Justice Smith — on surviving high school and not giving a damn at 30

Summary

Dinner’s On Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Guest: Justice Smith — On Surviving High School and Not Giving a Damn at 30

Date: December 2, 2025
Location: Destroyer, Culver City, CA

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jesse Tyler Ferguson shares a meal with acclaimed actor Justice Smith. Over inventive dishes at LA restaurant Destroyer, they dig into the confusion of your twenties, the confidence that comes at thirty, growing up in a family of artists, surviving bullying at a predominantly white arts high school, navigating queerness, and the joy (and awkwardness) of high school reunions. Justice reflects on his acting journey—spanning everything from Generation to Pokémon and his latest blockbuster, Now You See Me, Now You Don’t. The conversation is candid, funny, raw, and, at times, deeply moving.

---

Highlights & Key Discussion Points

Turning 30: Shifting Perspectives

• Celebrating Milestones
  • [05:23] Justice recently turned 30, and Jesse reflects on his upcoming 50th birthday.
• Perceptions of Age
  • Justice: “29, I felt really old. … 30, you're the youngest of the 30s. … All my friends who are in their 30s, I'm like, still a baby.” (05:44)
  • Describes how hitting 30 brings a newfound sense of not caring about impressing others, echoing his older sister’s advice: “Being 30 is like, you finally, like, don’t give a fuck anymore about, like, depressing people.” (07:36)
  • Jesse: “Figure out who you are in your 20s.” (08:00)

---

Family Background: Growing Up Surrounded by Art

• A Big, Unconventional Family

  • Justice is the middle child of nine siblings (four older, four younger), oldest is 45, youngest is 16. (08:05-08:23)
  • “My dad is a whore. My dad gets around.” (08:24)
  • Most siblings come from his father's side; only one full sibling.

• Artistic Roots

  • Parents supported the family through singing and performing in bars, lounges, karaoke shows, and competitions. (10:03-10:55)
  • “They always instilled in me this never give up on your dreams kind of mentality.” (11:09)

---

High School Years: Bullying and Finding His Place

• Transition to Performing Arts School

  • Grew up in Orange County, started in public school, transitioned to a charter performing arts school. (17:48-17:53)
  • School environment was predominantly white, with few Black students and a large LGBTQ+ community. (19:34)
  • “In the art scene … it was just a bunch of, like, girls and gay boys … I was just like, these are my kind of people.” (18:22)
  • Faced microaggressions and discrimination related to race even among otherwise socially liberal classmates: “They could only be so liberal, you know, they could only be so understanding.” (20:29)

• Navigating Sexuality and Bullying

  • Never had to hide being queer: “I didn’t really have to hide that.” (21:20)
  • “Most of my bullies growing up were girls. Girls can be really vicious.” (22:22)
  • Shares a particularly hurtful bullying incident:
    • An improv class exercise where classmates staged his “coming out party” before he had come out himself:
    • “She had made everybody act as if it's my coming out party before I even knew what my sexuality was … It was so fucked up. It was so mean.” (23:14)
    • Jesse: “That is really fucked up … That’s a bit traumatizing.” (23:47)
    • Justice reflects, “I spent most of my 20s unpacking the trauma of high school.” (25:39)

---

High School Reunion & Cathartic Reflections

• Returning as a Star

  • Justice attended his 10-year high school reunion “just to rub my success in everybody’s face.” (24:49)
  • Irony: “But then I went, and nobody who bullied me was there.” (24:56)
  • Jesse reassures: “They all know. They all know that you’ve done so much in 10 years.” (25:03)

• Lingering Effects of Bullying

  • Justice: “Some of the people who bullied me in high school, I don’t even think they really knew that they were bullying me because I had, like, a desperate need to be liked. So a lot of times when I was being bullied, I would act like it was funny and, like, it was okay.” (25:11)
  • Spent 20s “unpacking the trauma” and is only recently feeling he has healed. (25:39)

---

Career: Queerness, Code-Switching, and Acting Versatility

• Typecasting and Roles
  • Often played romantic leads opposite women in his 20s, despite being queer:
    • “To be a marginalized person is to study the dominant culture, you know? Like, I know what straightness looks like. I know how to perform straightness like most gay people do … It's like our level of code switching.” (28:56)
  • Jesse points out, “You were given the opportunity to do so many roles that did not bring your sexuality into the storyline at all.” (26:51)
  • Justice self-describes: “Technically bisexual—but I'll never date a woman again. Not because I’m not attracted to them, but because I don’t like the feeling of having to be ‘the man’ in the relationship.” (27:49)

---

Acting as Healing: Generation and Personal Growth

• On Generation (HBO Max) and Chester

  • Playing Chester was liberating: “I felt like I had unlocked a side of myself I didn’t even know I had … so unapologetically himself.” (33:42)
  • The show was set in Anaheim, the city where Justice grew up—it felt “healing” and aligned, bringing a sense of closure. (35:15-36:07)
  • “I often find that every project that I do has a weird parallel to what's going on in my real life.” (35:23)

• On Pokémon and ‘Signs’

  • Justice describes odd “cosmic” connections between his life and roles; for example, suggesting the Pokémon theme song in his first film, then years later starring in Detective Pikachu. (36:12)

---

Blockbuster Adventures: Now You See Me, Now You Don’t and More

• On Landing and Filming Big Franchises
  • Jesse praises the all-star cast; Justice says, “It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on a film … nonstop fun.” (38:09)
  • The established cast was welcoming; Jesse Eisenberg immediately invited him for lunch in his trailer on day one—“They really don’t have to do that.” (38:09)
  • Magic training for a month, though ultimately, “I learned all these card tricks for, like, no reason.” (40:56)
  • The director insisted on practical magic effects, which Justice loved. (40:20)

