Wendie Malick — on success after 70 and getting comfy with on-screen beau Harrison Ford

Summary

Episode Summary: Wendie Malick — On Success After 70 and Getting Comfy with On-Screen Beau Harrison Ford

In this engaging episode of Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, host Jesse Tyler Ferguson sits down with acclaimed actress Wendie Malick to delve into her remarkable career, personal life, and her blossoming on-screen relationship with Harrison Ford. Recorded at the cozy Huckleberry restaurant in Santa Monica, the conversation provides listeners with an intimate look into Wendie’s journey of success past the age of 70, her life off the screen, and insightful anecdotes from her time on set.

1. Wendy Malick’s Stellar Career

Wendie Malick reflects on her extensive acting career, highlighting her iconic roles and the evolution that has kept her relevant in the entertainment industry. She discusses her most memorable characters, such as Nina Van Horn in Just Shoot Me!, Victoria Chase in Hot in Cleveland, and Dr. Julie Barham in Shrinking.

Notable Quote:

[05:28] Wendie Malick: "I was doing some research. I was like, oh, Wendy's been nominated for a lot of Emmys, and never won. That's actually shocking to me, especially for just you."

Wendy attributes her enduring presence in Hollywood to her versatility and passion for diverse roles. She shares how her characters often embody strong, empowered women who balance career ambitions with personal connections, resonating deeply with audiences.

2. Life Off the Screen: Ranch Living and Family

Transitioning from her professional life, Wendie opens up about her personal life, offering a glimpse into her serene existence on a ranch in Topanga. She emphasizes her love for animals and the tranquility that comes with living off the grid.

Notable Quotes:

[07:03] Wendie Malick: "We're down to two horses and a miniature donkey. And two dogs."

[08:10] Wendie Malick: "Well, I actually. I have a daughter, an adopted daughter. She's technically my niece, but we adopted her because she's lived with us since she was five."

Wendy discusses the challenges and joys of raising her adopted daughter alongside her commitment to animal care, highlighting the fulfillment she derives from her unconventional family structure.

3. Behind the Scenes: Working with Legendary Co-Stars

Wendie shares delightful stories from her time on Hot in Cleveland, particularly her interactions with co-stars like Betty White, Cloris Leachman, and Georgia Engel. She recalls the camaraderie and the vibrant dynamics that made filming enjoyable and memorable.

Notable Quote:

[26:11] Wendie Malick: "She was so gorgeous, but I don't think she ever really knew. She was so. She was not at all full of herself. She was very grounded as a model."

Wendy recounts humorous incidents, such as Cloris Leachman’s playful disruptions on set and the heartfelt moments shared during cast gatherings, showcasing the warmth and mutual respect among the cast members.

4. A Blossoming Romance: Working with Harrison Ford

One of the highlights of the episode is Wendie’s discussion about her on-screen partnership with Harrison Ford in the series Shrinking. She describes their chemistry and the comfort she feels working alongside the legendary actor.

Notable Quotes:

[19:05] Wendie Malick: "He’s like an old pair of jeans. That's how comfortable I feel with you."

[20:18] Wendie Malick: "I felt very safe in that relationship and that we can take it wherever we need to."

Wendy elaborates on how Harrison’s supportive nature and genuine personality have made their collaboration both professionally rewarding and personally enjoyable, adding depth to her portrayal of a therapist navigating late-in-life relationships.

5. Navigating Ageism and Sustaining a Long-Lasting Career

Wendie offers valuable insights into the challenges of ageism in Hollywood and how she has maintained a thriving career well into her later years. She attributes her sustained success to a combination of luck, timing, and relentless dedication.

Notable Quotes:

[49:14] Wendie Malick: "I think part of it is luck and timing, you know, and then if you do get the opportunity, being incredibly grateful. And leaving it on the mat every time you get a chance to play."

[50:06] Wendie Malick: "And with your roles, you've been able to support people you care about getting on shows too. It's all about being generous when you have the opportunity."

Wendy emphasizes the importance of continually honing her craft, embracing diverse roles, and fostering positive relationships within the industry to stay relevant and sought-after.

6. Personal Growth and Gratitude

Throughout the episode, Wendie shares her strategies for maintaining mental health and personal well-being. She emphasizes the significance of gratitude, gratitude rituals, and prioritizing what truly brings joy to her life.

Notable Quote:

[37:08] Wendie Malick: "I have to start my day every day with a gratitude ritual of thank you for what remains."

Wendy’s approach to life underscores the importance of mindfulness and focusing on the positive aspects, which has undoubtedly contributed to her resilience and happiness both on and off the screen.

7. Memorable Audition Stories and Lessons Learned

Wendie recounts her audition experience for the role of Grace in the first Indiana Jones movie, sharing a humorous yet poignant story about missing the initial screen test due to a hangover.

Notable Quote:

[45:10] Wendie Malick: "I went behind him. That was the beginning. And then the next day he said, so, what's your story? And I went, well, I don't know. What's yours?"

This anecdote serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of showbiz and the importance of seizing opportunities with preparedness and enthusiasm.

8. Building Meaningful Connections in Hollywood

Wendie discusses the significance of nurturing genuine relationships within the industry, highlighting how she leverages her connections to support her friends and colleagues in their careers.

Notable Quote:

[51:08] Wendie Malick: "I immediately find out, okay, go to the casting people, the executive producer. These are the people we need to get on the show."

Wendy’s approach emphasizes the value of community and reciprocity, fostering a supportive environment that benefits everyone involved.

Conclusion

This episode of Dinner’s on Me offers a heartfelt and comprehensive exploration of Wendie Malick’s life and career. From her achievements and roles in beloved TV shows to her personal journey of family and love, Wendie provides inspiring insights and entertaining anecdotes. Her candid conversation with Jesse Tyler Ferguson not only celebrates her successes but also sheds light on the importance of resilience, gratitude, and meaningful relationships in both personal and professional realms.

Listeners can cherish Wendie’s wisdom on balancing career longevity with personal fulfillment and appreciate the depth she brings to every aspect of her life. Whether you're a fan of her work or seeking motivation for your own journey, this episode promises to deliver valuable takeaways and delightful stories.

Notable Moments with Timestamps:

• [05:28] Wendy discusses her surprising lack of Emmy wins despite multiple nominations.
• [07:03] Introduction to Wendy’s ranch and her beloved animals.
• [19:05] Wendy compares her comfort with Harrison Ford to an old pair of jeans.
• [26:11] Wendy shares her impressions of co-star Cloris Leachman’s grounded nature.
• [45:10] Humorous story about missing the Indiana Jones screen test.

