Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Side Dish: More with Steve Zahn

Episode Date: September 24, 2026

More of my interview with ‘Chad Powers’ star Steve Zahn. We get into his iconic guest spots on ‘Modern Family’ and ‘Friends’ and why a Jennifer Aniston movie is one of his favorite projects. Plus, more on working on ‘Chad Powers’ with Glen Powell. This episode was recorded at First of All in West Hollywood, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know those nights when you suddenly realize it's 7.30, you're hungry, and you have absolutely nothing in the fridge that resembles a real dinner. And somehow you're standing there thinking, okay, what am I going to make? That's why I love keeping my freezer stocked with Omaha steaks. They have tender steaks, flavorful burgers, seafood, chicken, gourmet franks, and even sides and desserts. So it's basically like having a trusted butcher and gourmet food shop right in your freezer. I also love that everything comes individually packaged. so I can pull out exactly what I need. Omaha Steaks has been doing this for more than 100 years,

and their meticulous aging process, and vacuum-sealed packaging means that, yes, frozen delivery really can be this good. And if you want an easy way to try them, the burger perfection flight is a great place to start. You get 20 premium steak burgers made from five different cuts, filet mignon, New York strip, ribby, brisket, and sirloin for just $7,99. So whether you need an easy weeknight dinner or you're getting ready for a Saturday cookout, Omaha Steaks makes it really easy to have something delicious on hand.

Try the burger perfection flight at Omaha Steaks.com today. That's 20 premium steak burgers for just $79, plus get $35 off with the promo code Jesse. Terms Apply, C-Sight for details. That's Omaha Steaks.com promo code Jesse for $35 off at checkout. terms apply see site for details i spent a lot of time thinking about what's coming into our house and with two kids there is a lot coming into our house especially laundry i feel like i'm constantly buried under laundry towels sheets clothes the mysterious collection of socks that no longer seem to have matching partners it's an endless cycle so i've been trying to pay a little more attention

to what i'm actually using in those everyday routines that's how i found blue land Blue Land makes household cleaning products designed to reduce single-use plastic, and I've been especially into their laundry tablets. They're pre-measured so there's no giant jug to lug around. You just drop a tablet directly into the drum and wash as usual. The tablets have a microplastic-free formula made with plant and mineral-based cleaning ingredients, and they're hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin. And they actually handle the kind of laundry I have to deal with,

Food stains, grass stains, all the evidence that children have been children. And fun fact, Blue Land is a certified B Corp and Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free Certified. So if you're looking to make a small change in your routine, you can get 15% off your first order at bluland.com slash JTF. Hey, it's Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Here's a little side dish from this week's episode of Dinners on Me. This week I was at, first of all, in West Hollywood. with actor Steve Zahn, who you might know from Hulu's Chad Powers and from Apple TV's silo, as well as films like Reality Bites and that thing you do.

Over scrambled eggs and chili kilets, Steve and I talk about the decision he and his wife made early on to leave New York City for a more rural lifestyle and what it's like to build a career outside the traditional Hollywood bubble. Now, to get back into the conversation, you're pulling up a chair as Steve and I reminisce about his quick stint on season six of modern family. where he played one half of a strange couple that moves in next door to Phil and Claire. The time I saw you, Steve,

was when you were on set from modern family. Yeah, that was so grave. We didn't do any scenes together, though. I just would see you in the makeup trailer, you and Andrea, coming through. Isn't that crazy? That show, just doing, I don't know how many days I was on it, you know. You did four episodes.

Okay, but it was pretty quick, right? I mean, I don't know if that wasn't there. Did it feel quick? Yeah. No. You guys, that was the most insanely civil, happy. Like, this is how you do it. It does.

We were a happy group. You don't have to be miserable. You don't have to work. You don't work with Eric and I. That's where the misery came in. No, just kidding. Oh, that's so much fun. Yeah, yeah.

You and Andrew were great. And we just, like, we'd do, like, one take. these days it was like really like a student film basically like a student film yeah it was it was really you guys were so great

the wacky neighbors yeah it was really fun and I mean you're in one of those shows man it's like it's rare a water cooler show that everyone knows yeah yeah

and I did four shows and I still so many people Yeah. Like, hey, you're the neighbor. No way. Yeah, it's crazy. I did one episode of Friends. And I...

