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Full House almost had Bob Saget’s character get married – but the actress refused, then exited the show
The Full House producers almost changed the direction of the show by marrying off Danny Tanner
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Halfway through their run, Full House almost became a different show.
The family sitcom focused on a widower named Danny Tanner, who struggles to raise his three daughters after the death of his wife. Danny’s brother-in-law Jesse and best friend Joey move in to help raise the girls, and hilarity follows.
Danny, who was played by comedian Bob Saget, remained a bachelor throughout the series….but showrunner Jeff Franklin toyed with the idea of spicing things up by giving him a wife and stepson.
During Full House season four, actress Debra Stipe was brought in as Danny’s girlfriend Cindy. Stipe’s character was the mother of a 10-year-old boy named Rusty, who had an antagonistic relationship with Danny’s daughters. The dynamic was fun, but after three episodes, Cindy was never seen again.
Dave Coulier, who played Joey on Full House, is currently hosting a rewatch podcast called Full House Rewind. During a recent guest appearance on the podcast, Stipe revealed the original plans for her character.
“I want to make a true confession here with you, on air here,” Stipe began. “My biggest life regret is that Jeff Franklin wanted Bob [Saget] and I to get married. They did. They wanted us to get married on the show obviously, and my agents thought that I would get lost. And so, I let them talk me out of it, which I really regret.”
Stipe and Coulier then mused about how the potential wedding would have gone. “Can you picture the wedding? I think that you could’ve officiated the wedding, I think that Rusty could’ve been the ring bearer, I think Michelle could’ve been the flower girl,” Stipe said. “And Rusty does something kooky,” Coulier added.
This would’ve changed the dynamic of Full House in many ways. In addition to giving the girls a stepmother, Rusty would’ve become their stepbrother. He already had an antagonistic relationship with the girls, so the blended family dynamic would’ve been interesting. Plus, Danny would have had to serve as a father figure to a reluctant stepson who didn’t always respect him.
After Stipe’s departure, Danny was paired up with Vicky Larson, who was played by Gail Edwards. While the show toyed with the idea of marrying them, it wasn’t meant to be. Still, it’s interesting to imagine how Full House would have progressed if Stipe’s agents hadn’t talked her out of the marriage.
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