Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - RE-RUN: Rico Rodriguez — 'Modern Family’s’ Manny spills what it’s like to have Sofia Vergara and Ed O’Neill as on-camera parents

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

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

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That's rocketmoney.com slash dinner. RocketMoney.com slash dinner. Hi, it's Jesse. Today on the show, you know him as Manuel Alberto, Javier, Alejandro Ramirez, Delgado, a.k.a. my stepbrother, Mani on Modern Family. It's Rico Rodriguez. Well, you're working with Ed O'Neill. I'm like, who's that? And they're like, oh, you know, from Married with Children, I'm like, okay. I've never heard of that show. And then they're like, love in me. And they're singing to me. I'm like, I have no idea what this is. What are you talking about? Yeah.

But then I see Sophia. I'm like, oh, the good lady from Medea. From Medea goes to jail. I love her. This is Dinner's On Me, and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. I always love having friends of mine from Modern Family on the show. It's always a really special thing to go back and revisit those incredible years that we had together. I think everyone has such unique perspectives of the same experience. And I love talking to all the people from Modern Family who have come onto the show. Or even some of our guest stars like Nathan Lane and Elizabeth Banks and talk about their experience on the show. I really do love, though, talking to the kids because they have such an interesting perspective.

Also, kids' brains are like sponges, and they remember details that I just do not remember. I always have to remind myself, like, how long of a period of time it was for these kids to be on Modern Family. You know, I think about the years between first grade and high school. That's 12 years. And when I was a kid, it seemed like just forever. And I keep thinking, that's basically how long these kids did modern family. And it was such a huge chunk of their lives. And I just always love hearing their point of view of that incredible time at that incredible age when so much is happening.

I hadn't seen Rico in quite some time. In fact, I think we figured out that the last time I saw him was when we all gathered together at Sophia Vergara's house for a family reunion, and I had not seen him since then. So it was so great reuniting with Rico, and I got to also see a sister Rainey, who I adore as well. But it was so wonderful meeting up with him, having burgers, and just catching up. How are you?

You can see you too. I brought Rico to heavy-handed in Studio City, California. Heavy-handed is the smash burger sensation that started as a, a beloved food truck and now has a brick and mortar location in the valley, also Santa Monica and in Silver Lake. The menu is tight, focused, and irresistible. Think double patty smash burgers with crispy, lacy edges and gooey melted cheese stacked on pellowy buns. This was my first time at heavy-handed, but it's officially in rotation now. And yes, immediately after recording, I ordered a burger and fries to go for my husband, Justin, because nothing says I love you like

coming home with a smash burger, and also the willpower not to sneak a bite on the drive home. Okay, let's get to the conversation. Wait, did you drive here? I did. Yeah. This is a big news for me. So, for those who don't know, for the longest time, I never wanted to drive. It's not that I didn't want to. I wasn't ready for it. So, like, for an episode, I had to operate the car. So usually, like, they'll put it on a rig so that you don't have to Yeah, they basically put the car on a, like, a flatbed truck, and then someone drives it and you just look like you're driving. Right. But in this case, they had to do an exterior shot of the car, of me driving it. And it was very brief. It was like a thing where I was backing up.

It's a great shot. Isn't it like you in slow motion, like giving like a nod? Well, yeah, that one was one of my favorite scenes. But a little bit later on in the series, it was one where I like had like back in and like it was one of those episodes. Remember we did one where each act was one whole storyline for each family? Called five minutes, I think. Yes, okay. So that one, I was operating the car and, like, I hit the curb. And then Jay was like, let me get in the car. And then, like, we each, like, take turns driving in some place.

Well, because I was operating the car, I didn't have my license. I have a permit or anything. Yeah. So they're like, maybe you ought to get one. So you have a test on, you know, Friday. Production sets you up with the driving test. You better pass it so we can film Monday. I'm like, okay, here we go.

So then I literally had, like, less than 24 hours to read the whole manual to get everything. I passed, got my permit so I can drive it. And I was like, all right, here we go. This is the jump start to getting my license. And then I just let that thing expire for a while. And then I guess I told my family that I wanted to get my license before I turned 21. Uh-huh. And then a week before I turned 21, they go, oh, so are you going to get it?

I'm like, I said that. Uh-huh. And they're like, yeah. I'm like, oh, snap. Okay. Well, then, so then I was like, whoa, let me go get it. So I went to go do my written test. And they were like, okay, great.

you want to go do your driving test? I'm like, I really haven't practiced much, but why not? I go and I passed like first try. Yeah. And you probably were super careful, I imagine. Oh, yeah, yeah. Because like, I had driven the car before,

so I was comfortable with it. But like, so then after I passed, they're like, let's go eat. And I was like, you know what, guys, I need to take a break from driving. This is too much already. I'm like, all stiff. Your brain is hurting.