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Transcript

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This episode of Dinners on Me is.

[Wendy Malik]

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[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I can personally vouch for that.

[Wendy Malik]

Because when Beckett was around a year, he went through this phase where he refused pants.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He just wanted to run around in diapers and nothing else. And I thought, well, if that's the outfit of choice, it better be a good one.

[Wendy Malik]

So I gave Huggies Snug and Dry.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

A try and honestly, I was shocked.

[Wendy Malik]

They were unbelievably soft.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Like, wait, is this a diaper or a cashmere throw? And let's be real. Listen, Beckett has standards.

[Wendy Malik]

If something's even remotely itchy, it's coming off.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

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[Wendy Malik]

Vacation season is nearly upon us and.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

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[Wendy Malik]

Think lightweight loungewear that's perfect for those.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

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[Wendy Malik]

For under $200 feels like a steal.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

For your next trip, treat yourself to luxe upgrade you deserve from quints. Go to quints.com JTF for 365 day returns plus free shipping on your order. That's Q-U-I-N C-E.com JTF to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com JTF hi, it's Jesse today on the show. You know her from Just Shoot me Hot Cleveland. And most recently from the Apple TV series, Shrinking Wendy Malik.

[Wendy Malik]

We're down to two horses and a miniature donkey. And two dogs.

A miniature donkey?

Come on, people. Come over just to make out with him because he's so freaking beautiful.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This is dinner's on me, and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Throughout her career, Wendy Malik has made a habit of playing women who have it all, or at least fake it fabulously. With sharp wit, impeccable timing, and a killer wardrobe, her characters juggle ambition and romance like seasoned pros, proving that success doesn't mean shutting the door on love. Just, you know, maybe slamming it a few times first. Whether she's strutting through a newsroom as a delightfully self absorbed Nina Van Horn in Just Shoot Me, clinging to fame and martinis as soap diva Victoria Chase in Hot in Cleveland, or trading dry banter and real emotion as Dr. Julie Barham in Shrinking, Malik brings humor, heart and humanity to every role. Her characters resonate because they refuse to choose between career and connection. They flirt, fall, flounder, and do it all in heels. Through breakups, breakthroughs, and Botox jokes, Malik shows us that women can be complex, confident, and still open to love, preferably with a sight of wine and sarcasm. Now, as someone who grew up watching Just Shoot Me, Wendy Malik's character, Nina Van Horne, was everything I thought a sitcom character should be. Glamorous, hilarious, and whip smart. Getting to guest star opposite Wendy on Hot in Cleveland years later was surreal for me. We'd met before at a few parties, but spending that week with her in her element only deepened my admiration for her. She was just as warm, funny, and magnetic in real life as she is on the screen. So I was thrilled when she took me up on a meal on me after one of her days of shooting.

[Wendy Malik]

Hey.

Oh my God, it looks so good. Hi.

Thank you. How are you?

Good.

How are you?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, good to see you. I brought Wendy to Huckleberry in Santa Monica. Now for any Angeleno. Huckleberry has been a morning destination for well over a decade. What started as a Santa Monica farmer's market inspired pop up at sister restaurant Rusta Canyon quickly morphed into a brick and mortar that would get folks lined up early for their pastry case full of biscuits, tarts, donuts, and so much more. It's cozy, delicious, no frills vibe. Felt like the perfect spot for my friend Wendy, who looks like a model but lives a very low maintenance lifestyle out on a ranch in Topanga, cozying up over some coffee and sandwiches Just felt like the perfect treat. We also got a delightful surprise of some of Huckleberry's heavenly cakes and tarts. And now I'm already planning my next visit. Okay, let's get to the conversation.

[Wendy Malik]

I was doing some research. I was like, oh, Wendy's been nominated for a lot of Emmys, and Nary won.

And she's been around forever. No. And never won.

That's actually shocking to me, especially for just you.

Me. But yeah, that was the one. It should have been, I think.

No, 100%.

Yeah.

And hot in Cleveland.

Yeah. That was fun, too. But that was almost like a derivative version of Just Shoot Me. I mean, Nina was the. I think that was. That was probably the one that put me on the map the most.

Oh, that's how I first got to know you.

Yeah. Yeah. Because you're too young for. Dream on.

No, no, I'm five years old.

But you were a little. You were a child.

I was. I was an adult. What was that, 1990? Yeah.

So 90 to 90.

I was in high school.

Yeah. Yeah.

But I did watch it.

No, actually, that was your age group. Was the one who all thought, oh, this is exciting because it's so raunchy.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. Have you been here before?

Yeah.

You live in the neighborhood, right?

I live in Topanga.

Were you okay with the fires?

Oh, they were all around us. It's so surreal.

How long have you lived over there?

30 years.

So basically, the entire time you've been married and you kind of live off the grid, Right? Like, you have. Well, we did.

We did. And we do have land. We have a ranch. And the first, when we lived in our little cabin while my husband was building the house, we were totally off the grid. People would come over and go, wow, it's a lot of nature. Where's your real house? I go, this is it.

This is it.

And if the sun doesn't shine, I don't blow dry my hair. I mean, that's the way it is. But it's beautiful. I mean, and we've got animals.

And what kind of animals do you have?

We're down to two horses and a miniature donkey. And two dogs.

A miniature donkey. Come on.

Oh, people come over just to make out with him because he's so freaking beautiful.

Like, what would you do in the buyers if the fires had been more threatening?

Well, because you can get stuck in there. You know, that's the scary part. So the Tuesday night when things were really insane and we evacuated the horses, we took them to Pierce okay, so the two horses and the donkey, and it never really came into Topanga, just tiny little bits of it. And we were a little worried, but they got him out. And it was surreal. I mean, it was like the world was on fire all around us. Yeah, it's just.

No, it was. It was so scary. We have chickens now. And I was like, are you in.

The country or are you.

No, no, I'm an encino.

But you have a good yard with space.

I have a chicken coop and a rock.

But you don't have a rooster.

No, it's too loud. No, no, no, no. Because I also don't want them to procreate. You know, unlike you, I want my chickens to be like you. No children.

Well, I actually. I have a daughter, an adopted daughter.

Oh, we had to know this.

I do, I do. Yep. No, she's. She's technically my niece, but she. We adopted her because she's lived with us since she was five.

