Ginnifer Goodwin — on marrying her Prince Charming and becoming her own version of a Disney Princess

Summary

Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Guest: Ginnifer Goodwin — On Marrying Her Prince Charming & Becoming Her Own Version of a Disney Princess

Air Date: November 25, 2025
Location: Jon & Vinny’s, Studio City, L.A.

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Episode Overview

This heartfelt episode features actress Ginnifer Goodwin, known for Big Love, Once Upon a Time, and voicing Judy Hopps in Zootopia. Over Italian comfort food, Jesse and Ginnifer delve into the peculiarities of show business, family dynamics, parenthood, making peace with career ups and downs, and the magic of Disney—on screen and off. Goodwin shares candidly about marrying her “Prince Charming,” balancing creative life and motherhood, and discovering her vaudevillian roots. Laughter, vulnerability, and showbiz secrets are on the menu.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Settling in at Jon & Vinny’s and Family-Friendly Dining

• [05:05–06:40] Jesse and Ginnifer bond over the joy of Jon & Vinny’s (with detailed praise for their lesser-known breakfast menu).
• They joke playfully about ordering, with Ginnifer’s husband usually taking the “little lady will have…” ordering role—a dynamic she enjoys when someone else makes the choices.

2. Parenting, Careers, and Keeping Kids Grounded

• [06:45–07:59] Talking about their children’s lack of interest in show business, both Jesse and Ginnifer reflect on whether to raise their kids in or away from “the arts.”
• Goodwin’s kids remain unimpressed by Hollywood glamour. She shares, “We thought we were going to keep them as far from the arts as humanly possible... But what a terrifying life of rejection!” (07:08)

3. Becoming Disney Royalty — Once Upon a Time and Zootopia

• [09:02–10:49] Ginnifer relives getting the call for Zootopia while pregnant, and the difficulties of keeping the role secret due to Disney’s NDA strictness.
• “I was afraid to tell anyone where I was going on weekends… I literally started coming up with absurd excuses.” (10:33)

4. Living the Disney Dream... and Marrying Prince Charming

• [11:01–11:22] On playing Snow White and meeting her husband (Josh Dallas) on the set of Once Upon a Time — “I did. I know we’re not a cliché at all. Met on set.”
• Discussion of filming at Disneyland and getting to see the secret Disney Suite. “It’s this beautiful two-bedroom apartment above Pirates of the Caribbean and… the whole room comes alive with a show.” (12:26)

5. Navigating Fandom and Red Carpets With Kids

• [18:51–22:40] Goodwin shares her kids had no clue she voiced Judy Hopps. “My mom thinks she sounds like that rabbit, but she does not.” (19:43)
• The family prepares for the Zootopia 2 press tour: “How do we keep this within sort of like the bowling alley bumper... put those up in this situation?” (21:54)
• They practice for red carpet “paparazzi” moments to avoid their kids being overwhelmed.

6. The Vulnerability of Creative Work—Animated Films & Zootopia 2

• [23:01–24:07] Ginnifer tears up describing how watching Zootopia 2 for the first time moved her:

  “I wept through it. I was like, I can’t believe I get to do anything on this.” (24:05)

• The complexity of animation teamwork: “I find that with animation, unlike live action, this character is a team effort… she’s a compilation of so many people.” (23:47)

7. The Role That Got Away—Her Almost-Casting in Frozen

• [24:53–26:06] Ginnifer reveals she nearly played Anna in Frozen and felt heartbreak when it didn’t happen:

  “My heart was broken and I didn’t tell anybody for years… it’s my responsibility to actually own where things don’t work out.” (26:06)

• Touching follow-up from Josh Gad: “He inscribed his new book to ‘my first Anna.’” (26:45)

8. The “Big Love” Audition: A Legendary Story

• [31:02–34:56] Jesse prompts Ginnifer to recount her chemistry read with Bill Paxton—an infamous “hand job” audition scene:

  “I crawled across the table and climbed in his lap… I could see as I turned around, everyone’s in shock. And I was like, oh, I fucked this up!” (33:10)

• Despite her embarrassment, she got the job and received a supportive call from Bill Paxton.
• Jesse shares his own wild stage prop story, leading to a joyful tangent on the absurdities of their business.

9. Imposter Syndrome and Navigating Hollywood’s Social Scene

• [38:22–43:15] Goodwin discusses losing touch with former castmates after motherhood and feeling like an outsider at Hollywood events.
• Jesse assures her she’s not alone; even A-listers like Allison Janney and Elizabeth Banks feel the same anxiety:

  “So many people I know have, like, deep insecurity… almost everyone I talk to has the same feeling about these parties.” (40:39)

10. Showbiz Ancestry: Vaudeville & Variety

• [43:15–48:49] Ginnifer recounts discovering her great-aunt’s vaudeville stardom and her great-grandfather’s pivotal role at Variety.
• Moving story of Gregory Peck honoring her great-grandfather:

  “[Peck] said he was a champion of young talent… I feel like I would not have gotten the start I got if I hadn’t had… your great-grandfather helped me.” (47:40)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On showbiz life:
  “What we do for a living is bonkers. Do you ever just, like, take a step back and you’re like, this is literally what… we’re doing today?” (37:37, Goodwin)

• On not getting Anna in Frozen:
  “Absolutely ended up where I’m supposed to be in the Disney family... But in the moment, my heart was broken.” (26:02, Goodwin)

• Describing red carpet anxiety:
  “[Parties are] like a high school reunion for you… but maybe we’re all just in the same boat, wondering if we can keep paying the mortgage.” (39:36, Goodwin paraphrasing her husband & reflecting on industry insecurity)

• On family showbiz roots:
  “My grandmother… said ‘habit’—that’s why she never mentioned growing up with Gershwin, Bob Hope, and Jimmy Durante… because we kept our heads down.” (45:00, Goodwin)

• On Disney magic at work and home:
  “I almost brought a Donald Duck bag… and I was like, it’s too much. I’ll save her for another time.” (10:55, Goodwin)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Welcome & Jon & Vinny’s chat: 05:05–06:40
• Parenting and kids’ showbiz disinterest: 06:45–07:59
• Landing and hiding Zootopia role: 09:02–10:49
• Snow White, Prince Charming, & Disney reverence: 11:01–12:26
• Navigating red carpets with kids: 18:51–22:40
• Zootopia 2 emotions & animation teamwork: 23:01–24:07
• Frozen “first Anna” heartbreak: 24:53–26:06
• The legendary Big Love audition: 31:02–34:56
• Self-doubt in Hollywood, social events: 38:22–43:15
• Family’s hidden vaudeville legacy: 43:15–48:49

