Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Mary Elizabeth Ellis – on 20 years of 'Always Sunny’ and waking up next to Charlie Day

Episode Date: January 27, 2026

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

I'm heading up to Napa, the wine country soon for a little trip. It's me and my in-laws and my kids and some friends, I think, are also joining us. So we actually have a lot of needs. We need a space for a lot of people to stay. We want to be able to cook breakfast in the house. We want to maybe have a few dinners there. We want space for the kids to hang out and play, and we don't want to be too cramps. That's the main thing.

So we're staying at a home. I booked on Airbnb. Every time I stay at one, I'm reminded why I love them so much. It's the thoughtfulness. You walk in and everything's just handled. There are fresh towels that actually match and the heat's already on. And the kitchen has basics you always forgot to pack. And there's a clear note telling you how to work the fireplace so you don't set the place

or yourself on fire. And honestly, I've been thinking about hosting my own home on Airbnb while I'm away on trips, but managing everything seems like a lot to juggle. That's when I turned to Airbnb's co-host network. It's so great. You can partner with a local co-host who can manage everything, messaging guests, styling, making sure check-ins are smooth, all the little touches that make a stay feel effortless. So if you've been thinking about hosting, but all those details feel, you know, overwhelming, A co-host can help you create that, wow, they really thought of everything feeling without you having to become a full-time innkeeper. Find a co-host at Airbnb.com slash host.

This is not a drill. For the first time in lipstick on the room history, a real housewife has entered the studio. And not just any housewife, Rachel Zoe, the fashion legend herself. Did we expect styling stories, glam chaos, stories from the past decade, and a full cat eye at all times? Yes. Did we expect her to open up about divorce, rediscovering herself, joining housewives as a zero prep, and what it feels like to finally feel like her again? No. It is vulnerable, iconic, hilarious, and one of our favorite conversations ever. The real housewives have officially entered the chat. Listen now. Hey, it's Jesse. Today on the show, you know her from Santa Clara to Diet. It's always sunny in Philadelphia and a man on the inside. It's Mary Elizabeth Ellis. People come up and they're like, an adult human being.

And they're like, oh, my God, I grew up on you. And you're like, oh, shut the fuck up. But thank you so much. Yeah. This is Dinner's On Me. And I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. So today we are at Saviche Project in L.A.'s east side. It's off of Hyperion and Silver Lake.

I have been wanting to try this place for so long. Saviche Project has become this go-to spot for East Siders for, crudos and Cevici's, of course. And this is going to be perfect for my guest today because she's not only an East Cider, but also a Pescatarian.

I'm so excited to try this place. Okay, let's get to the conversation. Welcome, how are you guys today? So good. How are you? Excellent. Thank you so much. Can I offer you a glass of wine, a moktail?

I think I'm working with wine. I'll try a moktail. Yeah. I like to get into a mucal. with sparkling water. Great. You know what I won't have that. That's nice.

Excellent. Yeah. I'll be like. I might need something with the fish. It's a big hat. With lunch fish. Lunch fish. Yeah.

Definitely popular dishes are the scallops on a half shell if you like that. The tuna cones, the Campachi Tostada. Also the belly of the tuna, the sashimi. The coyote is a scalloped from Mexico. And I definitely recommend the special Ceviche that we have. What is your special? The snapper from Dorado with the Lece de Tigre.

It's very, very nice, with persimmon, gicama, and cucumbers. Okay, well, definitely get that. Yes. Let's see, I would also love, I want to try that tuna cone. Yeah, that sounds amazing. Okay, okay, I want also,

you talked about the one of the Tostadas. Yeah, the King Kampachi is fantastic. Okay. Villa is on the food critic of LA Times favorite. The total sashimi and the special I would definitely recommend. Okay. And if you like scallops, I would definitely recommend the scallop. Bring that out.

Bring that out. Excellent. Yeah. Yeah, a lot of people like just trust me and just send me whatever. Yeah. Let's do it. Amacosti style. All right?

Fantastic. Thank you. First of all, I want to know about, I mean, you're in a relationship with another actor. Yes. Charlie Day. Yes. I have dated actors, and I found it very challenging. When you and Charlie got together, was that a discussion that you had?