---

On Press Junkets, Interview Repeats, and Favorite Music

• Inside Baseball on Press Tours

  • Jesse and Justice make fun of repetitive junket questions and share strategies for surviving them. (41:22)
  • Jesse: “What makes a modern family modern?” (41:32)
  • Justice: “I’ve had people ask a question that’s been asked before; they ask it, like, ‘I bet no one else [asked this].’” (42:01)

• Justice’s Hidden Talent—Songwriting

  • Jesse is a big fan of Justice’s single on Spotify: “You have a much better voice than I ever did or will.” (42:24)
  • Justice has been working on music for years; his released song was about an ex-girlfriend. (42:50)
  • They bond over Broadway; Justice reveals he used “I’m Not That Smart” (from Spelling Bee) for auditions, not realizing Jesse originated the role. (44:01)
  • “That’s you? … I would sing that song all the time.” (44:01)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Turning 30:
  “Being 30 is like, you finally, like, don’t give a fuck anymore about, like, depressing people.”
  —Justice Smith, 07:36

• On Identity & Bullying:
  “Some of the people who bullied me in high school, I don’t even think they really knew that they were bullying me because I had, like, a desperate need to be liked.”
  —Justice Smith, 25:11

• On Acting While Queer:
  “To be a marginalized person is to study the dominant culture, you know? Like, I know what straightness looks like. I know how to perform straightness like most gay people do … It's like our level of code switching.”
  —Justice Smith, 28:56

• On Playing Chester in Generation:
  “I felt like I had unlocked a side of myself I didn’t even know that I had … so unapologetically himself.”
  —Justice Smith, 33:42

• On High School Reunion:
  “I literally went just to rub my success in everybody’s face. But then … nobody who bullied me was there.”
  —Justice Smith, 24:49

• On Movie Magic:
  “We had magic lessons … I like learned all these card tricks and then … I wasn’t doing any card tricks in the movie.”
  —Justice Smith, 40:56

• On Finding Out Jesse Originated 'I’m Not That Smart':
  “That’s you? I would sing that song all the time … I prepared that song over and over to … build the courage to audition.”
  —Justice Smith, 44:01

---

Timestamped Topic Guide

• [05:23] The birthday conversation: Feeling young again at 30
• [07:36] Shifting priorities and caring less about others’ approval
• [08:05] Justice’s nine siblings and family dynamics
• [10:03] Artistic parents and growing up with music/performing
• [17:48] Early high school memories and shifting to an arts school
• [19:33] Navigating race and identity in a predominantly white space
• [21:20] Experience with coming out and school life as queer
• [23:14] Trauma of a “forced coming out” prank
• [24:49] Ten-year reunion: Revenge (and its absence)
• [26:51] Acting, queerness, and typecasting
• [28:56] Bisexuality and gender roles in relationships
• [33:42] Embracing vulnerability in Generation
• [36:12] Life imitating art (Pokémon connection)
• [38:09] Making Now You See Me, Now You Don’t
• [40:56] Learning magic for film
• [44:01] Broadway musical ties—‘I’m Not That Smart’ revelation

---

Closing

• Touching notes on food and sharing gratitude: “This was a lot of fun. And also, the food was great.” —Justice Smith (46:42)
• Jesse promises, “Dinner’s on me!” (46:45)

---

If you want to catch new episodes a week early (and ad-free), subscribe to Dinner’s On Me PLUS on Apple Podcasts, and join Jesse next week for a chat with Josh Hutcherson.

Transcript

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

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 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. Rula partners with a network of over 15,000 therapists and psychiatrists nationwide. So you find someone who fits your needs, your preferences, and your schedule, sometimes as soon as the next day. And they don't just set you up and leave you hanging. They stay with you through your journey, helping you make real progress with your care. I can't even tell you how much I wish I had a program like this when I was younger. If therapy has ever helped you or if you've ever wanted to go but didn't know where to start, Rula makes this first step so much easier. So head over to rula.comdom to get started today. That's R U L A.comdom for convenient therapy that's covered by insurance. Thousands have already trusted Rula to support them on their mental health journey. And you deserve the same kind of care. Go to rula.comd o m that's r u l a.com dom and take the first step toward better mental health. Today, you deserve quality care from someone who truly cares.

Hi, it's Jesse.

Today on the show.

You know him from films. I saw the TV Glow, Detective Pikachu and the HBO Max series Generation. His latest film is now youw See Me, now youw Don't. It's Justice Smith. Have you gone to any high school reunions?

[Justice Smith]

Yes, I just went to my tenure.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, my God. Tell me about that.

[Justice Smith]

I literally went just to rub my success in everybody's face.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you. I'm so glad you said that. Thank you. This is Dinner's on Me, and I'm.

Your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

I became a fan of Justice's when I started watching the TV show Generation. I had seen him on his previous show, the Lowdown, which I also loved, and I just, I was really taken by him. I think he's such an interesting actor.

And also he's a really good Instagram follow.

His looks on the red carpet are kind of iconic, so I'm really excited to meet him as he's doing press for his new film, now youw See Me, now youw don't, which I'm a big fan of that. That franchise as well. Today I'm at Destroyer in Culver City. I have been dying to feature it ever since I saw a critic say that it was strange, beautiful, and tasted like nothing else in town. How's that for a review? Destroyer is tucked into the Hayden tract of Culver City. It's got that artsy, slightly industrial edge. It's the kind of spot where the food looks like art but doesn't take itself too seriously. What makes Destroyer special is how it bridges worlds. The fine dining imagination of chef Jordan Khan, who many foodies know from Vespertine.

With a lunch and brunch model that.

Keeps it exciting, accessible. You can order something like their famous avocado confit or chicken schnitzel, which I'm pretty sure all I'm gonna end up getting and still walk out without breaking 30 bucks. I thought Destroyer would be the perfect spot to bring my guest Justice. Smith, like this place, he's someone who lives between worlds. Thoughtful but playful. Polished but never too serious.

