Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Jane Krakowski

Episode Date: July 16, 2024

“30 Rock” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” star Jane Krakowski joins the show. Over cloud-like pita bread, we reminisce about when I was Jane’s Starbucks barista, our iconic “Carpool Karaoke” moment and why wigs hold a special place in our hearts. This episode was recorded at Zaytinya at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad in NYC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Dining only until 11 a.m. Hi, it's Jesse. Today on the show, you know her from hit shows like 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. It's Jane Krakowski. I remember sitting with all my other castmates, and we all just kind of looked at each other, and I felt like a little shaky inside, because I think we knew it was something so different that it might really change our lives. This is Dinners on Me and I'm

your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Anyone who knows me knows that as an actor my first love is the theater, even more specifically musical theater. A career on stage in musicals was my dream ever since I was, gosh, probably in third grade. One of the careers I admired so much was that of Jane Krakowski's. She was the epitome of a triple threat. I mean, she is the epitome of a triple threat. Incredible dancer and singer with a unique flair for offbeat comedy. I remember being so excited when she showed up as a series regular on the wildly popular TV show, Ally McBeal. It felt right that the rest of the world was getting to enjoy the immense talents of Jane Krakowski. Although we initially met in the theater world, more on that later, we eventually became friends amongst various television

events over the years, and I'm certain we were cosmically drawn to one another through our mutual love of musical theater. Wow. Hi, love. Hi, I'm so happy to see you. But have you eaten here? I've had a past-around hors d'oeuvres here. I brought Jane to Zeytenya, nestled in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Nomad.

I am honored to call renowned chef Jose Andreas a friend and here he has crafted a culinary journey inspired by the rich traditions of Turkey, Greece and Lebanon. From the cloud-like pitas to the bold spiced meats and hearty vegetables, each dish at Zeytenye tells a story. Oh and I should mention all of this delicious food is served in a beautiful dining space created by the legendary designer and architect, David Rockwell. Okay, let's get to the conversation. No notes, you just winged this-

No, look, I've been cramming. Do you want to see, like, we have themes for all of our guests. Let me show you what the theme of this one is. I love this. Iconic female character actor. Really? I'm already honored. I don't know where we're gonna go from there though.

That's it though, it's just the title. Just the title. You have nothing more. I love that we're doing this because we have never worked together, but we have a deep history of doing very strange things together. Exactly, that's what I was thinking.

So this just continues that. Exactly, we never actually act together. No, no, no. But we've hosted things together, we've appeared on other people's shows as guests together. Yes, how are you? Hi. What's your name?

Arnalbin. Nice meeting you. This is Jane. Can I get you started with a bottle of stale, sparkling tap water? I'm fine with whatever, what do you want? I'd like sparkling. Nice meeting you. This is Jane. Can I get you started with a bottle of stale sparkling tap water? I'm fine with whatever. What do you want?

I'd like sparkling. Yeah, I'll do sparkling. Absolutely. That'd be great, thank you. So the first time we quote unquote worked together was when we were presenting on the Tonys together. Right. And we had a bit that we were maybe gonna try

and it involved. Wait, let's just start that we were presenting the earlier hours. Right, right, it was in the hour of. We were hosting the pre-show. Right, that's right. And then because you host the pre-show, they let you give out an award later.

An award, yeah, yeah, they're like, and they throw you a bone and let you get out of more there. But we were sort of killing. Like, we were doing really good. It was so fun, we had so much fun. The audience was with us. Then in the second part of the show, was the tele part, and we were going to be giving an award. But I'll say I had this idea and I sold it to you about us wearing wigs.

It was this bit that we were going to do. And so we got fitted for wigs. You had a big blonde wig. I had a big red wig. And then, Jane, you're the one. It did come out of the confidence of killing earlier. then, Jane, you're the one. It did come out of the confidence of killing earlier. Which is always a dangerous energy.

We had just come off of a really successful first hour that we'd been hosting. And you got nervous. You said, I just don't know if the wigs are good. It might not work. It might flop. And then also will be any photos of whoever wins this award. We're gonna be in the background in these huge wigs. Right, right. And I said, you know what, you're right. Let's cut the wigs.

It was a comedic beat that may not have tracked. May not have tracked, yeah. So we decided to cut the wigs. But it's become our friendship catchphrase. Right, shoulda worn the wigs. Right, shoulda worn the wigs. Yeah, yeah, it's like any time, you know, we got to then experience many Emmy Awards together

where we both lost. And every time we would lose, we would send texts to one another and say, well, we should've worn the wigs. We would've won if we had worn the wigs. We would've won if we wore the wigs. But that was the first time. And so that just sort of set, I feel like,

a precedent for doing these really wacky, weird things together. I know. Is the wine this? Is that a wine beer contest? Okay. That will never go wrong. We gotta keep this train on the tracks.

Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much. Do you wanna share or do you want? I'm happy to share. I'm also, I'm gonna have to do it, whatever you want. Put my readers on. Same, mine are already on.

Let me get my readers on and my hearing horn. Let me get my hearing horn out. That's what's going next is my hearing. Oh no, it can't be. Yeah. What? One more time? One more time?

Oh wait, you know what we didn't mention? One of my favorite things I've ever done in my whole career with you is carpool karaoke. Well, we're going to talk about that. It's still in the top 10 of all carpool karaoke. It is, with like Adele. I don't know how, I mean, I'm thrilled. No, I know why, because it's fucking amazing.

It's so good. Okay, what are we going to eat? I'm going to get the chicken soup of Golemono. I don't know how to say it. I've eaten it many times and I love it. Any interest in sharing any grape leaves? Yes, please. Because I love grapes.

Yeah, let's do grape leaves. Oh, this is what I want. That'll be delicious. Adana kebab. I don't know if I'm saying any of this right. I don't think I am. I know I am. I'm not.

Okay. Yes, we are. I want Jane to try and pronounce the soup. And don't help her, don't help her. I tried already and I think I destroyed it. Just try it, I know an A followed by a V is tricky already. Yeah, chicken soup of gold mono.

No, that's not right is it? How do you say it, really? I'm not sure. Oh! Oh! Oh, well then, you know what, you're right. By default. Ha ha ha ha.

The chicken soup. Just the chicken soup, please. And we're gonna share some grape leaves, and I'm gonna have the adana kebab. Do we think I pronounced that right? Okay, wow. I think you're just being nice. That's what I think.

We should also, we should absolutely start with some bread, some pita and hummus. Oh, that'd be awesome. I love that. Yeah, yeah, thank you. And I want something non-alcoholic that's like fizzy. Cucumber mint would be great, yeah. Cucumber mint cooler? Well, yeah. Cucumber mint cooler?

Well that sounds fancy and nice. I'll take one too. Okay, try it. Yeah. You're only on dinners on me once, unless you've really impressed us and we're like, we gotta get Jane back. Oh no.

No, the carpool karaoke was. Yeah, a dream. Such a highlight. I know, me too. I wanna, let's like pull the curtain back a little bit. I didn't actually know this, that you are, we were told what the songs were gonna be. Right.

I don't know if James would like us saying that, but I don't think he cares. You are told what the songs are gonna be, so you sort of prepare a little bit, but not a lot. Not a lot. But then when we got in the car. We got in the car, there was some like lyrics that were taped in different places,

but like they were falling and they weren't really very much helped. And then it's just sort of every man for himself. We then burst into One Day More from the Miserable. The thing that made me laugh so hard or that was so enjoyable about that was that no one discussed which role or vocal part they were going to take. That's right, that's what I wanted to say.

And everybody jumped into exactly the role that they would be cast for or at least auditioned for. I don't, thank you. As I say, I don't think I would have ever been cast. You would have. No, I auditioned for Les Mis like a hundred times when it first came out. It was like the big show coming from London

and everybody wanted to be in Les Mis and I auditioned for Eponine like, I'm sure at least 10 times. Had you already done Broadway at this point? No. Okay, so this was pre-Starlight Express. Well, yes, and so I found out that I was not gonna get Les Mis

because they decided to bring Frances Ruffel over from London. Oh, you auditioned for the original production. Yeah, it was that long ago. You're the best. Okay, the Yeah, it was that long ago. You're not. The emphasis on original was a little brutal. Little brutal.

Oh my God. Your face. You looked at me like, yeah, enough, cut that. Jesus Christ, Chelsea. Okay, so you auditioned for Les Mis. Yeah, yeah. And they were bringing Frances in from London. Yeah, they decided to bring Frances in from London,

who's amazing and has become a very good friend over all of these years. And Sir Trevornan was the director of Les Mis and that whole process. And he was also the director of Starlet Express, which was coming over like a month later. And he said, would you come and audition for Starlight Express instead?

And I was like, sure. And so I did it. That began then my Broadway debut. But I did have a long audition road with Les Mis. I was just so, at that time, I was 17. Wait, okay. I was still a senior in high school, so I was just beyond my dreams.

A lot of people don't know Starlight Express because it didn't last for too long, but it sort of has like folklore. Totally. Explain what Starlight Express is, because it's fascinating. Yeah. It was written by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.

