TGIF: Where Are They Now?

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For many people, the acronym TGIF stands for more than just being happy that it's the weekend. It's synonymous with a series of classic family television shows that used to consume ABC's Friday night lineup. For me, Thank God It's Friday (or the also-popular Thank Goodness It's Funny) meant that I could finally plop down in front of the TV after a hard day of fifth grade and watch all of my favorite shows at the same time. Many TGIF stars have gone on to be paparazzi-hounded street bums or obnoxious, over-the-top Disney stars. But what about the rest of them?

Jodi Sweetin has been through some serious changes since she toted around Mr. Bear on the set of Full House. She married once, and fellow Full House star Candace Cameron served as her maid of honor. Following her divorce from that guy, she developed a much-publicized addiction to meth. She got clean, remarried and now has a little girl named Zoie. Although she's not doing much in the entertainment industry these days, at least she's not touring the country making perverted Kimmy Gibbler jokes like this guy.

Hangin' With Mr. Cooper is frequently overlooked when thinking about TGIF. Other than Miss. Simone, Holly Robinson Peete has probably done the most in the spotlight. You might know her from Howard the Duck or Touched by an Angel. No? It's OK, I haven't seen her since either.

But by far, my favorite TGIF show of all time was Boy Meets World. It was funny, I loved Topanga's hair and I had a major crush on Will Friedle. But where is Topanga (Danielle Fishel) now? She's been most recently seen in a series of Nutrisystem ads, which she used to lose 27 pounds. In her most recent movie role, she played Marla on National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze.

Step by Step is often underestimated, but I like to think of it as the Brady Bunch for a later generation. Suzanne Somers has made herself into a goddess of TV shopping channels, but what about Al Lambert (Christine Lakin)? She was a true tomboy who was still pretty enough to drive the boys mad, and I think every little girl should have tried to be a little more like her. These says, Christine has pretty steady minor parts in Hollywood. She appeared on Nick Cannon Presents Wild N' Out in 2006, and she had a bit role in Georgia Rule. More recently, she shared the screen with Paris Hilton in The Hottie & the Nottie, and she has several other projects in the works.

This makes me long for the days when TV was actually good, and cuss words and sex scenes weren't perfectly acceptable on prime time. Have a good weekend everyone!