Whether he's in a massive blockbuster or.

A quirky A24 film, he shows up with that same curiosity and openness that makes his work so magnetic.

All right, let's get to the conversation.

You just had a big birthday.

[Justice Smith]

I did. 30. 30.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

A few months ago, right?

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm born in 75, so I have a 50th coming in, like, next week.

[Justice Smith]

Oh, wow.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And my husband is. Thank you. 10 years younger than me. He just celebrated 40. And how do you feel about turning 30?

[Justice Smith]

I feel young again.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, that's interesting.

[Justice Smith]

29. I felt really old. Why? I don't know. It's just 29 is older than 30, I think. Is it because it's the oldest of the 20s?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay.

[Justice Smith]

But 30, you're the youngest of the 30s. Okay. All my friends who are in their 30s, I'm like, still a baby. Whereas if I hang out with, like, when I was 29, I was hanging out with, like, 25 year olds. I was like, oh, I'm the wise one.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Justice Smith]

Hi.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Hello.

[Restaurant Server]

How are you doing? Great. Are we ready for drinks?

[Justice Smith]

I think.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Do you know what you want to eat?

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, I think we're ready for everything. All right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I am going to start with this yuzu ginger tonic.

[Justice Smith]

Perfect.

[Restaurant Server]

Juicy ginger.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I think I'm gonna do the chicken schnitzel.

[Justice Smith]

Perfect.

[Restaurant Server]

1 chicken schnitzel ginger tonic.

[Justice Smith]

What's that? What is a yuzu ginger tonic?

[Restaurant Server]

Juicy ginger tonic. We make a syrup out of juicy and fresh ginger. Jusu is like a Japanese citrus. And then we serve that with sparkling water.

[Justice Smith]

Okay.

[Restaurant Server]

It's a version.

[Justice Smith]

I'll try that too. Awesome. And then I wanted to get the loaded avocado confit. That's like, what, an avocado toast?

[Restaurant Server]

Yeah, it's our version of a avocado toast which is served deconstructed. So it's avocado topped with burnt onion powder puffed that. We serve it with a lot of goodies on the side.

[Justice Smith]

Can I get it without arugula? Yeah, of course.

[Restaurant Server]

Would you want to do a Kelly instead or just no greens?

[Justice Smith]

No greens.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

All right, cool.

[Restaurant Server]

All right, I'll get that started for you guys.

[Justice Smith]

Okay. Thank you. My sister, who's, like two years older than me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Huh.

[Justice Smith]

She would. She told me a lot. Like, being 30 is like, you finally, like, don't give a fuck anymore about, like, depressing people.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That is true.

[Justice Smith]

Like, a lot of being in your 20s is, like, well, thinking that, like, there's something wrong with you and you have to, like, grow and, like, bridge the gap between you and other people. And, like, 30 is, like, a real acceptance of, like, oh, no, this is me. Yeah. And I actually just want to surround.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Figure out who you are in your 20s.

Yeah.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You have a lot of siblings, right?

[Justice Smith]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Where do you sit in. In that line of siblings?

[Justice Smith]

I'm the exact middle. I have four older and four younger.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

How old's your oldest sibling?

[Justice Smith]

The oldest is. She's 45, I think.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay.

[Justice Smith]

46, I want to say. Yeah. And the youngest is 16.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, my God.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah. My dad is a whore. My dad gets around.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He's. Wait, your dad and mom have been together for. Are they still together?

[Justice Smith]

No.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No, they're not.

Okay.

[Justice Smith]

So all my siblings are from my dad. Got it. I only have one sibling who's, like, my full sibling. Got it from both my parents.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Got it.

Is anyone else in the industry, like, older singers?

[Justice Smith]

One of my older sister. She was a dancer and a choreographer a long time.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay.

[Justice Smith]

For a long time. She was, like, a backup dancer for Janet Jackson. And then both my parents were singers, so they were in the arts.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

How did your parents meet in Japan?

[Justice Smith]

They. My dad was out there, I think, singing and bars and stuff, I think. And then she met my dad in a club or a bar or something, and they dated for a little bit. And then she's like, all right, I'm over this guy. And then, like, a month or two later, she had to renew her visa in Korea in order to work in Japan. She goes to Korea, and at the renewal office or whatever, she runs into my dad again, who's renewing his visa. And it just so happened that they were both staying at the same hotel in Korea. So it was literally, like, fate that they, like, met up again in a completely different country totally at the exact same time. And then from there, they just, like, came back to America together.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And then you moved to Orange County?

[Justice Smith]

Yeah. So after my parents divorced, they were, like, living in Sylmar for some time. That's where I was born. And then my mom moved to Orange County.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

What did they do in Orange county, my mom?

[Justice Smith]

So at the time, karaoke was more of, like. Which they had learned in Japan was more of, like, a culture. And there was, like, they would hire someone to host a karaoke show and. But then also, like, perform in between, like, other people, like, drunk people coming up and singing or whatever. Right. And so my mom did that at, like, like, five different venues or whatever. Like, when I say my parents are singers, like, I mean by, like, vocation, not, like, like, that's how they made their living. Or they would do, like, singing competitions, and then they would, like, place first and second and then, like, just, like, take the money or, like, they would go in as a duet and, like, just, like, they played together as well.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Did they drum music?

