Backstage with Bob

By Samantha Bishal, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Kayla Krause

“That’s my ‘c’ word.”  Now you stop that, he meant celebrity.  We all know what you were thinking, but the real Bob Saget is a pioneer (no pun intended) in Hollywood, who has emerged from sitcom to Broadway to absolute stardom.  Throughout his career, he has proved to be more than his most famous stereotype, Danny Tanner.  We grew up watching Full House eating dinner with our families and now we’re mixing drinks while watching Entourage on Sunday nights with our friends.  We’ve seen Saget evolve from the dust-busting, single father of three to a provocative, potty-mouthed perv. We even had the pleasure of sitting down with the man himself. 

Pioneer: How was your ride here?
Saget: Really effortless.  I was surprised.  We took the midtown tunnel. 
P: Is that a fortune [cookie]?
S: It is.  “Your sly nature will get you out of a tight spot.”  There it is. 
P: So what are you doing now? Traveling to colleges?
S: I’m on tour, where I perform at theatres and some colleges.  I also have a new series coming out on A&E, Decemeber 1st Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. They’re going to double run it because they dig it; it’s called Strange Days with Bob Saget. 
P: That sounds interesting.  What’s it about? 
S: I studied sub-cultures.  I did six shows so far. One of which I went on the road with a motorcycle club from Nashville to Daytona in a sidecar.  In another episode I look for Big Foot using infrared gear in the Pacific Northwest; I did Nacho Libre backyard wrestling I joined a frat at Cornell; I went to summer camp with 14-year olds – but that was just me personally.  It’s all subcultures that people don’t really know about. 
P: What kind of comedy show is it?
S: It’s documentary style comedy.  I’m not hosting or looking at the camera.  The dirty term I use for it is “c**kumentary.”  It’s a college paper; I can say that right?
P: Yup. 
S: But the tour I’m doing now will be going on until January or February. 
P: So, you’ve written, directed, acted, and produced.  What has been the most enjoyable?
S: Directing.  I like doing movies but that’s about a year of your life.  After Full House I directed for four years.  And then they offered me some off-Broadway stuff, a really cool play called Privilege.  Then I did Broadway a few years ago, a show called the Drowsy Chaperon. 
P: Now what would you like to do that you haven’t yet?
S: My texting is very good.  I get a lot of V.I.P texting.  Today’s John Mayer’s birthday actually.  But, yea, I am doing what I like to do now.  It’s like a privilege thing. 
P: Do you like performing at colleges?
S:  I love colleges.  I want to be here really bad.  No, no. Really bad. 
P: So would you say college students are your favorite audience?
S: Yea, definitely college students.  That’s my audience. They grew up watching the stuff I did and then followed the new stuff. 
P: The first time we saw you outside of Full House in Entourage and Half Baked, we were like “Whoa, is that Danny Tanner!”
S: Yes! Thank you!
P: So you liked working on Entourage?
S: Yea, they’re a great cast, a great group of people. I’m friends with all of them.
P: Would you say it’s a realistic plot?
S: Show business is worse. Way worse. They are so mean in show business.   Entourage is the soft version.
P: Where did you go to school?
S: Temple University. I was a film student and I actually won the Student Academy Award.
P: Wow! For what?
S: I made a documentary about my nephew who had reconstructive surgery, called Through Adam’s Eyes.  He narrated it; he was seven years old.  It was my junior project and the Academy flew me out to L.A.  I’ve always loved film.  That’s why I love the show I’m doing now.  Well you’ll see, because I’ll be a promo-hoe. 
P: So you always knew you wanted to be in film somehow?
S: I was nine when I picked up a camera. My dad was a meat guy, and the meat manager gave me an eight-millimeter camera so I shot film.
P: Do you Twitter a lot?
S: Yea I like Twitter.
P:  I feel like no one would follow me. You’re a celebrity; I’m not a celebrity. 
S: That’s always a bad word. To me, that’s the “c” word. It means the talent doesn’t come first.
P: What’s your next move?
S: I want to get into acting.  I think I’m good at it. 
P: We think so too. And, today, what do you consider yourself? An actor, a producer?
S: I’m a comedian.