Patton Oswalt— on love after loss and what still makes him laugh

Summary

Dinner’s On Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Episode: Patton Oswalt—on Love After Loss and What Still Makes Him Laugh
Release Date: December 30, 2025
Location: Levant Bistro & Bakeshop, Echo Park, LA

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Episode Overview

In this candid, laughter-filled episode, host Jesse Tyler Ferguson sits down with comedian, actor, and writer Patton Oswalt for an honest conversation over a Mediterranean meal at an all-gluten-free bistro in Echo Park. The two old friends navigate a range of topics—from the quirks of aging and holiday traditions, to profound personal loss and the joys (and fears) of parenting. They reminisce about their shared history, discuss the complexities of finding love after grief, geek out on comedy, and reflect on the changing landscape of art and AI. Whether reflecting on deeply personal moments or riffing about gut health and plastic surgery, the conversation is equal parts thoughtful, irreverent, and touching.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kicking Off: Food, Holidays, and the Art of Pie

• The Holidays & Pie Traditions (00:00–01:30)
  • Jesse talks about hosting Thanksgiving and his low-key resolution to "treat myself" this year.
  • Both agree buying pies is easier than making them, but Jesse jokes he might finally brave making his own.
  • Quote: “My resolution is very simple. It’s to treat myself. That’s it.” — Jesse (01:29)

2. Gluten-Free Living, Longevity, and LA Health Trends

• Navigating Gluten Avoidance (03:41–06:20)
  • Patton and Jesse trade stories about being (or trying to be) gluten-free.
  • Jesse recently saw a "longevity doctor," partially inspired by Kardashians.
  • Insight on why gluten in the US may be problematic compared to Europe—pesticides banned in Europe are used here.
  • Memorable moment: Patton’s comedic riff on “leaky gut” (05:32) and being banned from Panera.

3. Serendipity, Courtship, and Love After Loss

• Patton’s Remarkable Love Story with Meredith (07:36–10:47)
  • Jesse brings up Patton meeting his now-wife Meredith after the loss of his first wife, Michelle.
    • Their courtship happened entirely over text for three months—"like the Victorians."
    • “We just texted for three months… then it just sort of happened.” — Patton (08:44)
  • Discussion on grief and finding love: "There's no schedule on the mourning... If love happens, run towards it." (10:00)
  • Reflections on being single-minded post-loss: “My life is for my daughter. And that’s all I wanted to do.” — Patton (11:38)

4. Comedy, AI, and the Imperfections of Art

• Patton’s New Special & Thoughts on Artificial Intelligence (16:11–18:57)
  • Patton plugs his Audible special, "Black Coffee and Ice Water"—out now.
  • Discusses AI in comedy: “It’s insane how… sometimes it goes racist. You’re like, wait, this thing can launch nukes?” (17:09)
  • He critiques using AI for creative work: “We were supposed to invent AI so we could make more art—not have AI make the art.” (17:56)
  • Emphasizes “the imperfection” and irreplaceable humanity in art—citing a John Ford quote: “We can shoot a human face. That’s the most interesting thing on the planet.” (18:19)

5. Parenting & Passing on Passions

• Raising a Worldly-But-Excitable Daughter (19:31–22:25)
  • Describes his daughter as a blend of himself, Michelle, and Meredith: “She got my humor, Michelle’s skepticism, Meredith’s kindness." (20:07)
  • On finding joy: “Nothing makes me happier than when she’s reading a really good book… she hasn’t lost that capacity yet.” (21:17)
  • On sharing interests: Patton is careful not to become “the jock version of the nerd dad” and force his favorites (like Star Wars).
  • “Whatever’s their realm, is their realm.” (22:23)

6. The Craft of Comedy and Sitcom Memories

• Standup Without Cameras & Sitcom Legends (22:25–26:55)
  • Patton loves the looseness of unnamed standup audio albums compared to filmed specials.
  • Reminisces about Leah DeLaria and their time getting mistaken for each other.
  • King of Queens memories: Working with Jerry Stiller, Kevin James, and how natural comedic genius works on set.
    • Jerry Stiller’s entrances could get laughs on non-punchlines; a “weird comedy Jedi master.” (25:28)
  • Jesse reflects on texting hilarity with the Modern Family cast and legendary Ed O’Neill one-liners.

7. Modern Family Guest Spots and Parenting Parallels

• Sitcom Screwball Comedy and Real Life Emotions (28:49–31:42)
  • Patton on guest starring in the “Las Vegas” episode—like “re-creating a screwball comedy.”
  • Parallels between sitcom parenting moments (dropping Lily at school) and real-life rites of passage.
    • "I started crying, and I got really upset. Oh, it was too much for me. I wasn’t prepared.” — Jesse (30:39)
  • Both discuss the bittersweet “letting go” phase with their children, referencing Finding Nemo.

8. Pop Music, Parenting, and Modern Culture

• Taylor Swift, Lyrics, and Genuine Passion (32:34–34:12)
  • Patton takes joy in learning about music through his daughter—“I get an insight into what’s landing with her.”
  • Celebrates Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers as lyricists, and the importance of connecting with art during coming-of-age.
  • “I wish I’d had lyrics like that growing up. It would’ve saved me a lot of hassle.” (33:08)

9. Tabloid Fame, Privacy, and Absurdity

• Personal Anecdotes About Celebrity Culture (35:49–38:28)
  • Patton shares a story about nearly being cropped into a tabloid (erroneously as the “other man”) due to celebrity-obsessed paparazzi.
  • Observes the absurdity of how tabloid stories get built from contextless images: “They can take these photos and do any story they want with them.” (37:53)

10. Theatre, Meryl Streep, and Artistic Integrity

• Stagecraft & Artistic Process (38:28–41:00)
  • Jesse talks about doing Shakespeare in the Park with stars like Al Pacino.
  • Both praise the value of rehearsal, referencing Meryl Streep’s humility: "In those moments of rehearsal, you feel like the worst actor in the world.” (40:27)
  • In a star-struck parent moment, Patton retells being the “agent” for his daughter and wife to meet Chapel Rowan and Meryl Streep at an afterparty.

