Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Side Dish: More with Lisa Rinna

Episode Date: February 26, 2026

More of my interview with ‘The Traitors’ star Lisa Rinna. We get into her M&M moment with Joey Fatone, how a banishment on ‘Traitors’ goes down behind-the-scenes, and her advice to her costar Colton Underwood. This episode was recorded at Coral Tree Cafe in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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but all those details feel, you know, overwhelming. A co-host can help you create that, wow, they really thought of everything feeling without you having to become a full-time innkeeper. Find a co-host at Airbnb.com slash host. Hey, it's Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Here's your little side dish from this week's episode of Dinners on Me. This week's guest was the fabulous Lisa Renna,

who you know from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place, Season 4 of The Traders. She's also out with a new memoir called You Better Believe, I'm going to talk about it. And we do, we do believe it. We sat down for salads at Coral Tree Cafe in Brentwood, Los Angeles, and we got into her iconic roles, the longevity of her career, and her fearless ability to constantly reinvent herself. Plus, of course, we talk about her time on the traders, the strategy behind the game, and why the experience challenged her in a whole new way.

To get back into the conversation, you're pulling up a chair as we talked to Lisa about becoming TV Guide's primary red carpet host in the early 2000s. I do want to ask about Joan Rivers because you... Yeah, I did the red carpet. You did the red carpet with her, and you replaced her...

After I replaced her. Yeah, yeah. That's always weird to replace someone. And also Joan Rivers. Yeah, that was weird. But it's a job, honey. You're like, Did you get to know her well?

No, because she was gone. Did you, so you never met her before? I had met her in my career. Okay. But not in that. I mean, those are big shoes to fill. I never filled them. I just did it, but I never filled them.

I mean, who says, let's get Lisa Rina and Joy Patone to do the red carpet? Like, who comes up with that in a meeting? Really. The best thing that came out of that was they made us into M&M's. Yes, I remember this. That's the best thing that came out of that. And also they paid us really well. I feel like if you type in Lisa Rina in Google, like one of the first things that comes up is green M&M.

Orange. Orange. Oh, is orange? Joey was blue. I was orange. And you know, it's really funny. I did that like 15 years ago. And, you know, last year or two years ago, it just, it showed itself again.

And it became a meme. And it was like, I did that 15 years ago. Like, all of a sudden it had life again. I can't figure the internet out. It's just crazy. Yeah. But yeah, that was good. That came out of that.

That was good. Paid me really good money for two years. And, you know, I just keep trucking. Yeah. I just keep trucking along. I just go, God, girl, you've done some crazy shit. But you don't regret anything, right? No.

I don't regret anything. Yeah. No. I don't get that vibe from you. No, I'm not a regretter. I make my own bed. I sleep in it. I mean, I don't see the point of any of that.

I take responsibility for a lot in the book, I think. Well, that's what I was going to say. I mean, there are a lot of, you know, things that you bring up specifically with housewives that, you know, people are going to have an opinion about. Of course. And you're like, this is what was going on in my life. This is what I own up to. I apologize for this. Also, I'm going to stand by this.

Yeah. And I'm going to, this is the reason why I did that. Yes. And that's why I like this book because it's coming from my point of view. Everyone else has had their time to tell their point of view. This is my point of this. I feel. It's my opinion about it.

You also said, you know, you have, like, there's sort of like an unspoken bond between housewives, whether or not it's good or bad. Right. All housewives. Yeah. Like across the board in all cities, you know? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

And I mean, like, the traders, I guess, is a perfect example where you're coming across, people. I'm sure you knew some of them. I think you knew Duranda. I knew some of them and not all of them. Right. And so was there ever like any like PTSD from like oh god I'm in I'm in the world with another housewife like this might happen again? Yes because that world represents that. Yes. I felt safer in this environment because it's a game. Right. And there's only first. Yes, and there's only five housewives and five gamers and, like, there were different groups.

So, no, I wasn't super scared, but yet, you know, housewives deal with things a certain way because that's what we're trained to do while we do that show. And I think you're seeing on the traders, like, people were scared of us. Like, Rob and Colton both said, I was scared of these housewives. And I find that interesting, you know? I mean, Colton said when he sat down with me, his husband Jordan was like, don't fuck with a housewife and don't fuck with Taylor Swift's new mother-in-law. Mom. Mother-in-law.

