Allison Janney — on feeling like a rockstar during ‘The West Wing’ and behind-the-scenes of ‘The Diplomat’

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Episode: Allison Janney — on feeling like a rockstar during ‘The West Wing’ and behind-the-scenes of ‘The Diplomat’
Released: November 4, 2025
Location: Angelini Osteria, Los Angeles

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Episode Overview

In this lively, candid episode, Emmy and Oscar-winning actress Allison Janney joins Jesse Tyler Ferguson for an intimate Italian dinner at Angelini Osteria. The conversation flows effortlessly from the iconic highs of The West Wing and behind-the-scenes stories from The Diplomat and Palm Royale, to reflections on stagecraft, friendships, imposter syndrome, and those surreal moments only Hollywood can deliver. Blending humor and vulnerability, Allison and Jesse reminisce, swap industry tales, and, of course, gush over pasta and each other.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Social Awkwardness and The Life of Scripted People

• Early on, Allison jokes about her comfort with scripts:
  • “That’s why I think I’m awkward socially, because no one has. I don’t have a script.” (02:37, 12:11)
  • Jesse relates: “I don’t know what to say. I don’t have any line.” (12:17)
• Both discuss how acting gives them a social structure they sometimes lack in real life.

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2. Hollywood Crossroads: Shared Histories and Almost-Collaborations

• Allison and Jesse reflect on how they've orbited each other’s careers, but rarely truly overlapped.
  • They did a Voya campaign at the same time and appeared together in a memorable James Corden sketch (04:54–06:56).
  • Jesse: “It is weird that we haven’t worked together.” (04:33)
  • Allison: “I actually Googled us. I put our names in because I was like, surely we’ve worked together!” (04:54)
• Jesse recounts their fever-dream-like skit on Corden’s show:
  • “Then all of a sudden, I grab a microphone … and I sing this song about, when will it be my turn to talk?” (05:32)
  • Allison: “This sounds like a fever dream. I have to watch this again.” (06:10)

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3. Pasta, Restaurants, and Favorite Foods

• The pair order their favorites—Allison, the lemon pasta; Jesse, the lasagna verde.
  • Allison: “I love this place … should we order two or … I’m gonna do the lemon pasta. That’s what I want.” (07:15, 07:26)
  • Jesse: "I would try and make this, and it just would not be nearly as good." (20:29)
• Both rave about their meals, sharing cooking ambitions and Instagram recipe inspiration (20:36–21:11).

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4. The West Wing: Cultural Impact and ‘Rockstar’ Status

• Allison recounts being taken by surprise at The West Wing's cultural influence.
  • “To get West Wing was a big moment for me … I didn’t know that it was … I mean, both Brad and I … thought, ‘Well, this will never … who’s gonna want to watch a show about politics?’” (08:08–09:01)
  • She describes ‘rockstar’ moments when filming in DC:
    • “The only time I’ve ever felt like a rock star was in Washington, D.C.…We had to have security. It was crazy.” (09:28–09:59)
  • Jesse adds that the show inspired real-life political engagement:
    • “I know so many people who went into politics because of the West Wing.” (09:01)

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5. Behind-The-Scenes: ‘The Diplomat’ and Emotional Challenges

• Jesse highlights Allison’s complex scene in The Diplomat's finale—nuclear bases, maps, long monologues (16:46).
  • Allison: “It was a bear to do.” (16:46)
  • She reveals filming overlapped with putting down her beloved dog:
    • “I had to put my dog down. One of my dogs. I was filming in London. ... I had to take some moments to myself … but you keep going.” (17:22–17:57)
• The pair discuss the demands of bringing gravitas and humanity to public service roles.

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6. Margot Martindale, ‘Cocaine Bear,’ and the Magic of Character Actors

• Discussions turn to Margot Martindale, mutual friend and co-star:
  • Allison: “What a treasure she is. …She’s just a remarkable person. She’s so funny.” (18:24)
  • Jesse: “The locals all ended up falling in love with Margot … The locals were, like, leaving her baked goods at her door.” (19:27–19:30)
  • Admiration for Martindale’s openness with fans and being “the mayor of the town”.

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7. Stagecraft, Perfectionism, and the Terror of Live Theater

• Jesse recalls backstage with Allison during Six Degrees of Separation previews (27:43).
  • On creative insecurity:
    • Jesse: “You guys were dissecting … whether or not the audience had responded.” (27:56)
    • Allison: “It never stops. Still working. ... When you lose a moment on stage ... you spend the whole time trying to get it back.” (28:40)
    • Allison admits to battling stage fright and intrusive thoughts during performances:
      • “Am I going to get shot tonight? Dark, really dark, really intrusive thoughts would come into my mind.” (29:43–29:51)
• They reflect on the pressures of live performance and anxieties about public safety.

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8. Surreal Hollywood and Broadway Moments

• Jesse shares his own "pinch-me" moments:
  • Being named one of Barbara Walters’ "10 Most Fascinating People" (21:56)
    • Hilarious luggage mix-up and mad dash to the interview (22:49–23:17).
  • Allison recounts canoeing with Monica Lewinsky and Cameron Manheim (23:22–24:19).
• Reflections on unusual celebrity encounters and the wonder of their careers.

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9. Physical Comedy & Primary Colors

• Jesse brings up Allison’s legendary pratfall in Primary Colors:
  • "It was the most insane ... Your character slips and grabs onto the banister … in a pencil skirt … Was that scripted?" (24:42–25:46)
  • Allison credits Mike Nichols’ direction and her own improvisation:
    • “I did it and held on with that one thing, so just made the rest of my body look crazy. And it worked.” (25:46)
    • Steve Martin complimented her on it!
    • “I swear to this day, I think that’s why I got West Wing, because Aaron loved the fall.” (26:18)

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10. ‘Palm Royale’, Costumes, and Working with Friends

• Jesse and Allison trade stories about Palm Royale’s creator Abe Sylvia and working on the show (32:05–36:23).
  • Jesse: “It’s one of the most beautiful shows I’ve ever seen.” (32:06)
  • Allison: “It’s a candy store of actors and costumes and sets.” (35:32)
• Highlights working with Kristen Wiig, Carol Burnett, Leslie Bibb, Ricky Martin, and more.
  • Allison: “I know who I am when I put on Evelyn’s costume, and I know who I am when I put on Grace Penn’s costume.” (37:37)
• Juggling dual roles on Palm Royale and The Diplomat required airline-hopping, but Allison relished the opportunity.