11. Passion vs. Wealth & The Collector Phenomenon

• True Passion and Life’s Meaning (43:56–46:23)
  • Jesse discusses acquiring the rights to a play about Truman Capote and the intersection of obsession, self-destruction, and artistry.
  • Patton compares the truly passionate with the wealthy who “collect” artists, without personal resonance:
    • "I looked at the record collection [of a rich guy]; it was all ‘Best of’ albums. There’s no actual passion. Did any of this music mean anything?" (45:27)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Grief and Love:

  • “There’s no schedule on the mourning. ... If love happens, run toward it.” — Patton Oswalt (10:00)

• On AI in Creativity:

  • “We were supposed to invent AI so we could make more art—not have AI make the art.” — Patton Oswalt (17:56)
  • “We can shoot a human face. That’s the most interesting thing on the planet.” — paraphrasing John Ford, Patton Oswalt (18:19)

• On Parenting Independence:

  • “I wasn’t prepared for him to open up the door and just walk out and like, walk to class by himself. ... I started crying.” — Jesse Tyler Ferguson (30:39)

• On Jerry Stiller’s Genius:

  • “It’s like watching this weird comedy Jedi master. Everything you do gets a laugh.” — Patton Oswalt (25:34)

• On Artistic Passion vs. Wealth:

  • “They have nothing that they’re passionate about and it drives them nuts.” — Patton Oswalt (45:04)

• On Taking Risks:

  • “She’ll curse the lesson, but she’ll bless the knowledge.” — Patton Oswalt (reference to passing up the Nutmobile ride, 35:36)

• On Raising Creative Kids:

  • “I want to defend the daydreaming and defend the detaching from reality because that’s going to serve her better in life.” — Patton Oswalt (21:29)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–01:30 | Holidays, pie, resolutions | | 03:41–06:20 | Gluten-free, LA health, longevity doctors | | 07:36–10:47 | Patton’s love story, courtship, love after loss | | 16:11–18:57 | Patton’s special, AI, imperfection in art | | 19:31–22:25 | Parenting: daughter’s humor, reading, daydreaming | | 22:25–26:55 | Standup comedy, sitcom stories, working with legends | | 28:49–31:42 | Modern Family ‘Las Vegas’ ep., school drop-offs | | 32:34–34:12 | Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, generational lyrics | | 35:49–38:28 | Tabloids, privacy, being nearly “other man” | | 38:28–41:00 | Theatre, rehearsal, Meryl Streep | | 43:56–46:23 | Truman Capote, artistry vs. wealth, “Best of” albums |

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Tone & Takeaways

Warm, open, uproariously funny, and at times deeply moving, this episode is a testament to both Oswalt’s quick wit and his vulnerability. They oscillate between heartfelt discussion (grief, parenting, art) and irreverent bits (bowel talk, celebrity surgeons, theater war stories), maintaining a breezy camaraderie. Ideal for listeners interested in creativity, resilience after loss, and the everyday absurdities of both fame and family.

If you’ve not heard the episode, this summary captures the abundant humor, wisdom, and relatability—Don’t miss Patton’s stories about texting into love, Modern Family’s group text, or his thoughts on letting AI write your best man speech!

Transcript

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

The holidays are coming up, and like.

[Patton Oswalt]

A lot of people, our family's already.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

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.

[Patton Oswalt]

It's.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's the whole thing. Usually with pie, I end up just buying it. Other people do it so much better than I do.

[Patton Oswalt]

And I, I. It just takes one thing off my plate.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Although I did just buy a great cookbook called All About Pie.

[Patton Oswalt]

So maybe I should be brave and make my own pie this year.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

A lot of people, though, don't have Thanksgiving at home. They travel.

[Patton Oswalt]

They travel to loved ones.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

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. You know how everyone starts the new year off? With these huge, ambitious resolutions I have, I've learned my lesson. I am not pretending this year. I'm not pretending I'm suddenly going to train for marathon or become a person who meal preps. I'm a grown man and I know who I am. So this year, my resolution is very simple. It's to treat myself. That's it.

[Patton Oswalt]

It's manageable, it's sustainable, it's delightful.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And step one is finally, finally replacing my winter coat. Every year, I swear I'm gonna do it. And every year, I end up dragging the same sad coat back to the dry cleaner. Like, here it is again. Please perform a miracle while the cycle ends today, because Macy's after Christmas sale is happening and coats are 50% off. So I'm getting something that actually makes me feel pulled together when I'm running around with the kids or heading into a. And while I'm there, I'm grabbing some new activewear. Not because I suddenly became an athlete overnight, but because Nike and Adidas are 25 to 40% off and sometimes looking put together while running errands. It's. It's his own version of wellness. If it motivates Me to go to a Pilates class. That's great. If it just motivates me to walk to get coffee, that's also great. So, yes, treating myself is my resolution. And honestly, I think it's the one I'm most likely to keep. Hey, it's Jesse today on the show.

[Patton Oswalt]

You know him from King of Queens, AP Bio.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He has a new special on Audible.

[Patton Oswalt]

Called Black coffee and ice Water.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's Patton Oswalt.

[Patton Oswalt]

When I did the side of the bus Depends campaigns, I'm like, this is. Listen. There's a much bigger Listen. One slice of the hexagon that we are putting together, it all makes sense.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

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

[Patton Oswalt]

All right, I'm walking to Levant Bistro and Bake shop in Echo park to meet up with Patton. Patton's gluten free. And everything at Levant is gluten free.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Everything.

[Patton Oswalt]

Everything from the employee snacks to the beer they serve. It's family owned. They have a delicious Mediterranean menu. Think fresh herbs and roasted meats and colorful vegetables.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It is the perfect place to bring my friend Patton and catch up.

[Patton Oswalt]

I haven't seen him in a while.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So let's get to the conversation.

[Patton Oswalt]

So wait, you're gluten free?

Right?

For reals?

I mean, I try to avoid it as much as I can. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I just.

[Patton Oswalt]

I did the very.

Are you gluten free?

Well, this is the thing.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I went to a very.