Was it just sort of like it was going to happen regardless? I mean, we were so young. I was 22, and he was 25. So I think we were like, let's have sex and that will be enough of this. And then we were like, oh, wait. Yeah. Did you meet on a job? I was doing a.

play in New York. So I moved here from Santa Maria because everything I had was in my car. You know, it was sort of like, do I go to New York? Do I go to L.A.? And then I got that job. I had friends who'd started a theater company in Chicago called The House Theater. So I was like, maybe Chicago, but I feel like Chicago is not it for me. So I was living here. I had friends who were in New York and they were like, one of them wrote a play. The other one was directing it. The director of the play had gone to Williamstown. And Charlie had gone to Williamstown Theater Festival. Yes.

So the friend who was directing it was like, I have these friends who are doing this play. So I went and saw this play called Throwdown about a yo-yo competition that Charlie was in. And he had been shooting Third Watch, that show that was happening in New York for a while. So he, like, rushed to get to the show. And after the show, like, everyone went out to a bar,

so we were all, like, drinking and stuff. And, yeah, he, like, hit on me, like, there was some drunk Irish dude, like hitting on me at the bar and Troy that was like I'll pretend to be your boyfriend so it was like that very cute and like innocent and we like hooked up that night and so we just sort of were like I don't know so it was nice one you you hooked up we hooked up but um nothing too lascivious and then like woke up the next morning and he was like oh shit I'm late for work and at the time he was the voice of IFC like tonight on IFC yeah so he was like I got to go to the

job and I just like you know it was like that time of life where you're like well I don't have anything to do until rehearsal at like 5 p.m so I just like hung out at his house and he what neighborhood did he live in the where the lower east side tenement museum is he lived in in that building no yes so you're like kind of like at the time I'm placing you around like the early 2001 okay so you're in downtown lower east side like You know, the kind of thing We're like, and everyone's smoking still It's like smoking inside because it's too cold to go outside And like they were on the like

Not ground floor but of the inside of a building You know It's well the Not the like entrance But the hole in the middle of a building Like if you're looking from above Where the orphans and Annie have to walk in a circle The courtyard, it's not courtyard, shaftway.

The shaftway. The shaftway. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Oh, that's so pretty. Your first fish, the Toro-Uni cone. That's a lot of uni. It's a very small uni.

It's very good. So the cone, like, you can slide it out of the paper. Okay. And then there's a vocato in the bottom. Okay. and enjoy. Okay, I'm excited. Okay, I'm excited.

Cheers. Cheers. Oh, don't eat your paper. Oh. There's go. Hey, I'm going to go for it. I'm just gonna go for it. I'm just gonna go for it.

My bag. Dump your honey in my neck. Okay. Mmm. That is really good. That is really good. That's delicious. Why were we talking about the vegetable,

the vest, oh, because that's where, because they lived on that floor. So like, you would open the window and it would be just like, the diapers that people had like put out of the window, you know? It was not classy.

I love stories about early in your compartment. Yeah, just like so gross and so small and I think Charlie lived in the closet as his room for a while, but by the time I got there. And when I went to his house and...

When you hooked up, were you in that little closet room? No, he had gotten... He had graduated to a real room. To the futon in the front room. Yes, exactly. And he lived with Jimmy Simpson. Do you know Jimmy? I do know Jimmy.

Yeah. Yeah. So they were roommates. They had met at Williamstown, I think. And Jimmy was dating Melanie Linsky at the time. Yes. My friend Jason Ritter's current lives. Yes, yes.

I love both of them. Current. Current. Love both of them. I love them. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

And he like picked up a guitar that night and like started just like, oh, whatever. I'm scared who plays guitar, you know. And he played like this random song that's one of my favorite songs that was like, how do you know to be of use by smog? Like, incredible. And I don't know. And then we just, I lived here. We did long distance for a little while.

And then he and Jimmy moved out here and we're looking for apartments together. And just were like the lowest of the low hanging fruit because from New York, you're like, well, I don't know. There's no diapers out the window. And I'm like, you can get like a window here in your room. Think better at ourselves. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so Charlie moved down and they lived together for a little while and then we like moved in and

Were you so we you did like long distance dating for a little while? For like a year I went and did another play I did Killer Joe Love that play. So good. What did you do that at? Artist Repertory Theater in Portland. Okay. Portland has great theater scene.