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11. Oscar Win Reflections & 'I, Tonya'

• Jesse remembers seeing Allison at the Vanity Fair party, Oscar in hand:
  • “No one was more deserving of that than you … it just felt very ... the whole room was so excited for you.” (37:45–38:31)
  • Allison admits, “It was such a relief for me because I was so worried about all the people who were cheering me on, that if I didn’t win it, they’d be so disappointed.” (38:31)
• Allison talks about her early life as an ice skater and nearly having Levana (her character) skate in the movie (39:09–40:28).
• Creative ingenuity on-set, such as faking smoking props with an oxygen cannula for her bird scene:
  • “I pat myself on the shoulder … then I just had the cannula… so I could do the scene without smoking.” (41:14)
  • Humorous regrets: “I should have had a cigarette in my hand anyway and not lit it. Just had it … How many years later did I come up with that idea? … God damn it.” (41:51)

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Memorable Quotes

• “The only time I’ve ever felt like a rock star was in Washington, D.C... We had to have security.”
  — Allison Janney (09:28)
• “I love playing people like CJ...because they can do [conversation]. I think that's why I'm an actor, so I can.”
  — Allison Janney (12:01)
• “Think about a joke you said, but, like, while no one’s there. It’s really good...You could see why you won an Emmy.”
  — Jesse Tyler Ferguson (06:47)
• “I always think, how can I make that moment better? ...It's infuriating sometimes.”
  — Allison Janney (28:40)
• “It never stops. Still working.”
  — Allison Janney (28:40)
• “I swear to this day, I think that’s why I got West Wing, because Aaron loved the fall.”
  — Allison Janney (26:18)

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Notable Segments with Timestamps

• Recap of shared TV moments and James Corden sketch:
  [04:54–07:01]
• Impact of The West Wing & DC stories:
  [08:08–09:59]
• Challenging scene & personal loss on The Diplomat:
  [16:46–17:57]
• Margot Martindale stories:
  [18:24–20:03]
• Reflections on live theater and stage fright:
  [27:43–29:51]
• Primary Colors fall & physical comedy:
  [24:42–26:18]
• Palm Royale, costuming, and working with friends:
  [32:05–36:56]
• Oscar-winning experience and I, Tonya backstory:
  [37:45–41:45]

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Tone

Warm, playful, and affectionate, with both actors comfortable toggling between humor and heartfelt honesty. The camaraderie is genuine—Alison and Jesse’s laughter is frequent, and their vulnerability is refreshing.

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Closing Note

The episode showcases a rich tapestry of shared creative process, memory, and mutual admiration. Whether you love inside-Hollywood anecdotes, thoughtful reflection on craft, or simply appreciate two “awkward” but brilliant actors comforting each other over pasta, this episode will leave you hungry for more—both for great conversation and Italian food.

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End of Summary

Transcript

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I don't know about you, but I always feel like the fall flies by. School starts up, work ramps up, and then before you know it, bam. There's a Christmas tree in your living room. I love to get away from Los Angeles for at least a little bit of time during the holidays. We love taking our kids to New York City so we could see Rockefeller center, the amazing tree there. We like to visit the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. One year we took our kids to Big Bear so that they could see snow for the first time. It was absolutely unbelievable. And it got me thinking, if I'm gone again for a stretch, why not let my home welcome guests in the meantime by hosting it on Airbnb? The reason that feels easy is because of Airbnb's co host network. A local co host can handle the whole thing. Setting up your place, managing reservations, messaging guests, even styling it so it feels extra welcoming. With a co host, you have someone who's behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly while you're free to focus on the busy season ahead and watching your children play in snow for the very first time. So if you've been curious about hosting but don't know where to start, find a co [e-mail] host one of my absolute favorite holiday traditions is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I know, me and everyone else who loves that parade. I grew up watching it every year on tv and last year, last year I got to bring Beckett and Sullivan to see it in person and it was absolutely magical. The floats, the music, the, the look on their faces, it was just, it was one of those perfect New York moments. And this year, Macy's is adding something new that's just as fun. The Parade of Deals. From now through November 27th, Macy's is rolling out brand new one day only deals every single day. It's like a mini parade of surprises leading up to Thanksgiving. You can score incredible finds like a Dyson Big Ball vacuum if you love everyday luxury. A Ninja blender if you're always experimenting in the kitchen. Or my personal favorite, the Ugg fluff throw blanket for those of us who are skipping the turkey trot and going into full cozy mode. So check out Macy's Parade of deals daily@macy's.com or in store. Don't miss the magic. Hi, it's Jessie today on the show. You know her for her four time Emmy award winning performance as CJ on the West Wing and her Oscar winning role in I Tonya. She's now on The Apple TV series Palm Royale. It's Alice and Janney.

[Allison Janney]

That's why I think I'm awkward socially, because no one has. I don't have a script.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Like, I don't know what to say. I don't have any line. This is Dinner's on me. And I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Allison Janney has got to be one of my all time favorite actors on television and on stage and in film. I just think she's absolutely stunning and I am so impressed with her range. She's one of those actors who truly, if you said, Jesse, whose career do you wish to have one day, it would be Alison Janney. I just think she's absolutely spectacular and I am so thrilled that I am now buddies with her. We met when I was doing Modern Family and she was doing mom and I would get to see her at, you know, the Emmy Awards and she was almost always picking up an Emmy. She has like 900 Emmys at this point. Today I'm at Angelini Osteria, a cozy gym on Beverly Boulevard where chef Gino Angelini has been quietly elevating LA's Italian scene for over 20 years now. Raised in northern Italy and cooking since he was a teenager. From delicate handmade pastas to his legendary lasagna verde, a dish that's earned cult status in this city. I actually think I'm going to get one of those for myself today. It feels just right for chatting with Alison. You know, I'm pretty sure Evelyn, her character on Palm Royale, would absolutely approve of this chic but classic vibe going on here. Though she might try to cut the line for a table. Okay, let's get to the conversation.