I'm stiff. I'm like, no, I can't do it. But yeah. Because, I mean, you started Modern Family when you were 10, so you were very far away from driving. But I remember Eric, I think in season one, didn't he make some sort of promise with you with the car? Yeah, so he drove this a really nice white truck that I was like, you know, being a Texas boy, I'm like, oh, a truck like that. And so he was like, oh, you want that?

He goes, okay, if this show runs, you know, 10 seasons, you can keep it. I'll give it to you or something. It was some like gaudy number. And sure enough, it came about. I was like, so, Eric, we made it. And he's like, oh, I don't have the truck anymore. That trip was long gone. You've been to like three cars since then.

Yeah. Yeah. That's so funny. Hey. Welcome to heavy-handed. Hi. First time, I believe. Have you been here? No.

Oh, I haven't heard. Let me go over the menu with you. Basically, heavy-handed is all for the smash burgers. Short rib. So they're not smashed all the way, you know, really thick. We still keep them a little thin to keep the juice in there. I always recommend the double. It's the way to go.

It's enough meat for the bun and everything in there. If you like a little spicy, you can. Could I have chopped chilies. Ooh. We also have heavy fries, which. Is that just fries with the sauce? Yes. So it comes with everything that comes in the burger on top of the fries as well.

Wow. Okay. Yeah. Nice. What would you like? I mean, I'll do a double. A double. A double.

I think, okay, so the combo has fries? Yes. Okay, yes. You're not upgraded to heavy fries or just keep it regular fries? I'm going to do regular fries, but I'm going to do chilies. On the burger. On the burger. You got it.

And for you? I'll also do the double with no pickles and no pickles and no onions, please. And then regular fries on the side. Regular fries as well? We're scared of the heavy fries. Yeah, I mean, with the word heavy, I mean, you know, there was light fries. I'm like, okay. I understand. Okay. And what do you want, do you want something to drink? Yeah. I do a Sprite, please.

A Sprite, you got it. I'll do a Diet Coke. Diet Coke. Okay. Yes. You got it. All right. I'll be right back. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I can't wait to try. I love me a good burger. Oh, me too. I love me a good burger. Um, okay. I know you've told this story before to me, but like, you were very shy kid. I was a very shy kid. I was a very shy kid. shy kid. You sort of kind of fell into this industry because your older sister Rainey, who I adore.

She's great. She's great. She said hi. I will. Was already in the business. And you were, what I understand, tagging along for an audition? Yeah. So my sister Rainey, she was, I mean, she, trailblazed, she brought us to California. I mean, at 11, you know, so we're all young.

From Texas. From Texas. From our hometown of Brian College Station shout out. And so my first head shots were like by accident. My sister was taking them and I was in like a Power Rangers shirt, two front teeth missing, so on, like not Hollywood at all. And I took those as my first headshots and I used those for when I first started. You still use them. Oh, yes, of course.

These are fake ones. And so fast forward a little bit, you know, seeing her kind of do her thing, you know, she's always wanted to be on Disney Channel. And so she was able to guest on The Sweet Life of Zach and Cody. And that was kind of like, whoa, she's living out her dream. So I saw that. And then little did we know. It was like something that like, yeah.

Yeah, I want to do this. And acting became something that was the most passionate thing I was passionate about. What was it like seeing your sister on TV? Oh, it was awesome. Well, seeing her on set because, I mean, being kids, you know, me and my mom and my sister were all, we all run in packs. It's just us three. You know, my dad was in Texas making money so we can live out here, you know. And your dad had a tire shop in Texas.

Okay, got it. And your brothers were with him. Well, so my mom was with us. And then my dad and my two older brothers were together over there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so, yeah, and just seeing her do her thing and just, like, seeing the kind of the passion she had, it just kind of was like, I want to do that. Like, that inspires me to do because she's having so much fun. And, I mean, I look up to my sister, even though she's shorter than me, I look up to my sister. I look up to my sister a lot. So it's really cool. It's, you know, I have two kids now. And, like, seeing how my youngest one looks up to his older brother, I mean, like, he just wants to do whatever he does. I love that. And he's fearless about it, too. It's like, Beckett's the Trailblazer. And Sully's just like, yeah, let's. Let's go. Let's do it, yeah. So I could totally understand how you would fall in love with it

just because, you know, your sister, who you definitely look up to, I know how close you two are. Yes. You know, it's seeing her enjoy that so much, probably was a huge motivator for you. Oh, for sure. Do you remember your audition for Modern Family? I do.

I do. So I kind of had very quick success in the industry. Like, my first three auditions, I booked all three, like right away. Oh, wow. I mean, it's so not heard of. You did not know rejection. No, no. And so then, so like, by the time, Modern and Family,

rolled around. I have been lucky to have been on like every major network in like a guest starring role in some show. So the last one was ABC. And so before that, I had auditioned for like a couple other series roles where I got really close for and to the point where it was like testing. And so, you know, I didn't get him for whatever reason. But, you know, my parents always instilled like a keep going mentality. Like, hey, you know what? It's okay. It happens. We move on. We keep going to the next one. And then modern family rolled around, which at the time was my American family. That's right. Yeah. The original title. I got the audition.

