Full House has been bringing laughter into the lives of millions since the late ’80s. Even today, this beloved sitcom continues to be one of the best shows streaming on Max. With its fan-favorite TGIF characters and iconic catchphrases, it’s no wonder that Full House is considered one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. However, there was a time when John Stamos, who played Jesse Katsopolis on the show, had doubts about his co-star Dave Coulier’s comedic talent.
Stamos recently appeared as a guest on Coulier’s rewatch podcast called Full House Rewind. During the podcast, the two friends and former co-stars discussed various aspects of the show. Stamos confessed that in the early days of Full House, he didn’t find Coulier particularly funny:
“We sat there for like an hour or so. Dave was… not funny. And what happened was I got home, and I called Jeff [Franklin], and I said, ‘Doesn’t a comedian have to be funny? Isn’t that one of the requirements?’ He said, ‘No no, just go see him at Igby’s.’”
Considering that Coulier’s character, Joey Gladstone, was a comedian, it would be challenging to play the role without being funny. Although Stamos initially had his doubts, Full House creator Jeff Franklin was confident in Coulier’s talents. And rightfully so. When Stamos finally saw Coulier perform at Igby’s, he was blown away by his comedic skills:
“And you came out, and you did an hour and a half [or] two hours, and it was maybe…I’d never seen anything like it. Maybe Robin Williams, but I’d never seen him in person. You blew the roof off the place. You were so charming and entertaining. You did voices, you told great jokes. Watching your control was illuminating. You had the audience in the palm of your hand. You took them here, you took them there. You got emotional, you got real… And I went back, and I hugged you and said, ‘Couldn’t you do that back at the restaurant? Why did I have to drive all the way out here?’”
Stamos realized that he just needed to witness Coulier’s talent in his element to appreciate his true hilarity. It’s incredibly high praise for Coulier that Stamos still remembers that performance and how it made him feel. The chemistry between Uncle Jesse and Joey on-screen was undeniably fantastic, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else in their roles.
Stamos also mentioned that he and Coulier had immediate chemistry and got up to plenty of shenanigans that the show’s writers incorporated into the series. It’s not surprising that Stamos quickly changed his mind about Coulier’s comedy. Their off-camera friendship undoubtedly played a significant role in the chemistry viewers witnessed on-screen.
In their podcast conversation, Stamos also shared his experiences working with Bob Saget on Full House. He opened up about the challenges they faced in the early days of the show. Despite the difficulties, the series ran for eight successful seasons and even got a reboot on Netflix years later. This longevity is a testament to the comedic talent and chemistry among the cast.
Although the Full House cast may not be as close as they once were, the chemistry they shared during the show will always be present. Fans can still enjoy this chemistry and comedy by streaming all eight seasons on Max.
Megan Behnke
Passionate writer. Obsessed with anything and everything entertainment, specifically movies and television. Can easily get attached to fictional characters.