Yeah, they do. Yeah. So it was cool to do that. Yeah. I was so interesting. So, I mean, it's kind of, I don't know, I'm always fascinated with, like, people in their early 20s, like, attempting long distance. Oh, yeah. When you don't have to.

I mean, you both lived in cities that were, like, full of, like, eligible single people. And you're like, no, we're going to, like, make this more. And that's great. I mean, I definitely was like, you're not my boyfriend. Okay. And he was like, oh, okay. And then I was like, oh, okay, that's kind of attractive. But, like, he's like, whatever, sure.

But I will, I mean, we both were, but I was so young, like just out of college, you know? Yeah. It's, I mean, do you step back? Because I know, you know, now you've been married. You've been together for like a quarter of a century. Yeah. Longer than I haven't been with him. That's wild.

Yeah. And you have a son, right? I have an almost 14-year-old. Okay. Crazy. Yeah. I mean, you know, when you carry time with someone and you can, like, really think back of, like, those, like, early dirty apartments with the diapers out the window.

And then, like, you can be like, and also now we have a 14-year-old. And, like, it's kind of amazing and astonishing. I'm like, I find it incredibly moving. It's so moving. That you can, you know, share that life so fully with someone. I mean, it doesn't always work out that way. But, like, I mean, 25 years is an accomplishment. Yeah, it is.

I mean, it is, it will be our 20th wedding anniversary next year. That's incredible. Yeah. So you got very young. I was 26. That's one. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, we discussed navigating the ups and downs of show business

and what it's like to work with greats like Ted Danson, Mary Steenbergin, and Danny DeVito. Okay, be right back. Hey, Sal. Hank? What's going on? We haven't worked a case in years. I just bought my car in Carvana, and it was so easy, too easy. Think something's up?

You tell me. They got thousands of options. found a great car at a great price. And it got delivered the next day. It sounds like Carvona just makes it easy to buy your car, Hank. Yeah, you're right. Case closed. Buy your car today on Carvana. Delivery fees may apply.

And we're back with more dinners on me. All right, so this is the Dorat Civece. It's so pretty. It's so gorgeous. Leche de Tigre, which is made of the chilis, that I tell you from the farmer's market. Not spicy at all. Fruity and Perseman, Hicamacca.

There's some tostadas here. It's just pure corn. Yes. Gruton free and enjoy. Beautiful, thank you. The colors are so... They really are. Insane.

That's so beautiful. Yeah. I just feel like being, you know, an actor, choosing to be in this industry is so hard. It is. And like I said, I've dated actors very briefly, you know, before I, ever had success, but to navigate this industry with someone and then to both have success

within it. And then also to raise a 14-year-old or to raise a kid who's now 14 in a city like L.A., which is so different than Mississippi. So different. I mean, and yet to be at, you know, the 25-year mark, it's really, I don't know. I, I don't know. I, I don't know. I, I don't. I Like, what if the lows been like? Have there been, do you feel like there are times where it's like, this is? Definitely. Like, why am I still trying to do this? I don't want to do this anymore.

The rejection doesn't feel worth, like, the auditioning, you know, and putting myself out there. I definitely, I mean, look, we also have this, like, super special thing of having had, it's always sunny in Philadelphia for 20 years. Yeah, I mean, we. We shot season one the year before Charlie and I got married. I was 25. That's so crazy.

And I'm 46, so we've been doing it for so long that, like, also having had that to hold us. So it's never been like, oh, my God, I had zero work this year because we always had. You guys had that? You know? So I feel really lucky for that. It is that thing, too, right? of like, it's like being a gambling addict. Like when it's working, you're like, this is great.

It's always been great. It's so great. And then when you forget, like, the times that were so hard. But right before, I'm doing a man on the inside right now with my Sherin Ted Danson. And I do think, like, kind of right before it, I was like, I don't know if, I don't know if I still like this enough to the rejection is just so hard. And it just feels like that thing where you're like, I've been doing this for so long.

Will the hustle ever end? Right. But it won't. It's a lifestyle choice. It's part of the gig. Yeah, of being like, what's the next thing going to be? And if there's downtime, you know, or people are like, oh, my God, I loved you so much congratulations on your award.