It's true. And you know, it's funny. And he did both those things. And he did both. Of course. Yeah. Of course. But, you know, you do the best you can in that environment.

You really do. And you end up making choices that you didn't plan to make. And you have to stand by them. Yeah. You know, in the moment, it sounded right to you. That roundtable whips around. quick. Does it? And yeah, you could be saying, I'm going to vote for this person

and 20 minutes later you're voting for another person because someone convinced you. The narrative is changed. And the PAC mentality happens so fast. That's what's so exciting to watch. It's so exciting. That's why I thought you had a chance in the last episode.

Because there was a moment with Natalie, no. The woman you were scared of. Natalie. Natalie. Yeah, they were going to her. They were going to her.

I was like, that's actually more of a case than anything against you. And I thought you were going to survive another day. I did too. But I couldn't have once Rob, once Rob entered the chat,

rather than just write my name down. He definitely twisted the knife in the back. There's nothing I could do. Yeah. I mean, I remember sitting there just going, I can't fucking believe you're doing this right now. But I know it's over for me, so I'm just going to like enjoy the ride now

because you know. Yeah. You can sense it. You're like, you can always tell, like, when Tiffany was going, and I could see the group turning toward her. You can feel the energy in the room while we're waiting to go into the roundtable room. And I looked over at her, and she could feel the energy, and your heart just breaks for them.

I'm sure. Because then you're going to be in that position, a couple shows down the road, and you go, wow, now I'm. I know what it feels like because you feel a bit ostracized from the group. People aren't looking at you. They're looking down. And you know, you know. And so, you know, there are times where people are like, you should fight harder.

And I'm like, but I knew I was going to go. So I'm not going to fight that hard, girl. Like, I'm not going to work that hard when I know I'm going. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Lisa and I continue our conversation about the traders. Okay, be right back. You know that moment in the middle of the night when you hear noise and your brain immediately goes, what was that? And you're lying there thinking, okay, okay, it's probably a squirrel. Yeah,

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Not another thing to stress about. When every second counts, count on ADT. Visit ADT.com to learn more. And we're back with more dinners on me. The moment between getting voted off, like, officially, like, saying, like, you are, you are killed or you're banished. To, you're going to that little circle and, like, saying, revealing who you are, what is that, what goes to your mind? Is it a produced thing? Is it a produced moment? No. No, that's all unproduced, because that show's not produced.

You just know that you're going to have to go stand up there. You're thinking about it. About what you're going to say. Yeah, because you know it's coming, right? Right. Like you're, the votes are coming up with your name. So you're thinking of myself, okay, what am I going to say? What am I to say? What am I?

And then you just go, okay, here I go. And you walk over and you're like, here we go. Like, it's all so in the moment. You know? And they cut it around it. You know, you don't get to say everything that you've said. But they really, they did me right. I am not sad about anything.

I came across exactly as I, came across. You are a white hot standout in the cast of like very exciting people. See, that's all I ever want to hear. If I'm a white hot standout, I win. That's our job, right? Like, don't you want to be a white hot standout?

You want to be a remember. Of course. That's why I kind of love with Colton's right. I love that people are like, they're annoyed with how hard he's playing the game. I'm like, but you're talking about him. That's right. He's no dummy.

I'd rather see someone play hard than sit back. Well, you got to give it. to him. Yeah. It's a choice, you know? I mean, it's funny to say I'm going to swing hard because I know this person is a traitor. We all know that he's going to swing and miss. Of course.

But the fact that he, you know, goes there and commits to it. Yeah. You're just like, wow. Yeah. That's how he chose to play the game. That's how he chose to play the game. And you know what? There are consequences to everything.

So you also have to be like, I chose to play the game like that. So you're going to get blowback when you make risky choices. Yeah. I feel like whenever you live your life in the public eye, I mean, it takes a real brave person to do that. You have to have, like, elephant skin. Yeah. That's what I've decided. Yeah.

To go through, you know, and I have such great empathy for it because I've seen my girls go through it. I've seen Harry go through it, though he's oblivious, has no idea he's going through it because he's not on social media. He's the only person on, not on social media. He's the happiest man. Yeah. He's free. He just has no idea. We should all be so lucky.

