The New Normal Preview: John Stamos talks “Gaydar” 

We’ll be tuning into NBC’s The New Normal tonight because…well, let’s call it the John Stamos Factor. He’s guest starring on the Ryan Murphy-comedy, which is not that shocking considering the two have known each other for a long time. The former Full House actor did a guest star stint on one of Murphy’s other creations — a little show called Glee. You may have heard of it. Also starring in the episode called “Gaydar” is ex-soap star (and Kelly Ripa’s husband) Mark Consuelos.

Synopsis for “Gaydar“: When Shania (Bebe Wood) meets Rocky’s (NeNe Leakes) new crush, Chris (Mark Consuelos), she claims that her ‘gaydar’ is going off and that Chris might be more interested in men. Elsewhere, Jane (Ellen Barkin) is wondering if her fellow realtor, Brice (John Stamos), is just a fashionable guy or if he is into fashionable guys. Bryan (Andrew Rannells) decides to throw a dinner party that doubles as a Gay or Straight fact-finding mission. Meanwhile, David (Justin Bartha) is struggling with how the world will treat their future son. Georgia King also stars.

TV Goodness was part of a press conference call that featured the actor talking to reporters about his appearance on the show and why he doesn’t ever seem to age:

About working with Ryan Murphy

JOHN STAMOS: Ryan and I have had a great relationship for years. And, you know, when he asks me to do stuff, I do it because I’m proud of being on his shows. I’m proud of him. I knew him, you know, before all these big shows happened. You know, he came to me originally right after Full House with a show about three hookers that would fix marriages like Charlie’s Angels but they were hookers. And it was a little too much for me at the time. But looking back, I’m like wow. I should have done that. And then I know I’m probably one of five guys that say this but, you know, he offered me Nip/Tuck and I didn’t do that. And so after that when I was, you know what, when Ryan calls me, I’m going to do what he wants me to do because he’s ahead of – he’s way ahead of me like he knows what people want. And he knows how to push the envelope. He knows how to make people think. He knows how to make people think about themselves.

About taking the chance to get up close and personal with The New Normal star Ellen Barkin

STAMOS: I think it was our first show where we had to kiss. But we did the read through of the episode and I felt like we’re kind of cat and mousing each other and sort of, you know, circling each other. And I just – after the [retakes] I said to Ryan, I said, ‘What if I just grab in back of her hair and just make out, you know.’ And Ryan – and the whole room was silent – and then everybody looked at Ryan and then he said, ‘Oh my God. That’s a great idea.’

On clicking chemistry-wise with Barkin

STAMOS: Man, what an actress. We lock in, we look at each other’s eyes and then we just go and it’s been – it’s the easiest and seriously the fastest chemistry I’ve had with someone in a long time on television.

On playing a character whose sexuality isn’t immediately discernible

STAMOS:  I didn’t want to play into any of the stereotypes of whatever stereotypical things there are that people think of gay men and women. And I asked the director, too. I said, ‘I need some time to find this guy today because this is very important.’ Because that’s the point of the episode and maybe some of the overall themes of the show that you can’t just point to people and go you’re this, you’re that…And I wanted to get it right. And, thankfully, they gave me the right amount of time. And I really gave it a lot of thought because, you know, I care about it and I don’t want to be flip. I don’t want to be simple about it because it’s not.

On never aging

STAMOS: Truthfully, I’m very flattered when people say that. And you have to be careful to not like play into it because then you get this Peter Pan syndrome going on. Right. I’m 30. I can do anything. You know, I’m not. So I think good genes and, truthfully, I do take care of myself in a sense. What I do probably the most that – I mean if there’s any secret, I sleep a lot. I get a lot of sleep and, you know, rejuvenation. So I try to go to bed early.

The New Normal “Gaydar” premieres after Go On tonight at 9:30/8:30 on NBC.

Answers edited for continuity and space.