What are you doing next? And you're like, just looking at my award. Can I just look at my award? You know? Taking a beat. Yeah. And it doesn't feel like there's time for that sometimes. But I think as like I get older, it's like, oh,

okay, like things come in waves and there is like, and now I like crave down time too to be like, maybe I'll draw or maybe I'll write something or maybe I'll like make something with clay, you know, and I feel really lucky that I get to do that. Yeah, yeah. Is it, I mean, I was watching just some, like a retrospective of always sunny

and always sunny and feel like, Philadelphia. Let's use the whole title. Why not? Um, and it, what struck me, and I started, I sort of felt this a little bit with modern family, just have it being 11 years, specifically with the kids, you know, because you really watch their kids grow up. But I mean, if you go back to the early episodes of always sending in Philadelphia, you all are like Muppet Babies. Yeah. You're tiny, tiny little people. We are. And it's, it's got to be so, crazy to have this, like basically like a photo album or like a slide show of your, of a, you know, 20 years of your life that also is shared with the world.

Yeah. Yeah. Right. It is. It's so interesting. And now, and I bet this has happened to you too, that people come up and they're like, an adult human being. And they're like, oh, my God, I grew up on you.

And you're like, oh, shut the fuck up. But thank you so much. Yeah. Yeah. totally up yeah because that means that i've been doing this for 20 years yeah yeah um but it is it's cool and and i mean i don't know if this is like overinflated ego stuff too but you know charlie and i talk about like how cool is it to be able to have been like part of what influence like people's comedy like what people find funny yeah for for so long you know right and as people

come up too and you know your kids aren't i'm sure into yet but like russell our son will sometimes be like what's just thing on youtube like it's so funny and then he shows it to us and we're like i don't get i don't get the joke like what's the but that's the crazy thing is that comedy i think really does change yeah you know jud appettoe i remember him saying like when he directs things now if he's a part of something now he really like to surround himself with new young talent because comedy is moving so quickly. He's like, I don't necessarily know it's funny now.

Yeah. Like I need them to tell me what's funny so I can keep up with, you know, how to create. Yes. And also wanting to be, though, like, well, is there still like a, can we like have a setup for the joke

before we knock it down? Like, what's the, yeah, what's the timing on things? Right. I do like watching new comedy shows to try to keep up as well. Right.

Yeah. Yeah, I do too. I don't know if I necessarily understand what's always happening. Yeah, agree. I'm such a huge fan of Danny DeVito. I just, I think

he's such a treasure. He's amazing. I mean, it's got to also be crazy like, oh, I've shared, you know, 20 years of my career with this guy. With a legend. It's a legend who, like, within that 20 years

has also, like, created new milestones in his legacy. And was only 60 when we started and is 81 years old. Wow. Yeah. So I think he was like 60, maybe two when we started because he came in on season two. And so funny too to be like 60s old and then be like something not that old. Right.

As we're approaching it. Yeah. Yeah. And then, yeah, and that he's 80 and he still has that much energy. And that's how it is working with Ted Danson too. Like, you're like, oh, I think, I think having a career in this keeps you young, too, because, like, you're having to learn all these lines and stay on top of what you're doing and really driving a show, you know? Right, fully, please that, for sure, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What are other things that about both Ted, Dancent and Davido that, like, would surprise us? Because I feel like we all, like, we know these people so well. Yeah. I mean, I grew up on them. Yeah. I just said the thing that we hate people say to us.

But I did grow up on that. Yeah, we did, yeah. And I don't know, I feel like I haven't totally figured out, but I'm sure. Yeah, I mean, I do think both of them are so, like, vulnerable and open. It's not like a, I mean, I'm like, I can probably say this on here because I'm sure. Sean Penn's probably not watching a podcast all the time. But I met Sean Penn once, like I was doing licorice pizza and he had a part in it. And the woman who was the hair person had worked with him a lot.

And I really like her, Lori. So she was like, Emmy, do you need to come in and get your hair done? Because Sean's in the trailer. And he was just very like, focused, like, sort of goes down here now. Someone like, thank you. Thank you. This is so good, by the way. Incredible.

All of sashimi with a fresh melon, shallot, and ginger, and a spicy ponzo. Here, I can move this. That is not that spicy. It's not spicy? It smells so good. But the sauce is like really, really good. Oh my god, that farms through. The presentation is so beautiful here.

That's beautiful. Thank you. So he was super focused. So he was just like, yeah, like doing his thing in the trailer, like very focused. And Lori's like, Sean, this is Emmy. And he's like, hello, like lights up. Hello, so nice to meet you. I'm Sean.

