Ted Danson, beloved for his iconic role in Cheers, was left momentarily speechless during a recent episode of his podcast, Where Everybody Knows Your Name. His guest, comedian and former Saturday Night Live star Vanessa Bayer, dropped a bombshell—she had briefly dated his stepson, Charlie McDowell.
Bayer, 43, began her revelation with a mix of humor and nervousness. “I have something I wanted to tell you,” she said. “I was almost your daughter-in-law.”
Danson, visibly surprised, asked if she was referring to McDowell, the son of his wife Mary Steenburgen and her ex-husband, actor Malcolm McDowell. Bayer confirmed with a laugh. “Charlie and I went on a coffee date at Cafe Gratitude,” she shared. “It went well—there was even some texting after.”
Danson, intrigued by the generational differences in dating etiquette, asked if texting signaled success. Bayer confirmed, explaining, “Of course! No texts after a date mean it’s over.” However, she admitted that their attempts to schedule a second meeting never materialized.
Charlie McDowell, now a successful director and screenwriter, is married to actress Lily Collins, known for her role in Emily in Paris. Bayer acknowledged their happy union on the podcast, jokingly comparing her own father to Collins’ rock-legend dad, Phil Collins.
“My dad’s cool, too,” Bayer quipped. “He runs a packaging company. You know, like the shrink wrap on CDs you can’t return once opened? That’s his realm.”
Danson’s amusement was palpable. “We’re cutting a clip of this and sending it to Charlie and Lily,” he said with a chuckle.
Mary Steenburgen, Danson’s wife, has previously spoken about her fondness for Lily Collins. In a 2024 interview with E! News, Steenburgen revealed that she met Collins at Jane Fonda’s 80th birthday party—before her son had.
“I took one look at her and thought, ‘You’d be perfect for Charlie,’” she recalled. “When he eventually started dating her, I had to play it cool.”
For Bayer, the brief connection with McDowell is now just a lighthearted memory. Her candid storytelling and humor made the revelation a highlight of the podcast. As for Danson, he took the surprise in stride, reinforcing his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most endearing personalities.
Whether it’s unexpected confessions or reflections on family ties, Danson’s podcast continues to offer listeners delightful moments and intriguing insights into the lives of his guests.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.