Josh Hutcherson — on cold calling agents at 8 and memories of Robin Williams

Summary

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Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Episode: Josh Hutcherson — on cold calling agents at 8 and memories of Robin Williams

Original Release: December 9, 2025
Location: Night + Market Song, Silver Lake, LA

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Jesse Tyler Ferguson sits down for dinner and conversation with actor Josh Hutcherson. Best known for roles in The Hunger Games and Five Nights at Freddy's, Hutcherson opens up about his early determination to be an actor, his transatlantic life split between LA and Madrid, confronting rejection after early stardom, the realities of aging pets, and memorable moments with icons Robin Williams and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The conversation is candid, warm, and sprinkled with humor about LA stereotypes and personal quirks—capturing the unique intimacy that can only happen over a shared meal.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reuniting and Restaurant Vibe (03:11-05:00)

• Jesse reflects on their 15+ year friendship, starting from when Hutcherson starred in The Kids Are All Right and their first meeting at the SAG Awards.
• They dine at Night + Market Song in Silver Lake, a vibrant spot famous for spicy Thai "drinking food."
• Banter about the spicy menu, sticky rice, and the shambolic, creative LA crowd sets an informal, lively tone.

Quote:
"The chef calls it Thai drinking food, and that’s exactly what it is…borderline chaotic in the best possible way." – Jesse (03:51)

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2. Life Between Madrid and Los Angeles (09:01-14:00, 20:12-22:36)

• Hutcherson describes splitting his time between LA and Madrid for over a decade, driven by his relationship with his girlfriend, Claudia, who is Madrid-born.
• He speaks about the cultural contrasts—LA’s hustle mentality vs. Madrid’s focus on living life—and how this has shaped his worldview and appreciation for both cities.
• Jesse and Josh talk about American exceptionalism and how travel challenges cultural assumptions.

Quote:
"Getting perspective—not only on Los Angeles, but on America—has made me actually love LA more, too..." – Josh Hutcherson (10:32)

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3. Longevity in Love and Navigating Industry Expectations (20:27-22:36)

• The pair reflect on Josh’s 13-year relationship with Claudia, discussing the work and growth needed for long-term commitment—especially in showbiz.
• Josh observes how Americans often have “really high expectations of what life should be, what a partnership should be, everything—so it’s hard to find genuine connection and take care of it.”

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4. LA Stereotypes & Filming ‘I Love LA’ (22:37-25:47)

• Jesse teases East Side LA stereotypes—walkability, creative food, a certain laid-back-but-ironic vibe—and how his friends gently mock him for it.
• The pair discuss Josh’s new series I Love LA and its accurate, playful send-up of local archetypes.
• Josh shares his delight at being able to walk to set:
  "Literally, when we were shooting– episode five…her house in the show is a five-minute walk from my actual house. So I walked to work in Los Angeles." (24:07)

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5. Aging Pets and the Need for a Senior Dog Support Group (25:55-30:34)

• Jesse and Josh bond over their aging dogs—sharing hospital emergencies and the emotional weight as their first pets grow old.
• Josh suggests starting a “senior dog support group” for owners navigating the inevitable decline in their beloved animals.

Memorable Moment:
Both realize their dogs were in the animal hospital on the same weekend (26:23), leading to jokes about “bed roommates” and dark humor about “starter babies” and aging.

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6. Wild New York Story: The Dead Dog in the Louis Vuitton Bag (28:33-31:03)

• Jesse shares a stranger-than-fiction tale about a new house-sitter in New York who finds the family's dog has died, bags it in luxury luggage, and then has it stolen on the subway.

Quote:
"This guy steals the bag, thinking there’s good stuff in here—oh, just you wait…" – Jesse (30:41)

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7. Josh’s Wildly Determined Path to Acting (36:19-40:01)

• Josh recounts his “psycho” childhood ambition—cold-calling Cincinnati agencies from the phone book at age 8.
• Parental reluctance eventually yields after an acting class teacher urges them to try LA pilot season—and a family job layoff (post-9/11) makes it possible.
• Early on, Josh finds continuous work and rapid success.

Quote:
"I got out a phone book and looked up Acticare…an acting modeling agency in Cincinnati. I called them…they were like, well, you talk to your parents? I was like: that tracks." – Josh (37:43)

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8. First Experience with Rejection—Downside of Young Success (40:01-44:27)

• Josh reveals he only learned about industry rejection at age 24—after The Hunger Games success—having booked nearly every job since age 9.
• He describes the post-franchise reality:
  "As quick as they’re excited to get you into that spotlight, they want to not give you anything else...as quickly." (41:00)
• He now understands that a slower build (with more ‘no’s) might foster more resilience.

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9. Rekindled Artistic Ambition (43:00-44:27)

• Josh admits that before landing I Love LA, he’d started to consider maybe he wasn’t destined for “top tier” or “prestige” projects.
• Working on the series reignited his love for the craft and sense of belonging among elite creatives.

Quote:
"It’s nice feeling somewhat accepted in that world I’ve been yearning for forever." – Josh (44:37)

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10. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Joining Another Franchise (45:13-47:27)

• Jesse asks if he was hesitant to join another big franchise after Hunger Games.
• Josh didn’t realize how massive the Five Nights at Freddy’s fanbase was; he was drawn by director Emma Tamley’s character-driven take.

Quote:
"I wasn’t aware of how massive the game was. I didn’t think I was stepping into this…massive world." – Josh (46:05)

• He praises the practical effects: real, 7-foot Jim Henson animatronics—not CGI or tennis balls this time.

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11. Memories of Robin Williams and Philip Seymour Hoffman (47:28-49:01)

• Touching on his time with Robin Williams during RV (with Kristen Chenoweth), Josh calls Williams “the funniest person…I’ve ever seen in my life,” an “energy always there at a level 1000.”
• Of Philip Seymour Hoffman: “Just watching how he works…that’s a level of excellency one of a kind.”