[Patton Oswalt]

I did a very la.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thing today.

[Patton Oswalt]

Oh, no.

I went to a longevity doctor.

Mm.

You know.

Yeah.

I turned 50 last week. So Justin, my husband, had gone to this woman, and he's like, you should check her out. I think the Kardashians use her.

Well, that's.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Say no more.

[Patton Oswalt]

Say no more.

Say no more.

Listen, I will go to their. I will go to whoever gives them a facelift.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

If there's a day when I need.

[Patton Oswalt]

A facelift, I'm calling Kris Jenner.

Kim is 89 years old. She's amazing. 89. And wow. Incredible. Yeah. I gotta get this guy's number. Is this, like, internal medicine or what is it?

It's an actual doctor.

Okay.

But she does do, like, supplements and, like, she evens. You know, we all have, like, these toxins and stuff. And anyway, one of the things she said to me, she's like, gluten is something that you really need to try and be careful about here.

Why? What does it do? It's.

It's the gluten. Here in the States.

I saw something about that on. On Instagram. But somebody said the breads in Europe, you go over there and you don't get the weird.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's right. Because of the pesticides that they use.

[Patton Oswalt]

On the wheat here.

Oh.

And that's what's. That's what the problem is. And these pesticides, they've literally banned in Europe.

Right.

So people who have, not allergies, but, you know, sensitivities to gluten then go to Europe, and then they don't feel that anymore.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

How's your evening here?

[Patton Oswalt]

Thank you.

Wait a minute. What are we saying? This is.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, God. Oh, God.

[Patton Oswalt]

I don't want to mess up the constructive.

I don't want to mess up the kayfabe here. What are we doing? Is it noon or.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

I'm going off script.

[Patton Oswalt]

All right. Any specials we should know about?

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Everything. Here's special. I know you have a little bit of intolerance. Or is it celiac?

[Patton Oswalt]

I'm avoiding it. Just gluten makes me. Gets me really, like.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Yeah, yeah.

[Patton Oswalt]

Well, you get those. You get leakage.

I get leaky gut. I don't want to leak all over these floors, and I prefer not to.

Have to clean that up later.

So.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Yeah, we'll just keep all the guts.

[Patton Oswalt]

I'm not allowed in Paneras anymore. Some damage that I did, I would love to start with. I'll tell you what, I'm gonna get an English breakfast tea, two bags. I like it really bitter and then with some honey. Okay. Yeah, that's what I'm doing.

I like tea like I like my men.

Wait. Oh, bitter.

Bitter. Bitter sweet.

With a little bit of honey.

A little bit of sweetness.

Huh?

[Levant Bistro Staff]

You said heavy, too.

[Patton Oswalt]

And heavy.

And heavy. Heavy, Definitely heavy. And two tea bags, if you know.

What I mean, Jesse. I'm sorry. For our audible listeners, we're really. We're trying to get the younger kids tuning in for all of our.

You have no control of this podcast.

Kids love talking about leaky gut and gluten allergies. That's what Gen Z loves.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

They have a term for.

[Patton Oswalt]

And teabagging. Yeah, I'm sure they do.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm gonna do a.

[Patton Oswalt]

A cortado, please.

With oat milk. With oat milk, yes.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Thank you. We'll get those going. I'll give you a little more time and I'll grab you some menu.

[Patton Oswalt]

Thank you.

Yeah, yeah.

So welcome to comedians out of their cars getting coffee. We're very excited you tuned in. I'm here with Jesse Tyler Ferguson from Modern Family and many, many, many other things. What aren't you doing these days?

What am I not doing? I'm not doing. I really don't have a job other than this. I just finished doing some stage work.

What were you doing?

I was doing. I did a show at the national in London, and then I did Shakespeare in the park in New York.

Wait a second. What was the show at the National?

Here we are. The Stephen Sondheim I.

Wait a minute. What am I talking about? I saw you there. I was there.

You came to see it.

I was there in London. I was there with my wife. And we came over to London for, like, a week, and we. Because we know Martha.

Yeah, I know you do. She married you.

And then. Yeah. And then after we hung out afterward with you guys and the guy.

Wait, I was there.

You were. Yeah. But I don't think you came backstage after. There was that little bar upstairs.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Patton Oswalt]

And we all went up there and Martha was. Boom. And she's. Martha is a freaking fight.

Nothing's changed. You've known Martha for a very long time.

Very long time. Not as long as my. My wife and her were friends when they were 15. Okay. I met her, so I know she.

Introduced you and Meredith. And then I didn't know she had.

Married you because I had a hand in it. What happens is Martha has these dinners where she has all these random people come over. She has, like, these salons. Yes. Invite people over.

I've been to one of them.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patton Oswalt]

Yeah. Well, I was invited to one of them. And I. The day that it happened, I had to travel and Meredith was also invited, and I didn't. Wasn't able to go. And then Meredith posted. She was like, that, Martha, that was so much fun. And then she. A pat. And you missed the best lasagna or something like that. And then I direct message her on Facebook. I was like, story of my life. Was the lasagna that good? She goes, yeah, like. And then we just started talking. It wasn't flirty. It wasn't romantic. I just was like, oh, my God. Someone to talk to at the end of the day in the dark, as you're going to sleep. This is amazing.

Yeah.

And we just texted for three months. We never spoke on the phone. Never met. Just long text for three months. And then over that, we just kind of. It just sort of happened.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's incredible.

[Patton Oswalt]

Fell in love like the way the Victorians used to do it. Yeah. Right.

Letter writing. Yeah. Yeah.

I fear I must confess something in this latest misive. This was all this long text thread.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Wow.

[Patton Oswalt]

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. What an incredible courtship that must have been.

It's insane.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I know you were also coming off of, you know, great personal tragedy at that time. You know, your wife Michelle had passed. I mean, talk me through, like, going, like, what was the dating process? Obviously it felt. Obviously it happened very organically, it sounds.

Like, because I wasn't dating.

Right.