What did you do on Friends? I'll be in Germany and someone will come up and say, hey, friends. No way. I played Phoebe's husband. I was an ice skater. I was in the Ice Capades. Is that what it is? Yeah, Ice Capades.

And I was Canadian. Okay. And she married me. Because I vaguely remember this episode. I was gay. But then I show up and I'm like, I'm Phoebe's husband. And they're like, what? She goes, no, I married him because he needed his green car to come.

Okay. But then I come out to her straight. That's hilarious. It's really funny. I just remember one line she's like, how are your parents taking this? I'm like, they're cool. My brother's straight. That was just a reversal.

It was really funny. I love that. Anyway. I mean, that was such a. I mean, that show was such a cultural moment. It is still. Yeah, yeah. You know what I'm going to later today is James Burroughs Memorial Service,

so I think I'm going to see a lot of the cast of friends there. Oh, say hi. Probably at least I assume. Say hi. I will. And Jennifer. And Jennifer, yeah, yeah, yeah. I did a movie with her.

It was one of my favorite movies. What did you do with her? No one's seen it. It's called management. I don't know that one. Stephen Belber wrote it. Great playwright, directed it. It was so much fun.

It was just one of those, like, where people were, hey, what's your, you know, what's your favorite, you know, whatever? You know, like, that's impossible to answer. What's your favorite movie you did? But that was one of my favorites. Really? It was just, couldn't stop laughing, man.

I mean, we just couldn't. It was so fun to make. So interesting. Isn't it? Yeah, I mean, it definitely, like, puts into perspective, like, the meaning of what success is. And, you know, it's when you are in this industry, specifically, like, it's a writer or an actor or a director,

you know, you put out a product or something that you're proud of, and it's really about, you know, how you feel about it, how it affects you and hopefully it affects other people. But, you know, we do base success in this industry specifically on how much money it makes or how, yeah, the numbers it makes. So it is, it does, you know, it's interesting that the things that people do respond to are these things that maybe didn't have an impact in the way that executives might have wanted them to. Right, because they felt something and they said, oh, you've got to watch this movie.

Yeah. And that's how it works, right? I mean, that's how it works. You watch the movie and go, oh, I have a friend that's going to. going to love this. And it's just, it's the old way of, you can't, you can't get away from that. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Steve Zon talks about the wild tonal balancing act of Chad Powers

and why he thinks season two is even better than season one. And the scene partner who completely surprised him. Okay, be right back. On days off from Jesus Car Superstar in London this past summer, we would head out to the English countryside for a little family reset. The boys were in heaven. They were running around,

looking at farm animals, getting as muddy as possible. Justin was, you know, thriving, taking runs in the morning. And I finally had an excuse to sit quietly with my Kendall for a few minutes without feeling guilty. Now, trips like this always remind me

that vacations aren't exactly cheap. So here's something I really didn't think about until Airbnb. While you're away, your home could actually be working for you when you list it on Airbnb. It's such a practical way to bring a little extra income and put it towards your own travel plans. And if the idea of hosting sounds intimidating, Airbnb has this great thing called the co-host network. It's made up of experienced local hosts who can help manage your listing, take care of your home,

and help your guests have a great stay while you're away, so you can enjoy your vacation without worrying about what's going on back home. Find a co-host at Airbnb.com slash host. Hear that? It's your money calling. It wants a promotion. Elevate your savings with the Scotia high-interest savings account. Always earn high regular interest rates that grow the more you save and invest.

Conditions apply. Visit scotiabank.com slash h-I-S-A to learn more. Scotia Bank. You're richer than you think. And we're back with more dinners on me. Chad Power specifically has a tone that I really respond to. It's, you know, it does play like a drama that's very funny. And the stakes are incredibly high, and people mean what they say.

And it's like, you know, they are, it's very rooted in reality. And then the premise on top of that is wildly ridiculous. It's sort of like Mrs. Doubtfire meets Ted Lassau or something. Right. You know, how is this going to work? How is this going to work? Yeah. And that was so compelling to me.

