"On the Road Again" is an episode in the eighth season of Full House.
Jesse forms another band and, with Rebecca, Joey, and the boys in tow, travel out of town for a gig, but things aren't as glamorous as they used to be in the past, or so Jesse believes. In the meantime, D.J. tries to keep the fact that she's now going out with Viper, a member of Jesse's new band, a secret from everyone else, and tension rises when it is eventually discovered.
Tropes in this episode:
- Brick Joke:
- Stephanie and Michelle look for D.J.'s diary in her bedroom to find out who she's dating currently but only manage to find a promotional poster of Jesse's new band before D.J. enters and makes them leave. After the full truth about D.J.'s date is out late in the episode and D.J. chides them for their Entertainingly Wrong belief about whom she's dating, Stephanie counters with "this is what happens when you hide your diary".
- Due to the faulty wire connections in the room where the Katsopolis family stay in, the slot that is meant to turn the TV on causes the bed to vibrate, which causes Nicky and Alex to worry when it happens after Rebecca inserts a quarter into it. A scene later on has Nicky and Alex sitting on the bed asking for the vibration effect after having grown to enjoy it while Rebecca manually pounds on the bed repeatedly in imitation of said effect, lamenting her lack of more quarters as she does so.
- Cigar Chomper: The bar owner where the band is set to perform smokes a cigar and has a no-nonsense demeanor.
- D.I.Y. Disaster: The hotel room where the Katsopolis family stay in has the "faulty wire connection" issue, as Rebecca finds out soon after entering the room.
- First, she inserts a quarter into a slot that's supposedly for the TV, only for the bed to start vibrating. Nicky and Alex mistake the bed vibration for an earthquake before they're told otherwise.
- Deciding to explore more, Rebecca inserts one quarter into the slot that's meant for the bed to vibrate. Cue the sound of a toilet flushing.Rebecca: That's nice to know.
- Entertainingly Wrong: Stephanie and Michelle believe that D.J. is going out with a member of Jesse's new band early on, and soon concludes based on a faulty discovery that the member in question is a guy named "Mongo". D.J. herself is not amused about their "conclusion" when it's revealed late in the episode that she's actually going out with Viper.Stephanie: You're going out with Viper?
Michelle: We thought you were dating Mongo.
D.J.: Me and Mongo? Are you insane?
Stephanie: This is what happens when you hide your diary. - Ironic Nickname: Overlaps with Embarrassing Nickname. The bar owner where the gig for Jesse's new band is due to play recognizes Viper, back when he performed there years ago, as "Tiny". Viper himself certainly does not look "tiny" in the present time, and, upon Jesse starting to address him this way, requests that he be called "Viper" instead.
- Jump Scare: An accidental version that is Played for Laughs. When Danny witnesses D.J. and Viper kissing each other at the backyard by accident, he ducks under the kitchen counter to avoid detection by either of them. When he stands up again after the coast is clear, Joey happens to enter the kitchen at that moment and concedes after the fact that it was a good scare.
- Last-Second Word Swap: Upon seeing the crowd walking into the bar, all of whom wear Lederhosen and similar outfits, Jesse, who's already in a bad mood over the misunderstanding about what kind of music he and his band are expected to play, goes into a tirade to the bar owner he's arguing with about the current circumstances and prepares to badmouth the party attendants' choice of clothing, only to change his mind when a burly man appears behind Jesse and makes his presence known by placing his hand on Jesse's shoulder.Jesse: [to the bar owner] And I'll tell you one more thing: Anyone who dresses like that should be taken outside and — [a burly attendant puts his hand on Jesse's shoulder from behind, causing Jesse to turn around and realize he's facing someone larger than himself] — and complimented for their fine, fine sense of fashion.
- No Accounting for Taste: Stephanie and Michelle treat the possibility of D.J. being married with "Mongo" this way. When the truth is out, so does D.J.
- No-Tell Motel: The hotel Jesse, his family, and Joey go to has gotten rather sleazy over the years, compared to when Jesse stayed there in the past. The room is quite small, there's a blinking neon sign right outside their window, and the TV, vibrating beds, and toilet are coin-operated (and the wires in their room are crossed, so putting a coin into the TV activates the vibrating beds). Viper's love of the place implies that it had always been this way (or at the very least only less squalorrific) and Jesse's just now realizing it.
- "Not So Different" Remark: When the subject of D.J. dating Viper is brought to the discussion, Rebecca tells Jesse, who agrees with Danny in opposing it, that her own parents didn't approve of Jesse initially due to his "rebellious rocker" persona, not unlike what he and Danny perceive from Viper, and that it was only after they saw a more sensitive side of him before they finally voiced their approval.
- Poor Communication Kills: Played for Laughs. The gig Jesse's new band is set to perform at turns out to be a polka-party venue, but Jesse is not informed of it — and, subsequently, no one else in the band or the Tanner family is aware of the true nature of the venue — until the party attendants start to gather at the place.note Rebecca: Is there a dress code we should know about?
- Rockers Smash Guitars: At the beginning of the episode, Viper does this to his own guitar at the end of their band's rehearsal.Jesse: Hey, Viper, save that for the actual performances.Viper: Sorry, Jesse, but I really loved the song.Stephanie: [whisper to Michelle] What happens if he hates it?
- Tempting Fate:
- As the band members are about to head out of town for a gig, they fret over who would carry the luggage for free because the person who's supposed to do this can't make it. Cue Joey showing up.
- Later on, Danny and D.J. have an argument over D.J. dating Viper, and Danny resorts to withholding his car keys in an attempt to prevent D.J. from leaving to see Viper, only for her to state that she'll take a ride with Kimmy, which is the arrangement they made earlier in the episode, instead, leaving Danny feeling more stressed out, if anything.
