by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki
Photo credit: Brendan Kownacki
Bob Saget, best known to many as the patriarch “Danny Tanner” on Full House, breezed through DC last week to promote his new book “Dirty Daddy” and discuss his journey through acting and comedy. Saget describes the book as being about “Death, comedy and his testicles” and was not shy to get a little candid and raw with his stories about what went into the book.
Saget took questions from the audience and reminisced about his former cast mates like John Stamos and Dave Coulier as well as dropping in a few remarks about the finale of How I Met Your Mother, where he has served as the narrator. Saget recognized that the ending has been a bit controversial and said that people “got really upset on the Twitter…” but said that he thought the story wrapped up appropriately and that it was the ending the characters deserved.
The actor turned author packed P.J. Clarke’s Sidecar with devoted fans old and new for a special book signing and short remarks about the new book. He explained that the book tour has left a contemplative feeling in him as he has traveled the country sharing the stories of family tragedy and the mentors who helped shape him as a young comic. Everything came down to balance and Saget said that is something he is constantly looking for, balancing just how much edge you can balance with humor.
He cited Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Pryor and Don Rickles as examples he looked to, to find that appropriate signature style as he was coming up in the business and dealing with tragedy like the death of his sister from scleroderma or even recently the death of his mother. All those experiences shaped how Saget is and above all, there’s always humor to be found in everything.
Saget’s penchant for curse words and racy material is a stark contrast from the squeaky clean family image he portrayed on Full House in the 1990s, but Saget says that was a part, so he acted, and that he prefers to pursue whatever material he finds funny at a given time.
