Happier in Hollywood

Liz and Sarah have a confession to make — despite swearing Season Two of Fantasy Island will be different, they’re already working weekends. Arg! Then, in their new HIH WFH (Happier In Hollywood Work From Home) segment, they explain how the Writers’ Room is breaking story remotely using WritersRoom Pro®. Next, in Take A Hike, Sarah has an “ah ha” therapy moment about the difference between trying...

Liz and Sarah open the floor to listener questions! Hot topics include: parenting, chickens, Corgis, and more! How do Liz and Sarah know if a story has “legs”? What financial advice do they have for a career in Hollywood? And between it all, do Liz and Sarah actually sleep? Lastly, this week’s Hollywood Hack gives you ergonomic support in your car or home: BackJoy’s SitSmart Core Traction Back Sup...

Liz and Sarah reveal their team motto for the new year — What Would Dolly Do 2022! Their goal is to harness Dolly Parton’s spirit of strength, fun, and goodness. They also plan to wear more eye shadow. In Take A Hike, they each make a commitment to make one change for their mental health and one change for their physical health in 2022. Sarah is going to cut down on scrolling and increase how much...

Liz and Sarah discuss the necessity of staying nimble as they write and produce Season Two of Fantasy Island. “Lean TV” requires a lot of juggling! Then, in Amplify, Liz talks about her new favorite show, The Sex Lives of College Girls. Next, they introduce a brand new segment – HIH WFH (Happier In Hollywood Work From Home) – and reveal a strategy to protect important work time when there’s a lot...

Let’s face it— sometimes things go wrong. Liz and Sarah discuss how when they had to manage a recent snafu, they took a lesson in leadership from Captain Lee on Bravo’s Below Deck: STAY CALM. Then, in Take A Hike, Nacho saves the day! Liz and Sarah share the mental health benefits of actively transitioning between Work and Not Work… and how a certain Corgi puppy helps. Next Liz and Sarah answer a...

Now that we’re all (sort of) heading back to work after the pandemic, what does “the new normal” look like? Liz and Sarah discuss the pros and cons of a hybrid work environment. Pro: less snacking. Con: fewer jobs for support staff. Then Liz and Sarah respond to a Mailroom comment about how taking a leap into the unknown can lead one down unexpected paths… and to surprising success. Next, in Take...

In this C13Features podcast movie presentation of Ghostwriter, Kate Mara and Adam Scott star in a psychological thriller about a former journalist who reluctantly accepts a job ghostwriting a new murder mystery novel for an eccentric billionaire. Kate Michaels has been living a solitary life after a traumatic experience, but after pressure from her rational agent and candid best friend, she begrud...

Liz shares that while both she and Sarah embraced gratitude over Thanksgiving, Liz also felt another “g” emotion… guilt! Turns out it’s hard to enjoy a few days off when so much work looms on the horizon. One solution? Remember that relaxing now leads to more productivity later. Then, in L v. S (Liz versus Sarah), they debate the merits of sound baths. Liz finds a sound bath more soothing than a m...

As Liz and Sarah begin writing Season Two of Fantasy Island, they’re determined to maintain work boundaries — at least for as long as they possibly can. One strategy? Wait to answer non-urgent emails. In The Mailroom, they answer a listener question about how to transition from unscripted to scripted television. Then Liz and Sarah talk to their brand new assistant, Lauren Conoscenti, about how her...

Liz and Sarah analyze different kinds of decision making. Do you follow your gut? Take the path of least resistance? Make decisions by committee? Then, in From The Outer Office, they talk to their former assistant and current Executive Story Editor on Season Two of Fantasy Island, Brook Sitgraves Turner, about what it’s like to climb the Writers Room ladder. Her advice? Take an improv class. Brook...

Liz and Sarah share HUGE news! There will be a Season Two of Fantasy Island! Now that they’ve accomplished this major goal, what’s next? They’re setting their sights on making it to one hundred episodes. Or maybe seventy-five... In Hits & Bombs, they give a big Hit to two colleagues — Marie Jacobson and Ray Ricord of Sony Gemstone — for being such cheerleaders. They also give a Bomb to the bureauc...

Season One of Fantasy Island was a sprint that left Liz and Sarah flat on the ground. As they look ahead to a possible Season Two, they discuss how to have their work life resemble a hike instead. Yes, it will be arduous, but they also want to enjoy the view. Then Liz answers a Mailroom question about her name. In a special L v. S (Liz versus Sarah), Liz announces that she has a new puppy — a Corg...

