The stars of the Netflix spin-off tell EW about their lifelong friendships and reviving their characters two decades later

Fuller House type TV Show network Netflix genre Family

Nostalgia reigned supreme on stage 26 at Warner Bros. studios last July when the cast of Fuller House taped the premiere episode in front of a live audience. EW was there as the cast bonded on set and the audience went bananas from their seats. Seriously. People cried.

The new show, streaming Feb. 26 on Netflix, follows Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and Kimmy (Andrea Barber) as they help recently-widowed D.J. (Candace Cameron Bure) raise her three sons — a flip on the original series premise. Fellow original cast members John Stamos, Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, and Lori Loughlin appear in guest spots throughout the season; Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen declined to participate.

The morning after that taping, the show’s three stars sat down with EW to recount the night — and their shared history growing up in the Tanner household.

For much more of this interview, pick up this week’s issue of EW, on newsstands now, or available digitally here.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Did you renew any traditions from the original show?

JODIE SWEETIN: We started the gum wall. The original one was behind the kitchen and it was this tradition we had for the whole cast, the crew. When you’re coming out onstage, God forbid you have gum and you have to stick it somewhere. So we would stick it on this wall. We had a peace sign by the end of the series.

CANDACE CAMERON BURE: It was a couple years worth of gum. It was gross.

SWEETIN: [This week] we put it all up there, we put our names, dates. It’s silly stuff like that but it was like our little secret society growing up together.

Were people emotional after the premiere taping?

SWEETIN: I had a moment last night, my daughters came to the show and I took a picture with them on the couch in the living room. I started to cry because it was a moment that I never in my life thought would ever happen.

CAMERON BURE: I was carrying my little baby on the show, and Bob [Saget] looked and he was like, ‘This has come full circle. That little girl walking down the stairs is now carrying the baby.’ It’s just those moments that you’ll always have.

ANDREA BARBER: Walking through the set, that’s when it hit most people. For John [Stamos] and for me. That was the trippiest moment, like, wow. We’re right back here.

Andrea, you left show business completely after Full House. Any hesitation about coming back for the spin-off?

BARBER: No hesitation whatsoever. My favorite part of Kimmy is that she’s retained enough of her quirkiness. I think if they’d toned her down and made her like a business person, it would have just killed the whole character. My favorite part is these little surprise nuggets that are going to come out throughout the season that you didn’t expect. Like in the first episode, we find out that Kimmy’s a seductress and knows the Kama Sutra and it’s like, this Kimmy Gibbler?

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What are each of your favorite things about your characters?

SWEETIN [TO ANDREA]: I love your ex husband (played by Juan Pablo Di Pace). But that’s me. That’s what I love about you.

CAMERON BURE: We’re all a little head over heels for him.

SWEETIN: He’s so funny.

CAMERON BURE: As the show goes on, you’ll see that D.J. has a lot of Danny Tanner qualities. She’s picked up Danny’s neuroses and she’s type A and she’s just very regimented and organized and she’s Danny Tanner. I didn’t expect her to grow up and see so much of her dad in her. It’s perfect.

SWEETIN: Stephanie is a little wild child. Kind of the Uncle Jesse. We’re making her a little bit edgy. I don’t think that’s a stretch from who she was as a kid. And I love that she and Kimmy, who have been at odds in some respect over the years, now have to kind of come together and work together.

BARBER: For sure.

SWEETIN [TO BARBER]: ‘Cause, one, you’re hilarious.

CAMERON BURE [TO BARBER]: You’re hilarious.

Tell us about the new child actors on the show who play D.J.’s sons and Kimmy’s daughter.

SWEETIN: My boyfriend [now fiancé, Justin Hodak] wants to adopt Max [8-year-old Elias Hargas].

BARBER: Coolest kid ever.

SWEETIN: Michael [Campion, 13] was hanging out in my trailer before the first audience taping, and he was like, ‘What is it like to shoot in front of a live audience? I’ve never done a TV show before.’ I told hmi it’s gonna be weird and overwhelming and exciting, but I know how it feels to be a kid on the show. Don’t worry. We’ve been there.

BARBER: The girl that plays Ramona [Soni Bringas] is like a 43-year-old in a 13-year-old’s body. So professional.

It must make you happy knowing how happy you’re making fans of the show with this revival.

CAMERON BURE: I think we’re in the same boat as the fans. We’re excited to do this for you.

SWEETIN: I think people’s heads are gonna explode. I really do. The level of anticipation is ridiculous.

BARBER: There’s such a feeling of gratitude. The fans come up to us and say thank you so much for doing this. And I’m like, don’t say thanks …

CAMERON BURE: Thanks for wanting it.

BARBER: Our fans are very loyal.

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