[Allison Janney]

Are you drinking these days or not drinking these days?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm not drinking. Well, the first time I asked you out to dinner, you weren't drinking because it was when we were in Canada.

[Allison Janney]

That's right. I was doing 100 days. I do that every once in a.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

While to really impressive.

[Allison Janney]

And that was right before you were going off to do Cocaine Bear.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Cocaine Bear, where I met for the first time and worked with Keri Russell, who you are now working with.

[Allison Janney]

Who is divine.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And then I just worked with Rory Kinnear.

[Allison Janney]

You. Oh, that's right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

In London.

[Allison Janney]

With Joe Mantello.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

With Joe Mantello. And you know, you are obviously on the different mat with him. And so Carrie gave me a little. Because when she first came on, she was like, have you ever worked with Alice and Janney? I was like, I actually never worked with her. But we're friends. I know. That is weird that we haven't worked together.

[Allison Janney]

I actually Googled us. I put our names in because I was like, surely we've worked together.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

We've had photos together.

[Allison Janney]

And it's like they. And it says in Google, it says that they see each other a lot at events.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And AI told us.

[Allison Janney]

GPT said, yeah, we see each other a lot at events. Also, darling, we did a campaign together for Voya.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's right, we did.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah. Remember that?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

We did do a campaign together for.

[Allison Janney]

Voya with the squirrel and everything. We didn't do it together, but we were.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

We had spots that were out at the same time. And also we did James Corden together.

[Allison Janney]

That's right. That's right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And we had a really funny sketch that happened that we did on James Corden together.

[Allison Janney]

What was our sketch that we did?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

The sketch was that we were on the couch together, and we were both. We'd both just been at the Emmys. You had won for Mom. Okay, I had not won for Modern Family. And James was asking us about it, and you were talking about how, you know, I kept trying to interject myself, and James was like, oh, no, no. Like, kind of like, stop interrupting Allison. And you're going on and on and on about your Emmy. And then all of a sudden, I grab a microphone out from behind the couch, and the music starts, and then spotlight hits me, and I sing this song about, when will it be my turn to talk? And you and James continue to have a conversation and pantomime.

[Allison Janney]

Do you remember this?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Is it like a fever dream?

[Allison Janney]

Like, this sounds like a fever dream. I have to watch this again.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's actually really funny.

[Allison Janney]

That sounds hilarious.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I do this whole thing. I get up, and then James gets up, and you're just, like, talking to yourself as if James is still sitting there.

[Allison Janney]

What is wrong with me that I don't remember that?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Because it was so weird and we barely rehearsed. I rehearsed it like, I came in earlier that day to actually rehearse with the man.

[Allison Janney]

I wish you could stop right now and put it up on a screen and watch it when I go home tonight. I am mirroring it on my tv. It's actually really. Sounds like a really funny skit. I wish I'd been there.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

My favorite part is that you're just, like, talking to thin air at one.

[Allison Janney]

Point and doing a really good job. Talking about myself.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Think about a joke you said. But, like, while no one's there, it's really good that Sounds you're acting is. I mean, you could see why you won an Emmy. Oh, my God.

[Allison Janney]

I love that we did that. So we kind of have work together. Thank you so much.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you for coming.

[Allison Janney]

Thank you. Thank you for having us. Anything I can do in the morning? Would you like a glass of water? Would you like water? I definitely want still water. And I would love a glass of. Of Whispering Angel. Whispering Angel.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yes.

[Allison Janney]

I love this place. I love it, too. And. And should we order two or. No. And I'm gonna do the. The lemon pasta. That's what I want.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I think I'm gonna do the lasagna verde. Okay. And you weren't as excited, though. You got excited about the lasagna?

[Allison Janney]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay.

[Allison Janney]

Actually, you only got the best pasta in the egg.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Wow.

[Allison Janney]

I got a cheat sheet.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I love it. No, that sounds delicious. Also, I'm gonna do a sparkling water.

[Allison Janney]

Okay.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And could I have the orange spritz?

[Allison Janney]

Sounds good. The Orange Spritz.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Whispering Orange Spritz. With CJ On. On West Wing, did you. I mean, I assume that was probably, like, your first, like, big role that, you know, certainly the one that I think most people started to know you for.

[Allison Janney]

Well, yeah, definitely my first big role that was so seen by more people than any of my Broadway shows that I had done. I certainly felt like my Broadway debut doing Present Laughter, Noel Coward play with Frank Langella. That was.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Which I saw. I did. I moved to New York in 94.

[Allison Janney]

Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was there.

[Allison Janney]

That was my Broadway debut. So that was huge moment for me. So, yeah, to get West Wing was a big moment for me, and I didn't know that it was. I mean, both Brad and I were doing a press junket today for the Diplomat and talking about West Wing and how we thought, well, this will never. This'll never go. You know, who's gonna want to watch a show about politics? And we had no idea that it was gonna be. And then from then, you got, you know, House of Cards. You got. I can't. All the other political.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

The Diplomat now. I mean, I mean, they're all. I think. I think West Wing held the door open for so many shows and also just generated an interest in politics that I think, you know, a lot of people didn't know they had. I think, you know, I know so many people who went into politics because of the West Wing, and I'm sure you experience this when you get to go to D.C. and speak with, you know, people there or if you've gotten to, like, the White House Correspondence Center. I mean, you must be a superstar at those things.

[Allison Janney]

It is. We felt like rock stars when we would go to do exteriors in Washington because it was such a new idea of shining. Shining a light on people in public service and showing what they do behind what they. You know, it was. It was. They were so grateful for it, for people, for era and telling their stories. They thought we were just heroes to them. And it was such a. It was. The only time I've ever felt like a rock star was in Washington, D.C. i just. It was. We had to have, you know, we had to have security. It was crazy.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Sure. No, I'm sure.

