Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

• Lizzy Caplan — on the sitcom that brought us together, and the cult roles that made her a star

  Actor Lizzy Caplan joins the show. Over fried catfish and Chinese broccoli salad, we reminisce about our early days as castmates in the sitcom “The Class”—including the infamous table read she slept through—and how that period shaped both of our careers. Lizzy shares stories about growing up in Los Angeles, breaking out in “Mean Girls,” and finding her voice in beloved cult shows like “Party Down.” We also get personal, reflecting on the loss of our parents in recent years, and why she couldn’t imagine raising her child anywhere but Brooklyn. This episode was recorded at Strange Delight in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Carrie Preston — on making ‘Elsbeth’ her own, and the joyful grind of a working actor

  “Elsbeth” star Carrie Preston joins the show. Over a swordfish melt, Carrie reflects on building a career defined by versatility — from her Emmy-winning turn as Elsbeth Tascioni in “The Good Wife" and “The Good Fight” to her starring role in the hit CBS spinoff “Elsbeth.” She gives me the backstory of Elsbeth’s iconic display of handbags, and discuss working with Julia Roberts – twice. Plus, we get into her marriage to fellow actor Michael Emerson (Ben in “Lost”), and what Alan Ball told her “True Blood” is actually about. This episode was recorded at San Sabino in the West Village. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Lea DeLaria — on breaking barriers as a queer comic, and finding unexpected fame with ‘Orange Is the New Black'

  Actor, comedian, and jazz singer Lea DeLaria joins the show. Over enchiladas and rosé, Lea reflects on a life of firsts — from becoming the first openly gay comic on American television with her legendary “Arsenio Hall Show” set, to stealing scenes as Big Boo on Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” We revisit our nearly 30-year friendship, beginning with playing lovers in Shakespeare in the Park’s “On the Town,” and share behind-the-scenes stories from our time in the theater world together. Lea opens up about the pride and pressure of visibility in the ’90s, why OITNB resonated so deeply with butch women who finally saw themselves represented on screen, and how a joke she improvised one night on stage became the now-iconic “U-Haul lesbian” punchline. This episode was recorded at Little Owl in the West Village — also known to TV fans as the building from “Friends." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Noma Dumezweni — on subverting expectations as Hermione Granger, and acting opposite Alexander Skarsgard

  'Murderbot’ star Noma Dumezweni joins the show. Over pumpkin curry and pad see ew, Noma reflects on the joy of finding success in mid-life and why it’s never too late to dream bigger than you imagined. She opens up about tough days growing up as a refugee in the UK, her unexpected and acclaimed turn (and Tony nominated role) as Hermione Granger in ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ and the lessons she’s learned about trusting timing, family, and herself. Noma also talks about becoming a familiar face in prestige TV dramas (‘The Undoing,’ ‘Presumed Innocent’), what it’s like to spar on screen with Alexander Skarsgård in the Apple TV+ sci-fi hit ‘Murderbot,’ and why she loves being in awe of her fellow actors. This episode was recorded at Sukh in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Elizabeth McGovern — on ‘Downton Abbey’ fame, and what she learned from iconic Hollywood bombshell Ava Gardner

  ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ star Elizabeth McGovern joins the show. Over Greek snapper, Elizabeth tells me about her critically acclaimed play ‘Ava: The Secret Conversations,’ which she adapted and stars in. We talk about what inhabiting the Hollywood femme fatale taught her. We also discuss her first series regular gig at age 49 as the iconic Cora Crawley in the hit franchise ‘Downton Abbey’, getting an Oscar nomination at age 20 for ‘Ragtime,’ and how director Robert Redford changed production for her Juilliard studies during ‘Ordinary People.’ The episode was recorded at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yards, New York City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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