New Kids on the Block on ‘Fuller House’ Gives ’80s Nostalgia Explosion

Before ‘NSYNC, there were the Backstreet Boys, and before the Backstreet Boys, there were New Kids on the Block. Yes, other boy bands had come before them too but none that quite cemented the term “boy band” by tying together the dancing, singing, and personal branding as this Boston-raised group of brothers and friends did. And, because everything in life truly comes full circle, 2017 is knocking at the door and NKOTB is back — well, sort of. The iconic boy band (minus an original member or two) makes a much-anticipated cameo on the second season of Netflix’s breakout hit Fuller House, which premieres today.

From the snapshots on social media, it looks like Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, and Danny Wood are still hangin’ tough. (Donnie Wahlberg seems to have missed out on the fun.)

Joey took to Instagram to share his thoughts on their cameo, and he didn’t hold back. “#fullerhouse just got a little #fullerer — #nkotb had a lot of fun with our girls,” he gushed before making a prediction about the season as a whole, adding, “Personally I got teary watching season one #truth. I’m looking to bawl for season two.”

The official Instagram of NKOTB shared the same happy snapshot, which showed the four guys standing beside Jodie Sweetin (who plays Stephanie Tanner) and Andrea Barber (who plays Kimmie Gibbler). It’s worth noting that based on Kimmie’s clothes alone, it could still be the early ’90s, which is just one thing viewers love so much about her. “We’re featured in the new season of @fullerhouse. It is streaming NOW on @netflix #fullerhouse,” the NKOTB wrote beside the shot (not the most creative message, but it got the point across).

Jonathan and Danny echoed all of these sentiments with, yet again, the same shot on his Instagram. “Today is the day … Fuller House season 2!!!! Had the best time filming with these beauties! Such a warm welcome on the set. Can’t wait for you to see our episode,” Jonathan wrote. “Big thanks and bigger hugs to @andreabarber @candacecbure and @jodiesweetin #fullerhouse.”

Candace Cameron Bure posted potentially the best throwback snap in honor of NKOTB’s return. “Dreams really do come true,” she gushed beside a split screen of herself with Joey from back in the day and much more recently.

Scott Weinger, who plays Bure’s love interest on the show, also “fangirled” over the boys. “Have you met my New Kids?” he asked beside a shot of himself perched behind the bandmates, who looked nice and cozy on a too-small couch.

Even Soni Bringas, who plays Kimmie Gibbler’s daughter, Ramona, on the show, seemed pumped to have the guys on set — even though she wasn’t even born until eight years after they originally broke up. “Fangirling with my mom over the new kids,” she declared.

Seriously, if Bringas had even heard of the New Kids before they arrived on set, it would be pretty impressive, but it’s sweet that she made an honest attempt to get in on the action.

The Full House/Fuller House creator Jeff Franklin told Yahoo TV that this is “All of us know each other so well, 25 or 30 years now, so of course I’ve known about Candace [Cameron Bure]’s and Andrea [Barber]’s favorite band,” said Franklin. “I knew it would be a dream come true for the girls to have NKOTB on the show. It’s something I’ve been pursuing for a while, and it finally came together.”

“So many fans have told us that they’re so grateful that we’ve come back to do this show because they feel like Full House was their own family — like they grew up in the Tanner household,” Barber recently said during an event at the house from the original series in San Francisco. “It’s like reconnecting with old friends that you grew up with.”

And that’s why the New Kids on the Block are an absolutely perfect fit. Now somebody go get Donnie.