It is based on the little engine that could, but it is everyone plays trains and we are all on roller skates. That's right. Yeah. That's right. And we do races and we sing songs as trains. Yeah. And it was-

And this was pre-cats or post-cats? I think it was post-cats. Okay, so we already trusted- It wasber with writing musicals about things that we never imagined would be, have musicals written about them. Right, right, right. Like what's after singing cats, singing trains. Exactly. Perfect.

Exactly. And was, I mean, what was that, how did you put that show together when you were, when, what I imagine the stage had to be somewhat of a stadium almost. It was, yes, and it was much more of a sporting event than a regular but traditional Broadway show. Sure. We, I said yes, and I sort of think I got hired

just because I had the moxie to get on the skates and give it a go, because I really, my only skating experience prior to that audition was a few pre-teen roller skating birthday parties. Sure. And at the audition and they were like, okay, go forwards and backwards, which I could do.

And then they said, okay, freestyle. And people were flipping, spinning, twisting. I literally just like snapped my fingers and bopped because in New Jersey that was freestyle to me. I didn't know what that meant. But anyway, it was an incredible experience. And like a cultish weird thing to have beer at Broadway Star.

Broadway debut. And that's crazy. So I mean, you started as a dancer, like very early on. So like that, did you always know that you wanted to do theater? I had always hoped. Because your parents did a lot of community theater, mom was a teacher?

A teacher, yeah. Yeah, yeah, okay. A theater teacher in a New Jersey college, and my father was a chemical engineer but a very creative and talented, musically talented man. And so it was always in our family, in our household, and we went to see every Broadway show my entire time. Do you remember what your first one was?

I remember being so heavily influenced by a chorus line and Chicago. I retained everything from it and memorized it and dreaming of having stars in my eyes and being one of those people. Both very like racy adult musicals. Yeah I mean they were groundbreaking for sure right and um and it was interesting because I sort of not till I got older did I realize what an influence they had on me and especially

Chicago. I was working on I think Ally McBeal at the time, living in Los Angeles for the first time in my life, and I came back to New York for the hiatus or see my family and spend some time in the city, and the Encore's production of the revival of Chicago was on, and I was invited by some of my friends to go to that dress rehearsal, and I remember sitting in that dress rehearsal feeling changed.

And there's a few markers like that to me in my life, and especially in my adult life. I looked up to those women so much, I couldn't believe that they were not ingenues, right? They were sexy, they were a little dirty, they were funny, they were character driven, they could dance, they could sing. So I realized at that revival dress rehearsal that those are the women that influenced me.

And if you kind of track a lot of the parts I played, it makes a little bit of sense. I guess so. I mean, I know you've done like Lola and Damn Yankees, which B.B. Neuwirth did. Right. But we've really deviated from the, I went on a side tangent with the Les Mis thing of why we all knew our parts in Les Mis.

Oh right. But in that Carpool Karaoke, it was so amazing. Like we never conferred with James Pryor, right? Of what we would do and who knew what. And then it was so fun to see which ones we all knew better than others. Yeah, yeah. Oh, it was such a special,

a special thing to be asked to do. Yes. And then, I happened to be in a Broadway show at that time, which I think is, She loves me. She loves me, which I think is why I was asked to be a part of it, and it just was such a special year,

and to get to, you know what it's like, as a Tony winner. I know now. In that car, it was you, me, Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and James Corden, all of you Tony winner. I know now. In that car, it was you, me, Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and James Corden, all of you Tony winners. I was the one who had never even been nominated. So now I feel like, okay, I earned, I've-

They knew, they knew. Retroactively earned my way into that car. They knew I was on my way. But you know the excitement of that time. It was a really, really good time. It was so fun. Yeah. Oh, the cooler is good.

It is good, right? What is this, Jesse? Is this the pita? I don't think that's the pita. Is this the pita? It is the pita. It's so airy. It's like a pillow.

It's like a puff. It's really good. It's really good. That's delicious. One of the other fun things that we got to do together was when Jane Lynch had her show, Hollywood Game Night. We have done the craziest things together. I forgot about that story.

Hollywood Game Night. And it's one of my favorite memories of you because there was, I don't remember the logistics of this game. It was complicated. But first of all, there was a game don't remember the logistics of this game. It was complicated. It was complicated. But first of all, there was a game that kept breaking down. They had to restart it.

Right. Anyway, you were having to put words together and you just kept saying, egg basket, but also you were so frustrated and you just kept saying egg basket, egg basket. And I don't even remember what we were. Exactly, I don't recall the circumstances. I do remember, now that you're bringing it up,

that I did keep thinking that egg basket was gonna be the best clue ever to give someone the answer, which no one could get. Oh. But it was just, it was so fun. That was such a fun group, because it was also Chrissy Teigen. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend.

