Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Episode: Ted Danson – how 'Cheers' almost wasn’t and falling in love again with his wife on ‘A Man on the Inside’
Released: February 9, 2026
Episode Overview
Jesse Tyler Ferguson sits down with legendary actor Ted Danson for a warm, witty conversation over breakfast at LA’s buzzy Max and Helen’s Diner. They dig into Ted’s humble beginnings, the precarious early days of Cheers, challenges of reinvention post-career-defining roles, and the joy and vulnerability of aging with purpose. The episode is full of endearing stories, honest reflection, and playful banter, focusing on their mutual experiences as actors and the power of meaningful connections on and off screen.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Overlap of Their Careers – Coincidence and Connection
- Shared Television DNA: Jesse reflects on how many of his career highlights overlap with Ted’s legacy, from working with James Burrows (Cheers director and Modern Family’s pilot director) to interactions with Shelley Long and casting director Jeff Greenberg.
- Quote (Jesse, 06:08): “An eleven-year run of a show that I also had with Modern Family. It’s been interesting how much overlap there is.”
- Chance Encounters: The episode was sparked after they ran into each other in the bathroom line at Max and Helen’s—proof that LA’s “small world” still brings Hollywood greats together.
- Community in Comedy: Both express gratitude for being part of the “tribe” that gets to “chase the giggle in life.” (Ted, 06:24)
2. The Precarious Launch of Cheers
- Not an Instant Hit: Cheers’ now-iconic legacy almost never happened; it debuted as one of TV’s lowest-rated shows.
- Quote (Ted, 10:59): “Critics loved us...But we were dead last. One week, we were like 75th out of 70.”
- Quote (Ted, 11:25): “They later said, ‘Oh, no, no, we weren’t brilliant programmers. We had nothing to replace Cheers with, or we would have.’”
- Staying Positive in the Unknown: Ted recalls choosing optimism despite seeing “40 actors coming up the stairs” to audition (09:01).
3. The Pivotal Shelley Long Exit & Show Evolution
- Losing a “Dance Partner”: Ted explains how losing Shelley Long was a creative and emotional crossroads.
- Quote (Ted, 13:03): “There was definitely one (thought) that was, ‘Oh, I just lost my dance partner.’ She was the magic of Cheers.”
- Seamless Transitions: Kirstie Alley’s arrival re-energized the show, as did Woody Harrelson’s replacing Coach—thanks to strong writing and their talent.
- Quote (Ted, 14:51): “One of the great things about being successful when you’re in a show...is they tend to leave you alone.”
- Character-driven Comedy: Both agree that the success came from great character work over punchline-driven scripts.
- Quote (Ted, 15:00): “Both our shows have something...You weren’t doing jokes. Nor were we. It was all character.”
4. Reinvention After Iconic Roles
- The Shadow of Sam Malone: Ted admits post-Cheers roles were often compared to Sam, making reinvention both necessary and difficult.
- Quote (Ted, 21:53): “There are some hit and misses, because I think people wanted me to be Sam. But I was aging, and it no longer was funny.”
- Writing is Everything: Good writing enabled his successful transitions, notably with series like Becker.
- Jesse’s Parallel: Jesse shares his own struggles escaping the straightjacket of Mitch from Modern Family and having to “swing big” to show his range.
5. Humble Beginnings, Outsider Status, and New Mexico Roots
- From the Four Corners: Both grew up in the Southwest—Jesse in Albuquerque, Ted in Arizona/New Mexico—revealing a shared sense of “outsider” identity.
- Ted's Early Life: Raised by a museum director/archaeologist, Ted’s childhood was steeped in arts, crafts, and indigenous culture.
- Quote (Ted, 24:09): “[Dad] was the director of a museum...to support, nurture the arts and crafts and culture of that Four Corners area.”
- No TV Childhood: Ted didn’t grow up with television and thus missed much of pop culture, which, ironically, became the world he inhabited as an actor.
- Quote (Ted, 26:50): “(We) didn’t have a TV at home ...pop culture just went right over my head.”
6. Finding Acting by Accident
- A Fortunate Audition: Ted’s path to acting began when he followed a girl to a play’s audition at Stanford, fell in love with performing, and was encouraged to pursue it professionally at Carnegie Mellon.
