John Stamos Tried To Get Out Of Making Full House
John Stamos, best known for playing Uncle Jesse in the ABC family sitcom Full House, says he tried to get out of the show when he realized it wasn’t like the 1980s comedy Bosom Buddies. “I hated that show,” the actor said of Full House during an appearance on Hot Ones via Deadline. “Obviously, I ended up loving it, but it was sort of pitched to me as Bosom Buddies with a couple of kids in the background.”
Following the first table read for Full House, John Stamos attempted to get out of the gig because it was nothing like he imagined it would be.
However, John Stamos noticed that the casting director spent a lot of time choosing the right young actors. “As we’re casting, I was like, ‘They’re spending a lot of time casting these kids that are going to be in the background,’” he continued. The actor’s breaking point came during the first table read for Full House.
“We did a table read of it, and I was the star coming off of General Hospital,” John Stamos explained. “And we sit down and start reading, and Jodie Sweetin, who plays Stephanie, starts reading her lines, and people are dying laughing. I mean screaming. And I was like, ‘What’s happening here?’ They couldn’t even hear my lines they were laughing so hard.”
“I hated that show [Full House]. Obviously, I ended up loving it, but it was sort of pitched to me as Bosom Buddies with a couple of kids in the background.”
John Stamos
Unhappy with the misplaced attention, John Stamos ran out to the lobby of the Century Plaza Hotel and called his agent to tell them to get him off Full House. “I fought it for a long time,” he added. “And then I finally said, ‘What am I doing?’ It’s a beautiful show we built with sweetness and kindness. There was no central character on that show, is what I realized.”
“The central character was love, and we were the best representation of a loving family, not a normal family. And it was the new normal, now an unconventional family,” John Stamos added, recalling how he made peace with not being the lead star of Full House. Bob Saget eventually joined the cast on advice from his agents, and the rest is history.
“And we sit down and start reading, and Jodie Sweetin, who plays Stephanie, starts reading her lines, and people are dying laughing. I mean screaming. And I was like, ‘What’s happening here?’ They couldn’t even hear my lines they were laughing so hard.”
John Stamos
Full House captured the hearts of viewers with its endearing premise and lovable characters. Airing on ABC from 1987 to 1995, the show’s blend of humor, family values, and heartwarming moments made it a favorite among audiences of all ages. Created by Jeff Franklin, the series revolved around Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), a widower left to raise his three daughters alone after the tragic death of his wife.
Seeking support in this new role, Danny invites his fun-loving best friend, Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier), and his rebellious brother-in-law, Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos), to move in with him. Together, the trio forms an unconventional yet loving family unit, facing parenting challenges, relationships, and life’s ups and downs.
The show’s cast of kids was a hit with viewers as people fell in love with Candace Cameron Bure, who portrayed the responsible and mature eldest daughter, D.J. Tanner, balancing teenage struggles with family responsibilities. Jodie Sweetin shined as the middle child, Stephanie Tanner, with her adorable charm and growing pains.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (in rotation) shared the role of the youngest daughter, Michelle Tanner, and quickly became everyone’s favorite toddler stars. Lori Loughlin joined the cast as Danny’s co-worker Rebecca Donaldson and eventually married John Stamos’ Jesse. Andrea Barber played Kimmy Gibbler, D.J.’s eccentric best friend, whose antics provided plenty of laughs.
Full House received a warm reception from audiences during its original run. However, critics had mixed opinions. Some praised its warmth and humor, while others deemed it too sentimental. Nonetheless, the show’s popularity, including that of John Stamos, soared over the years through syndication and captured the hearts of subsequent generations.
“The central character was love, and we were the best representation of a loving family, not a normal family. And it was the new normal, now an unconventional family.”
John Stamos
In 2016, the legacy of Full House continued with the spinoff series Fuller House. The show followed D.J. Tanner-Fuller (Candace Cameron Bure), now a widowed mother of three boys. In parallel to her father’s journey, DJ seeks help from her sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and her best friend Kimmy (Andrea Barber) to raise her children.
With heartfelt nods to the original series, a fresh new storyline, and cameos from John Stamos and other original cast members, Fuller House delighted longtime fans and a new generation of viewers, further cementing the show’s place in television history.
John Stamos maintained a strong television over the years. He starred in the short-lived ABC series Thieves in 2001, the ABC sitcom Jake in Progress from 2005 to 2006, and had a recurring role on the NBC medical drama ER in 2005. He also starred as the lead character in the Fox sitcom Grandfathered from 2015 to 2016.
John Stamos has also made guest appearances on several other television shows, including Glee, Two and a Half Men, You, and Scream Queens. Additionally, he has played drums occasionally with The Beach Boys since 1985.
