Transformed and Reflective: Former Full House Star Blake McIver Ewing Opens Up
The Scholarly Note
EXCLUSIVE: Former Full House Child Star Opens Up About Life After Fame and The "Constant Process of Recovery"
It's been over two decades since Blake McIver Ewing first captured our hearts as Michelle Tanner's adorable best friend, Derek S. Boyd, on the beloved sitcom Full House. But now, at 40 years young, he's all grown up - and we're not just talking about his physical appearance.
The former child star sat down for a rare and revealing interview with his former costars Jodie Sweeten and Andrea Barber on their popular podcast How Rude, Tanneritos, and let's just say it was a wild ride. With his signature wit and charm, Blake dished out all the tea on what it's like to be thrust into the spotlight at such a young age - and how he's still dealing with the aftermath all these years later.
But first, let's talk about the elephant in the room: Blake's transformation from pint-sized Derek to... well, not-so-pint-sized Blake. Fans couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the grown-up version of the boy who used to steal our hearts with his adorable singing voice and charming smile. We're talking a whole new level of dashing, folks!
When asked about what it was like being a child star, Blake got real with his listeners. "I don't look at child stardom as a negative thing," he said, "but I feel like I'm in a constant process of recovery from my early years in the spotlight." Ouch! Sounds like someone's still dealing with some serious emotional baggage.
Jodie Sweeten, who played middle Tanner daughter Stephanie on the show, chimed in with her own experience. "Being in the spotlight as a teenager is tough enough," she said. "But when you're thrust into it at such a young age... it's like there's this extra layer of pressure to figure out who you are and what your place in the world is." We couldn't agree more, Jodie!
Blake nodded in agreement, admitting that being a child star was indeed an "identity crisis" of sorts. "And I always try to explain to people," he said with a chuckle, "you have your mid-career crisis at 18. It's like, 'Who am I now? What do I want to be when I grow up?'"
After Full House, Blake went on to star in several other projects, including The Little Rascals and Tom and Huck. He also lent his voice to the beloved animated series Hey Arnold! as Eugene Horowitz - a character we still love to this day.
But let's get to the juicy stuff: what happened after child stardom? Well, folks, Blake got creative. He released his debut album The Time Manipulator in 2014 and even went on tour to promote it (we're guessing those concerts were totally lit). But wait, there's more! He also spent time working as a go-go dancer - because why not, right?
Of course, no interview would be complete without some talk of Fuller House. Blake revealed that he briefly reprised his role as Derek in the show's revival series and even performed Yankee Doodle Boy (that iconic school talent show song) at one point.
And, as if that wasn't enough, fans still can't get enough of Blake's Full House days. "People will come up to me and say, 'Hey, remember when you sang Yankee Doodle Boy on the show?'" he said with a laugh. "It is an honor, and I'm glad it still brings people joy."
So what's next for this former child star turned adult entertainer? Only time (and Blake's own words) will tell. But one thing's for sure: we can't wait to see what the future holds for this talented guy.
In related news, Jodie Sweeten shared a sweet message on social media after the podcast episode dropped. "It was so great catching up with my old friend @BlakeMcIverEwing and chatting about our Full House days," she wrote. "Life is full of ups and downs, but it's always amazing to connect with those who understand what we've been through."