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Episode Takeaways

• Candidness & Humor: Goodwin is refreshingly honest about rejection, insecurity, and the surreal aspects of her career, using humor to disarm and connect.
• Vulnerability & Resilience: The emotional undercurrents about missed opportunities and navigating visibility—both as a public figure and a parent—will resonate with listeners in and out of showbiz.
• Shared Humanity Behind Fame: Jesse and Ginnifer humanize Hollywood, revealing that even stars wrestle with nerves, impostor syndrome, and balancing ambitions with family.
• Magic and Realism: The conversation celebrates the joy and magic of storytelling, but never glosses over the uncertainty, luck, and hard work behind the scenes.

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Recommended for:
Fans of Disney, lovers of behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories, working parents, and anyone curious about the vulnerable, funny, and messy realities behind fairy tale endings.

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(Note: Timestamps reference key conversational shifts; subheaders reflect each main topic as it unfolds.)

Transcript

[A]

The holidays are coming up, and like a lot of people, our family's already planning where we're spending Thanksgiving. It's at our house and who's bringing what pie and what kind of pie, and making sure it's the pie that everyone wants. It's. It's the whole thing. Usually with pie, I end up just buying it. Other people do it so much better than I do. And I, I. It just takes one thing off my plate. Although I did just buy a great cookbook called All About Pie, so maybe I should be brave and make my own pie this year. A lot of people, though, don't have Thanksgiving at home. They travel. They travel to loved ones. And if you're traveling this season, it might be the perfect time to think about hosting your home on Airbnb while you're away. The best part, you don't have to do it all by yourself. With Airbnb's co host network, you can team up with a local co host who can handle everything from guest communication, check ins, even sprucing things up before the next day. So while you're away making memories with family, your home is in good hands, making a few of its own. If you've been curious about hosting but don't know where to start, find a co [e-mail] host all right, confession time. I have entered a new era of my life. It is the LED helmet era, and honestly, I'm loving it. I've been using the Irestore Elite, which is this hands free light therapy device that helps regrow hair. And yes, it looks a little like something that your kids would wear on a bicycle if they were bicycling in the future. It looks like it's from a sci fi movie, but no, it actually works. You just pop it on while you're watching TV or scrolling through your phone. I'm actually wearing it right now as I'm recording this ad, and it does all the work for you. The holidays are here, parties, family photos, all these moments where you want to look and feel your best. And the Irestore Elite makes it so easy to get ahead of bad hair days. It's clinically proven to help regrow hair using hundreds of lasers and LEDs that target your scalp. It's super comfortable, totally hands free, and you could literally do it while wrapping gifts or eating leftovers or recording ads for your podcast. And if you want to boost your results, they've got a full Revive plus Max growth kit, shampoo, conditioner, growth serum, the whole thing. It's like a full on hair care squad. So treat yourself or someone you love to the gift of great hair. So here's the deal. Use Code Dinners at Iris for an exclusive discount on the Irestore Elite. That's code dinners on irestore.com support the show and maybe make bad hair days a thing of your past. Hi, it's Jessie today on the show. You know her from shows like Big Love and Once Upon a Time and movies like He's Just not that into youo. It's Jennifer Goodwin.

[B]

I did walk away from Big Love over nudity and they came back and gave me the job anyway, which was amazing.

[A]

I walked away from big leftover nudity.

[B]

You better see it right?

[A]

And they wouldn't settle, so I had to let it go. This is Dinner's On Me and I'm your host Jesse Tyler Ferguson. I've been watching Jennifer Goodwin for, it feels like decades. I absolutely loved her in the Mona Lisa Smile. That's the first movie I remember seeing her in. She was on Ed with my TV sister Julie Bowen and he's just not that into you. I mean, come on, that's a rom com classic. I absolutely love Jennifer Goodwin's energy. I've met her at different Hollywood events when she was doing Big Love and I was doing Modern Family. She just seems like a really fun hang. I'm also so excited to talk to her about her new movie Zootopia 2. If you can't tell, it is a sequel. The first Zootopia came out in 2016. It won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. She's absolutely adorable. In the film she plays a rabbit who's part of the police department. I'm at a restaurant I've been wanting to come to with this podcast for a very long time. It's John and Vinny's in Studio City. It's the valley outpost of the beloved LA Italian spot from Jean Shook and Vinny Duttolo. And don't tell anyone, but this might be my favorite location of theirs. It's also, by the way, a fantastic place to have breakfast. Not a lot of people know about it, but they have incredible breakfast here. My favorite is a polenta with a fried egg on top. Also incredible pancakes. The sausage is incredible, the bacon, it's just fantastic. It's also a place that I come to with my family a lot in the evening. I like to come here with my husband, share a salad, pizza for the kids, spicy fusilli for us. We usually end up ordering a pizza to take home as well, rainbow cookies and soft serve. Listen, I mean, I can go on and on and on. I'm getting so hungry. I hope Jennifer shows up soon. Oh, my gosh, I'm getting so hungry. All right, let's get to the conversation.

[B]

We need to talk. Because I do find, like, every once in a while we discover a little gem.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm very glad this is open now on our side of town, because I would go over to Brentwood usually. Oh, yeah, yeah. Which was, you know, not horrible, but not super convenient. Have you. Have you had breakfast here yet? Do you know they do breakfast? Yes.

[B]

I need to bring my kids for breakfast.

[A]

Breakfast is incredible here. That's like the hack that not many people know about. Breakfast is Jon Vinny's. The polenta. And you get it with, like, a fried egg.

[B]

Oh, yes. Maybe there's something kind of pepper on it or something.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like, a little tangy.

[B]

Yes. I am hoping my stomach does not start making crazy noises because I have been so excited about this meal that I have not eaten since, like, very early.

[A]

I've had a smoothie.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I had the Hailey Bieber smoothie from marijuana. That's it.

[B]

Because. Because that is a drug.

[A]

It is so good.

[B]

I'm so addicted to it that I got the membership so that it's like a whole thing.

