Side Dish: More Brooke Shields

Summary

Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Episode: Side Dish: More Brooke Shields

Date: May 14, 2026
Guest: Brooke Shields
Location: Cafe Clooney, West Village, NYC

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Episode Overview

This week’s “side dish” episode with Jesse Tyler Ferguson features a candid, deeply personal conversation with iconic actress Brooke Shields. The discussion builds on their full-length interview, delving into Brooke’s emotional journey after the loss of her “Suddenly Susan” castmate, navigating fame and friendship, her role as president of the Actors’ Equity Association, and the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and humor—both on stage and in life.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The End of “Suddenly Susan” and Coping with Loss

Brooke shares the emotional impact of the sudden death of her co-star, David Strickland, and how it changed both her experience on-set and the spirit of the show.

• Brooke Shields (02:18):
  “I don’t know what the thought process was, but the last half of the season, I don’t remember anything because David died, and I wanted to quit the whole show... my world was just irrevocably rocked, and the show just lost its balance.”

• The later seasons saw major cast changes, including Eric Idle joining—Brooke explains that the chemistry suffered and the show lost much of its original magic.

• Jesse Tyler Ferguson (03:57):
  “There’ll be people that come up to me and tell me about certain episodes that they love, and in my head, I’m like, that was one of our worst ones... For me, it was like, quality TV from beginning to end. I loved it, and I think you were incredible on it.”

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Balancing Fame and “Normal” Life

Brooke reflects on growing up in the spotlight while trying to keep her social life and education as normal as possible.

• Brooke Shields (08:10):
  “I always went to regular schools. So constantly I was living in two different worlds. I would go do a Vogue shoot and then... finish my homework and go to school the next day.”

• She describes how her work as a young actress/model paralleled other teens’ involvement in sports—it was just her “team sport.”

• Despite fame, her closest longtime friends are from high school and college—people who “knew her before she was famous” and kept her grounded.

• Brooke humorously describes her “Bad Lisa” friend and how high school social circles worked, with her being “not that interesting really after, oh, you know, Blue Lagoon Girl’s in ninth grade.” (09:59–11:53)

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Industry vs. Real Friendships

Brooke notes the difference between deep, lasting friendships and those formed on set:

• Brooke Shields (12:29):
  “I do know people from the industry, but I don’t have a lot of really close famous friends... you work with them intensely and then like sometimes you don’t ever see them again.”

• They share affection for Sarah Hyland (Brooke played her mother on “Lipstick Jungle”), and Jesse notes her genuine warmth.

• Memorable Story (13:04–13:52):
  Jesse relays a legendary anecdote—Brooke as a guest at Barbara Barrie’s Fire Island house mistakenly cleaning the windows with Windex, thinking it was expected.

  • Brooke: “Literally... that’s my payment first. Might as well do it.”
  • Jesse: “It was so funny to me.”

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Brooke’s Role as President of Actors Equity Association

Brooke discusses the surprising complexity, politics, and emotional weight of leading the union for professional stage actors.

• Learning Curve & Challenges (15:12–18:59):

  • She entered expecting to boost morale via positivity and work ethic but found it was “not the way it is in a union,” with complex rules (“Robert’s Rules,” etc.) and persistent criticism, sometimes personal.
  • “Once I got used to being, like, attacked, and I then got over it being personal... I really looked at why I was there, what do I bring? Visibility, access to conversations, a platform on which to highlight bad behavior.”

• Impact:

  • Brooke takes pride in advocating for better conditions (wages, health protections) for actors and crew, sometimes at personal cost.
  • She aims to be a visible spokesperson, echoing the need for leaders who can “get the attention at a rally” and use their platform for change (19:49–20:42).

• On Tenure & Legacy:

  • She has two years left in her current term.
  • Reflects on the skepticism she faced (“Oh, she’s just famous…”), but emphasizes real achievements and the value of public visibility for the cause.

