Side Dish: More with Kristin Davis

Summary

Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Side Dish – More with Kristin Davis (July 9, 2026)

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Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and engaging “Side Dish” mini-episode of Dinner’s on Me, host Jesse Tyler Ferguson reconnects with actress Kristin Davis in a bonus round at Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica. The conversation digs deeper into themes of transracial adoption, parenting, the realities of early acting careers in New York City, personal transformation, and overcoming professional fears. Kristin candidly shares stories about raising her Black children, confronting uncomfortable truths, and her journey from struggling waitress to Sex and the City star. The tone is warm, self-deprecating, and honest, with both laughter and vulnerability.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Transracial Adoption & Parenting Conversations

• Kristin reflects on raising her Black son and daughter as a white mom:
  • She wonders aloud if her kids ever talk about their "crazy white mother" together, and admits, “He’s only eight... I should ask them that, maybe I’ll ask them when they get home from school today. I don’t think they do.” (Kristin Davis, 03:50)
  • For her 14-year-old daughter Gemma, Kristin attempts to raise issues of white-centered environments and inclusivity and wants to encourage her children to notice and question what they encounter:

    “I want her to question it. You know, is it white-centered? Is it not? Is it inclusive? Is it not? ...I want them to know I’m not afraid to raise the topic.”
    (Kristin Davis, 05:13)

  • Kristin shares how she consciously places her family in diverse environments and strives to flip the script on ‘white-centered’ experiences to benefit her children’s identities:

    “I try to put us in circumstances where I might be the only white person… For my kids, that’s important.”
    (Kristin Davis, 06:09)

2. Growing Up and Finding Herself in New York City

• Kristin recounts her less-than-glamorous early years pursuing acting in New York:
  • She attended Rutgers for undergrad and never felt like a ‘big deal’ at school, but was surprised to get interest from agents after a showcase:

    “I wasn’t a big deal at school... I was just surprised, totally shocked, and, like, slightly embarrassed.”
    (Kristin Davis, 10:14)

  • Initially resisted commercial auditions, not seeing herself as marketable, yet quickly landed her first commercial (thanks to persistent agents):

    "I literally tried to talk them out of it... Thank God they didn’t listen to me."
    (Kristin Davis, 11:20)

  • Jesse relates his own early days, revealing he was hired mainly because "they needed someone in the roster with red hair":

    "The only reason I called you is because I needed someone in my, like, roster with red hair."
    (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, 12:30)

3. Navigating Self-Doubt & Full Circle Moments

• Kristin explains the challenges of surviving as a young actor, from financial struggles in regional theater to living in Hoboken.
  • She revisits NYC landmarks like The Limelight—once part of her daily struggles, later a filming location for Sex and the City:

    "I'd be like, oh, the Limelight. Yeah, it was interesting. And then you end up shooting there."
    (Kristin Davis, 17:24, 18:28)

  • Playing Charlotte let her live a “pretend, tipsy” life, which she found much more fun than real-life drinking, reflecting on being sober for years.

4. Facing Professional Fears & Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone

• Jesse and Kristin discuss embracing professional risks:
  • Jesse:

    "I pretty consistently say yes to things that scare me now... after doing Modern Family for 11 years... I just feel like any opportunity to take me out of my comfort zone is something I want to do."
    (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, 21:01)

  • Kristin jokingly admits:

    "No, I'd like to stay in my comfort zone."
    (Kristin Davis, 21:17)

  • Jesse shares his wild experience filming “Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” eating goat leg in the mountains—a laugh-out-loud and “oh my god” moment.
  • Kristin teases a secret upcoming project that scares her but says she “already said yes and now has to actually do it.”
    (Kristin Davis, 23:04)

5. Giving a Commencement Speech & Speaking to 40,000 People

• Kristin describes the terror and honor of giving a commencement address at her mother’s alma mater, Colorado University, Boulder, to a stadium of 40,000:
  • “I had to get beta blockers, but it worked. I did it.”
    (Kristin Davis, 24:58)
  • She confesses she didn’t use a speechwriter:

    "There was a speechwriter at the lunch... I probably should have done that. Didn't think of it."
    (Kristin Davis, 25:16)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On raising kids in a white-centered world:
  “Sometimes when you’re white, it’s like everything’s organized around us and you have to kind of turn it upside down a bit.”
  (Kristin Davis, 06:09)