He's no idea what's going on, so we have to tell him. I'm like, they think you're gay this week, but you were having affairs with women last week, so there's that. So funny. So when I see these people going through what I've gone through, what my girls have gone through, I just have great empathy for it, you know? And I've talked to them, and I've helped them through these situations because maybe they've never been through it before, you know? And so I feel very mothering to this group. You know, I do. And I, you know, I get on the phone with them.

And I'm like, okay, here's the thing. Don't engage, which they, of course, already have. And I said, so no more engaging. Don't go online and be snarky. Sit back. You'll have your time at the reunion to say what you want to say. If that person needs to say something, do you just let them, let them come at you. Let them have their moments.

You haven't shopped reunion at, have you? Next week. Is Andy Cohen missing it? How weird is that? How is that going to be for you? Fine. Okay. He knows that I threw his book in the fireplace.

He already knows that. I think we're going to be fine. Okay. Have you spoken to him? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Oh, yeah.

He knows. He texted me the other day. He goes, I heard you threw my book in the fire, and I said, I did. I mean, he must be used to a lot of people being mad at him from that franchise. And he and I've been mad at each other back and forth, and we always come out of it. Yeah. I truly like him. and he truly likes me and I know that.

So we always go back to that. Like he's so excited about me being on this show and being a traitor. We can go there for a while. It's just going to be weird going to a reunion with Andy being the host. Yes. There is some PTSD with that.

Because those specific, like if you go on, if you go online, let's look up like Lisa's iconic moments in Real Housewives, a lot of those moments are going to be from the reunion. I mean, when you pulled out that, those phone records. That was iconic, Lisa.

I mean, I have done some funny, funny... That single tear. Oh, my God, the single tier. I could have never done that on a show. You know, how many years it took me to cry on camera, and here I am on a freaking reunion, and one tier comes out. Beautiful. You know, Deidre Hall used to be able to say,

would you like the left eye tier or the right? And here's me, I would be just staring at her going, how does she do that? And then I do it in a freaking reunion. all my stuff is purely accidental. Right, right, right, right. And then it turns out to be a funny meme and I go, all right, well, there you go.

Well, I'm very excited for this trade agreement. I think it's going to be really lit, to be honest with you. Absolutely. Like, wait. You say you shoot it next week. Thursday. Thursday, Thursday, Thursday. Thursday, Thursday.

The 12th. A week from today. Yeah. No, I'm excited. You should be. One of the producers of the Traders' Reunion was my producer on Housewives 10 years ago. So when I saw his name, type up in my, pop up in my emails.

I was like, wait a second. Is that the same person? Sure enough. But I thought maybe it had been four years, not 10. Right. I mean, time flies when you're having fun. Doesn't it? Yeah.

Doesn't it? Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, we get into our shared love for Truman Capote and Lisa shares who's in her inner circle. Okay, be right back. And we're back with more dinners on me. Did you do an audiobook? I did.

My first one, I'd never done an audio book. Oh, really? That was interesting because to read it in your own voice, ooh, it hits hard. Like, I read it. And you're like, damn, whoa. I really felt the book as I read it. Yeah.

So, especially, you know, the book. Did it make you angry again when you were talking about some of the stuff that you went through with housewives? I wouldn't say angry, but it made me feel. I felt. Like, I, when I, the first chapters. about my mom and I cry when I'm reading it. I get very emotional. I think that's the hardest part reading it is like you have to relive it. Yeah. As you're reading it. Yeah, I mean, I've, I've only written a cookbook, but I know that it's a, it is a labor of love, and it is so hard.

It takes forever. And the feeling that you get when you finally, it's in, and it's to the editor, and you've done the final edits, and it's just such a weight off your shoulder. I can only imagine that when you're like, okay, now I have to read it from cover to cover. I was stressed out, to be honest with you. And luckily I did it in three days instead of four. Okay. But you have to relive it. It's one thing to write it and get it out there and be done with it.

Then you have to sit there and read it. Yeah. That was hard. Yeah. It was cathartic, though, also. Like, it was like, oh, all right. And I got to also change some things because there were things in there that weren't quite right. So I, like, call the editor and say, you got to change this, this, this and this.

So it was a good way. It was a good way to make sure things were set right also. Yeah. I love listening to people read their own stories. One of my favorites, I don't know if you listen to Barbara Streisand reading. I sure have. It's my favorite. Is that great?

