Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Episode: Wendi McLendon-Covey – On Her Office Job & Why Her Parents Hated ‘Reno 911!’

Release Date: March 3, 2026
Location: Della Nonna, Arts District, Downtown Los Angeles
Main Guests:

• Host: Jesse Tyler Ferguson
• Guest: Wendi McLendon-Covey

Episode Overview

In this vibrant and candid episode, Jesse Tyler Ferguson sits down with comedic powerhouse Wendi McLendon-Covey for a warm, laughter-filled dinner at Della Nonna. Their conversation dives into Wendi’s working-class grind before her breakout on “The Goldbergs,” the unpredictable road of showbiz, her parents’ reaction to “Reno 911!,” comfort TV in a noisy world, awkward celebrity encounters, and what it’s like to land steady sitcom work in an uncertain industry. They also dish on their mutual love for ensemble comedy, the challenges of sustenance in Hollywood, and the healing magic of classic reruns.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wendi’s Career Trajectory: From Office Job to Sitcom Star

• Sitcom Scheduling and the Hustle
  • Wendi shares she just wrapped the current season of “St. Denis Medical” and has been picked up for a third (05:10).
  • “My schedule for [‘The Goldbergs’] was not great. That was grueling.” – Wendi (05:35)
• Before She “Made It”: Holding an Office Job
  • Wendi reveals she kept a regular office job during “Reno 911!” because the pay was so low.
  • “I had an office job until I got ‘The Goldbergs.’ People are like, ‘Oh, my God, you must be rolling in it.’ No, you needed the office job to support this little show I’m on. I’m not making any money.” (21:15-21:27)
• Financial Realities of Comedy
  • Jesse and Wendi discuss how episodic pay is quickly depleted by taxes and fees.
  • “If they say you’re getting $10,000 for something, might as well chop that in half. Immediately. You’re not keeping $10,000.” – Wendi (34:15)

2. The Making and Legacy of “Reno 911!”

• Casting and Improvisational Roots
  • Wendi talks about her audition process, how the show’s improv format shaped her approach, and how she almost gave up on acting before landing the part. (14:00-15:09)
• Making Something Out of the B-Side
  • “They wanted, like, a sexy cop. I don’t. I can’t play that. But I can play someone who thinks she’s sexy. So that’s what I’m going to do. That to me is funnier.” – Wendi (14:44)
• The Show’s Longevity Despite Modest Beginnings
  • “No one knew what it was going to be. No one knew that it would not be off the air in 25 years.” – Wendi (21:52)
• Revival and Streaming
  • Jesse and Wendi reminisce about the show’s return for Quibi (and then Roku), squeezing out two movies (09:10-10:00).
• Iconic Scenes & Audience Perception
  • Discussion of viral moments, particularly the “choreography drunk driver” scene—people still send her the clip, thinking it’s real (13:07).
  • “I am scared that not enough people know that it’s fake!” – Wendi (13:12)

3. Mutual Comedy Admiration & Dream Collaborations

• Jesse’s “Reno 911!” Obsession
  • Jesse admits he always wanted to guest star on “Reno 911!”
  • “For me, my dream was always to be a guest on Reno 911.” – Jesse (08:33)
  • Wendi offers: “It’s in my contract. Like, I shan’t be back unless Jesse Tyler Ferguson shows up doing whatever the hell character he wants!” (10:06)
• What Kind of “Perp” Would Jesse Play?
  • They joke about the roles he might inhabit (“perp, victim, or witness”) (11:07-11:21).

4. The Value of Comfort Television

• Finding Solace in Rewatches
  • Jesse and Wendi bond over their love for “comfort TV” classics:
    • “The Golden Girls is on all the time...King of the Hill, Seinfeld...they take you to that good place of feeling like everything’s going to be okay.” – Wendi (23:13)
• Drowning Out Social Media Noise
  • Both lament the addictive, soul-rotting quality of social media (23:36)
    • “It is rotting our souls.” – Wendi (23:38)

5. Navigating Fame & Odd Encounters

• Freebies in Hollywood
  • Thompson observes how perks (like free food at restaurants) paradoxically favor those who need them least:
    • “Well, I’m sorry. I gave joy to America for 11 years. I’m going to accept the free bread that was brought out.” – Jesse (24:44)
• Awkward Fan Moments
  • Wendi and Jesse trade stories of wild things people have said:
    • “God, you’re not as fat as I thought you’d be.” – Wendi (26:31)
    • “Oh, you look so much better in person!” – Jesse (25:55)
  • On always saying yes to fan photos: “But then I look like an unmade bed.” – Wendi (27:37)
• Celebrity Human Moments
  • Jesse tells a humorous story about unwittingly wearing Sesame Street character zit patches in public (27:44-28:46).

