Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - 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: June 3, 2025

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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Today on the show, you know him as Manuel Alberto Javier Alejandro Ramirez Delgado, aka my stepbrother Manny on Modern Family. It's Rico Rodriguez. Oh, you're working with Ed O'Neil. 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 never heard of that show. And then they're like, loving me. And they're singing to me. I'm like, I have no idea what this is. What are you talking about?

I see Sophia. I'm like, oh, the good lady from Madea. Madea goes to jail. I love her. This is Dinners 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, how long of a period of time it was for these kids to be on Modern Family. 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 Sofia 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 his sister Rainy who I adore as well. But it was so wonderful meeting up with him, having burgers and just catching up. How are you? Good to see you too. I brought Rico to Heavy Handed in Studio City, California. Heavy Handed is the smash burger sensation that started as 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 pillowy 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. Rico! 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, they'll put it on a rig so that you don't have to, you can just fake drive it. They put the car on a flatbed truck and then someone drives it

and you just look like you're driving. 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 you in slow motion, giving a nod? Well yeah, that one was one of my favorite 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 oh, yeah caught 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 need to 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. So they're like, maybe you ought to get one. So you have a test on 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 less than 24 hours to read the whole manual to get everything. I passed, got my permit so I can drive it. 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. And then a week before I turned 21, they go, oh, so you're going to get it. I'm like, I said that. And they're like, yeah. I'm like, oh snap, okay. Well then, so then I was like, well, let me go get it. So I went to go do my written test, and they were like, okay, great, you wanna 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.

And- You probably were super careful, I imagine. Oh, yo, yeah, I was, cause like I had driven the car before, so I was comfortable with it. But like, so then after I passed her, 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, nah, I can't do it. But yeah. But yeah, cause 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 really nice white truck that I was like, you know, being a Texas boy, I'm like, oh, a truck, I 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. It was some gaudy number. And then sure enough, it came about. I was like, so Eric, we made it. And he was like, oh, I don't have the truck anymore. I know that truck was long gone. We've been to like three cars since then.

That's so funny. Hey. Welcome to Heavy Handed. Hi. First time, I believe. Have you been here? No, I haven't heard yet. This is the first time.

Let me go over the menu with you. Basically, Heavy Handed is all for the smash burgers. Short rib. So they're not smash 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. Enough meat for the bun and everything in there. If you like a little spicy, you could add chopped chilies. 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 nice. What would you like? I mean I'll do a double. A double combo. I think okay so the combo has fries? Yes. Okay yes. You want to upgrade it to heavy fries or just keep it regular?

I'm gonna do regular fries but I'm gonna do chilies on the burger. You got it. You want to upgrade it 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 onions, please. And then regular fries on the side. Regular fries on the side?

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, OK. We can tear it. I understand. OK. And what do you want?

Do you want something to drink? Yeah. I'd do a Sprite, please. A Sprite? You got it. I something to drink? Yeah. Can 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, awesome. Thank you so much. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. I can't wait to try it. I love Me A Good Burger. Oh, me too.

I love Me A Good Burger. Okay, I know you've told this story before to me, but like you were a very shy kid. I was a very shy kid. Yeah. You sort of kind of fell into this industry because your older sister, Rainy, who I adore. She's great.

Please tell her I said hi. I will. Was already in the business. And you were, from what I understand, tagging along for an audition? Yeah, so my sister Rainy, 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 Bryan, call the station station shout out And so my first headshots were like by accident My sister was taking him and I was in like a Power Rangers shirt two front teeth missing so Like not Hollywood at all and I took those as my first headshots and I used those for when I first started and still use them Oh, yes, of course. These are these are fake ones. Um, and so Fast forward a little bit,

seeing her kind of do her thing, she's always wanted to be on Disney Channel, and so she was able to guest star on The Suite Life of Zack 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, 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 so it was just- And your dad had to hire, had to hire 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.

And so, yeah, and just seeing her do her thing and just seeing the passion she had, it just kind of was like, I want to do that. That inspires me to do it because she's having so much fun. And 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 was really cool.

I have two kids now and seeing how my youngest one looks up to his older brother, 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 go. Let's do it.

So I could totally understand how you would fall in love with it just because your sister who you definitely look up 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, 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. It was, I mean, it's so not heard of.

You did not know rejection. No, no. And so then, so like by the time Modern Family rolled around, I had 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, 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 and- Other casting directors, yeah. And so it was kind of crazy because I had went in with a completely different take on Manny. 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 and he was like, that was great. He goes, but he goes, we see Manny as like a old soul, like Antonio Banderas in a kid's body. And I go, oh, I'm like, oh. Did you know that reference? I didn't know. I was like, oh, okay.

So he wants me to be Puss in 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, 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 in, they were casting Ed, they were 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're 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.

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, cause 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 audition,

kind of felt like already a familial thing. We all kind of like, okay, maybe we're all destined to do this kind of thing together. Totally, yeah. And yeah, it's kind of how it all like shook out. I mean, that's gotta be worked out. Obviously I didn't test for TV shows when I was a kid, but like even as an adult adult, 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 didn't even know, do kids that age even know to be scared about something like that? No, I think- Scary might be the wrong word.

A lot of the things when you're a kid is 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 to thank you so much. He's like, great. 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 something like being nervous or daunting. I had auditioned 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. I want to say. Or you 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, he wasn't mean. He was just like, I don't know, like a stern or just like, he wasn't there, he wasn't giving me

no expressions or anything. And so then when I auditioned for Mahoney Family, I saw him, I'm like, oh no. He's like, oh no. And then come to find out later on, I mean, he's the nicest person in all of Hollywood. He is the, and he changed my life. And so.

Also, I have to remind myself that, they're seeing so many people for these roles and they're just trying to find the right person for it. So like, if someone's not right, it's sort of like in your mind, you probably think, okay, well, like they're great and they're talented, but like, 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're leaving, you kind of just don't really remember what you did. And that's kind of what happened, you know, in the audition sides, 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, 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 and everyone's like, what's this kid running for? And they're like, 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 30 minutes later. It's crazy. Yeah, when they know, they know, it's interesting. This is really good. It's not a great smash, but it's really good. I know. This is like gonna 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 Sofia Vergara. OK, be right back. All right, let's talk about something near and dear to my heart. Building the perfect sandwich.

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And we're back with more Dinners on Me. When we all got together for the first time, we sort of did a pre-table read before table read for the network. Then 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 that 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 that's what it came out to be. 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. Well thanks, Riegel. 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. They're doing the same thing in 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? Cause it's crazy for me. Exactly. But like, you know, even going to school together cause you know, you had to go to school on set. I mean, Nolan 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 were his age because he didn't get to like go to school in a traditional sense. 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, 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 in 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 can go take out the trash, you can go clean the house, clean the room, you know, all that doesn't stop. Right. What was it like, I always thought about this with Aubrey too, because 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 her this, to be in a scene, doing a show for Modern Family with Sophia and Ed, and then 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 episodes, Manny would pop in and then say a funny quip as he would. And then he would 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 ask my studio teacher, 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 then you gotta go and you have a math test. I'm like, well, I don't know, division? Like, what am I gonna do? And then, you know, I would go answer the first three questions of 20 and then 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 poses it's like challenges, but I think, let me just say something. Yeah. Montefranc 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 our 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 and be 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 was easy because 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. I mean, I'm sure it's been, we did the Nerf war on set. Brian Krantz and our directors 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. Like. 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. Parkour.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, you had so much energy. I remember Ty 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 the one to be like, relax guys. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And we're like, no, we gotta keep going.

Yeah, you were boys. I mean, you also got to do things that so few people, just to get TV jobs in general, get to do. Like travel to Hawaii, travel to Paris, travel to Disneyland, we gotta be like, backstage at Disneyland. Like crazy. I mean, what are some of your favorite memories

from those episodes? I think it's kind of one of those like, oh, we're doing something, is when we went to Hawaii. Because 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 the, oh, we'll go to 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 at creating some really fun storylines around a place.

You know, I'm not, they're 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 Jackson Hole

because it was like, we're all in little cabins. It was so cool. It was the coolest thing. I mean, I was so lucky to be one on a really awesome show, but like to be 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.

Oh, so much fun. It was always a question, the age-old question, like, oh, where are we going this year, guys? Everyone would have little rumors, oh, I think we're going here this year. Italy was someplace I kept talking about, but it never happened. Yeah, and usually I would be 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 one of the reasons, obviously, the show did so well, and we had such a great time,

was because of that chemistry. And you and Ed and Sophia really had incredible chemistry. We shared Ed O'Neill as a stepfather for you and a father for me on the show. And 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. And always turns 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 Bradd, your birth dad. Yeah. But what was it like for you with those people as your parents? You know, there's such legends in their field and it's kind of funny because I had no idea

who Ed was when we first got on the show. I had no idea who he was. My dad was like, oh, you're working with Ed O'Neil. I'm like, who's that? And they're like, oh, you know, from Married with Children. I'm like, okay, I never heard of that show. And then they're like, love and me. And they're singing to me, I'm like,

I have no idea who this is. But then I see Sophia, I'm like, oh, the lady from Madea, from Madea Goes to Jail, I love her. Wow, I'm working with the movie star. Let's be honest, I'm not knowing all the things she's accomplished. Right.