I went in, and I read in front of Alan and Jeff. Other casting directors, yeah. And so it was kind of crazy because I had went in with a completely different take on Mani. It was like a player, and like he was too cool for school. And it was like literally the complete opposite to what we know him today. And Jeff liked it. He was like, that was great. He goes, but he goes, we see Mani as like an old soul, like Antonio Bandaris in a kid's body.

And I go, oh, I'm like, oh, okay. Did you know that reference? I didn't know. I was like, oh, okay, so he wants me to be pissing boots. Gotcha, okay, I can do that. And so luckily I got a callback for it. Anyway, even though I came in with the complete opposite tape. Right.

I came in for the second audition, and they were like, Jeff was like, oh, thank you for taking the notes and whatever. It was so good, you know, that's exactly what we're looking for, yada, yada. Then I didn't hear anything for like a month. And I was like, well, okay, that was another one I didn't get. and whatever. And so then little did I know they were casting, you know, making sure they were putting Sophia and they were casting it,

they casting all the rest of them. And what's kind of funny is I had knew Nolan before the series started. We were both going to the same acting class. Oh, no way. I didn't know you guys knew each other. Yeah, so it was like we knew each other for like a few months before.

And so we were kind of going through this journey together in a way of like every time we meet up for class, we were like, oh, I saw you at the audition. Oh, how did you do? Oh, it went good. And then the next week, oh, how did it go? And it kept going until like, we booked it. And then we were on set together.

Did you guys book it around the same time, do you think? Yeah. Yeah. And so did you have conversations about, oh, yeah. And it was so cool because, I mean, and even Ariel, I even knew Ariel before because I had worked with her on a movie she did. And she couldn't have been the coolest person. So it was really neat seeing them and seeing Nolan at the auditioning code kind of felt

like already a, like a familial thing. Yeah, yeah. And we all kind of like, okay, maybe we're all destined to do this kind of thing together. Totally. And yeah. And yeah, it's kind of how it all, like, shook out. I mean, that's got to be where, obviously, I didn't test for TV shows when I was a kid, but, like, even as an adult, like, it's really intimidating.

It's daunting. Do you remember being scared by that, or was it intimidation? I mean, it doesn't sound like you were. I don't even know, do kids that age even, like, know to be scared about something like that? No, I think, I think. Scary might be the wrong word. A lot of the things when your kid is, like, you're kind of fearless. You don't know, so being able to be kind of fearless in that way was really fun to be able to do.

Oh, here we go. And I guess you don't need a thank you so much. Thank you. I'm going to take a picture. because the phone eats first. Thank you. What I was going to say was, do you even, like, have a comprehension of like,

I mean, as an adult, you're signing contracts, you're seeing money, you're seeing like, oh, I'm going to be able to provide for myself. As a kid, is it kind of more like, oh, this is just a fun thing I'm going to get to do? At the end of the day, when I was auditioning, it was all fun. Everything that, even to today,

it's everything that I do, it's fun. I was such an excitable kid, and now I'm an excitable adult to where every little thing, It's like, it's fun. I love this industry. And what was interesting is so, you know how you were saying like something like being nervous or daunting?

I had audition for Jeff Greenberg prior for a, like a role in Ugly Betty. And he made me cry. Oh, really? In the audition room. Did you ever tell him this? I think I did. Or he probably saw it. Well, and it was for something like it was some choir kid and I had to like sing or whatever.

He wasn't mean. He was just like, I don't know, like a stern or just like he was there. He wasn't giving. me no expressions or anything. And so then when I auditioned for a hundred family, I saw him like, oh, no. And then come to find out later on, I mean, he's the nicest person in all of hot. He is the, and it, you know, changed my life. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Also, I mean, I have to remind myself that, you know, they're seeing so many people for these roles and they're just trying to find the right person for it. So, like, you know, if someone's not right, it's sort of like in your mind, you probably think, okay, like, they're great and they're talented, but they're not for this role and you probably shut down a little bit. Yeah, and so it was like, you know, sometimes, you know, they always say like

the best auditions are the ones you don't really remember. Like when you leave and you kind of just don't really remember what you did. And that's kind of what happened, you know, in the audition side, it was for when I was in the car with Jay and Gloria, and I was talking about like, I want to talk to Brenda Feldman, I was going to give her a flower and go pick flowers and all that.

