During the cast’s first table read, Sweetin “took the show,” and Stamos was less than pleased, according to host Dave Coulier and show creator Jeff Franklin of the podcast “Full House Rewind.”
After the sitcom’s 1987 premiere, it became a great smash, but viewers may be startled to find that John Stamos, who played Jesse Katsopolis on Full House, actually wanted out of the program soon after he was hired.
Dave Coulier spoke with Full House creator Jeff Franklin about the show’s genesis in the first episode of his new podcast Full House Rewind. Midway through their conversation, Coulier and Franklin, both 63 years old, recalled how Stephanie Tanner’s actress Jodie Sweetin “stole the show” at the cast’s first table read.
Franklin concurred as Coulier recalled, “I remember our first table read where there’s a room full of studio and network officials. I believe that everyone had come to see Stamos.
However, it became clear to everyone that Sweetin was a star as soon as she began to read her lines.
Franklin said, “[She] hijacked the whole thing.
The series’ Joey Gladstone, played by Coulier, recalls, “And I remember walking out with John. He declares, “She will be the focus of the entire show.” This is not something we can accomplish.
Stamos informed his agent, “This is a mistake,” Franklin recalled. Get me out of this program.
Despite his initial reservations, Stamos continued to perform the role of the Elvis-obsessed Uncle Jesse for the whole eight-season run of the sitcom from 1987 to 1995. Along with him were Coulier, Sweetin, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Candace Cameron Bure, Andrea Barber, Scott Weinger, Lori Loughlin, and the late Bob Saget.
Stamos’ status as a legitimate TV star was further cemented by the popular series, which also propelled the other cast members to fame. He as well as the rest of the actors reprised their parts for the Netflix follow-up series Fuller House, which lasted from 2016 to 2020.
Incorrect Order) Promotional image for the ABC television sitcom “Full House” featuring Jodie Sweetin, Mary-Kate / Ashley Olson, Bob Saget, Candace Cameron Burke, Dave Coulier, John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Scott Weinger, and Andrea Barber.
There are more anecdotes about Stamos’ Full House beginnings that have come to light in addition to this one.
The actor admitted that he almost had the Olsen twins fired from the program when he participated on Josh Peck’s Good Guys podcast earlier this year. The incident occurred in a classic season 1 scene while the twins, who were 11 months old at the time, were having a difficult day on set.
Stamos explained to Peck, “[Dave] and I were changing the baby.” I believe I was hanging on to their armpits while carrying the infant downstairs, and Dave was holding her tiny feet. We carried her into the kitchen, hosed her down, placed a fan on top of her, and wrapped paper towels around her. The woman was yelling. Both of them and I wished we were somewhere else instead of there.
Stamos remembered believing the Olsen twins, now 36, weren’t prepared for prime time as things worsened. When the “two red-headed kids” were finally hired by the producers, Stamos quickly demanded the return of the Olsen twins.
He remembered, “I said, ‘Bring the Olsens back, these kids are terrible!’” We tried the other kids for a day or whatever, but it didn’t work. I screamed, “This is not going to work, guys,” ten times. I commanded, “Get rid of them; I can’t work this way.
According to the early reports, it wouldn’t live until Thanksgiving, he told PEOPLE. “After it was over, it was time to continue. I was making an effort to stay away from it. And every year it only became bigger and greater until I asked myself, “Why am I running from this?” I reached a stage where I thought I had accomplished enough work to demonstrate my abilities as an actor while also being able to do other things. Now I really adore it completely. I simply adore it.