[Allison Janney]

It was really fun to find.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I did. I was with the Clintons when they opened up the. They had a big anniversary for the Clinton Library. Chelsea is a friend of mine, and she asked me to come, and there was a panel that they had with. With me and someone else from Modern Family. I can't remember who else came, but also a lot of the West Wing cast. And it was like they'd asked because we'd been friends of, you know, how.

[Allison Janney]

Are you friends with Chelsea?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I met Chelsea because she sees a lot of theater, and so she's a big supporter of the Public Theater. And I met her at a gala for the Public Theater, and she had seen me, and I've done seven Shakespeare in the Parks now.

[Allison Janney]

Have you really?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah. And so she had seen me in several of those, and she asked if she could meet me, and I went over and said hello. She was perfectly lovely. We had a very nice chat. And then, like, I don't know, a year later, we were at a wedding together. And her husband Mark is also just the coolest, sweetest guy. We ended up spending, like, the whole, you know, evening with them. And now we, like, we're theater buddies. We just hang out. Like, she's lovely, but. But when we were at the library and we had this event. Oh, and that was the other thing. I got to interview Bill. Thank you.

[Allison Janney]

That looks beautiful.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you.

[Allison Janney]

Gorgeous.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Gorgeous. Thank you so much.

[Allison Janney]

Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you. I got to meet him for the first time, Bill Clinton, when I went to an event for Obama, and he knew I was. He knew I was an actor. And so he, like, has, like, one Hollywood connection. And so he, like, went with that. Like, you know, he talked about that one Hollywood connective tissue that we shared together. And then from there, we actually, it expand upon other conversations, but, like, he knows how to, you know, start conversations with people. He is a great conversationalist. And I mean, I wish I had that skill. I would.

[Allison Janney]

Me too.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Can you imagine?

[Allison Janney]

No. That's why I love playing people like cj Like Grace Penn on Diplomat, because they can do that. I think that's why I'm an actor, so I can.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Someone else writes it.

[Allison Janney]

Somebody else writes it, and I say it. That's why I think I'm awkward socially, because no one has. I don't have a script.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Like, I don't know what to say. I don't have any line.

[Allison Janney]

This is so freaking good.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Can I try that?

[Allison Janney]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Alison tells me what was going on internally while filming a challenging scene in the Diplomat. And we gush over the legend, legendary Margot Martindale. Okay. Be right back. All right. Craving something sweet? I'm always craving something sweet. Boar's Head just launched their new Greek yogurt dessert dip collection. And I have to say, it's become a bit of a hit at my house. There are three flavors. Cinnamon, churro, chocolate, espresso, and key lime. And they're all made with creamy, wholesome Greek yogurt blended with premium dessert ingredients so you get that rich, craveable taste. But they're low in fat, gluten free, and packed with probiotics, basically indulgence with a little bit of balance built in. As a parent, I can't always go the cake and ice cream route, though Beckett and Sully would certainly love that. Sometimes I have to get creative. I've actually been known to trick them into thinking certain things are dessert. But with these dips, there's no trick. It's the best of both worlds. I've been using them with fruits pretz. Sometimes I just eat it by the spoonful, and it feels like that kind of treat you actually want. Every day, you'll find the new Boar's Head Greek yogurt dessert dip collection and the deli alongside your other dips and spreads from Boar's Head. Better snacking, smarter indulgence. Boar's Head committed to craft since 1905. You know that feeling you get when you've got a million things going on? Work, family, travel, and your wellness routine is the first thing to slip. Yeah, that's. That's been me lately. But I've started this little morning ritual that's actually stuck my scoop of AG1. It's a simple step that supports my whole body, health, energy, focus, digestion all in one. Especially this time of year when the days get shorter and my schedule gets a little more chaotic. I like knowing I'm starting my day with something that helps me stay one scoop ahead of all that seasonal stress. AG1 combines vitamins, minerals, superfoods, probiotics and functional mushrooms so I don't have to keep track of the so I don't have to keep track of a dozen different supplements. It's an easy, consistent habit that really helps me feel balanced through travel, long days, and yes, maybe a few too many holiday snacks. If you want to give it a try, head to drinkag1.com dinner to get a free welcome kit with an AG1 flavor sampler and a bottle of vitamin D3 plus K2 when you first subscrib. That's drinkag1.com dinner the holidays are here, which means it's officially hosting season. Whether it's friendsgiving Thanksgiving or just that first cozy dinner with people you love, I like to make sure everyone feels taken care of. And Total Wine and More makes it so easy for me to stock up for my guests. They've got thousands of wines, spirits and beers at the lowest prices and plenty of non alcoholic options too, so everyone can join in on the toast. This year I'm trying a cranberry spritz for my guests and a spice pear mocktail for me. And if you're not sure what pairs with turkey or stuffing or pie, their friendly guides will always be happy to help you find your perfect match. With the lowest prices for over 30 years, you'll always find what you love and love what you find only at Total Wine and More. Curbside pickup and delivery available in most areas. See totalwine.com for details. Spirits not sold in Virginia and North Carolina Drink responsibly. Be 21 and we're back with more dinners on me. The episode I just watched last night of the Diplomat get in there is the last episode of season two. Well, which is great, but when you drag in that map and it's you and Carrie and you drag in this map and you put on an easel and you go over to the fireplace and you get a piece of coal and you start drawing on this map and you have a speech that must have been like three pages long.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah, it was something. It was a bear to do.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You ever watch people work like that and think, oh. Because the first thing I thought about was like oh, Alison had to learn this.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah, yeah, it was kind of like this a little bit because I really had to learn where those nuclear base where Russia had basis and I had to know on the map specifically and I Had to learn that and do that at the same time while talking. And also doing it was. It was. It was really hard. And I remember this is just an added thing, another layer. So you know what I was dealing with. I had to put my dog down. One of my dogs.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, my God, I'm so sorry.