I didn't know that.

Yeah. Yeah. So she's 23, lives in New York City. Singer, songwriter, actress, biochemist.

You say she's technically your niece. Yeah, she's your. Okay, got it, got it.

Got that. Has lived with us since she was 5.

Oh, my gosh. I had no idea.

Yeah, yeah.

Because what I was reading is, you know, you were talking about how you decided not to have children. Well, I mean, you didn't have children technically through your body, but, I mean, I always have found that interesting when people make that decision, but also have such clear motherly maternal instincts as well.

You think? I do. I feel good.

Maternal instincts.

I always had maternal instincts about animals. I mean, that was like a no brainer. It's so easy to love them. They love you forever. They forgive you everything. And so I've always had dogs, and since Topanga, I've had horses and donkeys and.

Yeah, right, right, right.

Interesting to get to this point in your life.

I know it changes things.

We sort of tried kids initially, and it wasn't in the cards. And I thought, well, that's the universe telling me that I'm gonna have kids in my life in a different way. And then this came along, and it was probably the best lesson I've ever had in terms of how you have to make room for somebody else in your life. We had some challenging times. She was kind of a wild kid, the way I was when I was that age, but I got away with it because my parents had no idea.

You were an only child, right?

No, oldest of three.

Oh, really?

Yeah. You Said that as if there's a type who's an only child. Do you think there is?

Well, I'm an oldest as well, but for some reason, I just thought. I felt like you were an only child.

I don't know why I got all the attention.

There it is.

Hi, guys. How are you?

[Waitstaff]

How are you guys doing today?

[Wendy Malik]

Good.

Hungry.

[Waitstaff]

Welcome to Huckleberry. Do you guys have any questions?

[Wendy Malik]

No. I think I'm gonna have your tuna melt on the multi. Is it multigrain toast? Yeah, yeah, I'd love that.

That sounds really delicious.

It's really good here. They make excellent tuna.

[Waitstaff]

It's actually our sourdough toast.

[Wendy Malik]

Okay, that's good. I trust you.

[Waitstaff]

Okay.

[Wendy Malik]

Completely.

You know what? I think I'm gonna do the same thing. Yeah, this one's really good.

[Waitstaff]

Can I show you guys with something to drink as well?

[Wendy Malik]

I'll do a lemonade, please. Thank you.

[Waitstaff]

Yeah, of course.

[Wendy Malik]

Appreciate it.

So do you miss, like, having the schedule of a series?

Yes.

Isn't it amazing how that that just sort of bookends your life in this way? And it also. What I'm realizing more and more, and especially in this last year, which seems like it's been six months since Christmas, truly. But to have a safe place to go play with your friends and get out of reality for a while is such a gift. Just such a gift.

I shot an episode of Mid Century Modern with Max Muchnik and Nathan Lane and Scott Bomar, Linda Lapp. And I got to do the last.

And she died.

It was the episode that we shot right before Christmas, and she passed away over the holidays.

I know Bruce Grayson does my makeup on Night Court. And he just loved Linda so much. And he was stunned, Absolutely stunned because she was so on her game and the whole thing.

So on her game.

Yeah.

I had great conversations with her. I saw her at Sarah Paulson's 50th birthday party, and she was just, you know, like the life of the party. She was doing so well, and this all happened so fast.

You just don't know, do you?

Don't know. Just being on that set reminded me how much specifically I love doing multi camera. You know, it's.

Well, you need to come do Night Court if it comes back.

I would love to.

Oh, they'd love to have you.

Yeah, I would love to. I mean, also Night Court. You know, I loved that growing up, you know, John Larkhead, like, I just. I loved it.

Loved it.

He's.

He's quite amazing.

Yeah. I mean, I've watched a few Episodes. He's fantastic. How did it feel to go into something that was a reboot? And, you know, it sort of has that history.

I was so stunned that they invited me because I had done a guest thing. I did a couple guest things on that where I played a criminally insane woman that John had put into the slammer many years ago. And then I came back for another one and suddenly they said, well, we'd like to make you a regular. And I said, how? I'm criminally insane.

Yeah, yeah.

They said, no, no, no. But it's Project Second Chance. It turns out you were a lawyer.

Yeah.

Before you went to jail. And they went, oh, this is like Dynasty or Dallas or something.

So good. I mean, they can make anything work on TV if they want to. If you die, they can figure out a way to. You're a twin now.

You know, it's hilarious, but I'm just so happy. I'm always grateful for the work.

But also, like, between Night Court and Shrinking, I feel like you're being given an opportunity to do things that you haven't really gotten to do before. Because we worked together on Hot in Cleveland, which was an absolute dream. And I want to talk to you more about that because the episode I got to do had that big Mary Tyler Moore reunion. It was just an insane thing to be part of. Yeah, but you know, I feel like with that character Victoria and then Nina, you were saying it's sort of also a version of Victoria. They're kind of like Russian nesting dolls, if you were like to put them in, you know, in the same pool.

But like, you sort of going back to the same. Well, yeah, before.

Yeah. Right.

She's an ambitious soap opera actress.

Well, first of all, you're really good at playing these types of women, you know, these very sexually vivacious, you know, neurotic. Neurotic. But also they come from these sort of glamorous lives. You know, Nina was a former model and Victoria was a soap opera star, but they were very. Also very self possessed. What I was always struck by is how self assured they were and how they really took care of themselves. And, like, sometimes their love life even took a back seat to, like, what they wanted. They were very empowered women.

Well, I think that, you know, it's weird because with Night Court, I thought, well, the thing that would make this so character interesting for me is if she's on. When she's on her meds, she does a really good job, but she doesn't stay on her meds all the time. So There's a little danger in her that could go like off the rails at any time, which they've been pretty good about. And with shrinking, that's probably the closest to me that of any character I've ever played. And it's just showing up and just reading the script and it's all there on the page. It's like the relationships they built among these characters. I think it's the genius of Bill Lawrence.

And Bill Lawrence is so great.

Yeah. And Brad Goldstein. I mean, those guys are so good at finding the heart, the funny, but also making you care enough. And those are always, I think, the ones growing up. For me, I remember watching Taxi and thinking how amazing in 23 minutes or whatever they give us for a half hour comedy, that it could bring you to tears and make you laugh out loud. And that was really extraordinary. I remember, I think that was the first show where I watched and I thought, wow, you can run the whole gamut in a little comedy, a sitcom with an audience. And that's a really tricky thing to do.