Quote:
"Robin…just brought joy like to everyone around him…such a great role model as a 12 year old to be around.” – Josh (47:53)

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12. Kitchen Rituals & Cooking at Home (49:51-51:56)

• The meal wraps with confessions of control-freak cooking habits—Jesse and Josh both prefer to do everything themselves but are “dabbling in delegating” in the kitchen.

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13. Eastside Raves Disguised as Soup Parties (52:04-53:19)

• Josh shares a laugh about being invited to a "soup" party that turned out to be a wild dance rave—classic East Side LA.

Quote:
"I was showing up in a cozy sweater…for some evening soup…that to me was going to be delightful." – Josh (53:13)

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14. Wrap-Up and Looking Forward (53:44-54:37)

• Jesse admits a love-hate relationship with horror movies; they both discuss the forthcoming Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 and celebrate I Love LA as a highlight in Josh’s career.
• Both speak warmly about the night and their longstanding friendship.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• [03:51] Jesse:
  “The chef calls it Thai drinking food…They don’t ease you in here. The menu starts at ‘chili heat’ and then goes up to ‘are you sure?’ heat, which the answer for me is no.”
• [10:32] Josh:
  “Getting perspective—not only on Los Angeles, but on America—has made me actually love LA more, too.”
• [24:07] Josh:
  “I walked to work in Los Angeles…her house in the show is literally a five-minute walk from my actual house.”
• [26:23] Jesse:
  “Our dogs were in the hospital at the same time.”
• [30:41] Jesse (on the New York story):
  “This guy steals the bag, thinking there’s good stuff in here—oh, just you wait…”
• [37:43] Josh:
  “I got out a phone book and looked up Acticare…an acting modeling agency in Cincinnati. I called them…they were like, well, you talk to your parents? I was like: that tracks.”
• [41:00] Josh:
  “As quick as they’re excited to get you into that spotlight, they want to not give you anything else...as quickly.”
• [44:37] Josh:
  “It’s nice feeling somewhat accepted in that world I’ve been yearning for forever.”
• [46:05] Josh:
  “I wasn’t aware of how massive the game was. I didn’t think I was stepping into this…massive world.”
• [47:53] Josh:
  “Robin…just brought joy like to everyone around him…such a great role model as a 12 year old to be around.”

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Life in Silver Lake & Madrid: 09:01–14:00, 20:12–22:36
• Aging Dogs/“Starter Babies”: 25:55–30:34
• Wild NY Dog Story: 28:33–31:03
• Start in Acting/Early Auditions: 36:19–40:01
• First Taste of Rejection: 40:01–44:27
• Memory of Robin Williams: 47:28–49:01

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Episode Tone

Warm, funny, sincere, and lightly irreverent—much like the dinner table in a roomful of old friends. Both Jesse and Josh are candid about their vulnerabilities, real about the entertainment industry, and gently self-mocking about LA lifestyles.

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Summary

A conversation as flavorful as the meal itself, weaving together showbiz tales, reflections on identity, loss, and enduring friendship—with a spicy dash of Eastside LA quirks. For listeners, it’s a satisfying mix of nostalgia, insight, and genuine connection.

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Transcript

[A]

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Hi, it's Jesse.

Today on the show. You know him as Peeta in the Hunger Games franchise and as Mike in Five Nights at Freddy's. It's Josh Hutcherson.

[B]

My friend Tovalo, a singer, she was like to put in the group, like, hey, Thai angel soup tonight, nine, seven. And I was like, I'm so sorry, just regarding this. Are we meeting to eat soup or is this not that? And they were like, aw, sweetheart, no, it's like a dance rave kind of thing.

[A]

This is dinner's on me. And I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

I met Josh Hutcherson, gosh, probably I'm gonna say 15 years ago whenever he was doing a The kids are all right. We met at the SAG Awards.

[C]

I remember I was such a fan of that film and I was so.

[A]

Excited to meet him and he was so sweet.

[C]

He was excited to meet some of.

[A]

The cast of Modern Family and I've stayed in touch with him ever since. I haven't seen him in quite some time. So I'm really excited to catch up with him today. So I'm waiting for him at night. Market song in Silver Lake. A neon lit Thai spot that feels like someone threw a dinner party in their coolest friend's bungalow. The chef calls it Thai drinking food.

[C]

And that's exactly what it is.

[A]

It's loud, spicy. It's borderline chaotic in the best possible way. They don't ease you in here. Okay, the menu starts at, quote, chili heat and then goes up to quote, are you sure? Heat, which the answer for me is no. The fried chicken sandwich has a cult following. The larb is electric. The sticky rice, it's so good. It comes in little woven baskets. The wine list, it's weird, it's funky. They have a lot of natural wines here that should not logically go with Thai food, but somehow they do. It's the kind of place where Silver Lake creatives sit. Next to families, next to musicians who haven't gone to bed yet. Next to me, waiting for Josh Hutcherson and crossing my fingers that I don't ruin my white shirt with chili paste. Okay, let's get to the conversation.

When did we last see each other then?

[C]

Do we even remember?

[B]

I was racking my brain like the last couple days thinking about a, like how we got connected and met.

[A]

I know how we got.

[B]

I could not remember that. And then, B, I couldn't remember last time that we hung out.

[C]

I can't remember the last time we hung out. Although I'm loving that you remember this memory of visiting me.

[A]

Your house, very first house here, before I really moved in with Justin, my husband.

[C]

That was my first house as a single person.

[B]

That's wild.

[A]

But also, just. That means we've known each other for.

[C]

A really long time.

[A]

When was.

[C]

The kids are all right. How many years ago?

[B]

I shot that when I was 16, so that was.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

16. 17. 16. 17 years ago when that.

[A]

When you.

[C]

Because I remember meeting you at the SAG Awards.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

When you were doing that.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

In that movie.

[B]

Right, right.

[A]

17.

[B]

I was 17. Yeah.

[C]

Oh, my God. And you're in your mid-30s?

[B]

33.

[C]

Okay. That's crazy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because I remember meeting you at that.