And in the end of the scene, I run out of the car. So in the audition room, I just bolt to the door, door. And everyone was like, what's this kid running for? And they were like, oh, okay, well, thank you. And I just walked out. And then we were driving home, and that's when I got the call that they booked me like, you know, 30 minutes later. It's crazy. Yeah, when they know, they know, it's interesting. This is really good, by the way. It's not a great smash for me. I know. This is, like, going to be on my regular spot list. Yes, for sure. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Rico tells me about his on-set

antics with co-star Nolan Gould. Also, his first impressions of his on-screen parents, Ed O'Neill and Sophia Vergara. Okay, be right back. You know, it's that time of the year. Yep, when your routine starts to unravel a little, the travel, the late nights, the, let's just grab something quick meals. Yeah, yeah, it's here. That time of the year's here. That's honestly why I started drinking AG1.

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And we're back with more dinners on me. When, you know, we all got together for the first time, we sort of did a pre-table read before table read for the network. And I think we even had a rehearsal before that. I just remember walking into the big room. And it's like that thing where you kind of like feel it's going to be something. And even at that young age, I could feel this was something. Yeah.

Like, it just, it felt right. It felt like we were supposed to be there at that time doing this thing together and and that's what it came out to be. I mean, I completely agree with you. I always think about, you know, no one's been a guest on this podcast. Yes, I'm a listener, by the way. You do great work. Oh, thanks, Rico.

Very, very fun podcast. Thank you. But obviously, Sarah was older than you all. I know Aubrey's talked about this too, but just, you know, navigating being a kid and growing up on TV. I'm sure it was such a. luxury and such a security blanket, knowing that you had other kids your age. Oh, for sure. They're doing the same thing and the same boat.

And I'm so glad you did. I think it probably, you were able to bounce off each other and also be like, is this crazy for you? Because it's crazy for me. Exactly. But like, you know, even going to school together because, you know, you had to go to school on set. I mean, no one talked a little bit about like feeling like even though he had you all, there

was a bit of a separation. Like he felt like he wasn't necessarily able to really always relate to kids who. who were his age because he didn't get to, like, go to school in a traditional sense. I think, I think speaking for me, I think I never really found, because that's what a lot of people are like, oh, well, kids in Hollywood, you know, they, you know, getting to not experience something like high school or proms or stuff like that or social events with, and I never really felt that way because I think, like I said, at such a young age, my parents kind of instilled this kind of like a worth,

ethic in me to where it was like I knew what I was here for I was here for a job and work because I had no problem going home and being a kid being rambunctious going rolling the dirt if I wanted to but when I was on set hey make sure you know your lines be prepared and then after you're wrapped and you're on the way home you can be a kid you go take out the trash you go clean the house clean the room you know all that doesn't all that doesn't stop right what was it like I always thought about this for the Aubrey too because like she would go away and have to do schoolwork and then come back and I was like what is it like I'd actually never asked to be in a scene you know doing a show for modern family was you know Sophia and Ed and then like

have to go and do science or whatever and then come back like it must be so weird you know it's interesting because some some episodes manny would pop in yeah and then say a funny quip as he would yeah um and then he would you know walk out and then come back later but then sometimes since he was such an old soul he would have these like big paragraphs and words that I had no idea what I was saying. I would look up online or I would ask my studio teacher Sharon, Ms. Sharon. I would ask her, hey, what does this mean? Why are they laughing? And so she would explain to me. I go, oh, okay, I understand now. But it was crazy because sometimes you would have these big chunky dialogues and then you would rehearse it and you got to go and you have a math

test. I'm like, well, I don't know division. Like, what am I going to do? And then, you know, I would go answer the first three questions of 20 and go back to film. That's wild to me. It's crazy. It's like, it's the craziest thing to do. I mean, I can only imagine how hard that could be. It definitely posed it's like challenges but I think let me just say something

yeah Montefan was the best and the people that worked on the show were even better like the show was great I mean it's one of the greats

but there are cast and crew and just and just the work environment was just so amazing that's like we would get other cast from other sets

on the lot like wow that looks awesome like we're over here 16 hours and we're finishing before lunch like that's unheard of yeah

But to be able to balance that kind of like work and child and school, it was so, it was easy because the, the crew and the cast, they made it fun. They made, you know, a lot of the crew members would keep you a kid. They would do fun things around. I mean, I'm sure it's been, we did the Nerf war on set. And Brian Cranston, our director of the week was, you know, joining us. But like, they didn't stop us from wanting to do fun things like that. I mean, you and Nolan, I would want to take a nap between scenes and you and Nolan were off, like, writing screenplays. Oh, yeah, parkour.

Yeah, exactly. What we thought was parkour. Yeah. I mean, you had so much energy. I remember Pai and I thinking, like, if I could just have an ounce of that energy right now. Yeah, it was so fun because also it was us three, like the kids. So we always kind of like, Ariel was one and we're like,

relax, guys. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And we're like, no, we got to keep going. Yeah, you were boys. I mean, you also got to do things that so few people just who get TV jobs in general get to do, like travel to Hawaii, travel to Paris, travel to Disneyland. We've got to be, like, backstage at Disneyland, like, crazy. I mean, what are some of your favorite memories from those episodes?

