Share and Follow
Warning: Spoilers ahead for “Paradise” Season 2, Episode 3 — “Another Day in Paradise”
The political thriller series “Paradise” on Hulu invites viewers into a world of intrigue and mystery, evolving from a high-stakes political drama into a post-apocalyptic saga. At the heart of the story is the assassination of former President Cal Bradford, played by James Marsden. The narrative unfolds largely through the eyes of Secret Service agent Xavier Collins, portrayed by Sterling K. Brown. Known for his role in “This is Us,” Brown brings depth to the complex web of relationships and tensions that led to this pivotal event. While his casting was anticipated, the involvement of a “Full House” alumnus in the show’s creation certainly raised eyebrows.
Unexpectedly, Scott Weinger, famously known for his role as Steve Hale, D.J. Tanner’s boyfriend on “Full House” and “Fuller House,” is one of the writers and co-executive producers of “Paradise.” This venture marks a significant shift from his previous comedic roles. Weinger joined the project after being approached by creator Dan Fogelman, who knew of Weinger’s interest in speculative themes. “He probably knew that I would get excited theorizing about how the world would end,” Weinger explained in an interview with Yahoo! He elaborated, “He knew that I would be intellectually curious about all these things.” This curiosity has led Weinger to dive deep into developing some of the series’ most enigmatic characters, though his path to “Paradise” was anything but instantaneous.
As it turns out, Scott Weinger, who played D.J. Tanner’s (Candace Cameron Bure) boyfriend Steve Hale on “Full House” (and later on “Fuller House”), is a writer and co-executive producer on “Paradise.” It’s a giant departure from his many goofy roles, but he was excited to join the project when creator Dan Fogelman approached him. “He probably knew that I would get excited theorizing about how the world would end. What is it like? How do you build a city in a bunker? All these nerdy questions,” Weinger told Yahoo!, adding, “He knew that I would be intellectually curious about all these things.” That curiosity has sent Weinger down rabbit roles that explore the most mysterious of characters, but getting to “Paradise” was not an overnight journey for him.
How Paradise’s creator shaped Scott Weinger’s writing career
Disney/Brian Roedel
“Full House” developed a hardcore fanbase during its time on air, turning Scott Weinger into a household name. However, he chose to put his acting career on hold for college. After four years out of the spotlight, he returned to Hollywood with the goal of becoming a writer. “I started, literally, by bringing somebody coffee and handing out scripts,” he told Yahoo! His path eventually crossed with Dan Fogelman, who gave him his first writing credit on his debut series (the WB sitcom “Like Family”) in 2003. Fogelman later hired Weinger for his ABC comedy shows “The Neighbors” and “Galavant,” and he would turn to him once more when “Paradise” came around.
With “Paradise,” Weinger has proved that he can handle drama, especially with the Season 1’s “Agent Billy Pace.” The episode shows Billy’s (Jon Beavers) backstory before ending with his murder. Weinger told Variety that, despite the somber ending, most of the episode focuses on themes that fans already associate him with, including the joy of young love. “We’ve got a lot of things that I’ve written plenty of times, but put through a fun-house mirror of crazy drama and a crazy situation and really violent, sinister things happening,” he said.
Weinger has also contributed to “Paradise” Season 2, which proves to be emotionally potent. He deeply examines tech billionaire Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond (Julianne Nicholson) in “Another Day in Paradise,” penning an episode that tells the backstory of “Paradise” while helping us connect emotionally to a stone-cold character. It proves just how good Weinger is at character examination while getting fans excited about what will come next. Viewers are certainly enjoying what he’s bringing to the show: Both of Weinger’s “Paradise” episodes to date are ranked in the top ten on IMDb.