Full House Star Jodie Sweetin Reveals Surprising Residual Pay
Jodie Sweetin, best known for her role as Stephanie Tanner on the iconic ABC sitcom Full House, recently opened up about the unpredictable nature of residual payments from the show. The 44-year-old actress, who also appeared in the Fuller House Netflix sequel, shared that her most recent residual check was just one cent.
“I got a one-cent check the other day,” she said during an appearance on The McBride Rewind podcast. “There’s no syndication anymore because it’s all in streaming. Who gets paid for that? Nobody gets paid for that.”
Unpredictable TV Royalty Payments
Sweetin explained that her residual payments from Full House are far from what many people might expect. She noted that when she was younger, the checks were more frequent but still inconsistent.
“Sure, in my 20s, there would be money, but not reliable. You don’t know how much it’s going to be or how often they’re going to run the show,” she said. “Sometimes you’re like, ‘Oh, cool. That was nice.’ And then sometimes you’re like, ‘All right, well, there’s a nice dinner out.'”
She emphasized that these payments are not something she can rely on. “It’s not something you can rely on,” she added. “I’m like, ‘Honey, I drive my 2023 used Hyundai Sonata that I love. I rent my house. I have credit cards that are maxed out.’ I live a normal life.”
Sweetin also admitted that there are times when she feels the need to take on a day job. “And yeah, there are moments when you’re like, ‘This is going well.’ And there are times when you’re like, ‘I need a day job.'”
The Legacy of Full House
The original Full House aired for eight seasons before ending in 1995. The show followed a widower (played by Bob Saget) raising his three daughters with his brother-in-law (John Stamos) and close friend (Dave Coulier). A sequel, Fuller House, premiered on Netflix in 2016 and ran until 2020, featuring most of the original cast except for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
During the podcast, Sweetin was asked if she had any plans to return to the Full House world. “Oh, we always joke that it’ll be ‘Fuller Fullest House’ and we’ll just be ancient and the kids will be wiping our [backsides],” she joked. “But the actress added that she ‘will never say never to anything.'”
“If I got to come back in another 20 years and work with these people again, who I’ve known for my entire life, yeah, I would totally do that.”
The Impact of Full House
Sweetin reflected on the lasting impact of the show. “I love what Full House has done, and I love what it has created. I love what it means to people,” she said. “And I think as I’ve gotten to be an adult and lived a little more life, I understand just how important it is to have that thing that connects you to your younger, safer self.”
She continued, “And I know that Full House does that so, I’m thrilled to continue to do that in whatever way I can.”
Friends Cast Still Earns Massive Syndication Income
Meanwhile, fellow Friends alum Lisa Kudrow recently revealed that the cast still earns a staggering $20 million a year in residuals. Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay on the hit series, shared the news in an interview with The Times.
Kudrow, who is currently starring in a new season of The Comeback, noted that the cast’s earnings from syndication far exceed their pay for the show’s original run. “After Matthew died, I watched the show again. Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better, but for the first time I truly appreciated just how great it was,” she said.
Perry, who passed away at 54 in October 2023, was remembered as a genius. “Because there was a genius at work. And whatever any of us do in the future, we will never experience something like that again.”
She added, “I felt I did OK, but Jennifer and Courteney? Amazing. David and Matt? They had me laughing so hard. And then Matthew – he was just beyond us all.”