[C]

You were so sweet and nice and also I love that movie so much.

[B]

It's a great movie. Yeah.

[C]

We ready to talk a little bit? We're so ready. Yes. Let's do it. Okay, well, we know what we're gonna do. We're gonna do the chicken larb, right?

[B]

Yep.

[C]

Chicken larb. Full spice. Medium. No, medium. Medium. Medium.

[B]

We're not. We gotta talk.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

And crispy rice. Classic. Also our mild. Our mild is medium. Do you want to do it mild.

[A]

Or do you want to do.

[C]

No, on the side? We can do that, too.

[B]

I'm okay with the spice.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you got it. I'm being brave for you. And then we're gonna do shrimp petai. Classic. A staple. Well, any rice on the side?

[A]

Sticky.

[C]

Coconut? Jasmine. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

I want.

[C]

Jasmine.

[A]

Jasmine.

[C]

There you go. Sticky, too. No, I want Jasmine. We could do one of each. There you go. I like it. Let's do this.

[A]

I like rice.

[C]

You have to unwrap.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's good.

[C]

Chewy rice.

Yeah. It was a very, very special.

[B]

Yeah, it was. It was great.

[C]

Yeah. But that's how I met you. Because I remember we were.

[B]

We met at the SAG Awards.

[A]

We met. I. This is how I remember it.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Because, you know, it's like, you get. You find yourself in these rooms. Like, it's like a. It's like a school year, like, class photo type thing, you know, it's like you're all in, like, the same, you know, class. The graduating class of, like, whatever year that was. 2012. Or probably earlier. Earlier than that.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But you see each other in all these in these rooms.

[A]

And you were just so nice. You're such a sweet kid. And I just kept seeing you all.

[C]

Throughout that whole year. And then.

[A]

Yeah. And then I think I came to.

[B]

Your house in Silver Lake.

[A]

And then you came to my house in Silver Lake.

[C]

And then when Liz Banks was a very good friend of mine.

[B]

Oh, great. Okay.

[C]

Was cast in Hunger Games. I went to the very first premiere for that. And so I saw you there at that.

[B]

Yeah, this is great.

[C]

Which is, you know, I mean, talk about it. Quite a change in, like, your career. My God.

[B]

Yeah. From.

[C]

And it filmed to, like, this insane franchise.

[B]

Yeah. It was wild. It was crazy because, like, I had just.

Like, a few months before I got cast in Hunger Games. I was, like, in the running to be Spider Man. And so I gotten told no to Spider man, which, as, like, a teenager, felt heartbreaking because I really obviously wanted to be Spider Man. And then, like, a few months later, I got cast in Hunger Games, which is, like, the craziest turn of events. Yeah. Just crazy how, like, it works that. I don't know. Like. Yeah, Hunger Games just, like, came out of nowhere and. Yeah.

[C]

Just changed in that moment. You must have been in so many.

[A]

Like, if you're on the conversation, like.

[C]

I've never been on the. In the conversation of, like, I might be the next Spider Man.

[A]

So if you're on that list, I.

[C]

Feel like you're in. You're in the conversation of, like, you know, these are people who are very exciting in Hollywood at the moment. You don't hear people on this list who are like, I've never heard of this guy. These are all people that are exciting.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So you. You've been living on the east side.

[B]

A while back on these. Yeah, it's. I moved over here in 2019.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah. I was up, like, Laurel Canyon.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Woodrow Wilson vibes for, like, eight years.

Which is great. But it's like, it's very isolating up there. Like, it's. You can't walk anywhere.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You're in constant traffic to get anywhere. And I like, because I'd been spending. Started spending a lot of time in Madrid. It's like the most walkable and easy to exist place. And I get back to la and it's like, I can't go anywhere. I'm trapped in this mountain. Like, and I just needed, like, a neighborhood. I needed, like, to see humans. And so started coming over here and hanging more and Silver Lake, Echo Park, Legion park, you know, Los Feliz, and just kind of fell in love with the whole vibe.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So then moved over here.

[C]

Have you been spending basically like equal time in Madrid and.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

That's incredible.

[B]

Yeah, it's. I mean, for the last 10 years, pretty much it's been.

[A]

Has it been that long?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Oh my God, what a dream.

[B]

It's, it's, it's amazing, man. It's like, it's. I'm so grateful.

That my girlfriend came into my world, obviously for a million reasons and a really big one is just the exposure to such a different world and culture. And you know, I think that getting perspective on not only like Los Angeles, but America.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And spending literally half my time when I'm not working, I'm in Spain. Like I live there and so just getting to know cultures, different priorities, just different mindsets of people. Claudia. Yeah, she grew up in, she's born and raised Madrid. Yeah, yeah, she's Madrid. Like Madrid, Madrid. And, and so like. Yeah, it's just getting to know that new perspective and it feels so comfortable to me now where I'm fluent in Spanish. I have my friends there, my world there, and it's just like, it's made me actually love LA more too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because when I'm gone, I can appreciate things about it that when you're in it all the time, you don't. So it's, it's great. I love it.

[C]

What do you do to like spend your time in Madrid? Like, how do you eat?

[B]

Yeah, food's incredible.

[C]

Yes, it is.

[B]

You know, there are always like parties and like you go to have like coffee with someone and then like you end up like walking together to this plaza and then you have lunch in this spot and there's this open that happened because they get it. Like we, like, we, we I think fall victim to. It's a double edged sword because there's also a feeling of like a ceiling there, of like what you can make and what you can become. There's like here, I feel like in LA and the States in general, there is like your dreams are. You can get to those dreams. It feels like sometimes in other places that possibility like breaking through is just not quite as present as it is here.

[C]

But like it's because there's just not as much opportunity, I think.

[B]

So I think there's just, there's a lot of money in this country and so people will get paid a lot of money to make their art and to like rise to those levels and they make more movies and shows. It's a bit more limited and it's a great industry. And Spanish filmmakers and TV and movies, they're incredible. But just the scale of it is just scaled down. Right. So that's. It's challenging, but I do think that.