[A]

Okay, we know what we're doing. Yeah. You guys said you've been here before.

[B]

Do you have any questions? I end up going, by the way, very 1950s at every meal. And my husband has just started going, like, the little lady will have. So please, please do just order for us. Cause it makes me really happy.

[A]

All right, I got this. The little lady and I are gonna share gym lettuce. The little lady will also share the spicy fasuli fusilli with me. And we're gonna also do the meatballs. The meatballs, yes. This is so brave for me to be wearing this and ordering this, by the way.

[B]

I literally put this on because I was like, if I splash, I'll be okay.

[A]

Jim, let us. Spicy fusilli and meatballs. Yes, thank you. We can't get anything on this because this is my husband's shirt. And he gets so mad at me when I spill things on.

[B]

We need to put, like a.

[A]

We'll deal with it in a moment. I'm going to be so careful.

[B]

You have two kids, right?

[A]

Two kids, and they're like, 5 and 3. Where are you at with the ages 9 and 11? Okay, so you're a Little ahead of me.

[B]

I took him to the Disney Animation. Like, I had to bring my kids to work day.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yes. Cause I'm voicing an animated feature.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And so I thought that they would come watch me and maybe even like.

[A]

And this is Zootopia, by the way. Yes.

[B]

Okay. When we had them, we thought we were going to keep them as far from the arts as humanly possible. Just because we were like, as a real life addition. There's nothing like it. However. What, like, what a terrifying life of rejection. And like, you know, it's not the most sustainable lifestyle.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Or doesn't allow for the most sustainable lifestyle. And we. And we don't want them to know.

[A]

That they could be Nepo babies and we'll take care of them.

[B]

Well, this is true. But then when they were not interested in show business, we were like, what is wrong with us as parents? How could we not have, like, made this thing that we're obsessed with, like, contagious for them? So now we've been like, but can't you see how. How magical this is? So I thought, like, having them watch me in the booth and seeing that, like, it's just a playground of creativity and like, this is how I pay our bills. Like, how nuts is that?

[A]

Yeah. Mommy's at a microphone after Kaluna's head.

[B]

Yes, yes. Just embarrassing myself, like, laughing. It's. And crying and like, just like, you know. And like, literally they give me candy for snacks at work. And yet they came out still talking about budgets and business affairs and like.

[A]

The sureness of the building. I don't know about the joints in this. Like.

[B]

Right, exactly. And maybe that angle. If we had used the such and such. And then the other one's talking about, like, maybe I want to be a doctor and maybe I want to be an attorney.

[A]

Wait, have your. So your kids when you were. When you did the first Zootopia movie.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That was 10 years ago.

[B]

Isn't that crazy? A decade ago it was.

[A]

So you had a one year old?

[B]

I did. So when I got the call about Zootopia one, I was literally in Mickey Mouse pajamas, pregnant with my firstborn. I was in Canada. And for some reason Josh and I weren't working this day.

[A]

Because you were shooting.

[B]

We were shooting once upon a time up there.

[A]

Which you met on which.

[B]

Yes. And I had done a Tinkerbell, like one of their, like, straight to. We called it video at the time.

[A]

Yeah, I know.

[B]

They're straight to video.

[A]

Straight to vhs.

[B]

And I feel like it was one of the few voiceover jobs I had had. And so when I had a message that all of my reps were needing to talk to me at once, including the voiceover agent, I was like, oh, my God, I'm getting fired from Tinkerbell. And I was so I. Sitting there, my little Mickey Flannels, I was like. And I said to my husband, he was. I was pregnant. He's making me breakfast. And I was like, I'm getting. I'm getting fired. And he was like, there's no way they're calling off for your job. Like, there's. They're categorically fired. Like, there's no question in my mind that I'm getting fired from the. And anyway, it was not a thing.

[A]

The idea of like being.

[B]

I know. How depressing. How depressing would that be?

[A]

That would be so depressing. But.

[B]

But I did in fact get to keep that job. And they were in fact calling with the job offer. And then by the time Zootopia 1 came out, I was about to give birth to my second kid.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So it was a. It was a few years of me lined up also to everyone on set because that NDA is no joke. And I was afraid to tell anyone like, where I was going on weekends.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So they'd be like, why are you going back to LA again?

[A]

Okay. So your Once Upon a time cast did not know you were recording a movie.

[B]

So I would fly back on weekends and I would.

[A]

I'm the only person you knew about it.

[B]

I'd be like, I left a sweater in la. I gotta go back and get it. Like, I literally started coming up, which is absurd excuses because. And I felt bad lying. But I was like, I don't know. This thing, this contract I signed, I read every word of my contracts. I was like, this looks really serious about me not telling anybody. I'm in this.

[A]

Yeah. God. And I mean, I know. I know that you are a Disney fanatic.

[B]

I almost brought a Donald Duck bag. And I was like, it's too much. I'm gonna save her for like.

[A]

So you must have lost your mind, first of all with the Tinkerbell thing alone.

[B]

And then when it got Once Upon. Upon a time, that was like a no brainer. I was obsessed with Lost. I knew the writers from their work on Lost. And I was like, the combination of these worlds is.

[A]

And you played Snow White, which is just like.

[B]

And I was. I mean, I was the.

[A]

And then you married Prince Charming.

[B]

I did. I know we're not a cliche at all. Met on set.

[A]

Listen.

[B]

We're like, well, here we go.

[A]

It's exactly how it should have been. We filmed an episode of Modern Family at Disneyland.

[B]

I filmed there for this.

[A]

So when we film there, you know, when you have a huge crew and, you know, this like, and a large cast of people, you have to put them somewhere.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

And you know, it's like, where do you put someone in Disneyland that's not like, that's private. But also out of the way of the people who are also making Disneyland run. Oh, yeah. So we were put our base camp, which is where you would go, you know, between shots, between scenes was in. They have this thing called the Disney Suite. Do you know about the Disney Suite? So the only room. It's a suite. It's like a two bedroom house that's above the Pirates of the Caribbean. I almost said Pirates of Penzance. That's how.

[B]

That's amazing.

[A]

The Pirates of the Caribbean ride. And it's in like the New Orleans area. And it's this beautiful two bedroom apartment almost.

[B]

Which is enchanted.

