As Liz and Sarah start to hand over cuts of Fantasy Island to the studio and network, they have to accept they don’t have control over how other people react. And that’s okay! In Hits & Bombs, Liz gives a Hit to Bravo for bringing Heather Dubrow back to the Real Housewives of Orange County. She also gives herself a Bomb for not succeeding with her post Puerto Rico clean slate. In The Mailroom, Liz and Sarah answer a question about their process of breaking story. Finally, this week’s Hollywood Hack comes from Sarah’s daughter Violet: Watch before and after pet videos on You Tube for a quick pick-me-up.
Podcast episodes
Episode 214: Be An Insulator
Liz and Sarah discuss a great compliment they received from one of the Fantasy Island writers— they’re insulators as opposed to conductors when it comes to keeping show stress from infiltrating the Writers Room. Then, in their new Amplify segment, they share a fantastic new podcast from Liz’s sister-in-law, Olivia Fierro: Olivia’s Book Club. Plus, now that they’re back from Puerto Rico, they settle an important L v S: Is it better or worse to be working at a vacation destination? Finally, this week’s Hollywood Hack will help you feel better in times of stress — take Advil.
Episode 213: Spice Up, Live Long & Completing Phase One of Fantasy Island
Liz and Sarah have completed Phase One of Fantasy Island — all of their story areas for the season have been approved! There’s still LOTS of work to do, but they take a moment to savor this accomplishment. Next up? Finishing all the scripts and getting into post! In Take A Hike, they talk to friend of the pod, Dr. Melina Jampolis, about her fantastic new book, Spice Up, Live Long: A Guide to Using Herbs and Spices to Live a Longer, Healthier and More Vibrant Life. Dr. Melina says it’s not just about your lifespan — it’s about your health-span. This week’s Hollywood Hack will help you stay calmer and more empowered: Don’t respond.
Episode 212: Be A Boulder Pusher
Liz and Sarah discuss why, in a group setting, it’s important to be a person who pushes the boulder up the hill. And if you can’t push the boulder up the hill, then at least don’t be the one pushing it down the hill! Then, in Take A Hike, they talk about how one of the Fantasy Island writers has inspired them to try to be “at ease in muddy water.” In The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah share some of their favorite lingo from the writers room. What is shoe leather? A house number? What does it mean to hang a light on something? Finally, this week’s Hollywood Hack will help you appear calm, even if you aren’t: Lower your voice.
Episode 211: Everyone Is Right
Liz and Sarah discuss how, when working in a highly collaborative environment, everyone can be right at the same time, which can sometimes make things feel oh so wrong. Then, in The Mailroom, they answer two listener questions. How much thought is put into the way scenes look on television? And how can four women starting a business together successfully make group decisions? In The Craft (& Fain), they share a Tool of the Trade: jumbo neon dry erase whiteboard magnets. Finally, this week’s Hollywood Hack will help you relax: Read a romance.
Episode 210: Cussing and Discussing
Liz and Sarah share a listener’s suggestion about how to frame potentially difficult work conversations so that they stay light-hearted and productive — let everyone know at the outset that there will be plenty of “cussing and discussing.” In Hits & Bombs, they give a big hit to the Fantasy Island hair and makeup team, who gave up their lunch hour to make Liz and Sarah look good for a behind-the-scenes interview. They also give themselves a bomb for too much bitching and complaining! Clearly, Liz and Sarah need to heed their own advice — “don’t treat a gift like a burden.” This week’s Hollywood Hack will add humor to your work text chains — use gifs! Finally, after a year of lockdown, Celebrity Sightings are back! Liz and Sarah are seeing celebrities all over the resort in Puerto Rico — of course these celebrities do happen to be working on Fantasy Island!