[C]

Let's get here.

[B]

I'm ready.

[C]

Thank you. Absolutely. A sticky to unbox.

[B]

Great.

[C]

How about a crispy rice?

[A]

How about.

[B]

I love that. Great. Lovely.

[C]

Enjoy. Thank you.

[B]

But I think that, like, here, there is such, like, a hustle mentality that is, you know, like, you need to make it like this. Like, I need to climb this ladder. I need to get to this. I need this house, this car, this thing. And it's just a bit of a different priority. It's more about the experience of living.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Which I happen to enjoy a lot.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

So, I mean, that's what.

[C]

Anytime I've gone anywhere, basically outside the United States, there's that mentality of, like, you work to live, and it's just not. We hear. We. We live to work.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And you know that the idea of, like, shutting down halfway through the day and, like, just having a siesta and.

[B]

Or, like, the entire month of August in Spain. Like, I. I was. We were trying to buy our apartment in Madrid, and August was fast approaching, and they were like, we need to close this deal because you can't buy the house in August. And I was like, what? What do you mean? Like, no, the banks. Like, you can't.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Everyone's on holiday. I'm like, the whole month of August.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Like. And they're like, yes, the whole month of August. So it's just, like, I think it's extremely important, especially as Americans.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Where I feel that we are kind of raised with this American exceptionalism and this idea that we're just better than everyone, and it's just not true.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

We're amazing. And, like, it's a great country in so many ways, but. But, like, there's a lot of greatness out there. And so it's like, people can kind of get blinded by this, because if you never know something else, then you just know what you know.

[C]

Right.

[B]

You know?

[C]

You know.

[A]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Josh tells me about splitting his time between Madrid and LA and why he wants a senior dog support group. Okay. Be right back.

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Hiring do it the Right Way with Indeed. It's so interesting. When I was younger, for some reason this idea of therapy and taking care of your mental health, there was a stigma around it. But nowadays I am so happy that people are really embracing taking care of our mental health. It's just as if you would take care of your physical health, it's just as important. But actually finding the right therapist, now that can be hard. Between figuring out who takes your insurance, who's actually available, and let's be honest, affording it, it can feel impossible. That's why I love what Rula's doing. Rula, that's R U L A is making high quality mental health care easy and affordable for everyone. They're a healthcare company that connects you with licensed therapists and psychiatrists, and most people pay as little as $15 per session when using insurance. 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And we're back with more dinners on me. Did you.

[C]

I mean, it's also so lucky that you have someone who you care about so deeply, who knows that part of the world. You've been together for about 13 years, right?

[B]

Just about.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

That's great.

[B]

Been through a lot, man.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

I mean, it's just. I don't know, when you. When you meet your person, you have, you know, like, you just. You, like, understand something about someone. Such a deep level. You go through anything together. Highs and lows, good and the bad. Like, it's the cheesy shit, but it's just the truth. And, like, I think that in our industry, too, there's.

It's. I think it's hard to find that, you know.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I think that people live at such a pace and such a level of.

In Spanish, I would say exegencia, which is like, expectation or like the expect that divas are really high. Yeah. Your expectations kind of. You're, like, right now.

[A]

Yeah. Like, how do I say? Expectations?

[B]

But it's not. It's like. It feels different. I am.

[A]

What is this word?

[B]

What is this word?

[C]

Expectations?

[B]

Jesse. Jesse. Jesse, help me, please.

[C]

Oh, my God, I love it.

[B]

That's gonna be in the podcast.

[C]

That's absolutely not being cut.

[B]

That's it.

[C]

Listen, I.

[B]

But no, I think that a lot of people have that really high expectation of what life should be, what a partnership should be and everything. It's hard to find, like, a genuine, really deep connection and then take care of it.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And to be able to do that for so many years and really grow up together and see each other evolve and grow and give each other the space. I think that one thing that we both have been leaning into recently is, in a way, like, enjoying the isolation here, because in Madrid, you're. You live in the streets. Like, you're always in a social environment. I think LA is a city where you oftentimes are home alone or just you and your partner, you know? Yeah. In your car. Totally. And so it gives time to, like, slow things down. You can be more introspective and you can work on your own, like, developing your own art and not just be, like, Plans go social all the time. You can just like slow things down in a way that in Madrid you just can't. It's. It's so non stop in a great way.

[C]

There's such a tiny. There's such a, like a funny stigma. Not stigma, but like stereotype, I guess, of an East Sider in la. And I certainly, you know, when I had my place here in Silver Lake, and then. And after that, Los Feliz and Eric Stonestreet, who lived in the Valley, would always make fun of me about, you.

[B]

Know, what, what's the stereotypical I just East Sider.

Like, like me being like, I didn't leave here, I couldn't live in la. You know, it's walkable, got great food, but it's got like a real edge.

[C]

Like maybe you're wearing your shoes to the coffee place.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[C]

Maybe that's more Venice, right?

[B]

Like.

[C]

Yeah, I don't know.

[A]

I think it's just like a little.

[C]

More like Glade back and I don't.

[B]

Know, but also still, like, like still full of shit.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Laid back but still kind of full of shit.

[C]

It's so funny because I was, I so I was watch. I don't get to watch a lot of new tv, but I was like, I hear this show's really good. Let me turn it on. And I turned it on. It's called I Love la. And I was like, oh, oh, Josh is in the first scene.

[B]

Oh, oh, I'm in the first scene. I'm in that first scene. Yep. Bet your bottom dollar I'm in that scene.

[C]

And I love the show. And I was watching, you know, as.

[A]

I was watching, I was like, oh.

[C]

My God, this is such like a fun take on the LA East Sider as well. I mean, totally. You know, a lot of these scenes are happening like right here, a half a mile away from where we are, like right on these streets, which is, you know, so fun.

