John Stamos Reveals First Reaction When Pitched Early 'Grandfathered' Title: 'F-ck You'

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Image

John Stamos told TV critics on Thursday that Fox’s “Grandfathered” is “the show I’ve been waiting for for 10 years.” But the topic of being a grandpa is still a little tough for the sex symbol to take — as is the show’s title.

“I remember the first call I got, was, ‘What do you think of ‘Grandpa’?” he remembered for reporters during the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour panel.

“What do you think of ‘fuck you?'” Stamos said he replied, drawing big laughter from those in attendance.

Also during his Beverly Hilton ballroom stage time, the “Fuller House” star described his “Grandfathered” character as “like a George Clooney before he turned against everything he believed in and got married.”

Also Read: John Stamos Heckles Rob Lowe During 'Grinder' Panel: 'Tell the Truth!'

Grandpa or not, Stamos is proof that 50 is the new 40 — if not younger. He saw this an opportunity to positively portray his aging peers on broadcast TV.

“I remember thinking about watching television when I was a kid, and a 50-year-old guy was like Abe Vigoda,” Stamos quipped.

He hopes the new show is his “chance to change things.”

“I think everybody with a great, healthy attitude is sort of looking great these days at this age,” Stamos concluded the age-related portion of the panel.

Also Read: 'Scream Queens

Though this was Stamos’ only TCA stage time, the actor and Dannon Oikos pitchman inserted himself into the fun a few minutes before his actual turn. One panel earlier, during a panel for “The Grinder,” Stamos jokingly heckled fellow middle-aged handsome new Fox sitcom star Rob Lowe.

“As a founding member of Jimmy Kimmel’s Handsome Men’s Club, Stamos has been up for membership,” Lowe had said on stage of his new channel-mate. “So far the board hasn’t voted him in. Sting is really lobbying hard for him. David Beckham has blackballed him every time he’s gotten close.”

As Lowe continued, Stamos, who was up next, shouted from the back of the room, “Rob tell the truth! We’ve dated for years!” drawing laughs from the press.

Fox should hope that the two stars are as funny on their new shows as they were on stage.

“Grandfathered” premieres Tuesday, Sep. 29 at 8 p.m. on Fox. “The Grinder” debuts immediately afterward at 8:30.

TheWrap's TV Stars and Showrunners Exclusive Portraits (Updating Photos)

Taraji P. Henson, "Empire"
Grace Gealey, "Empire"
Kaitlin Doubleday, "Empire"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Kaitlin Doubleday, "Empire"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Martin Starr, Kumail Nanjiani, Thomas Middleditch and Zach Woods, "Silicon Valley"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Martin Starr, Kumail Nanjiani, Thomas Middleditch and Zach Woods, "Silicon Valley"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Thomas Middleditch, "Silicon Valley"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Thomas Middleditch, "Silicon Valley"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Kumail Nanjiani, "Silicon Valley"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Kumail Nanjiani, "Silicon Valley"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Zach Woods, "Silicon Valley"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Zach Woods, "Silicon Valley"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Jussie Smollett, "Empire"
Jussie Smollett, "Empire"
Jussie Smollett, "Empire"
Yael Grobglas, "Jane The Virgin"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Yael Grobglas, "Jane The Virgin"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Justin Baldoni, "Jane The Virgin"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Justin Baldoni, "Jane The Virgin"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Jaime Camil, "Jane The Virgin"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Jaime Camil, "Jane The Virgin"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Travis Van Winkle, "The Last Ship"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Travis Van Winkle, "The Last Ship"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Suzanne Cryer, "Silicon Valley"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Suzanne Cryer, "Silicon Valley"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Elvis Nolasco, "American Crime"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Elvis Nolasco, "American Crime"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Richard Cabral, "American Crime"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Richard Cabral, "American Crime"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
"American Crime" creator John Ridley
Dan Busta/TheWrap
"American Crime" creator John Ridley
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Anthony Mendez, "Jane The Virgin"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Anthony Mendez, "Jane The Virgin"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Kether Donohue, "You're The Worst"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Kether Donohue, "You're The Worst"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Stephen Bishop, "Being Mary Jane"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Stephen Bishop, "Being Mary Jane"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Sasha Alexander, "Rizzoli & Isles"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Sasha Alexander, "Rizzoli & Isles"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Richard Brancatisano, "Chasing Life"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Richard Brancatisano, "Chasing Life"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Joelle Carter, "Justified"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Joelle Carter, "Justified"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Joe Morton, "Scandal"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Joe Morton, "Scandal"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Titus Welliver, "Bosch"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Titus Welliver, "Bosch"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Jason Gedrick, "Bosch"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Jason Gedrick, "Bosch"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Beth Riesgraf, "Complications"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Beth Riesgraf, "Complications"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Breeda Wool, "UnREAL"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Breeda Wool, "UnREAL"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Christopher Larkin, "The 100"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Christopher Larkin, "The 100"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Cas Anvar, "The Expanse"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Cas Anvar, "The Expanse"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
"Modern Family" Producer Chris Lloyd
Dan Busta/TheWrap
"Modern Family" Producer Chris Lloyd
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Elaine Hendrix, "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Elaine Hendrix, "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Erica Ash, "Survivor's Remorse"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Erica Ash, "Survivor's Remorse"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
RonReaco Lee, "Survivor's Remorse"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
RonReaco Lee, "Survivor's Remorse"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
RonReaco Lee and Erica Ash, "Survivor's Remorse"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
RonReaco Lee and Erica Ash, "Survivor's Remorse"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Ethan Embry, "Grace and Frankie"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Ethan Embry, "Grace and Frankie"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
"The Thirteen" Executive Producer Jim Agnew
Dan Busta/TheWrap
"The Thirteen" Executive Producer Jim Agnew
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Michael Nouri, "The Slap"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Michael Nouri, "The Slap"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
John DeLuca, "Twisted"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
John DeLuca, "Twisted"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Bryshere "Yazz the Greatest" Gray, "Hakeem"
Bryshere "Yazz the Greatest" Gray, "Hakeem"
Donovan W. Carter, "Ballers"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Donovan W. Carter, "Ballers"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Kaitlyn Dever, "Last Man Standing"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Kaitlyn Dever, "Last Man Standing"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Danny Strong, Co-Creator and Showrunner "Empire"
Aileen Chaiken, Showrunner "Empire"
Keean Johnson, "Nashville"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Keean Johnson, "Nashville"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
"Power" producer Courtney Kemp Agboh
Dan Busta/TheWrap
"Power" producer Courtney Kemp Agboh
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Lauren Stamile, "Complications"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Lauren Stamile, "Complications"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Marc Bendavid, "Dark Matter"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Marc Bendavid, "Dark Matter"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Stephen Monroe Taylor, "Texas Rising"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Stephen Monroe Taylor, "Texas Rising"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Patrick Fabian, "Better Call Saul"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Patrick Fabian, "Better Call Saul"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Pooch Hall, "Ray Donovan"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Pooch Hall, "Ray Donovan"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Kerris Dorsey, "Ray Donovan"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Kerris Dorsey, "Ray Donovan"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Steven Bauer, "Ray Donovan"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Steven Bauer, "Ray Donovan"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Robert Bailey Jr., "The Night Shift"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Robert Bailey Jr., "The Night Shift"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
"The Amazing Race" producer Bertram van Munster
Dan Busta/TheWrap
"The Amazing Race" producer Bertram van Munster
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Robert Michael Morris, "The Comeback"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Robert Michael Morris, "The Comeback"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Glynn Turman, "House of Lies"
Dan Busta/TheWrap
Glynn Turman, "House of Lies"
Dan Busta/TheWrap