With Season Two of Fantasy Island  still up in the air, Liz and Sarah have decided to embrace Hiatus Mode! What does that mean? Going to their favorite hiatus restaurants (including Benihana), taking short trips to see friends, and — for Sarah — getting out her spinning wheel. In Take Two, they have MORE great gifts ideas for this holiday season. Thanks, Listeners, for all the suggestions! One pop...

Liz and Sarah discuss how their immediate future resembles the 1998 movie Sliding Doors. There’s one reality if Fantasy Island gets picked up for Season Two, and a totally different reality if it doesn’t. In Take A Hike, Sarah shares how she’s using meditation to help her get through this stressful time. Her favorite tool? The Ten Percent Happier app from Dan Harris. Plus, she got chickens! So Oja...

It’s not even Halloween yet, but Liz and Sarah are looking ahead to the holidays. Between supply chain problems and slow delivery, they’re shopping NOW! And they’ve got lots of great gift ideas. Need to buy for a colleague? They suggest a personalized Yeti rambler cup or a face mask chain from CandiceBDesigns on Etsy. Have a Happier lover in your life? Get a To Do Tackle Box from Gretchen Rubin. L...

Liz and Sarah discuss a question put forth by their favorite author consultant, Crystal Ellefsen — what five things do they want to be known for? First on the list — writing interesting, complex female characters. Then they Amplify Dichos, an hilarious new web series from Fantasy Island Season One writer Mary Angelica Molina. This week’s Hollywood Hack is for the overbuyers out there: If you feel...

Liz and Sarah are anxiously waiting to find out if there’s a future for Fantasy Island. They reveal one way they’re handling the stress — working on the network pitch for Season Two! In Hits & Bombs, Liz gives Sarah a Hit for how she’s dealing with the social slog in her new hometown of Ojai. And after watching the new Amazon docuseries LuLaRich, they both give a big Bomb to MLM’S — multilevel mar...

Liz and Sarah reveal what’s most pressing in their work psyches this week — nothing! As Season One of Fantasy Island comes to an end, they are making a conscious effort to take a mental break from the show. In Take Two, they revisit their post Puerto Rico reset plans. Did Sarah find good hiking trails in Ojai? Has Liz stopped eating after 10PM? Have they both managed to focus on their friendship?...

Liz and Sarah discuss the importance of having a point of view at work. Your boss might not always agree with you, but that’s ok! In Behind The Episode, they talk about two episodes of Fantasy Island: “The Big Five Oh” and “The Romance & The Bromance.” One exciting detail? The casting! These episodes feature a Melrose Place reunion and an appearance by Roselyn Sanchez’s husband — Eric Winter! Then...

As the school year begins, Liz and Sarah take a cue from Violet's first day at her new school: Expect the worst, prepare for the best. It’s the opposite of the conventional wisdom, but it works! Then they answer a question from a listener who wants to know if their motto — It’s a fun job, and we enjoy it — still applies when it’s NOT a fun job. The answer? Yes! Next, they go behind the scenes on t...

Liz and Sarah aren’t just TV writers — they’re podcasters! This week they discuss how they make Happier In Hollywood, and what elements they think are necessary for a good podcast. One rule? No aimless banter! In Behind The Episode, they talk about the Fantasy Island episode, “Once Upon a Time in Havana.” Then, in The Mailroom, they answer a listener question related to their “fun job” motto. How...

Liz and Sarah discuss what they call, "the in-between time—“ Fantasy Island has premiered, but will there be a second season? Or not? The numbers (overnights, L3s, L7s, etc.) trickle in, but what do they mean? When will the future be clearer? No idea! Then they discuss the importance of asking for what you need. Both Liz and Sarah had to do this recently… and it made a HUGE difference. They also d...

After months of work (and stress) it happened — the premiere of Fantasy Island on FOX! Liz and Sarah discuss the press coverage, the presence of an Evil Donut Bringer in the pilot, and what Liz's sister-in-law, Olivia, thought about the character (loosely) inspired by her. Then it’s time for a Take a Hike double-feature! In the first, they talk about why writing is easier than... well, not writing...

As Liz and Sarah gear up for the premiere of Fantasy Island, they‘re doing a lot of press — which can be daunting. But they have a plan of action! Knowing what they want to say and remembering to express their passion are key. In Take a Hike, they reveal how they’re mentally preparing for the Fantasy Island reviews. It’s never easy! In Hits and Bombs, they give BOTH to the same thing — the cancela...

Liz and Sarah discuss their decision not to make work for themselves during their upcoming downtime. Instead, they’re going to focus on recuperating from an intense work schedule. Then, in Take A Hike, they reveal how they’re each commemorating Season One of Fantasy Island. Liz bought herself a necklace, and Sarah ordered her dream spinning wheel! Next, in their new Amplify segment, they talk abou...