When it comes to developing a television show, many changes could happen after the original pilot. Full House made an impression on generations of fans over the years, for instance, but the show could’ve looked very different, with one of the series’ leads being played by a different actor in the original pilot. Recently, John Stamos looked back on the pilot during an interview, musing on how different things could have been.
Viewers Originally Watched John Stamos Bring ‘Uncle Jesse’ To Life On Full House From 1987 To 1995
For many, Stamos’ biggest claim to fame is playing “Uncle Jesse” Katsopolis on Full House. Originally running from 1987 to 1995, the series revolved around a widower with three daughters who best friend and brother-in-law, Stamos’ character, move in with him. The show helped launch the careers of many of its stars, helping to make many of them household names.
Famously, the late comedian Bob Saget brought Danny Tanner to life throughout the show. However, he wasn’t the original actor to play the character.
In the unaired pilot, John Posey had played the character. Reportedly, Saget had also been previously considered for the role, but was unavailable by the time the pilot went into production, due to commitments with another show. However, when he proved to be available after all, he was given the role, with Posey’s scenes in the pilot being reshot.
Recently, Stamos discussed the situation during a recent episode of Bobby Bones’ podcast The Bobbycast. Expressing sympathy for Posey, Stamos admitted, “I think I felt bad for the guy.”
However, Stamos admitted that they didn’t think the show would be the big hit that it ended up being. He shared, “But it wasn’t like… we didn’t know what the show was going to be. The show wasn’t a hit for the first season. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, that guy’s really losing out on something.’ We were just shooting a pilot, and we didn’t really know what we had.”
John Posey Himself Also Previously Opened Up About Being Part Of The Full House Pilot
However, Stamos felt that things would have been different had Posey stayed on with the show. He shared, “And I think, you know, the chemistry of the show …I don’t know if the show would have been the same with the original guy, obviously. But it was a little weird.”
As for Posey, he later became known for his roles on How to Get Away with Murder and Teen Wolf. Notably, the latter starred his son, Tyler.
That said, Posey never forgot the time he once played Danny Tanner. Speaking with Yahoo! Entertainment, he recalled, “It seemed like everything was fine. We shot it. I learned as much as I could in a short period of time. And next thing I know… ‘Hey, you’re no longer employed.’”
At the time, Posey felt that the move also impacted Candace Cameron and Jodie Sweetin. He noted, “I know that the young girls were all a little bit shattered when it happened, because we developed a pretty good relationship. Candace, she was very upset that [it] fell apart. It was hard for the kids to have to do this all over again with somebody they didn’t know.”
What is your reaction to John Stamos’ recent share? Have you been following this story? Did you watch Full House? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.
John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