I wasn't looking to date. And when I. When I started texting with Meredith, I wasn't going, oh, I'm going to hook up with this girl, which is like, she's really smart. And I'm just talking to, like, I was texting a lot. I had a lot of problems with anxiety, being out in public at that time and being freaked out. So I just. A lot of my times just texting with friends, and she was this really intelligent, funny person that I could text with at the end of the day. And then it just all happened absolutely organically.

Yeah.

Yeah. And that was it. And then just. And then it was also that thing of, like. Because I remember people. There were. There's. There's still some people, like, well, that was really quick. But I've had other people who have lost spouses who are like, there's no schedule on the morning. And the. And. And someone said, if love. If love happens, run towards it. What are you doing? Right. And it also. It had a. Something to do with. I was in my late 40s, she was in her mid-40s. When you get to that age, there isn't that. I still gotta figure out. You're like, this person's cool. You're not great. Yeah, exactly. Older people date and marry quicker. That's right. But when you're younger, it takes years. Yeah.

You're encouraged to take years. Yes, exactly.

Yeah. Because I was at the point where this one dad at the school say, first you're gonna feel like you'll be in despair forever and you'll just go, I'll never feel joy or anything again. And then you'll get to a point where you're not in despair, but you won't feel anything. And you're going to feel like that's safety. You're going to feel like, well, at least I don't feel anything, you know, and you'll just exist and then you'll feel joy and hope. Like. Like the stuff you keep thinking you're not going to get to. You'll get to. But I was at a point for a long time where I'm like, just going to exist and just going to raise my daughter and protect her and make her life as best I can. So there was. But. But there was a lot of, like, closing myself off and being very almost like this weird. I don't want to say samurai because I don't have the physicality for that, but, like, just this. I am. My life is for my daughter. And that's all I wanted to do. Yeah, that was it, you know?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Patton tells me about raising a teenage daughter in Hollywood and what it was like working with the comedy icon Jerry Stiller during his time on the hit sitcom King of Queens. Okay, be right back. You know that feeling when you're so sure that you're being super responsible with your money? You know, you're so cocky about it, and you go to your bank account and you see the numbers in front of you and you're like, what am I looking at? This isn't mine. Oh, wait, yes, it is. Yeah, same. I've been there. That's why I started using Rocket Money. I wanted to see where my money was actually going, not just where I thought it was going. And immediately Rocket Money showed me subscriptions I had completely forgotten about all in one place. And it didn't judge me, you know, it just showed me the facts. Rocket Money is a personal finance app that helps find and cancel unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending, and helps lower your bills so that you can grow your savings. Their dashboard lays out your whole financial picture. Bills, paydays, everything. And they do it in a way that's actually easy to understand, even if, you know, numbers aren't your love language, which they certainly aren't mine. One thing I really like is how Rocket Money helps you set up budgets based on how you really spend, not how you pretend you spend. And if you've got a savings goal, Rocket Money can analyze your accounts and help find the best time each month to put money aside, which somehow makes savings feel less scary. They'll even try to negotiate lower bills for you. Yeah, they talk to customer service so you don't have to see. That alone feels worth it. And clearly it works. Rocket Money has saved users over 2.5%, 5 billion, including over 880 million in canceled subscriptions alone. Their 10 million members save up to $740 a year when they use all the app's premium features. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to RocketMoney.com Dinner today. That's RocketMoney.com Dinner RocketMoney.com Dinner.

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[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And we're back with more dinners on me.

[Patton Oswalt]

But I. I bet I could. I bet I can choose very quickly. Watch it. What's minouche? Is that like a flatbread?

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Exactly.

[Patton Oswalt]

A little fluffier.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Yeah. Really nice, light, fluffy flatbread pizza style. Yeah. I'd give you, like a little overview of it real quick. So just to give you the. Amongst, like, the most popular, I'd say would be like the short rib scramble, the egg pie, and the shishuka for breakfast. I know if you're looking for something more of a smorgasbord, the mezza sampler is nice if you want to try a few things.

[Patton Oswalt]

The Lebanese egg pie, is that like a quiche? Yeah, I'm gonna get that.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Yeah. That's fantastic. I think that's one of the most popular things. It's on the front right there.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I want like a ground lamb situation.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

But I don't want a ton of gluten.

[Patton Oswalt]

I'm trying to do no gluten.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Lamajine will be that right there. It's like the ground grass.

[Patton Oswalt]

I'm going to do that.

I almost got the Mediterranean chicken.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Those are the shareable ones. Honestly, I just, I literally just had those 2 yesterday.

[Patton Oswalt]

The LA Machine and Chicken are shareable.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Yeah, for sure.

[Patton Oswalt]

You want to get it?

Let's get it. Let's do it. Awesome. And the egg. I got to try the egg pie. Very intriguing.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Get that going for you.

[Patton Oswalt]

Thank you.

I mean, you have a very funny bit in your new comedy special, that black coffee and ice water, which is.

Great, by the way. Available on November 20th. You can download it pre. Download it now. And available on November 20th. Thursday, November 20th.

I knew that was sloppy.

I know. That was. Yikes. It Was almost like. It looked like I had a seizure. It's gonna be coming out. You get it on the thing on your computer.

I think we got. Fantastic. Well, no, I think we need to use that. I think we need to use that software, too.

Yeah, yeah, that's awesome. Anyway.

But it is out now when this comes out. Yes, it's available now on Audible. But you have a very funny bit about AI and how AI tends to go racist, which is a thing that. Actually, there are people whose job it is to steer AI away from being a racist.

It's insane how. And they talk about it so casually. Yeah. Sometimes it goes racist. You're like, wait, this thing can launch nukes? Like, that should be a huge. Oh, no. We just try to guide it back. And then you realize they're letting it go on the Internet. Oh, well. Why are you giving the baby a gun? What's wrong with you? Yeah, so that gets. I mean, again, sometimes we get ahead of ourselves with the technology or we use it for the wrong things. AI would be fantastic if it was being used to work out, you know, waste treatment plants or diagnose stuff. But it shouldn't be doing our art or making our movies. We were supposed to invent AI it.

Can write, like, bachelor, like, best man speeches. I'm okay with it doing that.

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

For some people, it's necessary.

