John Posey was once the man chosen to portray Danny Tanner in the pilot episode of the beloved sitcom *Full House*, before losing the role to Bob Saget. The backstory reveals the complex circumstances that led to the casting switch, which was only made public years later by various cast members, including Jodie Sweetin.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/john-posey-bob-saget-split-062926-cm-bfe4ae2320884dce8f143eabc6e1562d.jpg)
Sweetin recently spoke about the early days of the show, recounting how the pilot had already been filmed featuring Posey in the lead role. At the time, Saget was tied to his commitments with CBS’ *The Morning Program*, leaving Posey to take on the Danny Tanner character. However, just before the series was set to debut on ABC, Saget became available again and was swiftly recast, resulting in Posey’s pilot being shelved.
“We started doing the show and we’d shot an entire pilot actually with a different — with John Posey, who was a lovely human being and very sweet and wonderful,” Sweetin shared during an interview. “But Bob was the first choice for Danny.”
Posey’s journey to landing the role began when an ABC executive saw his performance in a comedy group in Atlanta. Speaking about the experience to Yahoo, he explained, “Somebody from ABC was in town,” which led to him auditioning for the show that would eventually become *Full House*. Initially, Posey was unaware of his competition: both Saget and comedian Paul Reiser were the network’s first choices but were unavailable due to other commitments.
Despite filming the pilot, Posey reflected on his uncertainty concerning whether his performance was adequate. He candidly admitted, “In all honesty, if somebody were to ask me now, I have no idea whether I was good in that pilot or not.” The actor noted how the style of comedy in *Full House* differed significantly from the more cynical sitcoms he was accustomed to growing up with, such as *All in the Family*.
Things took a sudden turn not long after the pilot was filmed. Posey recalled receiving a message on his pager while he was in Mississippi, informing him that he was no longer cast in the series. “I was driving back thinking, ‘We’re going to get to work soon on this new show,’” Posey recounted. Upon receiving the news, he was taken aback, wondering why the producers would want to test Saget for the role. It was only later that he learned the truth—that Saget, now available after being released from his previous engagement, had been the producers’ first choice all along.
Sweetin’s reflections on the matter mirrored Posey’s experience, emphasising the considerable effort undertaken by the show’s producers, particularly creator Jeff Franklin, to ensure that Saget was given another chance. Hesitant but resolute, Franklin fought against the financial implications of reshooting the pilot, believing strongly that Saget was the right fit for the show.
While Posey shared camaraderie with members of the cast, such as John Stamos and Dave Coulier, he never had an opportunity to meet Saget. He acknowledged the challenges his fellow castmates faced, particularly the young actors, when adjusting to a new lead in Saget. “It was hard for the kids to have to do this all over again with somebody they didn’t know,” Posey noted, referring to the disruption of having to start anew with a different actor in the pivotal role.
Saget became a household name throughout the show’s original run from 1987 to 1995, portraying Tanner, a widowed father raising three daughters. The show later returned with a revival titled *Fuller House*, in which Saget appeared, further cementing his legacy as America’s cherished television dad.
In the years since the casting change, Posey has continued to cultivate his own thriving acting career. He has featured in various television series, including guest appearances in *Better Call Saul* and *Teen Wolf*, the latter of which starred his son, Tyler Posey.
The story of John Posey and *Full House* serves as a poignant reminder of how the television industry can pivot dramatically based on changing circumstances and decisions made behind the scenes. For Posey, the loss was not the end of his career, but rather a notable chapter in his professional journey, which he has faced with grace and ongoing success.