And I'm like, oh, hi, Sean. I'm Emmy. It's nice to meet you. And he's like, shh-shun. And like, closes back down. And I'm like, okay, I guess that interaction is finished now, you know? So I think just like all humans, right? Some people are able to, like, shine it out all the time and be like, this is who I am.

I'm totally vulnerable. I'm totally open. And some people are like, you'll get what I give you. And the rest of it's like for me and for, you know. Right. Now let's take a quick break, but don't go anywhere. When we return, Mary tells me about how she and her husband, Charlie Day, navigate, raising a teenager in Hollywood. And I share what it's like to have Nathan Lane at a family dinner.

Okay, be right back. And we're back with more dinners on. mean. Talk to me about like parenting in L.A. I mean, do people stop you and Charlie together and like say things about being fans and how do you deal with your kids seeing or your son seeing that? Yeah. I think for a while he didn't kind of notice it. And honestly, only one time he was having a crazy meltdown in an airport and I was holding him and he was like, screaming and crying and someone came out to me and was like, can I get a picture? And I was like, no.

No, no. No. Uh-huh. But I feel like normally people are like super nice and because Sunny has always felt like a, I don't know, edgy, like not in the middle kind of thing. Like when people come up, it feels like, oh, you're cool. Yeah. No, for sure. You know?

Yeah. And then there was a time. And then there got to be a time where people would be like, can I get a picture of both of you? And Russell would be like, I'm going to get on it. And we're always like, yeah, you're a private citizen. And now he's old enough to, he's like, I don't care. And one thing that's cool about living in L.A.

is that, like, he goes to school with, like, Jason Bateman's kid and, like, PJ's kid, Johnny and Oxwell's kid, you know? So, like, you're not, it's not super weird to have, like, the parents that act because, like, a lot of people's parents act, you know? And, like, the Rock's kids go to that school. So, like, also, like, we your parents aren't that important. Right, exactly. We're trying to get to the Rock.

That's right. That's right. Yeah, I never thought about it that way, that it actually is nice for them to have friends that they can commiserate about that with, like... Yeah, like, your parents are... What are our parents do? Why are they on location?

Why are they on, like, put on, like, wiggs and pretend to be other people? Yes. So weird. And they're, like, always gone. They're, like, always on location and, like, you know? Yeah, for sure. Sure. Because when you think about moving somewhere else, you're like, where am I going?

Right. Where did your husband grow up? Close. Seamy Valley. Okay. Yeah, so he's like a lot of his family is still very close. That's very nice. We have this lovely setup where, like, you know, the kids have their grandparents really

near and nearby and their uncles and cousins are all close. So that's, that's nice. That's incredible. Yeah. And you were born in Montana? I was. How did you know that? The internet. I didn't grow up in Montana.

I was born there, and then we moved to Albuquerque shortly after I was born. Okay. And that's where I was raised. So you grew up in Albuquerque? Yeah. I was just in Santa Fe. Were you? Yes.

What were you doing there? My friend's 50th birthday. God, that place is amazing. It really is. Where did you guys go? Well, I had gone to, I had done a summer in Taos. Oh, also lovely. They have like a summer, they have like a program in Taos. And it was so gorgeous and so special and I had never been to New Mexico before.

And like that landscape and the cloud shadows and just expansiveness and watching the storms roll in. It's just so gorgeous. Yeah, yeah. All right, so this is our most popular tostada here, the Campachi. testada, so feel free just to like put your fork and then we'll break and then just like okay gorgeous. So it's a Kampachi, avocado in the bottom, grapefruit, ruddly sprout, and a little bit of trout row. Wow. That's really beautiful. Thank you. Yes. Yes, it's so good. I'm good right now. Not me. Thank you. Thank you. Wait, have you turned 50 yet? No.

Coming up? Um, I'm 46, so we've already saw the next year. God, you're so not. Baby. You are, really? Yeah. I just had a 50th this year. Happy birthday. Thank you.

