Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

'A Man On The Inside’ star Mary Elizabeth Ellis joins the show. Over ceviche and crudo, Mary Elizabeth tells me about her meet-cute with Charlie Day, which feels straight out of an early 2000s sitcom. Plus, we get into working with legends like Danny DeVito on ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ and Ted Danson on ‘A Man on the Inside.’ This episode was recorded at Ceviche Project in Silver Lake, C...

More of my interview with 'Abbott Elementary’ star Chris Perfetti. Chris tells me what it’s like getting recognized more often after Abbott, and we share experiences working on short-lived television shows. This episode was recorded at Roberta's in Studio City, CA.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Abbott Elementary’ star Chris Perfetti joins the show. Over oxtail pasta and bee sting pizza, Chris tells me about the evolution of his character Jacob, why they didn’t need to overexplain his sexual orientation, and w g his love of theater with a busy sitcom schedule. Plus, I recall a run-in with Chris at LAX, that now seems like it was a big turning point in his life. This episode was recorded...

More of my interview with ‘Modern Family’ star Eric Stonestreet. Eric tells me about a special surprise he planned for his now wife at their wedding. Plus, we laugh about ridiculous moments on set, like handling our fake baby doll version of Lily. This episode was recorded at Tony's Mexican Grill in Sherman Oaks, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Modern Family’ star Eric Stonestreet joins the show. Over enchiladas and guacamole, Eric tells me about meeting the love of his life while our show was on hiatus and his top-secret wedding that I didn’t even know about (until the last minute). We also get into his love of clowning, his development of the Fizbo character, and what he’s mad isn’t on his IMDB. This episode was recorded at Tony's Mex...

More of my interview with ‘Landman’ star Ali Larter. Ali tells me more about making the move to Idaho. We reminisce about early career auditions and our love for the kitchen. This episode was recorded at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Landman’ star Ali Larter joins the show. Over a seafood tower, Ali tells me about shooting on-location in Texas, how she met her husband (and fellow actor) Hayes MacArthur, and what Billy Bob Thornton hates to do on set. We also bond over the difficulties of raising kids as working actors, moving to Idaho with her family, and Ali tells me about the hoax Esquire cover that landed her first manager...

More of my interview with ‘The King of Queens’ star Patton Oswalt. Patton shares the story of proposing to his wife and how his first wife, the late true crime writer Michelle McNamara, played a role in identifying the Golden State Killer. This episode was recorded at Levant Bistro & Bake Shop in Echo Park, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Patton Oswalt joins the show. Over Lebanese egg pie and Mediterranean chicken, we talk about Patton's hilarious new standup special on Audible: ‘Black Coffee and Ice Water.’ We dissect a lot of things that make him laugh -- from his daughter’s dissection of the horror genre to AI’s bent toward racism. We also talk about falling in love after losing his first wife and how important it was...

This week, we revisit my conversation with my ‘Modern Family’ costar Rico Rodriguez joins the show. Over smashburgers, Rico tells me his original – very different – approach to Manny, who took him under his wing on set, and at what age he found out he made more than his allowance suggested. This episode was recorded at Heavy Handed in Studio City, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas...

‘The Last Frontier’ star Alfre Woodard joins the show. Over oysters, we talk about her extraordinary career—from her early days in Tulsa to the groundbreaking roles that made her one of the most respected actors of her generation. Alfre reflects on working with icons like Robert Altman and Maya Angelou, the confidence she carried into Hollywood, and why she’s never once waited for permission to be...

More of my interview with 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2' star Josh Hutcherson. Josh gets into braving LA highways on his vespa while filming 'The Kids are All Right', how he put life plans on hold for his role in HBO's 'I Love LA' and why directing is on his to-do list. This episode was recorded at Night + Market Song in Silverlake, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ star Josh Hutcherson joins the show. Over Thai iced teas and Pad Thai, Josh tells me about splitting his time between California and Spain, what he loves about living on the Eastside, and why the subtle trolling of the hipster LA enclave in the HBO Max series ‘I Love LA’ hits so close to home. We also bond over being senior dog dads, and he tells me how his acting caree...

