Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Episode: Chris Perfetti – On Bringing Jacob to Life on ‘Abbott’ and Why Theater Is Home
Date: January 20, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jesse Tyler Ferguson shares a lively meal at Roberta’s in Studio City with actor Chris Perfetti, best known for his role as Jacob Hill on Abbott Elementary and his recent work in the film Twinless. Over pizza and pasta, they discuss Chris’s journey from upstate New York to network TV, his deep roots in theater, the nuances of representation and queer storytelling on Abbott Elementary, and the creative pleasure of toggling between theater and television.

The conversation flows naturally—from their early careers and love of Shakespeare to the mechanics of filming mockumentary sitcoms and the joy of returning to live performance. Chris reflects on why theater still feels like home and what keeps him creatively fulfilled between TV shoots.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Food, Friendship & Setting the Table (04:46–06:03)

• Jesse and Chris chat about gluten-free diets and the menu at Roberta’s, ultimately ordering the Bee Sting pizza, oxtail rigatoni, lettuces…and some olives.
• Lighthearted banter sets an intimate, comfortable tone for the rest of the conversation.

2. Chris’s Upstate New York Roots & The Theater Bug (06:07–08:54)

• Chris describes growing up near Canada, outside Rochester, NY. He initially fell into performing via music, playing in band before discovering theater:

  “I was pretty shit at everything else, so I was like, I think I'm gonna go to school for this.” (08:03)

• He credits Rochester’s regional theater and NY state governor’s school as pivotal.
• Both hosts reminisce about the Tony Awards as a gateway to theater as kids.

3. Training, Shakespeare, and the Lure of New York (08:54–11:27)

• Chris went to SUNY Purchase, a rigorous four-year conservatory, and Jesse attended AMDA in NYC.
• Both recall their formative theater experiences, including summer Shakespeare and the magic of performing outdoors under the stars.
• Chris:

  “There really is nothing like being under the moon in Central Park, doing a play.” (11:19)

4. Staying True to Theater: Balancing TV Success with Stage Craft (12:28–16:51)

• Jesse admires Chris for consistently returning to theater during his “off time” from Abbott Elementary:

  “I'm just so impressed that, you know, you are still able to do what you... I know because I know you are rooted so deeply in the theater.” (18:44)

• Chris shares how theater remains his “home”:

  “Theater feels like home. It feels the most like acting to me… It’s still the greatest high I’ve ever experienced.” (20:01)

• Both reflect on the unique satisfaction and growth theater offers versus the creative stasis that TV often brings:

  “You get on a sitcom, there’s not a ton of room for growth with these characters... it's comfort TV for [the audience].” (18:44)

5. Living Between LA and New York: Finding Balance (20:01–22:45)

• Chris talks candidly about dividing his life between LA and Brooklyn, emphasizing the creative nourishment he gets from both cities.
• Jesse relates, having only put down LA roots after starting a family but still cherishes time in NYC:

  “Being able to go back and forth makes me appreciate each city so much.” (22:45)

6. The Breakout of Abbott Elementary: The Unfolding of Jacob (23:41–29:19)

• Jesse recalls meeting Chris at baggage claim right after Chris had shot the Abbott pilot and before its success. They discuss the feeling of never knowing which project will “break out.”
• On what attracted Chris to Jacob and his evolution:

  “I definitely know guys like Jacob. There are a lot of Jacobs in my life… This weird kind of, like, alchemy happens where you start to become the authority on this person.” (26:09–28:03)

• The two joke about network TV’s evolving approach to representation:

  “Certainly in the context of network tv, your character ran so that Jacob could be, you know, whatever that is.” (28:37)

7. Jacob’s Queerness: Authenticity Without the Trope (28:30–30:56)

• Chris and Quinta Brunson intentionally avoided a hackneyed “coming out” episode:

  “I so appreciated that she didn’t give the character some big coming out episode.” (28:37)

• On how authenticity and specificity make characters resonate:

  “When they’re doing something that seems truthful to them, that’s when people want to get involved.” (30:08)

8. Mockumentary Mechanics: Breaking and Bending the “Rules” (30:56–35:07)

• Jesse gives an insider’s look into the “mockumentary” format of Modern Family:

  “They kept trying for a few episodes to justify the cameras, but eventually, ‘never mind – camera crew’s already in, everything works!’” (32:17)

• Chris relates similar challenges on Abbott Elementary, balancing realism with the practical needs of TV storytelling.

9. Chris’s Latest Film: Twinless (35:22–38:57)

• Both hosts heap praise on Twinless, which stars and was written/directed by James Sweeney.
• Jesse is “kind of obsessed” with Sweeney, likening the film’s twisty rewatch value to The Sixth Sense:

  “It is one of those films that sort of begs for a second viewing. It's a great film. It was really exciting to see you in it.” (38:17)

• Chris:

  “If you’ve got good writing, I’m there. And then I was really blown away by him (Sweeney) as a filmmaker. He's truly, like, one of the most incredible visionaries I've worked with—and he's 12!” (37:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Theater as Home:
  “Theater feels like home… It doesn’t feel like I’m going to work or like I’m doing something difficult. It’s what connects me to that thing that I’m chasing. It’s still the greatest high I’ve ever experienced.”
  —Chris Perfetti (20:01)

• On Jacob’s Representation:
  “I so appreciated that she didn’t, like, give the character some big coming out episode… people are queer and some of them are teachers. I’m not going to spoon feed this story.”
  —Chris Perfetti (28:37–30:19)

• On the Alchemy of Character:
  “You start to become the authority on this person… it’s weird to simultaneously feel like I’m the expert on Jacob and yet 10 other people are as well, who are writing for him every week.”
  —Chris Perfetti (26:09–28:03)

• On The “Mockumentary” Format:
  “They kept trying for a few episodes to justify the cameras, but eventually, ‘never mind – camera crew’s already in, everything works!’”
  —Jesse Tyler Ferguson (32:17)

• On Twinless and Its Visionary Young Creator:
  “If you got good writing, I’m there. And then I was really blown away by him as a filmmaker. I think he’s truly, like, one of the most incredible visionaries I’ve worked with—and he’s 12!”
  —Chris Perfetti (37:11)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Food & Banter: 04:46–06:03
• Roots & Theater Beginnings: 06:07–08:54
• Shakespeare & Conservatory: 08:54–11:27
• NYC vs LA, Modern Family vs Abbott: 12:28–22:45
• Breaking Through with Abbott Elementary: 23:41–29:19
• Jacob’s Queerness & Representation: 28:30–30:56
• Mockumentary Filmmaking Mechanics: 30:56–35:07
• Discussing ‘Twinless’: 35:22–38:57

Final Impressions

Chris Perfetti charms with his candor, humor, and obvious reverence for theater, while Jesse Tyler Ferguson proves an affable, insightful host. The episode offers both a backstage view of working on hit sitcoms and a heartfelt celebration of theater’s enduring power. For fans of Abbott Elementary, Modern Family, or just the craft of acting, this meal—and conversation—satisfies.

Listen for:

• The joy and grind of living between coasts and art forms
• The subtle ways TV is (slowly) evolving queer representation
• Genuine camaraderie and observations about creative ambition
• A personal recommendation for Twinless, a buzzy new indie film

(Ad spots, plug segments, and outro credits excluded per instruction.)