[Justice Smith]

My dad did. My dad wrote some music, but, yeah, nothing that really took off so interesting. But yeah, they. They supported us mostly through, like, performing at bars and lounges.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And so you really grew up around, like, artists.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, I never, like, had pressure to, like, pursue a normal career. A quote unquote, normal career. I never had pressure to go to college because none of my parents went to college. Yeah, they were, like, artists through and through. Struggling artists at that. And so I think they had, like, a. They always, like, instilled with me in me like this, like, never give up, give up on your dreams kind of mentality, you know?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, justice opens up about being bullied in high school, and we dive into his dating life. Okay, be right back. You know, it's that time of the year. Yep. When your routine starts to unravel a little. The travel, the late nights, the. Let's just grab something quick. Meals. Yeah, yeah, it's here. That time of the year is here. That's honestly why I started drinking AG1, the daily health drink that combines your multivitamin, pre and probiotics, superfoods and antioxidants all in one simple green scoop. It's one of the easiest things you could do to support your body every day. For me, AG1 has become a small but steady anchor. In my mornings, I mix it up first thing, usually while I'm making coffee or getting ready to take the dogs out. And it just helps me feel like I've done one solid thing for myself before the day takes over. The new next gen formula has even more vitamins and minerals, and it's clinically shown to fill common nutrient gaps. Plus, the pre and probiotics give my gut health and digestion the extra support I need, especially when my diet's not exactly balanced around the holidays. Oh, and can I just say, the berry flavor? Yeah, big upgrade. It actually makes me look forward to drinking something green. As we head into the holidays and start thinking about the new year, I love that AG1 is a habit I don't have to overthink. It keeps me consistent even when everything else is chaos. So here's the deal. AG1 has their best offer ever. Head to drink ag1.com dinner to get a free welcome kit, vitamin D3 + K2 and an AG1 flavor sampler. Plus you'll get to try their new sleep supplement AGZ for free, which has been a total game changer for my nightly routine. That's $126 in free gifts for new subscribers at Drink Ag1.com dinner this is the time of year that always sneaks up on me. One minute it's pumpkins and, you know, spice lattes and the next minute I'm trying to figure out how to juggle work, family, travel plans and eight different hol menus. So if I needed to hire someone right now, someone with the exact skills to keep things running during the holiday rush, I'd go straight to Indeed Sponsored Jobs Hiring isn't just about finding someone willing to take the job. I need the right person with the right background who can help move things forward, especially when everything gets busier. And I I if I want candidates who actually match what I'm looking for, I trust Indeed that Sponsored Jobs With Sponsored Jobs, you give your post the best chance to be seen by quality candidates who can drive the results you need. Sponsored Jobs Boost your posts so you can reach the exact people you want faster. And it really works. According to Indeed data, Sponsored Jobs posted directly on indeed are 90% more likely to report a hire than non sponsored Jobs. If I were hiring someone for my team, let's say production wiz who survived a holiday content calendar before, I'd get to be super specific on Indeed. And the candidates that come in, they actually fit that description. That's the difference with Sponsored Jobs plus with Indeed, you only pay for results. No monthly subscriptions, no long term contracts. Just to boost whenever you need to find quality talent fast. And while I've been talking, companies like yours made 27 hires on Indeed. According to Indeed Data Worldwide. It's happening constantly. Spend more time interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results. Now with Indeed Sponsored Jobs and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help your job get the premium status it deserves@ Indeed.com dinnersonme just go to Indeed.com dinnersonme right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com dinnersonme Terms and conditions apply. Hiring do it the right way with. Indeed. All right, here's a confession. Every year, I tell myself I'm going to find the perfect holiday gift. And every year, I end up wandering around a store holding a candle, albeit a very expensive one, and a puzzle and thinking, I don't know, is this meaningful? Is this weird? Is this both? I don't know. Finding something that's personal but not wildly over the top is honestly an art form. And this year, I'm officially done overthinking it, because Aura Frames has solved the entire holiday gift hunt for me. Truly, it's the easiest gift you can give. My husband and I were just talking about it the other night because if I give one more sweater, someone's staging an intervention. And we realized aura is that rare thing that people actually want. I can load it with photos of our family, our pups, our travels, and it's instantly thoughtful without me having to become a scrapbooker, which I would be terrible at. And the best part, you can preload it before it even ships, so when they open the box, the memories are already there. Or you can just keep adding photos and videos from anywhere, anytime, straight from your phone. No cables, no tech support needed, no drama. Plus, it shows up in this beautiful gift box with no price tag, so you can look fancy without actually doing any extra work. It's my favorite kind of gift. Don't wait. Win the holidays now with Aura Frames. For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting auraframes.com to get $35 off ORA's best selling Carver mat frames named number one by Wirecutter. By using promo code dinners at checkout. That's a U R A frames.com promo code dinners. This deal is exclusive to listeners, and frames sell out fast. So order yours now and get it in time for the holidays. Show the support by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. And we're back with more dinners on me.

So you went to performing arts high school, right?

[Justice Smith]

I did, yeah. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But before that you were in a public school.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, and I was, like, taking drama classes. I was doing community theater and same. I was just, like, doing whatever I could to, like, act and be on stage.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

What was that community like in Orange County?

I just feel like everything close to.

La, there must be, like, some sort of vibrancy to it because it's so close to an entertainment capital. But I know that Orange county is culturally and politically so far away from la.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, it's a red county.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Justice Smith]

In the art scene, like in the community theater scene, I didn't necessarily feel the weight of it being a red county. It was just a bunch of, like, girls and gay boys, like, you know, singing songs. Yeah. And like, and I, if anything, I was just like, oh, yeah, this is. These are my kind of people.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. That looks so good.

Thank you. Oh, my God, this is so beautiful.

It's the most beautiful avocado toast I think I've ever seen.

[Justice Smith]

Almost like, wish I got the chicken schnitzel now. Gorgeous. That looks amazing. I'll say. I didn't start feeling the weight of what it meant to kind of grow up in like, a conservative area until I went to that performing high school. It was an independent charter school. And so it was like, a lot of it was donation based and there was a lot of, like, white kids from Irvine that were like, coming to this school. And I started to like, receive a lot of messaging, I think from their conservative parents.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Right.

