Posted on 02/02/2006 7:29:15 AM PST by Borges
Former Full House cutie Jodie Sweetin has earned herself a spot on the lengthy list of child stars gone wrong.
During an appearance on Good Morning America Wednesday, Sweetin, who played middle sister Stephanie Tanner on the hit sitcom, revealed that she is a recovering meth addict and once battled a daily drug habit.
The ex-actress, 24, said she had trouble figuring out how to adjust to a regular childhood existence after Full House ended its run in 1995.
"There is a certain sense of loss when a series ends," Sweetin said. "It is kind of hard to figure out who you are when you've lost your job at age 13, when that was basically how you identified yourself."
In an attempt to lead a "normal" kid's life, Sweetin attended high school and college, graduating with a degree in liberal arts. In 2002, she married a Los Angeles police officer.
Though she occasionally appeared in bit parts on TV series, including Party of Five and Yes, Dear, Sweetin's acting career essentially stalled after Full House.Two years ago, bored and unemployed, the former child star began experimenting with drugs as a way to pass the time.
She was soon addicted to methamphetamine and using the debilitating drug every day.
Though Sweetin stops short of blaming her addiction on her child star lifestyle, she concedes that her career may have stripped her of some of the benefits of a typical childhood.
"Growing up in the business you have to grow up very fast--you do have a different type of childhood, that has its benefits and it has its drawbacks," Sweetin said Wednesday.
After a particularly bad three-day bender, which reportedly resulted in an intervention staged by her former Full House costars, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, John Stamos and Bob Saget, Sweetin checked herself into Promises rehab facility for six weeks of intensive therapy.
Clean and sober since March of last year, Sweetin now admits she was "living a total double life."
"I was married to a police officer--we are going through a divorce right now--he had no idea," she said.
Since kicking her addiction, Sweetin says she now hopes to get back into acting.
"I want to make movies, TV series, wherever the career takes me," she said. "I really hope this isn't the last people hear of me. In fact, I would like to make this a footnote in my career, not the end."
It probably started with "The Honeymooners" Ralph Cramden's "One of these days, Alice..." and "Baby, you're the greatest." But you should blame The Fonz with "Heeeyyy..." After that, they all had to have catch phrases. Jimmy "J.J." Walker's "DY-NO-MITE!" and Arnold Drummond's "What You talkin' 'bout (insert name here)."
In the movie "A MIghty Wind" Fred Willard plays a character who was a bit actor on a long forgotten '70's sitom in which his catch phrase was: "Wha' Happened?" Of course his character thought it was a national hit and would use that catch phrase whenever he could. It was hilarious.
Anyway, I hate sitcom catch phrases too. However, the trend nowadays is increasingly annoying gay characters. So, pick your poison. Personally, "24" and "Lost" tend to be the only network T.V. shows I watch regularly. No catch phrases or annoying gay characters.
Sit on it, Cyclopean Squid.
Candace Cameron became HOT!
Wife and I went to see Walk the Line a week ago. It was essentially about the drug problems of Johnny Cash, and although it tried to end on a high note the effect on me was rue.It's hard to be sorry for having enjoyed his music, but the effect of that was his having gone on tour. And that exposed him to far more temptation - he himself would have said, this was essentially an autobiographical picture - than his character was up to. It was just a sad story, end it at whatever point you might choose. I guess he was just a manic personality.
Pink has a new video, and in it she spoofs the Olsen twins, one of whom always looks like a junkie these days. An emaciated junkie carrying a $10,000 handbag.
Jack Bauer does have a catch-phrase: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" He also has, "Chloe! I need this NOW!"
Point taken about the catch-phrase not being consigned to the 80s. As Larry Appleton would say, "Watch and learn. Watch...and learn." I will now do the Mypos Dance of Joy.
(Sigh...)
Middle child syndrome.
;-)
I really expected this article to be about dave coulier or bob saget.
(said in with a Balki accent): "Oh, don't be ridiculous..."
I hated that show. But watched it every Friday night. I was a kid. I was stupid. I always watched a lot of shows I hated: Full House being one. Saved By the Bell another. I guess I still do. I hate "Yes, Dear" but still watch reruns of it on the weekends.
It boggles my mind to think that Hollywood wonders why their box office receipts are going down the toilet!
My wife and I also noticed in past seasons that Tony ALemda never answered his phone saying "Hello," or "This is Tony" etc. He always said "Yeah," in a low, breathy voice.
Same here. But I remember liking them at the time. Only later did I realize I despised them. Family Matters and the machine that transfigured Steve Urkel into Steph-on Ur-kel. Ouch. And Saved by the Bell...wow. The high school years were bad enough. The Jr. High years with Miss Bliss were also terrible (and they took place in Indiana--how did the entire school and most of the students get transported to California?). The College years were wretched. But it did give rise to the term "Zack Morris cell phone," which almost made it worthwhile.
Not only did "Perfect Starngers" have the requisite catch phrases, but possibly, Balki was a closet homosexual. Thus the annoying gay charaacter factor as well. The hot stewardess was just a beard, ala Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise.
What did those hot stewardesses see in those two losers anyway? Especially Cousin Larry, that guy was a dork.
I am shocked that a child star has a drug problem. I am just shocked.
That's right! Saved By the Bell was "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" (and even stupider than Saved by the Bell) And Belding, Zach, Lisa, Screech and Kelly all moved from Indiana to California to "Bayside High". That's even worse than the two Darrens.
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