Right, it was a crazy. And Zachary Quinto. Oh, one of my favorite people ever. Yeah, yeah. What an incredible. Because it was also Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. Right. It was a crazy. And Zachary Quinto. One of my favorite people ever. Yeah. What an incredible. It was a really, really fun day. But it's just sort of.

We have to actually do a real show together. That's what I'm thinking. Because I also guessed it on Modern Family. We weren't in any scenes together. We still didn't get the chance. Exactly. Exactly. Now for a quick break, but don't go away.

When we come back, Jane tells me about why being on TV got her kicked out of her New York City apartment and how fame got to her head after her first big break. Plus, we reflect on the first time we met. Okay, be right back. Don't you just love it when someone looks at you and says, hmm 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

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on this podcast. Indeed.com slash dinners on me. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed. And we're back with more Dinners on Me. I told you this how we first met, right? I want to see if you have the same story.

Okay. I think I know this. You were... On the Upper West Side, right? You were, yes. Okay. We were playing April in company and I went to go see it. This is 1995, I know because I had moved to the city in 94 and I was finally making enough

money to go see some theater. I would go to TKTS and go see shows. And I'm not like a stage door Johnny like type of person like ask for autographs. So I did wanna see the actors come out of the stage door. Also, let me just say, this makes me seem like so much younger than you. I'm actually not that much younger than you.

Like you're very successful. I was like, you were in the city in the early 90s. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Leavage was just a few years earlier than that. I just want to clear that up. I acknowledge that there's not much of an age difference here. So anyways, I was waiting by the stage door, and then you came out, and you come out,

and you walk right over to me, and you're like, how are you? How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while. And you give me a very big hug. And meanwhile, I'm thinking, I do not know this woman. I know who you are. I was a fan. I'd already been a fan of yours from Grand Hotel.

Oh, sweet. I absolutely knew who you were. But I was like, oh my gosh, Jane's hugging me. And then you said, I don't remember. Where did we meet? Where do we know you from? And I said, I don't know. And so we meet? Where do we know you from? And I said, I don't know. And so you started naming, I was like,

maybe we did a commercial together. And you were trying to place it, and you were like, well, I don't know, I'll figure it out later, but it was good to see you. Thanks for coming. And I was just sort of, I was sort of speechless, because, you know. To me, I was being approached by you.

Very touchy feely, I mean, a big, huh? A huge star. That's where I was going. Yes, for me. Oh my gosh, no. I mean listen, I know now that you are a massive star, not just a huge star. No, but I was very taken by the encounter. And so then fast forward, I don't know,

a week or two later, and I'm working my job at Starbucks on 79th and Broadway, and you come in and you see me and you say, this is where I, ah, this is where I know you from. And what I love about it is you went right into how our audition's going, you were right into, knowing that this was what I was doing, every actor understands you do what you need to do to make ends meet, and it just, I felt so seen by you,

because I was like, I don't want to be a barista forever. I'm not bemoaning that at all. It's what I was doing at the time, and I was making ends meet. But I had such high dreams and hopes for myself, and was going out for non-equity calls, and waiting in line outside the equity building. So having you just sort of ask me how things were going

was really powerful. And I felt like, I kind of feel like that was one of the first times that I felt like, oh, the Broadway community is actually a community of people. It doesn't really matter where you are on that journey. It's just such a wonderful group of people. So I have such fond memories of you even before I really knew you.

Yeah, well I'm so glad our story is alive because I remember coming in and every morning I'd order my coffee. And I guess just at the backstage of the theater, I knew, I knew you because it's such a familiar person that you get to know every single morning. But then to put it all in context of that you're an actor too and that we're all

just trying to get our jobs and do our thing. It's so sweet, I'm so glad you remember that story too. I will always, always remember that. It's so great to hear. It's an unusual relationship that we have based on that. Absolutely. And also then being at Modern Family, because I love that show so much.

And by the way, it's on every day, all day long, and whenever I stop, I just enjoy it every single time. But at the time, I think I would, for some of it, I was on 30 Rock and then for some other part of it I was on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but I remember we would be filming, doing single camera half hour comedies,

we'd be filming like 14 hours a day. And we'd always hear about you guys being home by dinner. It's like, what are they doing over there? And so when I finally got on, I was so thrilled to learn how you guys did it. It was revolutionary and I just so admired it because I loved it. You kind of just-

It was also a single camera show as was 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. But yeah, you're right. It's almost live. It was less, I feel like 30 Rock and Kimmy Schmidt, there was more. Individual setups. Exactly.