[B]

Jesse. I walked to work. Oh, my God, my dream in Los Angeles. I literally, when we were shooting, I think maybe episode five or something, that's like five. We have a scene. It's a dinner at Leighton Easter's house. It's me, Rachel Layton and her husband, and her house in the show is literally a five minute walk from my actual house. So I walked to work in Los Angeles.

[C]

Incredible.

[A]

That's incredible.

[B]

It's amazing. Yeah, it's amazing. And then, like, when I, when I first read the script and they were talking about Erewhon and this whole thing and they were laughing at it. In a way, I was like, they're laughing at me.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like I'm here to laugh at myself.

[A]

That's what I'm saying. I recognize myself.

[C]

And even though I now live in a different neighborhood, like, I recognize myself and those characters, especially myself at that age, because the age of these characters are like, around the time I moved to la. And I recognize so much of myself and like. And, you know, when I was single and Jordan Firstman.

[A]

Is that how you say.

[B]

Yeah, Jordan. Yeah, yeah, first one.

[C]

So funny. He, you know, he's having this interaction with.

[B]

Can I Lima, please.

[C]

He's having this interaction with the scene guy who she just recognizes this guy's.

[A]

Dog, you know, I know that dog.

[B]

I know that dog.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

But it's all happening around the civil reservoir.

[C]

I'm like, oh, my God, this is. This feels like an attack on me.

[B]

I know.

Also, that's me. If I'm walking and I see, I.

[A]

Will be doing that. I'm the same way with kids.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

My son's kids. I know the kids names, but I.

[C]

Have no idea what their parents name are.

[B]

Yeah, it's probably better that way, though, a lot of times. Yeah. It's like, don't meet your heroes. Don't meet like your kids. Parents. You know, in a way, you're like, kids, great kids get along.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Don't want to have to know this.

[A]

Please don't ruin adult version.

[B]

I don't. I don't have kids, but I can imagine there's some.

[C]

Some of that sort of. You'll see if you ever want to have kids. Get to that point. You'll see.

[B]

Who knows, man? Who knows? I got. I got two pit bulls and they take a lot as it is. And they're old.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's just like older, older dogs, man. It's like, I know I have one. That's.

[C]

We thought we were gonna lose him last week.

[B]

I did. I thought I was gonna lose mine last week. Literally. He had an emergency surgery. Yeah, yours did too.

[A]

Not a surgery, but he was like. He was in the hospital for like four days.

[B]

Mine was two.

[A]

Like literally last weekend.

[B]

Yeah, mine was. Mine was. Let's see, last week we had the I Love LA premiere. He had surgery last Saturday.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Our dogs were in the hospital at the same time.

[B]

That's cute.

[C]

Isn't it sweet? I hope so. Maybe they were bed roommates.

[A]

Yeah, that'd be nice.

[B]

You want to get some of this pad diabete on your plate there.

[C]

But yeah, it was. You Know the first time that Justin and I were like, oh, this might be happening soon. And this is a dog that we got when we first started dating. Like, we got a dog way too early. And I remember Julie Boeing it. Bone. Julie Bone calling it a starter baby. I was like, easy. That's amazing. I barely know this guy. I was like, this is my dog that he also.

[B]

He can hang out with.

[C]

Yeah, yeah. Really? Mostly his.

[B]

That's funny.

[C]

But yeah.

[A]

And now he's like, you know, this.

[C]

Dog'S 15 years old and we're like, oh my God, I haven't even started to prepare myself for, you know, that part of the process and something you always know. I mean, you know, pets are. You're always gonna outlive your pets, hopefully.

[A]

But it's my first dog I've ever.

[B]

Had and I'm just like, it's.

[C]

It's intense.

[B]

It's really intense. I mean, I got Driver when I was 18.

[C]

Driver's a great name.

[B]

Yeah, I got Driver and I was pit bull.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And so like about almost two years ago, he had a really bad health scare where he got like an immune disease that his body, like organ failure. Almost like we almost lost him. And it's just like with a buddy of mine, a director, this guy, Adam Nee, who's amazing. He's got a 16 year old dog, big dog as well. And he's like, I need to. We need to start like a senior dog support group.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Of like people that are dog parents and their dog are senior because like you can't get ahead of anything. It's like, it's one thing after the other. You just fix like this weird ear infection. Okay. They're bad. Oh, now they're shitting everywhere. What's happening now? It's like this kind of.

[C]

By the way, clowns are gonna be us when we're that age. Pretty much.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

In our 90s. Yeah.

[B]

I can't hear. I'm shitting everywhere.

[C]

Exactly.

[A]

Turn my wheelchair around so I can see the room.

[C]

Okay. I gotta play this story. So when I was in New York, I was doing this play and this girl who joined the cast as one of the understudies, she'd just moved to New York and she had just gotten this job. She was, you know, brand new to New York. Yeah.

[A]

Needed money.

[C]

And her parents know a very wealthy couple. Like, they need someone to house it for them. Okay. Take care of their dogs while they're away. They're going to Europe. So the girl's like, great, wonderful. So she has this. This job to take care of this. This family's house and their pet. She arrives to take care of the dog. The dog's dead. The dog had died. So she reaches out to the hero parents, and she's like, what do I do? And they're like, well, let's call the family. And, like, they tell the family, like, you know, that the dog passed away.

[B]

And between the time the family left and she got there.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, that's really. The dog's waiting.

[C]

He's like, get out of the house so I could die. And they're like, oh, yeah. You know, actually, that we've been expecting something like this to maybe happen. I'm so sorry that you're having to deal with this. This is the vet's number.

[A]

He's.

[C]

He will take care of the dog and, like, hold on to the dog until we can get back. We'll be back in a week from Europe.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

So she is now tasked with taking this dead dog to. She's new to New York.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

New to New York.

[C]

And so she puts the dog and the only thing she could find, which is a really nice piece of luggage that they have, like Louis Vuitton luggage, gets on the subway and gets to door stop, and this guy says, oh, can I help you with your bag? And she's like, sure. Runs off with the bag. The guy runs off with the bag.

[B]

This can't be real.

[A]

No, this is insane.