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Light-Hearted Moments & Breaking the Ice

Brooke and Jesse exchange funny, relatable stories about “breaking the ice” in awkward or tense situations, both in negotiations and in life.

• Brooke at Disney Negotiations (22:42–23:19):

  • She attempts to lighten a tense union negotiation by joking: “I just have to say, this does not feel like the happiest place on Earth.” (It wasn’t well-received by the other side!)
  • Brooke: “But you can’t break the ice in those situations... you have to try. That’s all you can do.”

• Jesse’s Son at Karate (23:57–26:41):

  • Tells an endearing story where his son, Beckett, innocently corrects the karate master for not bowing when leaving the mat, unintentionally breaking the tension and making everyone laugh.
  • Jesse: “Thank God he broke the ice.”
  • Brooke: “And he felt strong enough to do it... It was the truth.”

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Notable Quotes

• Brooke Shields on processing loss:
  “My world was just irrevocably rocked, and the show just lost its balance.” (02:58)

• Jesse Tyler Ferguson affirming Brooke’s legacy:
  “For me, it was like quality TV from beginning to end. I loved it, and I think you were incredible on it.” (03:57)

• Brooke on balancing fame and school:
  “I was doing two things at the same time for 30 years.” (08:10)

• Brooke on union leadership:
  “There’s this book, this thick, and I was like, look, I don’t like this guy Robert. I don’t like his rules.” (16:38)

• Brooke on visibility as president:
  “I think they were trying to go back a little bit to the sort of figurehead that can speak at a rally or get the attention at a [negotiation].” (19:49)

• Brooke attempting humor in negotiations:
  “I just have to say, this does not feel like the happiest place on Earth.” (22:53)

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Notable Moments & Timestamps

• [02:18]: Brooke Shields opens up about the last season of “Suddenly Susan” and David Strickland’s death.
• [08:10]: Brooke discusses balancing her childhood between the worlds of show business and school.
• [09:59]: On longtime friendships and “Bad Lisa.”
• [13:04]: Fire Island Windex story, a glimpse of Brooke’s humility and humor.
• [15:12]: Life as president of Actors Equity—challenges, learning curve, and emotional toll.
• [19:09]: Brooke on facing skepticism due to her fame and actually enacting change.
• [22:53]: Attempting to lighten the mood at a tense Disney union negotiation.
• [23:57]: Jesse’s son breaks tension at karate—relating life lessons to show business.

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Tone & Language

The episode maintains an open, vulnerable, and often humorous tone, reflective of both Jesse and Brooke’s personalities. There’s a genuine sense of camaraderie and shared industry experience, alongside honest storytelling and self-deprecating wit.

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For Listeners

This “Side Dish” offers new stories and intimate insight into Brooke Shield’s life, work, and off-screen friendships—revealing the persistence, humor, and humanity behind the celebrity. Whether you’re a fan of Brooke, interested in the realities of Hollywood and the theater industry, or simply appreciate authentic, laughter-filled conversation, this episode is a satisfying taste of both nostalgia and candid current-day reflections.

Transcript

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

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[Brooke Shields]

Girl. Winter is so last season. And now spring's got you looking at pictures of tank tops with hungry eyes. Your algorithm is feeding you cutoffs. You're thirsty for the sun on your shoulders. That perfect hang on the patio sundress. Those sandals you can wear all day and all night. And you've had enough of shopping from your couch. Done. Hoping it looks anything like the picture when you tear open that envelope. It's time for a little in person spring treat. It's time for a trip to Ross. Work your magic.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Hey, it's Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Here's a little side dish from this week's episode of Dinner's on Me. This week's guest is Brooke Shields. You know her from iconic roles in films like the Blue Lagoon and TV shows like Suddenly Susan and Lipstick Jungle. She has a new show out called you'd're Killing Me on AMC and Acorn. We met up at the West Village institution, Cafe Clooney. Now, to get back into the conversation, Brooke opens up about the difficult goodbye to her NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan. After seasons. Well, I didn't remember because I must have watched the finale. Not live because they burned it off in the middle of the night. The series finale, right?