• Career beginnings and insecurity:
  “I wasn’t a big deal at school... I didn’t get cast in all the plays or anything... I was just surprised, totally shocked, and, like, slightly embarrassed.”
  (Kristin Davis, 10:14)

• On quirky industry realities:
  "The only reason I called you is because I needed someone in my, like, roster with red hair."
  (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, 12:30)

• On facing fear in her career:
  “It’s astonishing what fear can make you do.”
  (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, 20:50)

• Kristin on acting opportunities:
  “It’s one of those things, too, where I think that in life you feel like we’ve gotten to this point and we’re so lucky that we do what we do... I should say yes.”
  (Kristin Davis, 23:37)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:44-06:30: Nuances of transracial adoption and raising her kids
• 09:46-13:40: Early days as an actor in New York, finding an agent, booking commercials
• 16:01-18:34: Financial struggles, old apartments, and the “full circle” Sex and the City filming moment
• 18:36-21:04: The differing approaches to risk and getting out of the “comfort zone”
• 21:45-22:54: Jesse’s Bear Grylls story (hacking off and eating goat leg)
• 24:15-26:34: Kristin’s experience preparing for and delivering a commencement speech

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Final Thoughts

This “Side Dish” offers a window into the complicated joys and struggles of two beloved actors with strong ties to New York. Kristin Davis’s candor about motherhood, identity, and feeling out of place—even in success—is as relatable as it is inspiring. Jesse and Kristin’s stories highlight the highs, lows, and humor behind blockbuster careers. For fans old and new, it’s a dinner table conversation that’s as nourishing as it is entertaining.

Transcript

[A]

Being in London this summer for Jesus Christ Superstar has been so fun, so incredible. But one thing I've learned is that when you're somewhere else for work, you still want to carve out time to actually enjoy where you are. London's an amazing city. I'm here with the family. So between performances, Justin and I have been trying to explore with the kids, find new parks, squeeze in museum visits, you know, make some real family memories while we're here, which, as any parent knows, takes a fair amount of planning. And anyone who knows my relationship knows that's all Justin's territory. It can sometimes feel hard to plan while you're traveling when you really just want to go with the flow and see where things take you. But that's not Justin's jam. He is a planner. He likes exploring a new city, especially with the kids. So extra planning makes all the difference. Now, if you're planning travel this summer, whether it's for work, vacation, or a little bit of both, it can be a great opportunity to do a little extra planning yourself and list your home on Airbnb while you're away. It can be a great way to put your home to use instead of letting it sit empty. And you can also earn a little little cash to put towards your own travel. And with Airbnb's co host network, you can get extra support behind the scenes so you don't have to spend your trip worrying about what's happening back home. A co host is a vetted local superstar, not to be confused with Jesus Christ Superstar, who can help manage guest reservations and communication, provide on site support, even help style your space if you need that so the stay runs smoothly while you're off enjoying your own trip. With that little extra planning, you can focus on being present for the things that matter to you most, whether it's exploring a new city, spending time with your family, or just enjoying your summer. Find a co [e-mail] host I'm sure you've heard of microplastics. A lot of times we talk about it making its way into our oceans and our food, but it turns out they can also come from products we use every day at home, including cleaning products. That's one of the reasons I've been using Blueland's laundry tablets. They're pre measured so there's no messy pores or bulky plastic jug taking up space in the laundry room. You just drop a tablet into the washing machine and let it do its thing. The formula is microplastic free, made with plant and mineral based cleaning ingredients and it's also hypoallergenic, which is great if you have sensitive skin in your household. I've also been impressed with how well they handled real life stains, showing me I'm not making a compromise by making the switch. And if you end up trying some of their other products, their dishwasher tablets and toilet tablets have become nice additions around the house too. Blueland is a certified B Corp and Leaping Bunny Cruelty Free certified. Their formulas are EPA Safer Choice certified. And many products have also earned Cradle to Cradle's Gold Material Health Certificate. If you're looking to make a small change in your routine, you can get 15% off your first [e-mail] JTF that's blueland.com JTF for 15% off your first order. Hey, it's Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Here's a little side dish from this

[B]

week's episode of Dinner's on Me.