[C]

It's real. He runs off with the bag because he's like.

[A]

She's like a new. When you are new to New York.

[B]

She'S speaking of, like, you, like, steal my shit out.

[A]

Like a vibe. Like, I'm.

[C]

I have no idea what I'm doing. Take advantage of me. Steal my thing.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

This guy steals a bag thinking he's like, you know, it's a Louis Vuitton bag. Good shit in here.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So.

[B]

Oh, just you wait.

[A]

So then she had to call the.

[C]

Family, like, So a few things.

Your Louis Vuitton bag is gone. And also your. You know, Roxy was in the bag.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[C]

Can you imagine that guy? When he gets. When he, like, goes to wherever, he's going to, like, open up the bag and, like, find the stash.

[B]

Oh, yeah, we got that.

[C]

Well, now what?

[A]

Huh?

[C]

Isn't that crazy?

[B]

That's insane.

[C]

Yeah, wild.

[A]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. After the break, Josh tells me about how he got his start in acting and how he processed rejection for the first time at the age of 24. Oh, bless his heart. And he also shares his memories working with the late, great Robin Williams. Okay, be right back.

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And we're back with more dinners on me.

[C]

I'm fascinated.

With.

Your.

Drive and determination to be an actor at such a young age. I was reading, I was listening to your Dax Shepard episode.

[B]

Oh, the armchair.

[C]

Yeah, but when you're talking about going through the phone book and finding.

An agent and just, like, cold calling them at the age of eight.

[A]

I mean, it's basically psycho behavior.

[B]

It's psycho behavior. If I had a child they did that, I'd be like, you're broken.

[C]

But I mean, how did you even have the foresight to, like, would you.

[A]

Like, just go to the A section of the. And you're in Virginia, right?

[B]

Kentucky. Yeah.

[C]

You're in Kentucky.

[B]

I. I basically, I've been telling my parents for, like, a couple years at that point that I wanted to since I was, like, 6 years old, 7 years old, that I. I think once I understood that when I was watching a movie and I saw a child that that was a child like me. And then I, like, just loved movies so much, I was like, I want to be. I want to do that. And so my parents are like, no, like, yeah, like, that's so great. You're interested in that. But, like, you're playing baseball, you're in school. Like, try, like, acting, like, after college. And I was like, off after college. I was like, probably not in the cards.

[C]

Look at this face.

[B]

Yeah. We need to take advantage of this now.

[C]

Okay?

[B]

You gotta strike while the iron's hot. And so I, like, got out a phone book and looked up Acticare.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[B]

And it was like, an acting modeling agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. And so I called them, and they were like, well, you talk to your parents? I was like, that tracks. So I told my parents, and they were like.

Okay. I guess, like, he's like, my fans are super supportive. And, like, always, me and my brother both, like, whatever we were into, whatever we wanted to do, they would like. But acting was so, like, acting, like, like, my parents. No one in my family worked in the arts anyway. My mom worked for Delta Airlines, and my dad worked and still works for the. The EPA in Cincinnati, and. Which is under attack right now. I'm pretty wild. But, yeah. So nobody in my family was, like, in this kind of world at all. And my mom called, and they took me into, like, an acting class, and so went to this acting class. There's, like, an acting class for adults, but they're like, there was no other kid, so I guess he can come in, too. And the acting coach told my mom after, like, getting more from this kid than I am from any of the adults, you guys should go to LA for pilot season and, like, your first class. Yeah. And so, like, finally, the really dark part about this is, is that we heard that I was jazzed obviously, but it wasn't possible because both my parents were working my. I had my little brother. Like, it wasn't. My brother was 6. I was 9.

[C]

Right.

[B]

And then 911 happens. And so they were laying off airport employees and airline employees. So my mom got laid off, basically, but got to keep, like, health benefits and stuff. And so she was like, should we go try this thing in LA? And so, like, weirdly enough, 911 happening was, like, a reason that I got to start acting when I did because my mom was able to. Able to leave. It's a screwy, weird thing. And then we came out here and I just started. Lived in a motel in Glendale. And so we'd drive around. I had an agent out here, drive around town and just go to, like, three, four auditions a day. And then I got. I started working right away. Did like, two pilots the first season out here, and then did like, a TV movie and just kind of.

Kept it rolling from there and just never.

[C]

Never had it all, just, like, happens.

[B]

It's insane, man.

[A]

When did you first feel.

[C]

Because it sounds like you had early success and when you were that age, too, it's like.

[A]

It's just all fun, you know, like.

[C]

Pretending to be someone else and, like.

[A]

Getting to go on set and, like.

[C]

Meet fun actors that you might recognize. But, like, when did you first sort of feel like, oh, this industry is also hard and full of disappointments. Did that come at an early age or was it.

[B]

No. And it was one of the hardest moments.

[C]

Spider Man.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

No, here's the crazy thing.

[A]

Not.

[B]

No, it was. It's. I didn't learn rejection ever. I just knew only success.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

From the age 9 to, like, 24. And then kind of post Hunger Games world. Because also Hunger Games, like, set things up. Industry is so goddamn tricky because they. They set you up in this way where they're like, you've arrived.

[C]

Sure.

[B]

You now are working with Jennifer Lawrence and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and you're like, in this movie that makes billions of dollars, you're the second lead of the film. Like, you. What do you want? The kingdom is yours. And it's not at all. They. As quickly as they're excited to, like, get you into that spotlight, they want to not give you anything else. In a way, it's very complicated. So I tasted my kind of first feeling of disappointment, Failure, Rejection, probably when I was, like, 24 or so 25.

[C]

Was it because you weren't.

[B]

Because it.

[C]

It. Something didn't come to fruition.

[B]

It was like, I don't. I It was, it was just like a string of.

No one calling, not getting any offers, auditioning, but not getting cast. And it's kind of this whole, like, thing of like, oh, wow, like I have my career that I've had since I was 9 years old. It's always worked, I always got cast. And of course there are things that you don't get cast in. But, like, I had only known that the chances if I was auditioning was that I was gonna get, I was gonna book it.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And that is just not the reality at all. And like, I think the healthy, albeit painful way is to spend a decade getting told no, and then you kind of start to make it or you have like your little things here and there. I was the opposite.