Right, you do one side of the room. Specialty shots. You do the other. Lots of specialty shots and all that. But with yours, it was almost like performing live in a way. Like you'd rehearse the scene as a whole and the camera would find you.

Were you? I mean, because we have such a similar history as far as having roots in theater. Yes. Was it ever a long-term goal for you to be on TV or was that something that just sort of fell into your lap? No, I mean, I don't think it was anything I dreamed,

that I thought could be possible, is the way I should put it, really. I mean, I was a New York girl. I was on a soap opera as a teenager. Right, I knew that. That gave me a lot of quick training on certainly how to learn lines fast and find the lens or where the camera is because they shoot those things so fast.

But I was actually fired from that soap opera when I was like 15 years old. It was Search for Tomorrow. My storyline had ended really, but it was heartbreaking to me. I thought I'd never work again. I thought this was the greatest thing I could get in my career.

And I was really, really sad. I think I started it when I was 14 and I finished when I was 16. But those ages, you can't really process rejection at a young age like that, or at least in a way that's healthy. Right, I mean I think you think it's just over, like what did I do wrong, how could I have done this better,

will I ever get work again? And so- Gosh, I mean that sounds like me now. Same. After every job. Same, I don't know if it ever goes away. But yeah, then I was here in New York and I just started auditioning for more live theater and more plays and shows.

The next thing I got was Starlight Express, which kind of shifted the trajectory a little bit, which was great and it was such a wonderful thing. And then I really just, all I wanted to do was theater. And then I auditioned for, I think like the class, Ally McBeal was one of those scripts that was the hot script of the season and everybody wanted to be on it.

And it was so original and different. And then I was friends with Calista Flockhart at that time. And we were- She's also a theater girl. Right, she was in a show, I think she was in Three Sisters here at the time, at the roundabout, and we shared the same agent as well as we were friends.

And so we flew out together and we were both being tested for Ally McFeel at the time. Oh, interesting. And I said, well, when you get it, send one of those fresh baked chocolate chip cookies back to me and coach us a consolation prize, please. And we both got off the plane, did our tests and both came home with a job,

which was life changing for us. Did you know that you were auditioning for Elaine as well? You said you tested for Ally. No, no, no, no, no, no, I only auditioned for Elaine. We were both only testing for the roles we got. I'm so sorry I thought you were testing for Ally. No, no, no, no. You weren't clear, Jane.

I was not clear. Now we have to start this whole thing over. Oh no. Hi Jane, have you ever been to this restaurant before? Take two. I'm pretty good at this podcast thing. You're doing really good. With Alame Beal, it was also such a groundbreaking show

in terms of genre and structure, because I don't remember there ever being an hour long quote unquote comedy or dramedy or however you were. It ushered in, at least successfully, a new, I think a pretty new genre. That was the first one I really remember being good. Same for me too. Did it feel like you guys were doing something new

and different and groundbreaking, or did it just feel like? No, it did, definitely. And I think we really didn't even know exactly what it was going to be. Like, you know, we obviously had the pilot script. It was created by David E. Kelly. It was definitely the first one hour dramedy,

as we're saying, that I remember. Yes, the show did, yeah. But it was so unique, and so much of it was done in post, the fantasy segments that were in her head and the Dancing Babies. So we didn't really, until it would air or they would show us that, I don't know if you did this on your shows,

but they would have like lunchtime screenings. Sometimes, yeah. Exactly. And that was like the first time we would see exactly what we made. The first episode that Elaine is in, as she's talking just her office rhetoric and daily schedule, whatever,

her head blew up and then popped. I remember this, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I had no idea what that was going to be and then you saw it on air and you're like, that's what they were going to do? So there was a little bit of trust of what we were getting into, but it was so funny and so original and so different.

I have such a clear memory of the first screening that we watched the pilot. And I think because we all had no idea what we were making or what it really was going to be. I mean, we knew we all loved the script. It was so creative. And I remember sitting with all my other castmates and we all just kind of looked at each other

and I felt like a little shaky inside. Because I think we knew it was something so different that it might really change our lives. But yet I didn't know what to do with that because I'd never had anything in my life happen like that. And we all kind of just walked out of the room like saying, yeah, it was good. It was really good, right?

Like we liked it. Yeah, I remember when it was really just like, it was this thing that everyone was talking about. It was like a water cooler show of the time, which was really special and I think it bonded us all closer because by episode 13 we had already won a Golden Globe. We were still making season one and I've never been on any other show

that had that happen that quickly. But it was also an incredible time. I love those guys. We had such good material. I feel so proud that I was on something that was so unique and special and written so well and so lucky. I just felt so that I was on something that was so unique and special and written so well. And so lucky. I just felt so fortunate to be on something of that level.

