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John Stamos, at right, with Jack Klugman in the 1986-1987 sitcom "You Again?". Source: https://www.mptvimages.com/images/11542/ you-again-jack-klugman-john-stamos-1987-1987-mario-casilli (May be subject to copyright) |
I knew instantly why John Stamos eulogized Jack Klugman. They had been on a sitcom in the mid-1980s called “You Again” that lasted parts of two seasons from 1986 to 1987.
Actually, John Stamos was quite busy in the decade starting with a soap opera and a music-themed show, ending as a cool uncle, and doing some other stuff along the way.
I was thinking about him the other day when something on my newsfeed mentioned a possible “Full House” reunion.
Paint it Blackie
The first time I ever saw John Stamos was on “General Hospital”, when he was the front man for a band that also included Jack Wagner. They were singing a song called “Sneak Attack”. I remember that well, because that song ended up on Wagner’s album “All I Need”.
The first time I ever saw John Stamos was on “General Hospital”, when he was the front man for a band that also included Jack Wagner. They were singing a song called “Sneak Attack”. I remember that well, because that song ended up on Wagner’s album “All I Need”.
Stamos played Blackie Parrish from 1982 until 1984. His efforts also garnered him a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
He went strictly primetime after that.
Dreaming
In April of 1984, he left “General Hospital” and took the lead role in a sitcom called “Dreams”. I never saw “Dreams” because none of the channels in the three-channel universe of peasant vision chose to carry it. I read in “TV Guide” that “Dreams” was about a fictional rock band who try to get a recording contract.
In April of 1984, he left “General Hospital” and took the lead role in a sitcom called “Dreams”. I never saw “Dreams” because none of the channels in the three-channel universe of peasant vision chose to carry it. I read in “TV Guide” that “Dreams” was about a fictional rock band who try to get a recording contract.
When I read about that, I thought that was the perfect role for the guy who played Blackie Parrish – or was it the beginning of typecasting?
“Dreams” aired for just one season, from October to December of 1984 for 12 episodes, although only five aired.
Stamos would have a role in theTV movie “Alice in Wonderland” in 1985, and star in the theatrical release “Never Too Young to Die” in 1986 opposite Vanity and Gene Simmons.
After that, Stamos was back on network TV in 1986.
You again?
It was “Entertainment Tonight” where I first heard about a new sitcom starring John Stamos and Jack Klugman, best known for his roles on “Quincy” and “The Odd Couple”. Klugman played Henry Willows, manager of a grocery store. He had been divorced for about a decade and was comfortable with the life he lived. He had a son, Matt, played by Stamos, who Henry made no effort to get to know or be part of his life.
It was “Entertainment Tonight” where I first heard about a new sitcom starring John Stamos and Jack Klugman, best known for his roles on “Quincy” and “The Odd Couple”. Klugman played Henry Willows, manager of a grocery store. He had been divorced for about a decade and was comfortable with the life he lived. He had a son, Matt, played by Stamos, who Henry made no effort to get to know or be part of his life.
Now, grown, Matt shows up on his dad’s doorstep, looking to move in. The results are sheer comedy.
Interestingly, Henry has a housekeeper named Enid Thompkins, played by English actor Elizabeth Bennett. “You Again?” was based on the British sitcom “Home to Roost”, which was still airing overseas. Bennett played the same role on “Home to Roost” as she did on “You Again?”, shuttling back and forth every week of production.
“You Again?” aired on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial, starting in second semester of Grade 11. The first time I saw an episode, this girl I liked phoned me. The next time I settled in to watch an episode of “You Again?” she phoned. That happened three or four more times. I never let on that kept happening, because I wanted her to keep phoning. Needless to say, I don’t recall many of the episodes from that first season.
The show would run for two seasons, from February of 1986 to January of 1987, for a total of 26 episodes.
Again, it would not take John Stamos long to find work.
The house is full
“Full House” debuted at the end of September of 1987. It focused on Danny Tanner, played by Bob Saget, a widowed father of three girls. He enlists his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis, played by Stamos, and childhood friend Joey Gladstone, played by Dave Coulier to move in and help him out. Danny is a TV host, Jesse is, you guessed it, a musician, while Joey is an aspiring stand-up comedian.
“Full House” debuted at the end of September of 1987. It focused on Danny Tanner, played by Bob Saget, a widowed father of three girls. He enlists his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis, played by Stamos, and childhood friend Joey Gladstone, played by Dave Coulier to move in and help him out. Danny is a TV host, Jesse is, you guessed it, a musician, while Joey is an aspiring stand-up comedian.
“Full House” ran from 1987 until May of 1995, for eight seasons and 192 episodes.
I didn’t start watching “Full House” until the Summer of 1991, when I was home from university and my parents had moved to Lethbridge, where I could watch cable TV.
I recall John Stamos being one of the best parts of the show. I always liked his comic timing, and his ability to use body language and facial expressions to communicate without saying a word.
After “Full House” ended, his career would just carry on from there.
The years after
John Stamos would have a prolific career on television, primarily in TV movies, but also in “Thieves”; “Jake in Progress”; “ER”, where he appeared in 65 episodes”; “Friends”; “Glee”; “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”; “Two and a Half Men”; “The New Normal”; “Necessary Roughness”; “Grandfathered”; “Fuller House”, a sequel to “Full House”; “You”; “Big Shot”; and much more.
John Stamos would have a prolific career on television, primarily in TV movies, but also in “Thieves”; “Jake in Progress”; “ER”, where he appeared in 65 episodes”; “Friends”; “Glee”; “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”; “Two and a Half Men”; “The New Normal”; “Necessary Roughness”; “Grandfathered”; “Fuller House”, a sequel to “Full House”; “You”; “Big Shot”; and much more.
He also appeared in a lot of theatrical releases including “Private Parts”; “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2”; and more.
Parting thoughts
I have always had a soft spot for John Stamos. He is an endearing and engaging actor, with comedic flair.
I have always had a soft spot for John Stamos. He is an endearing and engaging actor, with comedic flair.
More than anything, else and I don’t really know why, when I hear his name my mind always goes to “You Again?” John Stamos and Jack Klugman had such good onscreen chemistry. Klugman was the crusty old man, set in his ways, and Stamos was the teenager turning his dad’s staid world on its ear.
I think why I liked it so much is that, although Klugman had excelled in comedy on “The Odd Couple”, to a whole generation he was the stern, serious, crusading medical examiner on “Quincy”. Seeing him vexed, yielded great comedic results. Plus, no matter how annoying Stamos was, especially to his father, he was still lovable.
It is too bad “You Again?” didn’t last longer, but that is the nature of network television. It just never found its audience.
What it did do was cement a friendship between John Stamos and Jack Klugman that endured after Klugman’s death.
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