[A]

Which is enchanted. They have this thing called the Good night light that you turn off this light and basically the whole room comes alive with a show. Like, literally things are singing on the nightstands and there's a train that goes around the perimeter of the room on a track that looks like a railing. It's insane.

[B]

It's everything except for Walt walking in the door.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

Which I wouldn't be surprised if they.

[A]

Figured out literally a star shoots over at. There's a star show.

[B]

There's the fireplace. Does the fireworks begin.

[A]

The fireplace does a firework show. So this is where we just had. This was like our hangout area. It's so funny because, like, Sarah Hyland is a massive Disney freak as well. And she was losing her mind. And then like, you know, Sophia, who appreciated all of this, but was also like, ay, what are you doing with the nightlight again? Like, you know, she just had no idea.

[B]

But then I was laughing because I heard on one of your episodes, I remember she said something about the meatballs. I think about the plane waiters.

[A]

The plane waiters.

[B]

Which my kids have also said to me made me laugh doubly hard.

[A]

Thank you so much for the room over here.

[B]

Gosh, I'm so excited.

[A]

I know, I know. We have microphones. That's okay. Food. Tetris.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Enjoy. Can I bring you parm chili cakes? What do you think, Jennifer?

[B]

Do you need anything else? I'm good with how, however it's been done. Thank you.

[A]

Is that good?

[B]

Okay. By the way, we just shot Kiwi. Quan is in Zootopia 2 with me, and we were at the park. We've been doing some, like, before the sun comes up, before the park is open promo shoots, and we were there working with one of the characters.

[A]

Yeah, characters. Asl for character. Yeah.

[B]

And we actually, because we're also not, like, behind the scenes, we had to interact with the cast member as the character.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So we were advised to like the crew in handling that character. The director. Everyone was asked to speak to the character as the character, not as an actor inside the hilarious. The costume. Which I was like, there are a million reasons why. I can see why this would be important and also really fun for us in not breaking the magic for us.

[A]

Oh, my God. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Jennifer tells me what her kids are most nervous about with the Zootopia 2 premiere and the movie role she didn't get and isn't afraid to admit it hurt. Okay, be right back. This time of year always makes me think about the small gestures that mean the most. A friend recently came by to pick up a bunch of Beckett and Sully's old things for their kids. Clothes, toys, you know, the works. A few hours later, I got a note that said, lunch is on me, and they sent me money with Zelle. It was such a simple thing, but it made me smile. That's what I love about Zelle. Whether it's a big moment or a small one, Zelle makes it easy to show you care. With Zelle, the money goes directly into people's bank accounts so you can be there when it matters most, when it counts. Send money with Zelle. Look for Zelle in your banking app, or head to zelle.com to learn more. You know, owning a home is amazing. And until it's not. One minute you're making coffee in your kitchen, and the next you're, I don't know, ankle deep in water from a burst pipe. Oh, here's a true story. Right after we brought Sully home from the hospital, our water heater went out. Yeah, no hot water and a new baby. Timing could not have been worse. Repairs don't care about your schedule or your budget or your family planning. And that's where homeserve comes in. Regular homeowners insurance usually doesn't cover a lot of the day to day stuff. Plumbing failures, electrical issues, H vac breakdowns. But HomeServe offers plans to help protect your home systems from those kinds of surprises for as little as $4.99 a month. It's like a subscription for your home. If something on your plan goes wrong, you just call their 24.7hotline and they'll connect you with a reliable local contractor to take care of it. HomeServe has helped homeowners for over 20 years with a trusted national network of 2,600 contractors and over 4.5 million customers. They've got a 4.8 out of 5 rating on repairs and an A rating from the Better Business Bureau. So yeah, they're the real deal. So help protect your home systems and your wallet with HomeServ against covered repairs. Plans start at just $4.99 a month. Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that's right for you. That's HomeServe.com not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 and $11.99 a month for your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs. Every time I talk to my dad, he says the same thing. Send me more pictures. Send me more pictures. He's in New Mexico. We talk all the time. It's those little glimpses of day to day life that makes him feel connected. All right, dad, if you're listening, cover your ears because this year I'm getting him an Aura frame. Aura makes these beautiful digital frames that lets you share unlimited photos and videos straight from your phone all year long. You just download the Aura app, connect it to wifi, and suddenly your favorite moments are right there. No texting, no printing, no mailing. You can even preload the frame before it ships so when your friend or family member opens it, it's of family photosholidays, dinners, babies, the dogs, all the little things that make you feel close even when you're miles apart because you can't wrap togetherness. But you can frame it for a limited time. Visit auraframes.com and get $45 off Aura's best selling Carver mat frames named number one by Wirecutter by using Promo Code Dinners at checkout. That's auraframes.com promo code dinners. This exclusive Black Friday Cyber Monday deal is their best deal of the year. So order now before it ends. And when you check out, make sure to mention Dinners on Me. It really helps support the show. And we're back with more Dinners on Me. Have your kids watched the first movie they have.

[B]

So my kids have no interest and seeing basically anything my husband or I have done.

[A]

Yeah, that's that trash Where I think same. Yeah. Really? The binge. Right.

[B]

But even, like, I feel like I've done a lot of good things. Zootopia, they are obsessed with. But they didn't know that was me when they started watching it.

[A]

They didn't like perk up when they heard that.

[B]

No. And in fact, just like you, I overheard. And like, I'm not doing a voice of any kind.

[A]

It's your voice.

[B]

It's my voice. My kids would watch the movie and I once heard a friend, a grown up friend say to them, you know that that's your mommy. Which also, by the way, I could kill said friend. I love you, said friend. If you're listening to this, if you're watching this. But I was like, no, that was my. That was gonna get. That was gonna be my thing. But then my eldest response was, no, it's not. And then I feel like for a couple of days, like nothing was said. And. And then I overheard him saying, my mom thinks she sounds like that rabbit, but she does not. We're good.

[A]

We're good.

[B]

That's confusing. Yeah, right. But it's the only thing that they have watched that I have done.

[A]

But it's also. They're not watching you do that. Like, I. I think for my kids seeing. Because I did that thing where I tried to protect them from like. I thought it would be weird if like, as a kid you're seeing your caregiver. You're the person who's supposed to put you to sleep on tv. Like, I don't know.

