Podcast Summary: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Episode: RE-RUN: Rico Rodriguez — 'Modern Family’s’ Manny spills what it’s like to have Sofia Vergara and Ed O’Neill as on-camera parents
Date: December 23, 2025
Location: Heavy Handed, Studio City, CA
Guest: Rico Rodriguez (Manny from Modern Family)

Episode Overview

Jesse Tyler Ferguson welcomes his on-screen stepbrother from Modern Family, Rico Rodriguez, for a candid, laughter-filled meal at the burger joint Heavy Handed. They reminisce about growing up together on the Modern Family set, navigating childhood stardom, the tight-knit cast and crew, and share behind-the-scenes stories—especially about Rico’s unique perspective as a child actor, Ed O’Neill’s mentorship, Sofia Vergara’s script antics, family loss, and the Rodriguez family's love for Benihana. This episode offers warmth, nostalgia, and humor for fans of the beloved series.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Childhood on Modern Family: Growing Up on Set

[03:01 – 04:28]

• Jesse marvels at how the show's duration spanned Rico’s formative years—akin to first grade through high school.
• “That’s basically how long these kids did Modern Family. It was such a huge chunk of their lives.” — Jesse Tyler Ferguson (03:10)
• Rico recounts reuniting with Jesse after years, underlining how meaningful those cast “family reunions” are.

2. Car Stories & Getting a License

[05:44 – 08:33]

• Rico, once a reluctant driver, was compelled to learn fast for a storyline.
• He only got his license days before turning 21, after a show-required permit test.
• Humorous recall of a promise with Eric Stonestreet about inheriting a truck if the show lasted 10 seasons—"I was like, so, Eric, we made it. And he's like, oh, I don’t have the truck." — Rico Rodriguez (08:27)

3. Acting Origins: Family Support & Early Auditions

[09:53 – 12:45]

• Rico fell into acting by following his sister Rainey to auditions ("My sister Rainey, she… brought us to California at 11.")
• Saw Rainey guest-star on Disney’s Suite Life, which cemented his passion.
• Credits his family for work ethic and for balancing a normal childhood and professionalism:
  • “My dad was in Texas making money so we could live out here.” — Rico Rodriguez (11:06)

4. The Modern Family Audition Process

[12:55 – 14:52]

• Rico originally auditioned with a wildly different “player” version of Manny.
• Recalls Jeff Greenberg redirecting: “We see Manny as an old soul, like Antonio Banderas in a kid’s body.” — Jeff Greenberg, per Rico (13:15)
• Connections with Nolan Gould and Ariel Winter prior to the show added to the familial vibe.

5. Fearlessness & Joy of Child Acting

[15:02 – 17:28]

• Rico admits kids are “kind of fearless” at auditions and on set.
• Shares that being a kid, he just found everything fun, not daunting, even after being made to cry in a prior audition (Ugly Betty), which later became a point of humor with casting director Jeff Greenberg.

6. On-Set Schooling & Missing Out (or Not) on Normal Kid Things

[21:44 – 24:51]

• Jesse and Rico discuss “child actor” clichés about missing out on “normal” school or social events.
• Rico didn’t feel deprived thanks to his family’s grounding:
  • “When I was on set, I’d make sure I know my lines, be prepared. Then after, I’d go home and be a kid. All that doesn’t stop.” — Rico Rodriguez (23:07)

7. Balancing Work and Play: Nerf Wars, Parkour, and Set Life

[25:16 – 26:06]

• Crew and cast fostered playfulness: Nerf wars, screenplay writing, and parkour between scenes, especially with Nolan Gould.
• “Ty and I used to think, if I could just have an ounce of that [kid] energy...” — Jesse Tyler Ferguson (25:24)

8. Best Shoot Memories: Travel & Adventure

[26:11 – 27:18]

• Season 1 Hawaii trip was a highlight (“I’ve never... gone to Hawaii, and we just did it!” — Rico Rodriguez (26:07))
• Also fond of Jackson Hole, Australia, Paris—“I was so lucky to be on a show that could take it to new heights and go places I never imagined I’d ever go.” (26:54)

9. Legendary On-Screen Parents: Working with Ed O’Neill & Sofia Vergara

[27:44 – 30:38]

• Rico confesses he didn’t know who Ed O’Neill was at first; “Who’s that?...I’ve never heard of that show.” (28:04)
• Sofia was “the lady from Madea Goes to Jail.”
• Ed O’Neill’s mentorship highlighted:
  • “Ed truly took me under his wing like no other... I was on the verge of crying… Ed was like, 'Alright, stop. Cut the cameras.'... He worked with me till I got it.” — Rico Rodriguez (29:07)
• Ed gradually stepped back his mentoring as Rico grew confident (“By season five he was like, 'I don’t need to work with you. You’re good now.'” — 30:07)

10. Dealing with Family Loss: The Heartbreak of Losing His Dad

[32:44 – 35:32]

• Rico lost his father over hiatus, shortly before turning 18.
• A pivotal “graduation” episode with Ed O’Neill filmed days before.
• In negotiations for a new season, Rico nearly chose not to return, but realized:
  • “I’d be doing him a disservice… It really made it easier knowing I was coming back to my other family.” — Rico Rodriguez (34:29 / 34:48)
• The cast’s support was crucial, especially at emotionally charged moments like table reads near his birthday.