[Justice Smith]

Like now being parroted by them onto me about, like, my race and my sexuality. And high school was really tough for me because I was like one of like 17 black kids in like, the whole school. It was difficult. Well, I did experience some discrimination on my sexuality. Most of the kids at the school were gay. Like, it's like, you know, and like all the popular kids were gay. And so I grew up in a little bit of bubble of a bubble in terms of that. Right. In terms of sexuality. And I learned like, a lot of like, radical liberal things at that school that I didn't realize the world was so behind on until after I graduated. But I think it being so homogenous in like, like it being majority white.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Justice Smith]

I think that didn't allow for like, these kids to like, reflect on race and like, understand like, how they were treating me and like, what was, you know, like really, like be immersed in like, and appreciate someone's differences because they, they weren't exposed to that. You know, it was like mostly people who look like them and then me. So, like, they could only be so liberal, you know, they could only be so understanding. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Did you feel like you had.

[Justice Smith]

A.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Safe enough environment to be yourself, like, sexually? Like, you were open about your being queer and that was something that you never had to really hide and not really.

[Justice Smith]

I didn't really have to hide that. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So different from when I grew up. My God.

[Justice Smith]

I imagine. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's so interesting. And did you have relationships as a kid?

[Justice Smith]

I mean, in high school? No. So. So, like, all the popular kids were gay or girls. Like the girl to guy ratio was like 11 to 1. Like it was mo. The school was mostly girls and gays.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's my dream school.

[Justice Smith]

But they also were like mean gays. Like they were all bitchy and mean. Like before I came out, which I also have issues with the whole coming out. I understand it now, but like I came out. When I figured it out. I came out junior year of high school. I remember like sophomore year. There was this older girl who was such a bully. Like this girl would like cut girls ponytails off. Oh my God, she was a horrible, horrible person. I hate her.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Jesus.

[Justice Smith]

Anyways, most of my bullies growing up were girls. Girls can be really vicious. Anyways, there was this improv exercise we were doing in one of our classes where it was like a game where someone leaves the room. The rest of the class like creates a party, some sort of event. The person comes in, everyone is improvising and has to guess what the party is. Has to like from how everyone's behaving. Right? Yeah. So I left the room, I come in. This girl had made everybody act as if it's my coming out party before I even like knew what my sexuality was.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And so like she had made that decision for you.

[Justice Smith]

She. And she told the whole class to like get in on it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And like, so what, what, like, what did it look like when you walked.

Back in the room?

[Justice Smith]

So like there was like two people like these two. Her and like one of her fucking friends were like pretending to be my parents. And like one of them pretending my dad. And like being disapproving of me and like, you're not my son. And like. And then like one of the like popular gay boys was like pretending to be like my lover. And then, and then like I'm slowly realizing what it is. And then I just like, like to end the game you have to like raise your hand and say what it is. And I'm just like, it's my coming out party. And like I'm like so, like. And then everyone laughs. It was so fucked up. It was so mean.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That is really fucked up.

[Justice Smith]

It's so mean.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I think the part that really fucked up for me is like them deciding that how your parents were going to be feeling about that. Yeah, Just choosing and choosing the version that feels like the norm for them that this would be something that they'd be disapproving of. That's what, that's shocking.

[Justice Smith]

Well, I also don't know what was going on in their house. You know, like maybe they were experiencing a lot of shame and guilt about being, well, obvious.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I think, obviously, to that point. Yes, they were. But to then, you know, superimpose that upon you is just. It's. It's. It's a very surprise.

That's a.

That's a bit traumatizing.

[Justice Smith]

It was mean. Yeah, it was really mean. Wow.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But shortly after high school, you. I mean, you started working.

[Justice Smith]

Mm.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That must have been. I mean, do you. First of all, have you gone to any high school reunions?

[Justice Smith]

Yes, I just went to my tenure.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, my God. Tell me about that.

[Justice Smith]

I literally went just to rub my success in everybody's face.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you.

I'm so glad you said that. Thank you.

[Justice Smith]

Because. But then I went, and nobody who bullied me was there. No, it was all the kids who.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Were nice to me.

They all know.

They all know. They all know that you've done. You've done so much in 10 years. Like, you've done more than any actor I've known. They all know, Believe me.

[Justice Smith]

But I also, like, think that some of the people who bullied me in high school, like, I don't even think they really knew that they were bullying me because I. I had, like, a desperate need to be liked. So a lot of times when I was, like, being bullied, I would, like, act like it was funny and, like, it was okay. I'd be like, right. No. Like pain.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Just make them feel comfortable. Yeah, Yeah.

[Justice Smith]

I also. It's like, I felt like I spent most of my 20s, like, unpacking, like, the trauma, like, high school. And, like, only recently, I've gotten to a place where I'm like, okay. I think I'm.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. It's so interesting because, I mean, if you look at. You really have done so much in 10 years. Like, you graduated high school and, like, really started, you know, working steadily as an actor. And when I was just looking at your body of work in 30 years, I mean, it's really impressive, not only in the fact that you've done so many things, but you've done so many different things. And you've also. There was like a. There was, I don't know. I don't want to say blind eye given to your sexuality, but, like, you were given the opportunity to do so many roles that did not bring your sexuality into the. The storyline at all. I mean, it was just like a. It was something that was not.

[Justice Smith]

Why would audition for them and I wouldn't get them?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Every time it was a gay part, I would audition. Yeah, you wouldn't get it. Yeah. But I mean, you were kind of like a romantic lead for a little while as well. I mean.

[Justice Smith]

Yep.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

How did you.

Was that a tricky.

Thing for you to navigate?

To sort of be having this, this break and having this moment and having these jobs given to you where you were, you know, put into romantic relationships with, with women and like things that maybe you didn't have it necessarily a, a personal connection to, but you were obviously so listen, I think actors can play everything and you did it brilliantly. But you know, it's just interesting that, you know, your opportunities came with such a. It was, you were, it was so separate from like the, the reality. You lived in high school.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, I think so. I think the missing piece here is that I dated a couple girls in high school. There you go.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

There it is.