[Patton Oswalt]

And by the way, before there was AI, there were professional letter writers that you could hire. Yeah. But what I'm saying is I thought it was going to free us up so we could make more movies and make more art on our own rather than type into a search bar. You know, really cool painting. You know, cool abstract painting about despair. Like, no, that should be a human doing that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

You know, in all of its imperfection. Like, one of the things that I remember, John Ford. There's this great quote by John Ford. They were shooting out in Monument Valley and a massive dust storm came in. And they're like, we can't shoot anything. And he goes, no, we can shoot a human face. That's the most interesting thing on the planet. No one never does. But all the AI stuff that doesn't make you stop and look at. Because it's so not. No matter what you do, it's not human.

Yeah. Yeah.

And it never will be.

Yeah.

I want the imperfection. I want we. Now we can have stars that never age. No, I want them because then they get different, even more amazing performances. Why would you change?

Anyway, I know, I'm with you. Although I Am going to go to Kris Jenner, plastic surgeon, at some point. I'm not taking that back.

That you're dead.

At some point we're gonna need to do that, but at least.

Okay. I can't believe I'm defending plastic surgery. At least plastic surgery is still. You're manipulating the human skull and face, and it's another human doing it. It's not this weird. This is how. This is how insane we are right now.

I know.

I. I like the way people age. Don't forsake the ripening. The ripening.

Listen, I'm enjoying the way I'm aging. You talk about your daughter on Special a bit, and she sounds absolutely hilarious. I mean, you were talking about how she's maybe a little worldly in certain ways because she's been through things. But, I mean, do you think that. I mean, obviously she's hilarious because she lives with you, but, I mean, what kind of person do you think she's growing up to be? I mean, she sounds absolutely hilarious.

Yeah.

These stories about you watching horror movies with her are fantastic.

Yeah, she. I mean, epigenetically, she got my humor. She got Michelle's skepticism and rationality. And then in a nurture way, she got Meredith's kindness and wisdom. So she's really got a combination of all three. I'm just. I want to be very careful that that doesn't turn into cynicism for cool, you know, but what's great is for as many things as she is cynical about, when I show her the original Halloween, she drink holes in it. Yeah, well, she's like, she just called the cops. The guy standing, he's not moving. He's in her backyard. I don't know why she's not calling the cops. But then she also gets very passionate and excited about things. And that always feels amazing when you still see them get excited. You know, Chapel Rowan and Phoebe Bridgers. Like, not just them as singers and celebrities, but, like, really goes deep into their lyrics and loses herself in their lyrics. The same way that I would lose myself in an REM album or a Pixies album. Like, oh, good, she still has that. Nothing makes me happier than when. When she's reading a really good book. Like, something she's really into. You gotta say her name a couple times to get her out of it. Like, oh, she's in that world, so she hasn't lost that capacity yet. So that I wanna, like, really, really defend that. I wanna defend the daydreaming and defend the detaching from reality because that's gonna serve her better in life.

Yeah.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

This is just compliments of the chef here. This going to be a roasted carrot and our falafel on a cucumber sauce.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, man.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Try not to interfere with the audio.

[Patton Oswalt]

Oh, yes, please. That's the most important thing on this table.

Yeah, yeah.

That microphone.

So scared of them.

Yeah, I know.

No, I, I, I mean, you know, Beckett is very in into books right now, and that's. I, I'm. I'm hoping to God that's something that continues how.

But I don't want to be the jock version of the nerd dad where I'm like, you're gonna sit down and watch all the Star wars movies. I showed her the first Star wars, and she was like, yeah, it didn't grab her. And so I'm like, okay.

Did that hurt you?

I mean, listen. No, because there were things my dad tried to get me into that I was like, eh, whatever's their realm is their realm.

It was fun to listen to your special because I had. I did one of my early plays in New York at the Minetta Lane.

[Commercial Voiceover 1]

You did?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patton Oswalt]

Wait a minute. That's a really small space.

Such a small space.

What was working?

This is what I was gonna tell you when I was listening to your special. It sounds like you're performing for an auditorium. I was like, I've never heard that. Theater sounds so full.

All the shows were sold out. But I think one of the reasons it sounds so good, and I'm telling this to all comedians out there, I just. All I did was record an album. It wasn't being filmed. And midway through my first, I did four shows, and we cut them together. And midway between the first one, I was like, wait, I'm not even. It made me so much freer and looser. And I think that energy came back from the crowd even more because now I'm making the kind of album that I grew up on. I know what this language is, and it felt amazing. And I'm trying to experiment with, Can I just put out albums? That's so much more fun. It's such a better medium for comedy than, well, you gotta have a huge arena and you gotta be lit like that should not be any part of comedy. What was the play you did at the Manetta Lane Theater? Your first play?

It's called the Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. There's a Paul Rudnick play.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, yeah.

[Patton Oswalt]

Leah DeLaria.

I love. I used to get. I used to know Leah back in San Francisco, and we would get confused for each other all the time.

I was gonna ask if that's true. One of my favorite scenes I remember so vividly on King of Queens is when you were mistaken for a lesbian and you find yourself out on a date with a woman who thinks you're a lesbian, and she asks if you want to freshen up your lipstick.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So good.

[Patton Oswalt]

They also had this great scene where there was one episode where I'm dating a gay guy because I've been dumped. And I go, I just want someone to make a move on me so I can turn them down. Oh, my God. And then he won't make a move on me. And it's dry. So I'm like. And Deacon's like, what's your end game on this? Like, how. He's like, I just want him to hit on me.

That's really funny. But Leah's show, actually, it really holds up well. King of Queens, I was watching some of those episodes that, you know, I mean, that show started in the early.

Like 2002, late 90s, late 98. And Kevin James is such a natural, especially because he's this should be this big, galumphing guy, and he can act like that, but he also has this amazing center of balance and nimbleness that like a Jackie Gleason has, or where his physicality is incredible.

Yeah.

And he can do so much with the tiniest little gestures. It's a really good clinic of. Here's how you can make sitcom acting look very, very natural. How he and Leah would deal with each other and then throw Jerry Stiller in there. I mean.