[Brooke Shields]

Yeah. Like at 2 in the morning, something crazy. And I think. I don't know what the thought process was, but I. But the last half of the season, I don't remember anything because David died, and I wanted to quit the whole show. I was. I cannot. Might have even been before last season. And under contract, I had to keep going there. And they changed the set so it didn't feel exactly the same, and.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And it was David who's one of your cast members? Yeah, yeah. I remember he passed away in the

[Brooke Shields]

third season, I think, right in the third season. And my world was just irrevocably rocked, and the show just lost its balance. And then they hired Eric Idle, who they just kept writing mean to me. And it was a different kind of mean than Judd Nelson. Judd Nelson was, like, different kind of, you know, poking. But you. But it was, like, intellectual, and it was funny, and there was chemistry, and they fired him. David was gone. Eric did not like being there. And the humor was subpar by that point because we had no.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

The chemistry just changed.

[Brooke Shields]

It just changed everything. And I think that they were just like, cut your losses. Let's get out. And there was just. It was like the rug was pulled out from, you know, under all of us. We were all. It, you know, it was definitely, you know, but you learn.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I will say, though, and maybe this, you know, because, Listen, after doing 11 seasons of a show, there are certain episodes I like more than others. And, like, you know, you're. When you're inside it, it just feels so you're. You can analyze everything. There'll be people that come up to me and tell me about certain episodes that they love, and in my head, I'm like, that was one of our worst ones. So I just wanted. I'm saying this because I loved every episode of that show, and I loved all four seasons, and I was an avid watcher of it. And so, like, all that craziness that was going on in your head did not. I didn't absorb any of that. For me, it was like, quality TV from beginning to end. I loved it, and I think we're incredible on it. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Brooke and I recall a hilarious story I heard about her involving her suddenly Susan co star Barbara Berry, and her then boyfriend, tennis legend Andre Agassi, and a bottle of Windex. It's a pretty great story. Okay, be right back. Spring break planning at our house is. It's definitely an adventure. Our kids have very strong opinions, and they're always on different sides of the spectrum. Becket, strong opinions about the ocean. It has to be a certain temperature and the wind has to be blowing a certain way if he's going to get anywhere near it. He doesn't want sand on his feet. Sully, on the other hand, he will roll around in the sand and doesn't care about the water temperature. And he, you know, he could be just sitting amongst seagulls and he's happy. Justin and I, we just want air conditioning and Wi fi. Honestly, juggling all the details of a trip can be very stressful. And while I'm thinking about our plans, I also start thinking about our house while we're away. And it hits me. Maybe we could list our place on Airbnb while we're gone. It always sounds great, but I don't know if I can manage all the details myself. That's where Airbnb's co host network comes in. You can hire a vetted local co host to handle all the behind the scenes details, managing reservations, guest communications, and even providing on site support. So hosting feels manageable even with everything else going on. So if you're traveling this spring, it might be the perfect time to list your space on Airbnb and maybe earn a little extra cash while you're gone to put toward that extra future travel someplace with air conditioning and Wi fi. If you're ready to host, but could use a little extra help, find a co [e-mail] host. I am always trying to cook more at home. The one thing I do know is if you start with really good ingredients, everything just gets easier. That's exactly why I love Wild Alaskan company. They deliver wild caught perfectly portioned seafood straight to your door. And it makes cooking fish at home feel so incredibly easy. What sets them apart is that everything is 100% wild caught, never farmed, no antibiotics, no GMOs, no additives, just really high quality seafood that you can feel really good about eating. It's also frozen right off the boat to lock in flavor and texture. And everything is sustainably sourced from Alaska. My current favorite is their sockeye salmon. It has this gorgeous vivid red color and such rich flavor that it barely needs anything. The other night, Justin was showering me with praise about this salmon that I made for him. It was so amazing. It's the best he's had in so long. I didn't tell him. I just sprinkled on a little salt, olive oil and lemon juice that that was it. It was just the really great fish that was a star. Although I do have very nice pan sear, if I do say so myself. So I did that part. And if you're trying it for the first time, there's no risk. If you're not completely satisfied with your first box, Wild Alaskan company will give you a full refund, no questions asked. Not all fish are get seafood you can trust. Go to wildalaskan.com jtf for $35 off your first box of premium wild Caught Seafood. That's wildalaskan.com JTF for $35 off your first order. Thanks to Wild Alaskan Company for sponsoring this episode. And we're back with more dinners on me.

