"Talking With Scott Weinger"

Scott with "Full House" co-star, Candace Cameron-Bure.

We interviewed 17-year-old actor Scott Weinger who stars as Steve on the ABC-TV show "Full House," at the Paramount Hotel in Manhattan recently. Scott plays DJ's boyfriend. Before joining the "Full House" cast, he was the voice of Disney's Aladdin in the movie "Aladdin." The new cartoon series, "Aladdin" is coming to TV this Fall and Scott will be Aladdin's voice once again. We enjoyed talking with him.

Q. Were you a fan of the show before you started working on it?
A. Of course, I have a dozen Michelle dolls at home. The show is always on in my house. I knew everything about the show before I joined the cast.

Q. Do you have steady girlfriend and does she get mad when you kiss DJ on "Full House"?
A. Yes. And, yes, sometimes if it looks like we are having too much fun.

Q. Do you have a favorite episode?
A. My favorite from last year was the prom one. My favorite one from this season was when I got my own apartment.

Q. How did you get the part?
A. It wasn't hard at all. They called me and asked me if I wanted to do it.

Q. The character you play is entering college this fall. What are your real life plans?
A. I am probably going to work on "Full House" for the rest of this year and maybe next year. If I don't, then I am going to Harvard in the fall.

Q. What makes your show different from real life?
A. Every show ends with a moral and a hug. We try to make it so really, really little kids and adults can like it, too.

Q. Was there a time you wanted to quit?
A. I got to work one day and I saw John Stamos had cooler hair than me, so I left. No, I'm kidding, I never wanted to quit. When I got accepted to Harvard I was itching to go, but now I am glad I waited.

Q. Is it disruptive working with two sets of twins?
A. I wouldn't mind so much if their cigarette smoke wasn't blowing in my face, just kidding. It isn't difficult at all. Ashley and Mary Kate are very professional. They have been working since they were nine months old. Blake and Dylan are getting a good idea of what is going on. They know it is a play show.

Q. How did you get the part of Aladdin?
A. I had to audition. That took a long time. I read for them and they showed me pictures of Aladdin and he looked much different then, much younger. They called me back a bunch of times and I found out six months later they liked me.

Q. What did you have to rehearse more - "Aladdin" or "Full House"?
A. Definitely "Aladdin." I would go into the studio and do the same line ("Carpet, let's move!") thousands and thousands of times. Then they would call me later and have me do it a thousand more times. "Full House" we make in four days.

Q. How does it feel knowing that your voice of Aladdin will be loved by kids for so many years?
A. The movie was so successful, and I think it is great. Doing a Disney film is doing a classic.

Q. Did you get to work with Robin Williams?
A. We had one long recording session together because he is a tough guy to get a hold of. It was great working with him. He came in and was calm and quiet. As soon as the tape started rolling he went crazy and became the Robin Williams we know in the movies. I fell on the floor from laughing so hard.

by Jenna Caporaso, Leigh Trucks, and Andrew Pompa
Newsday, February 27,1994