Did you feel pulled away from... I struggled with this a little bit. I was so grateful to be taken down a lot. I did feel pulled away from my first love, which was theater and being on stage. I was nervous that I was going to be away too long and the industry that I felt so connected to was going to not accept me back. Right, but look what happened. I mean, it totally didn't happen. You had the greatest ride,

I mean, the greatest path to me. Thinking you had that incredible success of Modern Family and then to come back to your hometown. Do take me out and have everybody rooting for you and to be so brilliant in the show and then win a Tony Award, like everybody knew you were going to win and kind of rooting for you. And it's a great thing.

That's very nice to hear, thank you. Yeah, it's really sweet. I remember the first time I came back to the East Coast after Ally McBeal aired, because my parents were still here and I'm very close to my family and I would come back on hiatuses and go see everything I could on Broadway

to see everybody and I literally got evicted because I was on Ally McBeal. I had like a red stabilized apartment on the Upper West Side. Oh no. Yeah, and I got like a letter from like about. Did you try and hold onto it for a while? Yeah, for like the first year,

because I thought the show might not make it. Were you subletting it? Right. And so I tried to keep it the whole first year, and as Ali McBeal got more and more known, I got like a certified letter from my landlord's lawyer saying, we know you don't live here. Yeah, yeah, because we're watching you on TV right now. We know you don't live here.

Yeah, yeah, because we're watching you on TV right now. We know you're not living here, you need to evict the premises. And I was like, how could this even happen? So I'd lost my apartment at that point. And so I was staying with my parents and I wanted to come in and see a show one day, so I was driving into the city with my mom's car

and this was the first time I'd ever been on TV or experienced that kind of level of fame or notoriety. And I'm at the Lincoln Tunnel, which I drive through every day of my life with my parents. I mean, we'd come to the city all the time, and I stopped the car to pay the toll to get the Lincoln Tunnel, and the person is waving me through.

And I'm like, why is the attendant waving me through? And I literally thought, I thought, oh my God, this fame thing is amazing. I don't even have to pay a toll at the Lincoln Tunnel. I was like, thanks, and I keep on driving. And I called my mom and me, like, oh mom, you won't believe this. Like this thing is nuts. The guy just waved me through the league of sliders

and goes, Jane, you are such a jerk. I got easy pats. That is hilarious. Oh my God. That is so embarrassing. That is so funny. I had to read it in. Oh my God.

I had to read it in. That is really funny. I'm glad you didn't like roll down the window. At least let me sign something for you. Like, I like, yeah. I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, That is so funny. I had to rate it in. Oh my God. I had to rate it in. That is really funny. I'm glad you didn't roll down the window. At least let me sign something for you.

Like, I like. Yeah. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. More, maybe the most embarrassing moment of my life. That is so funny. But I feel like that experience is also what informed Jenna. I feel like that world is like. Right, pulling all that stuff.

Thank you. Oh, thanks so much. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's so funny. No idea what's really happening in the world. Oh my God, I love that stuff. Thank you. Oh, thanks so much. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's so funny. No idea what's really happening in the world. Oh my God, I love that so much. So mortifying. That is incredible.

Mortifying. Oh, the first blush of fame. Oh my God. Positively disgusting. So, so funny. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Jane talks to me about making a case for herself on Broadway, what it was like to work

with the 30 Rock cast, and her favorite Elaine Stritch memory from the set. Okay, be right back. Two freshly cracked eggs, any way you like them. Three strips of naturally smoked bacon bacon and a side of toast. Only $6 at A&W's in Ontario. Experience A&W's classic breakfast on Now. Dine in only until 11 a.m.

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Enjoy your room upgrade. Wherever you go, we'll go together. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Visit amex.ca slash ymx. Benefits vary by card, terms apply. And we're back with more Dinners on Me. It's how long between Alan McBeal ending and 30 Rocks starting was there?

There was a little while. I had been in LA for five years. Now were you ready for it to be done? No, I think it was on the bubble of whether we were going to do another season. We think it's going to come back, we don't know, we don't know. So then it was a bit like, oh wow, this life-changing experience is now ending.

And I went through all of that fear again. Do I stay here in LA? Do I go home? And that's my home. I was renting a house the whole time I was there. So my lease happened to be up the same month the show ended and I just put everything in storage and said, I'm going to give it a shot and come home.

And I came back knowing that they were about to do the production of Nine. And so I started my audition process for Nine. I came back just hoping that's what was going to be my next job and doing whatever I could do to get that show, because I felt such an affinity with the role and such a deep caring for that character that I really, really wanted to do that show.