[Brooke Shields]

I always went to regular schools. So constantly I was living in two different worlds. I would go do a Vogue shoot and then put on my jeans and pap ciders and go home and finish my homework and go to school the next day. Be done at three. Maybe at three, I'd go do a bazaar cover or something. And then so it was like two totally different worlds that really never fully never crossed except I did my homework. You can ask, like, Dza, this famous hairdresser. He was like, you were never not sitting in my chair. And that was before they started the double teaming. So you would sit in the makeup chair and then the hair or hair. Usually hair first and then makeup. And he said, I've never known you not to be reading a book or doing homework in the chair. So, like, I was doing two things at the same time for 30 years,

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

but it didn't feel like. Did it feel like compartmentalization at the time or did it sort of feel like this is just my fully formed stuff? This is what I do. I'm. I'm part of. I'm an actress and I have the. I'm doing Vogue covers and bizarre covers. And I'm also a student. And, like, it's just all part of.

[Brooke Shields]

And other kids were on teams on team sports. You know, this was my team sport. So I would, you know. And the two worlds never really collided unless I brought one of my high school friends with me. If there was an opening or a premiere or something fun, right? And my mom would say, okay, we need six tickets. And she'd say, okay, invite all your high school friends.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Talk about, like your. Your friends that you had at that time. I mean, did you have. I know, obviously we're like, still there. You, like, were friends with Michael Jackson and that was like that thing, you know, who are the other people that you had in your life on the phone with?

[Brooke Shields]

Excuse me, my best friend from high school yesterday for like an hour. I have, like four really Close high school friends that we are always making. Like we're. I'm going to all their daughters wedding, their daughters and sons weddings coming up in this next month. And you know, we go away together. They're my, my go to, you know, one lives on the Upper west side. Then there's Jersey and down the shore and, and like there is a, a level of comfort because we were all on the cheerleading squad together. We all went to Dwight, Englewood, which is a school in Jersey. And I commuted from the city, which was weird. Nobody was doing that. Now everybody's doing it. Like kids are going to Fieldston and Dwight and they're commuting out of the city. But then I was the only one that did that. But my mom wanted me to go to a co ed high school. And so we were, we were in the trenches together. And once that first semester was over, the luster wears off. They're not, they got other things they gotta think about. Like I'm not that much interesting really after, oh, you know, Blue Lagoon Girls is in ninth grade. Let's not talk to her. You know, we'll show her she's not fancy. And of course I'm like, okay, I'll so get the teachers. That really will make me popular. And you know. And then you got the Rizzo of the group who's my best friend. Call her Bad Lisa. You would love Bad Lisa. And you've got my other girlfriend who was with me at True.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh yeah, yeah.

[Brooke Shields]

That's my other high school close.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I feel like I've met Bad as you call her Bad Lisa. I feel like you, I feel like I met her.

[Brooke Shields]

I think you have.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I think you introduced her as Bad Lisa. That sounds so familiar to me.

[Brooke Shields]

She said to me the other day, she goes, can't I at least be Better Lisa? I go, no, it doesn't have the same ring to it. So those are my high school friends then. I have about five, maybe six, like couple of different groups of college friends and I need all of them. Yeah, and there's, there's a real blessing to that because when I look back, I do know people from the industry, but I don't have a lot of really close famous friends because I, you know, you work with them intensely and then like sometimes you don't ever see them again.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Right.