[Justice Smith]

And then also after high school. Okay, okay. I was dating, I was dating everybody. Okay. For a second.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Were you fluid for a little while or was it.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, I was. Jesse. I like to call myself technically bisexual.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Uh huh.

[Justice Smith]

I will never date a woman again. We'll never date a woman again. Not because I'm not attracted to them, but because I don't like the feeling of like having to be the man in the relationship. I really don't like that feeling. What I like about same sex relationships is that we both can kind of switch off on what parts of ourselves we're showing. And when I was dating women it was like I just felt like I was always, like I always had to be the proverbial big spoon. And I'm like also like I, I'm not really like a half, half, half bisexual. Like I very much am more attracted to men than I am attracted to women. But having those experiences with women is helpful when you're like playing all these roles where you're like supposed to be, you know, like I, I know. And even if I didn't have reference for that in my like personal life, I feel like to be marginalized person is to like study the dominant culture, you know, Like I know what straightness looks like. I know how to perform straightness like most gay people do. Right. Because like that is how we.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Because we're in protection mode society.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, we know what like it's like our level of code switching. Like we know how to like deepen our voice and like masculine masculinize our posture and like do all those things. So it's like when it comes to like playing straight roles, like, I understand what is required of me, you know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away after the Break. Justice talks about working with Jesse Eisenberg and Mark Ruffalo. And now youw See Me, now youw Don't. The third installment of the hit franchise. And he loses his mind when he realizes a past role of mine that I played. Okay, be right back. Okay, I know, I know. You've reached a certain point in your adulthood. It's that point where you get excited about laundry detergent. I know, I know. But hear me out. I am genuinely obsessed with laundry sauce. Okay? The first time I used it, I thought, why does my laundry smell better than most people's cologne? It's that good. The scent actually lasts all day, and not in a I just clean my house kind of way. It's rich, sophisticated, and, honestly, kind of sexy. Right now, I'm all about the new Himalayan cashmere scent. It's their first ever hypoallergenic fragrance. And it's a soft, cozy blend of pear, amber, and sandalwood. It smells like wrapping yourself in a really nice sweater, which for me is basically a dream come true. But they've got options. Australian sandalwood is clean and classic, and French saffron is warm and bold. Perfect for the holidays. The pods take all the guesswork out of doing laundry. And my favorite part is just opening the dryer and getting hit with that scent. So if you want to make laundry day the best smelling day of your week, or if you just want your clothes to smell expensive, try laundry sauce for a limited time. Our listeners get 20% off your entire order when you use code domandrysauce.com at Laundry Sauce. When you use code domandrySauce.com, that's 20% off laundrysauce.com with promo code D O M. That stands for dinner's on me, not Dom. Get your head out of the gutter. All right, I'm gonna be honest. I am not the person who gets their holiday shopping done in October. I always think I will be. And then suddenly, it's two days before a family gathering, and I'm panicking at a mall, wondering why I do this to myself every year. And it's. It's not because I don't care. If anything, it's because I. I care too much. I want every gift to feel thoughtful, which is great until you're also trying to cook, clean, host, and keep live through the holidays and find out that now you have no time to do any shopping. But this year, I'm turning over a new leaf. I really am. And Macy's Friends and Family happening right now. Is honestly the perfect motivation. You get 30% off their best brands and 15% off beauty, which makes gifting actually fun again. I'm grabbing a few new beauty gift sets for the beauty lovers in my life. They come already packaged and ready to go, so I can't procrastinate on wrapping. Macy said, you know, hey, Jesse, we love you, we see you, we appreciate you, and I appreciate them. And while I'm there, I'm absolutely refreshing. My holiday wardrobe suits from Hugo Boss and ted baker are 30 to 60% off. So I won't be in a frantic last minute search for something to wear to a party. Growth, okay, Holiday growth.

[Jack Daniels Sponsor Voice]

This episode is brought to you by Jack Daniels. Jack Daniels and music are made for each other. They share a rhythm in the craft of making something timeless while being a part of legendary nights. From backyard jams to sold out arenas, there's a song in every toast. Please drink responsibly. Responsibility.org, jack Daniels and Old no. 7 are registered trademarks. Tennessee whiskey, 40% alcohol by volume. Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And we're back with more dinners on me.

Was there something. Because I know your roles before Generation. I mean, it was, you know, you had an incredible role in the get down that Baz Luhrmann did. Yo, I love it. Such a great show, Great show. And you know, you did several other things so different from the character you played in generation. Was there, was there for you anything that felt like liberating to be able to embrace that part of yourself?

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, it was the most fun, liberating thing. Like, I remember after the show got canceled, I was very like, I was heartbroken because I was like, I was so. I felt like I had unlocked a side of myself that I didn't even know that I had. That, like, was now like forever a part of me that I was like, I want to like, inhabit that even more and not just in sense of like my sexuality, but like Chester's like, freeness. Like, he is just like so unapologetically himself. And I gave him more of like a feminine lilt and like, like the way he like, walks through a space and the clothes he wears, like how like the way he likes to peacock. I just, I. I had so much fun, like, crafting that character. And like anytime, like, I play a character who's like, where I give him a little vocal something or I give him a little, you know, where it feels like a real kind of character. Yeah, I like to stay in it, you know, and so like being on Set with all these, like, kids and just, like, feeling, like, how I wanted to feel in high school.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Justice Smith]

You know? Yeah. Just, like, so free and feminine, and it just was. Yeah, it was very healing, I think. And what's crazy is it the show was set in Orange county, right?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Orange county, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

[Justice Smith]

In Anaheim. The exact city I grew up in.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's wild.

[Justice Smith]

I know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It was like, did you film any stuff there?

[Justice Smith]

No, we didn't. No, we filmed in Pasadena. I wanted to, but it was really healing. But I often find, like, every project that I do has a weird parallel to, like, what's going on in my real life. Like, it's like. And not always in, like, the obvious way, but, like, just, like, weird connections start to line up where I'm, like, in my relationship with the flying spaghetti monster in the sky. I'm like, oh, I see why I'm here now. I see why you've put me as a part of this project, because I'm learning something about myself, and I'm, like, healing a part of myself that I needed to heal.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's cool. It makes you feel like you're doing the right thing and you're in the right place at the right time.

[Justice Smith]

I feel so aligned, Pattico.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

With the universe and.

[Justice Smith]

Yes. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Because I know you. I think I read that you were, like, a big fan of Pokemon, and then you were in the Pokemon movie.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, as a kid, I was a huge fan of Pokemon. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. That's gonna be wild.

[Justice Smith]

Or, like. Because the first movie I did was this YA movie called Paper Towns. And in that movie, there was, like, a moment where we're, like, singing in the car or we're singing somewhere, like, to not be scared or whatever. And it was originally supposed to be, like, Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, but Pitch Perfect had just did that. Right. So we were like, she said she loves Pitch Perfect. They had just did that. So we were all on set trying to figure out what we should sing, and I suggested we sing the Pokemon theme song. And then it ended up in the movie. And then years later, I ended up doing the Pokemon movies, and I was just, like, weird, like, connections like that that I'm always, like, paying attention to. Yeah. It just makes me feel like I'm aligned and I'm going in the right direction.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know right now you're doing. You're doing a promotion for now. Now you see me.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now you don't.

[Justice Smith]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's interesting because you've done. This isn't the first franchise you've been a part of. You've done drastic films as well. I mean, I love now youw See Me, the first one. I thought it was such a romp. It's such a, you know, a good time. And I. I just thought there was so, first of all, so well cast. Jesse Eisenberg is so talented. So much Woody Harrelson. I love him so much. Dave Franco.

[Justice Smith]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, it's an incredible, incredible cast. And, you know, then this third film, like Rosamund pike, who I adore, and Mark Ruffalo, I mean, it's just the.

Casting is so insane.

I mean, what was it like? You know, first of all, so many incredible legends. Like, what was it like just being in a massive film with them? I mean, this is not a low budget indie thing. This is massive.

[Justice Smith]

It is the. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had on a film. And I, like, I don't say that lightly. Like, I. I wanted to do the film because I wanted to work with these actors. And also the director, I met with him and I really liked him and he felt like he, like he was going to be a really good shepherd for this kind of project. And it was like, non stop fun. Not only because then the us, like, new cast, the new cast of magicians, me and Dominic Sessa and Ariana Greenblatt, we got along so well and, like, we would, like, do escape rooms around Budapest and like, watch horror movies and like, hang out all the time. But the existing Horsemen were so welcoming to us. Like, I remember the first day I got on set. Jesse, when he met me, he was just like, oh, like, come have lunch with me in my trailer. Like the first, like on the first day, like, and just like get to know me and ask me questions and like, they really don't have to do that. Right. They went out of their way to invite us into the clique, which was. It just was. Yeah, it was everything. I'm really blessed to know these people now and, like, I'm really excited to do another one.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Is there going to be another one?

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, they already announced it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's incredible.

[Justice Smith]

They already announced it, right? Yeah. Okay, good.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know, did you learn to do any. Any magic with it? I mean, I did. Is it.

[Justice Smith]

We had magic lessons. We had like a whole magic training school thing for like a month.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, my God. I mean, the. The magic in the first two films is pretty astonishing. I mean, obviously it's a film. Like, you know, there's editing is involved, but like, just the way that you know, they. In the story that they would play out some of these.

These tricks.

It was. It was so. I know there's such a performative element to a really great magic show. I mean, it was. It felt very big, and it felt very exciting, and, like, it was just, you know, it's.

It was a romp.

It was just a lot of fun. So I'm really excited to see it.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, I think this one is a lot of fun, too. Ruben, the director, made a point of making sure that all of our magic tricks were practical. Like, they were. Could all, like, really be done by magician, which I. I'm a big fan of practical effects. So we, like, trained, like, I, like, learned all of these different, like, card tricks and card flourishes. And that was before, like, the script was really set and, like, what magic tricks? I was going to be doing the movie, and then we got, like. Like the most updated draft, and it turned out I wasn't doing any card.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Tricks in the movie. Oh, really?

[Justice Smith]

I, like, learned all these card tricks.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

For, like, no reason.

[Justice Smith]

But then I like.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's like when you, like, learn how to do a stunt, and then on the day you stunt doubles on. On set, like, and he's gonna do it, you're like, well, I want to do it.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah. I trained.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I trained.

[Justice Smith]

Did all this work. Yeah. And the thing is, also, I need to start retraining. Like, I need to, like, refresh my. All my card tricks, too, because I know that people during this press junket are going to ask me to do magic tricks.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Wait, let's guess. Let's guess all the. Because I love. On a press junket where it's like, you get the same questions over and over. For Modern Family, it would always be like, so what makes a modern family modern? And so for as a cast, we would, like, turn it into this game. And I think one time we sat down as a group for an interview, and we're like, like, if one of your questions is what makes a modern family bond? And we're walking out and, like, literally, you saw the person, like, go to the next car, because that's what's, like, literally the first question.

[Justice Smith]

I just imagine the interviewer at home just being like, this is gonna be.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

They're gonna love this question. Like, I get it nine, 100 times.

[Justice Smith]

A day, I've had people in interviews. Yeah. Like, the way they, like, ask a question that's been asked before, they ask it, like, I bet.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Justice Smith]

No one else.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I'm like, you'd be Surprised? Yeah. Yeah. I am a very big fan of the one song of yours that I found on Spotify.

