Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Aubrey Anderson Emmons

Episode Date: June 18, 2024

"Modern Family" star Aubrey Anderson Emmons joins the show. Over gnocchi and fried squash blossoms, Aubrey tells me what it was like growing up on the set of "Modern Family," favorite memories from filming together, and how she's rediscovered her love for acting. This episode was recorded at Casalena in Woodland Hills, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Hi, it's Jesse Today on the show you know her as my daughter Lily Tucker Pritchett on Modern Family It's Aubrey Anderson Emmons But what I find crazy is now that I'm like on social media and whatever People tag me and in all these edits or things like the blooper reels of us, like saying funny stuff. I'm like, oh my God, I don't remember any of this.

This is Dinners On Me, and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. So I guess it feels weird to say that I met my guest today when she was four years old. It feels weird. It feels even weirder to say that I met my guest today when she was four years old. It feels weird. It feels even weirder to say that I worked with her when she was four years old. But that's literally the case with Aubrey Anderson Emmons.

So many of the memories I have with Aubrey on set during Modern Family, mirror memories that I'm making with my own children. Singing a bushel and a peck from Guys and Dolls to calm them when they're upset. Flying them around like a helicopter to get from point A to point B faster. Putting on silly voices when I read stories to them to make them laugh. I like to think I learned a little bit of my parenting skills from being a TV dad for

11 years. I feel so lucky to have been a part of a cast that has stayed close even after our show ended its last episode. And I love that Aubrey's mom Amy always makes sure that I know when her school plays are so that I can attend them if I'm in town. At almost 17, Aubrey is the youngest person I've had on this podcast. And I was so excited to hear her share her perspective on being a part of a major hit sitcom since the age of four. And every time I see her, I realize how quickly time is passing. I was maybe gonna drive myself, but I didn't. Oh yeah?

Yeah. I cannot believe you're driving now. I brought Aubrey to Casalina, a coastal Mediterranean restaurant in the Valley. Folks familiar with Ventura Boulevard might remember its previous life as the Villa restaurant or Laotreque before that. Siblings Brandon, Chloe, and Tyler McConnie grew up at this restaurant. Their dad built the building in 1982 and they celebrated important moments of

their childhood there. And last year they completely transformed the space and reopened it as Casalina. We feel like we're sitting in the middle of an architectural digest spread. I mean, this place has trees indoors and its sunken garden patio makes you feel like you're in the Amalfi Coast or French Riviera. But of course, I was curious about the food. Casalina's menu draws inspiration from Spain and Italy, and its executive chef Lobo Leon did stints at The Rose in Venice and Cento Plastibar in Mid City. Aubrey and I are both Valley Brats and love trying new food.

I mean, she even has a YouTube channel devoted to it. So I thought it would be the perfect place to catch up with my TV daughter. Okay, let's get to the conversation. How was school? Um, today it was kind of lame. Why? Um, like they had like the speaker come in and do a thing on college yesterdays, but I'm actually not going to college probably.

Okay. I figured out. Do you want to go to a performing arts college? Do you want to, what's your plan for after high school? So basically, even my college counselor, she is just kind of like, honestly, Aubrey, you don't really need to go to college if you wanted to go for theater or acting.

And I've asked some other mentors and some actor people who have been to college, and they said, some of them said go, because you might be lonely if you don't. Right. But it is a lot of money. Yeah. And that's a lot of time. I mean, do you think that you might be lonely if you don't. Right. But it is a lot of money. Yeah. And that's a lot of time.

I mean, do you think that you would want to continue acting? I mean, yeah. I was wondering for a while you were like, no more. Yeah, I was like no more for like so, so long. Like once like right after quarantine hit, Modern Family ended and then there was jobs for nobody. Yeah, exactly. And then I've actually haven't,

I hadn't gone into an in-person audition since COVID hit. And that Disney audition that I did, I went in there and I read it and there was like three people in the room and like it was so quick and they didn't ask me any questions. And I walked out and I was like, oh my God, did they hate me?

But I think they were going through everybody really quick. And I was like, this is the first in-person audition that I had. And it was like this. It's so fast, I know. It was kind of disappointing. Totally. I auditioned, if you could believe it or not,

for Olaf in Frozen. You did? I did. That's so funny. And Josh Gad, who ended up doing it, who did an episode of Modern Family. I remember. He, of course, got it.

And the other people in the waiting room were like, Jim Parsons, like huge stars. But that's not to say, I mean, I was up against people who I consider my peers, who I consider massive talents, who work nonstop and Jim, I remember him being like, oh, that was one of the weirdest auditions I've ever had because it happened so fast and it was the same thing. I went in, I sang, I did my thing and they were like,

I don't even think they said thank you, bye bye. It was just like, the door opened as a cue for me to leave the room and I was like, okay, I sang, I did my thing, and they were like, I don't even think they said thank you, bye bye. It was just like, the door opened as like a cue for me to leave the room. And I was like, okay, I guess that's it. Yeah, like it just feels weird when like they're not really like talking to you and they're just like, thanks. And then they like, you know.

