TVSquad

When people who have met John Stamos say that he's a nice, charming, down-to-earth guy, they're not kidding. He's so damned charming that twice during my phone conversation with him last week, I told him that since he already had my number, he should call me to talk about TV off-the record. (Hey, the guy said to me both times that he enjoyed the conversation. And we talked about New Jersey -- he did a movie in Freehold once. So I caved.)

It's that likability that has carried his career for the last twenty-five years, from General Hospital to Full House to ER. It's also what he hopes will draw people to Wedding Wars, an A&E original movie that will air Monday at 9 PM. In the comedy, he plays Shel, a gay party planner who sparks a national pro-gay-marriage movement when he goes on strike while planning the wedding of his brother Ben (Eric Dana).,The strike happens after he finds out Ben wrote an anti-gay marriage speech for his boss, the governor of Maine.

I spoke to Stamos about the movie for The New York Post, but while I had him on the phone, I couldn't resist asking him about ER, his Uncle Jesse mullet, and his friendship with Howard Stern. The interview is after the jump.

Joel Keller: So I don't know what you've been told, but I'm going to ask you a bunch of questions about the movie for the New York Post, but I'm going to ask you other questions for TV Squad.

JOHN STAMOS: Sure. What's TV Squad?

JK: It's on the web.

STAMOS: I think I've seen it.

JK: Yeah, Google news picks us up a lot.

STAMOS: Didn't you guys say something nice about me on there?

JK: I'd have to look; I'm sure we have (John laughs). Probably something ER-related. We do ER reviews every week; my brother does them, actually.

STAMOS: Oh, cool.

JK: And he really likes the fact that you've come on and energized the show.

STAMOS: Oh really? Oh, cool! It's really interesting to talk to people about (the show), that really know the show. Because I don't know the show that well; I never watched it much. But I'm, like, blown away at how good the show is. I mean, I was watching it the other night with my family on Thanksgiving -- and this is not bullshit -- and I was like, wow, I was really proud to be on the show. And I really love to talk to people that have watched it from the beginning because I'm fascinated and learning about it, you know?

JK: I've watched it from the beginning; I always thought that it was a very well made-show. But, you know, as a series gets older, it kind of starts to drag a little bit. What a lot of fans are finding is that the entrance of a new kind of cocky, confident guy, has really put a spark in the show that it hasn't had in a couple of years.

STAMOS: Great. That makes me happy. I'm glad I could do it, you know? I mean, I had a feeling there was a place for me on that show, more so this year than last year and the other years they've been talking about doing it. And I felt that I could maybe change the dynamic of it a little bit. But I'm really happy at the way it turned out, because I feel like I'm not in anyone's way, but there's moments where I can enhance what's going on without stepping on it.

It hit me, too, the other day; it's just that the structure of that show is so brilliant in the simple sense that they can bring in new people every week with issues that you can relate to. You know what I mean? That's why it's so fresh; they wheel in someone on the gurney and they've got an hour's worth of really interesting story that's different each week.

JK: And one of the beauties of the show is that it takes place in a teaching hospital, so you can bring in new people every year (to play residents and med students).

STAMOS: Right. Exactly. And if you keep rotating the main cast, and then so you get into their lives and you kind of follow what their doing... I think the show could go another ten years, myself.

JK: I know last year, you were set to play Gates, but Jake in Progress got picked up by surprise. Was the storyline going to be different if you were able to join the cast last year as opposed to this year?

STAMOS: I think they initially were writing that (John) Leguizamo role for me (That would be troubled doctor Victor Clemente. Not sure if the Stamos version was going to be named Gates or Clemente -- Joel). That's the timing of what you were talking about. I think I was supposed to do that.

JK: You mean be a guy who's in trouble, and being chased by his lover's ex, that kind of thing...

STAMOS: I guess; I really don't remember what happened; I didn't see those shows that much. But I think that was kind of the initial deal, I think. And then john came on and did that -- and did wonderfully on the show, I thought. So then we kind of started over with Gates.

And it was interesting, because I sat with (ER writer) David Zabel, in the matter of like an hour, and we just kind of threw out ideas about being a... I just talked to him about making the guy a man, and I've really not played a guy's guy before, you know? And we talked about how to start him in trouble, so we wouldn't have to manufacture his flaws later. And we talked about being a war vet, and talked about having a buddy who died, and me taking care of his wife and kid. And the kid part was to kind of make me likable; I could get away with much more if I was coming home, kind of watching out for a wife a kid. And it played out... We talked about it for an hour, and it's been fueling a whole character and year.