[Justice Smith]

Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

First of all, you're a great singer. Did you write that song?

[Justice Smith]

Thank you. I did.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, my God.

[Justice Smith]

Justice.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's so good.

[Justice Smith]

Thanks. That's crazy.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Justice Smith]

I feel like you read my diary. I feel like that's what you're telling me right now. I found.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I also found your diary.

[Justice Smith]

Questions.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But first of all, when did you record that? And second of all, are you. Is that something you would do more of? Because you're a great songwriter.

[Justice Smith]

Thank you. Yeah, I'm working. I've been working on an EP for, like, I don't even know how long I recorded that. I wrote that in 20. 2017. I recorded it, and it was about my ex girlfriend, and I recorded it in 2019 after we broke up. Yeah, that's right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That relationship created a very good song.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, I like that song too.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's really good.

[Justice Smith]

Thanks. Yeah. I mean, you're a singer, right? You do musicals?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I did musicals, but I don't consider myself. You have a much better voice than I ever did or will.

[Justice Smith]

I doubt that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No, you do. Believe me. We'll listen to this recording of spelling bee and you'll see that I'm right.

[Justice Smith]

Wait, are you in spelling?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was the original leaf. Coney Bear. Yeah.

[Justice Smith]

I love Punter Pie Zombie. Yo. I never saw it, though. I only listened to the soundtrack.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, I'm not that smart.

I'm not. That's smart.

That's me. You didn't know that?

No.

[Justice Smith]

That's funny. I would sing that song all the time. Really? Yes. I would like. Cause I would like. I want to audition for the school musical. I want to. And I would prepare that song, and then I would never audition.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's so funny.

[Justice Smith]

But I prepared that song over and over and over again to, like, build the courage to audition. So. I've heard your voice so many times, I didn't even realize it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's hilarious. Oh, my God.

Yeah.

That's like a pretty popular song for kids to audition with. It's a great character song.

[Justice Smith]

It is a great character or something.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I remember when William Finn was writing it for me, and he's like, one of my idols. He's recently passed away. The guy wrote spelling Bee, William Fenn, and he. We were workshopping the show together, and I was so excited I was gonna hear this song for the first time. And he could stand at the piano, and he wasn't a very good pianist, and an even worse singer. But, like, he was a great songwriter.

[Justice Smith]

Right, right, right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And he sits down at the piano. He's like this big guy, crazy voice. He's like, okay, so here's your song. And he just starts pounding on the piano. He's like, I'm not that smart. People have been telling me that for years. And I'm like, oh, my God. No, no.

[Justice Smith]

This is.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

My idol's writing me a song, and this is shit. It's terrible. And then, you know, you take it and you own it and you develop it, and, like, it became what it was.

[Justice Smith]

It's an iconic song. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No, thank you.

[Justice Smith]

Sweet. Yo, that's crazy. I'm, like, having so many flashbacks to me in my bedroom.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Like, that's so funny.

[Justice Smith]

Pushing the rewind button, like, back, back, back, back, over and over and over again.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's crazy.

[Justice Smith]

That's you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. They're reviving it on Broadway. Not Broadway. They're reviving In New York. Off Broadway.

[Justice Smith]

Oh, really?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm gonna go to the opening of it.

[Justice Smith]

You know who the cast is?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, some of me. It's a. The guy who's playing my part is this kid named Justin Cooley who was nominated for a Tony Award.

[Justice Smith]

Love, Justin. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

For Kimberly Akimbo.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah, I met him once. He's really sweet. He's really great. Yeah, yeah, he's very talented. Yeah. When you see. Have you ever seen someone play a role that you originated before?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I saw kids, I've gone to school productions of Spelling Bee, so I've seen people do that.

[Justice Smith]

That's not how I would do it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, it makes me so happy. It, like, moves me to tears every time.

Even if they're not. Listen, you're missing the arc of the character.

[Justice Smith]

Listen, kid.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No, no, you're getting leafall wrong. No, no, no. You're playing him for laughs. You're playing him for laughs. I'm really glad you said yes to this. It's really nice to meet you. I've really, truly been a fan for such a long time, and I didn't even realize.

[Justice Smith]

I miss you. I didn't even realize I was a fan of yours.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, now you know. Now you know.

[Justice Smith]

I mean, I knew I was. Wait, hold up. That sounds weird. I knew I was a fan of yours. I didn't realize.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I get what you meant.

[Justice Smith]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You're an og.

[Justice Smith]

Yes. It was a lot of fun. And also, the food was great.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, well, thank you. Listen, I got this one. Dinner's on me. Don't worry about it.

[Justice Smith]

Hey, that's the name of the thing, right? Hey.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This episode of Dinner's On Me was recorded at Destroyer in Culver City, California. Next week on Dinner's On Me. You know him as Peeta in the Hunger Games franchise and as Mike in Five Nights at Freddy' and more recently as Rachel Sinnett's boyfriend in the HBO series I Love L A. It's Josh Hutcherson. We'll get into how he started in Hollywood, calling up acting agents as a child and learning how to deal with rejection later in his career, which for him was at age 24, and what it's like to split your time between Madrid and Los Angeles. I don't know. It sounds romantic to me. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to to Dinners On Me. Plus, as a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click Try free at the top.

Of the Dinners on Me show page.

On Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. Dinners On Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Alyssa Midcalf. Sam Behr engineered this episode. Hans Dale. She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tameka Balance Kolasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.

[Sideline 2 Narrator]

Experience the sequel everyone's been waiting for. Follow Drayton and Dallas as they navigate the challenges of college life while trying to stay true to both themselves and each other. Sideline 2 intercepted, starring Noah Beck and Sienna Agudong, is streaming now for free only on Tub.