[B]

I just feel like caring also maybe for other children.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

I can see where that gets you.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I did an episode of Sesame street, though. I did an episode of Sesame street and I was like. I showed my kids that at a very young age.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I was like, I feel like this is the time to show if I'm going to get any sort of reaction out of this. This is the age that they're going to be excited about it. They were very excited. Like, well, and it's just something that they just accepted, like, oh yeah. My. My dad, he knows Cookie Monster. He taught him about the word fragile, you know.

[B]

And were you able to use this, by the way, in times when you needed, like to like, pull out the interdisciplinarian and be like, if Cookie Monster finds out.

[A]

I never tried it. Good tactic, though.

[B]

You can still use it.

[A]

Yeah, I can still use it. Listen, you know how I know Cookie Monster? Right on speed.

[B]

Do you want daddy to call?

[A]

I would call Cookie Monster now.

[B]

Have you done? Because we're. We're facing. For the first time ever, my children campaigned repeatedly as we have never taken them to any even Hollywood adjacent kind of event. Yeah, they've been on a couple of film sets on days when we felt like there was. It was really like kid friendly material. And they would sit at Video Village with headphones on.

[A]

Right.

[B]

So my children campaigned to come to the Zootopia 2 premiere. And now they're going on the entire international crazy press tour with me.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

Yes. And.

[A]

Oh, incredible.

[B]

We had big talks about how to keep them from being like overexposed, but also how do we, like, I don't keep this within sort of like the bowling alley bumper. Like, you know those gutter bumpers when you're at the bowling alley? Like, how do we put those up in this situation?

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

And so we said, okay, you can walk on the red carpets with us, but we're not posting you on social media. But we're gonna like practice with them. Because they were also like so.

[A]

Well, they're like, I run.

[B]

Well, we were talking about photographers. Oh, thank you.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And my kids said.

[A]

And that could be very terrifying actually.

[B]

Because like that those premieres shut down on Hollywood Boulevard. And so they said, remember when we went to the Knicks game? And I was like, yeah. And they were like, remember when we left and there were all those photographers, Jesse. There were like two photographers. And I was like, yeah. And they were like, will it be like that? And we were like, oh, dear, we need a. We need a dry run. We're gonna have to like actually practice because you guys, for the several.

[A]

That's thinking ahead.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So your kids are excited about Zootopia 2 because they've seen the first one. They know another one's coming.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Have they like, watched the promo?

[B]

Everything. I mean, now I make them watch everything.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, look, mommy's got a new trailer.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

I saw it last night. By the way, you're the first person hearing this.

[A]

Oh, yeah? What'd you think? It's so exciting to watch those things come together.

[B]

Like, I cried. My husband and I had a private screening and I felt a lot. I was nervous, not because I don't. I was worried that it wouldn't be wonderful, but like. Like it's been 10 years and like, you know, there's like a different. Like there was like a shuffling of people, new people. Like, I just didn't know what to expect. Even though I made the movie for the past couple of years, I was Like, I still did not know what to expect, because also, I find that with animation, unlike with what we do in live action, I feel like this character is, like. Is a. Is a team effort, so. But I feel like she's a compilation of so many people that are, like, you know, whoever's my lead animator on it, like, she's hurt her. You know what I mean? Like, she, like, so many people, like, had their hands on it. And so I feel weird, like, tooting the horn of, like, whatever I've done, but I'm like, it's incredible. It's an incredible movie. Like, I wept through it. I was like, I can't believe I get to do anything on this. Like, it's.

[A]

It's.

[B]

It blew me away. So I'm so excited.

[A]

It's also. I mean, I've done a. I've only done one animated film. I was a llama. The Dalai Lama in one of the Ice Age films.

[B]

Yes. Oh, I love those movies.

[A]

What's crazy about it is, you know, you. You create a whole performance in a solitary environment.

[B]

It's like a vacuum.

[A]

It's in a vac. You're in a vacuum, and you're. You're just doing your lines and someone might be reading them. Sometimes you hear how the actor might be saying another line, but that was recorded weeks ago.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And sometimes they like the way you say your line and their line. Now that doesn't make sense anymore. So you have them rerecord their line so it makes sense with the way you've said that.

[B]

It's like patchwork.

[A]

It's patchwork. And I don't think people understand, like, sometimes how difficult it is putting an animated film together.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

It's just wild.

[B]

It's wild.

[A]

I also know because I was listening to your conversation with Justin Long, who also did this podcast, but I didn't know that you were part of the Frozen ratings.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

So you worked on that movie, like, when they were, like, trying to put it together and figure it out. I auditioned for Olaf. Did not get it.

[B]

You and me both, honey.

[A]

But, yeah, I mean, like, it sounded like you were actually, like, in. You were working on that.

[B]

That was a heartbreak I can imagine. You know, I didn't tell anybody until that podcast when I told Justin.

[A]

It's not like people must ask you about it all the time now.

[B]

Well, it was one of those things. I was. I mean, I was. I was like, this is a horrible thing to say, but I was like, a little. I was like a little Humiliated that I had gotten that far and that then it was not me on screen. By the way, the much better situation, like, the much better thing absolutely happened. Like, that role was meant for Kristen, clearly.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And she is like, I can't imagine having done it, having heard what she brought to it. And then I absolutely ended up where I'm supposed to be in the Disney family.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Like, without question, this is the way it's supposed to be.

[A]

But in the moment.

[B]

But in the moment, my heart was broken and I didn't tell anybody for years. And then when I finally started, then I was like, no, I feel like it's my responsibility to actually own where things don't work out.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I do feel like my life's been a bit of a fairy tale, but there's a lot that, of course, like, just like everybody else who has a fairy tale life, like, some things sometimes suck and like, that thing sucked. And I wanted to, like, add that to, I don't know, the admission of, you know, sometimes how. How things go down.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then I was with Josh Gad recently and he writes, and he. He gave me a copy of his new book and he inscribed it inside to my first Anna. And I was like, yes, I was.

[A]

That's so sweet.

[B]

I know that he probably. I didn't even articulate for him how important that was for me to be, like, that was mine for a minute.

[A]

But, I mean, there are. I'm sure there are. There's so much of what you worked on that filtered down. It's like what the film is today. I mean, we all have those stories, I think, of the things we. Many actors have those stories of, like, the things that they've turned down or that they almost do. And, you know, I think that that's. That's just part of it means you've had a meaningful career. I think if you can have those things that are that cool that, like, did not happen to you.