I know, it's so strange. It's so, so bizarre. Speaking of auditions, I mean, do you remember your audition for Modern Family? I remember a little bit. At the time, like obviously I couldn't really read because I was like, basically three just turned four. I think you were almost four.

Yeah, almost four when I started doing the audition for the show. And yeah, my mom would just feed me the limes. Then the first audition, I don't necessarily remember. I remember doing the chemistry review though. With me, right, right. Yeah. Right, because, so a lot of people,

and you talked about this on one of your recent TikToks, but a lot of people don't realize that Lily was played by twins in the first two seasons. Ella and Jaden are their names. And they were really lovely. And I, but I remember how hard it was for them to actually be on set. Like they were really lovely little girls.

And like the minute they got on set, they just got really, they shut down and they obviously didn't want to be there. So it was this decision that was made to like, let's look for a permanent Lily and we can go a little older and like really grow with this person. And then they said, you know, would you come in and meet with a few of the candidates

for Lily. I think you were the third person I read with. I was like, that's it. That's it. She's adorable. She's so great. You knew all your lines. You were sweet with me. I just remembered, you're like, oh, this is fun now because we can have our daughter in the show

participate now. Like, she's gonna be able to do lines, so it was so exciting. Hi. My name's Mackenzie, I'll be taking care of you. Thanks, Mackenzie. Thank you, Mackenzie. Of course.

Most of our dishes are gonna be mostly family-friendly, so it's basically means that everybody likes to share, so our dishes are prepared to share. Okay. Yes, please, that'd be great, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, you can take our wine glasses. I don't think we're drinking wine,

but it's crazy, Aubrey, because Becket is your age now when you started. And I can't even fathom him doing that. Becket's gonna be a teenager one day. Isn't that crazy? I know, that does make me think, okay, he's gonna be your age before I know it because this went so fast.

You knew you growing up. Thank you. What are your recommendations and your favorites? So for starters, I would definitely recommend the stretch of pela. That's gonna be a popular one, as well as the squash balsam. And if we do like fish,

I'd actually recommend this hamachi. You love sushi, right? I do love sushi. Thinly sliced yellowtail's gonna have the Toronto. You guys come with the sauce on the side, the balsam sauce. We have things to discuss. Yes.

Can I get any drinks started? I can give you another. Could I do this cucumber grapefruit situation? Definitely. I'm good, I'll just take my water. Yeah, of course. I'll just take my water from here. Yeah, of course, I'll be right back with that. Okay, wait, let's talk food.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. What sounded good to you? Dude, I'm so indecisive. Are you? Okay. I think you should definitely get the matcha crudo. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you like sushi. Have you had squash blossoms before?

No, I haven't. Do you want to try them? Sure. They're good, they're really delicious. I kind of would do that from the starters. I've heard the gnocchi here is good. Okay. I might do the sweet corn agno-lodi and then you can have some of mine if you want to try

it. Sweet. Sounds good to me. Perfect. We figured it out. Yay. What was I saying? Oh, but yeah, so it's like I just think about you in that phase of your life

knowing that now that I have a son who is that age, and I just kind of can't believe now that I have a real true reference point of like what kids are going through at that age. It is crazy to think that that's when you started a full-time job. Would you ever want Beckett to be in the acting industry? It's interesting, people ask me that,

and I think that I want him to do what he wants to do, but I I don't think he would be good at it at this age. Like I remember one of the first First scenes you did you like had a really hard time figuring out why we kept doing things over and over and over and you were getting like yeah impatient and I was like you and Ed O'Neill were the two impatient ones. I mean the famous quote of Ed is like he's like you and Ed O'Neill were the two impatient ones. I mean, the famous quote of Ed is like, he's like, you can only use one or I think you got it. And like, you know, like have a speedy day. But I think for Beckett, that's what would be really hard is like knowing that he had to do it multiple times.

Like he would be like, I'm done. I'm not doing this anymore. Yeah, I didn't know what I was getting myself into at the four years old. Not at all. And I remember my mom being very, very hesitant for me to do this audition. Oh, interesting. And cause she's an actor and she's a comedian. And I remember my mom being very, very hesitant for me to do this audition. Interesting.

And cause she's an actor and she's a comedian. And... Okay. We're gonna do the squash blossoms, the hamachi kudo. Oh yeah. The gnocchi. The gnocchi.

And I'm gonna do the agnoloti. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you. But yeah, my mom kind of like her agency, her agent was like yeah just like see if she would like want to and it's like how do you know before your wants to do that? Yeah. So my mom like asked me and my like legitimate was four-year-old response was like yeah I want to be like SpongeBob like I want to be on TV. I literally mentioned SpongeBob. And yeah, it was very foreign to me. So she, because I'm sure like you don't remember

a lot of this, you know, early stuff. Mm, not necessarily. But what I find crazy is now that I'm like on social media and whatever, people tag me in like all these edits or like things like the blooper reels of us. Yes, yes, yes, yes. I'm like, oh my God, I don't remember any of this. It's like seeing like home video of like myself when I was a kid.