JK: Is there going to be a connection because of Gates' time in Iraq and the fact that Neela's husband was killed there?

STAMOS: Gates was a (first) Gulf War veteran, so, no there's not going to be any of that.

JK: So he and his buddy's wife are kind of like "friends with benefits," and Gates' involvement with Neela makes things a little complicated, right?

STAMOS: Right. I wish I could tell you, but there's some really cool stuff coming up in that area. It's more about what happens with Paula Malcomson's character Meg, and Sarah, and how that kind of complicates me going forward with the Neela relationship.

JK: How is it doing those love scenes with Parminder Nagra (who plays Leela)? It really seems like the two of you have a good chemistry going.

STAMOS: I think that... again, I don't think they knew what was happening story-wise when I came around, and I think they saw that Parminder and I had instant chemistry in those early (episodes), so they just wrote towards it. I don't even think her husband was dead at that point. I'm not 100% sure, but I think when they started seeing chemistry between us, then they thought they were going to kill off that other character and put me in that spot with her.

JK: I think it's brought out a lot in the Neela character, since she was moping around last year with her husband in Iraq. I think that's what happens on ER a lot; a character is in the background, then suddenly there's a good story for them and that character just pops right out.

STAMOS: I think so, yeah. And I think that's what happens with her and I. And Parminder in real life is just the most adorable, giggly, fun, full-of-life kind of person. And so I think Gates brings that out in Neela, which I like to see. I love to see her laugh on that show; I love to make her laugh, I like to have the character just crack her up. I think he does bring some lightness to a lot of characters on there, and I guess the whole tone (of the show).

And at the same time, the next week, I'll have this really heavy dramatic scene, where I'm throwing Paula (Meg) up against the wall and screaming at her because she comes into the hospital drunk. That's the beauty of that show.

JK: You're not the only one on that show who's come from a comedy background, though you were on a soap before that. What of your past experience has been able to help you in this role?

STAMOS: I think just all of it has helped me through this. I'm going on my 25th year now, so I feel like I've been pulling from a lot of things.

JK: Has it been one of the hardest jobs you've had?

STAMOS: It's been really challenging. I mean, I've always kind of I guess put myself into some sort of dangerous situation... I mean, coming into an established show with a bunch of established people, you know, it was a little scary. It's challenging, but it's also been the easiest job, because the writing is so good, and the actors are so good... I love playing this character. It's just fully loaded. Every week when I read a new script, I'm like "Oh, my God!" You get to do so much stuff.

JK: How tough is it to get through the medical lingo?

STAMOS: For whatever reason, I hate to jinx it, but... It was tough in the beginning, you kin dof learn it. But they don't put me in those trauma scenes so much, maybe it's because I'm so crappy at it. (both of us laugh) For whatever reason, I don't do a lot of stuff on the show. I think they're using me more for the romantic broad strokes.

JK: What do you mean when you say you're crappy with the trauma scenes?

STAMOS: Well, because it's... Well, I'm not crappy... (chuckles) It just takes me a while... they're hard, you know?

JK: Have you consulted anyone you've known who's been on the show in the past to get advice?

STAMOS: Well, there's kind of two schools down there. The one I gravitate towards is writing your lines down on everything that you hold. But I screwed myself because in the beginning, I said "why doesn't he have some reading issues?" They kind of made him dyslexic. So, I'm not really looking and reading any charts...

JK: Did we learn about this last year? I kind of forgot about that.

STAMOS: We learned about it this year, kinda. It goes by pretty fast. That's the thing with this show; you've really got to watch it. They're making things more serialized this year, so you're really got to stay tuned in to all the stuff.

And I think the parallel story is the thing, with me and Meg and the kid. The two of them are shooting an episode next week where both of those stories kind of culminate, and it's really, really fascinating.

JK: How surprised were you when Jake in Progress was picked up? Were you happy that it got picked up or disappointed when it meant you wouldn't be able to do ER that year?

STAMOS: I thought I was in a pretty good place either way. I was just disappointed that it didn't get a fair shake.

JK: How many episodes did they air of that second year?

STAMOS: One. And that's what drove me crazy. But you know in retrospect, I was really mad at ABC. But I think they tried; they brought in that Heather Graham show (Emily's Reasons Why Not) to be a companion piece with me, and...

JK: That lasted only one episode, too.

STAMOS: That was the problem; that show really didn't work, so I kinda got swept under... what's the term?

JK: Swept under the rug?