More of my interview with 'Now You See Me, Now You Don't' star Justice Smith. We get into our experiences at high school reunions, we bond over our shared love of Martha Plimpton, who was his costar in the HBO Max series ‘Generation’ and more. This episode was recorded at Destroyer in Culver City, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Now You See Me, Now You Don’t’ star Justice Smith joins the show. Over chicken schnitzel and avocado confit, Justice tells me about his what it was like growing up with 8 siblings, how it was to be one of the only Black kids at a performing arts high school in OC, and how he found confidence — and clarity — around identity as he entered his 30s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...

‘Zootopia 2’ star Ginnifer Goodwin joins the show. Over meatballs and spicy fusilli, Ginnifer tells me about her chaotic ‘Big Love’ audition, preparing her kids for the Disney red carpet and her family’s little-known Hollywood history. This episode was recorded at Jon & Vinny’s in Studio City, California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Stranger Things’ star Gaten Matarazzo joins the show. Over sushi and cappuccinos (yes, really), we talk about his remarkable journey from child performer to seasoned Broadway star and Netflix favorite. Gaten shares what it was like to commute from New Jersey to perform in Les Misérables as a kid, the surreal audition process that led to his breakout as Dustin in ‘Stranger Things,’ and how it feel...

‘Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ star Meredith Marks. Over arugula salad, we hear her iconic relationship origin story with husband Seth Marks, her kids’ reaction to mom on reality TV, and what she’s learned to accept and not accept when it comes to drama with her costars. Plus, she shares what would lead her to leave the franchise. This episode was recorded at Bottega Louie in West Hollywood,...

‘Palm Royale’ star Allison Janney joins the show. Over taglionlini al limone, we get into the iconic ‘Primary Colors’ moment that led to playing CJ, how she shaped an iconic scene from ‘I, Tonya,’ playing opposite my friend Keri Russell in Netflix’s ‘The Diplomat,’ and we get some hints at what’s to come on this season of the Apple TV + series ‘Palm Royale,’ which she stars in alongside Kristen Wi...

‘Desperate Housewives’ star Teri Hatcher joins the show. Over crispy trout and ribeye tibs, we talk about her new ‘Desperate Housewives’ rewatch podcast, Desperately Devoted, which she co-hosts with her on-screen and real-life daughters. Teri opens up about revisiting Wisteria Lane with fresh eyes and how her 27-year-old daughter’s modern perspective reshapes her understanding of the series. We al...

‘Nobody Wants This’ star Jackie Tohn joins the show. Over plant-based Italian sandwiches, Jackie tells me how early rejection helped her develop her trademark resilience (and sense of humor) and she opens up about the wild ride of her career — from competing on ‘American Idol’ to starring in ‘GLOW’ and becoming a series regular on ‘Nobody Wants This’ with BFF Kristen Bell. Please cast her in ‘The...

Actor Lizzy Caplan joins the show. Over fried catfish and Chinese broccoli salad, we reminisce about our early days as castmates in the sitcom “The Class”—including the infamous table read she slept through—and how that period shaped both of our careers. Lizzy shares stories about growing up in Los Angeles, breaking out in “Mean Girls,” and finding her voice in beloved cult shows like “Party Down....

“Elsbeth” star Carrie Preston joins the show. Over a swordfish melt, Carrie reflects on building a career defined by versatility — from her Emmy-winning turn as Elsbeth Tascioni in “The Good Wife" and “The Good Fight” to her starring role in the hit CBS spinoff “Elsbeth.” She gives me the backstory of Elsbeth’s iconic display of handbags, and discuss working with Julia Roberts – twice. Plus, we ge...

Actor, comedian, and jazz singer Lea DeLaria joins the show. Over enchiladas and rosé, Lea reflects on a life of firsts — from becoming the first openly gay comic on American television with her legendary “Arsenio Hall Show” set, to stealing scenes as Big Boo on Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” We revisit our nearly 30-year friendship, beginning with playing lovers in Shakespeare in the Park’s...

'Murderbot’ star Noma Dumezweni joins the show. Over pumpkin curry and pad see ew, Noma reflects on the joy of finding success in mid-life and why it’s never too late to dream bigger than you imagined. She opens up about tough days growing up as a refugee in the UK, her unexpected and acclaimed turn (and Tony nominated role) as Hermione Granger in ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ and the lesso...