hygiene around here?
Danny: Whoa, D.J., calm down. I happen to care very deeply about our family's teeth and gums. Now, what's going on?
D.J.: Nothing is going on! I'm going to Kimmy's for dinner.
Stephanie: Don't believe her, Dad.
D.J.: Steph, you pinky swore.
Stephanie: I don't care. I don't want you to get sick. Dad, I know why D.J.'s acting so cranky and why she got dizzy today. She hasn't eaten anything in three days.
Danny: Is that true? You haven't eaten anything in three days?
Jesse: D.J., I think you should sit down and eat, right now.
D.J.: I can't! I'm finally starting to lose weight.
Joey: D.J., you're starving yourself. You could do serious damage to your body.
Danny: D.J., this kind of behavior can lead to serious eating disorders – anorexia, bulimia... You're heading down a dangerous road here.
D.J.: I don't care! I'm the one who has to wear the bathing suit next week. It's my life, and I can do whatever I want! [She runs upstairs and Danny follows her.]


Danny: D.J., we have to talk.
D.J.: You don’t understand! I don’t like the way I look. I want to look like these models.
Danny: Why?
D.J.: Because they’re beautiful.
Danny: Well, so are you.
D.J.: Oh, yeah? Well, show me one girl in here with this round face and these Charlie Brown cheeks.
Danny: Honey, people come in all different shapes and sizes. Everybody wishes they could change something about themselves. Heck, when I was a kid, I wished I could’ve been more like that guy on The Incredible Hulk (see Trivia).
D.J.: You wanted to be a big green monster with muscles?
Danny: No, not him – the other guy. The guy that turned into the Hulk. He was just nice and average. He wasn’t too tall. He wasn’t too skinny. He didn’t stick out like I thought I did. Then I realized he didn’t have it so easy either. Every time he lost his temper, he had to buy a new shirt.

Trivia[]

  • When Danny talks to D.J. about how he wanted to be like "the guy that turned into the Hulk", he was referring to the character on the TV series The Incredible Hulk, David Banner.
  • Another episode where Stephanie breaks a promise in order to protect someone's safety is "Silence is Not Golden", where Stephanie breaks her promise to Charles not to tell anyone that his dad is abusing him (in both episodes, Jesse assures her that she did the right thing).
  • The somber inspirational music is used as the break/bumper cue.
  • The episode is part of the basis for the Full House book Way to Go, Chipmunk Cheeks.
  • In recent years, Candace Cameron Bure has been a fitness advocate, posting videos on Instagram of herself exercising and preparing healthy food.

Goofs[]

  • It is obvious that neither Steph's nor Jesse's attempted recorder playing is actually happening. Their cheeks never move, or "inflate" with air, as they would have to in order to be properly playing any instrument by mouth. Also, the fingering does not totally align with the audio track that is played as the recorder's sound.
  • When D.J. spits out her bite of sandwich into the napkin, the napkin un-crumples on the counter and there is nothing in it.
  • When Jesse blows the gum out of the recorder and it lands on Michelle's forehead, it changes sizes between takes.
Full House Episodes
Season 1
Our Very First ShowOur Very First NightThe First Day of SchoolThe Return of GrandmaSea CruiseDaddy's HomeKnock Yourself OutJesse's GirlThe Miracle of ThanksgivingJoey's PlaceThe Big Three-OOur Very First PromoSisterly LoveHalf a Love StoryA Pox in Our HouseBut Seriously, FolksDanny's Very First DateJust One of the GuysThe Seven-Month Itch (Part 1)The Seven-Month Itch (Part 2)Mad MoneyD.J. Tanner's Day Off
Season 2
Cutting It CloseTanner vs. GibblerIt's Not My JobD.J.'s Very First HorseJingle HellBeach Boy BingoJoey Gets ToughTriple DateOur Very First Christmas ShowMiddle Age CrazyA Little RomanceFogged InWorking MothersLittle Shop of SweatersPal JoeyBaby LoveEl Problema Grande de D.J.Goodbye Mr. BearBlast From the PastI'm There for You, BabeLuck Be a Lady (Part 1)Luck Be a Lady (Part 2)
Season 3
Tanner's IslandBack to School BluesBreaking Up is Hard to Do (in 22 Minutes)Nerd for a DayGranny TannyStar SearchAnd They Call It Puppy LoveDivorce CourtDr. Dare Rides AgainThe Greatest Birthday on EarthAftershocksJoey & Stacey and... Oh, Yeah, JesseNo More Mr. Dumb GuyMisadventures in BabysittingLust in the DustBye, Bye Birdie13 CandlesMr. EggheadThose Better Not Be the DaysHoney, I Broke the HouseJust Say No WayThree Men and Another BabyFraternity ReunionOur First Telethon
Season 4
Greek WeekCrimes and Michelle's DemeanorThe I.Q. ManSlumber PartyGood News, Bad NewsA Pinch for a PinchViva Las JoeyShape UpOne Last KissTerror in Tanner TownSecret AdmirerDanny in ChargeHappy New Year BabyWorking GirlOld Brown EyesStephanie Gets FramedA Fish Called MartinThe Wedding (Part 1)The Wedding (Part 2)Fuller House (episode)The Hole-in-the-Wall GangStephanie Plays the FieldJoey Goes HollywoodGirls Just Wanna Have FunThe GraduatesRock the Cradle
Season 5
Double TroubleMatchmaker MichelleTake My Sister, PleaseOh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Girl Gone?The King and IThe Legend of Ranger JoeThe Legend of Ranger JoeThe VolunteerGotta DanceHappy Birthday, Babies (Part 1)Happy Birthday, Babies (Part 2)Nicky and/or AlexanderCrushedSpellboundToo Much Monkey BusinessThe Devil Made Me Do ItDriving Miss D.J.Yours, Mine and OursThe Trouble with DannyFive's a CrowdGirls Will Be BoysCaptain Video (Part 1)Captain Video (Part 2)
Season 6
Come Fly With MeThe Long GoodbyeRoad to TokyoRadio DaysLovers and Other TannersEducating JesseTrouble in Twin TownThe Play's the ThingNice Guys Finish FirstI'm Not D.J.Designing MothersA Very Tanner ChristmasThe Dating GameBirthday BluesBe True to Your PreschoolThe Heartbreak KidSilence is Not GoldenPlease Don't Touch the DinosaurSubterranean Graduation BluesGrand Gift AutoRoom for One MoreProm NightThe House Meets the Mouse (Part 1)The House Meets the Mouse (Part 2)
Season 7
It Was a Dark and Stormy NightThe ApartmentWrong-Way TannerTough LoveFast FriendsSmash Club: The Next GenerationHigh AnxietyAnother Opening, Another No ShowThe Day of the RhinoThe Prying GameThe Bicycle ThiefSupport Your Local ParentsThe Perfect CoupleIs It True About Stephanie?The TestJoey's Funny ValentineThe Last DanceKissing CousinsLove on the RocksMichelle a la CarteBe Your Own Best FriendA Date with FateToo Little Richard Too LateA House Divided
Season 8
Comet's Excellent AdventureBreaking AwayMaking Out is Hard to DoI've Got a SecretTo Joey, With LoveYou Pet It, You Bought ItOn the Road AgainClaire and Present DangerStephanie's Wild RideUnder the InfluenceArrest Ye Merry GentlemenD.J.'s ChoiceThe ProducerSuper Bowl Fun DayMy Left and Right FootAir JesseDateless in San FranciscoWe Got the BeatTaking the PlungeUp on the RoofLeap of FaithAll Stood UpMichelle Rides Again (Part 1)Michelle Rides Again (Part 2)
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