STAMOS: Yeah, with that show. So... looking back, I think ABC did try. And I was happy to do it; I loved that show; I really wanted it to work.

JK: Viewers really scratch their heads when a show is cancelled after just one episode. Was it a matter that the execs thought either show wasn't working creatively?

STAMOS: Well, I think in our case, ABC did like our show. And I know (ABC Entertainment president Steve) McPherson and (Disney president and CEO Robert) Iger liked it; his wife used to watch it. I think they just didn't know what to do with it. I think they pulled it off, and then they... I think they were sincerely trying to find a place for it. But you couldn't match it up with the George Lopez show, or one of those shows, because it was a single-camera, filmed show.

JK: But they had a show that aired twice a night for five weeks that would have matched up with it perfectly in Sons & Daughters...

STAMOS: Didn't that come after us, though?

JK: Yeah, they aired it in the spring.

STAMOS: Who was on that show?

JK: That was the one with Fred Goss.

STAMOS: Right. There was talk of that, too. But at that point, there was talk of me going to ER, and I don't think ABC was too happy about that.

JK: How many episodes did you end up making that year?

STAMOS: We did, I think ten or eleven.

JK: And they're not even out on DVD or anything, right?

STAMOS: No, and that's what bums me out.

JK: They're not online or anywhere?

STAMOS: I haven't seen them. I mean, I have them at my house if you want to borrow them (both laugh). That show was... like I said, I was really happy either way, because I wanted to do more Jake in Progress and I wanted to give it a fair shake, but it all worked out for the best, obviously.

JK: Is this something that being in the business so long, you just kind of roll with?

STAMOS: Yep. Exactly. Bob (Saget) was all upset about his movie going to DVD. I said, "Just move on; just go to the next thing." You kind of just roll with it.

The show... I mean, magic has to happen, you know? I've tried to do my own show three or four times. The odds are against you. And So I thought, "You know what, go to ER do some good work." And you know people haven't really seen me really, you know? I don't blame people for just thinking of me as Uncle Jesse because that's all they've seen.

JK: But people have seen you in other stuff since then...

STAMOS: Yeaaaah, but I've done a lot of theater, and Jake in Progress aired a little bit, but nobody watched it, so they really haven't you know? So I don't blame people...

JK: But, John, you know that when you play an iconic character like that, careers can go one of two ways; you can either work all the time like you did or you can be like Michael Richards and just get into trouble. How do you think you were able to navigate through the post-Uncle Jesse part of your career?

STAMOS: Taking time. I think I've been pretty methodical about it. I went to do theatre immediately, and did a lot of that. I've tried to take roles that were a little different... I'm still doing it. I'm still in the process, you know? And now, it's really starting to pay off. I'm doing A Rasin in the Sun, don't know if you saw that, for ABC. I'm playing a white racist guy; Mr. Linder is the character's name. But it's taken a long time.

JK: Is this the way that other people who play these types of roles should conduct their careers? Was stepping back your plan when Full House ended 11 years ago, or did it just kind of happen this way?

STAMOS: I think both. But, again I was conscious of it. The first thing I did was go to New York and just start auditioning for Broadway plays. And I just thought that I would learn and it would change people's perception of me.

JK: Let's get to the movie then, because this was kind of a good segue. What drew you to the project?

STAMOS: I worked with (executive producers) Neil (Marron) and Craig (Zaden) a lot... and actually, that's part of the thing too, when you said stepping back; when the good acting roles weren't coming up after Full House, I started producing television and getting into things that way, and in that I met Neil Marron and Craig Zaden, who've been kind of my showbiz mentors. And they had this project; and I wanted to act in one of their pieces.

I thought it was an important topic, obviously. So, I kind of jumped on it for that.

JK: Was it kind of a good way to voice your opinion rather than going out and...

STAMOS: Exactly. Yeah, it's a good way to ease into voicing my opinion and kind of letting the movie speak for what I believe in, know what I mean?

JK: Right. A lot of actors speak out about issues. They get up on a podium and speak out; some audiences love them for it, but I think some resent them for it.

STAMOS: Yeah, I'd rather do it this way, you know? And I think this character represents how I feel about it. Did you see it? It's not a soapboxy movie, and it's an easy way to take the topic, I think, through kind of a frothy romantic comedy vibe, don't you?

JK: They did a great job of providing a light touch to it. You know... it's a serious issue, but not as serious when you think about what else is going on the world. Was it a serious movie when it was first developed or was it always light hearted?