[C]

Resilience. Yeah. I mean, yeah.

[B]

And so that was, that was a wild, very brutal.

Lesson to learn in that way.

[C]

And I, you know, you, you came into this industry and with such innocence, you know, literally, like looking in a yellow pages for an agent and just wanting to do acting class and like, go to pilot season, which your mom thought was like, you know, getting on.

[A]

An airplane with the pilot 100%, like.

[C]

You know, and then to then have such a different relationship with the industry now, but obviously still loving it so much. And just how have you, how have you negotiated that sort of change in the relationship that you have with the industry?

You know, I think it's something you're still working on. Still working.

[B]

It's always, it's ever evolving.

You know, I think that, I think that in a way.

I would say up until, honestly, up until I did, I love la, my perspective on the industry was shifting in such a way where I was like, look, I love acting, I want to try to keep doing this as long as I can. But the ambition of making high quality, like, top tier stuff, maybe that's not for me. And maybe I'm okay with that. And maybe I know that I can work and make a good living and have a great life and enjoy what I do. But maybe this, like an HBO show that is like fantastic, great writing, maybe that's just not what I am. Maybe they don't want me in that club. And so I was kind of like, in a weird way coming to terms with that as like a sad but true feeling, acceptance. And of course, this fucking show came and reignited all of that drive of like, no, there's a reason why A, like, I want to be there because it's the most fulfilling version of doing the thing that I love the most. And B, Like, I can hang with these people. You know what I mean? Like, it felt right. It felt good. And I was doubting myself. Like, not take anything away from Five Nights at Freddy's. And these big things are incredible and very hard to do as well. But it's a whole different.

Range and from an audience of like, what they want to see you in or not. Like. Like, I didn't feel welcomed into, like, that club because I hadn't really touched something like that since. Kids are all right.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You know what I mean? It's in that kind of same level of critical acclaim, prestige kind of thing. And I'd always been chasing that because that was like, that's the thing. Like making good money, that's great and it's nice to live a comfortable life. But that, like, artistic fulfillment, I was like, lacking that in many ways. But it's just. It's nice feeling somewhat accepted and like, in that world. Yeah. Yeah. That I've been yearning for forever.

[C]

You've certainly been around it so much, you know.

[B]

Totally.

[C]

And learned from so many people. I'm sure you brought up Five Nights at Freddy's.

It is, I guess, another franchise. Yeah. Was it. Was there.

Were you hesitant at all? Did it seem just because of, you know, your experience with Hunger Games? I mean, obviously, it's a whole other genre.

[B]

Yeah. But no, I didn't. I mean, I. I had also kind of like, at this point in my career, I was actually filming the Beekeeper. I had like a cameo in Jason Statham, like, Shoot Em up crazy action movie where I got to play this, like, bleach, blonde tipped, like, douchebag villain kind of thing. And I was in the middle of that. I didn't have a lot of things, like, really on the radar lined up. And Freddy's came around and I was like, man, I think it sounds really fun. I think it sounds really cool. Really fun. I also wasn't aware of how massive the video game was, so I didn't think.

[C]

No idea.

[B]

Like, I was like. I didn't think I was stepping into, like, this massive world of like, it was like, hopefully we can make a couple of them.

[A]

That'd be cool.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I didn't realize what was going to happen, fan base. And honestly, when I. When I met with Emma Tamley, the director, she was just like, had this very grounded.

Character driven sort of narrative that she was going to tell through the lens of the Freddy's world. And that, to me felt good because it wasn't just going to be this big popcorn thing. There was going to be like a search for something truthful, cool inside of that. So that felt. That felt good.

[A]

So I love that collaborative thing, Five Nights at Freddy's.

[C]

It's.

[A]

There's so much of that movie that.

[C]

You spend by yourself, right? Not really.

[B]

It's all practical, really. Yeah, it's all like, all the animatronics are like there in person. Yeah. So those are like Jim Henson Studios, like creations. And they're like seven feet tall. They're actors inside of suits with then people who are with remote controls controlling eye movements and stuff. So it's really cool because you're actually like taking in this real thing there instead of being like, I've done my entire career and like Cocaine Bear is like, it's a tennis ball or it's just like, look kind of in that area and now it moves. And now it moves, you know? So. Yeah, no, it was practical.

[A]

So cool.

[C]

Okay. You've worked with two of my heroes that are no longer with us. Just if you have any stories that you want to share about them, if not, that's fine too. But Robin Williams that you did RV with, with my friend Kristin Chenoweth.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And Philip Seymour Hoffman you mentioned. I mean, those guys are.

They're two. The greatest.

[B]

I completely agree.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, Robin, like. I mean, I grew up loving him. Like, like when I said Jumanji was one that like made me want to do this or realize that I could. And Robin was someone that I. I mean, he just brought joy like to everyone around him. And like if you know Kristen as well, like, you know, she knows him or knew him and everything. And, and it was, it was just a joy to be around and the funniest person I've ever seen in my life. And just never like on set, it was just the energy was always there at a level 1000. Just as such a great role model as a 12 year old to, to be around.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, Philip just like watching how he works was just something that's just like, that's, that's like, that's. Those two guys specifically too just have such a level of excellency that is one of a kind. And like, to having had like, albeit brief moment working beside Philip was like.

[C]

You'Ll always have that too. Which is just so, so incredible. I mean.

[B]

Yeah, they're special, man.

[C]

Yeah. I was with Nathan Lane. He was working on Modern Family when we found out that Robin Williams had passed away. And I was like, I hope this sounds, I hope this is funny to someone But I was like, nathan, did you ever work with him?

[A]

Did you know him? He's like, he played my husband on the birdcage. I was like, oh, my God. That's right.

[C]

I'm like.