It is. It's something you have to, I think you have to earn the trust of the audience. You can't start always. Although Modern Family, I guess tried that a little bit at the beginning, but.

You know, you do over time. And it was what you were saying before about shrinking. I think that people. It took the first season of that show for people to sort of get past the bigness of these characters and to find out the little quirks and the vulnerabilities in them. And then it's so much more satisfying to follow them down whatever road they're going to take you. And you're invested in your show. In Modern Family, you started to really care about these people. The more time you spent with them, the more you realize that they were fragile and they're outrageous sometimes, but also just with huge heart. And it goes back to the heart. And I think that's what really develops deep, like relationships between audiences and casts, you know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Wendy explains why working with Harrison Ford felt like slipping into an old pair of jeans. And we share some outrageous behind the scenes tales of Cloris Leachman being hilarious and chaotic on the set of Hot in Cleveland. Okay, be right back. Between traveling to record dinners on me.

[Wendy Malik]

Whether it's a sit down in LA or takeout in Salt Lake City, I'm.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Away from home a lot these days.

[Wendy Malik]

And as someone who's a little Type A about safety, I finally decided to.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Upgrade our home security. Especially after reading that break ins are.

[Wendy Malik]

More likely to happen during the day than at night. Yeah, that little FBI fact really got me. So I got Simplisafe and I went.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

All in with the Elite package.

[Wendy Malik]

Also known as the Beacon. It's their most comprehensive system. Cameras, sensors, smart locks, the whole thing. I set it up quickly and now.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

When I'm off recording with a guest, I know my home is being watched over. Simplisafe's monitoring agents can spot trouble, talk through the camera flash spotlights, even call.

[Wendy Malik]

The police before someone gets inside.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No long term contracts, no hidden fees, and monitoring starts at just about a dollar a day. Plus there's a 60 day money back guarantee. Visit simplisafe.com Jesse to claim 50% off a new system with a professional monitoring plan and get your first month free. That's SimpliSafe.com Jesse S I M P L I S A F E.com Jesse there's no safe like Simplisafe. Some of my favorite episodes of Dinners on Me are episodes that happen over a good glass of wine. Patricia Clarkson, Keri Russell, Margo Martindale. They gave me some of the best stories I have ever heard over a glass of wine. They definitely opened up. I mean, maybe it was the food or, you know, maybe it was the wine. I'm just saying. I always stock up at Total Wine and more. It's my go to, especially when I'm throwing a little backyard hang. They've got everything. Amazing wines, ice cold beers, even non alcoholic wines and mocktail mixers for the friends who, you know, aren't drinking. Honestly, my guests think I have the best taste. But don't tell them that. It's actually my friend down the street at Total Wine giving me all the tips. Their guides are so helpful when I'm picking out the perfect bottles for everyone at the table with the lowest prices for over 30 years. You'll always find what you love and love what you find only at Total Wine and more. Curbside pickup and delivery available in most areas. See totalwine.com for details. Spirits not sold in Virginia and North Carolina drink responsibly. B21. And we're back with more Dinners on me.

[Wendy Malik]

I mean, speaking of shrinking specifically, you have this wonderful relationship with Harrison Ford. You're his therapist, right?

I'm his neurologist.

Neurologist. That's right. That's right.

He has Parkinson's.

He's kept some secrets about his health from his loved ones. And Harrison Ford's a therapist. And you have this beautiful budding romance. And it's these two people in their 70s, like, dating. He's in his 80s in real life. Right. I see Fang as 88.

I think he's supposed to be 70. Yeah. Late 70s.

Yeah. I know he's like. He's in his early 80s.

Yeah.

But I think it's just so refreshing also to see a relationship, old people getting it on. Yeah. But also just, like, what that means and like, that sort of late in life love. I mean, how has that been for you to explore that with Harrison?

So beautiful.

Yeah.

Wonderful. I had done another series for Bill Lawrence, and he said, I've got a nice role for you to play Harrison Ford's neurologist. And you have this great chemistry. And I'd never met him before this show, and I thought, you know, that's a lot of pressure. But he was, from the beginning so lovely and put me so at ease. And we just. And I felt like. I said, you're like an old pair of jeans. That's how comfortable I feel with you. And we have a really good time. And I just feel very safe in that relationship and that we can take it wherever we need to.

Yeah. Yeah.

It's really nice.

He's not. You're known for incredible work in comedy, but, you know, when you think of comedy, you don't think about Harrison. He's really hilarious.

Oh, no. He is so dry and loves to sort of play the curmudgeon, but he's a sweetheart. It's been just a. Everybody in that cast is, like, bringing it, and it's been really, really lovely. I couldn't have asked for a sweeter job right now. When we first started hunting Cleveland, I was turning 60, Jane and Valerie were turning 50, and Betty was turning 90. And I remember thinking, I don't think I could have made up a better situation for me to be in at this age. Because that was really scary thinking, oh, my God, that's. They say go out to the desert when you're 40 as a woman in this business. And there I am about to turn 60, and I thought, oh, my God, this woman is having a renaissance and she's going to be 90. And it just made me think of it in such a different way. It was like you have a whole other act, you know, and this act has been really sweet. And I think one of the best things about it is you get to a certain age and you don't sweat the small stuff so much. It's sort of like what's really important to you? What do you love? What brings you joy? And how do you. What's the best part of you? You can, like, fan out into the world every day. You just don't waste time on bullshit that is really meaningless or is not bringing you some joy.

Right, right. What do you consider a full life now? I mean, is it beyond career? Is it.

Yeah, I think. I think the balance of career. So I used to say yes to everything. It didn't matter if it took me over to Bum Fuck Illinois. I didn't care. I just. Just love to travel and experience.

I just played Santa Claus in Toronto. I say yes. I'm still saying yes.

I got it. Honey, you're much younger than me. I get it, I get it. This is fairly recent.

Yeah.

No, but all of a sudden I'm thinking, damn, it's much, much harder for me to go away now. I said, you know, I have an older husband. I've got old animals. I've got a beautiful ranch and friends, and I'm just so grateful that I get to do most of my work here.

You're very lucky, especially. You're very, very lucky, for sure.

You've been working pretty solidly for a long time, haven't you?

I think so.

I mean, before you did Modern Family, was it much more irregular?

Well, I did mostly theater, which is, you know, just in and of itself irregular because, you know, that's true.

Could be opening night. Might be the end.

Exactly.

Thank you.

Oh, my God, this looks incredible.