[A]

This week we had Kristen Davis, host of the podcast Are youe a Charlotte? And of course, you know her from

[B]

Sex and the City.

[A]

And just like that, we met at Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica. We talked about Kristen's early days in New York City, the winding path that led to one of television's most iconic roles, and how the city shaped both her career and sense of self. We're jumping into a conversation as Kristen reflects more on the nuances of transracial adoption and the conversations she has with her black son and daughter.

[B]

What is their relationship like? Like they talk about their crazy white mother with each other.

[C]

Not that I'm aware of. Jesse, he's only eight, so I mean, I don't think that they, I don't know. I should ask them that. Maybe I'll ask them that when they get home from school today. I don't think they do know.

[B]

I think, yeah, Justin and I always talk about that, really, with our kids. I mean, they're too young to like really be discussing that one. I'm happy that they have each other for when that discussion.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I'm really happy that. Yes. I'm really happy that mine have each other. For sure. For sure. I mean, sometimes I'll say to my daughter, who's 14, right. Who's much more aware of things, you know, now than she was when she was young. And I said to her something about we were at this event, excuse me. And they there were, I felt like the event was kind of white centered.

[B]

I'm good.

[C]

Yes, thank you so much. It was excellent. It just seemed more white centered than it had to be. It was a diverse group of people, but the white people were, like, in charge of talking. And I said, gemma, don't you feel like this is kind of like, what, white centered? She said, I don't know what you mean, Mom. And I was like, okay, you know,

[B]

because 14 years old, so she wasn't seeing it, but she was.

[C]

No. And I mean, I'm not sure. Right. Like, I asked her, like, what's your opinion?

[B]

She probably was just that age where it said that wasn't really exactly. At least on that day.

[C]

Right, exactly. And I mean, I also think she goes a lot on vibe. Right. So, like, sometimes if we go somewhere and it's like, really white, like, she'll just be more quiet, you know, I'll just see there's like a quiet, like a less active, kind of outgoing part of her, which kind of breaks my heart. But I also understand. But that's why I pick where we go really carefully, you know? But I asked her this question that day, and my. My thought is also like, first of all, I want to hear her actual opinion. Second of all, maybe I'm wrong, but I still want to ask the question because I want her to be thinking about it. I don't want her to just take for granted whatever situation I'm putting her in as being normal. I want her to question it. You know, is it white centered? Is it not? Is it inclusive? Is it not? You know? So I think from that perspective, that's kind of my job is just to raise the topic so that they know that I'm not afraid to raise the topic.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Because sometimes when you're white, it's like everything's organized around us and you have to kind of turn it upside down a bit. Like, I try to put us in circumstances where I might be the only white person. You know, if you think about in your life, like, how many times are you in a room where you're the only white person? Probably not that often. Right. You have to look for it.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

And for my kids, that's important.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

It's interesting.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I don't know if I answered your question.

[A]

You did?

[D]

Okay.

[B]

You did. Yeah. It's all. It's very. It's something that not a lot of people experience it. A lot of. I mean, you have a very unique experience. I just. I think. But I also think it's very relatable. I mean, just even hearing you talk about your daughter saying, my dad wasn't even thinking about that. I mean, there's so many things I remember my parents talking to me about,

[C]

like, mom, like, no, it was very much like that. It was very much like that. But I also thought later I had to think that through. Like, was that bad that I asked that? And I was like, no, it's fine. First of all, that's a very teenage response.

[B]

Yes, exactly.

[D]

Totally cool.

[C]

Totally cool, Right? But then secondarily, I just wanted to think about it. Maybe it's later that she thinks about it, you know, like, oh, was that white centered? You know what I'm saying? Just want the question to be out there and that it's okay to discuss that and just say, yeah, that was really white centered.

[B]

Right.

[C]

You know?

