John Stamos was initially unenthusiastic about playing a basketball coach on his latest show ‘Big Shot’.
“I was a band nerd at school, I’m a band nerd now – I never played sports, I didn’t watch sports,” Stamos, 57, told The Post. “It was harder for me to learn basketball language than medical jargon when I was on ‘ER’ playing a doctor, I’m not kidding.”
The sports drama series, which premieres Friday April 16 on Disney + (with new episodes every week), centers around Marvyn Korn (Stamos), a men’s basketball coach who ends up working last at a private high school for girls. take refuge after his temper costs him his NCAA job – much to his dismay.
“I got a call from my agent saying, ‘You’re getting an offer on the new David Kelley show,’” said Stamos. “And I was like, ‘Oh, I love David Kelley! I play lawyer, is it like one of those dark characters in “Big Little Lies?” And they said, “It’s a show about basketball.” And my heart just sank. Of all things! I said, “I am a player?” and they said, “No, you are a coach.” And I said, “Okay, great … what does a coach do?”
Despite reservations, Stamos went into investigation, he said, while spending time with NBA legend Jerry West, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.
“He told me it’s called ‘practice’, not ‘rehearsal,’” said Stamos.
But it wasn’t just the subject that made the actor nervous. Marvyn’s character was also outside his comfort zone.
“It was nothing like anything I had ever done, and it was nothing like me,” said Stamos. “He is unlikely, he is not a people person, he has no charm.”
Once on set, Stamos decided the best way to live in the erratic coach was to stay for himself.
“I had no external interaction with the cast. I didn’t want to know the girls very well, I wanted to learn about the girls just like Marvyn. It was difficult for me because I don’t usually work that way, ”he said.
Ultimately, Stamos managed to impress Jerry West, as well as one of his idols: Howard Stern.
‘I got texts from a number in New York that I didn’t recognize, and I got one that said,’ Pick up, it’s Howard and Beth! “he said.” And I FaceTimed them, and they just kept going on about how much they liked the show. He’s a hero of mine and a friend and someone I admire. “
Stamos occupies a rare space in Hollywood as he has been prominent for decades with numerous hit shows to his name (‘General Hospital’, ‘ER’, ‘Full House’, ‘You’) and he has not seen any setbacks or faded into obscurity like many stars from 80s and 90s shows.
He attributes the longevity of his industry to his attitude.
“I think the days when I was a prima donna are out the door – the days of like, ‘I’m not getting out of my caravan!’ If someone does, it’s like, ‘OK, next!’ ” he said. “There are so many actors and actresses who need work.”
He gets it in part from lessons learned from his father, the late restaurateur Bill Stamos.
“My father had a great influence on me in many things. My dad owned restaurants, and he treated the servant in the back room doing the dishes just like his best customer. I try to keep that a little bit. “
Stamos is a relatively new dad himself, as his son Billy (with actress / model woman Caitlin McHugh, 34) is 3 years old. Staying home with the toddler, who is named after Stamos’s father, was the silver lining of the past pandemic year, he said.
‘I never thought I’d get so much time with him. But it also really affects what is important and what is not important. Being obsessed with your career is one of those things I realize is not that important in this day and age. “
Quality time with the toddler includes watching children’s television together and showing him fragments of child-friendly dishes that Stamos has done in the past, such as the musical ‘Bye Bye Birdie’.
“But I mostly watch kids’ programs with him … You’re sure to say, ‘Oh man, I’m glad I paid attention to the kind of television aimed at kids.’ Because the is a bit of a responsibility, ”said Stamos, referring to his long-running stint as Jesse Katsopolis in“ Full House ”(1987-1995).
At 57, Stamos is on the older side of fatherhood, but that doesn’t bother him.
“I’m glad I now have the time, energy and patience to spend time with a 3 year old and I don’t have to worry so much about my career or money, or things a lot of people have to do. I am very lucky and grateful. “