Thank you. Thank you.

So good. Okay, so I did two shows right before Modern Family. One of them was the Class with David Crane. David Crane, who you did Dream on with. But I had ups and downs. I still feel like I have ups and downs. I mean, it's interesting because you say I've been working consistently, and I guess when it's you and it's your career.

You don't know the dark nights of the soul.

You only feel like the moments where you're not doing anything.

And it's also weird because people will see stuff that you did maybe a year or two years ago and think that everything is current.

Someone just. Just said, you know, I love your show. And I'm like, I'm not on a show. And I was like, well, of course they mean Modern Family because maybe they're watching it for the first time or in reruns. Yeah. But, you know, for me, coming out of Modern Family, and I talk about this a lot with the rest of my cast, but it's that challenge that you're faced with after leaving a show that you're. You're known for, of, you know, reinventing yourself or making sure that the industry is still looking at you with fresh eyes. But I feel like there's that ability to sort of lean into a thing that you do. But even that is scary sometimes because you think, well, I'm just going to be pigeonholed as this one thing. And it seems that you have not pigeonholed yourself or you.

And I think. And probably that is where theater really helped you, where you were able to, like, really branch out and do other things, where people know you theatrically as somebody. A whole, much bigger range. And that for me, sometimes doing plays and also doing little indie films, that's been such a great. I mean, I played Amelia Earhart. It was a wonderful little movie. And done on, you know, a Wing and a prayer. But things like that just bring me so much joy to get to play this old kind of bird. Sort of tough and.

Yeah, no, absolutely. I want to talk about hot Cleveland for a little while, because truly, that episode I got to do, Sean Hayes, who produced it, called me and said, we have a part for you if you want to do it.

It's so hilarious.

It is. It is so ridiculous. It was a ridiculous role. I had webbed hands. I don't remember too much more about my character than.

You had web hands. You had webbed hands. And the year it was our. Every year we did a. We'd set each other up on dates, and my dates invariably had some physical creepiness. You had the webbed hands. Another year, somebody had a nose coming out of his head. And then the other one was conjoined twins.

That's amazing. So, you know, it was sold to me as like, he has web tans. This is funny. But also in this episode, it's basically a Mary Tyler Moore reunion with Mary Tyler Moore being a guest actress on this episode, Boris Leachman, Georgia Engel, obviously, Betty White.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Is that it?

[Wendy Malik]

No. And who died?

Oh, Valerie Harper. Valerie Harper as well.

That was like one of those pinch me moments.

Yeah. I want to hear your perspective on that, because Betty White, you know, is a regular on the show. So she. This was her day job. Then all these people who come in from her past. And I'm sure she has different relationships with all these women, as we all do with people who we work with. And I think, at least for me, it was such an iconic moment seeing all these women together, but then also to observe the. The nuances between them and seeing like, oh, Cloris. Leishman kind of gets under Betty White's skin and like, you know, all these, like.

She was so naughty.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

She came in one day brushing her teeth.

[Wendy Malik]

Oh, yeah, you were there that morning. She showed up and said, oh, I was so mad at everybody at home. And they lived in Topanga, her daughter, and they were doing work on the house. And she just ran out and had a fight with her daughter and got in the car and the driver brought her in and she said, anybody got a toothbrush? I had to leave her in my pajamas and my robe. Yeah. But she just always needed to have attention. But she truly is. Was one of the most talented, amazing women. She was a concert pianist.

[Waitstaff]

Yeah.

[Wendy Malik]

I remember I was at a few different events with her. And just before you go out on stage, she'd come up and just mess your hair up.

Yes.

And she did that to Mary. And I think Betty took her aside and said, knock it off. Because, you know, Mary, this is towards the end, shortly before she died. And I think it was the last time she was ever on camera. But she had, you know, diabetes and her hair was so fragile. Everything about her was so fragile. And Cloris just can't resist, you know, she was one of those people who needed to get attention and got. Was very mischievous.

Yeah. I remember she was coming up and she was inserting herself into this scene that I had. I just remember she was wanting to do something. She wasn't a part of the scene. She wanted to do something with me. And I'm like, I'm not gonna tell Cloris Leishman no, but surely somebody of a higher power is gonna stop her. And Georgia Engel finally came up to me and was like, you can't let her do that. She's an Oscar winning actress.

She knows better.

I was like, I'm not going to do anything. I'm going to let someone else tell her that she can't do that. And, you know, eventually the director came over and was like, oh, let's like, maybe not do that thing you were doing.

Yeah. Andy Cato, probably.

Yes. Yeah, probably. Probably. But one thing I remember so specifically, there was a moment where all of those cast members were sitting around a table together and they just started reminiscing and talking about different cameraman on the show. Or do you remember so and so? And the cameramen of Hot Cleveland just put their cameras down and we all just like let them catch up for a little while. And people started slowly taking out their phones and recording. And I have footage of them just sort of catching up. And then at one point, Betty White was like, what are we doing? Can we move on? Like, she was just saying again, like, this was her job. She came in every day and, like, it was fun for her to catch up, but she also wanted to keep the ball rolling.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, we had so many of those days, like the Don Rickles with. I mean, with Tim Conway. But one of my favorites was Carol Burnett played my mother.

I know.

I just kept thinking, I never in a million years, when I was a kid and watched that show every Saturday night, thought, this woman someday is gonna be my mom.

There's a great blooper of when she was on and you entered into the scene and a recreation of the famous Bob Mackie.

I was wearing the drapes.

Yeah, the drapes. And she just loses it.

It was so fun. It was so much fun. Did you guys ever do a. You never did a live. A live show, did you? I guess they went to family.

We did, like, live table reads for, you know, what they do, like, before your consideration, events and stuff. And that was always really fun for me because I love that immediate response. But that was the closest we ever got to doing a live.

Do you think that show would have worked if it was multicam?

It just would have been a different thing.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So much of it was the fact.

[Wendy Malik]

That it was a mockumentary, although we never explained what this was. In a very early version of Modern Family, they had written in the character of a foreign exchange student that had stayed with Mitchell, my character and Claire when we were young and he was coming back to do a documentary about this family he lived with when he was a kid. He was a foreign exchange student. And the title of it was My American Family. And they ended up cutting that character and then renaming it Modern Family. But, you know, the construct of, like, it's still being a mockumentary was there, but we never explained why. And then, like, you know, in, like, in the very early seasons, we would really try and hold on to the reality that we were with a film crew.