What an incredible thing to see work with that man. I mean, my God, what a genius.

Almost to the detriment of the show, because there were certain lines he could get a laugh with that weren't the punchline. Like the way he could enter a room and go, hello, Douglas. That would get a laugh, and it would throw the rhythm because everything he said was funny. So it's like watching this weird comedy Jedi master. Like, everything you do gets a laugh. How the. How are you doing that? How is that working?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I don't.

[Patton Oswalt]

Neil. Sort of the same way on Modern Family. I don't know. Did you get to work with him when you did our show?

I never got to do a scene with him, but I've met him a bunch of times. He's another one of those just natural.

He could say anything, and it would get a bigger laugh than all of us jumping around like, you know, jumping through hoops, trying to get a joke. To work and he would just deadpan something and people would be laughing from for like 30 minutes and not be able to control themselves and like have to completely stop working. We have these group texts with our entire cast and like, oh, really? Yeah, we, we have one with the entire cast and we have one with just the adults. And sometimes we'll be talking about something for like three days and you know, people are chiming in.

Oh yeah.

And finally, Ed will like chime in on like day four with like just one word that like just punctuates the whole thing.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now let's take a quick break, but don't go away. When we return, we get into the episode of Modern Family Patton guest starred on. And Patton tells me a story of how he almost ended up in a tabloid scandal. Okay, be right back.

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[Patton Oswalt]

Close your eyes.

[Commercial Voiceover 1]

Exhale, feel your body relax and let.

[Patton Oswalt]

Go of whatever you're carrying today.

[Commercial Voiceover 1]

Well, I'm letting go of the that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh my gosh, they're so fast.

[Patton Oswalt]

And breathe.

[Commercial Voiceover 1]

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[Patton Oswalt]

1-800-Contacts.

[Commercial Voiceover 1]

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[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And we're back with more dinners on me.

[Patton Oswalt]

I mean, the stuff that you guys got to do on the episode of Modern Family that I'm in you basically classic. But you, you recreate a screwball comedy. The way the hallways and The Doors. It's amazing.

That's one of our. That's one of my personal favorite episodes, the Las Vegas episode. Yeah. We also were so blessed with. I mean, we had such incredible guest stars in that one episode. We have Fred Armisen, Stephen Merchant, you. It was just an embarrassment of riches.

Yeah.

Yeah. It was wild.

And then the cast are all ringers. That whole cast.

Well, Eric is, you know, hit or miss.

The scene, by the way, the scene where you guys drop Lily off at preschool, and she just. And you're like, now, listen, it's gonna be a little weird. Bye. And then just runs in that she.

Runs into a pole.

Yeah. But also, she's like, no, I'm actually not. You're the one who's actually upset. I'm cool.

Which is so real.

I had that moment with my daughter. First day we went to preschool. She's clinging to me, she's crying. And literally, day two, like, I pull up, and she just ran out of the car. Like, wait, so I'm supposed to be crying? Yeah.

Beckett started kindergarten when I was still doing Shakespeare in the park this summer.

Oh, really?

And so I wasn't down.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I hadn't.

[Patton Oswalt]

I didn't have the morning routine down. And Justin said, okay, today's drop back at office school. He gave me all the instructions how to get into the gate and, like, who to which. Which circle to drop him off in. And I wasn't prepared for him to open up the door and just walk out and, like, walk to class by himself. And seeing his little body walk away with this huge, huge backpack on his back. I started crying, and I got really upset. Oh, it was too much for me. I wasn't prepared.

Holding my hand.

Yeah.

We walked around. She goes, stay for a while. And she was gone. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, it killed me, the independence that. That scene in. I. I saw a father do this at a. At his. At a speech. At his daughter's wedding. No, his son's wedding that I went to. But it's from the movie Finding Nemo, and it's like, you've got to let your kids go and have an adventure. Yeah. Like, there's that scene. There's a moment in your life where they're gonna run off with their friends, and you want to give me just one more day of them the way they were. And it's like, no, you have to let them. And it. Oh, my God.

It's crazy. I saw that move. Obviously. I saw Finding Nemo when it first came out, and, like, I loved it. And I Thought it was a great film, and it sure was sad and made me feel things. But seeing that as a father now, like, it just destroys me. When my kids were young and I was working and having to, like, leave them for even just like, a week or so, yeah, it was really hard on me. And people kept saying, they're never gonna remember. They're never gonna remember. But it's like, I'm gonna remember. It's more about me.

Yep.

And I am perception, you know, I don't want the society to look down.

Upon me on God. Society. You gotta try a bite of this. I'm going to.

This is delicious.

Yes. Let's switch. And I'm also. I'm also gonna try the lamb as well, but that is amazing. And let me take my silverware back, because I stupidly gave that to you. Yeah.

Have you gotten roped into doing things that you really just don't want to do with her? Like, were you.

Things I don't want to do? I mean, look, anything that I get to actually go with her to do is never like, oh, my God, I've been roped into, like, oh, I get to hang out with her. This is awesome.

Like, I love Taylor Swift, but I saw a lot of dads at the Taylor Swift concert who were like, I don't know if this is where I want to be right now. Now, that being said, by the end of the concert, they were like, oh, I get it.

Yeah. I will always, whenever we drive around, she'll plug in her phone and play her music. And it's really great because I get an insight into what is landing with her and what. You know what I mean? Like, my parents were like, that's crap. I don't want to hear. I'm like, well, even maybe this is crap, but this is landing for some reason. Don't you want to know what that is?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patton Oswalt]

So when she plays, and luckily, the stuff she plays is fantastic. And then some of Taylor Swift's lyrics are incredible.

She's my favorite.

But I wish I'd had lyrics like that growing up. It would have saved me a lot of hassle with what I had to go through as a teenager. You know what I mean? Because she's very. Some of those lyrics are amazing. And especially Phoebe Bridgers and Chapel, just incredible lyricists.

When I went to Taylor's concert, Phoebe Bridgers opened for her. And so afterwards, she joined us in our little area to watch the Taylor Swift concert.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

She.