[Allison Janney]

And I was filming in London. We were filming that scene, and I had to her down.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was like, oh, my God, that's.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah. So I was doing it and I had to, like, it was such a wild thing to have to film. You know, I had to take some moments to myself and have makeup, you know, touched up and go back at it. And, you know, I got through it. But it's just one of those. One of those moments that you just. God, you have to, like, keeps going.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

All days like this day when I have. Have so much and.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

God, I'm sorry.

[Allison Janney]

No, no, it's fine. It's fine. Life goes on. Oh, my God, have. Please eat a bite of your food.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Stop talking, stop talking.

[Allison Janney]

Just have a moment of silence and enjoy this. This is. Did you. You didn't even comment on this. Did you taste the lemon?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That is incredible. Yeah.

[Allison Janney]

Oh, my God. And tell me about. I mean, my other favorite person that you worked with and cocaine bears. Margo Martindale.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Martindale.

[Allison Janney]

I mean, she. What a treasure she is. She's just a remarkable person. She's so funny. And her. How she started off as a detective.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yes.

[Allison Janney]

I mean, that in and of itself is more than I can. I can. I know imagine. I mean, I want to see her in that show. I want to see her play it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

She has the most colorful background story. Yeah, she did an episode of this podcast, like, in the first season. Yeah, yeah. It's a really. It's a very enjoyable. Listen. No, the first time I met her was on set for Cocaine Bear. And so, you know, we were in Ireland and their work hours also there were very strict. Like, you couldn't work long days. And because all the. The movie took place basically during the day, we were always finished by sunset. So we were always at an Irish pub by, like, you know, 7pm and the locals all ended up falling in love with Margot.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah, she became the mayor of the town.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

The locals were, like, leaving her baked goods at her door because they all loved her so much. I remember one night, she was, like, waiting for Bill at the bar and some, like, locals started flirting with her. You know, she's like, this hasn't happened in a while. So she was just enjoying it.

[Allison Janney]

She enjoys Other people. She enjoys talking to people, to strangers, to admirers. She's so generous.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I wish I was better at that.

[Allison Janney]

I do, too. I mean, I'm always kind to people, but I don't encourage. And she encourages more and more.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

She, like, invites it out.

[Allison Janney]

Okay.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This is absolutely.

[Allison Janney]

It's fantastic.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So great.

[Allison Janney]

So this is everything I want. It's so delicious. Yeah. We were one of the first ones to make this pasta. It's so delicious. Do you give the recipe out or anything? Yes, we do.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Do you.

[Allison Janney]

Our recipes out there? It's the Los Angeles time. You know, usually we have our sauce, you know, in the market, but, you know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, they have jars of the sauce.

[Allison Janney]

Yes. So delicious. Thank you very much. Enjoy your occasion.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I would try and make this, and it just would not be nearly as good.

[Allison Janney]

That's what I feel like. No matter, you know, how easy. Because I like to cook. Sometimes I do.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I've been.

[Allison Janney]

Lately, I've been saving a lot of stuff on Instagram to cook a lot. And. And I started actually making them and having a lot of fun. Like, I'm making. I've been making so many different tomato sauces. It's. It's.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And.

[Allison Janney]

And I. I want to be a good cook. I want the amount of time I. I put into making something be equal to what it tastes like. It should be. Tastes as good as the amount of time, and it doesn't always happen that way. And I'm actually going to. I'm going to the Hamptons to do Ina Garten's and be my guest show.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, my God, I'm so jealous.

[Allison Janney]

I'm so excited. I get to meet her, and she's going to teach me how to make the perfect cacio e pepe, which is one of my favorite pastas of all time.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Allison Janney]

So, yeah, I'm looking forward to getting to meet her and get an experience of wine.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, there are those moments sometimes when I. Because of what we do, that I find myself, you know, getting to meet people like Ina Garten, that I'm like, how is this happening? I remember Eric Stonestreet and I were chosen to be. This is so crazy. One of Barbara Walters, like, 10 most fascinating people of the year. Remember when she used to do that roundup?

[Allison Janney]

Oh, my God. God, that's.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And it would always air, like, right before the Oscars.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah, of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And so it was early Modern Family days, and so she chose Eric and I as a joint person. Oh, my God. And I was just like, are you Kidding me.

[Allison Janney]

That's a huge compliment. That's amazing.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

We flew in for two New York just for this. And I was flying in the first flight out from la. I think we were sitting down with Barbara Walters. Got I at 4. And that flight lands around 2 in New York. So we get to the air, we get to the hotel room. I open up my bag to put on my suit that I brought to be on Barbara Walters, 10 most fascinating people. And I had picked up someone else's suitcase and it was like women's clothes.

[Allison Janney]

And like, oh, my God, Jesse.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Toys for children. I was like, this isn't mine. I was wearing like a. A sweatsuit. I was like, that had to be like, on her show in like an hour.

[Allison Janney]

That's just ridiculous. That's like. That's in a. In a comedy movie.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And it's like. It's basically like, what's up, doc? With, like, the matching suitcases. And so I don't know how. I mean, how this happened, but the person who had picked up my suitcase.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Was part of a production that was filming in. In New York. They saw that they picked up the wrong bag. They. They called me and I was like, yes, I have your bag as well. They happened to be like eight blocks away. We traded suitcases, and I got to Barbara Walters in time.

[Allison Janney]

That's fucking incredible. Isn't that incredible? That's wild.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Allison Janney]

That is the. That's it. That's the wildest story, absolutely meet cute story I've ever heard. I have a moment like that, which is different, a little different than that, but I am. I was at a party that Cameron Manheim was throwing and love her, and Monica Lewinsky was there. And this was. This was back in the days of. Right in the beginning of West Wing, like 2000, 2001 or something like that. And Cameron had. She lived on the canals and she had a canoe. And Monica and Cameron got in. I was in the middle of the canoe and Monica was in the back. And they rode me through the Venice canals, canoed me through the Venice canals. And there were people looking. And I was like. I looked at. I was like, yeah, I know. I have no idea. I have no idea how I got here in my life. It was one of those moments. You go, what? How did I.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Where am I right now?