Like I wouldn't remember those specific moments. And then it's being shared to the world. I mean, there was a very famous blooper. It's probably one of the best bloopers that we have on the entire show. I believe it was your first day. It was definitely your first week. Oh, I know which one you're talking about. Of course, yeah.

Where Sophie is holding you and you walk into the kitchen, you see me and Eric and you just out of the blue say, we saw you guys on Modern Family. Yep. And we all of course crack up. So your mom must have shown you like episodes to be like, this is what you're going to do for like a point of reference. I feel like also in the early days, you would call me by my character name just to sort

of like remember that that was who I was. You don't really like think about like what's real and what's not. Well, this was another funny thing you said. I do remember this was your very first scene. The sets of the house, I mean, they look so real on screen. They do. The pilot was shot in a real house,

but then we recreated these real homes on a soundstage. So, you know, it's easier for cameras to shoot. Windows are made bigger so that, you know, you can get shots in different ways. There's no ceiling. But there's no ceiling so that lights can be hung. Yeah, that was the biggest thing. I remember like, why the fuck is there no ceiling?

Like, when I was a kid. So I remember that we were shooting a scene, and I remember we were in the dining room of the Mitch and Cam house, and you looked up at the ceiling and all you could see were like lights. And then beyond that, like, so much space before like there's a catwalk like at the very top of the soundstage and then you look back at me and you said are you real

people because you live in a fake house? Yeah. And I was like that is such a deep and also like brilliant question and you were Thor which I think is just such a deep question. I mean I think it just must be confusing if you're just like there. Totally, yeah. I mean, yeah, if we were in a world where TV didn't exist, that's how I thought of it. Like, you know, TV and like back time stuff

didn't really make sense to me. And do you remember ever watching yourself on TV? I do remember because usually like what we and my mom would do, like I remember this, because we did it like, you know, past when I was like, like more like when I was like 10, like nine, eight, like I remember those years pretty well. And like, you know, if a new episode was out, we would just watch it together just because, you know,

it was out and we wanted to see how it was put together. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So. But at that point you kind of knew how the sausage was made, so to speak. I mean like, you know that yes, you sometimes do scenes nine times and then you switch the cameras around

and you do it another nine, 10 times. You edit stuff together, stuff gets cut, and like all that. I mean, you at that point had been, this had been your career for quite a few years, yeah. And they're like, Lily, Lily, Lily, people never call me my real name. Well, it happens to us too. Yeah, exactly, it happens to like most people

who are on a TV show or most known for a TV show. I think Ed doing Modern Family is what stopped people from calling him Al Bundy, you know? Like literally they're like, oh, he's like, okay, great, now I get a new name that people are gonna start calling me. modern family is what stopped people from calling him Al Bundy, you know? Yeah. Like literally they're like, oh, he's like, oh, great, now I get a new name that people are going to start calling me. But yeah, that's got to be weird. I mean, you were-

So overwhelming as a kid. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, we get into Aubrey's first table read, which went a little off the rails. And the moment she realized that she is, well, famous. Don't you just love it when someone looks at you and says, something's different about you. What were you up to last night? Well, no matter how late you were up the night before, LUMIFY Redness Reliever Eye Drops can help your eyes look more refreshed and awake than ever. Lumify dramatically reduces redness in just one minute

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oh, people know who I am? Yes, and I hated when people used to come up to me in public, like when I was that young and I used to hide behind my mom's back. Yeah, I mean I do remember being somewhere with you and someone asked for a picture and you know, your mom was great, like she stuck to me like, oh, not right now, and like, you know,

cause you didn't want to do it, you know what, I mean I don't, kids barely want their photos taken of themselves when like it's their parents taking the picture. Yeah, or like when it's like a Christmas letter picture. Like nobody wants it. It's like much less from a stranger. But it is that strange thing where it's like, you are dropped into a show

that had already been on for two years and was sort of the show that was talked about in the zeitgeist. Huge stars were coming on. People like Lin-Manuel Miranda and like, you know. Nathan Lane. Nathan Lane. Nathan Lane and like all these incredible stars and like you came into it.

Thank you, this looks delicious. Thank you so much. Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. I want to take a picture of the food too. Yeah, let's do it. I'm gonna take a picture of you taking a picture of the food. Of me taking a picture of the food. Yeah, you take a photo too.

Oh, love that. That looks so good. Yeah, you took a photo too. Oh, love that. That looks so good. Yeah, you gotta have this. You gotta try this. Mm-hmm. But yeah, I mean, I remember feeling very protective of you in this moment, but when we shot our episode in Australia.