I think, I think it's kind of one of those, like, oh, we're doing something. It's when we went to Hawaii. Yeah. Because, like, I've never been. Which wasn't season one, by the way. Yes. Which is crazy. Crazy.

Usually work up to that. Yeah, and we just did it. Oh, we'll go Hawaii. Why not? I think, I don't know. Which, by the way, is one of my favorite episodes. Oh, it's so good. It's not just a travel episode.

It's actually a really good episode. Such a fun story. Our writers are awesome to create some really fun storylines around. a place. Yeah. You know, I'm not the really like the traveling type. So like if I wasn't in working and busy in California, when I had a good little chunk off, I would go back to Texas and go visit my family.

So luckily I got to travel to really amazing places because of my work. And so like Australia was crazy. I mean, Hawaii, I had such a good time at Jacksonville because it was like, we're all in little cabins and like, it was so cool. It was the coolest thing. I mean, I was so lucky to be. one on a really awesome show, but that the show can take it to new heights

and go these places that I never imagined I'd ever go. Paris. I know. I felt like field trips, you know. Oh, so much fun. It was always a question, the age-old question. Like, oh, where are we going this year, guys? And everyone would have, like, little rumors.

Oh, I think we're going here this year. I know. Italy was someplace I kept talking about, but it never happened. Yeah. I don't. And usually I would be like one of the last to know because I'll be in the school room the whole time. And they're like, oh, are you ready for your trip?

I'm like, trip to where? What have you heard? I'm 11. Yeah, that's right. I think, you know, one of the reasons, obviously, the show did so well, and, you know, we had such a great time was because of that chemistry. And you and Ed and Sophia really had incredible chemistry. We shared, you know, Ed O'Neill as, you know, a stepfather for you and a father for me on the show.

And I, I mean, I couldn't adore that man more. Like, he reminds me so much of my dad in real life. Yep, same. Sometimes he butt dials me by accident. Oh, I love it. I always turn it into, like, a half-hour conversation. But I, what was, what was it like for you to have those two people as your parents on the show? And also Benjamin Brad is, you know, your birth dad, yeah.

But what was it like for you with those people's your parents? You know, they're just such legends in their field. And it's kind of funny because I hadn't, I had no idea who Ed was when we first got on the show. I had no idea who he was. Like my dad was like, oh, you're working with Ed O'Neill. I'm like, who's that? And they're like, oh, you know, from married with children. I'm like, okay, I don't, I've never heard of that show.

And then they're like, hmm, love in me. And they're singing to me. I'm like, I have no idea what this is. What are you talking about? Yeah. I see Sophia. I'm like, oh, the good lady from Medea, from Medea goes to jail. I love her.

Wow, I'm working with the movie star. That's, you know, not knowing all the things she's accomplished. Right. I was really lucky being able to, you know, have them as, as like, mentors, especially Ed. I mean, everybody says him, but Ed, he truly took me under his wing. Like, I mean, I mean, Like no other. There was one time, I remember vividly, it was, it was early on, probably first season, where

I was having trouble with this one line. Like, I just, I couldn't hear what I was saying. Like, I didn't know I was saying it wrong. And though, you know, they keep coming in like, hey, Rico, try it like this. You know, the directors or the writer or the, you know, it was going on for a little bit. So it was a little frustrating. Like, okay, come on, you know, get it. And I'm like, oh, I'm like, overthinking everything.

You know, I'm like, oh, I'm the reason why we're not doing good. And, you know, I'm like, on the verge of, like, crying because I'm like, I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. and so it came to the point where then Ed was like Ed goes all right stop cut the cameras and he told him go sit down he told the director go sit down

he brought me to the side and he was like all right Rico look here's I think where you're having trouble with repeat after me try it like this and then we would work together until he goes no try it like this and I'm a dude he goes no no try like this

until I heard it and I and I repeated it in the way that they were wanting and he was like that's it perfect all right let's go do it all right guys And then I would go, I'd do it in two takes, and moving on, and he would look at me, give me a wink, and he was like, I got you, I got you, don't worry. And from that point on, I was like, I knew I could trust him.

And it was points where throughout, you know, the first, like, four or five seasons, he would do that with me. And just, it was, like, it was never a way of, like, showing me up until about, like, season five. He was like, I don't need to work with you anymore. You got it. You're good now. You're good. And that was, that's kind of like, I need to focus on Sophia. Yeah, yeah, yeah, because Sophia, she's, you know, Miss, Miss,

announcing Maddie again. Yeah, so, but it was like he couldn't have been the nicest, the coolest, the great. I mean, I love Ed with, I mean, I owe a lot to him for just my career in general. Yeah, I feel very, very fortunate that I got to work with him. And, you know, there's only a few people I share that title if he's my dad with. And it's you and Christina Applegate. And David Fasiano, is that his name of the other guy from Marrivatore? It's like the four of us are a pack.

