(WJW) — In a new interview, John Stamos, who played Uncle Jesse on “Full House,” says he wanted to quit the show after he felt upstaged by Jodie Sweetin in one of the show’s first table reads.
In the interview on the YouTube talk show “Hot Ones,” Stamos recalled calling his agent from a pay phone and saying, “Get me the (expletive) off this show!”
“I hated that show,” said Stamos. “Obviously, I ended up loving it.”
Stamos explained that when he accepted the role of Uncle Jesse, he was under the impression that children in the series would be “background” characters, and was at first unpleasantly surprised during a table read when Sweetin’s character, Stephanie, got all the laughs.
“They couldn’t even hear my lines they were laughing so hard at her,” said Stamos.
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UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 14: FULL HOUSE – Season Seven – Gallery – 9/14/93, Pictured, from left: Dave Coulier (Joey), Andrea Barber (Kimmy), John Stamos (Jesse), Blake Tuomy-Wilhoit (Nicky), Lori Loughlin (Rebecca), Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie), Bob Saget (Danny), Ashley Olsen (Michelle), Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit (Alex), Candace Cameron (D.J.), Scott Weinger (Steve), (Photo by Bob D’Amico/ABC via Getty Images) 
GOOD MORNING AMERICA – The Super Bowl Boulevard Blowout festivities continue on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, 1/29/14, airing on the Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. Giants QB Eli Manning joins in on the fun. The men of “Full House” pay a visit. (Photo by Ida Mae Astute/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) DAVE COULIER, BOB SAGET, JOHN STAMOS 
FULL HOUSE – Cast Gallery – August 8, 1989. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)DAVE COULIER;BOB SAGET;MARY-KATE/ASHLEY OLSEN;JOHN STAMOS 
FULL HOUSE – Cast Gallery – August 8, 1989. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)DAVE COULIER;JODIE SWEETIN;MARY-KATE/ASHLEY OLSEN;BOB SAGET;CANDACE CAMERON;JOHN STAMOS 
UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 27: FULL HOUSE – On location in San Francisco – Season Eight – 9/27/94, Pictured, from left: Dave Coulier (Joey), Bob Saget (Danny), Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie), Mary Kate Olsen (Michelle), Candace Cameron (D.J.), Andrea Barber (Kimmy), Blake Tuomy-Wilhoit (Nicky), Lori Loughlin (Rebecca), Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit (Alex), John Stamos (Jesse). , (Photo by Craig Sjodin/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) 
UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 14: FULL HOUSE – Season Seven – Gallery – 9/14/93, Pictured, from left: Dave Coulier (Joey), Andrea Barber (Kimmy), John Stamos (Jesse), Blake Tuomy-Wilhoit (Nicky), Lori Loughlin (Rebecca), Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie), Bob Saget (Danny), Ashley Olsen (Michelle), Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit (Alex), Candace Cameron (D.J.), Scott Weinger (Steve), (Photo by Bob D’Amico/ABC via Getty Images)
He said he later realized there was no central character on the show.
“The central character was love,” said Stamos. “I fought it for a long time, then I finally said, ‘What am I doing? It’s a beautiful show, filled with sweetness and kindness.'”
The full interview can be seen here.
Full House aired from 1987-1995 and was then followed up by a second series on Netflix called “Fuller House,” which ran from 2016-2020.