Yeah. You know, that was such a big deal. I was gonna mention that. Yeah. Because so many people started coming up to me. Let me take us back to like the moment we landed in Australia because you and I were on the same flight.

We shot this episode in Australia over the course of 10 days. And it was sponsored by the Tourism Board of Australia, I believe, but also I think Air New Zealand maybe flew us out, or Air Australia, I don't remember. Qantas flew us out. Qantas. It was, oh my God, the best flight.

And they definitely took good care of us. They did. And we flew out in waves. So we were on maybe the second wave of people coming out, you, me, and Eric. And of course, your mom was with us. And I remember, I think Sophia and Ed had come before us and they had texted me saying, it's crazy.

Madness. Crazy for everybody. You would have thought that we were like the Jenner's. Like the the Jonas Brothers or the Jenner's or like the mania when we landed. Then I remember we had people helping us to get to the airport. But when we landed in the airport and we were just trying to get to our car, I have never been walled like that. Yeah.

People were just grabbing at us, grabbing at us. I remember Amy, your mom, protecting you and getting you through. We're all kind of huddled together. And I was just so like, I mean, I was freaking out. I was like, my God, what is Aubrey thinking right now? I was freaking out so hard.

I probably just like flashed, it's out of my memory. But it was really, really intense. And I remember when I was thinking back to just moments of the show that you must have been like, what the hell is this? That stands out as a really crazy. That trip kind of made me realize

how significant our show was at the time. And like, oh my gosh, this is kind of a big deal that I'm on this TV show, because you don't realize that when you're kidding. But that Australia trip, for me as well, definitely, there's something that kicked in. I was like, oh, this is bigger than I thought it was. Yeah, for sure.

And then the press and the interviews, I hated doing interviews growing up. You should tell that story about that one time that I started crying when we were doing that. I will, I mean, I don't want to trick or you or traumatize me. Oh no, it doesn't traumatize me now. So yeah, there was a press event,

I believe it was like an Emmy for your consideration panel. Yeah. And I guess to go back a little bit, you were four when you started the show. So there was a lot of things like you said, you weren't reading at that point. So you would learn your lines by us telling you the lines. And I mean, you probably knew your lines better

than anyone else, because your brain was like a young sponge that just absorbed everything. But there was a point then when you became more involved in doing the table reads. Once you were able to read, and there was the season where like, OK, I think Aubrey's going to join. You were 10, yeah. Because I just never even thought of it.

Obviously, I could read when I was nine and eight. Because they just never even thought of it. Obviously, I could read when I was nine and eight, but they just never really thought of inviting me to do it. And then they were just kind of like, okay, she's old enough and all, but she's old enough. It's all to say, as you got older, your responsibilities got bigger. We would allow you to, not allow you, but ask you to do more things.

And one of the things that we did was this press event, a panel for the Emmys, and it was the entire cast and you know the adults were handling most of the questions. But then there was a point where the moderator asked a question, wanted to go down the line and you were the last person and everyone was asking, everyone was answering the question. It's always the worst too. It's the worst for me. It's like when you're in class and they ask you to read

or they pick on you, you know what I mean? Oh yes. And I don't remember what the question was, but what was your favorite moment? Favorite people to work with. Favorite people to work with? Is that what it was? I think I blocked it out because I was

so worried about you in this moment. Anyway, it got closer and closer to you and I looked over and you were starting to well up with tears. Yeah, yep. Tell me what you remember happening. Oh, I just remember being really, really stressed out and just being like, dude, I can't believe I'm on the end. And also, when you're that young,

you do not know celebrities' names. And also, think about it this way, I didn't work with a lot of the guest stars because I mostly worked with you and Eric. And if we had family episodes where it's all of us for like holidays or something then we do that. But rarely did I work with anybody. I mean, I worked with Nathan Lane.

Liz Banks a bit. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, some classic scenes with Liz Banks if you ask me. Oh my gosh. I know those are really popular on TikTok. So good. Everybody's like- Just watching you two like- The wedding one.

Yeah. One up each other. So good. I just was freaking out because I didn't know what to say. Yeah, and I mean, and then I remember you crying and like it was, you know, the audience was like, oh, and like they, you know, then it was like a big thing. Yeah. And I mean, it wasn't a big thing. That's the thing, it wasn't a big deal.

Like it was, you know, a kid reacting how any kid would react. You were 10, like you said. But then to be the kid and then to have that attention kind of like put on you, it's like embarrassing. My heart was breaking for you in that moment. And then also you handled it really well. I remember you, I think you got up and like you decided like you could take a breath and like,

I don't know if you came back or not, but it was, I mean, I just felt so, so bad. And then I could also, to go back to the first table read that you had, you remember this. Oh yeah. And this is not your fault at all. Oh, I remember this one.

They did not set you up for success here. Nope. So the very first table read that you were at, they give us a script maybe a day before, two days before, and you had gotten that script and you had highlighted your lines and you'd gone over it. I had prepared. You prepared. Yeah, I had highlighted your lines and you'd gone over it. Worked with on.