Yep. Well, and Julie Bowen, I guess. I mean, Julie was there, too. Julie was there, too. I always forget about Julie. I'd never forget you, Julie. Now let's take a quick break, but don't go anywhere. When we return, RICO reveals why he almost stepped away from modern family.

A ridiculous table-read tradition with Sophia. And we also hear about his obsession with Benny Hanna. Okay, be right back. And we're back with more dinners on me. I know, you know, I lost my mom in November, and I know that you and your family are so close. And when your father passed away about eight years ago, how hard that was. And I think it happened over a hiatus that your father passed away. Yeah, yeah.

So it was kind of like, you know, it was kind of like at that crossroads of me becoming an adult. I had just, I didn't even turn 18 yet. Yeah, you were young. So I was very, very young. And so it was kind of crazy because on the final episode, episode of that season was Manny graduating. And there was this really, I mean, really amazing scene between me and Ed. It was the episode where Javier takes Manny to a strip club and he leaves his sash.

And then Jay and Manny have to go there and like let her perform and throw all the, it was hilarious. But at the end of it, you know, he pours me a little thing of scotch. And he's like, you know, our relationship, that's what I think of you as being my kid. And I'm like, you know, you're my kid. And I was like, you're my dad. And it's a really amazing scene. And then we, that was, you know, the last episode. And then we wrapped.

And then, you know, I mean, like two weeks later, my dad passed away. So it was really tough, you know, luckily it was on like a hiatus break. So first off, I'm grieving and I'm back home with my family. And then it came time to start negotiating because, again, we didn't know. We probably knew we would come back, but we didn't know for how long, for what. And so negotiations started. And it was the first one without my dad who always led the charge for us. And, you know, there was a point where I actually thought, you know, I don't know if I want to come back.

Because I just, I don't know, it was so, it's, I mean, the patriarch of our family is gone. And, you know, he was the, he was the biggest motivator. He was all of our ideas. So there was a point where I was like, you know what, maybe I don't want to come back and I want to hold off because I don't know if I can. Right. And then there was a point where I was like, no, I would be doing him a disservice of everything we worked for at that point to just stop. And then it came to the point where like, no, you know what? I want to come back, and it really, really made it easier knowing I was coming back to my other

family. Yeah. And that was like, okay, you know what? It'll be okay. So then usually every time we started a new season, it was always around my birthday, because, you know, at the table reads, they always give the cast or whoever's the birthday, they give them a big cake and sing them happy birthday. And I stood up there, and I looked at everybody, and I couldn't help but cry and get emotional

because, you know, my dad passed in March, and then in July, we're starting. and ride up again, and it was like, man, you know, being here, it helps me. It's helping me just because I know how much love you guys have given me over the years. And knowing that I had you guys to kind of be there with, to uplift and just have a good time, it really made the decision a lot easier to, for sure, come back. Yeah. I mean, it definitely was a support system for sure. And I, you know, we all, we all supported each other through so many big moments, kids, divorces, losses of parents. I mean, I look back on those 11 years and so much happens in life in 11 years. And, you know, to have basically a second family to go through that

was really such a gift. Are you spending a lot of time in Texas still? Are you mostly here at California? I've been kind of been able to evenly split my time, but I definitely am in LA more often than I'm in Texas. You know, Texas is home and it's the real place. Here is Hollywood and the land of dreams. And, you know, I mentally and creatively, I'm able to kind of like lock in here and, like, really be able to, like, pursue things that I want to do. Yeah. It's really fun. I mean, I also love that you had this place to escape to during modern family that was sort of a grounding place where I imagine you saw chores. Like, you know, you'd probably work at your dad's tire shop. Yeah. I mean, what was it like to go from?

You know, like you said, we had three weeks on. Usually we were shooting and we'd have a week off. and sometimes you'd go home to Texas and those hiatuses are definitely over the holidays, but what was it like to be on set and then be in this one world and then all of a sudden transition to a much slower pace

and... Oh, definitely so. For one, my dad, my siblings, all my other family lives in Texas. So all my nieces and nephews, I have 11 of them. They all live there. So it's always a good chance

to go see them as often as I could because I'm a big family man. And so it was interesting because back home we live on 15 acres of land. It's wide open, spaces. We have a full wheeler so we can drive around. My family, we own tire shops. We own three tire stores out there. So, you know, I was 15 years old wanting to go work. And so I would tell my dad, I'm not Mani today. I'm Rico. I'm going to work. And then, you know, my dad was so proud

of us that he couldn't help himself. But he was like, oh, you know, hey, look, Mannie's working on your car. You know, so it was just being funny. And so it was always fun to be able to go back and get dirty and work on the tires and be a tire man. And then, you know, when it's time to go back to work I'm all right time to go back and come to come home and but it was always so much fun to be able to have that escape because you know living in LA you know when we first started out in like an apartment so there's a there's a neighbor above you below you to the side and front of you back behind you so there's always people around you and then you go to Texas and you can walk outside and hear no cars you hear animals you hear birds and

it's awesome it's such a such a cool thing so be able to kind of have that little reset and then come back and like okay home that's home this is work yeah yeah um I was, knowing that you're, I was going to sit down with you today. I was, like, watching some of your earlier, like, TV appearances. This is a great appearance on Ellen where I think you say something about, like, I'm making, yeah, I make like $20 a week. I get an allowance of $20 a week. And she was kind of like, maybe she'll look into that.