Funny, because I don't even remember thinking about that.

But if you watch early episodes, they're like, oh, it actually is feasible that this is a reality show. And then, like, you know, season five, six, it's just like, we're opening our doors, coming home from, like, getting groceries. There's a camera crew in our house. Like, no one questions that.

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Wendy shares how she and Betty White bonded over their love for animals. The blunt advice she gave David Spade about dating a certain celebrity friend of mine and how she nearly ended up as Harrison Ford's on screen Love interest 30 years ago. Okay, be right back.

[Wendy Malik]

So picture this.

[Waitstaff]

You're running a business and suddenly you realize, oh no, you need to hire someone.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Like yesterday.

[Waitstaff]

You've been there, right? But don't panic.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I got you covered.

[Waitstaff]

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[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

If there's one thing I love more.

[Wendy Malik]

Than eating at a great restaurant, it's hosting a backyard barbecue.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

There's just something about that first sizzle.

[Wendy Malik]

On the grill, a table full of friends, and maybe, I don't know, just maybe, me pretending I'm on a cooking competition show. Maybe Whole Foods Market makes it so easy to be the host with the most.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I grabbed their maiden House beef burgers. No antibiotics ever.

[Wendy Malik]

And stack them high on their soft, dreamy brioche buns. And if I want to switch things.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Up, I'll throw on some amylou chicken sausage or try one of their fun flavored condiments that make people think I've been recipe testing all week. Their produce section is basically summer in a basket. Juicy cherries, fresh cut watermelon and heirloom.

[Wendy Malik]

Tomatoes that honestly deserve their own photo shoot.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And and let's not sleep on dessert.

[Wendy Malik]

The mango Yuzu Chantilly cake. It disappears in seconds every time.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Need drinks. Whole Foods Markets has canned buzz free mocktails and a beer selection that keeps everyone happy.

[Wendy Malik]

Start summer deliciously at Whole Foods Market.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And we're back with more dinners on me.

[Wendy Malik]

Do you think Just Shoot me, You said Just shoot me was really kind of what put you on the map. Right. I mean, I know you'd worked before.

Dream on sort of launched my career.

Right.

But hardly anybody saw it because it was on HBO in the early days.

Right. Around what age were you when that happened?

Well, I didn't do Dream on until I was 40, so in my 30s, I was just knocking around doing guest things and movies of the week and some off Broadway stuff like that. Very late bloomer is what I'm saying. That's why I'm still working, because I started so late, so I didn't use up all my acting lives.

But she went to college for acting, right?

Yeah, I was a fine arts major with a minor in theater. But that was mainly the idea. It was either be an actress or be a veterinarian. And I wasn't terribly good at science, so me either. That decision was made for me.

Yeah, but you still have that love of animals, obviously, is still so important to you.

Yeah.

When your mom was modeling, was it like, kind of. Was it the 40s and 50s that she was modeling, or.

Yeah, probably 48, 49 in there, and she was in New York, and she was beautiful, really beautiful. And my dad went and said, you need to come back and marry me. They had met at University of Buffalo, and he was nine years older. He was there on the GI Bill.

So much happened, though, that during that time, specifically in that industry, you know, when your mom was modeling, the idea of, like, what a woman was in the household was so different. You know, in the 40s and the 50s and, you know, when you were modeling, it was like, the beginning of, like, the sexual revolution and, like, such a different thing. Did your mom ever talk about, like, what it was like to sort of be in that industry?

She had a blast. And my mother, it was funny. When I first saw Mad Men, I thought, boy, this is. This is so not like, what my mom and her friends are like, because they were really fun and they were kind of bodacious and interesting. Yeah, I just used to listen to them and I'd imitate them all the time. I've stolen shamelessly from my mother and all of her friends for characters, but they were really funny. Great senses of humor. But they just laughed all the time. And she was gorgeous, but I don't think she ever really knew. She was so. She was not at all full of herself. She was very grounded as a model. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

People were paid to take photos of her. Yeah.

But she loved being a mom and she just was a very. A very happy human being and seemed to embrace every stage of her life. Most of my good qualities come from her.

I love that. How long did she live?

94.

Wow. That's a great life.

My dad was 101.

That's incredible.

I know. He was half Egyptian, so I blessed his heart. He gave me good skin and longevity.

Yeah, he did.

Yeah. And she, she gave me grace and humor.

[Waitstaff]

It's.

[Wendy Malik]

I've been thinking, I mean, I'm turning 50 this year and I've been thinking a lot about, you know, just. You start doing that math of, like, where you're going to be, you know, especially if you have children. Like, how old will I be with my kids my age? I have two kids now, a four year, four and a half year old and a two year old.

Wow.

And, you know, my mom. My mom passed away in November and she was 76, which is so young.

You got to meet your kids, though.

She got to meet my kids. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Did you have a boy and a.

[Waitstaff]

Girl or two boys?

[Wendy Malik]

Yeah. So when I hear people living to 101, I mean, first of all, that just fills me with so much joy because I. I kind of hope that for myself. Like, I love the idea that if my mom had been able to live out, she would have had a whole lot fourth act of her life.

Oh, absolutely.

You know?

Yeah.

Yeah. That's incredible. That's incredible that your dad lived that long.

But we never know.

Yeah, you never know.

You never know. George and I used to do the New York Times crossword puzzle in the morning before rehearsal, and then he would flip to the obituaries and go, oh, they're calling my class. And I thought, man, that's what starts to happen.

Yeah.

I think we have to savor every day that we have here. Because if you let the noise make you too insane, particularly with things that are out of your control, for the most part, it's like you have to really be surgical about how you're going to engage and how you can meaningfully start to move the needle. But you don't want to give up whatever this is every day. You know, it's like I have to start my day every day with a gratitude ritual of thank you for what remains. Thank you for the beauty of the simple, amazing world we live in, and thank you for those I love and send out healing and for us to be kinder to each other and, you know, just a reset and with an intention of not squandering what we have left.

Right? You seem so grounded and.

Well, I'm insane. Some of the.

In what ways are you.

But I'm much better than I used to be. I mean, every once in a while, I'll just start to spin out and just. It's all too overwhelming.

Same.

And my husband is so good at going, okay, take a deep breath. This is not your fight. Just kind of putting it in perspective a little bit.

Your husband's a carpenter, is it?

He's a builder.

Builder, yeah.

Yeah.

And how did you two meet?

In a slum in Tijuana.

Wait, say that again.