- Quote (Ted, 28:13): “To stay in the room, I had to do something, get on stage. I heard some people laugh...like a little teeny light bulb.”
7. On Vulnerability, Aging, and Purpose
- Celebrity as Social Armor: Ted confides how even at Cheers’ peak, he still felt on the outside.
- Quote (Ted, 37:07): “It was as if I had to become famous, a celebrity, to have the right to walk in a door.”
- Changing Relationship to Social Interaction: He’s more comfortable now approaching people, but is naturally “a hit and run” at social events, always eager to return home to wife Mary Steenburgen.
- Purposeful Aging: Discussion on his new series A Man on the Inside and the importance of showing that life—and making a difference—doesn’t have a shelf life.
- Quote (Ted, 40:27): “There’s no shelf life to my value in the world. I can keep going acting and making a difference in the world forever.”
8. Activism and Getting Arrested with Jane Fonda
- Intentional Friendship: Jane Fonda and Mary drive intentional, purposeful friendship and activism.
- The “Champagne of Arrests”: Ted humorously recounts joining Jane Fonda’s “Fire Drill Fridays” protests and being (gently) arrested for climate activism.
- Quote (Ted, 46:20): “They’d come to you and say, ‘OK, this is the last time, Mr. Danson, that you will be warned...We will have to put handcuffs on you and arrest you.’ And I said, ‘Yes, please, I’m going to be arrested.’”
- Quote (Ted, 47:14): “To say I was arrested is a little bit of a wank.”
9. Legacy, Ego, and What’s Next
- Career vs. ego: Even with awards and ongoing projects, Ted confesses to never feeling fully “arrived.”
- Quote (Ted, 48:18): “I hate the word career...my ego is such that I go, 'No, I haven’t done it yet.’”
- Awards: Temporary Relief: Awards bring relaxation if won, but losing can trigger self-doubt.
- Quote (Ted, 48:46): “If you win, the only good thing is you can relax. If you lose, you have to work your ass off being philosophical.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On the start of Cheers:
- Ted Danson (10:59): “We were dead last. One week in the ratings, Jimmy [Burrows] likes to say we were 75th out of 70. There were only 70 shows.”
On Shelley Long leaving: - Ted Danson (13:03): “There was definitely one [thought] that was, ‘Oh, I just lost my dance partner.’ She was the magic of Cheers.” On role reinvention:
- Ted Danson (21:53): “People wanted me to be Sam. But I was aging, and it no longer was funny.” On accidental activism:
- Ted Danson (46:20): “They’d come to you and say, ‘OK, this is the last time, Mr. Danson, we will have to put handcuffs on you and arrest you.’ And I said, ‘Yes, please, I’m going to be arrested.’” On awards and ego:
- Ted Danson (48:46): “If you win, the only good thing is you can relax. If you lose, you have to work your ass off being philosophical.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00–03:35 | Opening & diner setup
- 06:01 | Discussion of Shelley Long’s guest turns on Modern Family & role overlap
- 10:59 | Cheers’ rocky ratings debut
- 12:00–15:00 | Transition after Shelley Long left; Kirstie Alley’s arrival
- 21:13–22:45 | Jesse and Ted on escaping typecasting and reinvention
- 23:13–26:49 | Both growing up in Four Corners region; outsider feelings
- 26:49–28:13 | Ted’s no-TV childhood; accidental discovery of acting
- 37:07–38:19 | Ted’s vulnerability, discomfort with fame, and craving connection
- 40:14–43:09 | Discussion of A Man on the Inside, purposeful living, and aging
- 43:09–47:14 | Friendship, intentional activism, and getting arrested with Jane Fonda
- 48:00–49:13 | Thoughts on “career,” ego, and the elusive feeling of success
- 49:35 | Closing mutual admiration
Tone & Style
The conversation is friendly, candid, and often self-deprecating, marked by Ted Danson’s gentle humility and Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s honest, enthusiastic curiosity. Humor, warmth, and heartfelt moments abound, balancing reflection on legacy with a zest for growth—and always, another bite of diner food.
For listeners who value inside-Hollywood stories, comic vulnerability, and the wisdom of lasting showbiz figures, this episode is a generous meal with two of television’s most beloved actors.