[Brooke Shields]

Except on a television show. Like my communication with my Suddenly Susan people and some of my Lipstick jungle people. Those are because you're in the.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You're Sarah Hyland loves you so much. Oh God, you Played her mother.

[Brooke Shields]

Right, I played her mother.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Lipstick Jungle. Yeah. She adores you.

[Brooke Shields]

I mean, I felt so maternal.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And also I made you confirm a story when I first met you. Do you mind if I tell this? Okay, I. So Barbara Berry, who is on. Do you remember this Barbara Berry, Barry, who was on Suddenly Susan with you? I don't know.

[Brooke Shields]

I was on Suddenly Susan with her.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay, okay, you were Susan. So she was on with you. But she. She told me a story about she and her husband had a Fire island house and she would let her friends stay there. And when you were with Andre, you and Andre went to stay at her Fire island house. And I guess she had forgotten that she had left a bottle of Windex with a note for the housekeeper saying, please clean the windows. And she gets a phone call while you and Andre are staying at our house saying Brooke Shields is on a ladder outside your house cleaning your windows.

[Brooke Shields]

Literally.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And like, it was. You were like, well, I guess I'm supposed to clean the windows. And she. That's my payment first. Might as well do it.

[Brooke Shields]

And Barbara was like. She's like that, you know, she tells you to do something, you just kind of go, okay, yeah, I'll do it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's so funny to me. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Brooke tells me about being the president of the Actors Equity association, the union for professional stage actors, a role she's held since 2024 and what it's been like advocating for fair compensation and conditions. Plus, we exchange stories about breaking the ice in awkward situations. Okay, be right back. Focus Features in Blumhouse present Obsession.

[Brooke Shields]

When I have a crush on a guy no one knows.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Be careful.

[Brooke Shields]

I wish Nikki loved me more than anyone in the entire world.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Who you wish for? Obsession is 96% fresh on rotten Tomatoes.

[Brooke Shields]

I love you so, so, so, so much.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's blood soaked nightmare fuel.

[Brooke Shields]

What kind of spills you put on her?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You have been warned. Obsession. Rated R under 17. Animated without parent only theaters May 15 with special engagements in Dolby. And we're back with more dinners on me. How has it been being the president of Actors Equity? You know, they're drinking stronger.

[Brooke Shields]

There are really good aspects to it. There has been a huge learning curve because I'm used to going into a company that might be downtrodden, might have had leads that didn't get along or, you know, sales that are going down. And then I'm the shot in the arm. Right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Like when you went to Chicago.

[Brooke Shields]

Chicago, Wonderful town. Addams Family and Addams Family. They had a tango. People didn't touch because nobody would be in the same room practically together. Like, it was just so. So much goes on and then I inherit that, right? But if I'm positive enough, I go in working my ass off, really show them how committed I am, that I'm there for the right reasons and that I believe in them, feel lucky to be surrounded by them. Like, there's a. There's a morale boost, right? I. That's not the way it is in a union. In. In a union, you have rules. You have to work, like, by rules I never knew existed. And they come from, like, England in the early whatever century. And you have to, like, with the people at the things, and you have to say, like, permission. A motion to. Permission to speak and motion to approach the bench. And the.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Everything takes forever.

[Brooke Shields]