In a slum in Tijuana, Mexico, with this group from Brentwood Presbyterian Church. And my ex husband and I split up, and Mary Kay Place, who was a dear friend, said, you need to get out of your own way and go do something for somebody else. So why don't you come on this trip through this church? And we got there, they were the rowdiest bunch, and they were singing around the Kumbaya, around the campfire. But it was a really great group of people. And Richard was like the foreman. And one night we were all sleeping in a field, this farmer's field with tents and stuff. And I went out to pee in the field in the middle of the night, and I went behind what I thought was a rock, and it was Richard.

And you peed on him. You marked your territory.

I went behind him. That was the beginning. And then the next day he said, so, what's your story? And I went, well, I don't know. What's yours? And by the end of the weekend, he said, how would you feel about learning how to ride a motorcycle and going to Africa with me this summer? And I thought, that is like the best invitation I've ever had. That was so different from any guy I'd ever known. And he was handy. So we learned how to ride motorcycles and went to Africa the next summer. And I'd say, can we go to Paris sometime?

Yeah. It's been 30 years. Did you just celebrate your 30th anniversary or.

It's gonna actually be this December.

Oh, happy anniversary. That's incredible. I know your ex husband was in the business, and you said you dated musicians and actors and people in the business. I mean, what was. Because when you were. When you met him, you were doing really well. You were, you know, you were on a show and you were, you know, a famous actress. What was that like for him?

I think it's a. It's a tricky thing when. When you're someone in the public eye, and I think it does take someone with a good sense of themselves to be able to live with us. I don't think it's easy.

Yeah.

You know, I.

There's a lot of sacrifices that have to happen.

Yeah.

Yeah. I also feel like there's something to meeting someone later in. Not that 40s is late in life, but, like, you know, I think there's something about your independence feels like it's more sacred. So, like, going away, I. I find that going away and spending time away from Justin is so healthy.

Good coffee? Yeah, Can I just have a black coffee?

[Waitstaff]

Black coffee, of course.

Could I do a.

[Wendy Malik]

Can I do a decaf coffee?

[Waitstaff]

Decaf Americana's Okay.

[Wendy Malik]

I'll do a decaf. Decaf Americana's great.

[Waitstaff]

Okay.

[Wendy Malik]

Awesome.

I'll be right. Thank you.

I wanted to ask a little bit just more about Betty White because she was such a. I mean, she's getting a forever stamp. She's getting a stamp.

They're doing a forever stamp of Betty. Yeah. We were supposed to all go and speak, but I'm going to be in Canada. Pretty great.

Wow. I mean, truly, are you do a.

Big thing at the zoo? You know, she used to be the person into the zoo and.

Yeah, yeah, she was a huge animal lover. Did you guys bond over that?

I'm sure no. She used to do this thing where people would come to her and say, can I show you a picture of my baby? And she'd go, oh, yes, Love to see it. And then she'd go, oh, it's a child.

Oh, she's so good.

Yeah, she was. I mean, you know the other thing. She said she always wanted to be. Her parents took her camping all the time, but she was thinking she would have been a forest ranger if she wasn't an actress.

Really?

Yeah.

She loves the outdoors. It's incredible.

She came over to my house for lunch. She loved to be around the animals. And she came for lunch and I'd give her a. Give her a tuna sandwich, Red Vines, Diet Coke. She lived on hot dogs. She liked hot dogs. And somebody said, oh, maybe it's somebody. She talked to her about her diet or something. He said, what, are you fucking kidding me? This woman is like 90.

Whatever she's doing is working.

She's gorgeous, she's hilarious, and she's brilliant. Yeah, no, she. She was the best.

What a gift to have that time with her, Truly.

Yeah, it really was.

I mean, I was lucky to have that week. But thank you so much.

Thank you very Good.

When you were doing Just Shoot Me, I think David Spade and Julie Bowen were dating, right? Yes.

He was pretty smitten with her.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. She speaks so, like, highly of him. She absolutely adores him. Obviously, that relationship did not work out.

But, like, I think he screwed it up.

That's what she said. That's what she alluded to.

And we were all kind of thinking, don't mess this up. This one's smart and beautiful and she got your number. And I think he realized it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Was she around? Did you.

She was. She came in, she did a guest thing on. On Just Shoot Me.

She did, yeah.

And, yeah, I think that was when I first met her. And she was adorable and really funny and. Yeah, I just remember thinking, stupid idiot.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that. I love that. I love these stories. I have a few of them myself. But, like, parts you auditioned for that, that you didn't get, and Diane and Shearers is one of them.

I bet every woman my age. Do you think auditioned for that.

Do you know if there was, like, significant interest? Were you, like, in, like, callbacks or.

I was called. I was called back. And then when I saw her, I thought, well, they went a totally different way and she was brilliant in it. And, yeah, no, that was one that got away. And then I auditioned or I had done an Excedrin commercial when I was first living in New York. That was like one of those gifts that keeps on giving. You know where you're thinking, oh, my God, my MasterCard or my American Express thing is, what is that? What danger. What fresh hell is this?

What are you doing to us? Oh, my God, they keep coming.

What is that?

Is this every. Every dessert on the menu?

[Waitstaff]

So the famous one that we have is our chocolate pudding. We also have a peanut butter and. And cookie.

[Wendy Malik]

This is a peanut butter cookie.

[Waitstaff]

Peanut butter cookie. The jelly inside. So it's like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

[Wendy Malik]

So.

[Waitstaff]

Dang it. We also have our polenta cake. It is gluten free.

[Wendy Malik]

That's a polenta cake.

Polenta cake. That looks good. And that's not too sweet, right?

[Waitstaff]

It's not too sweet now. And then we have our fresh fruit tarts with our raspberries and our grapefruits with a little bit of pistachio on top.

[Wendy Malik]

Insane Fresh fruit tart. That's what they called me in high school. Okay.

Oh, it's gorgeous. Thank you, thank you.

That looks gorgeous. I might have to have a little bit of each dye.

Sugar dye, yeah. Oh, but anyway, So I did this, et cetera, commercial, and every time my rent would be due or something was happening, you know, I was waitressing on the side. These wonderful residual checks would come in. And apparently Steven Spielberg used to watch a lot of commercials, and that's when he would get ideas if we wanted to see for things. I get this call, Steven Spielberg, who. I don't think I knew who he was at that time. And this guy, George Lucas. Want you to come in to meet them.

They love the way you have a headache.