[A]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Kristen looks back on her earliest days as a young actor in New York, including the commercial auditions she tried to talk herself out of. Okay, be right back. No one knows pests like Orkin. And when your calendar is packed with pool parties, graduations, birthday parties, cookouts, you need an Orkin pro. They know how to stay one step ahead of pests so you can enjoy your summer schedule. Orkin pros have been using this expertise and know how to make sure your summer plans go off without an itch for 125 years because they know nothing is more of a buzz kill than the buzz of pests. So if you've got a PA to do list this summer, just make sure to bring sunscreen. Orkin will do the rest. They'll help you get the most out of your backyard and keep almost all the unwanted guests away.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

I mean, when you started acting, you were in New York, right? Am I. Am I right in thinking that? Were you a two?

[C]

I was a kid.

[B]

Did you come to.

[A]

Did you go to graduate school in New York?

[B]

No. You didn't?

[C]

I went to undergrad at Rutgers.

[B]

Okay, okay, got it, got it, got it.

[C]

I got a BFA in theater. In acting. And then I just wanted to be on the stage. I didn't want to. I didn't. I was just telling someone this the other day when we graduated, we would get a showcase, you know. A showcase?

[B]

Yes, of course.

[C]

And a lot of agents and people came, and afterwards, I got a lot of cards. I had, like, a little stack of cards, and I was just like, what? I don't know, because I wasn't a big deal at school. I wasn't. I didn't get cast in all the plays or anything like that. Everyone was like, you know, she. She got cards from agents. People were kind of, like, thrown off, and I was like, I. I don't know, guys. I. I don't know. I was just surprised, totally shocked, and, like, slightly embarrassed, I would say, you know? And then one of the first agents that I went to see was a commercial agent, and I went and they were very nice, small agency in New York. And I said, you know, I'm not commercial, so I don't know why you guys want to meet me. But they were like, oh, no, you are. You are. Trust us. And I was like, no, no, really, I'm not. I'm not. I literally tried to talk them out of it, like, for a while, and they said, just humorous. Just go on one or two. Just one or two auditions. I was like, but why? No one's gonna hire me. I mean, it's so crazy that. Thank God they didn't listen to me

[B]

because you immediately booked something.

[C]

I mean, pretty soon, or I wouldn't have kept going because I really did feel like, no. Like, I. In my Gut. I just. I don't know why we had such

[B]

a different perspective of yourself. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. I don't know why. And thank God they. They pushed me to do it, and I went. And then eventually I booked one. And A, it was really fun, but, B, you get those checks for a while.

[B]

I know the commercials. I. I only booked one or two, but it really did float me. And it's so funny. I. I also had a showcase, and I had only one agent who wanted to work with me, and I was really excited to get anyone. I was like, this is great, because I also was not super encouraged in school. Like, I didn't feel. Feel like I wasn't getting. I don't know. It's so interesting because I met with. I saw one of my old classmates recently who hadn't seen in a while. Like, oh, no. Everyone knew that you were like. You were great, and you were, like, set. Like, I did not get that. I did not feel that at all. But this manager or agent rather, worked with me, and he told me later, he's like, the only reason I called you is because I needed someone in my, like, roster with red hair. He told me that.

[D]

He told me that.

[B]

I was like, oh, God, you actually said that out loud.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

But I was like, you know, I mean, whatever.

[A]

Whatever got me in the door.

[B]

Definitely. I remember him. It was back in the days where, like, all the headshots were black and white.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

And he was really concerned that people weren't, as he was mailing things in, gonna be able to see how vibrant my hair was. Wow. So he had me take, like, little, like. Like, secondary headshots that he would staple to the. The corner of the headshots that were color.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[C]

Did the red hair, like, open doors for you?

[B]

I don't think so.

[C]

It's really funny that he felt like his roster needed.

[B]

That he needed a redhead.

[C]

But also, isn't it just insane to think about the weirdnesses that we deal with and that somehow we're able to get through? Yeah. You know?

[B]

I know. And if that had happened to me later in life, I think I would

[A]

have been really discouraged by that.

[B]

But for some reason, because I was 22 or 21 years old, like, I just. Maybe even younger. Maybe 20. I just.

[A]

It didn't bother me.

[B]

I was like, great, I have red hair. You need red hair. Like, let's make a deal here.