Well, yeah, and it's Robert's Rules. There's this book this thick, and I was like, look, I don't like this guy Robert. I don't like his rules. And meanwhile, you can't do that. It's an established thing and it's a union. So once I got used to being, like, attacked, and I then got over it being personal because people have platforms, and this is very important. The power that they yield can be used freely against me. And when I got past that and I really looked at why I was there, what do I bring? Visibility, access to conversations up platform on which to highlight bad behavior. Like at Casa Bonita, for the people, Disney, you know, probably never work in these realms again because I'm fighting for better conditions for people. It's a really hard battle, you know, because you're fighting government, you're fighting internal governance. And, you know, it's a platform on which people can be mad. And a lot of the time, I'm the other end of that anger, and I get sucked in, you know, and I'm crying in the cab on the way home because I'm like, I don't know how to do this. You know, and then I kind of, like, talked to there's like, two, like, three people on staff who talked me off because I was like, I don't know if I can be effective. And they're like, you already have been. But you have to follow really what you believe. Take everything with a grain of salt and have it not affect you personally. And once I did that, I was able to have a better understanding of and a. And a fuller view of where I can affect change. You know, getting, you know, better wages for Touring companies or protections for women, you know, health wise.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

How long do you, do you have a tenure?

[Brooke Shields]

There's. It's four. I think I have two years left on this, this run.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Brooke Shields]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I assume you're glad you did it.

[Brooke Shields]

I'm very glad I did it. I think, you know, I was met with some of what I had been met with when I went into different companies, which was, oh, she's just famous. That's why they're. Everybody voted for her, you know, and, oh, she's just famous. Like, she's not gonna be serious about any of this.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Haven't most of the presidents been people who have been working actors in the, they, they.

[Brooke Shields]

Well, in the olden days, like the Ron Rifkins and you know, the past. Past. But then in the past, like nine, ten years been relatively un.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Famous.

[Brooke Shields]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Brooke Shields]

And, you know, I think they were trying to go back a little bit to the sort of figurehead that can get. Speak at a rally or get the attention at a.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Which is really important.

[Brooke Shields]

It actually is. And when you, when you lean into that. Because at first I was like, well, I'm, I'm not just going to be the famous one. Like, I really have to get into all the minutia. And it was like, I can't, I can't affect change here. Yeah, I got to do it on a, on a bigger level.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I sort of also feel like our great presidents do that thing. Like, I think Obama was so great because he was a great spokesman for like so many big things, but he couldn't. Like, we obviously got very deep into like many things, but like, you know, there is a point where you're just like, you are this. It's like, I feel like someone like, oh, Brooke could be a great president because she's like, people will listen to her and she'll like, just tell people the policy.

[Brooke Shields]

You know, there is something to that. And luckily within staff, I have like a good surrounding support group that will say, okay, here's, here's what's gone on up until now with this, you know, and then I can ask the questions and then I can be armed with more information. Like, I'm going to Denver in the next week or so to see Casa Bonita and really kind of look at how, you know the south park theme park that they bought and they took it over and now it's a South park themed big pink, like fantasy land kind of a thing in Denver.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay.

[Brooke Shields]

There's a documentary on it. And I think the people who created Matt And Trey created South park, had always wanted to own this building or something, and they ended up buying it and converting it. And it's. It's a. I think it's in an episode. It's in episodes of South Park.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay.

[Brooke Shields]

And they have, you know, swimmers doing aqua acts and aerial acts and singers and dancers, and it's a whole themed restaurant. And, you know, their conditions are unfair. So, like, even just doing those personal things and showing my support and, you know, physically showing up, that's helped us a lot. Open up conversations. Yeah, I was at Disney, and we were all at the negotiating situation. We don't really talk too much about it, but at one point, there was a lot of resistance. And I sat there and I go, well. And there were so many people, like, in this long line, separated. And it's all designed for, like, condescension and like, oh, God, I'm. You know, I'm in front of the. The bosses. Like, you're on trial.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Brooke Shields]

I walked in, I was like, oh, boy. So at one point, I said, well, I said, I just have to say this does not feel like the happiest place on Earth. And they did it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Get a laugh.

[Brooke Shields]

Not by the other side. They were like this. And my guys behind me were like. And I was like, oh, come on, nothing. And one guy was late, and it was such a long walk before he had to go sleep. And I went, I'm sorry. If you're gonna make that walk late, you're gonna strut. They, like, hated me at that point. I was like, oh, God, this is not going well.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, my God.