[Allison Janney]

How did I get here with Cameron and Monica? I mean, there are other ones too. When you get to be at the, you know, in West Wing, when we got to go to the Correspondents Dinner, I was at the Russian embassy. I'M like, I'm at the Russian embassy. There's so many cool moments. Yeah, I remember those, but I just don't remember being on Shane's cordon with you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's available on YouTube. It's a fun watch. When I first met you, I think I might have told you this. You probably have forgotten, but one of my favorite things I've really, honestly ever seen on film is you in Primary colors with this incredible pratfall that you do while walking down a set of stairs. It was the most insane. Your character slips and grabs onto the banister and basically almost swings herself around the whole thing. And you're in a pencil skirt, if I remember, or some sort of skirt. And like. And whoever you. I don't even remember who else was in the scene.

[Allison Janney]

John Travolta.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

John Travolta. He's like, are you okay? And you're like, oh, yeah. You're embarrassed. Like, you. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. And it doesn't have anything to do with the scene. It's just. She's nervous and she falls. First of all, was that scripted? I have so many questions about how that.

[Allison Janney]

I'll tell you. That was Mike Nichols, who I. God rest his soul, I adore him. And he always would put me in things and wanted to work with me, and he put me in this role. Didn't ask me. The fall is in there. But literally, I showed up on set that morning. I hadn't practiced that or done. I just was hoping that would work. And I did it and held on with that one thing, so just made the rest of my body look crazy. And it worked.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And like a rag doll.

[Allison Janney]

I was lucky. It was hilarious. I mean. Cause I'm so all arms and legs anyway. And always have been into physical comedy. So that was a real gift that he gave me. I had no idea that I was gonna head out of the park. You know, I had no idea it was gonna work. And Mike was so pleased. He loved it so much. He wanted me to keep doing it, but that. That was a really wonderful moment I got to have on screen that has brought me so much joy. And having Steve Martin came up to me and said, that was a great. Like, that was so cool to have him come up and that he noticed me because of that fall. I think that. I swear to this day, I think that's why I got West Wing, because Aaron loved the fall. I did. And that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, it's impeccably done.

[Allison Janney]

Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for A quick break, but don't go away. After the break, we discuss how I know her Palm Royale showrunner hint. It involves my time as a theater theater bartender during Cats. And she gives notes on her own Oscar winning performance in I, Tonya. Okay, be right back. And we're back with more dinners on me. I know. Well, and I. The last time I saw you on stage was in Six Degrees of Separation, which were so fantastic. End.

[Allison Janney]

Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I remember going backstage afterwards and you were in previews and we sat in your dressing room, me, you, and John Benjamin Hickey and Chris Perforti was in that, right?

[Allison Janney]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh my God. Sweet Chris.

[Allison Janney]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And yeah. And we were all sitting in your dressing room and you guys were dissecting. You had gotten a whole bunch of notes that day and you were dissecting it, like whether or not the audience had responded to, you know, what you had done. And if you thought the audience was a little quiet, like you were just.

[Allison Janney]

Like, you saw us in a moment.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I saw you in. Like you're in the moment that we all are in at some point during a process of being in front of a live audience. And for me, I have to say it was incredibly refreshing because what I had seen was just so brilliant. I don't know. I felt very invigorated by your guys discomfort with the show. Does that make sense? Yes.

[Allison Janney]

No. It makes total sense to watch actors be not sure if they did a moment right or this isn't right. I still need to do this. Still, you know, still, still working. It never stops. I don't think the whole time you perform. I never, I always think, how can I make that moment better? How can I? When you lose a moment on stage, when the audio, like you spend the whole time trying to get it back, like, what did I do? What did I do? And it's sometimes an arm gesture or something. It's, it's, it's infuriating sometimes. But, but it's also. I start thinking that it's like Groundhog Day if I do it. If I just do it right this one time, I won't have to do this.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You'll be able to repeat it again. Yeah, no, I wanted to do it again. Oh, you won't have to.

[Allison Janney]

I won't have to do it again. So I keep looking for new moments and things.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's right, like you conquer that one moment.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah, it makes me active on stage or something. But I've had some real stage fright during that one. Did you? Yeah, it was hard to.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Why did you think that that was.

[Allison Janney]

Because there were a lot of freezes in that play? A lot of freezes on stage. So you had to sit there in a freeze while someone delivered a monologue.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And it just gave you time to think.

[Allison Janney]

It gives you time to think. And this is what went through my mind. Am I going to get shot tonight?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, wow.

[Allison Janney]

Dark, really dark, really intrusive thoughts would come into my mind. That made me stop it. Stop it. Which. Because, you know, Bruce Springsteen was playing in the theater around the corner, and he had all this, you know, security and metal detectors and. Not that anyone would, but. But it's just the climate we live in now made me, like. I actually thought about that. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't like thinking about that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

My friend Celia, Kenneth Bolger was doing To Kill a Mockingbird.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Aaron Sorkin's To Kill a Mockingbird at the. At the Shubert Theater. And. And it was right. You know, it was right around this time that there was a lot. There was a surge of shootings in the States, and there was a car that backfired right outside of the doors of the Shubert Theater. And the audience screamed, and Celia said it was incredibly. They had to stop the show because there were so many people that were disturbed by the sound. Just like this, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. And it was so loud, out of nowhere, and it was just such a confirmation that we're all living on edge right now.

[Allison Janney]

Absolutely. Absolutely, we are. And that just took me back to your performing at the Delacorte for so many seasons. The only time I did is I did Taming of the Shrew, and Mario Cantone was in it with me. And we used to just do rain dances under that theater because we did not want to perform. It was so. It was. Was so hot, and we couldn't perform in our costumes, and we were like, please, we don't want to go out there. It's so hot. And I had to scream in that play so loud that the police would come almost every night. People would call the cops because they.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Were screaming in the park.

[Allison Janney]

Wow. I can't believe you did that seven times. That's incredible.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know, I know.