I was really lucky being able to have them as mentors, especially Ed. I mean, everybody says him, but Ed, he truly took me under his wing like no other. There was one time, I remember vividly, it was early on, probably first season, where I was having trouble with this one line. I couldn't hear what I was saying.

Like I didn't know I was saying it wrong. And then, 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 you can, it was a little frustrating. Like, okay, come on, you know, get it. And 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 cause 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 what you're having trouble with. Here, repeat after me. Try it like this. And then we would work together until, he goes, no. Try it like this. And I would do it.

He goes, no, no. Try it like this. Until I heard 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 do it in two takes and Moving on and he would look at me give me a wink and like I got you. He was I got you Don't worry. Yeah, and and that from that point that point on, I knew I could trust him. And it was points where throughout the first four or five seasons, he would do that with me.

And it was like I said, it was never a way of showing me up until about 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 kind of like- He's like, I need to focus on Sofia. Yeah, yeah, yeah, because Sofia,

she's mispronouncing Manny again. Yeah, but it was like, he couldn't have been the nicest, the coolest, the great, I mean, I love it. 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 Fasciano, is that his name? The other guy from Marriott, it's like the four of us are a pack. Well, and Julie Bowen, I guess. Julie was there too. Julie was there too. I always forget about Julie. I 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 Sofia, and we also hear about his obsession with Benihana. Okay, be right back. Some of my favorite episodes of Dinners on Me are episodes that happen over a good glass of wine. Patricia Clarkson, Keri Russell, Margot Martindale,

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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. I know 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 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 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 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, our relationship, that's what I think of you as being my kid. And I'm like, you're my kid. And I was like, you're my dad. And it's a really amazing scene. And then that was the last episode and then we wrapped. And then, you know, like two weeks later,

my dad passed away. So it was really tough. 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 there was a point where I actually thought, I don't know if I wanna come back because I just, I don't know, it was so, I mean, the patriarch of our family is gone and, you know, 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. 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. 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. Cause you know, at the table reads, they So then usually every time we started a new season, it was always around my birthday, because at the table reads, they always give the cast or whoever's a 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 my dad passed in March and then in July we're starting right 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. I, you know, 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 or are you mostly here in California? I've been able to evenly split my time, but I definitely am in LA more often than I'm in Texas. Texas is home and it's the real place.

Here is Hollywood and the land of dreams. Mentally and creatively, I'm able to kind of like lock in here and like really be able to pursue things that I want to do. 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. I imagine you saw chores.

Like, you probably work at your dad's tire shop. And like, I mean, what was it like to go from, like you said, we have three weeks on, usually we're shooting and then we'd have a week off. And sometimes you would go home to Texas and those hiatus's are definitely for the holidays. But what was it like to be on set and then be in this like one world

and then all of a sudden transition to a much slower pace? Oh, definitely. So for one, my dad and 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, you know, I'm a big family man. And so it was interesting because like back home, we live on 15 acres of land. It's wide open spaces. We have, you know, a full wheeler so we can drive around, you know,

my family, we own a tire shops. so 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 Manny today, I'm Rico, I'm gonna work. And then, you know, my dad was so proud of us that he couldn't help himself. He was like, oh, you know, hey, look,

Manny's working on your car, you know. So it was 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 like, all right, time to go back and come to come home. 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 neighbor above you, below you, to the side in 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. It's awesome, it's such a cool thing. So be able to kind of have that little reset

and then come back and like, okay, that's home, this is work. Yeah, yeah. Knowing that you're always gonna sit down with you today, I was like watching some of your earlier TV appearances. This is a great appearance on Ellen, where I think you say something about, 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 you should look into that. But 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 they're investing them, and giving you that $20 a week

is like an allowance. I kind of forgot that you weren't dealing with money in the same way that the adults were. No, and you know, because a lot of people, that's why obviously because back then of the child actors of back then, rules and things, regulations were in place for 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. So- When was that by the way? When was that? When did that happen? 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 Latinos. So like we take our work and that's something that we don't take lightly in that, you know, it could be, we're Latinos, so we take our work, and that's something that we don't take lightly, and that, 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 wanna be

the next one to do it. And so, 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 come into work prepared, knowing your lines. You come early, you come ready to go. I would go when I was like 11 or 12 years old. I knew everybody's lines.