[C]

Absolutely. You were just like, I'm gonna roll with this

[A]

now for a quick break, but don't go away when we come back. Kristen shares a surreal full circle moment of filming Sex and the City and Neighborhood. She once walked through as a struggling waitress and aspiring actor. And she reveals what scared her even more than auditioning in her twenties. Okay, be right back. Sometimes we know something feels off, but it's hard to know what kind of help we actually need. Therapy can be incredibly valuable, but for some people, it isn't the whole answer. That's where talk I atry comes in. Tochiatry is a 100% online psychiatry practice that provides comprehensive evaluations, diagnosis and ongoing medical management for conditions like adhd, anxiety, depression, and more. Unlike therapy only platforms, tochiatry is psychiatry. You're seeing a medical provider who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication when it's appropriate. It's more than 800 clinicians, except major insurers, so you can use your existing insurance instead of paying monthly subscriptions or out of network costs. You'll meet with a licensed psychiatrist who takes the time to understand what's going on, builds a personalized treatment plan and supports you over time with consistent evidence based care. And because you're continuing to see the same provider, you're not starting over every visit. Your treatment can evolve with you, so you're actually making progress over time. Getting started takes just a few minutes. Complete a short online assessment, get matched with clinicians who fit your needs and schedule your first visit in days, not months. More than 300,000 patients have already found high quality psychiatric care through toxiatry. Head to tokiatry.com jtf to complete a short assessment and get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. That's tochiatry.com JTF to get matched in minutes. T-A-L-K-I-A T-R-Y.com JTF. And we're back with more dinners on me.

[B]

What was your first big job that you got that felt like, okay, I now have an opportunity to maybe do this for a living.

[C]

I mean, I had enough, almost like breadcrumbs along the way to keep me in it, you know. So like right when I got out of school, I booked a regional theater job. I want to say in the first year, I could be wrong, but like, not that long into it, you know what I'm saying? Maybe a year and a half. And that I thought that was amazing and that seemed like a great way to live right until I started doing it a little bit and I was like, oh no, this is really hard. Like, I went to Cincinnati, I Did much do about nothing at Cincinnati Playhouse in the park, I played hero. It was really fun. But you make no money. You're in Cincinnati, and then you have to go back to your little apartment that hopefully you still have in the city or Hoboken at that point. I lived in Hoboken, I think, you know, it's just hard. You can't ever. Yeah, yeah. I had one roommate, I want to say. Yeah, maybe I lived in. I had a little time where I lived on the edge of grammar school Park.

[A]

Oh, how chic it was.

[C]

It wasn't really chic. It just seemed cheap. It made me laugh when we did it just like that. And they have Carrie move to Grandma City Park. I was like, yeah, this is so not what I was expecting.

[B]

But did you have, like, a full circle moment when I did? Did you? I'm sure. I mean, I'm sure you were in areas of that city where, like, you know, 20 years ago, 20, 30 years ago, you were like, I used to.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Have such a different experience.

[C]

One of the big ones, we shot at the Limelight when it was still open, you know, now it's not right. And I lived on the Limelight.

[B]

For people who don't know, because it's so great, it's worth mentioning. It's this old church that was a club. And then it became something like, stores

[C]

or like a store. Like a retail.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

I don't even know. But now I don't even know if it's anything but.

[B]

I mean, it was. You walk in and it was really, like. Was like a cathedral.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And with, like, you know, all these different, like, rooms and, like, little.

[C]

It was really fun. Yeah, really fun. We filmed there, I think, early, like, first season, I want to say, maybe. And then, you know, it's such a landmark. Right? Like, you just know when you're in the neighborhood or whatever. But I used to live on 18th East 18th, and I had a restaurant job in Chelsea. So I would walk there and walk home, and I would walk by. I was already sober, so I wasn't going to these places at that point. But I would walk by it on my way home. When I was a waitress. Waitress. Wannabe actress. I'd be like, oh, the Limelight. Yeah, it was interesting.

[B]

And then you end up shooting there.

[C]

Yeah. And then later on, Carrie lives, like, around the corner from there, which is funny.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. New York is such a funny place.

[B]

Was it. I mean, you also, you know, you talk about being a sober and, like, you know, but also, like, getting to Sort of live this alternate life with Charlotte, who was, like, not sober at all. Like, you know, at places like Limelight,

[C]

I mean, kind of. She wasn't quite this super cool. She would go.

[B]

She enjoyed a glass of wine.