[B]

That's so true. And I do feel like the more we talk about it also, I hope it makes. I hope it's comforting for all actors that, like, there's all. For every. For every person that gets a job, there's all the hundreds of us who don't get the job.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, I know that I was the only person that auditioned for Mitch on Modern Family and got the role, but I do know that they were modeling the character after Tony Hale.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

Yeah. So they were like, he was the prototype and I don't think he ever audition for it. But like, that was like what they were to give. And of course, I'm nothing like. And then ironically, there was a year that Tony and I were both nominated against one another for the Emmys and he won. So I was like, so you did, you got, you got, you won in your own way. But yeah, it's always very interesting when those things happen. Yeah. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. After the break, Jennifer tells me about a very interesting audition for the HBO series Big Love, and she shares some fascinating showbiz ancestry. Okay, be right back. 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 guest. 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 spiced 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.

[B]

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[A]

Choose to bundle home and auto bundling.

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[A]

And we're back with more dinners on me. Just checking in. How we doing over here? So good.

[B]

It's so good. I'm still working.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

I. I miss the days too, by the way, of like the sitting, which I never thought I would say, sitting in that audition room, like, full of other people waiting to go in and, like, have my turn. I'm. Because so much of the experience now is just digital.

[A]

Right. Right.

[B]

And I just feel like something is getting lost.

[A]

Oh, 100%.

[B]

And I do actually miss that. Like, I. Like, I'm now. Because I'm sitting here thinking about, like, my big love screen test and, like.

[A]

All the things that, like, which I heard stuff about. I heard about your. That's a. That's a famous song.

[B]

I thought that was a legend.

[A]

Oh, yeah. I think I heard about it before I even heard this. You tell Justin Long on his podcast.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

About you having a chemistry read with Bill Paxton.

[B]

Yeah. And they gave me a.

[A]

The hand job scene.

[B]

Yeah, they sure did.

[A]

Which, I mean, does present you with an interesting challenge. Like, how far are we going with this? Right.

[B]

Well, I thought what was what. I thought what was appropriate.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Given the fact that, like, I'm also someone who has walked away. Back in the days when everybody was asking for nudity, I was walking away from jobs. I don't know if I can legally say this, but I did walk away from Big Love over nudity. And they came back and came gave me the job anyway, which was amazing.

[A]

I walked away from the big lip of renewed.

[B]

You're see. Right.

[A]

And they wouldn't. They wouldn't settle, so I had to let it go. And then they went to you.

[B]

I have to thank you, because that was one of my favorite jobs ever. So I. When I got that scene, I was like, well, clearly they want. Yes. They want physical affection. And then I was very confused as to why. In the auditions, in the screen test space, there were a million people in suits sitting around like, a conference table. And I was in a big armchair on one side of the table with a camera on me, and Bill was in a big armchair on the other side of the table with a camera on him. And so I was like, I don't know what this says about me. That it didn't occur to me that maybe those were my, like, intended constraints, that I took it as a challenge and that they wanted to see, how are you gonna do the scene now, Missy? And so I crawled across the table and climbed in his lap, and I did not touch anything, but I did kiss him. And I did the scene because it's a makeout scene that leads to a hand job.

[A]

So you were off book. You did not hold your pages. Can you imagine not being off book? And, like, holding your pages as you were crawling across the table. So I still need these.

[B]

And I remember also absurdly deciding that I should. How far can I go on your show?

[A]

As far as you need to.

[B]

I decided that I should just. I was like, well, they need to see my face, but I'm supposed to be giving this hand job. So I did this whole thing where I'm sitting on his lap and I gave him the fake hand job behind my back during the scene. So, like, he's here and I'm here and I'm doing the banjo, actually a.

[A]

Great way to stage the movements. Yeah.

[B]

And I'm not, like, you know, going near his actual, like, parts that need respect. Like, I'm just, you know. But. So I did this. But I could see as I turned around and I'm finishing the scene, like, you can just feel that everyone's in shock. And I was like, oh, I fucked this up. And I got up, and the next scene is a crying scene, and I have to excuse myself to go in the hall and get ready. And then I was like, oh, I just made it way worse because now I'm making them wait. Like, I did something that I shouldn't have done. And I'm making them wait while I, like, get in character. And this is high maintenance.

[A]

And meanwhile, they're so into it now she's making this way we can muppet.

[B]

So I go back in and I do the scene and I leave and I call. I mean, it was the greatest getting a job moment, other than being pregnant and thinking I was gonna get fired and getting. I was leaving the. I was driving away from the garage from the actual screen test in that moment. And I called my reps. My agent picks up, and I start going, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I know we worked so hard for this. And, like, I really. I fucked up. I fucked up. And she's going, jenny. Ginny. Ginny. And I'm like, no, no, no. I fucked it up. I f. Ed it up. I fucked it all up. And she goes, jenny, just.

[A]

Shh.

[B]

And I hear all of these voices on speakerphone, and they go, welcome to Big Love.

[A]

Was it all the people at the table that you just left?

[B]

Yeah, they all.

[A]

My God.

[B]

They also heard me talk.

[A]

Did you hear from anyone who was in that room afterwards where they're like, oh, there was no. There was no question. Or, like, when you did that, this is like. Did you hear any, Like.

[B]

I mean, I got a phone call from Bill Paxton. He goes, wasn't expecting that there. I was like, I'm so sorry. He was so kind. He's obviously, like, super kind about it.

[A]

But I did this play at the Vineyard Theater in New York, which is a very small, intimate space. This beautiful Christopher Shin play that he wrote and also directed. And one of the characters had lost a leg in Vietnam, and he is in a wheelchair, and he has this very intimate scene with this girl who gives my hand job.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And I don't know why, but Chris was, like, determined because I guess it was such a small space. He felt like you needed to see the ejaculation, so he had the props. I love, like, when props apart.

[B]

Is it like a water gun?

[A]

No. That might have been more efficient, but this was like a.

[B]

How did you do that?

[A]

I don't remember exactly what the contraption was. It was something. It was like a penis, but no one was seeing that part of it. But it was something that you squeezed and, like, it needed, basically. You need what he wanted to happen. He didn't want, like, that to go up.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

He wanted it on our hands.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

And then I can already hear all this getting cut. But he had. She had it on her hands. And then. And then it's like in. In tech rehearsal, when you finally, like, when we were working with the contraption, which also. But I love the way that, like, the props department was given this challenge.