I knew Ed and Sophia's lines. I remember sometimes you'd go up on his lines and you'd help him out. He'd look to you and be like, what is this again? He would look at me for help. So he would help me, I would help him. It was so funny, because I always would be with Sophia. I mean, it's very well known how Sophia,

she sometimes, she goes off the rails. Oh, off the rails. And I saw it. And by the way, sometimes we just keep it in, because it's like funnier than what's written. Oh yeah, because at that point, why not? And so, she would go off the rails, and then she would go,

uh Rico, what's my line? I go, oh, you go, uh, hey Manny, get your coffee, let's go. And then she would go, oh, thank you. Hi Manny, get your coffee, let's go. And then we finished 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 days, you would get there early. I'm going to say, I got suckered into it. You got suckered into this. I got suckered into it. I love Sophia, say I got suckered into it. I got suckered into it. I love Sophia, but I got played. I got played by Sophia. So one time, being the nice person that 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, and let me mark her script for her. Very kind. So she gets there and she was like, Oh, Oh, thank you. And you know, thank you Rico. 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 to Sophia, then she goes, Rico, you didn't mark my script. I go, huh, 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. I was like, I was nine. I was ten year old, within charge. I was literally manning at 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.

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. Now that I look back, you really were her. You the, you were her personal assistant, really, is what it was. You really were. You have great memories. But 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 heraged her because you know with with it was in that area so I was like I messaged Ed and I messaged 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 hope we'll be fine. I mean the last time I saw you was when we had that reunion at Sophia's. The entire cast minus Ty.

Minus Ty. One without Ty, we took that literal. We took, yeah. 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 cast do this joke where we'd say,

and one without Ty. And so Ty would step out of a photo. And they would take a picture of all of us. We'd take a picture of all of us without Ty. A running joke, but we took that one little. It was just a running joke. And then so when we had that first full reunion, Ty was not there and the internet thought he was dead

when we took the full photo. I was so late. I was such a good time. I mean, cause you know, it really, it 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 on the show, we had our grand finale, but then we had this great press tour to kind of say goodbye to the show,

and then everything shut down, and then we hadn't seen each other for two years. It just went like that. 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 her driver's test the next day. I was like, this is wild to me. I felt like a true parent, like, driving my daughter home from a party. I knew this girl when she was three and a half years old. Wild. But I was gonna 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 LA is Binihana. Yes. And you all loved it so much. Tell me about this setup that you got for your home. Yeah, so for people who don't know, Binihana is like a hibachi, teppanyaki place, so they cook all the food in front of you,

and they do flips and tricks with the eggs, and they flip the rice bowls. My family, we love it. That's our favorite restaurant. By the way, Rico, I food in front of you, and they do flips and tricks with the eggs, and they flip 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. You really should.

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 discovered Benihana because of Modern Family. So because we loved it so much at our house here in LA, my dad had built like this really nice gazebo and 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-Hana. So we had this logo made for the top, for the cover for the grill. And it's Rico-Hana. 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 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. So now we basically, when we're wanting Benihana

at the house or if we're gonna 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 for us cleans our grill and he and he gets it going for us He was the one who helped us we have like the Benny Hanna inspired plates Aprons the knives the rice bowls we have it all so like anytime anytime we want Benny Hanna there We just have him come and we just the whole show for us the onion volcano the rice It's a list of little things. I love that you have that at home. That's so great 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. 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 experienced, this is 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 and evolve. You know, it also had a lot to do with like when we would travel to places, you know, I think as you get older, your taste buds change in the fall. You know, it also had a lot to do with like when we would travel to places, you know, like Australia or like Paris, you know, there's all different foods there. And, you know, they don't have a McDonald's in 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 don't, I would never thought I would try it, but here I am enjoying it. Yeah. Randomly. Yeah. And so like, I'm just very I would try it but here I am enjoying it randomly.

And so I'm just very open to trying new things. I love sushi, I love all types of food. I'll try it once. Yeah, I remember when we were in Paris, the craft service table and where we have lunch, it was a very elaborate spread but it was not what we're used to here. Like escargot, which is snail.

I was hungry in Paris. I was, I didn't eat much there. We found one place that we liked and we went to like three times. Yeah. I was like, that's, that's what we're going to do. Yeah. Well, you know, maybe when you're a little older, you'll go back again. You'll try again. I don't know. Well, I'm glad that we found a good meal to be both like today. I love it. Can burger. Can't go wrong with a good burger. And it was very, very good. It's so delicious.

Very, very good. Thank you so much for doing this. Thank you for having me. I'm so glad to see you. It's been a really long time. 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 lived this whole amazing 11 years on this show was really fun. And I've known you 16. Yes. That 11 years on this show was really fun. And I've known you 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 in part two. This episode of Dinner's On Me was recorded at Heavyhanded in Studio City, California. Next week on Dinner's On Me, you know her from One Tree Hill, Chicago PD, and more recently as the host of the podcast Work In Progress, it's Sophia Bush. We'll get into how she met her girlfriend Ashlyn 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 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. Dinners on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay.

Our associate producer is Alyssa Midcalf. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hans-Dale Shi 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. Alright, let's talk about something near and dear to my heart. Building the perfect sandwich. And yes, yes, I take this very seriously. Step one, you need a great bread,

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