[Patton Oswalt]

Not only that, but she's lovely. She's a lovely person.

We met her at a. My daughter and I and the wife went to the season premiere of Only Murders in the Building last year. Chapa was at the after party and was so nice and took a picture with Alice, and Alice was, like, freaking out.

Yeah.

Just seems like a very, very cool person who has an overall vision for their art rather than I'm chasing what my manager or what the algorithm just told me to do, and they're going to go through some bumpy things, much like all great artists do. Like, we'll just do this thing again. She goes, I'm going this way. And you won't see the whole scope of it till much later.

Right, right.

You know, it's like when Springsteen did Nebraska or even Darkness on the Edge of Town. It was like, the hell are you doing? It's like, there's a much bigger project going on here that you can't see.

You're at the bottom of the hill.

Yeah. You're too close to it. It's actually way bigger.

I did a commercial for an oven called Tavola, and I told my team. I was like, look, this is just one brick in the bigger arc. You don't see what I'm doing here, but this is. I don't know where this is going.

When I did the. The side of the bus Depends campaigns, I'm like, this is. Listen, there's a much bigger. This is one slice of the hexagon that we are putting together. This all makes sense.

When I was going around Times Square in the wiener mobile, I was like this. Listen, gang. Oh, that's another story I love so.

Much in your special, the Peanut Mobile.

Peanut Mobile.

Peanut car. Oh, God. The nut. Sorry. The Nutmobile.

Oh, my God. The Planner's Nutmobile.

I got offered a ride from the Nutmobile, and I. I don't want to spoil the end of the story, but let's just say I. I egoed and hubris my way out of it and paid a hefty, terrible price. Yeah.

The universe punished you.

Yeah, that. I. I hate that phrase. Oh, the unit. But that is an example of going, we gotta. We gotta show him something here. Let's just let him. He'll. He'll curse the lesson, but he'll bless the knowledge.

That's such a great story.

I remember. Okay, I'm not going to name any names in this, but this is a very. Hang on. Can I get to this without naming names? Yes, I can try.

It's too good.

So at our daughter's preschool, there was a very famous woman we'll say what she does. Who had a very famous musician husband. And so. And I would do parking, like, most mornings. I would say hi to everybody. Hey, how's it going? And. And I would see her and her husband, like, what's going on? It's like, well, so. And they were always just great, and their daughters were amazing, and it was just really, really sweet. But then one time, so I was unloading him, and I was like, so, what's going on? They're like, well, I'm in a really good mood. There was this one songwriter that I didn't think was going to give him a song for his album, and she's going to do it. And. But I'm going over to the studio right now because he is so in his head. I'm gonna make sure he shakes her hand and gives her a hug and thanks her. Cause I know he won't, like. I'm gonna make sure he. Thank you for doing this. So I heard that part of the story. Months go by and we. There's a. There's a birthday party, one of the kids. So we all go to this birthday party. So It's September in LA, so it's 900 degrees, and we're all sitting on the curb waiting for these pass vans. Takes up just roasting. Parents were just roasting. Yeah. And I look across the street, there's a couple of cars with, like, telephoto lenses. And I look at her go, hey. She goes, yeah, it's the pops. They. They just follow me everywhere. They just take pictures. I'm just. I'm not doing anything. They won't be able to use this. I'm just sitting on a freaking curb, you know? Like, it's. Then a few more months goes by. Then I'm at the newsstand and there's a thing on the COVID of either, like, In Touch or Star about that. Their divorce, their impending divorce. And it was Mystery Woman. And it's the guy hugging this songwriter, this female songwriter. And you can. You can tell it was cropped, like, clearly. The wife was also there. Like, give her a hug.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patton Oswalt]

And then there's another picture, and then she's devastated. And it's her sitting on this curb looking so sad. And you can literally see my elbow, like, where they crop me out. So they can take these photos and do any story they want with them. And then every time I would see them, like, so, sorry about the divorce, guys. You're like, oh, yeah, it's been a nightmare. The whole. Can you believe he had an affair with me. I mean, with that girl. Right. And. And I feel bad for making him do it. I mean, they cut me out of the picture like it was insane. Right.

My God, if they had just cropped that differently, you could have been the other man.

God damn it. That would have helped my career. Now, when you did Shakespeare in the park, you did it recently? Yeah, this past season.

Yes. Yeah.

How many plays and how many days did you do? Because I heard it's like a. It's like boot camp for Shakespeare that you just. Well, it's just one play.

It's just one play. Other summers, they've done two plays, but it's like one in June and then one in August. I did Twelfth Night with a great cast. Peter Dinklage and Sandra. Oh, Lupita Nyong'.

O. Jesus.

Yeah, it was great.

That's. Wow.

Yeah. No, it's. There was another one. I had done it years ago. I did Merchant of Venice and Winter's Tale, and Merchant of Venice was Al Pacino and Lily Rabe, and I'm obsessed.

With the Merchant of Venice and Richard iii. Those are his two. Like, just obsessed with them. Yeah.

I mean, he did the film of Merchant. Well, this is the cool thing about Al Pacino is he'd. He had already done the film version.

Of Merchant of Venice. Right.

And then he was doing this version in the park, and he treated it like it was something he'd never seen before. He really reinvestigated it. I was shocked at how he really took the play and the role down to the studs and rebuilt. It's a very accurate. An honest interpretation or display of what happens in a rehearsal room.

Yep.

You have to. You have to have those moments. That's why, you know, the rehearsal space is such a sacred space and why normally cameras are not allowed into.

That's what was. Yeah. And you could sense some of that tension of like.

Yes.

All of this sausage making is not supposed to be on display. This is. Is gross. And nobody wants to see this or. That's not true. Everybody wants to see it. They don't want to. They don't want to show that to anybody.

Yeah. Someone showed me a video of Meryl Streep talking about rehearsing for Shakespeare in the Park. You know, she also did a lot of Shakespeare in the Park.

That footage of her and Ronald Julia is incredible. Incredible.

But Meryl says, you know, like, Meryl. I don't know this woman very. I've met her. Meryl Streep.