11. Family, Roots, and Resetting in Texas

[35:59 – 38:06]

• Despite Hollywood success, Rico values his Texas roots, working at his family’s tire shop whenever home.
• “I was 15… I’d tell my dad, 'I’m not Manny today. I’m Rico, I’m gonna work.’” — Rico Rodriguez (37:04)
• Contrasts LA apartment life with 15 acres in Texas:
  • “You go to Texas and you walk outside and hear no cars, you hear birds… It’s awesome.” (37:30)

12. Child Actor Finances, Work Ethic, and Script Antics

[38:06 – 40:36]

• Parents only gradually introduced Rico to the scale of his earnings—“Maybe when I was 12” (39:07)
• Family’s blue-collar background fostered hard work and humility: “We always knew it could be taken away from you at any moment.” (39:16)
• Rico memorized everyone’s lines, often helping Ed and Sofia:
  • “Sophia, she sometimes goes off the rails… She’d go, ‘Rico, what’s my line?’” (40:03)

13. Sofia Vergara’s Table Read “Assistant”

[40:31 – 41:48]

• As a thoughtful gesture, Rico once marked Sofia’s script for her; she quickly made it a tradition, turning him into her unofficial assistant.
• “She hands me her script, and now everyone’s looking at me because it’s her next line… I got suckered into it!” — Rico Rodriguez (41:01 / 41:32)
• Jesse jokes he should’ve gotten an “assistant’s bonus” for marking her script, call times, etc.

14. Cast Reunions, Running Jokes, and Ty Burrell

[42:23 – 43:02]

• Recalling the first full reunion at Sofia’s house post-show (Ty Burrell absent), referencing the long-running cast photo joke “And one without Ty”.

15. Benihana Obsession & “Ricohana”

[43:43 – 45:58]

• Erick Stonestreet spilled Rico’s love for Benihana—Rico’s family even installed a teppanyaki grill at home:
  • “We call it Ricohana... when we want Benihana, we just have him [chef Oscar] come.” (44:30 / 45:25)

16. Foodie Evolution & Travel

[46:00 – 46:55]

• Once a picky eater, Rico credits travel for opening his palate, now trying everything from sushi to alligator.
• Paris, though, “left [him] hungry”—not every culinary adventure is a hit.

17. Closing Reflections

[47:14 – 47:49]

• Jesse and Rico reflect on their 16-year friendship and the unique family bond forged through sharing “11 years on this show… more than half your life, Rico.”
• Rico: “I’m glad we were able to do this because it’s fun to reminisce… that we lived this whole amazing 11 years.” (47:24)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Ed truly took me under his wing like no other… There was one time… I was on the verge of crying… Ed was like, 'Alright, stop. Cut the cameras.'” — Rico Rodriguez (29:07)
• “I’d be doing him a disservice of everything we worked for at that point to just stop [acting]. It really made it easier knowing I was coming back to my other family.” — Rico Rodriguez (34:29)
• “Sophia would go, ‘Rico, what’s my line?’ I’d go, ‘Manny, get your coffee.’ She’d say, ‘Okay, thank you!’” — Rico Rodriguez (40:06)
• “She [Sofia] hands me her script and now everyone’s looking at me because it’s her next line… I got suckered into it!” — Rico Rodriguez (41:01)
• “We call it Ricohana… we had a logo made… When we want Benihana, we just have [chef Oscar] come and do the whole show for us.” — Rico Rodriguez (44:30)
• “I'm a big family man… It was always fun to go back and get dirty… and then, when it’s time to go back to work, I’m like, ‘Alright, time to come home.’” — Rico Rodriguez (37:04)

Memorable Moments & Stories

• Ed O’Neill’s Fatherly Mentorship (29:07): Stopping filming to privately coach a young, stressed Rico.
• Sofia Vergara’s Script Antics (41:01): Quickly recruiting 10-year-old Rico as her script-marker and personal assistant at table reads.
• Cast Running Jokes About Ty Burrell’s Absence (42:52): “And one without Ty”—a recurring photographic bit that even played out at their cast reunion.
• “Ricohana” (44:30): Installing a full teppanyaki grill at home and creating a family tradition that parodies Benihana’s style.
• Balancing Mundane with Glamour (37:04): From changing tires in Texas to Emmy nights in LA.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Meeting up & Catching up: 03:01–04:52
• Learning to Drive for the Show: 05:44–08:33
• Acting Beginnings (Family & Sibling Influence): 09:53–12:45
• Modern Family Audition Stories: 12:55–14:52
• Childhood on Set, On-Set Schooling & Play: 21:44–26:06
• Favorite Episode Memories (Hawaii): 26:11–27:18
• Mentor Moments with Ed O’Neill: 29:07–30:38
• Losing His Father & Choosing to Stay: 32:44–35:32
• Texas Roots and Tire Shop Work: 35:59–38:06
• Child Finances & Sofia’s Script Ritual: 39:09–41:48
• Cast Reunion & Ty Burrell Running Gag: 42:23–43:02
• Benihana/Ricohana: 43:43–45:58
• Foodie Evolution: 46:00–46:55
• Final Reflections & Goodbye: 47:14–47:49

Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation balances warmth, humor, and heart—filled with memories, gratitude, playful ribbing, and the unique camaraderie of TV’s most famous “family.” Rico’s humility and gratitude are palpable throughout, and Jesse’s warmth and genuine curiosity make for a compelling, nostalgic listen.

Ideal For

• Modern Family fans seeking behind-the-scenes stories
• Aspiring child actors and their families
• Fans of showbiz lore and feel-good friendships
• Anyone who enjoys genuine conversations over great food

*“Dinner’s on Me” continues next week with Sophia Bush as guest. For ad-free, early access, find Dinner’s on Me PLUS on Apple Podcasts.