I had to work hard to get that show. I had to audition many, many times. So it was an incredible production, first of all. David Laveau directed it. David Laveau is so beautiful. I mean, I remember it so vividly. I mean, all that water that he had on the set. Yeah, you remember? It's just, for people who don't know.

You were five. I was five. I was so young. I'm surprised they let toddlers into the show. I hate you. It was quite adult-themed. I hate you. It's based off of Eight and a Half,

Fellini's Eight and a Half. Right, right, right. And the musical is, what's his name? Guido. Guido, thank you. Yeah. Guido, played by Antenna and Banderas. And then the rest of the cast is all women.

All women, yeah. It's an incredible show. And you have, you play his mistress. And you make your entrance in a bed sheet, right? You make your entrance and then exit in a bed sheet. From the ceiling. And it's this incredible seductive song. And the entire time you're doing like aerial ballet.

And it was so incredible and stunning and also just a feat of nature. But then also you sounded incredible, you looked incredible, you were, obviously you're an incredible actress. It was just like all these different things coming together and then I'd be like, oh, Jane also, I mean we all knew you could be a dining car

in Starlight Express, but really this really exceeded our expectations. Well I didn't know I could do any of that and none of that was in the original. So that wasn't part of the audition. No, not at all. I had come in prepared to give it my best shot and after my first audition,

they said it's probably not going to continue past here and I was like, I just don't know what I could do and I went back again and then they said, it's probably not going to happen. I have a brilliant agent at the time named Bill Butler. And he just, I said, Bill, you've got to get me a meeting with David. I have to explain why I need to play this part. I felt such an attachment to the character.

And I met with him again and I just told him how much I felt for the show and the production and getting to do this and the role, which was all so heartfelt and deep. And it was interesting, then I got the role and at the first day of rehearsal, he, you know, when they do their opening, they talk and which I love so much.

Oh yeah. He said, every one of you told me you were supposed to be here. And I don't know if that's what it took. It took to me to get to that place, and I thought that was so interesting, because for me that was very, very true. Oh, that looks gorgeous.

Oh, oh. Look. I love a table-side presentation. That does look really, really good. He's pouring the vegetables on all the ingredients of the soup. No, wait, the other way around. He's pouring the vegetables on all the ingredients of the soup. No wait, the other way around. He's pouring the soup on all the vegetables. I don't cut.

Thank you so much. Anyway, there were beautiful chicken soup ingredients, vegetables and chicken in the bowl, and then he put the soup on top. Beautiful broth. Oh my goodness. Yeah. Why did I get noisy?

Do it. Wow, I'm so. Jane's gonna have to slurp and chew. I told you I was not experienced at this podcast thing. Well, not every other one is. Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss 30 Rock happened. It was fun. I mean 30 Rock also is quite groundbreaking and just in terms of, I mean I feel like 30 Rock is one of those shows that opened the doors for shows like Modern Family. You know with that kind of

fly on the wall, single camera. Yeah. I just feel like there was an edginess to it that I feel like, I don't know, people were kind of shying away from. I think we were coming out of an era of obviously really successful multi-camera shows which tend to be more family friendly.

But there is a point where you can maybe go up to the line and get people a little uncomfortable. And laugh about it. I mean, that was definitely 30 Rock's thing. That absolutely was 30 Rock's thing. Yeah, yeah. Just an incredible experience and working with Tina Fey and Robert Carlock

and our group of writers. I mean, so many of the writers of 30 Rock have now gone on to make some of your favorite TV shows now. Yeah. And it was just, it was one of those times where I just, I loved the material so much. It matched a lot of my personal comedic sensibility and just wanted to be in it so hard.

And also to be staying in New York. I knew I was going to film in New York. Like those were even harder to get it feels like in a way. Or they sent it to me. Nothing was filming in New York. Very little was filmed in New York at the time. Yeah. So it was just a-

It was such a jackpot job. I remember. An amazing experience. And I just also, you know, when you guys were wrapping up, we were, I mean, there was an overlap for a little while. Yeah, for sure. But I remember specifically at the SAG Awards,

you all just being so generous and wonderful and like such advocates of ours. Yeah. But I remember specifically at the SAG Awards, you all just being so generous and wonderful and like such advocates of ours. And like, yeah, it just felt like there was, I know. You were the people that, you know, we finished winning and doing all of our things. Like you just talked about, you were the next group that came in.

The first year you guys lost is because we won one. It's like, it feels sort of like a passing of a torch. Yes, absolutely. It absolutely was. And so deserved. Yeah. So beautifully deserved. We're so lucky.

