Never work with children or animals. That classic show-biz adage attributed to W.C. Fields has been around for decades, but not all entertainers care to heed the advice. Sure, kids and animals may be unpredictable, but for actors like Dave Coulier of "Full House" fame, they can also play a big role in a sitcom's success.
"We had all of that," Coulier tells "Oprah: Where Are They Now -- Extra" in the above video. "We had that just about every episode."
On the set of "Full House," Coulier played the comedic Uncle Joey and worked with many child actors during the family sitcom's eight-year run. Candace Cameron (D.J.) was 10 when the show started, Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie) was 5 and twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (Michelle) were babies. Personally and professionally, the cast was extremely close, but working with children did have its trying moments.
"It was difficult at times," Coulier admits. "Mary-Kate and Ashley were 8 months old when we started, so they could only be -- because of child labor laws -- on the set for a finite amount of time. And when you lost them, that was it. That's all you got. So, you had to get what you needed at that specific moment."
Desperate times, as they say, call for desperate measures. To help ensure that the Olsen twins would deliver perform within the limited window, Coulier and others would resort to bribing the girls with candy.
"We used to bribe them with gummy bears," he says. "That was a big deal. 'I'll give you a red gummy bear...' [They'd say], 'OK, you got it, dude.'"
As "challenging" as Coulier says it was, he and his other adult cast mates, specifically Bob Saget (dad Danny) and John Stamos (Uncle Jesse), found ways to keep spirits high on set by making the crew laugh and loosening themselves up during their own scenes. The trio may have been entertaining to some, but not everyone found their antics quite so charming.
"The three of us -- me, Bob and John -- we got in trouble a lot. From the moms," Coulier says. "What we didn't realize is that the kids are backstage and they have monitors in their rooms..."
In one particular incident, Coulier, Saget and Stamos were filming a scene that was proving rather difficult and, it seemed, everyone was in need of some comic relief.
"It was late. We had this scene [and] we couldn't get it. John, Bob and I had to walk around this van and come out, and I said, 'Let's just take our pants off,'" Coulier says.
That's exactly what they did.
"We walked around from the van and we're all standing there [pantless]. The crew's dying, and the producers -- everybody's cracking up," Coulier recalls. "About 30 seconds later, as we're slapping each other on the back [like], 'Yeah, that was funny! We made everybody laugh,' here comes Jodie Sweetin's mom, Candace Cameron's mom and Adria Later, who... was our teacher for the kids."
The three men quickly realized their pantless performance might have been seen on those backstage monitors.
"We're like, 'Oh, we're in trouble. We did it again,'" Coulier chuckles. "It was my idea to take our pants off. Sorry."
"Oprah: Where Are They Now -- Extra" is a digital series from the OWN show "Oprah: Where Are They Now?"
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.