You prepared. You prepared. Yeah, I was 10 years old. And I could fully freakin' read. So I remember basically what had happened was you had not been given an updated script. Yeah. And.

Everybody told me. And so we started reading and I could see you flipping pages because what we were reading out loud. Wasn't matching. Was not the script that you were had been working on. I thought I was like delusional.

I was like, ain't no way right now. It's like your worst nightmare. You're already nervous about it. It's like an anxiety dream. Totally. Yeah, absolutely. And I remember you getting and I stopped, I stopped the room before we got to your line. I said, I remember this.

I was like, Aubrey does not have an updated script. And then I remember getting so, you guys, like, why did, who is not looking out for Aubrey? Like, you're not setting up for any sort of success. This is the first time she's doing this. She's like nervous about it. And she's not working off of an updated script. I was like, nobody thought about it. It was nobody's real fault. It wasn't anyone's real fault, but I was just so annoyed that it wasn't triple checked because it was a big deal and you were nervous about it. But it's nice, those types of things are not a big deal

to other people. True, but when you're 10 and doing this for the first time, I just know that I could see that there was anxiety building. And yeah, and the writers are in the room like Loki like a lot of people are there. And like aren't people from ABC there too? Yeah, it's like all the executives. Kind of like a crowd. You're performing it basically. Did you know like early on that like the writers and the producers and like did they seem like

just like regular adults or did they seem like scary people or did they feel like they were special or were they just like... I don't know. The directors? Always an interesting dynamic for me. Yes, because they were always different, yeah. Yes, and of course there was Chris, and then there was Steve. Yes, yes. And they had their, you know... Chris Lloyd and Steve Loveditt and our two creators,

who split up episodes, and we always had one of them on set. Yeah. And every at the same time. There was this one, like, blooper. Do you remember when I had to spit in somebody's face? Do you remember that? Yes, you had to do a spit take on Eric's face. Yes, and I remember I didn't want to do it.

And I looked, I was like scrolling through TikTok and somebody mentioned me in something and it was that video, Steve Levitan, and he comes on set and he's like, you just got to do it, Aubrey. Like, you won't do it, like you won't do it. And then like he was making me spit in his face. Yeah.

Like Steve did. So yeah, Steve wanted to like, in order to make you comfortable with it, he said, do it on me, do it on me. And then he was like, I bet you can't do it. I bet you can't spit on my face. I know, I just kept like daring him to do it. And you had this mouthful of water

and you spit it all over his face. It was so great. And I was like, dang, I didn't even remember that. But you know, I always felt very comfortable working with Steve and Chris, especially Chris. He was really nice. But when we had like some of the other directors, some of them were not my favorite.

Of course. I bet we're not going to name names here. I know some of your not favorite ones. It's also a pressure cooker. I mean, creating a sitcom, I think a lot of people don't realize, it's very long hours and then when you're working with kids, you have a specific amount of time. I think there's like four hours in the day that we can work with

kids and they need breaks every... And they need school for three hours a day. Yes, you need school, which we're going to circle back and talk about this whole school thing in a moment too. But you're in a bit of a pressure cooker because you have limited time and a million things can go wrong. Exactly. And I remember some very tense situations where it would get to everyone. And I would always just be like, oh, God,

protect Aubrey from this. Yeah, and some of the directors just didn't really know how to handle that. And some of the adults on set. And I felt like the only person who really did stand up for me, throughout the whole thing, crew-wise, was really my teacher, Miss Sharon. And that was, yeah.

And she was the best. She was good with all you guys. She would be, if it was coming anywhere close to your, they call it a pumpkin, when kids are like, Oh, I forgot they call it the pumpkin. The pumpkin, yeah, like Cinderella, when they're done for the day, it's like the pumpkin. And so when we were coming up to your pumpkin,

industry talk, Miss Sharon be like on the side, like looking at us like, you have one more take and then I'm taking her like home or to school. She was really good. She was such an advocate for all of you. Yeah. Yeah, but let's talk a little bit about school because it's a really interesting thing

that I feel like a lot of people don't think about that, you know, there were a lot of kids on our show, but you, Ariel, Nolan, Enrico, I all did. And Jeremy, who eventually played Joe, you all went to school on set. But what was it like, do you remember those early years of schooling and what learning was like and what reading was like for you?