I got to tell you, I and maybe it's part of it's like just being a dad now, I feel so much happier, not happier, fully realized as a 50-year-old and I did as a 40-year-old. And,

you know, the past like year has been really about two years have been really lovely. Like it's been nice sort of coming out on the other end of this and like turning 50 and sort of feeling I don't know a little bit like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon a little in a weird way. Like I just I've really loved being 50 and I just I'm happy with with where my life is. I mean I would like, you know, I think we all like want anyone in this in the entertainment

business I feel like wants more and it's like more like more operational. opportunity and more, you know, you want people to look at you in a more full way. I feel like, you know, this industry puts people in boxes a lot, and that's still something that I struggle with. But, you know, personally, I'm like, the box of my family, like, is a really lovely place to be. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. It is so having kids, I think, like, my friends who don't have kids who are still like, do I have kids, who are still like, do I have kids? Sometimes I'm like, don't do it. Yeah, totally, yeah, yeah. Because it is a lifetime commitment of, like, raising a person and showing up and doing that work. But there is also nothing more fulfilling.

And I feel like the way that my son has mirrored my shit back to me, you know, to make me look at things in a way that I probably couldn't have if I were just, like, on my own. Same with my partner, you know, same with Charlie. like, oh, it's not cute when I act like that or like, that's actually hurtful when I, when my own pain that I'm like trying to deal with comes out at that person. Right. It is cool getting older.

I mean, yeah. Do I want my entire body to be pulled up like panty hose? Yes. Just pull it all the way up. We live in L.A. We can do that. It's true. There's a doctor who will make the body.

The panty hose. I got the panty hose surgery. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They just pull it off from the very... We were joking about that, like, and then they tie it in and out of the top and cut it off. And you have, like, a bumpet.

That's right. That's a bumpet. Yeah. Yeah, like, it's weird to watch your body get older, but it's also, it also is just like, I don't know, lovely. So the industry, I mean, the changes from when we came in and started. And even from, like, doing 24 episodes of television, And it's so weird and wild and different.

And I do feel like everyone's sort of on like unsteady footing of like, what is this? What are we in? What are we going into? Right. I don't know. I do think that's why theater is exciting right now too. Totally.

Right, friends, how are you guys doing? So good, thank you. Great. So good. This is like a Sibba screwed up with a chili morita sauce and olive oil and lemon, salt, and chips. That's so pretty. Enjoy it.

I do love your new show. I think it's so great. Oh, thank you. And I was meant to do a play with Mary Steenbergin at Williamstown. Amazing. She was meant to play my mother. And I was so excited. She had to drop out.

And I never got to meet her. Here was this. This was 2000. It was a year before the pandemic. So 2019. Was it because she was, no. I said it was because she was doing your show, but that's, no. 2019.

And then I went to an event for Kristen Bell, who's a buddy of mine. And she and Ted dancing her buds from The Good Place. Yes. And so I finally got to meet her there. And I was like, she's not going to remember. like that she probably like that was probably something that she passed on this and didn't even even look at the cast list she came right up to me she's like I am so upset that I had to drop out of that play and she was so lovely she really is so she's joined the show this season right she did

the show this season yeah she plays like ted's new love interest so sweet because in the first season he loses his wife who's my mom but we never meet that character yeah um I And yeah, I mean, working with Ted was cool, but working with Mary, especially as a woman, like, and growing up watching her, and she was always so cool, but interesting. And, yeah. Do you mean, I know, do you ever see parallels in, like, you are also in a relationship for someone that you worked closely with, but you have worked closely with? Yeah. and have built, you know, a huge life with and have had great success with in this industry. And then, you know, you look at someone like Ted and Mary and, you know, here they are.

Like, what an amazing thing to have, like, this life together? And then, like, how this thing come up and, like, the latter part of your life that you get to work together and, like, we kindle love on screen. Yeah. That's really special. It's so special. And I feel like most of the publicity of this season was, like, their love. love story, like everyone being like, it's so cool that you guys are getting to work together. How did you fall in love? And I mean, he's so, they just, you know, you have a thing in a

relationship too, right? Where he's like, so into her like a little puppy kind of. And she's like, Teddy, you know, stuff it. And it's so fun to be around that and see it. And it's interesting too, right? Because like in most careers, people are like looking. to retirement. And for us, we're like, oh, my God, I hope I'm still getting to do that when I'm, or I do. Do you feel that way?

Oh, 100%. I mean, I find stories like this when you see people like Danny DeBito and Ted Danson who are having these opportunities. I think about this with Ed O'Neill as well to play my dad, a modern family. Like, you know, he never thought that after married with children that he would have any sort of success like that.