First of all, it takes nine days. I'm not finished. I'm still not finished. You won't be for a few more years, but it's fantastic. But you can tell she's like self-editing. Oh, yeah. Of course. She's written.

It's almost like a surprise to her. Same. Oh. Yeah. I don't know that. Exactly. I had those kind of moments too. You're just like, wait, I said it like that?

Yeah. What? Like, what do you? I love listening to her. Yeah, she's great. I love it. She's pretty great. She's pretty great.

Yeah. I, after I leave you, I don't know why I just thought of this. Oh, because we're talking about people have passed your mother, rest and peace. But after I leave you, I'm going to a local graveyard that's around this area. I'm visiting Truman Capote's grave. Because I'm doing a play about him. Are you? Are you playing him?

I'm playing him. One of my favorite people to follow and read. Like, I just got this book. Something Voices. Yeah, other voices. Other voices. I've never read it. I ordered it.

Yes, that's his very first book, yeah. I feel like in another era, you would have been a swan. I would have. Oh, 100%. I am so fascinated by him. Maybe I was even in that time and we don't know. I lived there too. You were at the black and white.

might fall spiritually. I think I may have been because I'm so obsessed with this story. I've watched everything on him. Anything you might need to know. I've seen everything. Yeah.

That's exciting. Is he in Westwood? They, yes. By Maryland. He's near Maryland. That's right. That's right. That's right.

They divided his ashes. That's right. Joanna took some. Joanna Carson. And then she lost them. Someone took them. Someone took them out of her house. And she was like,

where's Truman's ashes? And then they came back. They were like nestled in a, in a, in like her garden homes the next morning. So bizarre. So bizarre. Like, I'm so fascinating. Oh, I want to come see it when you, you're going to be good as him. Thank you.

You're going to be good as Truman. I can see it. That's why I'm shaped. I can see it. I can see it. See, I'm obsessed with him. Me too. I'm obsessed with all of it.

Me too. That is fun. But as we were, as we were talking, I was also thinking about. but just because I do feel like when you're talking about being in Paris and at the fashion week, or not a passion week, but I'm walking the guitar shows. I do feel like you are of that. Spiritually, you are of that era. I would have to agree. I would have to agree. I live in the world of Joan Crawford and Betty Davis in my TCM movies. Like, I have a whole other world that I live in with a few of my gay friends. And we share that. And it's,

I do live there. Who are, like, who's your people right now? Who do you like to see? Who are who you're, I know you and Brad Breske are very good friends. I love Brad. You know, I think I'm closest to my gaze, to be honest with you. Isaac Boots and his husband, Jeffrey, are two of my dearest friends. I have.

I mean, I know you, Barry were so close. Barry and I were really close, and I loved him. And I miss him, and I think of him a lot. I really do. Because I feel a safety with, With my gays, my friends who are gay feel safer to me than women. That's the truth. I have more gay friends than I have male friends more than I have women friends.

And that's the truth. I have two really good friends that I've been friends with for almost 30 years that are like the kids' school friends. Like I met them in the kids. You write about them in the book. It's called Jen and Robin. Dear friends account on them for anything. But they're not in this business. They're like my everydayers.

call them, but like Isaac and Jeffrey, and then my friends, I have these new friends that I love that live in Sweden that I met in Paris in the fashion world, and they have become my dear friends also, Frederick and Johan. And so I am the most comfortable with my male friends. It's true. Yeah. Truly. By far. That was more from my conversation with Lisa Rina. If you haven't heard our full conversation yet, I don't know what you're waiting for. Be sure to check it out on dinner's on me. This episode of Dinners on Me was recorded at Coral Tree Cafe in Brentwood, California. Next week on Dinner's On Me, you know her from bridesmaids, Reno 911, the Goldbergs,

and currently as Hospital Administrator Joyce on St. Dennis Medical, it's Wendy MacLendon Covey. We get into her improv days, the surprise side hustle she kept until the Goldbergs, and the possibility of a cameo by me on St. Dennis. One Can Only Hope. Dinner's On Me, is a production of Sony music entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch.

Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Alyssa Midcalf. Sam Bear engineered this episode. Hans Dale She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tamika Balanced Kalasney and Justin McKita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Join me next week.