Yeah, the show started when I was in pre-K, kindergarten kind of age, and I at like a regular school at that point I remember like my parents like pulling me out of school like one day and like first grade when I was like six Do you want this one? I'm good. Thank you Anyways, they're like we're gonna pull you out of public school and I remember being like well then what am I gonna do? This is first grade you said? Yeah, but I went to a place called Oak Park,

Oak Park Independence, which is like what all the Disney kids did. I go there once a week, they give me my work and they just kind of tell me what to do and I'm left on my own. So you were homeschooling as well as doing schooling on set, right? Yes, because the work that I got from the homeschooling program,

I would bring to set and do it there. Got you. I was talking to another kid actor and he was like, dude, like Loki, the most work I ever did was when I was like a kid on set because you have to do actual work and then like schoolwork. Yeah. Well, yeah, I mean, let's think about that. You have to memorize these lines and sometimes, listen,

if I'm in the middle of a scene and they break for lunch, and then I have to go back to that scene after lunch, I'm toast. Like, I can't remember my lines. Yeah, and you guys get trailer breaks, too, where you stay in your trailer. I used to be so jealous of that, dude.

You would have to go to school. So it's like, every time you weren't on set, doing a scene, you'd be at school. Were you ever in the classroom with Ariel, Nolan, and Rico? When I was very, very young. Yeah. But probably they all graduated when I was six, seven, maybe seven.

Okay. I felt like they were all out by then and then I was all alone, which is honestly very isolating because I wasn't going to school with anybody my age. Yeah. People don't realize, I think, how segmented the show was. Oh my God, your New York City looks amazing.

Oh my God, this smells so good. Thank you. Beautiful, I'm excited. Right? Wow. Brown butter, sweet corn Agnolotti, sage. I love that. Iolotti, sage. I think that's sage. It must have been such a trip, Aubrey,

when you started going to school with other kids. Oh yeah, and I remember I went once when I was 10 years old. I went one year for fifth grade to regular school. Oh, did you? Regular public school was on the TV show. And I remember the first two weeks, I hated it without having to be in a classroom in front of other people

and you're trying to learn with other people there, it was very difficult for me because I'd never done that. That's a hard transition. For sure. By the end of the year, I honestly loved it because I made friends. I mean, at that age it's so important, I think, to be social.

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Aubrey talks about spitting in our director's face. I'm not gonna give you any more information than that. You'll just have to stick around to hear it. In France, in the 13th century, a teenager ascends the throne. He seems calm, collected, and as it happens,

drop dead gorgeous. But looks can be deceiving, and no one is ready for the death, destruction, and chaos that lie ahead. Step inside the reign of one of the Middle Ages' most cold-blooded rulers on This Is History Presents The Iron King, available wherever you get your podcasts. The Frankies were a picture-perfect influencer family, but everything wasn't as it seemed. I just had a 12-year-old boy show up here asking for help. He's emaciated, he's got tape around his legs. Ruby Frankie is his mom's name.

Infamous is covering Ruby Frankie, the world of Mormonism, and a secret therapy group that ruined lives. Listen to Infamous wherever you get your podcasts. And we're back with more Dinners on Me. Right around the time that the show is ending, first of all, we went into a lockdown pandemic. So no one was going to school or anything. Yeah.

But then, shortly after that was all lifted, you started high school. Well, yeah, I mean, you're at this school now and I've gone to see two of your plays. I saw The Burn and Theory of Relativity. I always want to say Theory of Everything because that's a movie. Theory of Relativity. Julie and I both came to that one.

And yeah, I mean, first of all, Aubrey, you're so great. We were all blown away. That song you have in Theory of Relativity was so moving. Thank you. It was just incredible. relativity was so moving thank you it was just incredible i was really nervous for you to come i'm sure i'm nervous sometime anytime i know someone's in the audience no because i was like oh my god ain't no way jesse's gonna be here and he's literally won a tony like it's so scary like you're so accomplished when it comes to theater so it's it really scared me um And I'm glad she likes it.

Your mom, we walked in, she's like, I'm saving you seats, and of course, we were in the very front row. We're like, oh no, I don't know if we need to be right here. What was it like for you to start acting classes at that school? Did your friends and your other classmates know that you had come off of a massively popular TV show?

They did, but only one girl made a big deal about it. And I remember actually when I went to the first public school with the 4,000 kids and everything, people would crowd me and take pictures with me. Oh, Aubrey. And like that in like school, like during lunch. Oh, my God. which is so hard, cause the thing is, when you're at a small school like I am now, everybody knows your face.

You see them every day, you've probably had a conversation with everybody there. But when it's 4,000 kids, like- You see someone new every day. Yeah, you do. Yeah, that's gotta be hard, yeah. I'm glad that you moved schools and that- Yeah, I love my theater teacher in my school though.

And I'm in a band with his son, which is so awesome. October is an eight-year band, right? Yes. Okay, tell me about that and tell me how that started. Well, honestly, I thought that I like really, really could not sing for a long time. You told yourself you can't sing. Yeah, because I loved to when I was younger.

I wanted to do theater when I was younger. I know, that's how we bonded, was up in musical theater. Exactly. And I loved, yeah I was younger. I wanted him to do theater when I was younger. I know. That's how we bonded, was with the musical theater. Exactly. I loved, yeah, like Hamilton and Cabaret. I mean, when you found out that Lin-Manuel Miranda had been on an episode of Modern Family, you freaked out. You could not believe it.