And to have something that actually not only matched married with children, but that he was sort of critically celebrated in a way that he never was with married with children, really gives me, you know, I don't want to say hope, because it's not like I will be sad if I don't get that, but it gives me, like, excitement about what could come, like potentially could happen for any of us. Yeah. Yeah, it's really, it's really awesome. Do you have people that you look to, to, like, guide you through, you know, this life and being an artist. That's a great question.

I don't talk to like someone like Mary Steenbergin or someone, but I totally should. I mean, I would say it's more contemporaries, right? Like people who came up in UCB, where we get to sort of commiserate together and be like, this is hard, this is hard. But like, it feels really nice because I feel like, too, I came up in a time.

where like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears and Christine Aguilera, where we were like just trying to rip women down and be so judgmental of them. And like, it feels really nice that the tides kind of turned. And now it's like women supporting women and like cheering for each other. Seems to be more the vibe. And I really appreciate like the contemporary women

that I have come up with. Yeah. How about you? Yeah, I mean, I always talk about nature. It's someone that I really admire and have to look up to and was so lucky that our paths crossed. And I was able to, you know, I can't call him a friend. And like I could really like, you know, grill him about, you know, how he straddled a career in theater and television and film. And just, you know, someone who's, you know, been queer, openly queer in this industry for a long time.

And I grew up in very different times. or came up to this industry in very different times. But, you know, I find a lot of his advice to be... It's so funny, because I don't even think he's, like, trying to give me advice, but I think just, like, his sort of, like, sense of humor and, you know, willingness to just be himself around me is, like, I can take things from all that.

He came to our house together, like, a few weeks ago for dinner. He was in town shooting stuff. And we've been trying to meet for dinner. And it was just easier. I was like, do you just want me to cook for you? I'll cook for you. And he came over. He's like, do you mind if I bring Pam Adlon along as well?

And I know Pam a little bit. He's like, yes, please bring Pam. I love her. And so I told my kids, is like, you know, my friend Nathan is coming over. And he's bringing our friend Pam. And I was like, you know, you know, Nathan, of course, you've listened to him. You've listened to Lion King.

Like, you know his voice from Lion King. So I played, like, Hakuna Matata. And, like, on the way to school, they were, like, singing Hakuna Matata. And, like, I was like, this is Nathan. This is coming to dinner. So that evening, Nathan comes over with Pam. And, um, and Nathan comes in, and my son goes,

I know who you are. You call him, uh, Aethon, Aethon, Aethon. Aethon, I know who you are. You're from Hakuna Matata. You're from Lion King. And Nathan was like, oh, God. Like, because if he was being stopped on the street by a fan, he's like, oh, God. I was like, Nathan, he's a five-year-old.

Like, let a rest. Yeah. And then, um, and then Beckett went off into his room and, like, came back with something hidden behind his back. And, um, he's like, Athen, Athin, Athin, guess what I have? And Nathan goes, hepatitis. That's amazing. I was like, I loved him so much for just being authentically himself. Like, he's like, I don't, I don't mind.

kids, but I also don't relate to them. And I'm going to, I hear an opportunity for a joke, and this is what I'm going to slide in. Yeah, it's going to slide in. And wasn't hepatitis that your son had brought up? Yeah, that's behind his back. Yeah, behind his back. Surprise. Yeah, it's pretty. That's amazing.

Funny. Yeah, it is, I know, it's, it is funny when the world's mixed, and it must be so wild for people whose kids, because we have so many friends whose kids now want to be actors and are like starting to act. And that's how I felt about, like, Dan Levy, probably working busy. Yeah, Dan's a really good friend of mine.

Yeah. I just was always like, oh, my God, Catherine O'Hara has known this person since he was born. And, like, to be able to... Hire her and to do something. Yeah. Must be so amazing. So cool, for sure. Yeah.

So I'm like, great, let's raise the next generation to put us in there great things. My kids seem very funny. So get on it. Thanks for doing this. Oh my God. I'm so happy to. Next week on Dinner's On Me, you know him from The Bachelor, from coming out Colton. He's a bestselling author. He's a podcast host.

And he's on the new season of the Traders. It's Colton Underwood. 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. Dinner's 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 Alyssa Midcalf. Sam Bear engineered this episode. Hans Dale She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tamika Balance Kalasni and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Join me next week.