STAMOS: It was always lighthearted, and I think that was one of the reasons why it made sense to put me in the lead role, to kind of give it that tone.

JK: I'd imagine you'd want to approach it like you were being yourself but the character just happened to be gay.

STAMOS: Absolutely. And that's one of the things I'm most proud of about the movie. Hopefully, that came off; obviously it did since you felt that. He was a guy who was fighting for what he believed in, and happened to be in love with a man, you know?

JK: In that first scene you were in, though, when your brother finds you throwing a party at your apartment building, you were acting more stereotypical than you did during the rest of the movie, though.

STAMOS: Absolutely, that was. I think it was just to set off the tone a little bit, and then it settled in from there. That's observant of you, because that was one of the first scenes I shot. And I do remember kind of wanted, "Let's let people know he is gay in the beginning." And I that is the scene where I think I kissed a guy for the first time.

JK: I thought that was interesting. Was that hard to do at all?

STAMOS: Naaah, I can do it.

JK: Has it gotten to the point now that, since it's been 11 years since Full House ended, that people have gotten past the point where they'd see a scene like that as "Uncle Jesse kisses a guy?"

STAMOS: I don't know. (laughs) Just because the show is still on every day, and it's, like, rejuvenated itself. It's like one of those self-cleaning ovens, it just keeps... I think... I don't know what people will...

JK: You're still in contact with everybody from that show, right?

STAMOS: Um hm. Saget... he's obsessed with me, I think.

JK: (laughs) How so?

STAMOS: He just talks about me on all these talk shows. I don't even need to do interviews anymore; I just send him out. I think he's in love with me; I'm not sure.

JK: Do you like the dirty rejuvenation of his career?

STAMOS: (laughs) Yeah, it's pretty funny. I mean, I think it's certainly a road that's working for him and getting a lot of attention. You know, he's very smart, and very funny. And if you're really quiet, you can hear him complaining somewhere in Los Angeles.

JK: So he was doing that dirty stuff on the set?

STAMOS: Yeah, that's why when everybody's so shocked to be that way, that's how I knew him from the beginning. He's always had that side to him.

JK: It's funny that almost everybody from the cast has kept themselves busy in one way or another. Is it good to see that everyone's still involved in the business?

STAMOS: Yeah. I mean, if they want to be involved and they're doing it, it tis good. It was an exceptional group of people. There's no drama, and other than a few things here or there with the twins, I think everybody turned out pretty damn good.

JK: So when you hear about people from the cast having problems, like Jodie Sweetin did when she admitted to her meth addiction, does it still surprise you?

STAMOS: It was heartbreaking. You know it's funny... I think around the time of my divorce, we were all kind of hanging around. I think that was also around the time Mary Kate was having issues, so we all spent a lot of time (with each other) around that time. And Jodie was kind of around and I think that surfaced around that time. And yeah, it was surprising, but we were all kind of there for each other.

And the fact that that show... isn't it kind of amazing what's happened with that thing?

JK: I see it on Nick at Nite all the time as I'm flipping around, and I think that and a couple of other shows, like The Golden Girls and others, I think it's interesting how it's lasted, considering it ended so long ago...

STAMOS: But I think it's the kids. I think these kids watch it on Nickelodeon, and it's like a new show to them.

JK: That's true. And I think they also have the capacity to look at something and not think it's dated. They don't go, "Oh, this was from when mom and dad were kids." They just enjoy the show.

STAMOS: I guess, that's true, though. But it is getting dated, isn't it? Especially with those hairstyles.

JK: Especially from the beginning of the series. But you always had the big pompadoo going.

STAMOS: (Laughs) Terrible! Why didn't someone tell me it looked so bad? (laughs) I guess the '80s was big hair, so... It's really hard... I have not watched... not that I'm not proud of the show, cause I really am; I'm really happy that it was a part of my life, and it was a really a good part of my life, but I can't watch it.

JK: And you had a mullet going for a little while, didn't you?

STAMOS: Oh, yeah. I'm always bitching about the mullet, but then if they do a story on the mullet and I don't get a mention, then I get mad. I'm like (mock indignation) "Wait a minute! It wasn't just Billy Ray Cyrus! I was there too!"

JK: I even had a mullet back then.

STAMOS: You did?

JK: Yeah, it was a curly mullet; it was like Jewish mullet... I looked like Peter Brady. (John laughs).

STAMOS: Curly hair with a mullet...

JK: Yeah, that didn't work very well.

STAMOS: So the back is curly too, right? Long, kinda?