And I was like, yeah, absolutely. do this. This is insane. Yeah. And I'm so glad I did. Yeah. It's it's, it's, it's, season two. I'm so happy we're back for season two, because

season one ends on a on like a clip hanger. I'm not sure if you're going to make it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The, the, the, man should have heart attack. I live. Yeah, you live. Yeah. But, like, season two is better than season one. You think? Yeah.

I know. It's such a, it's, it's, it's crazy. And it's not Ted Lassso. It's, you know, people, oh, it's, it's, it's, it's, Football, it's a... No. The tone is much more eastbound and down than it is.

You know, it's kind of raw, dirty. No TV show. Like, Friday Night Lights was not about football. It was about families. Right. You know, Ted Lassa was not about soccer. It was about so many other things. You know, I mean, that's the same way I feel bad about Chad Powers.

It's, it's... And it's got a great tone. It's got a great tone. And you all are great. It's so fun. Harry? Yeah. She's great.

She's... At first, I was like, I was like, I don't know, what is she doing? Like, I was, she was so good that it confused me. It was like, the first couple scenes we did together, she was so understated. Yes. I had to lean in to hear her, you know, and that kind of thing. And then when I, when I watched, and then we just... Head it off. We're very close.

And then season, I watched it, and I just, I texted, I'm sending her the longest text just going, you are a master. Yeah. You totally had me. Oh my God. And now I know what you were doing. Yeah. I missed it. And I was sitting right in front of you.

I was pretending with you. Isn't it amazing. I've had these moments, too, with other actors where I'll be in a scene with them and was like, I don't know if this. And then somehow I watch it on film. And it's the opposite of what I expected. The film has captured them in a way that they know what they're doing. And they're not explaining it to anyone else, but they know how it's going to look. No, and my instinct is it going like, yeah, I'm doing something.

So this is that you think. It's intentional. I'm sucking intentionally. It's like the Steve McQueen. Like Steve McQueen was always like bizarre. I was like, is he amazing or does he suck? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what I mean?

Like in the Great Escape, you're like, What movie are you in? And he's brilliant. Yeah. You know, Glenn Powell. Title character, Chad Powers. I think he's so good that, again, you don't even think about it. You're focusing on other people.

You're focusing on Perry and Ian, you know. It's that good. How do you do? And a guy in his position, that's the show you do? Yeah. I told him, first time I met him, I was like, dude. big swing. You're taking a big swing, man. You neither connect or you don't.

Yeah, yeah. You know? Yeah. It's cool. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Steve tells me about inviting his That Thing You Do co-star, Liv Tyler, to his farm, and how he got the attention of Ben Stiller, leading to his role in the cult classic film Reality Bites, and the role he was up for an occult classic film that he didn't get. Okay, be right back.

When you're a mid-sized business, you need every competitive advantage you can get. Like an AI solution that works for you, not against you. SAP Grow is built with AI embedded at its core, working across every system. And it's ready to go from day one so you can hit the ground running. Bring it with SAP Grow, AI Cloud ERP for any size business. And we're back with more dinners on me. Liv Tyler came out and visited me and I got her in a tractor. Really?

Yeah. Oh, that's very sweet. I have to show you a picture of us. Please do. Please do. It's so great. I was friendly. When Andrea Anders, our mutual friend,

Andrea Anders, who you did a modern family with. Yes. Was dating Matt LeBlanc. I went out to his farm a few times, and he put me on, like, on vehicles that do other things. You know, vehicles that also mow, vehicles that also plow, vehicles like,

vehicles that you ride but also that accomplish tasks. Right. And I did I did understand the appeal of it. I did understand it. Like I was into it.

Like what was the vehicle? Like an excavator? Yeah. Or like something like that. Like this type of thing? It was one of these. No, I don't know if it was an excavator. I think it was like a

I don't know. Like it's just something that you get around the property on. But it also could do- Like a side-by-side? Sure. Like a little Jeep. Yeah, I think it was. But I feel like he used it to like do things as well.

Like accomplished tasks. Here it is. Bring things around. Okay, let me see. Oh, like a bo- like a little bob, a skid steer. Sure. I don't know. So, Liv wanted a picture.

