John Stamos and Maria Menounos Nearly Dated Thanks to Nia Vardalos! How Their Big Fat Greek Date Went Wrong

“We could have been…” Menounos joked

John Stamos nearly had a big fat Greek wedding of his own! 

During an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark on Thursday, Aug. 8, the actor opened up to Mark Consuelos about his longtime friendship with guest-host Maria Menounos, revealing that he initially thought romance was in the cards for them. 

It’s the first time Stamos admitted that to a surprised Menounos, telling her, “I have a funny story about you I don’t think you know about.” 

Turns out, he first heard about Menounos through mutual friend Nia Vardalos, the scribe and star of the hit franchise, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. 

Related: Nia Vardalos Reveals the Sweet Way She Met Her Boyfriend: ‘Like I Wrote a Movie and Walked Into It’ (Exclusive)

Related: Kerry Washington Recalls How 'Comic Genius' John Stamos Helped Add 'Life' to UnPrisoned's Family Therapy Scenes (Exclusive)

“This was many, many years ago,” said Stamos, 60, explaining it was before he knew Menounos, 46. “[Nia] says, ‘You got to meet my friend Maria…. She’s beautiful, she’s smart, she’s Greek. And I’m going to set you up with her.’ “ 

Stamos was enthusiastic, giving Vardalos, 61, the go-ahead. But when Menounos showed up to a group dinner Vardalos had arranged, the Full House actor quickly learned it wasn’t going to work out. 

“We all go to dinner — me, Nia, our friend Neil. We get there early. And Maria walks in… with her boyfriend Keven," Stamos recalled. "She says, ‘Hi everybody, this is my boyfriend!’“

Of course, fans know Keven as Keven Undergaro, Menounos' husband. She married the writer, film producer and creator of AfterBuzz TV in 2017. They share a daughter Athena, born last July via surrogate. 

But Undergaro’s appearance threw Stamos for a loop. “We were like, ‘What? This is a fix up!’ he said. “We kicked each other under the table so hard.” 

Menounos was shocked hearing the story. “I never knew this,” she said. “I know we went to dinner but Nia didn’t tell me anything.” 

“Wow, we could have been…” she joked. “My dad is here and he did want me to marry a Greek. And I think you’re the ultimate Greek…”

Related: Maria Menounos Recalls NYE Wedding Where Husband Keven Opened the Ceremony by Saying 'Baba Booey' (Exclusive)

Stamos has since settled down himself, marrying wife, Caitlin McHugh in February 2018 — two months before they welcomed their son, Billy. But, the actor later shared that his affection for Menounos as a friend hasn’t wained.

“I’ve known you now for what, almost 15 years now? And I want say, I’m very proud of you,” he told her. “The way you conduct yourself is amazing. You’re a good Greek American. You’re a good mother. You’re great on the show. I mean it, and I am proud of you.” 

“Oh my God, that means so much to me. Thank you,” she said afterwards. “That made me cry.”

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Elsewhere on Live, Stamos talked about his ongoing tour with The Beach Boys, his affection for Full House and promoted his role opposite Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo in Hulu’s UnPrisoned.

“They just let me play,” Stamos said. “I’m at a point in my career where, for awhile now I got back to just being fearless and not watching myself and thinking about myself.” 

Season 2 of UnPrisoned is streaming now on Hulu. Live with Kelly and Mark airs weekdays in syndication (check local listings).

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