I will tell you my Meryl Streep story in a second.

Please do. She says, you know, in those moments of rehearsal, you feel like the worst actor in the world even hearing her say that, like. Because I imagine watching her work, you'd just be like, well, that's brilliant. That's brilliant.

Yeah. She knows.

But, you know, you feel. It doesn't matter, like, what people perceive as. You feel like you're just terrible.

Yeah. The people don't see you building it from the ground up.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's right. That's right. Yeah. When we. When my daughter met Chapel Rowan at that after party. So we were at the after party, we're all hanging. So. On the Paramount lot, and she comes up and says, chapel Rowan is here. Oh, my God. So I, like, weaved through the crowd, and I was able to approach it, and I got the thing, and. And. And Meredith, you know, my wife, her mom, was like, just calm down. We'll get. It's okay. You know? And then. And then we looked over, and then once we got Alice squared away, we looked over, and Meryl was sitting on a couch. And I kind of. I mean, I've met her a few times, but my wife was like, meryl Streep is here. And I had to. So then I went over. I was like. I was like, the agent for both my daughter and. You want to meet Chapel? I'll get you a good one. Chapel, you want to meet Meryl? I know. I'll get you. And then they, like. And then they just talk. Like, Meryl and my wife just talk like two college roommates. Like, she's just the most. Chill. Easy.

So easy.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Like, just totally having her drink, and you're talking about acting and.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Patton Oswalt]

But it was just. It was amazing to see Meredith go from the mom mode. We will get the picture. Let's all be calm here. To literally, like, hang out. Scrape his hair. This is great.

This is incredible.

Oh, my gosh.

Do you want to take anything home? You are gonna get pancake. Are you gonna get pancakes?

Can I get the pancakes to go bespoke?

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Your wife's pancakes.

[Patton Oswalt]

Damn. I'll get this wrapped up as well. That.

This was so insane. Yeah.

Unless you wanted some of this, you.

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Would just come back into one box.

[Patton Oswalt]

No, there's just this. Yeah.

How is that gluten free?

Yeah. How is that gluten free?

[Levant Bistro Staff]

It's amazing.

[Patton Oswalt]

It's so good.

It's so fluffy. It's like a cauliflower. Yeah, right?

[Levant Bistro Staff]

Really amazing, honestly. But it's chewy, chewy.

[Patton Oswalt]

It's like pillowy.

So for. Do you want to just take the next couple months off or do you have something. Are you looking at a theater thing or.

I'm looking at a theater thing.

You want to do a theater thing here in LA or New York?

I'm kind of open to anything. I have bought the rights to this play called True, about Sherman Capote.

Wait a minute. Yeah, the one that Robert Morstan. Robert Morstan.

He did it in the 80s and New York. It hasn't been done since then. And I did a reading.

Really?

In Morocco, of all places.

All right.

As a benefit for my friend Rob, Rob Ashford. And it went really well. And so we're looking at doing something with that play. Yeah, it's a really interesting play. It's quite a beast to do. When I did it before, it was a reading, so I held the script and you know, it's a 40 page monologue basically. So I'm looking for no intermissions, no act break. There is an intermission act break in the original, but I want to cut it a little bit and do it straight through as a 90 minute play.

Wow.

So that's what I'm looking at right now.

That's fascinating. Yeah. Truman Capote was a fascinating. Like had all this genius. But also he. Because he came from the American south, is my theory on him. I feel like because he came from the South American, the American south beats the whole planet in terms of great literature because of trauma, alcoholism, like, you know, and then second place is Russia and third place is Ireland, if you're talking about literature. But I. I just feel like he couldn't get over that weird myth of what a genius is, is self destructive. And that is what that is. In other words, he almost had that worked into his career arc. Now I gotta have my self destructive part.

Yeah, yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He also.

[Patton Oswalt]

It's a very interesting observation on people who surround themselves with artists. And you kind of touch on it actually in your special. A little bit about people who are super wealthy and being jealous of those who don't make as much money but.

Are way more interesting and are more interested in life.

Yes.

They have nothing that they're passionate about and it drives them nuts.

And so he sort of has the same observation about some of these people who he surrounded himself with that kept him around because he was so interesting and had such passion.

Cause they can show off and they collect people around them. Yeah, well, we went out on our yacht, but Mick Jagger came along. You realize, oh, Mick Jagger is just an appendage for their cocktail party story.

Yeah, that's right.

They don't actually care about. Yeah, I remember there was a guy. I was at a party, and this guy had this insanely expensive sound system. And it was. And he was really showing off. Like, each of these speakers is worth a quarter million dollars. They are handmade and with these special tubes. And then the turntable is balanced, like in the Swiss Language Lab. Like, it was all this crazy expensive sound system. But I looked at the record collection underneath it in the shelf. Best of Blondie, Best of the Eagles, best of U2. It was just like, there's no actual. There isn't Toys in the Attic or a Court and Spark or some album that really landed with him is Best of. I got the best of all this.

Yeah.

So you're like, oh, you. Because I have the most experience, expensive system. So I have to have the best music. Right. But did any of this music mean anything?

Like, there's no, like, emotional resonance with any of it? Yeah.

No.

Yeah.

Yeah. Thanks for having me on, man. Thanks for saying yes and thanks for introducing me to this place.

Very good.

Love this.

I got this will help your leaky guts.

And I have. No. No leakage. No leaky guts. Leakage.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This episode of Dinners On Me was recorded at Levant Bistro and Bakeshop in Los Angeles, California. Next week on Dinners On Me. You know her from Varsity Blues, Heroes, and most recently as Angela on the Paramount series Landman. It's Allie Larder. We'll get into her fascinating acting origin story that involves a fake magazine cover working alongside Billy Bob Thornton and what made her want to leave LA for the Midwest. 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.

[Patton Oswalt]

Week early, you'll also be able to.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

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 Ty 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.

[Patton Oswalt]

On January 9th Greenland 2 is making an impact across the globe. Audiences rave. It's deeply emotional and better than the first. I wanted you beginning first. You'll be holding your breath from start to finish. Greenland 2 migration. Rated PG 13.