Okay. That was like a classic Kentucky picture. Okay, let's see. Well, that's classic. Oh, my God. What's happening with you? I put a little thing in my, so it looked like I was missing it too. You sure did.

This is hilarious and wildly adorable. Yeah, that's her. That's great. Isn't that fun? That's great. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. And that's her own on a tractor.

It's beautiful there. It's not great. Yeah, it's really. No, I can understand the appeal. It has been the place you've been in the entire time? Yeah. Like the trees were like this when we moved in. I had this painting of the kids.

We have this pool, but we have this hydrant out front. to throw water. And they just ran through this hydrant. And so I took all these pictures. And I gave it to an artist and I said, I want a painting of my kids, but I want him going through this water.

And Audrey's in her diaper, and her diapers is so softening wet and it's down her knees and it's above our fireplace. And I look at it now and I see the trees behind them. And they're like this.

And now they're like this. Yeah. And it's a great reminder of like, wow, I am so insignificant, man. And look, I'm older. Now these trees touch. It's really cool. I mean, it's, it's, it's, I can see the appeal of it.

I mean. But you have to, you know, you have to like that. I would say, you have to want that. I feel like I would maybe feel a little stir crazy, but I think I would actually adapt to that lifestyle much better than my husband would. Yeah. Even when we moved from Los Feliz, which is a buzzy neighborhood here in Los Angeles, to Encino, which is more, you know, residential suburbia. Not quite, I wouldn't call it suburbia, but it's definitely quieter.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He got nervous that, like, we were doing that too soon. Like, he was like, I'm going to feel stir crazy, even just in Encino. So, but I can understand the appeal to space and being away from the industry, for sure. Wait, have you all, you've always lived. We always did. So Rob and my wife and I met years and years ago. In New York, though, right? Yes.

Okay. We met doing the national tour Bye Bye Birdie. Who did you play? Hugo. Okay. Wow. Hugo Peabody. Wow. The romantic lead.

Yes. Gene Sax directed. It was that Tommy Tune and N-ranking. I remember that tour. I didn't see it, but I remember when it was going on. We went out for like four. 13 months. And I met her on that.

And we moved home. Who did she play? She played. It was like Mary Sue. Okay. You know, she was in the course. Telephone hour. Yes.

She was one of the time. And when we got back, you know, it's that tour money. And you're like, I'm really rolling in it. Because I haven't, I've just saved up money. Because you also get a per diem. Right. You get. Yeah.

And there's loopholes. You can like stay with other friends and save your friends. Save your rent. I'm saving so much money. Oh, yeah. And I got home and I never had money like that. And so we decided we're going to buy a cabin. Okay.

A weekend place in the Poconos. Nice. And we did. And then we didn't work. And then three weeks later, we're like, we have to get out of our apartment. We have to move out here. So we were forced to move to the cabin. And we were doing shows in New York.

So we commuted. So we were forced. to, but then they became a way of life. Yeah. And back then, no one did that. No, now everyone's doing that in New York. Exactly. So we were kind of the first of, and then, you know, we did more jobs and things,

and then we bought a farmhouse just across the river in Jersey. And then we moved to a farm. So we always had this existence outside. Right. For me it's like, well, I'm not, I don't purposely step away from the industry, Because I feel like... Well, that's what we're all saying here in town. I mean...

I mean... While you're not here, everyone's talking about it. Well, here's the thing. Like, I always kind of felt like maybe I was missing out on stuff for sure. But it was the sacrifice, right? It was like, well, I love this life and I want to live here. I like to... I like it dark in it.

I like the fish and I like the thick stuff or whatever. But I know that... I probably did miss out on being a part of a group of people that work together or whatever. And I don't know what that is, so it doesn't bother me. Yeah. But I don't know. I don't know. Sometimes I think, like, I feel, I really feel outside.

Yeah. I've always felt like that. Yeah. Well, that's, I mean, that's interesting because your career would, like, say, differently, like, because I just look at your career, and I feel like you've always been, like, kind of part of the cool projects and, like, doing a lot of the really interesting, you know, you look at your timeline, and there's, like, every decade is, like, three or four super significant moments.

