Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Side Dish: More with Eric Stonestreet

Release Date: January 15, 2026
Recorded at: Tony’s Mexican Grill, Sherman Oaks, CA

Episode Overview

This “Side Dish” episode features an intimate, laughter-filled conversation between Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his longtime friend and Modern Family co-star, Eric Stonestreet. Sitting in a cozy booth at Eric’s favorite LA Mexican restaurant, the two revisit cherished stories: Eric’s secret wedding, building a new home in Kansas City, early Modern Family adventures, Broadway mishaps, unforgettable pranks, and the chaos of working with show-biz babies. Their banter is rich with warmth, humor, and the kind of candor only possible between old friends.

Key Topics & Discussion Highlights

Eric’s Secret Kansas City Wedding

[04:13–08:20]

• Intimate Home Wedding: Eric describes finishing his new house in Kansas City, where he and Lindsey married in a secret ceremony with close family.
• Choosing an Officiant: They turned to Tyler, Eric’s former assistant, to officiate. Tyler secured his license online, just as Jesse had done for Sarah Hyland’s wedding.

  “He got his marriage license online. Yeah, did that.”
  —Eric Stonestreet, [04:58]

• Epic Musical Surprise: The couple’s favorite song is "Pushing Up Daisies" by the Brothers Osborne. Instead of a video, the band secretly flew in from Nashville, hid in the house’s basement, and then surprised everyone by performing live.

  "They flew up from Nashville that morning, hid in the basement... Lindsay had no idea."
  —Eric, [06:31]

Notable Moment

• Live First Dance: The Osbornes emerge mid-party, play the song, and Eric and Lindsey have their first dance in the living room while guests, especially Lindsay, are blown away.

  “They just walk into the room... photographer... caught the moment Lindsay sees John and TJ walk in.”
  —Eric, [07:32]

Building a Home—and a Relationship

[08:25–12:17]

• Sentimental Details: Jesse praises Eric’s obsessive attention to meaning and detail, both in construction and decorating—embedding Chiefs memorabilia, mementos from family, and handwritten notes in the foundation.

  “What better way to start a marriage than finishing the literal bones of a home… we built a house together, and we had like two arguments the whole time.”
  —Eric, [10:14]

• Relationship Dynamics: Jesse highlights Eric and Lindsey's balanced approach—each trusted the other’s tastes in key decisions, resulting in harmony (with a few lighthearted quibbles about stonework and water pressure).

  “We didn't get in each other's things that we most cared about… and then that's where compromise happens.”
  —Eric, [11:00]

Early Modern Family Memories

[16:57–21:24]

• First-Season Fame and Town Car Antics: Eric recounts getting used to car service perks—relaying a story where Jesse’s out-of-the-blue text teased him for chatting up his limo driver.

  “My BlackBerry goes off and it’s a text from Jesse Tyler Ferguson that says, ‘Eric, stop being so chatty with your driver.’”
  —Eric, [17:14]

• Broadway Misadventures: Jesse took Eric (post red-eye) to his first-ever Broadway show, “Billy Elliot,” in NYC. Both were so jetlagged, they admit to nodding off. Afterwards, they helplessly (and awkwardly) tried to blag backstage access, only to be rebuffed by intimidating stagehands.

  “I was mortified… we stood in the doorway and some of the cast was like ‘oh, hey’, but they weren’t letting us in.”
  —Jesse, [20:43]

On-Set Chaos: Babies and Props

[24:05–27:32]

• The Lily Years: Both actors reflect on the challenge of filming with live babies (the first seasons’ “Lily”s), requiring them to nail scenes in a single usable take—and sometimes sub in a doll.

  “If you see Jesse and I holding a baby, that is the only take. That was it.”
  —Eric, [24:20]

• Bad Baby Props: Stories of mishaps with cheap or broken baby props—Eric’s frustration that a special effects genius had to make do with a “cheaper version,” yielding dolls with apothecary faces and collapse-prone limbs.

  “It looks crazy... we basically just had, like, a cabbage patch kid. A doll. Yeah, a plastic doll that I had to, like, give girth to.”
  —Jesse & Eric, [25:59–26:09]

• Sofia Vergara’s Humor: Sofia would animate the dolls, flipping people off; eventually, the baby’s arm was used for a slapstick effect in an episode.

Pranks, Friendship, and the ‘Aged Jesse’ Meme

[28:26–31:13]

• Long-Con Pranking: Eric describes his tradition of aging Jesse in photos posted online, delighting fans and confusing strangers.

  “Anytime I posted you, I aged you… The real long game.”
  —Eric, [29:17–29:32]

• Jesse Tries to Prank Eric (and Fails): On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Jesse attempts a prank, only for Eric (with inside help from Kimmel’s wife Molly) to flip it—leading to mortified laughter and Jesse’s protectiveness over what gets aired.

  “I was so mad because also, I was coming from such a good place. And I was like, and you’re still getting me in the end.”
  —Jesse, [30:55–31:13]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Love and Foundations:
  “What better way to start a marriage than finishing the literal bones of a home… we built a house together.”
  —Eric Stonestreet, [10:14]

• On Broadway Backstage Fails:
  “We stood in the doorway and like… they weren't letting us in. I was mortified.”
  —Jesse Tyler Ferguson, [20:43]

• On Live TV Prank Backfires:
  “I was so mad because also, I was coming from such a good place. And I was like, and you’re still getting me in the end.”
  —Jesse, [31:09]

• On On-Set Babies:
  “If you see Jesse and I holding a baby, that is the only take. That was it.”
  —Eric, [24:20]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Eric’s Secret Wedding & Osborne Surprise: [04:13–08:20]
• Building a Home & Relationship Talk: [08:25–12:17]
• First Season Fame & Town Car Story: [16:57–17:57]
• Broadway & NYC Press Pitfalls: [17:57–21:24]
• Modern Family: Babies & Bad Dolls: [24:05–27:32]
• Aging Jesse Meme & Pranks: [28:26–31:13]

Episode Tone

Warm, candid, and brimming with the easy, bantering humor of genuine friendship. The episode is filled with inside jokes, good-natured teasing, and a behind-the-scenes look at both mundane and magical moments from off-camera Modern Family life.

For Listeners

Whether you’re a die-hard Modern Family fan or just love stories about love, creativity, and friendship, this “Side Dish” delivers plenty of laughter, nostalgia, and a few deeply sweet surprises.

Next Episode Preview: Chris Perfetti (Jacob Hill on Abbott Elementary), exploring his theater roots and TV pivot.

Produced by Sony Music Entertainment and A Kid Named Beckett Productions. Hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson.