Lizzy Caplan — on the sitcom that brought us together, and the cult roles that made her a star - Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Transcript

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (0:00)

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Lizzy Caplan (2:31)

Meat Slab.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (2:32)

Meat Slab.

Lizzy Caplan (2:33)

That's what we used to call you back in the classic old Meat Slabs. Here reporting for duty.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (2:40)

This is Dinner's On Me and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Lizzie and I have been friends for many, many years. Now I think we're going on our 20th anniversary. I would venture to guess Lizzie's one of the first people I met in Los Angeles. We met doing a show called the Class Together, which was, in my opinion, a cult classic, meaning that it was canceled after one season. And I think it really holds up. You should definitely try and find it on some streaming platform if you can. It's quite fun. I have known Lizzie for so long, and I think she is such an incredibly fantastic, funny, and insightful person. So Lizzie actually picked today's spot. When I told her I wanted her to do this podcast, she goes, oh, I know exactly where I'm gonna want us to go. It's right in her neighborhood. And funny enough, I've spoken about this before, but this also used to be my neighborhood as well. We are at Strange Delight in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. It's this buzzy little oyster bar that feels like a love letter to New Orleans. They're known for their charbroil oysters, fried shrimp and oyster loaves on pillowy milk cocktails are apparently really incredible. I hear this 5050 cocktail that's 50% vodka or gin and 50% vermouth is incredible. It takes a full shake to perfect. You'll probably hear them being shaken as we're speaking. It's playful, it's cozy, and it feels like the kind of place that you'd want to be a regular like Lizzie apparently is. Oh, and I actually think I hear her walking in right now. Okay, let's get to the conversation. All right, quick heads up before we dive in. The audio gods were not on our side for the beginning of my chat with Lizzy Kaplan. For the first 9 minutes and 39 seconds, you'll hear our iPhone backup audio. But hey, listen, this is our 121st episode and this is the first time that this has ever happened. So stick with us because after that, it's smooth sailing. I promise. And Lizzy is absolutely worth it. I love this place. It's so cute. This is a place. When you said, I know exactly where I'll take you. And it worked out.

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Guest: Lizzy Caplan
Episode: Lizzy Caplan — on the sitcom that brought us together, and the cult roles that made her a star
Date: October 14, 2025
Location: Strange Delight, Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Episode Overview

In this candid and warm episode, Jesse Tyler Ferguson reunites with longtime friend and former co-star Lizzy Caplan for an in-depth conversation over lunch at Strange Delight, a cozy, New Orleans-inspired oyster bar in Brooklyn. Reflecting on nearly 20 years of friendship, they reminisce about their earliest days in Hollywood on The Class sitcom, share memories of their formative years, discuss finding community in new places, and open up about navigating grief as adults and parents.

With plenty of laughter and vulnerability, Jesse and Lizzy explore the unique trajectory of Lizzy’s career—from cult roles in Mean Girls and Party Down to award-winning turns in Masters of Sex and Fleishman Is in Trouble—while also contemplating the importance of chosen family, the bittersweetness of career “almosts,” and the simple joys of sharing (and stealing) fries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reuniting Over Food and Friendship

- Dream lunch at Strange Delight, Lizzy’s favorite local spot.  
- Warm, immediate chemistry: “That’s what we used to call you back in the classic old Meat Slabs. Here reporting for duty.” — Lizzy (02:33)  
- •Exploring the menu, sharing food, and reminiscing about their love of communal dining from their sitcom days.

2. 'The Class': The Show That Brought Them Together

[08:00–23:30]

Short-lived but beloved sitcom; met in LA, “I would venture to guess Lizzy's one of the first people I met in Los Angeles.” — Jesse (03:33)
Lizzy’s last-minute casting:
- “I was probably cast out of desperation rather than enthusiasm at that point.” — Lizzy (17:00)
- Hilariously missed first table read:
  - Power outage, woke up late, ran onto the lot crying in platform shoes, thinking she’d be fired if they could replace her (17:00–18:47).
  - “I finally make it in, and you guys were finished. And I had never met any of you before. And they were so mad, but they couldn’t do anything…” — Lizzy (18:14)
- Table read pressure: star-studded room, network execs everywhere—felt monumental.
- Bonding with cast, most special thing: “Everybody brought something to the table socially and something different. And it was this, like, very magical alchemy between everybody.” — Lizzy (22:51)
- Show’s cancellation: sadness of not reaching “promised success” with people they loved (23:10).
- After-hours memories: late-night runs to the Smokehouse, hanging with Jon Bernthal and his dogs, a ragtag group partying it up (25:00–26:30).
- Notable moment: The story of the producers flying the cast to Vegas on a private jet to “say goodbye to your anonymity... 2 out of 3 ain’t bad,” referencing Friends and Will & Grace’s storied cast trips (29:13).