[B]

I know, I know.

[A]

I need something that's gonna, like, ejaculate in her hand. So she had this on her hand. And then she was like, in rehearsal, tech rehearsal. She's like, now what should I do? She was still in the scene. She's like, they hadn't, like, figured out what to do with it. He's like, I don't know. Just wipe it on his pants. And she was like, okay. And so she wiped it on his leg. And he goes, no, the downstage leg. And she goes on his stump. Like, he had one leg. And she's like, chris, it's too far.

[B]

I mean, you know what?

[A]

She's like, please at least slim me while I went on the lake. That's not.

[B]

I'm with her.

[A]

Oh, my God. She was like, that's too much.

[B]

I do think that's a bridge too far. That's a cum stump too far.

[A]

I think they compromised and just, like, got some tissue or something.

[B]

If it was lotion, she could have just.

[A]

Right, exactly. Just, you know, moisturized. Oh, my God. Crazy.

[B]

What we do for a living is bonkers. Do you ever just, like, take A step back and you're like, this is literally what. This is what we're doing today.

[A]

Ty Barrel and I would have to sometimes separated on set because we would just, like, catch each other's eye in the middle of the scene, and it would just be, like a little glint. And what the glint said was, like, this is what we're doing for a living. Someone's paying us to do this. And it'd be like, we're just playing a scene together. And then you'd see the glint, and.

[B]

We'D just start laughing at each other.

[A]

And it couldn't stop. Like, we get the giggles for the entire day.

[B]

That's the greatest problem ever. I know.

[A]

I know.

[B]

It's, like, giving me. And also now I'm remembering, like, Gene Triplehorn and Chloe Sevigny and me, like, hiding MMs on the set of Big Love and, like. Like, I don't know, just the things that would get worked in that just.

[A]

You three must be super close.

[B]

I don't. I wish I talked to them more. I feel like, especially in the past 10 years and, like, going into mommy mode, like, I feel like I stepped too far away in general. And also because, like, I love actors. And I realized my husband and I went to. It was, like, Oscar parties at some point in the past few years, and I found myself. I was, like, really intimidated, and I was going through, like, imposter syndrome stuff where I'm like, I feel great on a set, but, like, going into a party, like, I just feel like I don't think belong. And especially because I feel like there really have been 10 years where I've been, like, I'm mostly gonna be at home, and it's gonna be really hard to get me out of my house. Now I'm in a different place that just kind of started in the past year where I'm like, I'm ready to, like, really go back to work. Yeah, but. But I remember going to these parties a couple of years ago and discussing this intimidation with my husband. And he looked at me and he goes, you do realize we were looking around, like, the Vanity Fair party or something? And he goes, this is like a high school school reunion for you. And I was like, wait, I've worked with, like, yeah, and I love these people. And also, probably we're all now in the same place where we're like, can.

[A]

I keep paying this mortgage?

[B]

And, like, what is the right next step for this, like, next phase of my life? And, like, where is this balance with me raising kids versus going you know, having this be what I'm doing with my evening. And, like, maybe we're all just in the same boat. And I don't know. It was so freeing.

[A]

So many. You're not the first person who has told me, the first person in this industry has told me that you feel that same way around those parties. Almost everyone I talk to has the same feeling about these parties.

[B]

Wait. I'm so glad I'm saying this, though, because I did not know that, like.

[A]

Everyone from, like, Alison Janney to, like, Elizabeth Banks, although Elizabeth Banks is so good at. I was like, you work the room like no one else I've ever seen, and you're good at it, and you're interesting, and people want to be in your company.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

But, like, so many people I know have, like, deep insecurity around it. I mean, it's also crazy because, like, I was thinking about as I was, like, kind of lining up, like, all the stuff you've done, I was like, I feel like all the movies I see Jennifer in, she's always in, like, this insane cast.

[B]

I'm an insane cast.

[A]

Not, like an awesome. The film. Mona Lisa, Smile. Julia Roberts, Kristen Kirsten Dunston, Julia Stiles.

[B]

And Maggie Gyllenhaal and all. Yeah, no, it's bonkers.

[A]

Lily Ray.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Lily Rain. And then, like, you know, you.

[B]

Krysten Ritter was in that, by the way. Krysten Ritter.

[A]

I mean, insane. Yeah. And then. And then, you know, he's just not that into you. It's like Scarlett Johansson and who played Opposite of youf.

[B]

Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Aniston. I mean, so, come on.

[A]

Bradley Cooper.

[B]

It's like, crazy. Ben Affleck was in it.

[A]

Ben Affleck.

[B]

And then I'm Drew Barrymore.

[A]

Drew Barrymore.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I mean, so I can imagine. Like, it's interesting that you said that about, like, being insecure about these rooms because you think about the people you've worked with, and it's such a list people. And, you know, you're part of that community, and you are. So you've earned your place amongst those people. Rightfully so. I mean, you're so brilliant in all these things you've done. Justin and I went to one of those parties, and Emma Stone was one of the years that Emma Stone was nominated for La La Land. And I never met Emma Stone. Big fan of hers. We had just seen her in Cabaret on Broadway, and she was unbelievable.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

So I go up to her and I was like, oh, my. I'm so sorry. I'M Jessie, we've never met. She was so lovely. And I was like, we saw you in cabaret. And she just like got the biggest smile and was like. It was like we were talking about something that wasn't La La Land. And like, she was like, this is so refreshing. And I had a look. Really love the conversation with her for about four and a half minutes. And around the four and a half minute mark, I thought, I'm taking up too much of her time. She wants to be talking to other people. And like I basically extracted myself from the conversation. Conversation. And Justin was like, Justin's not in the business, he's a lawyer. And he was like, why did you just like, act so weird? Like, I was like, I don't know, I felt like it was, I was taking up too much of her time. And he's like, she was enjoying talking to you. I was like, I know. And then I felt bad. And then I was like, should I go back? I was like, no, the moment's gone.

[B]

Maybe she feels that same way.

[A]

Or maybe she's like, why did he like abandon me?

[B]

Like, all are in the same boat, but it's hard to. Yeah, I feel like it's such a. So, so I do feel like she'll act. I've like, you know, not also. Yeah. Kept up relationships in the way that I wish I had. Because I think that in that way.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I think that it would make that make. Make me feel selfishly less. Less of an imposter.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

But yeah, when I'm on the set, I'm like, I'm fine.