6. Familial Support and Showbiz Dreams

• Parental Uncertainty & Acceptance
  • Wendi opens up about her parents’ discomfort with her playing sexually provocative characters:
    • “They hated Reno. They were so embarrassed because I was playing a character...They were so like, ‘We did not raise you to be like this.’” (36:52)
    • “I’m not playing this from experience.” (37:04)
  • She gives credit to her husband Greg for believing in her dreams:
    • “He was the only one who believed in me...for real, for real.” – Wendi (35:25)
• “Reno 911!” as an Outsider’s Path
  • “Of course [my parents] had no roadmap for this. They just didn’t want to be supporting me forever. Which is valid.” – Wendi (35:43)

7. The Power and Magic of Stage Work

• Theater Dreams
  • Both nostalgically discuss the unique adrenaline and camaraderie of theater life:
    • “Being backstage is so magical...the adrenaline you feel after you’ve done a good show...it’s like the best drug in the world.” – Wendi (38:20-39:06)
  • “I wish I could do more theater. That’s my dream.” – Wendi (38:20)
• Hopes for Future Stage Work
  • Wendi mentions being offered off-off-Broadway scripts but wants to wait for “the right thing” (40:02).

8. Transitioning to “St. Denis Medical”

• Landing the New Role
  • Wendi describes the post-Goldbergs pivot to NBC’s “St. Denis Medical” and the luck of finding such a cohesive new cast with no chemistry tests due to the time crunch before industry strikes (41:15-41:48).
• Ensemble Chemistry
  • “We lucked out with this cast...and it did work. We lucked out.” – Wendi (41:04-41:48)
• Industry Recognition—Or Not
  • “Luckily, the industry pretty much ignored ‘The Goldbergs,’ so it was fun...We got no recognition ever. Fans liked it, so that’s really what the most important thing is.” – Wendi (42:05-42:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I was convinced you were an old whore...Some crusty old broad that drives an IROC.”
  — Jesse (03:44), Wendi (08:16)
• “My dream was always to be a guest on Reno 911!”
  — Jesse (08:33)
• “Like 13, 15 years. Yeah, yeah...we just kept going, not knowing where this was, thinking someone will pick up these episodes. And they did.”
  — Wendi (09:10-09:48) on Quibi’s demise and the show’s afterlife
• “If this ever comes back, you—I'm 100% happy. It’s in my contract.”
  — Wendi (10:04-10:06)
• “I had an office job until I got the Goldbergs...No, you needed the office job to support this little...show I’m on.”
  — Wendi (21:15-21:27)
• “The Golden Girls is on all the time...King of the Hill, Seinfeld...they always take you to that good place.”
  — Wendi (23:13)
• “Social media...it is killing us—it’s rotting our souls.”
  — Wendi (23:36-23:38)
• “God, you’re not as fat as I thought you’d be.”
  — Wendi (26:39)
• “He was the only one who believed in me...for real, for real.”
  — Wendi about her husband Greg (35:25)
• “They hated Reno. They were so embarrassed...I was playing a character that was not over-sexualized. They were so like, we did not raise you to be like this.”
  — Wendi (36:52)
• “Being backstage is so magical...the adrenaline you feel after you’ve done a good show...best drug in the world.”
  — Wendi (38:20-39:06)
• “We lucked out with this cast...we had to hurry and do this pilot before the strikes, so there was no time...It did work, we lucked out.”
  —Wendi (41:04-41:48)
• “Luckily, the industry pretty much ignored ‘The Goldbergs,’ so it was fun...Fans liked it, so that’s really what the most important thing is.”
  — Wendi (42:05-42:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 05:10: Wendi discusses scheduling, hiatus, and show pick-up news.
• 08:16: Jesse and Wendi joke about sitcom personas versus real identities.
• 09:10-10:06: The long hiatus and surprise revival of Reno 911!
• 13:07: Notorious “choreography” Reno 911! scene goes viral.
• 14:00-15:09: Wendi’s unique audition process for Reno 911!
• 21:15-21:27: The financial reality of basic cable; working a day job while acting.
• 23:13: Comfort TV and the importance of nostalgic comedies.
• 25:55-27:37: Awkward fan encounters, candid street photos, and visible mustaches.
• 27:44-28:46: Jesse’s embarrassment over wearing Sesame Street zit patches in public.
• 34:15: What actors really take home from a $10,000 gig.
• 35:25-36:01: Wendi’s husband’s support and her parents’ confusion over her career.
• 36:52: Parents’ embarrassment over her Reno 911! character.
• 38:20-39:06: The magic and adrenaline of live theater.
• 41:04-41:48: The “St. Denis Medical” casting and on-screen chemistry.
• 42:05-42:26: Lack of industry recognition for “The Goldbergs” despite fan favorite status.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a heartfelt, revealing, and sharply funny exchange, shining a light on the unpredictable realities behind sitcom stardom, the power of belief from loved ones, the enduring importance of comfort TV, and the courage it takes to keep pursuing dreams in Hollywood. Wendi’s candor on finances, fame, and family, paired with Jesse’s empathy and quick humor, make this an essential listen for fans of comedy and behind-the-scenes creatives.

Next Week:
Jesse welcomes Dan Bukatinsky to discuss queer acceptance and his journey from acting to producing.