JK: Yeah, the back was curly. But the front and the sides, you keep it as short as possible, and the back was curly.

Couple of more questions and I'll let you go.... Another aspect of your life I've always been interested in is your friendship with Howard Stern. You've actually seen him socially. Is it interesting that you've kind of been drawn in to his world? I mean a lot of people may know you only from his show. Has that become a weird aspect to your career?

STAMOS: Yeah, like I'll do every major show, Today show, Leno, this and that, and no one will say anything about that. But I'll walk down the street and I'll hear, "Hey I heard you on Howard! You're great on Howard!" Yeah, he has powerful audience and friends. I love the association, because I really like him. And I really think he's smart... I told him once, "How many people, including actors and musicians, how many people can say that they're the best at what they do?" And he really is, you know?

JK: You do see him socially. Is that kind of strange when you'd go out with him? Because he might end up getting more attention that you would in certain situations.

STAMOS: Well, you know, I spent more time with him when I was married, because the four of us would do stuff together. But you know, we'd go to dinner and... around New York people are kind of used to seeing him, but yeah.... It's been a great association.

And I just kind of love my friends, how diverse they all are, from Howard Stern to Don Rickles, who I spend a lot of time with, to Kevin Spacey... It's just a weird group where I don't know what the connection is.

JK: Wouldn't you like to see them all in a room someday?

STAMOS: Yeah! That would be amazing.

JK: I'm amazed at how much mileage he's gotten out of that incident in his apartment when you and your ex-wife (Rebecca Romijn) were with him and his girlfriend Beth. (Stern implies that there was some nude "frolicking" going on, but hasn't said much beyond that -- Joel)

STAMOS: I know, yeah, and it's totally gotten blown out of proportion. And the truth is, it's 100% my fault. Because he was just fine to keep it quiet. But I think it fueled a lot of misconception about my relationship with my ex-wife. I think I un-smartly kind of played into it because I thought it was fun and kitschy. And I think that really over time... and it hasn't been his fault at all -- that it just wasn't the best smartest move on my part. I think I was just trying to hold it over him... I don't know what. Just kinda blurted it out, and you know...

JK: And it was just the four of you goofing around, right?

STAMOS: It really was; I swear to God, it was so much more innocent. And people took away that, you know, we were swingers and all this stuff, and it couldn't have been further from the truth.

JK: Are there times you come away from his show and think, "Damn, why did I say that?"

STAMOS: Yeah. The last time... not the last time I was on but the time before, I kinda did. I felt liberated for some reason; I felt that I owed him a good show. I always feel that I'm a terrible guest on there, because I don't open up that much and I don't talk about people, and I always tell him, "I'm your worst guest."

I think it was the first show he did when he went to Sirius. And I remember listening and going, "Boy, this guy's really got something," because you get into that (studio), and you don't even have (big) microphones, you just wear headphones with a tiny little mike, and you're on a couch, and you feel like you're just hanging out with him and stuff. And people are really opening up; he's got something. I fell right into the trap, you know?

And then I called him and said "Oh, God, what did I say? What did I do?" and he said "Don't worry, you sounded great." He sent me some reviews of that day, and they were saying good things, so he was sweet about it.

JK: So besides what you've already mentioned, what's coming up on the horizon for you?

STAMOS: Well, it's tricky, because ER I'm back next year too, but I'll either do an independent movie or go back to the theatre for a short run.

JK: When you look back on your career, did it turn out the way you expected it to?

STAMOS: It didn't turn out the way I thought; I always thought... I wanted to break into movies from television, and that never happened. And I think that fired me up for many years. And now I'm really relaxed about that, you know. I feel like there's some great stuff that's going to come up, it just feels like it now, it feels like I'm getting a second shot. I certainly think ER's gonna do a lot.

But as far as that whole kind of making movies thing has eluded me, I'm fine with it. If it happens it happens; if it doesn't it doesn't. I think television has never been better, don't you? I'm disappointed a lot when I go to the movies; not that there's not a lot of great movies out there, but I think percentage wise, I think there's better TV than there are movies. And that's why everybody's running to television.

JK: Do you feel like at this point you have the confidence at this point to do any role of any type?

STAMOS: Yeah, I do, more so than ever. I feel just because of maturity, because I'm finally getting older, I'm finally looking older.

I see these young kids that are amazing when they first come out. It's taken me 25 years to kind of finally... And I get it; now I don't have to work as hard... and I think I'm bringing with me my experience more now. I have a lot more to give than some kid from Orange County that goes to Disneyland, know what I mean?