[A]

Same. Interesting.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't know if you ever talk about, but you mentioned at one point, I don't remember where I heard this, but you kind of come from a legacy of acting. Is this right?

[B]

Oh, I do. Oh, I do.

[A]

Do you ever talk about that? I mean, I think you said something about a great aunt who is very, very famous and you didn't give me a name. And I was like, is it Ava Gardner? Like, I mean.

[B]

No, no, Vaudeville famous.

[A]

Vaudeville famous. That's so cool.

[B]

So she was a pretty, I guess, very successful vaudeville actress. So I didn't know that my family had any showbiz history, like at all. And by the way, I grew up in like a super tight knit family.

[A]

Wait, what are your parents too?

[B]

My dad was in the music business. My mother was actually in technology and education. But when I was, I think when it was undeniable that I was. I mean, my family was very like, follow your dreams. But when it was undeniable that I was gonna go to college for acting and not, you know, there was no backup plan. Suddenly my grandmother started talking about her dad and her aunt. And her dad had been one of the. He was like, he. He ran Variety, right? And his. He had a brother who was a manager, and his sister was this enormously famous vaudeville actress. And the way this came up, she had shown me, like, a. A book of telegrams that she had gotten for her wedding. On her wedding day. I'm going through. And I'm like, grandma, this is from Bob who? Or like, this is from the Gershwins. Or like, this is from. I mean, like, Eddie Kanter. Or this is from Jimmy Durante. Or this is from. I was like, I don't understand why you have this.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And she was like, well, they're all my godfathers. And I was like, what are you talking about? And she was like, well, we. They would, like, come to the house and, like, bounce me on their knee, and da, da, da, da. And I grew up with them being, like, part. Very much part of our life. And I was like, but why have you never mentioned it? And she said, habit. And I was like, explain the habit. And she was like, well, my family all immigrated from Eastern Europe, were Jews. And, like, this was not something that, like, we were considered. We were othered. She didn't use othered because that wasn't a word.

[A]

Right.

[B]

But she was like. So we kept our heads down, and they would come to the house. So our relationship generally was. Because I guess this was before, like, a real embracing of, like, the Jewish community in Hollywood and the real building up of, like, Hollywood on this coast.

[A]

Right.

[B]

This was extremely early 1900s. And she was like. So, you know, I grew up with them around the house, but, like, it's just habit that I don't talk about it. Anyway, I'm in college. Cut to. I'm in college at Boston University, and Gregory Peck is coming to do a speech. Like a. They're filming him giving a talk at the local theater.

[A]

Incredible.

[B]

And Grandma finds out about it, and she says, I have a letter for Gregory I'd like you to take. And I'm like, what are you talking about? She's like, I have this letter. I'm watching. So she faxes me, and I have to go find a fax machine. She faxes, you know, like the 90s. So I go and I find. She faxes me a letter, which I still have, and I take it to the theater box office, and I'm like, I know this is crazy, but my grandmother apparently wants Gregory Peck to have this letter. And the girl at the box office said, never gonna get to him. So here's what I want you to do. I want you to come tonight to the show. There's gonna be a Q and A at the end. Just Godspeed. Raise your hand. It's the only way that I can ensure that, like, there will be something communicated about the center. So I go by myself to the theater, and I sit through this incredible talk.

[A]

This is when you're in college.

[B]

Yeah. Sit through an incredible talk at the Huntington Theatre in Boston. And at the very end, I happened to get called on for one of the Q and A's. And I stand up and I say, my great grandfather, his name was Hal Halpern. And he goes, can you come backstage? And I was like, sure. And he goes, just sit down. And at the end, security is going to come get you. I want to talk to you. And I was like, okay. And lo and behold, security comes, gets me, and takes me backstage. And I give him the letter from my grandmother. And it's a thank you letter for speaking so kindly at her father's funeral back in, like, the. I don't know when. Maybe the 50s. And Gregory Peck said, I have to credit your great grandfather with, like, really, like, using his, like, journalistic connections and where he got me placement in Variety. Like, he said he was a champion of young talent. And, like, he didn't call himself talent. He called himself an actor or whatever, but he said, you know, he's a real champion of young actors. And I feel like I would not have gotten the start that I got if I hadn't had. And that's why I was speaking at his funeral. I was like, like, really?

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

Isn't that crazy?

[A]

What's astonishing about all this is that you didn't know anything about all that.

[B]

Nothing. Nothing. And my family had other experiences over the years. Like, at one point, Bob Hope was giving a speech somewhere, and I think even, like, my mom and her siblings were like, what are the chances? This really is like. You know what I mean? And they, like, sent a note inside, and Bob Hope comes running outside to, like. He's like, you're Nan and Hal's family.

[A]

And they're like, grandfather was someone so.

[B]

Important to that, by the way.

[A]

We don't even.

[B]

But also something along the way, like, we don't even own a typewriter from. Or, like, anything with letterhead from Variety. I'm like, I don't know how this got messed up. But, like, I used to tease the people at Variety now, and I'd be like, does this, like, don't you think that this should get me some special. They're like, you know, dream on. I mean, they're so kind. So it's.

[A]

I know when you do on one of those, like, round tables. Variety. Round tables, like, that is absolutely something you're gonna have to talk about that night. That is absolutely. I love that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

How cool. Thank you so much for doing this.

[B]

Thank you for having me. Thanks for like, I forgot that we were recording it and filming it and all that.

[A]

That's the way it should be. Yeah. I really appreciate you doing this.

[B]

I know.

[A]

I, I was, I was, I was realizing. I was like, God, Jennifer doesn't do a lot of, like, long form podcasts. Feel so hard.

[B]

No. This is such a.

[A]

This episode of Dinner's on Me was recorded at John and Vinny's in Studio City, California. Next week on Dinners on Me. You know him from the TV shows generation and the get down and movies such as I Saw the TV Glow and Detective Pikachu. It's Justice Smith. We'll get into growing up queer in Orange county and working along stars like Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson and the new Ruben Fleischer movie, Now you see me, now you don't. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinners on Me. Plus, as a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click try free at the top of the Dinners on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to search your free trial today. Dinners on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Alyssa Midcalf. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hans Dale. 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.