Jeff Franklin, the creator of the popular sitcom Full House, recently shared some behind-the-scenes stories about the show’s early days. In a podcast episode hosted by Dave Coulier, titled Full House Rewind, Franklin discussed a moment when John Stamos, who played Uncle Jesse on the show, almost backed out of the series.
Franklin recalled the first table read with the actors, which was attended by numerous studio and network executives. He mentioned that everyone was there to see Stamos, but it was Jodie Sweetin, who played Stephanie Tanner, who stole the show with her humor. This upset Stamos, as he was concerned that the younger stars would overshadow him.
Coulier, who played Joey Gladstone, mentioned that he remembers walking out with Stamos after the table read, and Stamos expressed his concern that the whole show would be dominated by Sweetin. Franklin added that he later learned that Stamos was so upset about having to play second fiddle to the younger actors that he called his agent and wanted to be removed from the show.
However, Franklin explained that Stamos eventually made his peace with the fact that he was working with the kids and animals on the show, and that ultimately worked out for the best. Full House went on to achieve great success, running for eight seasons from 1987 to 1995. The show also had a revival in 2016 with Fuller House, which Franklin also created.
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During the podcast episode, Franklin also revealed how the fan-favorite trio of Danny, Jesse, and Joey came to be on the show. Initially, John Posey was cast as Danny Tanner in the pilot episode. However, Franklin had always envisioned Bob Saget in the role of the father. When Saget became available, Franklin decided to have a “secret chemistry test” with Saget, Coulier, and Stamos on the sitcom Perfect Strangers.
After the chemistry test, Franklin knew that Saget was the right person to lead the Tanner family, even though it meant reshooting the pilot and spending about $1 million. Franklin fought for Saget and convinced the executives that having him on the show would make it better.
The podcast episode also paid tribute to the late Bob Saget, who played the beloved father figure on Full House. Saget’s comedic talent and portrayal of Danny Tanner were instrumental in the show’s success.
Full House continues to have a lasting impact on pop culture and remains a beloved sitcom to this day. The show’s ensemble cast, including Stamos, Coulier, Sweetin, Candace Cameron Bure, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Lori Loughlin, became household names and left a lasting impression on fans around the world.
The podcast episode offered fans an inside look at the early days of Full House and highlighted the challenges and successes that the cast and crew experienced. It demonstrated the dedication and talent of everyone involved in creating the iconic show.
As of now, there has been no comment from Stamos or his representative regarding the revelations made in the podcast episode. However, it is clear that despite his initial reservations, Stamos embraced his role on Full House and became an integral part of the show’s success.