But, you know, I was like, yeah, as a kid, you probably aren't being given these full paychecks. And obviously those are going to your parents. And, like, they're investing them and, like, giving you that $20 a week. It's like an allowance. It's like, I kind of forgot that, like, you weren't dealing with money in the same way that the adults were. No, and, and, you know, because a lot of people, you know, that's why, like, obviously, because back then of the child actors of back then, you know, rules and things, regulations were in place for, you know, kids actors for today. And so it was so interesting because, you know, my parents were very, when it was the right appropriate time to be open and honest about the money and here's what you're making.

Yeah, when was that, by the way? Huh? When was that? When did that happen? Um, I'd say maybe I was like maybe 12. Oh, wow. You know, just because, you know, again, we come from, you know, we're Latino. So like, we take our work and that's something that we don't take lightly and that, you know, it could be, we always knew it could be taken away from you at any moment at any time.

Because being in the industry long enough, you see it happen and you just don't want to be the next one to do it. And so, you know, they were like, look, this is what you're making. So this is what they expect out of you. So always, that's why I said earlier, you know, you come into work prepared. knowing your lines. You come early. You come ready to go. I would go when I was like 11 to 12 years old. I knew everybody's lines. I knew Ed and Sophia's lines. I remember sometimes you like Ed would go up on his line and you'd like help him out. Are he to look to you? Be like, what is it? He would look at me like for help. So like little he would help me. I was helping him. It was so funny because like I always would be with

Sophia. And yeah, I mean, it's very well known how Sophia she sometimes she goes off the like off the rails. And I saw it. And by the way, sometimes we just keep it in because Oh, yeah, because at that point, why not? And so she would go off the rails, and then she would go, uh, Rico, uh, what's my line? I go, um, I go, oh, you go, uh, manny, get your coffee, let's go. Yeah, okay. And then she would go, oh, thank you.

Hi, mani, get your coffee, let's go. And then we finish the take. But then she would go like, Rico, what's my call time for tomorrow? And I'm like, oh, well, on the prelim. Also, what would happen on table reads? Table read. Yes. You would get there early.

I'm going to say, I got suckered into it. You got suckered into it. I got suckered into it. I love Sophia, but I got, I got played. I got played by Sophia. So, one time, being the nice person than I am. Sophia was late, you know, kind of normal. You know, it happens.

Sophia was late to the table read, and I was like, I know how she marks her lines on her script. So I was like, you know what, let me be nice, and let me mark her script for her. Very kind. So she gets there, and she's like, oh, thank you. you know, thank you, Rico, and pitch my cheats and whatever. And then the next week, she's on time. Yeah. So I sit down, I'm marking my sides.

And then we start the read. We start the read. And it comes with Sophia that she goes, Rico, you didn't mark my script. I go, oh, I didn't know I was supposed to. I did it one time because I was nice. And so she hands me her script. And now everybody's looking at me because it's literally her next line.

And this wasn't like, oh, season 10. No, this was like season one. Yeah, yeah. I was nice. This 10-year-old was in charge. I was literally manny in that point helping out Sophia. But, you know, I love Sophia, so I had no problem doing it for her. That is really funny to me.

It's really help. You knew her lines. You marked her script for the table reads. You knew her call time for the, you were her personal assistant, really, is what it was. You really were. Right memories. But now, now, now that you bring that up, maybe there was something on the show now. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I feel like you should have been definitely. given a bonus for that. Probably, yeah. Oh, my God, that's really funny. Yeah, she's the best. She's hilarious. I mean, hilarious. Truly.

When was the last time you spoke to her? Very recently for the fires, I messaged her because, you know, with, it was in that area. So I was like, I messaged Ed and I mess with Sophia just to make sure everybody was all good. Yeah. And Sophia was like, yes, thank you. And then Ed was like, I don't know.