Yeah, no. And so I feel like even, you know, it's just proof and point, you know, like, you don't necessarily have to be in this city to be, to have that more contracted to you. Oh, yeah, no, for sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I've always said, like, I don't think knowing what everyone is doing

and what is the new thing or whatever doesn't necessarily make me a better actor. No. But living in my little town, and maybe that makes me a better actor. Yeah. Because I'm just out there. Perspectives, too, I think, is always great.

I mean, listen, it's working, and I don't want you to change it. Don't worry about what we're saying here when you're going. Would you, when you first started, though, with reality bites, for example, that were you, you were living where? I was in New York. Okay. So that was, well, no, reality bikes, we were at the cabin. You were, okay. We were out there.

So even at the beginning of your career, it's like you were. Like I was doing, you know, a play at Playwrights Horizons. I would drive in. I did a player at Playwrights Horizon. I did you. I did a play called Sophistry. Okay. With Ethan. Yes.

Johnson Mark Sherman wrote it. He was in it. Callista Flockhart. Oh, no way. Dick Letessa. Dick Letessa. Wow. Just a great human being. Yeah.

He was awesome. So you were a real theater kid. Yeah. At the beginning of your career. Yeah, that's it. That's all I wanted to do. Because you met Ethan at ART, right? No.

I was at ART and then I came to New York and it was sophistry. Oh, okay, got it. And I got that part, and then we hit it off, and we became very close. And then we worked, like, for two years straight on everything. We did sophistry. We did reality bites. We went back to sophistry. We had a little theater group of company called Malaparte.

And we released the theater that was, like, three doors down. It was, like, on the corner there, it was like an... Or burlesque house. Which street? In New York? Just three doors down from Playwright's Horizons. Okay, so Playwright's Horizon was, well, it's in the same, I think it's in the same place. Yeah.

But that street has changed significantly. Oh, that's gone. It was. This was a old theater. Yeah. So this, you were talking about like nine, mid-90s. Yeah, yeah. It was great.

A shitbox. Oh, my God, man. So I'm in a movie, you know, like, I never thought I'd be in a movie. Right. I just thought it just be in theater. Did you, were you a part of that because of your relationship with Ethan? Yeah. How did that happen?

Me, I think Ben came to see the play. We were doing sopastry. And then I auditioned and Ben liked me. And I remember coming to L.A. and doing the whole, like, test, you know. And it was like, you know, the other guy, you know, we're all, good luck man you know that remember the old days yeah it was different so different yeah the first time i came to all right for a job i was to test for this sitcom called the class that jane's bro's directed and it was like i remember going into the room where we were all waiting before the test for the network

in the studio and when the other actors who were reading from my role found out that i had been flown in from new york i was immediately like so much more of a threat Because they all knew each other Because it was my first time in L.A. And they flew me because I was doing a musical. They flew me into Test for it. And they were like, we haven't seen you around. I was like, oh, I'm in New York.

And they're like, I mean, their fathers went off. Yeah. And then I got it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I remember those.

What was it like? Oh, it was me? Like, I was up for office space. Mm. And I went, and I went, yeah. And I remember, like, going to the kind of last, you know, audition with Ron. Ron Levinson. Yeah.

Wow. And we were both like, hey, my, yeah, your mom is a minister. My dad's a minister. Like, we hit it off. Right. And it was just really cool. And now we're friends, you know what I mean? So it's just that, it's just interesting.

Like, reality bites of it, Noel Wiley. No way. Yeah. It was the two of you. Yeah. And then in the end, you know, everything just kind of, we all get other jobs. Yeah. It's just interesting.

That was a little more from my conversation with Steve Zahn. If you haven't heard our full conversation yet, make sure to check it out on Dinner's On Me. This episode of Dinners On Me was recorded at first of all in West Hollywood, California. Next week on Dinner's On Me, you know him from Broad City, Narcos, and he's currently starring in the film Matchbox, the movie. It's Arturo Castro. We'll get into how impactful Broad City was on his career and the lessons he took from the creators of that show. And what it's like starring alongside the likes of Jessica Beale and John Cena in a huge franchise film. Dinner's On Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Furr.

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. Special thanks to Tamika Balance Kalasni and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.