Of course he did. Which is, like, one of my favorite.

[A]

But I was just sort of, like.

[C]

In shock, and I like, every. Like, Ethan, did you know him?

[A]

Did you know him? He's like, yes, I knew him. That's great.

[C]

He's like, I'm such an idiot. Of course you did. Oh, my God.

But he. He's a hero of mine and someone I admire greatly. I actually had him over for dinner last night. I made him dinner.

[B]

Oh, nice.

[C]

Yeah, I had.

[A]

Are you. Are you.

[B]

Do you like to cook a lot?

[C]

I do, yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

I do. I'm a home chef who's, like, learning how to eat better.

[B]

I love cooking.

I'm very ambitious when I cook, and I try to, like, do a new recipe I've never done before for six people randomly same. And then so all of a sudden, people are, like, arriving and I'm behind, and they're like, can I help? I'm like, no, no, it's fine. Just go have the question, like, are you gonna chop this for me? You know how I want to chop? Do you know how, like, I like it?

[A]

No.

[B]

Get the out of my kitchen. Like, I'm not quite that much of it. That's what inside me is like, oh, you know, I think we're good.

[C]

And then someone brings you uncut flowers.

[A]

I have to find a boss now.

[C]

Yeah, that's so. Me too. I, I. I never ask anyone if I can help them, because I know, like, when people ask me that, I'm like, it just drives me crazy.

[B]

I have started dabbling and delegating.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

In the kitchen.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Very scary.

[C]

Yeah. And like, Like, a sous chef.

[B]

Sal will tell you it's like, it's not the most fun thing in the world to be my sous chef.

[C]

Do you cook well next to Claudia?

[B]

Not for years, but we're finding our rhythm.

[C]

Yeah. Is she a good cook?

[B]

Not she. You know what? No, she's not. But let me explain.

[A]

She's.

[B]

What she's amazing at is flavors, like, just kind of coming together and just the right amount of this and the right amount of that, and she doesn't taste it.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And then she's like, puts, like, the seasonings, does, like, that many tomatoes, this much onion, whatever it is, and it works out. It doesn't try it, and then serves it, and it just lands.

[A]

I'M like, she's just lucky.

[C]

That's going to fail her at some point.

[B]

It hasn't yet.

[C]

It's going to.

[B]

It hasn't yet. It's crazy. But for the longest time I would be like, like, she'd be like, babe, what can I do? I'll be like, oh, what can you do? You can like maybe slice the tomatoes for the thing maybe. Yeah, like, okay, she'll start slicing. I was kind of like watching being like, oh God, that is not how I wanted those cut. But like trying to be. I'm just, it's.

[C]

I'm the exact same.

[B]

That's one of my biggest things.

[C]

Yeah. What else are you doing today?

[B]

Friend of mine's having a dance party tonight.

[C]

Yeah, at his house?

[B]

No, she throws like. I don't know if she actually throws it. There's a place called Thai Angel. It's like the size of this, but they have like a different DJ every 15 minutes.

[C]

Oh my gosh.

[B]

And it's a total dance party. Let me see. Yeah, I think, I think raves can be really fun. Well, it's like having the right people though, right? Music obviously. Yeah, yeah. It's funny though because it's called. I've never been to this one before. And I guess like they go. It's like a monthly or once every six month kind of party they do. And they texted this group text we have and my friend Tovalo, a singer, she was like toe putting the group like, hey, like, no, no, it's called. They call it Soup. They're like Thai angel soup tonight, nine, seven. And I didn't know what the she was about talking, talking about. So I was like, I'm so sorry, just regarding this. Are we meeting to eat soup or is this not that.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And they were like, oh, sweetheart. No, it's like a dance rave kind of thing. I was like, oh, I'm there either way. But like, yeah, I was ready if I didn't ask. I was showing up in a cozy sweater at 7 o' clock for like some evening soup with friends. Like that to me was gonna be delightful.

[C]

That does seem like something that would happen on the east side.

[B]

It does.

[A]

Oh my God, it's so good to see you.

[B]

I know, you too.

[A]

I really miss you.

[C]

I'm so excited about everything that's going on. I'm excited about. I, I'm.

[A]

I secretly love horror films.

[C]

Like they really. I, I dread seeing them. And then I. It's like a roller coaster. And then after I'm. After I see It.

[B]

I'm like, feels funny.

[C]

I'm very excited to see second one of these.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Five nights at Freddy's.

[A]

And I love la.

[C]

I've been on my TV for a few weeks.

[A]

It's awesome.

[B]

It's fun, man. It's a great show.

It gets better and better, which is nice. And I feel like a lot of times you make something and you're kind of like, maybe the first one's good and then it kind of just. No, no, no, no. But this one just really finds its stride.

[C]

I mean, the reviews for it have been great. It's a very buzzy, fun thing.

[B]

Thanks, man. And yeah, Freddy's is crazy. Freddy's is just like. It's a whole wild world. And like, this Freddy's too. Like, Freddy's. Did you see the first one or.

[C]

No.

[B]

Okay, so this one is just like. It's scarier. Sorry. It is scarier. It's like double. Yeah, yeah. It's like double the animatronic. It's just like everything's cranked up to level.

[C]

Usually if they're gonna make a second one, they're gonna like, but it works.

[B]

Like, sometimes you're like, okay, it's the sequel. But this one is actually really, really good.

[C]

Yeah, I got it. See that?

[A]

Thanks for doing this, buddy.

[B]

Yeah, of course, man.

[A]

This episode of Dinners On Me was recorded at Night Market Song in Silver Lake, California. Next week on Dinners On Me. You know her from her scene stealing performances in films, Crooklyn and 12 Years a Slave and TV shows like True Blood and the Practice. She's now starring in the Apple TV series the Last Frontier. It's Alfre Woodard. We'll get into her growing up in the south, her 42 year long marriage with actor and comic Roderick Spencer, and get into some behind the scenes details on the last Frontier. 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 for 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 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.

[D]

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[B]

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[A]

Com.