I'm in Hawaii. I have no idea. I hope it'll be fine. I mean, the last time I saw you was when we had that reunion at Sophia's, the entire cast minus tie minus time one without tie we took that literal we took yeah he yeah we took that literal yeah we would do this joke on set when we were doing photos with the entire cast we would just as a as a as a cast do this joke where we'd say and one without tie and so tie would step out of a photo and they would take a picture of all of us without a running a running joke but we just a running joke

and then so when we had that first full reunion tie was not there and we yeah the internet thought he was dead and we took the full photo it was hilarious I was such a good thing time because, I mean, because, you know, it really was unfortunate, obviously with COVID and all that, but, you know, with us on the show, we had our grand finale, but then, you know, we had this great press tour to, like, you know, kind of say goodbye to the show, and then everything shut down, and then we hadn't seen each other for two years. They just went like that. Yeah. Yeah. But luckily, we were able to do that. It was a lot of fun. It was so crazy. I drove Aubrey home from that party. Her mom dropped her off, and I drove her home, and she was taking.

making her driver's test the next day. Wow. I was like, this is wild to me. I felt like a true parent, like, driving my daughter home from a party. Yeah. I knew this girl when she was three and a half years old, wild. But I was going to say, you know, as we were looking for places to eat today, I didn't know this about you. And Eric told me, one of your favorite restaurants in L.A. is Binihana.

Yes. And you all, like, loved it so much. Tell me about this, like, set up that you got for your home. home. Yeah. So for people who don't know, Benihana is like a Habachi, tepaniaki place.

So like they cook all the food in front of you. And, you know, they do flips and tricks with the eggs and the rice bowls. My family, we love it. That's our favorite restaurant. By the way, Rico,

I live in Encino now and it's like right, it's like a seven-minute walk. I want to come visit you more often, I think. Yeah. But we've taken Beckett and Sully so many times.

They love it. It's delicious. It's family-friendly for all ages. Yeah. So I had this. We covered Benihana because of modern family. Uh-huh. So because we loved it so much at our house here in L.A., my dad had built, like, this really nice gazebo.

And, you know, we're not drinkers. We're not any of that. So we, instead of having, like, an outdoor bar or whatever, we put a Benihana grill in there, and we call it RICO Hanna. So we have, like, we had this, like, logo made for, like, the top, like, the cover for the grill. No way. And it's RICO Hanna. And so, like. Wait, where did you get it from?

Did they actually supply it for you, or did you find something similar? We went to a place that were like they go to buy, like a restaurant supply store. Because one of the chefs who works there, well who worked there, his name is Oscar, he's awesome. He went on his own business venture and he does private cookings for Benihana. Oh, wow. So now we basically, when we're wanting Benihana at the house or if we're going to have a party or, you know. It's a great party. It's a great thing.

And we have him come. He brings all the food. He makes all the sauces. He does everything for us. He cleans our grill, and he gets it going for us. He was the one who helped us. We have, like, the Benihana inspired plates, aprons, the knives, the rice bowls. We have it all.

So, like, any time we want Benihana there, we just have him come. And does the whole show for us, the onion volcano, the heart rice, all that. It's a list of little things. I love that you have that at home. That's so great. Oh, yeah. I remember just, like, you know, all you kids. were like picky eaters you know when you were young because that's what children do like

I'm experiencing this with my kid now but I feel like you've become quite a foodie now yeah you know I think as you get older your taste buds change involved you know it also had a lot to do with like when we would travel to places yeah um you know like Australia or like Paris you know there's all different foods there right and you know they don't have a McDonald's on every corner you know as a little safe haven so you know I would want to try like you know alligator and I was like I would never thought I would try it, but here I am enjoying it, randomly. And so, like, I'm this very open to trying new things. I love sushi.

I mean, I love all types of food. I'll try it once. Yeah. I remember when we were in Paris, like, the craft service table and, like, where we have lunch. Like, it was a very elaborate spread, but it was not what we're used to here, like, escargo, which is snails. I was hungry in Paris. I didn't eat much there. I don't think.

We found one place that we liked, and we went to, like, three times. I was like, that's what we're going to do. You know, maybe when you're older, you'll go back again. You'll try it again. I don't know. Well, I'm glad that we found a good meal that we both like today. I love a good. Can't go wrong with a good burger.

And it was very, very good. It was very, very good. Thank you so much for doing this. No, thank you for having me. I'm so glad to see you. It's a really long time. It's been too long, and I'm glad we were able to do this because it's fun to reminisce and talk about, I mean, that's our experiences together. I mean, that we live this whole.

amazing 11 years on this show. It was really fun. And I've known he's 16. Yes. That's absolutely bonkers. It's crazy. Yeah. More than half your life, Rico. I know. I know. Yeah. Oh, man. It's so good that you could do this. I'm so happy to see you. Thank you for having me. Thank you for the food. So it's on you, right? Dinner is going to be on me. Okay, perfect. I should have ordered some ice cream then. Maybe next time. We'll do it part two. This episode of Dinner's On Me was recorded at heavy-handed in Studio City, California. Next week on Dinners on Me, you know her from One Tree Hill, Chicago PD, and more recently as the host of the podcast's Work and Progress, it's Sophia Bush. We'll get into how she met her girlfriend, Ashland Harris, the nuances of coming out publicly, and her divorcee group chat.

And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinner's On Me Plus. As a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, they'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 Baer 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.