[Brooke Shields]

But you can't break the ice in those situations. No, there's no breaking of the ice. Like, I can go into a company and break the ice by doing something stupid or calling something a.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

All that matters is you want to break the ice and that you're going to try. That's all that matters. Whether or not it actually breaks the ice, you have no control over that. But I can at least try. That's all I can do. I don't know why this reminds me of this. My son was in. My older son is in karate class, and he was testing for a new belt. And they. His teacher, who's this great guy, Master C is his name. I don't even know his real name.

[Brooke Shields]

Sensei.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Master C. And he was like, talk to us about, you know, when you come in on Saturday for the test. Like, it's. The vibe in here is really different. It's, like, very serious. Like, there's Be a lot of different kids, like, different age groups. This will be a table set up. There's gonna be people that you don't recognize that are on the other side of the table. And we're watching you. We're analyzing for your. For your test, for the thing. It's like a different vibe. Like, it's very quiet. It's very serious. And he's like, we're preparing all of us for what to expect on this Saturday. So I'm like, okay, I can't be that different. We get there on Saturday. I've never walked into a more tense room. And this is, like, for children, like, five year olds testing for their belt. Right. So my son goes in and he doesn't really, like, understand. Like, I mean, he was told that it would be more serious, but he's like, okay, he's a pretty good kid. So he was, like, being quiet and doing what we was. Was told of him. And so they bring in the first group and, like, they are. They're on the mat. And Master Cs you know, running around getting stuff done. And they have, like, these. These protocols and, like, things that they have to do. Like, they have to bow every time they get off the mat, like, all those things. And, you know, it's. It's all part of the tradition, but also, like, just the.

[Brooke Shields]

The ritual.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

The ritual, but also what it. How strict it is. And, like, you know.

[Brooke Shields]

Yeah, it's a good lesson to learn.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yes, exactly. Exactly. Anyway, so Master C's running around doing all this stuff, and Beckett, in dead silence. The room's dead silent. He goes, master C, you didn't bow getting off the mat.

[Brooke Shields]

Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And the whole room erupts into, like, laughter. And I was like, thank God he broke the ice.

[Brooke Shields]

Oh. And he felt strong enough to do it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And also he kind of didn't know

[Brooke Shields]

not to, but it was the truth.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Brooke Shields]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And Master C was like, you're right.

[Brooke Shields]

And because I'm sure every time he's gotten off the mat, he's had to remembered or been told.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's right. So Master C, you didn't bow getting off the mat.

[Brooke Shields]

And it wasn't even

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Becky's like, you know, you're right. We did it. Like, everyone laughing. Like, I loosened up the room, and I feel like these kids probably going to have a little bit of a better time now that, like, it's not so tense. Like, I was stressing out, but also,

[Brooke Shields]

you know, wasn't judgmental.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No.

[Brooke Shields]

It was stating the facts and also showing Master C that he was. He had learned as well.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yes.

[Brooke Shields]

Do you know what I mean? Like there was a few things that were being the breaking the ice was a consequence of it. Like it happened. I don't think he was maybe trying to break this, but it was a truth. And you know, I think, I'm not sure what karate, but it's all sort of about truth and honesty and, you know, whatever. So it's like I give him. That's a lot of cloud.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was very proud of him.

[Brooke Shields]

I bet.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah,

[Brooke Shields]

you should be.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That was a little more from my conversation with Brooke Shields. If you haven't heard our full conversation yet, make sure to check it out on Dinners On Me. This episode of Dinners on Me was recorded at Cafe Clooney in New York City's West Village. Next week on Dinners On Me. You know him from the Punisher, the Walking Dead, the Bear. He's currently starring on Broadway in Dog Day Afternoon. It's Jon Bernthal. We'll get into his intense, no BS approach to acting and how he brings such raw humanity to every character he plays. Dinners on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Ty, Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Alyssa Midcalf. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hans Dale. She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tameka Balance Kolasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.

[Brooke Shields]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month. Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail].