Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Best of: Elizabeth Banks / Margo Martindale

Episode Date: November 28, 2023

This week, it's all things “Cocaine Bear," as I revisit interviews with Elizabeth Banks, who directed the film, and my co-star Margo Martindale. First up, Liz meets me at one of our favorite spots in Sherman Oaks, Petit Trois. We discuss her early career, learning from the likes of Steven Spielberg, and what it was like to sit in the director's chair for the first time in “Pitch Perfect 2.” Then, the iconic Margo Martindale meets me at Marea in New York City. I’ll talk to Margo about her hilarious childhood hobbies, being Esteemed Character Actress Margo Martindale on “Bojack Horseman”... and, of course, her amazing stunts on “Cocaine Bear.” A Sony Music Entertainment & A Kid Named Beckett production. Interested in advertising on the show, contact [e-mail]. Find out more about other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I love being a student of life. I love continuing my education. I do not want to go back to high school, but I do love masterclass. Memberships start at $120 a year for unlimited access to one-on-one classes with all 180-plus masterclass instructors. This holiday season, give one annual membership and get one free at masterclass.com slash

dinners. That's right. Right now, you can get two memberships for the price of one at masterclass.com slash dinners. Offer term supply. Hey, dinners on me listeners. This week, it's all things cocaine bear, the film, the film. Who knew that this quirky movie, this gory little comedy, would bring me so much joy?

It allowed me to finally be directed by my long-time friend Elizabeth Banks, but it also gave me the opportunity to work with one of my favorite actresses of all time, Margot Martin Dale. First up, we have Liz, as her friends call her, who meets me at one of my favorite actresses of all time, Margot Martin Dale. First up, we have Liz, as her friends call her, who meets me at one of our favorite spots in the valley, Petit Waw. We discussed her early career, learning from the likes of Steven Spielberg, not too shabby,

and what it was like to sit in the director's chair for the first time in Pitch Perfect 2. And of course, we talk about working together on Cocaine Bear and how my role in the movie came to be. When I went to high school, it was like, what am I gonna do after school? I was a latch key kid and my parents were like, you're not coming home.

You know what I mean? You gotta do something. And so I just started doing theater. And then I always did it, but I didn't know any artists. I absolutely went to college. It was class migration for me. You know what I mean? I was like, how do I get out of this?

And not that it was for me. I never want my parents to feel like it wasn't great. Mom and dad did a great job. We made the best of everything. I have a lovely family as Jessie knows. I'm close to my parents and my siblings. And I love my town where I grew up. I'm literally going there tomorrow. So I, no bad thing, but like, I just saw my parents really struggle with built. You know, we never had a

new car, you know what I mean? Everything was used. I never had a babysitter that wasn't related to me. I always had a hand me down bikes from all the cousins and you know, I didn't related to me. I always had hand me down bikes from all the cousins. And I didn't go to camp. It was like, my dad would look around and be like, this is camp, it's the Berkshoes. He's not wrong. He's not wrong. It's all like I learned to ski in a subsidized skiing program. It was like, OK, it was idyllic.

But I definitely felt like I didn't want to have that sense of struggle, which was I felt in my family, and that my parents were having to make the best of it. I just didn't want that for myself. So I didn't know any artists who made any money. Right. Like, and then even in college,

I didn't know actors who weren't really just waiters, that were like, auditioning, trying to... And like, the things are cooking. I was like, okay, that's not for me. I was away just for 10 years. And at 24, 25, you're just like, okay, I'm well-educated. Like, this is either a real profession that I can make money doing and support myself doing.

Or it's not. And I gave myself kind of a time limit, but I made money right away. And that's really what happened. And that was from modeling and commercial work. Yeah, I saw. It seems like, you know, your parents definitely instilled a work ethic.

Yeah. That's something I definitely see, like even knowing you now and having worked with you as a director, I know how hard you work. That sort of takes me back to like, how when I first met you, I was like, you're making these connections with people because you know that that's important.

And you know, I see that you've carried that through. And it's just kind of remarkable to me that even at such an early age on your second job, which I was able to witness, that you had that sort of instilled in you. I just find it really impressive. Oh, that's, Jesse, you always, you kill me. This is why we're friends

because you make me feel so lovely. I love learning. No, you know, I love learning. Like, there's a reason I went to, you know, the Final Salad, the F. The Salary in Persia, in the middle of the country, Pat Te, with the same name. That's amazing.

I can jump in Dijon on the side. Oh, yeah. I'm pretty good at jumping in the room. That's the good stuff right here. So I think it's really, I will say, it's a love of good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it seems good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it does seem good, it So it's not glamorous. And it felt to me like, why would I stay in that room by myself if there's moments of downtime on set? Like then I want to go, I'm curious. I want to go see what's happening at Videovillage.

I want to go see what the director's doing. I want to go see what shots are setting up. I love watching other actors work on movies, you know, in scenes and I'm not even in. I just love it. That's how I really, how I met Ray Leota. I didn't have any scenes of Ray Leota in the movie that we made together the details. I was on set when he was working,

and I'm riveted by him, and just loved watching him. So I think that that was just something I found to be, I mean, and I did it, naively. I did it like, I'm catching me if you can. I just sat in video village with like, Steven Spielberg in the United of Capri. I was like, I belong here. No.

Such balls. Such balls, but truly. Like, I would just like to sit here and watch you work and see how you're gonna set this shut up and watch, you know, love it. Which are also incredibly annoying. I'm sure, if the one person does that, but I feel like also, there's something about

just your spirit that like, you know that your intentions are good, like you're not gonna be a nuisance to have around. I hope I knew to be quiet most of the time back then. And I really was observing for the most part, you know. But I remember Asin C. Wasb very worried what he was interested in doing, and I'm telling me that he was interested in doing musical, and you know, ultimately years later he did, was I'm sorry.

It was just wild to me. He had that ambition even back then, and knew it was something that he wanted to tackle. And I just, I loved also watching. He's so relaxed on his set, because he had the absolute best people heading every department, doing every part of it. And he could just really carry the moments.

It was, and you could tell he had prepped everything. He knew, he was, and he edits the movie in his mind. It was, I found working with him so interesting. And these were things that you could, while you were at that young age, and even if you've been picked up on those things. Yeah. When you did move to LA,

and we were staying in touch, obviously, I remember obviously I saw you and catch me if you can, I watched What How to American Summer, lost my mind for it, bought it on VHS, the minute it was available. The VHS, that's right. And then kind of the next really big thing that was like, oh wow, this is Liz on another level

is when you were the female didn't see this get. And tell me if I'm remembering this wrong. Did you like petition for the part? Did you, I feel like I remember you telling me that you were a wig. I might be making this part up, but I feel like you've fought for it in a way that I think required a little bit more

than like I like to be in the room with the people and have an opportunity. It was a little more aggressive than that. Well, I wrote a letter, so I grew up going to the race track in Saratoga with my dad, who loves to play the ponies. Which by the way, I've been to the races with you before. Yes, that's right, does he have? He took me one of them.

I don't remember where we were. Like a rehearsal. The most I've ever had in a concert dinner or something? We went to Santa Anita, yeah. I thought I'm just remembering that. Just a quick sidebar. Liz is, this might come up later in this conversation, but incredibly, incredibly competitive.

To the point of like, it's terrifying. And I just remember you. I think you mean charming. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was charming until it's not. Until you're screaming at me at game night. But I do remember you at the races, like when your horses weren't winning. And just the, yeah.

Oh, so depressing. I was so intense. I was like, wow, this is, my friend has turned into a monster. Okay, so circling back. Anyway, so I knew a lot about horse racing and I just knew that not everybody that was auditioning in my peer group maybe had that information and I just thought it was relevant and then I should write a note to Gary Ross, the director,

that I really felt like I understood, you know, this world and I felt connected to this world in a way that really hopefully was meaningful, etc. etc. So yes, I understood, you know, this world and I felt connected to this world in a way that really, hopefully, was meaningful, et cetera, et cetera. So yes, I did, I went out of my way to write a note to Gary Ross, the director, about being in Seabiscuit and then somehow got it. Somehow that. Yeah, and I didn't, I don't think I wore a wig,

but I definitely either showed him pictures of me with dark hair, or like, you know, as a brunette for sure, because I knew he was Cassie. Mm-hmm. And it was another level for you. Yeah, I mean, the movie, I think, was nominated for seven Oscars or something. Yeah.

It was the most, and the whole time we were making it, you just knew that it was like a best picture of nominating. Just felt that way. Oh, yeah. Every aspect of it was like off the charts, you know, the costuming and the production design and you know, they came up with the grips had like a whole new rig to just shoot like the horse racing so that Toby McGuire could ride the horse. It was crazy what they were doing in terms of the camera work and stuff. It was a lot of innovation on

that set too. It was really cool. Yeah, beautiful film. Beautiful film. I'm trying to get my kids to see it. I realize I haven't seen it yet. Do they like? Do they like course races? They've never been. Really? Well, they're too little. So I know that your next kind of big directing opportunity was pitch perfect too. Yes. Our friend, Rachel from Jason Moore, director of the first one.

I had directed like a couple little other things and I had done a lot of the behind-the-scenes vignettes for pitch perfect, the first movie. It was definitely an ambition to mine. I was putting it out there. I was looking for scripts, actually Abraham Hagen-Batham, our other mutual friend, had written a script. He was a writer on Modern Family. He wrote a script that I loved that I was interested in working on. And we had a little conversation about, yes, it was my ambition, and I was looking at things, et cetera, et cetera. And so, yeah, I remember the studio called and said, we've decided that a young female director should take over pitch perfect. And I was like, I'm so glad to hear you say I'm young.

Oh. Ha-ha-ha. We talked to me about the pressure of that, though, because pitch perfect, the original one, was very successful. Was there intense pressure around directing something that had been established as a hit? I mean, was there fear of screwing it up?

Was there fear of, no, I love that, I love it. Well, the team was all put together. And I was on set every day for the first one. And so no, I knew I could do it. I mean, ever since I'd been sitting next to Steven Spielberg, you know, in video village and just sort of taking in all of this information that I just was ready to employ, you know, and I had done, I did a little funnier die short

with Adam Scott at one point and I'd done a couple other little things here and there. And I was ready like I was ready now that being said is it the smartest thing to make your first film a giant musical With a huge ensemble cast. I mean ginormous cast. Yeah At one point the teamsters of Louisiana told us that we had the biggest base camp they'd ever set up. Are you serious? Yeah. There were overhead photos of it on the news. That's a big new base camp was. So we had every trailer available in the Louisiana at the time. So we it was absolutely ginormous endeavor and I that I didn't really understand. I just knew I had a great support group around me.

I had Max with me. And I just felt like, yeah, I knew it could make it funny. I mean, I knew that my tone I could put my stamp in the movie. And I didn't really worry about it. And also, to be honest, it's really nice doing a sequel first because you know that people love it. They're on board for the concert.

They were into it. You don't have to sell that to them, yeah? Yeah, it was definitely fear of like, not fear of like doing a bad job on the moon. It was definitely fear of like, fucking up for the audience that loved pitch. You know, like, could we do it again? And could we like, what's the next level?

What was the level up? And that was hard to figure out. Like, is there a level up for this? And I think we found it, but. Absolutely, I mean, listen, it was wildly successful. Yeah. It probably would be the most successful thing I ever make. Oh, wow.

Yeah, my first thing will be that I don't think I'll ever top it. So I mean, pitch perfect and I'm Charlie's Angels, but both scripts that you sort of said, I want to do this. What was it like chasing after something that wasn't? Charlie's I developed from zero. Right. Yeah.

I was just a new broaded and so what was like chasing after someone else's script? Cocaine Bear was something you read early days of the pandemic and you went after it. You know, just making that call and be like, is this real? Do you guys want to make this? Because I kind of love it. I think it could be great. And once you make that call to people who know you and trust you and believe you, let's talk about it

for real in a real way. Get down to the business side of it, which is how you have to start those conversations, meaning what's the budget, who's making the bear more? You know what I mean? I knew in my mind's eye that Margot Martin Del was gonna play Ranger Liz, but no one else knew that. Yeah.

Like, you know, I had some ideas. Yeah. But you just sort of get started, you just start collaborating. Like, what about this? What about this? What about this person? You just start having meetings,

you just start getting people excited, and you start building the momentum. And, you know, just, that's how it works. I talked about this when I was doing press for cocaine bear, so it sort of came out. But I don't know if I ever told you in person, but I wasn't on Twitter at the time and you put out a tweet saying, I'm doing this movie called Cocaine Bear who wants to be in it. Justin sometimes runs my Twitter and my Instagram and I have TikTok, I've never seen it,

it's not on my phone, I don't know. He'll like, take, You and I are so similar. Yeah, he'll take like banked footage of me and put on TikTok and like, I'll wake up in the morning, he's like, oh, you were viral last time in TikTok, I'm like, is that good?

I don't know. But you had tweeted, you know, who wants to be a Cocaine Bear and Justin responded on my behalf, like me with like, you know, an emoji of like a whole person raised in their hand. And 10 minutes later, you call me,

you kind of launched right into this pitch for cocaine bear as if I had you something about it. And I was like faking it for a little while, cause it's like, I don't know what she said. I know that it's a job offer, so I'm just gonna like listen. So I was just taking in information and you pitched me this movie, you sent me the script

and within like three pages, I was like, oh, if I, someone's asking me to do this film, I'm absolutely doing this film. I was so, first of all, honored to be a part of it. So, I mean, in kind of the way that I was talking about the play, like I wanted to desperately have a departure from Mitchell. I was like, this is truly departure from Mitchell. Also, there

was a fight I don't know if I've ever told you this, but the trailer had come out and there was all these great, right ups about the trailer itself. People were so excited about it and someone was like, co-camer has everything. Margot Martin Dale, a coped up bear, Jesse Tyler Ferguson in a fat suit. I was like, oh, I was wearing a fat suit. I had a hardest for my stunts and it was a pandemic. So I think those two things combined gave me a few pounds. Oh my god. So I was like, yeah, I'm just going to go with it. Yes, it was worth it.

I gained weight for the role. You're very committed at it. Yes, yes. So when I saw that tweet, I literally turned to Max and I was like, do you think Jesse would actually do it? And because I needed someone to play Peter. But I love that you just saw the opportunity of what it could be. And the other thing was I just knew you would come to play.

I was not gonna worry about, will he get in the harness? I was like, he's gonna relish it. Yes. And that's what I was looking for in the cast? I was like, he's gonna relish it. Yes. You know? And that's what I was looking for in the cast. I just needed people who came. Who understood the game. The tone, yes, the tone is all like, guys,

there's a guy in a suit over here. There's no bear. We're gonna pretend there's a guy climbing up. You're gonna be on these while like all this is, you know, I'm yelling lines to you. Yes. Yes. I'm making bear sounds. Yes, yes. And through a microphone, like, you know, I'm yelling lines to you. Yes. Yes. I'm making bear sounds.

Yes, yes. And through a microphone, like, you know, it's silly as hell. And I need people who can play it as real as possible. And so just knowing that you would come and be super game. And I'll be honest, I also, I knew you'd like the script. I mean, I'm like, he'll think the script's hilarious. Yeah, it was fantastic. But I know you well enough to know what our taste is not like

wildly different. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know what you like. And you and I have seen horror movies together. Yes, we have, yeah. So I knew you like these kinds of movies. So anyway, that's such a blessing. Did you just such a blessing?

I was blessed that you asked me to do it. I had, I definitely had a full circle moment though, because I kind of went, you know, getting to work with you. Obviously, we worked together on Modern Family, and I got to play with you on that, and you were sort of on my turf, and it was so like wonderful. We forget, we forget about the pilot that we tested for.

That was you. That was that. It was a variety show for Fox. And you and I, that's the dehosted together. That's right. I told her for all about this until they said, I always forget about this. I do too.

I always do. Did that ever get made? I don't think it did. Oh, that was a missed opportunity. I know you and I would have been, oh my. Oh my. I made, we would have fucking killed it. We would have killed it.

Yeah. It was a variety show for Fox and you and I were gonna be the hosts of it. Right. And it was just all dumb and proven. He is so and so dead. And wearing out, I think we were supposed to come out and wigs and stuff. It was just gonna be wild. It was gonna be the Carol Mornat Show back in the day.

Right, I love that. I love it. Thank you for having me. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, I'll talk to Margot Martin Dale about her hilarious childhood hobbies, her iconic role in Bojack Horseman, and of course, her amazing stunts on cocaine bear. Okay.

You right back. This episode is brought to you by US Bank. I kind of hate the word, but I don't know, I'll admit it. I'm a foodie. I'm a foodie to the core. Whether it's in the kitchen trying out a new recipe or checking out the latest trendy restaurant. And I can earn rewards every time I braze a lampshank or devour a chef's special at my favorite eatery with the US bank altitude go visa signature card. This makes my compulsive to go ordering at Kismat rotisserie in studio city feel so good on so many levels because with all the points on my purchase it's a win-win, right? Plus you get to list this chicken. Earn four times points when you go out for dining or order takeout and restaurant delivery.

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Some restrictions may apply. Hi, I'm Joanna. I produce dinners on me. And let me tell you, I love me some royal drama. So I'm very excited for the new season of the Crown and for the new season of the Crown, the official podcast, which will go behind the scenes of the sixth and final season of the acclaimed series. So get out your calendar because you're gonna want to write down this date. November 16th. That's when the first episode of the Crown, the official podcast, drops.

And of course, it helps if you watch the series premiere first, which drops the same day. Host Edith Bowman will take you behind the scenes episode by episode, talking to the talented cast and crew from writer and creator Peter Morgan to the crown's Princess Diana, played by Elizabeth DeBickey or Dominic West, who you know as Prince Charles on the show. This official companion podcast is the perfect deep dive for those who already love the crown and those who are crown curious

to subscribe now and get the new series of the crown the official podcast first on November 16th available wherever you get your podcasts. It's so funny because when I was a student in grade school and high school, I didn't love the classroom structure, but now as an adult, I actually seek out opportunities to continue my education, to learn more, to expand my talents and my abilities. It's why I started taking a few acting classes on masterclass. They have several from Samuel L. Jackson, to Helen Mirren, and Natalie Portman. I mean, they can't promise me the careers that they have, but I don't know.

I love learning from these masters. Can you imagine how much it would cost to take one-on-one classes with people in the best of their fields? Easily hundreds of thousands of dollars. With a masterclass annual membership, it's literally $10 a month. This holiday season, give one annual membership and get one free at masterclass.com slash dinners. That's right. Now you can get two memberships for the price of one at masterclass.com slash dinners. That's masterclass.com slash dinners. Offer Terms Apply. I've missed you.

Season 2 of Julia, the Max original series about the life and times of culinary icon Julia Child, returns Thursday, November 16. I'm Carrie Diamond, host of Dishing on Julia, the official companion podcast. Join me as I dish with the show's creators and creatives. Stream Julia on Max and listen to Dishing on Julia, wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, really. Next we have Margot Martin Dale. I was in New York City, so I asked Margot to meet me at Marrea,

just off Columbus Circle near Central Park. It's a swanky white tablecloth type of joint known for its Italian seafood fare, and she's no stranger there. They knew to keep her wine glass satisfied. I was so tickled that Margot agreed to meet me. She's always put me in such a good mood. She's just so authentically herself, and I'm so impressed by her career. It's one that I greatly admire. She's continually taking on challenging roles. I mean, the woman did her own stunts in cocaine bear. Okay, let's get to the conversation.

Cheers. Cheers, honey. Great seeing you. So good to see you. I haven't seen you since the premiere of cocaine bear. Really? Were you in that? I wasn't in that. And that's actually a very viral start. But I remember being so excited that I was going to be working with you and Carrie. Like you were my only seam partners. Because I was just such a massive fan of the Americans. I mean, I, it's on my Instagram, but I took a photo of the first day we all worked together.

I was like, I have to document this moment. I didn't even know you too. And I was so, so honored to get to do that with you. I don't think I've ever had that much fun. Me either. I told Justin he was like, how's it going? I was like, I only want to shoot Cocaine Bear for the rest of my life.

I'm so, so kidding. And somebody called me the other day and said, I don't know if this embarrasses you or not, but we watched Cocaine Bear and we said, embarrasses me. I think it's one of the greatest things I've ever done. I know, I know. Agreed. I did not have some family members who like watch

and didn't get it. It was just not their cup of tea. I was like, it's not for everyone, for sure. It's not for everyone. Talk to me a little bit about what went through your head because I've told my version of the story, but like, won't you have when Liz called and asked if you do this?

Well, Liz called and asked me if we could have dinner. Okay. You had met during Miss America. Misses America. Misses America. I said, oh, sure, I'd love to. She said, I'll come to Connecticut and have no underwith you. So she came.

She told me all about this movie, never saying she wanted me to be in it. Okay. And I thought, oh, that just sounds great. A great. She was buttering you up. I don't know what she was doing, but she wasn't saying, come and do it.

Yeah. And then my agent called me. I said, I had dinner with Elizabeth Banks last night and he said, did she mention cocaine bear? And I said, I had dinner with Elizabeth Banks last night and he said, did she mention cocaine bear? And I said, was she talked all about it? I said, but she didn't mention anything about me in cocaine bear. And he said, that's so strange.

Anyway. So he had already knew that she was interested, but they didn't know that. Are you sure she didn't say something to you? I swear. Oh, maybe she said something. I don't think there's enough money or something know that. Are you sure she didn't say something to you? I swear. Oh, maybe she said something. I don't think there's enough money or something like that. Right, right. Yeah.

She did just the lead with that. She's like, it's a low budget. So what? We're spending all the money on the bear. Yeah. Good. Yeah. When you actually were there in Ireland, putting on that outfit, going through the stunts,

we both did a lot of our own stunts. I mean, we had stunt doubles. I have such great behind the scenes of you and I doing a stunt where we are both ratcheted off, you know, the camera sort of zooms in on both of us and then my characters ratcheted off and the nearest goes off next. Okay, mine goes off on Mr. Rogers Railroad. Right, like a trolley car on some sort of children's show. Kinda. And your job was to sell that you were being ratcheted all along.

And I did it backwards. And when I looked up, everybody in the crew and cast were on the ground laughing. It was tears of joy. That was probably like one of the best memories for that entire shoot. Watching Margot do this stunt. And we were put in such incredibly weird scenarios. I mean crawling around with bushes

and the bear had mulled you and had taken a chunk out of your ass and like you were just so game and I was like well if Margo's game I'm game too. I was game but I said to Elizabeth at one point I looked up at her and said you didn't tell me I would be crawling around on the ground like this and she said you read the script yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah. And you did have a stunt double but you know you did a lot of your own stuff. Hello.

Hello. Hello. Hi. I was thinking maybe we should look at the menu. Let's look at the menu. Would you have some crudofagot some? Sure. The yellow fintuna? Yes.

That's when I was eyeing. Yeah. Let's do that. And then for my main, I think I'm going to do the halibut. I think I'll do the scampi. Scampi. Perfect. Scampi scampi.

That's it. Yeah, that was most wonderful time. Wonderful time. The scampy scampy scampy scampy Yeah, that was most wonderful time wonderful time. I am so happy for Liz. She took a big swing So I'm so proud of her me too and tonally It was perfect Margot was making a slap because during the entire shoot, she would say, I'm just concerned about the tone. Are we all on the same page with the tone? Because there were some cast members who were from Ireland. A lot of people obviously Americans had to come in and she just wanted to make sure everyone

was on the same page. I'm worried about the tone. And then we find like third day three, she's like, I think we got a handle on the tone. Let's get some saying, don't worry about the tone. Don't worry about the tone. I got it. But it was just, it was such a magical time and also we got to live in Ireland for a period of time.

Margot lived in this tiny little house in Dalky that was literally 10 paces across the way from the spa. Ten against pub, the greatest. Good morning, Marke! Good morning! You were like norma cheer, like everyone cheered when you walked in and I arrived a few days after you and I just remember like, wow, she's already established herself as a

town's person here at Dalky. Everyone knows who she is. Been to Oki, Ireland. To Oki, Ireland. Such a great time. This is the nicest people in the world. Yeah, it really was. It was a great time.

I'm so glad that we got that. Is our introduction to one another. And I just thought of it. And all I remember is that maybe the first day or something you're doing one routine after another that I thought I was gonna die. What was I doing? Singing and dancing.

Oh my God, I was probably just, like it was just trying to win you over. It was exquisitely fabulous. And you did. I didn't know he could do all that. Oh my God, just my trick. I mean, you're such a Southern art to me, but yet you still have Patriot Deus's in New York

or you've lived here many decades. And way longer than Texas. Exactly. But you still have this Southern charm about you that I just, I'm so drawn to and I love. Well, thank you. Yeah, well, talk to me a little bit about finding theater in Texas

and how you discovered this passion for acting. Well, I, Jacksonville, Texas. Jacksonville discovered this passion for acting. Well, Jacksonville, Texas. Jacksonville, Texas, very good. I'm always played in my backyard. I made to believe in my backyard. I had a great little playhouse. I had this little group of kids that were called the Alley Gang.

That's the name of my company, Alley Gang. And it was sometimes I had an orphanage. And sometimes I was a beauty operator and I would cut all the kids in the neighborhood's hair. Amazing. And send them home to their parents and just screaming like, what? They would actually cut their hair. Oh, yeah, cut their hair or do anything I wanted to do to them.

Okay, wait, back up. You, I thought this was all make believe. No, you actually played beauty parlor and you would cut their hair. Oh, yeah I discovered a new hairdo on Deborah K. White Then I could pull her hair up in a ponytail like this and then cut the back of it and then she could have a bubble Okay, or do you take that part down and she could have long hair? You gave her a versatile look and she could have long hair. You gave her a versatile look. I was so ahead of my time.

It's such a gift. But the parents were like, please stop putting on her shoulder hair. Look at that. How old were you when you were doing this? Oh, in elementary school, I guess. No way. Yeah, elementary school.

I put on Oklahoma. Now I decided I wanted to play Curly, Aino Annie, Judd, and Will. I let the girl Devin Dublin next door, let her play. Aino Annie? Lori. Lori. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah. So, talk me through like what a production of Oklahoma in your backyard was. I had one of those little red wood picnic tables that were for children. Yes. It was like a bleachers, you know, so I could stack them up like that. Yeah. And I make them all stand on that and sing Oklahoma. And I mean, one time it completely crashed.

No. Yeah. And the only person that really did anything was me. Right. Well, if you took all the roles, I took all the roles. I'll let Devon stand out there and do a few lines. I don't love it so much. It's so great.

Okay, here's a horrible story. Can I tell you this? Yes. Because I could get in trouble for it, but I could take, I could take, when the children in my orphanage didn't do what I wanted to, oh wait, I forgot I got an orphanage. I had an orphanage too.

When they didn't do what I wanted them to, we had a dog pin and kennels in my backyard. Sounds like it was fancy, but it wasn't. And I would put them in the dog pin and sometimes I'd tie them up to the fence. Oh no, no, my God. Oh, well, they didn't, they didn't do it. Until they said that they could come back to class. Oh my god They are so good. What were the things that they were refusing to do to your member? No

Did your parents like think okay? What are we gonna do with this child like was it obvious that they never even looked or cared What did your parents do my father was a lumber man? My mother was a homemaker and when you Decided to go to you to pursue the arts, you would start acting in high school. Remember, I wore a body brace all during my team. Yes, you had scoliosis. Yes. They think I had polio when I was three or two or something like that. But who knows, I can't verify it. Right, right, right. So I wore 24 hours a day, seventh, eighth, and ninth grade. I got to take it off to go to school

and I put it on immediately when I got home from school. When I was in high school, the choir teacher came to me, said, you have a really loud voice. Why don't you come audition for the musical? So I did. What was the musical, do you remember? Bye, bye, birdie.

Oh, who'd you play? Rosie Alvarez. You know, and then I went and I taught drama. What is your season? For criminally insane men. He might have told me a little bit about this. I was 16 and 17. When you were 16 and 17, you taught drama at a prison. From in a maximum security unit for criminally insane men. Okay, okay. I need to hear, I really break this down for me. All the kids would go to rust down the road, the county seat. Rust is...

Rust Texas. Okay. And because it was where you could get a summer job. Great, okay. And they took us into a room and the guys stood up and said, good afternoon boys and girls. Now, I have a real surprise for you this summer. We're going to take volunteers to go behind the fence.

Meaning a prison? In prison. And what did I do? I couldn't get my hand up fast enough. I thought the entire room would have their hand up. And I was the only one. Did you know that it was to teach drama? No, no, that's just something I came up with. Got you only one. Did you know that it was to teach drama? No, no, that's just okay.

Okay, I came up with it. Okay, okay. Wow, you're the only one. That was the only one. And so once you've answered to do that with a like what do you want to do and you try to teach a drama? Basically I made puppets, paper mache puppets and I taught a drama class and put on a play.

I knew as much about theater as a 16 year old would from the two plays that I'd done. Yeah. Well, you had all that experience in a backyard. I did. I mean, you're a very confident person, like you walk into a room with authority. So I can only imagine that that's something you learned at the age of 16, because I can't imagine a 16 year walking into that situation and not having, remember, I had been wearing a cage for all that time. Yeah.

It made me have to become more than what you saw. Hmm, right. But you were physically in a piece of a machine. A piece of cereal. And this and I wore prison glasses and I leather hips and you know, it was quite something but wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. But I wasn't afraid that didn't come from anywhere except stupidity. You know how dumb you are as a kid.

You don't expect anything to happen to you. Well, yeah, you're f- I mean, many kids are fearless and you sound like you were fearless. I was fearless, but I- I am full of fear now. Ha-ha-ha-ha. I don't do- can you imagine like going into that same situation now? No. Thank you.

That was so good. So delicious. I just want to finish by asking a little bit, because when we were doing cocaine bear and I was posting things about it, I was getting, like, oh my God, that's a steamed character actress, Margot Martin Dale. And I wasn't aware of all three of you

going Bojack Horsemen, so I started looking at it. Like, what? Talk to me about what that felt like for you to have, what was it? My hearing. Got one in. But what was that phone call like? What has it been like for you to play that heightened version of yourself and to be known now? What is it that esteemed character actress Margot Martin Dale? Yes. Well, it wasn't the phone call. It was that we're at rehearsal for the millers at a table

where you will say, Oh, you're going to come do my cartoon. I said, No, I'm not. I was promoting Augusto Sage County at the time and trying to learn to do a multi-cam comedy. Sure. Giving all my all into that as well. And I said, Well, I don't have time for that. He said, Oh, oh, yeah, no, you're going to. I said, I said, I'm not going to do that. And he said, the part is esteemed character actress, Margot Martin, who else

is going to do it? I said, I guess I am. So it was already established in the show. They had already kind of written it. They had written it. Okay. Well, that's one sure fire way to give an actress to say yes. No, so I did and you know, I'm happy I did. It's ridiculous. I watched some of it. It is absolutely insane. It's very funny, Margo. People love it. Love it. It's very funny, Margo. People love it. Love it. Love it. And I have a whole world of fans that I wouldn't have had a whole world.

I mean, there are fans that I would never, that are younger. Yeah. From that show. Yeah. It definitely brought in a different demographic. I mean, it's, it's really fun. And it's, it's got to be said. That was Will.

It was Will Arnet. Yeah. You need to go faster, Mar go faster so I'm not will our net You know when that sitcom world and Jimmy Burrows they're going on Jimmy Burrows Rektap all of it. Oh, he's what he's the master master I'd go well I uh Go back honey. Yeah No, I was mm-hmm go back honey? Yeah. No, I was. Go back honey.

Oh, wow, OK. Go back honey. That's so interesting that you had struggles with it because I feel like as a theater actress, I mean, maybe I had been a while since you've done theater. But there's such an overlap between multi-camera shows and theater. You don't think so? The very first TV show I did was a multi-camera show,

and then I had just come off of doing spelling beyond Broadway, and it just felt like this natural thing. Yes, you have an audience. But it's a very fastal. I have a thought process. I don't mean that you don't. I'm just saying that my thought process is slower. Okay. And so it's not like it's not ever on the tongue

a tip of my tongue. Right. So this is something I have to learn. Right, right, right. You do have to really know your lines. Well, I knew my fucking line. I just wasn't ready to save them quickly yet. Um, but, and also the thing that really stressed me out on the multi-camera sitcom, so you know you're in front of the audience, and a joke doesn't land, the artist doesn't laugh, so the writers come in and surround you and they start feeding you new lines. Oh, right. And they're like, repeat it back to us.

So you repeat it back to them and they're like, okay, let's go and shoot it. And like all of a sudden, like, this line that you're holding in your hands, like, repeat it back to us. I'm like, so you repeat it back to them. And they're like, okay, let's go and shoot it. And like, all of a sudden, like, this line that you're holding in your hands, like, water in your palm, like, it's just the line that's dripping through your hands, like, please, let's shoot this fast before I completely lose what this line is. The pressure of that moment was so intense for me. Because a minute in James Bros.,

who was also the director of the class, every episode of the class that I did, you know, he's, and he directed cheers, he directed tax, he directed Will and Grace. He started friends, like he is an iconic sitcom director. If he heard you starting to fumble, he would stop you because he didn't want you to spoil the joke for the audience.

And that's why he would stop you. And it was really stressful. Was that why? Yeah, that's why he would stop you. Because he didn't want the audience to hear, he wanted the audience to hear the perfect version of that line to make sure that it worked for the writers. Wow.

Did he never explain that to you? No. Yeah. No, back. Did you not have a good time doing them all together? I loved it. I loved learning it. I would have been happy doing it for three years. I would not have been happy doing it any longer than that.

Yeah, I've never done a multi-camera longer than 19 episodes, but I mean, my for like Sean Hayes, a mutual friend of ours, you know, he loved doing long-draight. That was, and he did it for quite some time. I mean, there's nothing like that marrying of like a live theater and TV. I thought it was just so much fun. Whether or not it's a format that still is, oh my goodness. Oh, no. So what are we dealing with here?

We have the Tosca Donas, the Mumboloni, with the Rosemary Kalamers sauce and the chocolate sauce. And here we have our version of the dada misu. Oh boy, that's tiramisu. Oh wow, how pretty. Okay, oh that's nice. That is really good. It's like a tiramisu.

Oh wow. Wow. Thank you for doing this. I just had to worry you. I love you. I love you so much. I know that I can be boring. Are you kidding me? Nothing you talked about was boring. Let me tell you. Your life is

fascinating and full and vivid and I love hearing about all of it. I love you, honey. I love you too. Yay! to. Yay! Dinner's on me is a production of Neon Hum Media, Sony Music Entertainment and a kid name Beckett Productions. It's hosted by Yours Truly. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay.

Chloe Chobal is our associate producer, Sam Bear engineered this episode. Hansdale She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Samu Allison, special thanks to Alexis Martinez and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week. Buckle up for road to electric. The podcast that takes you on a journey through the facts and myths of electrified vehicles. The last one that I saw said that the average Canadian drives about 50 kilometers per day.

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