[Allison Janney]

I'm going to have one more bite of pasta. I'm almost finished making. Oh, look at us.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So good.

[Allison Janney]

Pasta happens to be my. My favorite food on the planet. I mean, this is my. My death row pasta.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, is that. Let's talk about Palme Royale. I mean, it's. First of all, it's one of the most. The best looking shows I've ever seen.

[Allison Janney]

Isn't it ridiculous?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Absolutely incredible. So Abe Silva, who created it, is actually a buddy of mine.

[Allison Janney]

He's the best.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He's the greatest.

[Allison Janney]

I adore Abe.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Abe. I have to tell you how I know Abe. So Abe Silva, who created Palm Royale, and he's a great writer and a great director. So Abe was in Cats on Broadway for a while.

[Allison Janney]

That's right. Oh, I know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Allison Janney]

I get to see him perform Cats sometimes, and I'm on a very lucky day. He's hilarious.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He's so funny.

[Allison Janney]

He's so funny.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I also worked at the Winter Garden.

[Allison Janney]

You did? What did you do at the Winter Garden?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was a bartender at the Rear Balcony. And so I watch the show every night. And because the cats would enter in different places of the audience, they would sometimes interact with us. And they would, you know, we would like, give them like, you know, like orange juice and soda water or, like, you know, give them, like, little treats. Because, like, you know, I was just like, oh, they're real actors. Like, they're interactive. I was like, what do you want? I'll put something out for you. So Abe and I would always have a little moment, you know, and he wouldn't remember me at that time, but, like, we'd always have a little moment where I'd give him something to drink and, like, then he'd make his entrances, you know, Mr. Mistoffelees or whatever, you know, crawling over a patron onto the stage. And around this time was when on the Town was being cast at the Delacorte Theater, the Leonard Bernstein, Betty Conda, Adolph Green musical. And all of the guys who were in Cats were auditioning for these three main elites.

[Allison Janney]

Okay?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And somehow I was also auditioning for this fast forward. I got the part.

[Allison Janney]

Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And years later, I become friends with Abe, and he's like, oh, yeah, I gotta tell you, like, when that was all happening, we were all like, you know, everyone would come in every day. Like, has anyone. How did everyone on the talent audition go? And then finally, like, a week later, as they're putting on their cat's makeup, everyone's like, has anyone heard anything about Cats? Since someone else is like, yeah, the bartender got it. That is so I can see him.

[Allison Janney]

Just being a bitter pill about.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's hilarious. Yeah, the bartender got it. The bartender got it. Isn't that great? I'm so proud of him. The show is so good. I mean, like I said, it's like one of the most beautiful shows ever seen.

[Allison Janney]

Candy. My God, Alex Reedberg is. Is just so beyond talented. And I just love what she's done for Evelyn. Every caftan I wear, every. And Jill Crosby does my wigs, which are out of control. There's like, there's a whole symphony going on in my head all the time. And it's. And Kristen and Carol, I mean, it's. It's crazy that I get to be with her in this life. And we play wordle together and I get a text from her every day, which makes me so happy. And to be. To call Kristen, my friend. I've just admired her and she's just.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I like her so much. I do, too. Yeah. I mean, that whole cast is absolutely insane. I mean, Ricky Martin really surprised me.

[Allison Janney]

He's so lovely. Isn't he a wonderful actor? He's amazing. And I just. He's such a lovely man, too, which just everyone adores him. Mindy Cohen is so much fun.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Mindy Cohen, Laura Dern, also Leslie Bibb.

[Allison Janney]

Oh, God, Leslie. Yes. She's incredible.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Allison Janney]

It's a candy store of actors and costumes and sets. The most beautiful. I can't even believe when we walk on these sets, the detail and just the opulence and it's just stunning. You know, I saw a sizzle reel for it, and it's fantastic. There's some dance routines that Ricky and Kristen do together that are just. They're just spectacular. I'm so excited. And a lot of the storylines that I got were with Kristen. We really buddied up this season. We have a love hate relationship, but I got to do some really great stuff with her. We were sort of Lucy and Ethel together this season. And Evelyn is married to Jason Canelo, who's the most handsome young man. I'm just a very lucky actress to get to work with him.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I can't believe that, like, you get to be a part of Palm Royal and the Diplomat at the same time.

[Allison Janney]

Right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, that's insane.

[Allison Janney]

It's insane. And it was insane filming them this past season. I was literally flying from New York back to la, going right to the set, Palm Royale, flying back to New York, working the night it was back. And it was. It was nuts. And I realized how lucky I was to get to do that. But, but, but, boy, that was. That was something else. And, and, but luckily the parts are so different. There's no. I couldn't possibly.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know. But that's also what I'm like, so impressed by, is that you can juggle that, you know, I mean, and also the opportunity just to get to play these incredibly different tones, but also just. I mean, I don't know. Those worlds are so different. And, I don't know, it's. Of course, you do it brilliantly because you're such a maverick at that. Like, you can really just.

[Allison Janney]

Just, like, plays. You know what I mean? It's like theater. Doing a Noel Coward play and then doing a tennis court.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's like you're doing rap.

[Allison Janney]

You know, it's totally different styles. And you put on those costumes. And I know who I am when I put on Evelyn's costume, and I know who I am when I put on Grace Penn's costume. It's just that and the hair and everything all helps me put me where I need to be put, you know?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. I'm very grateful that there was a time when the height of Modern Family was, like, I was being invited to, like, all those incredible parties around, like, the awards season. And I got to be at the Vanity Fair party the year that you won your Oscar for I, Tonya. And when you walked in, and I think I have a picture of us somewhere on my phone with your Oscar, and I was like, this is insane. First of all, it just. No one was more deserving of that than you, but also just such a hard worker. And to see that you had this moment in, like, front of the community, that people that just adore you so much, it just felt very. I just, like, the whole room was so excited for you.

[Allison Janney]

I was like. It was so obviously surreal when you get to have that moment happen. And it was more. It was such a relief for me because I was so worried about all the people who were cheering me on, that if I didn't win it, they'd be so disappointed.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know, it's a crazy thing where, like, there's precursors to that big award. Like, you win the Golden Globe and you win a sag, and, like, then everyone just sort of expects you to.