Very, very lucky. So lucky to have had those experiences. And Elaine Strich you got to work with, who I know is not the easiest. But I love her. One of my favorites, I hope I'll be allowed to share this story, but one of my favorite stories was that Elaine

was very good at picking her own wardrobe of things that she actually wanted to have in her life. Yes, I know this. You know this, okay. George Wolf told me this about. Oh, okay, okay. So she had, I think, that reputation and she came on 30 Rock,

there was a scene where she showed up for the rehearsal, like the camera blocking, we weren't in our wardrobe yet, in a full fur coat and fur hat. And she was like, you know, I've got to wear this. And we're like, but Elaine, you're in the hospital. You need to be in a hospital gown. And she goes, none of this, I have to have this on camera. I guess the chicken take it home.

It's the only way I get to keep it. And so they figured out a way. That's amazing. In her hospital bed, she has that fur hat with her. And I was like, Elaine, that's it again. It's amazing. Were in her hospital bed. She has that fur hat with her. And I was like, Elaine does it again. It's amazing. What a skill to learn. Astonishing.

Astonishing. Yeah, I would learn really interesting things from Ed O'Neill. These people have been in the industry for way longer than that. He would always, in a big group scene, his character would always have to go to the bathroom and then he would come back in out of the bathroom

for like, if the line was coming, he'd be like. That's awesome. And he'd be like back in out of the bathroom for like, you know, if it's not, line was coming, he'd like, that's awesome. And he'd be like, I'll put a toilet, like a flushing sound here. And then I come back. So he wouldn't have to be in the background while other people are shooting. So he basically was saving himself hours.

I'm just like standing around doing nothing in the background of someone else's scene. That's incredible. Yeah. That's amazing. Yeah. Now I've given his trick away. He's probably never be able to do it again.

Such a good idea. Oh my God. What else we need to talk about? I am so full with my suit. I know. Wait, how many years was Modern Family? Eleven. I know.

I know. Congratulations. Eleven years? I was actually, I mean, I've been thinking, and don't let this make you feel old again. Oh no. Please. But you between like, you've had, I mean I have one hit show. You've had three, I think substantial hits

between Kimmy Schmidt, 30 Rock, and Al McBeal. I mean you've basically been on our TV for on and off. Is that right? Yeah. Three decades. Oh not really, I mean. Two and a half. No, no, no, no, no, no. No, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Pack it up. Okay, let's one fifth of a century. Oh my God. I mean, what do you hope for next? I mean, are you hoping like another TV thing? I mean, you had obviously an incredible round with Tina Fey. I assume you'd follow her anywhere. Anywhere.

I don't know. I mean, you know, I live in New York and I have a 13-year-old son and I'm, I really, I mean, in this immediate moment I'd really like to do theater so I could be home and be with him and I miss that element of live performing. But I also, you know, I love what we do. I love the medium of television. So I don't know, I'm up for going back on TV too.

I think I'm just in this place of reading things and trying to figure out what will come to me next and what will be the next thing that resonates and that I feel that same passion for that I felt for these other jobs of really, really wanted to get them. I've come to realize that the decisions only become hard or difficult to make when...

It involves wigs. You should have worn the wig. It's a scene. It's nothing more than you should have said. You did it. The perfect callback. How many geniuses. There's nothing more that needs to be said. You did it. The perfect callback. Call me a genius.

Ha ha ha. So what were you gonna say? That is the natural end. Yeah, that is, yeah. But like when you have that feeling, like that you're like, I want nothing, I want to get nothing else but this job. Right, right, right, right.

And I just, I love that. Or like when you get scared. Like I think that's such a great thing when you read something and. And you feel like, I might have to pull this off. I want to do this, but can I pull this off? Yes. Right? That is so exhilarating to me.

That always means it's going to be something that I should do. Should do, same, exactly. That it's worth that diving in. Yeah, yeah. We're so similar, and with you being so much older than me, it's so surprising. That's a natural ending.

Well, Jane, I'm going to let you go ahead and get this dinner. Dinner's on you. It's got a new name, after it for one episode only. Oh my God. Oh, that is hilarious. I adore you. It's got a new name. I have to drink for one episode only. Oh my God. I adore you. Oh, that is hilarious. I love you so much. I love you so much.

I was just thinking the same exact thing. I love you so much. I love you so much. This episode of Dinner's on Me was recorded at Zaytenia in New York City. Next week on Dinners On Me, the chart-topping rapper-turned entrepreneur Iggy Azalea will get into why she chose to leave the music industry, trusting her creative intuition and her latest foray into crypto, tech, and OnlyFans. 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 search your free trial today. Dinner is 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.