[C]

She enjoyed the Cosmo. I mean, I think she. Yeah, she. She drank whatever they drank. You know what I mean? But, yeah, that was fun. It was fun. It's fun to be pretend, tipsy or drunk. Much more fun than real.

[B]

Right, right.

[C]

You know, because Charlotte's also funny. You know what I mean? So being a funny character, drinking. A lot more fun than real drinking. For me, at least. For me. For me. I don't know how anyone really now too, though. Now the world is so different, you know, but like, back then, there were so many. Like, you had to just get through the no's, you know, like, there were so many no's, you just had to get through it. Now you can make your videos on.

[B]

There's so many other ways to get people to notice you. Absolutely. Like, we had to actually show up. We had to somehow get into that room, which was really hard.

[C]

And then we had to, like, live through that room. I was a horrible auditioner. Horrible. Horrible.

[B]

Really?

[C]

I was just very consistently. Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I mean, it took me a long time. No one said that, but I kind of think that, like, I would just get close on a lot of things but not get them, you know?

[B]

You've done Broadway, though. You've done theater.

[C]

I have done Broadway. I've done theater, but I cannot sing and dance. My daughter tells me that I can, but I'm like, I just think you're biased. I don't think so.

[B]

Usually your kids are like, you can't. Like, they tell you you can't do things that you think you're good at.

[C]

That's kind of like when I sing

[B]

for my kids, they're like, that's not good. And I'm like, I've been paid to sing.

[D]

I know.

[C]

It's gold. Wow.

[B]

So if you're.

[A]

If your daughter's saying you can, I

[C]

think, can just be sweet to me. I think she's being sweet to me. Yeah. But congratulations on your drama desk. That's a very big deal.

[B]

Thank you. Thank you.

[C]

I mean, amazing.

[B]

Thank you.

[C]

And. And for a one man show, that's like my worst nightmare. I would die. Die. I would never. I would have, like, no sleep. I would just. I don't even know how you do it.

[A]

It is.

[B]

It's astonishing what fear can make you do. But but, you know, fear is a really.

[C]

Why did you say yes? Like, I know, I know.

[B]

I pretty consistently say yes to things that scare me now.

[C]

Amazing.

[B]

Because after doing modern family for 11 years and maybe feel the same way with your show, like, I just feel like any opportunity to take me out of my comfort zone is something I want to do, because I was really in my comfort zone for so long.

[C]

For sure. No, I'd like to stay in my comfort zone.

[B]

You do?

[C]

Yeah, totally. No. You know, if I act. Think about it. No, there. There's. There's one thing that I've signed on to that's coming at totally different. Not, not acting thing, but, like, thing. I don't even know how to describe it. And I'm like, what was I thinking? It's kind of like that. Like, you're in the moment. You're like, wow, I can't believe someone's asking me to do this. And then you're like, yes. And then later on, you're like, no.

[B]

It's like, running Wild with Bear Grylls or something. Are you gonna, like.

[C]

No, but that would be scary. No. I've never been asked. Have you been asked?

[A]

I have.

[B]

I've done it.

[C]

Did you do it?

[B]

I did it.

[C]

What did you have to do? What did you have to eat?

[B]

I went to the Dolomites.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

And I. What?

[A]

I had to eat.

[B]

I will tell you this. We were so. We were up in the mountains, and it was, you know, snowing, and we were, like, scaling a knife ridge of a mountain, and it was very. We made it igloo to sleep in.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[B]

And what I ate was there was a goat or something that had fallen off the mountain and was, like, sticking. It's like, legs were, like, sticking out of the snow. And I. I mean, I'm sorry in advance to anyone who doesn't want to hear this, but I hacked off the leg, put it, like, in my backpack, took it to camp.

[C]

Did Bear tell you to do this?

[B]

Yeah, he told me how to. I was. I mean, I would not have done any of this. I'm, like, on my own.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Bear gave me all these clear instructions.

[C]

Okay, okay, okay.

[B]

Like, I was like, where on the leg do I chop

[C]

this?

[B]

It's pretty entertaining. A lot of. Oh, my Gods. Oh, my God.

[A]

Oh, my.

[C]

Oh, my God. I can only imagine.

[B]

And then we, like, boiled the meat and had.