3. Career Choices and Cult Classics

[23:30–34:05]

Rapid progression post-Mean Girls:
- “I didn’t want to audition [for The Class] because I thought it was too close to my character in Mean Girls… that was some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten.” — Lizzy (24:22)
- Getting over “nobody’s paying that close attention”—importance of not overthinking typecasting.
Transition to Party Down:
- “For me, that was such a… if we’re looking at all the stuff you’ve done in your career, that really stands out…” — Jesse (31:47)
- “It was nuts for me... Jane Lynch was a goddess… Jennifer Coolidge replaced Jane... Megan Mullally came in... Adam [Scott], Martin Starr... everybody was scrapping hard.” — Lizzy (32:26–33:00)
- “Nobody watched it... I’m very proud of it. It’s such a cult hit, though.” — Jesse (33:18)
- Lizzy on why community keeps her in the business: “I don’t think I would have continued doing this if not for those experiences... it's not just about going and clocking in for a job. It's about like a life experience and connections with people.” (33:58)

4. Navigating Loss and Parenting

[38:00–44:30]

Raw conversation about losing parents:
- Jesse lost his mom, Lizzy her dad (and her mom at age 13).
- They discuss the unique grief of losing a parent when also responsible for young children:
  - “The loss of anyone that close to you when you are a parental figure… I had to then be present for these children I’m in charge of…” — Jesse (38:04)
  - On caregiving for aging parents and young kids: “Being a caregiver for your parent while at the same time, being a caregiver for your young child is like, that’s a mind fuck.” — Lizzy (41:27)
- On the different kinds of relief and trauma:
  - “There is a sense of relief to it.” — Lizzy (41:15)
  - Jesse on his mom’s practical approach to mortality; spreading his mom’s ashes in places meaningful to her (42:51–43:50).
  - “I’m trying to find joy in this moment now… it doesn’t feel like she’s gone right now… I’m presently looking for places for her to be.” — Jesse (44:00)

5. Building Community & Chosen Family

[44:27–49:30]

Lizzy’s love for New York and Brooklyn: “I can’t picture raising a kid anywhere else. I think this city is so special… parents here seem to still really value independence and having their kids get on with it on their own. I really want that for him.” (44:46)
Comparison to LA childhoods—then and now: less communal freedom, more isolation in LA (46:09).
Jesse on learning to connect with neighbors after the California fires and the importance of local community (46:52–48:46).
“If you can find community anywhere, your life is a happier life… the secret to everything is finding your little corner of the world and, like, knowing the people around.” — Lizzy (48:46–49:06)

6. Enduring Friendship and Professional Pride

[50:00–end]

Jesse’s reflection on meaningful, long-lasting friendships:
- “I don’t have a ton of people that I’ve known as long as you. But I really do value your friendship so much.” (49:30)
Celebrating each other’s successes—Lizzy’s Emmy nomination, Bernthal’s Broadway moves, chosen family dynamics in their Brooklyn lives (49:30–50:48).
Lizzy’s top-tier recommendations: “You’re a good better of apartments, of houses and of child care. Take my word for it on the house… I love you Jesse, you are a true blue angel boy. And like family.” (50:55–51:04)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

“That’s what we used to call you back in the classic old Meat Slabs. Here reporting for duty.” — Lizzy Caplan (02:33)
“I was probably cast out of desperation rather than enthusiasm at that point… The power went out overnight… I woke up 10 minutes after the table read started.” — Lizzy Caplan (17:00)
“Everybody brought something to the table socially and something different. It was this, like, very magical alchemy.” — Lizzy Caplan (22:51)
On Party Down: “We did that show for $0 and nobody watched it. I’m very proud of it.” — Lizzy Caplan (33:00)
“I don’t think I would have continued doing this if not for those experiences... It’s about life experience and connections with people, not just work.” — Lizzy Caplan (33:58)
On loss and parenting: “Being a caregiver for your parent while at the same time, being a caregiver for your young child is like, that's a mind fuck.” — Lizzy Caplan (41:27)
“If you can find community anywhere, your life is a happier life.” — Lizzy Caplan (48:46)
“Take my word for it on the house… I love you Jesse, you are a true blue angel boy. And like family.” — Lizzy Caplan (50:55–51:04)

Important Segment Timestamps

[02:31] – Lizzy walks in; playful banter and food ordering.
[08:00 – 23:30] – Deep dive into The Class; missing the table read; sitcom memories.
[24:00 – 29:12] – Cult roles, transitioning from Mean Girls, career advice.
[29:13 – 34:05] – Vegas private jet story; learning to weather disappointments; joys of ensemble work.
[38:00 – 44:30] – Grief and parenting; pragmatic conversations about death; finding new ways to honor parents.
[44:27 – 49:06] – Living in NY vs. LA; community and parenting philosophies; impact of natural disasters on connecting with others.
[49:30 – 51:25] – Closing tributes to friendship; Lizzy’s top-tier recommendations; mutual affection and pride.

Tone and Style

The conversation is intimate, candid, and peppered with the shared language of two longtime pals who’ve weathered life, loss, and showbiz together.
Plenty of humor interlaces the vulnerability—whether joking about “meat slabs” and “retractable forks,” or recounting misadventures on studio lots and post-show hangouts at the Smokehouse.
Both Jesse and Lizzy are self-deprecating, empathetic, and unsentimental, making their reveals about grief and community feel especially grounded for listeners.

For fans new and old, this episode offers a heartfelt look at how friendships endure, how perspective shifts over time, and why choosing the right people (for dinner, for life, for work) matters more than the next big gig.