[Allison Janney]

Yeah. Which sets you up to fail. Totally.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know, sometimes it doesn't happen.

[Allison Janney]

It doesn't.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know that. I think I read somewhere that you. You initially wanted to be an ice skater when you were.

[Allison Janney]

I did.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Did it ever. Did it feel full circle that you were, you know, part of this Tonya Harding story?

[Allison Janney]

Yeah, it was kind of nice to come back to that because, you know, I remember going through all that. The Tonya Harding scandal. I remember it very well. And I was part of the skating community. I mean, I met a lot of the Skaters who were big around the time that I was growing up as a. Actually, it was after I had quit skating because I had this accident where it went through a plate glass window, and I stopped skating. And also, I wasn't that good. I was like. I was really graceful.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Apparently, a lot of you went through a plate glass window.

[Allison Janney]

Exactly. I was very graceful because I took ballet and modern dance, and I'm a very graceful person. I could have done ice dancing, but the acrobatic part of figure skating, I couldn't. I could do one double jump, a double sow cow.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay, look it up. I will. It sounds hard.

[Allison Janney]

It's the easiest of the double jumps, I think, but. But, yeah, I think I made the right decision getting out of figure skating. But I love that I have that in my background, and I love that for a minute. Steven Rogers, who wrote I, Tonya, was gonna write a little skating thing for. For Levana, the character I played that she was also had wanted to be a figure skater, but it never made it in.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But did you shoot it?

[Allison Janney]

No, no, we didn't. We didn't. We just talked about it. I was like, wouldn't it be great if Levana wanted to be a skater? And you see her having a moment by herself and, like, I could have been a kata.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It would have been fantastic. Yeah, with the bird on the shoulder.

[Allison Janney]

Exactly. With the bird. I love that. I love that bird. Loved it. I love being thrown things that I don't. You know, I mean, that bird was. You know, Craig Gillespie, I love him so much. Director made me smoke in every scene. It's like, I don't wanna. Can I not? He's like, nope, you gotta smoke. You gotta smoke. In every scene you're smoking. And then we get to that bird scene, and the bird handler was like, you can't smoke around this bird. And he was like. He was like, no, she's smoking around the bird. You don't understand. She's like, no, she's not smoking around the bird.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Right.

[Allison Janney]

And I pat myself on the shoulder because I loved that. I went up to the prop guy and I said, do you have one of those things that people have when they have emphysema? When they have. And he's like, oh, yeah, I've got it. And then it was. I say, I was so proud of myself that I thought of that, because then I just had the cannula. Whatever, up my nose and the oxygen tank there so I could do the scene without smoking. I should have. I know. And I'm Thinking right now, I should have had a cigarette in my hand anyway and not lit it. Just had it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Just.

[Allison Janney]

I should have done that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now, see, see, this has been the good idea.

[Allison Janney]

The actors you always after. This is. How many years later did I come up with that idea?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Just now.

[Allison Janney]

God damn it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

God damn it.

[Allison Janney]

Go back. That's hilarious.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Opportunity.

[Allison Janney]

I totally should have had that cigarette just behind my ear.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And they were like, we would have given her an Oscar. But she held this cigarette and it was too much.

[Allison Janney]

Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Too far.

[Allison Janney]

You're right. That might have been a hat on a hat on a hat.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I love like that.

[Allison Janney]

I do, too.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm really happy you did.

[Allison Janney]

I'm really happy. I did, too. I'm. I'm. I mean, I can't think of anyone I'd rather end the day that I had today with than you. I mean, seriously, I love you. I. I've. I've loved you for ever since the first time I saw you in Modern Family. And then seeing you at all our events that we see each other at.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yes. Yeah.

[Allison Janney]

I've always loved seeing you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know. I adore you.

[Allison Janney]

So maybe we'll get to do something together.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, it's ridiculous. Said it hasn't happened.

[Allison Janney]

It kind of is. I kind of thought it. That it must have happened.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, just go back and watch the James Corden.

[Allison Janney]

Well, I'm gonna watch that for sure.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And let me know what you think. I thought it was very funny.

[Allison Janney]

I gotta. I cannot even believe it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You really have to focus on you in the background having a full on conversation.

[Allison Janney]

Well, I'm gonna watch it several times and watch. Focus on all of us and see and judge all of our performances. I can't wait to watch that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, thanks for doing this.

[Allison Janney]

You're so welcome. I love you so much.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This episode of Dinners on Me was recorded at Angelini Osteria in Los Angeles. Next week on Dinners On Me. She's a caviar, connoisseur, DJ and jeweler. But you might know her best as a snowflake holding cast member of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. It's Meredith Marks. We'll get into starting the show during a low period in her marriage and how she navigates the drama. I think it involves disengaging. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinners on Me. Plus, as a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click Try free at the top of the Dinners On Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. 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 Behr engineered this episode. Hans Dale she composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tameka Balance Kolasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week. All right. Craving something sweet? I'm always craving something sweet. Boar's Head just launched their new Greek Yogurt Dessert Dip collection and I have to say, it's become a bit of a hit at my house. There are three flavors cinnamon, churro, chocolate, espresso and key lime. And they're all made with creamy, wholesome Greek yogurt blended with premium dessert ingredients so you get that rich, craveable taste. But they're low in fat, gluten free and packed with probiotics. Basically indulgence with a little bit of balance built in. As a parent, I can't always go the cake and ice cream route, though Beckett and Sully would certainly love that. Sometimes I have to get creative. I I've actually been known to trick them into thinking certain things are dessert. But with these dips, there's no trick. It's the best of both worlds. I've been using them with fruits, pretzels. Sometimes I just eat it by the spoonful and it feels like that kind of treat you actually want every day. You'll find the new Boar's Head Greek Yogurt Dessert Dip Collection in the deli alongside your other dips and spreads from Boar's Head. Better snacking, smarter indulgence. Boar's Head committed to craft since 1905.