[C]

I don't think I'm cut out for that. I don't think I can do that. I've never been asked, so I Haven't had to. But I'm sure if I was asked, I'd just be like, wow, I should try. And then I'd be like, oh, no, what did I get myself into?

[B]

What is the. Are you allowed to say with the food?

[C]

I'm not allowed to say. I'm not allowed to say. I shouldn't have brought it up because that's so mean. But it's something different that people who do what we do are occasionally asked to do. And when the announcement comes out, you'll be like, that's what it was. But it is scary now because now I'm like, oh, my God, I did say yes. And I am gonna actually have to do it.

[B]

I have nine guesses in my head.

[C]

And I'm not gonna guess because it was really mean.

[B]

I don't want to ruin it.

[C]

I don't even really know the protocol, but I'm 99% sure I'm not supposed to say yes.

[B]

You probably should. Like, already they're mad at you, you for even bringing it up.

[C]

Probably. Probably. My publicist is, like, kicking me under the table. And I don't know it right now, but, you know, it's one of those things too, where I think that in life you feel like we've gotten to this point and we're so lucky that we do what we do. And we're in these positions where people would ask to do things. You know, they're like, would you do this? And you're like, well, I should say yes. That's an incredible thing that anyone would ask me to do such a thing. Like, just recently, I had another experience like this where they asked me to give the commencement address at my mom's university. I'd already done the acting school that I went to within Rutgers, which was totally doable because it was two actors.

[B]

Exactly. I'd be comfortable speaking to my people.

[C]

Right. But this was Colorado University, Boulder. Regular, regular people. Okay. And I was just like, you weren't. You were.

[A]

You were born in Boulder, but you

[B]

weren't there for very long, were you?

[C]

So I was five, I think, and I really loved it. And my mom loved it. And my grandparents lived there for a long time, so we went back every year.

[B]

It's such an interesting thing that they asked you to go to your mother.

[C]

My mom. I know, I know. It was a student committee.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[C]

Because I was like, how could this be? How could this be? It was a student led committee, whom I met all women, young women. So impressive. And it was huge. It was 40,000 people, a football stadium.

[A]

And you did it.

[C]

Thought I was going to die. I had to get beta blockers, but it worked. I did it.

[A]

40,000 people.

[C]

Yeah. They stood up. They gave a standing ovation.

[B]

Of course I did.

[C]

I know. I'm still shocked, though. I'm still like, how did that happen? How did that happen? It was crazy.

[B]

And who did? So I assumed you wrote stuff to help you.

[C]

I did not. I should have, probably.

[B]

Thank you.

[C]

Thank you so much. I should have. I thought about it later, you know, like, there was a speechwriter at the lunch that we went to later who helped the chancellor. I was like, huh, probably should have done that. Didn't think of it.

[B]

Do you ever, like, call upon writers from Sex and the City to. I thought I used to do that a lot with Modern Family writers. And I was like, they probably hate that I do this all the time. Like, ask them to do what they do for free.

[C]

Well, that's true, but I think they're flattered. And I think when you're working together and such a group.

[B]

Yeah. Well, they understand, like, my. My cadence, my humor. So it's like, you will get, like, what works on me more than anyone

[A]

else will, so I'd rather you do it.

[B]

But also, I feel like I'm asking them to, like, you know, throw me a bone for.

[C]

Well, that is true. You are. You are. But I. I think they're flattered. You really. I mean, I almost asked Michael to write a joke or two for me because I do know that it's important to be funny.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

But then I was like, I don't know that I'm going to have the wherewithal to tell a joke. Like, I'm gonna be so scared at the beginning, which I was. You know, I had to really, like, ease in. So I decided to just, like, talk about my personal self, like, Boulder and, you know, start that way, which I did, and it seemed to go well.

[A]

That was a little more from my conversation with Kristen Davis. 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 Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica, California. Next week on Dinners On Me. You know her from the Good Place, A League of Their Own, and the new Peacock drama, Five Star Weekend. It's Darcy Cardin. We talk about the surreal experience of being nominated for an Emmy during the pandemic, the hustle it took to make it in New York, including Nanning for a Saturday Night Live alum, and the career changing moment that led to the Good Place. Dinners on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

[B]

It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch.

[A]

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.

[D]

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