Then I remember you meeting him. He was like my celebrity crush. I know. I was so down bad for Lin-Manuel Miranda when I was eight. I don't know why. I think it's so cute. But then I was there when you met him for the, and for reals. I don't remember where we were.

It was at the Moana premiere. And I was sobbing. I was literally sobbing and I asked him, I brought my Hamilton book because I knew he'd be there, like my song book. And then he turned around and I was there and he's like, I know you. And then I was like, I just freaked out and sobbed. It was great. It's so sweet. And I know like, oh my God. And I just freaked out and I sobbed. It was great. It's so sweet. And I know like-

She's so nice. But yeah, I mean, you sang a lot. So it's interesting that you decided that you couldn't do that. Yeah, once I hit like eight, I like would never sing, but I have a really great music program in my school. So then I just started to sing again and I started taking lessons and learning guitar better.

I know when I saw you in the burn, you invited me to come see you guys play at the Bourbon Room, which is a really incredible venue here in Los Angeles. We've played there two times now. I know, which is crazy. First of all, you're not even old enough to drink bourbon. And I'm sure it's completely understandable after Modern Family ended for you to be like,

ah, I'm done with that for a bit. Also theater acting, which I feel like you have a real love for, is so different than doing stuff on camera. I'm just so happy when you told me that you were interested in doing it again, because then I went to go see you and I was like, okay, she's really good. Thank you. I don't necessarily think it's because you've had all that experience.

No it isn't. It really isn't at all. I actually suck. I actually think you're a completely different type of performer on stage. Yeah. I feel like I am too. And you did not suck. Are you saying you sucked?

No. You didn't suck. No. Because like I believe that I did because I didn't have the experience to you know and I took some acting classes, but I really didn't like it that much. I knew that if I was going to keep being in the industry, then it would just be this rejection all the time,

and that still scares the fuck out of me. But I'm still doing it because I love it now. It doesn't get easier though. I remember being so upset. I auditioned for a production of Into the Woods at my community theater and I wanted to play Jack so bad. And it was definitely between me and this other guy and the guy who got it was the director's favorite

and I was just so devastated. You know, I was so bummed out and I remember crying to my mom. Yeah, there was only one thing that I was very, very interested in doing that I was maybe bummed out, I remember crying to my mom. Yeah, like there was only one thing that I was very, very interested in doing that I was maybe gonna do like recently that I low-key got rejected for and I remember being so heartbroken

because I had totally got my hopes up. And I cried about it because I was like, oh my God, it felt like I really was gonna get it. Like there are so many times where that happens. Let me tell you, I'm gonna be really honest, there are things I've cried over even as an adult that I haven't gotten that I just disappointed by. This is a really, really frustrating industry.

It's something that I feel like you really have to want to do. I also think that we're in a blessed position, that we were on something that people love for so long, and it does sometimes get us in the door. But beyond that, nothing's being handed to anyone. You still have to prove yourself. Yeah, for sure. What was your feeling when the show ended,

when Modern Family ended? How were you processing that? I don't think I was upset about it really. Now that I think about it, I wish I had stayed for those moments more, but I didn't realize what it was going to be like, not doing it every day. I was just so young to really just even think about capturing that period.

You were 12 when it ended? Yeah, 12. Yeah. Almost 13. I didn't really think about onto the next thing, onto another job. I was thinking on to going to high school. Right, for sure. Yeah, absolutely.

I mean, I remember there was a lot of tears that day. I've talked about that moment when we were all being wrapped, our series wrapped, and they start with the youngest person, which was Jeremy, and he was so emotional. And it was just, from that moment on, I was crying the entire time. Like I just remember like, I just crying for like basically 10 minutes straight.

Yeah, you know, once that day ended, like I don't know if I was that necessarily heartbroken about it, but I've always wondered if there would be another like spin-off for somebody. Right, right, right. And- Well, you would come in with it with such a different perspective. You'd had space away from it. You can also kind of see socially what that show meant.

So I think any of us, if there ever was some sort of even just reuniting with the other adults for the SAG Awards, it felt exciting for us. I know that there were people that were excited to see us all together, which is also why I was so excited when you said yes to doing this, because even just seeing people react to how, when Julie and I came to see your show, they really loved that I think we have stayed close. Yeah.

It would definitely be a very interesting experiment to see how we'd all feel coming back to it. Would you do it? I would. I don't know if I'm in for another 11 years. No. But if you told me, let's do like six to eight episodes, I'd be like, let's go. Let's do it. Yeah. I feel like I would do it. I would love it. I would think it'd be so much fun. I think we would all come at it with such a fresh perspective too. I don't know. I mean, also I was like- We'd be a completely different person on set. Yeah.

Oh, God, it would be so different. Absolutely. We are a different person. When I told someone I was sitting down with you, they had a few questions about specific scenes in Modern Family and like, oh my God, what was that? And some of them I remember, it was when you're running into school and you're so excited and you basically face plant onto a-

A poster, like, yeah. A post, yeah. People always ask me, first of all, was that real or did they do a CGI? I was like, it was really Aubrey, but it was a post covered and like. It was a wall that had a mat on it, and then a mat where I could fall back on.

Yes. But I remember they made me do it over and over and over. Run into this wall, and of course, we're stunt coordinators, I was safe. Yeah. But to do it over and over again like that, just to run yourself into something, because they were trying to make it

like it was really happening. Well, they wanted you looking the other way and not seeing what you're about to run into. Yeah. I remember you like wincing as you were running, knowing that you're going to like run into this post even though it was padded. It's still like, you know, it's going to shock your body. You're running towards something and you're going to fall. Yeah. Yeah. It's interesting that you remember that day. The other day, I remember, do you know what I'm going to say?

No. Being tossed into the pool? Yeah, on my own. Where you were lounging in a chair. I was scared to do it, I'm pretty sure. Yes, you were really scared. The stunt, as they say, was you on a lounge chair pretty close to the pool and then from what I remember, someone lifted the chair to like pick up a towel or something and he accidentally dumps you into the pool. Exactly. And you were very scared to do it. Cause I didn't like water getting on my nose. I thought that was my main concern. I just didn't like it and I hated that kind of stuff.

And I remember your mom, Amy, finding a swimsuit somewhere and us doing the stunt with her. And he thought it was kind of funny, but then again, when it was like your turn in the chair, you're like, I still don't want to do this. Yeah. And I don't remember how we ended up getting it done. Me neither.

No, I was just telling my boyfriend the other day about the scene where I was going up the laundry rack. Like, you know what I mean? Oh, yeah, when you're caught in the dry cleaning thing. Yeah. That's right. The things we had you doing. I know, I like had like a decent amount of like

quote unquote stunts, like for a kid. You did. Yeah, like that one I was so excited for because I just wanted to like be on like a hanger. Yeah, literally. I wanted to go all the way around but they wouldn't let me. Probably for the best, but you know.

Yeah, so you were on like a dry cleaning like, what it, carousel thing. Yeah. I remember, I don't know, somehow you snuck, it's so funny. We couldn't get our tuxedos out for our wedding and somehow we had you sneak in to find the tag, but then you got swept up in the dry cleaning carousel.

And we're like- I'm so unrealistic now that I think about it. Like what? I know, I know. I mean, none of this is like whatever really happened. But I do remember that being very fun. I remember you having a great time doing it. Cause I was also nervous, like,

oh God, how's she gonna feel about this? But it did look pretty fun, actually. It was very fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Are there any other like crazy memories that you have that stand out? It's like- You know the episode where I had the boyfriend,

or the date? Yes. And we were at that restaurant? Yes. Did you have to kiss? I forget. Oh, no. Okay.

Actually, I've never had to like kiss on screen ever. I kissed somebody once in my school musical last year. That was it. How was that? It was fine. I don't know. Is this a friend of yours? It's awkward.

Yeah, it was a friend of mine. It was a girl. Your show. Oh my God. Talking about being nervous for people in the audience, when you and your mom came to see Take Me Out. Oh, I heard that you texted her beforehand. You were like, hey.

I was like, just so you know, there's not always a male nudity in the show. First of all, it's not by me, don't worry about it. But there's a lot of male nudity in the show. I wasn't worried about any of the racial stuff. There was like, you know, racial tension and there's a lot of cussing. I wasn't worried about any of that.

I was worried about the parade of penises that were going to be like, they're like. It didn't shock me that much. I mean, at least it wasn't worried about any of that. I was worried about the parade of penises that were going to be like, like. It didn't shock me that much. I mean, at least it wasn't you being naked. No, no, I don't think I would have let you come if it was me. Even if it was like the best work you'd ever done on the play ever.

Truly, truly. Really? I think I lost and bought myself a ticket. I don't think so. I'm so happy you did this. Thank you so much for having me on, Jesse. Are you excited to do it? Yes, I was so excited.

I was waiting for it all week. I was like, bro, what am I going to wear? Am I going to do makeup? I love it. I love that you said yes. So many of my friends are just so happy that we've stayed in touch. And I just know you'll always be a part of my life.

And I hope I'll always be a part of yours. I want to work with you again on something. I know. That'd be amazing, right? So glad you let me be on your podcast, baby. Aww, glad you said yes. ["Dinner's On Me"] This episode of Dinner's On Me

was recorded at Casalina in Los Angeles. Next week, it's actor and comedian Joel Kim Booster. We'll get into growing up adopted in a white evangelical household, how his first long-term relationship inspired him to tweak his queer rom-com Fire Island, and how his dad's passing from COVID brought up difficult family conversations. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinners on Me Plus. As a subscriber, not only do you get access

to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click try free at the top of the Dinners On Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. Dinners On Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch.

Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Angela Vang. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hans-Dyl She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tamika Balanz Kalasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.