Originally, Full House wasn't going to be the family-oriented sitcom it eventually became; here's why it was changed. Created by Jeff Franklin, the ABC sitcom ran for eight seasons from 1987 to 1995 and spawned a sequel spin-off in Fuller House, proving its enduring popularity. But the show almost got an entirely different premise that didn't involve the Tanner kids.
The sudden death of Danny Tanner's wife kicked off the events of Full House. Left to raise three young kids, his brother-in-law, Jesse, and best friend, Joey, moved into his San Francisco home to help the new widow raise his three young daughters. What was supposed to be a temporary thing lasted for years as his daughters, DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle developed a bond with their other two father figures. Even when Jesse got married to Becky and had children of his own, his new family remained in the house until the show ended.
Known for its heartwarming moments and more often than not realistic portrayal of the joys and pains of parenting, Full House has remained one of the most comforting sitcoms to rewatch, but it was almost very different. Jeff Franklin's initial idea for the show was to focus on three comics living under the same roof and tackle their shenanigans in a show titled House of Comics. When this was pitched to ABC, the network said they were more interested in a family-friendly show along the same lines of the successful Family Ties and The Cosby Show. This resulted in the series' creator changing course, incorporating the idea of kids into his story.
Franklin didn't fully abandon his original idea, however, by keeping Joey as an aspiring stand-up comic. In the earlier years of Full House, his arc mostly revolved around him attempting to make a name for himself while going on open mics, and, at one point, even joining a comedy tour. Eventually, however, that idea was dropped as he primarily reserved his jokes for the Tanner kids as well as Jesse and Danny. Since both Bob Saget and Dave Coulier already had a background in comedy before joining Full House, it's possible they were initially cast when House of Comics was still on Franklin's mind and he was still thinking of ways to incorporate it into the new direction. John Stamos, however, was more of a matinee idol at that point, although his background as a musician and his love of the Beach Boys was also incorporated right into the show. Of course, the biggest change was the Full House kids ,who really were the crowning glory of the show.
In hindsight, Franklin changing the premise for Full House was for the better. While it wasn't exactly a critical hit, Full House garnered high ratings, proving that it connected with its viewers and it could very well have something to do with its family-focused storylines. After all, raising kids is more relatable than a bunch of amateur comics living in one house.