I had a fabulous headache. It was on Valentine's Day. And I remember I was wearing from only hearts. I had a red hoodie and red jeans on with hearts all over the front of them. And I didn't know what I was going in there for. And they said, we just. We saw you in a commercial, and I think you might be the right type for this character Grace, in the first Indiana Jones movie. And I went, really? And we just talked and they put me on film and they just interviewed me and stuff, and we laughed and had a lovely time. And I was there for, I don't know, like, 45 minutes or something. And they said, okay, so they'll send you sides and you come back on Monday and we'll do a screen test. I said, cool, Happy Valentine's Day. And I went home. I got completely snarkered that night. I think I got stoned. I was drinking. I was just like, ah, this is it. And then they called me, like, the next morning and said, can you go in, like, now? Because they have to go to London, like, tomorrow. And were you hungover? Oh, yeah. And I wasn't prepared. I hadn't done anything. I was at my boyfriend's house. I didn't have the right clothes. I didn't have anything. And I just really sucked at that thing. And when I saw the movie, I thought, oh, that I would have killed him.

You would have killed that I would have totally killed.

I mean, Karen's lovely, but I just was really pissed off at myself. So that was the one. I blew that. It was really sad. I told Harrison that story. He goes, really?

I was going to ask if you had told Harrison. Yeah, but I love those moments, too, though, when those. When you come back around to that, like, oh, now I'm actually working with Harrison and this.

Yeah, it just take a while.

Yeah, it takes a little while. But I feel the same about, you know, Diane a little bit, because you ended up on Frasier, you know, working with Kelsey Grammer and, like, you know, Sort of coming at that world from a different way.

And John Mahoney.

John Mahoney.

Did you ever work with him?

Never did. Huge fan of his.

No. John was so dear. That was really fun to be part of that last season of that show. Yeah, yeah.

That's TV history. We have overlapped a lot with the people we've worked with between Steve Levitan and Crystal Lloyd and David Crane. So I feel like I'm on the right track. Because you've done really well.

I feel like you have a future in this business.

Do you.

Do you write too?

No, I direct a little bit, but I don't write.

Did you direct any Modern Families?

I didn't. I was too scared because.

Would you rather direct something you're not in?

I think so. Although I feel like I regret not taking the opportunity to direct an episode of Modern Family because that crew was so. They were with my family and it would have felt so comfortable doing that with them. They would have taken care of me. I know all that. The camera crew, the dp, they're all just so lovely and I should have taken advantage of that. Julie Bowen directed an episode, two episodes. And she did a great job. And seeing how well she handled made me wish I had. I just had this, like, nightmare of me telling Ed O' Neill what to do after a 10 year relationship that I had with him that I cherished so much. I didn't want him to, like, like, have any ill will toward me, you know, like, don't tell me what to do. He wouldn't have because he is so respectful.

It was so much fun with that day I worked with you guys.

I know, I know.

He's hilarious.

He's the greatest.

Hilarious.

I mean, and he truly is so supportive of me. But, yeah, I never directed one and I wish I had.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

When you, when you are. When you are looking back on, you know, your career and the eras that you've been able to move through, I mean, how do you think about Hollywood and ageism now and like, how do you think that they've changed? Because I feel like you've done a. I don't know if you've just been lucky, but it feels like you've been very supported by these roles that you've been able to play. But I don't know if that's just luck or if that's just tenacity.

[Waitstaff]

Like what?

[Wendy Malik]

I don't know.

I think part of it is luck and timing, you know, and then if you do get the opportunity, being incredibly grateful. And leaving it on the mat every time you get a chance to. To play. And it's really surreal because for me, the last couple of years, I've had more work than I've ever had in my career.

You're literally juggling two TV shows.

I'm on three.

That's right, that's right, that's right. The one in Vancouver. Yeah.

Yeah. And it's like an embarrassment of riches. I feel a little bit embarrassed about it. Like when I. And so then I think, okay, well, I'm on. I'm on these shows. So now I just have to get my friends on these shows. And that's what I do is immediately find out, okay, go to the casting people, the executive producer. These are the people we need to get on the show.

Yeah.

Nepotism.

Yeah. Ever since I met you, when I first came to la, like, you've always just been so kind and so lovely and generous and.

And what? Why wouldn't we be? We caught the brass ring.

I know there's so many people and I know. Sure. You know this. That just.

I know, I know. And I, I tell people, too. Just remember we. We were going to put a. A sign up on Hot in Cleveland on the set saying, leave your diva at the door, because thank goodness, they all were really good women. And. But I think there's something about being generous when you have an opportunity to, to, like, be in a great show. It's like when we have guests, I go up to the guest and say, welcome. Thank God. We're so happy to have you here. Because I know how much that means to me when I. Because we're still little kids and it's the first day of school when you're not a regular on something or if you're joining a film or a play and things are up and running, you're kind of like, is anybody going to sit with me at lunch? I mean, I still think about that. I wonder if they'll be nice.

That's right.

But if you believe, I think that we're all either canine or feline.

Okay.

And I'm definitely canine. So you realize, okay, some people are going to sit back and watch and wait to see when they're not saying, I'm always outgoing, but I know I'm more canine than feline. So if it's up to me to be the first person to say, hey, I'm Wendy, how are you? Yeah, that just can be enough to soften somebody and, like, let them know I'm lying on my back, my paws are in the air and I'm not going to.

And I just want to sniff your butt. I just want to just sniff your butt.

But not in a bad way, in a friendly way.

Thank you for doing this with me. Oh, it's so good. I really love you so much.

I love you too.

Dinner's on me. Don't worry.

I know it is.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This episode of Dinners On Me was recorded at Huckleberry in Santa Monica. Next week on Dinners On Me. You know her from the Netflix series Three Body Problems and more recently, starring opposite Aaron Paul in the sci fi flick Ash, It's Aza Gonzalez. We'll get into her journey from teen stardom in Latin America to breaking into Hollywood and what she's learning working alongside stars like Aaron Paul, Natalie Portman and John Krasinski.

[Wendy Malik]

And if you don't want to wait.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing.

[Wendy Malik]

To Dinners On Me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

As a subscriber, not only do you.

[Wendy Malik]

Get access to new episodes one week.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Early, but you'll also be able to.

[Wendy Malik]

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[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Just click Try Free at the top.

[Wendy Malik]

Of the Dinners on Me show page.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

On Apple Podcasts to search your free trial today. Dinners on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse 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.