Episodes
Take 52 - Craig Thomas, showrunner How I Met Your Mother
Feb. 3, 2022
We talk to the incredible Craig Thomas, co-creator and showrunner of How I Met Your Mother. He explains how he nearly derailed himself after success came early, the importance of focus on successful projects and the risk of …
Take 51 - Rob Thomas, showrunner and novelist
Jan. 27, 2022
We start season 2 with veteran showrunner and novelist Rob Thomas. We get straight into it with the crushing blow of losing an overall deal with a major studio, a hellish year of development and concerns that his most recent…
Prologue -Season 2
Jan. 20, 2022
Ahead of the return of our second season, Noah and Dan sit down for another of their little chats. They talk about Noah's recovery from illness, the incredible reception to our first season and what is to come in the second.…
Epilogue - Season One review
Nov. 18, 2021
Noah and Dan review the first season of Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss. They talk about what they learned, why they did it and how much it meant to both of them. And Noah reveals a secret that will bring new meaning to o…
Season Finale. Take 50 - Showrunner Bill Lawrence, Scrubs, Ted Lasso
Nov. 11, 2021
We end the first season of Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss with Bill Lawrence. He tells about his multiple early firings, how he feels when his shows fail to become hits and how difficult it was to pitch Ted Lasso. He tal…
Take 49 - Writer Steven E. de Souza, Die Hard, Tomb Raider, Commando
Nov. 4, 2021
One of his producers died in a car crash, another was murdered - and these aren't even his most dramatic stories! In the penultimate show of the season, we talk to legendary screenwriter Steven E. de Souza. The Die Hard writ…
Take 48 - Showrunner David Shore, House, The Good Doctor
Oct. 28, 2021
We talk to the legendary showrunner David Shore. He talks us through his journey giving up working as a lawyer in Canada and moving to Hollywood with very limited contacts - and very limited writing skills. He explains how h…
Take 47 - Derek Simonds, The Sinner
Oct. 21, 2021
We talk to Derek Simonds about his experience taking up the reins of The Sinner. He talks openly about the overwhelming experience of taking on the multi-disciplinary showrunner role, the pressure it created and the toll it …
Take 45 - Writer and Showrunner Sam Ernst, Haven, Carnival Row, Daredevil
Oct. 7, 2021
We talk to the remarkable Sam Ernst. He tells his story of instant success in the restaurant business followed by early failure in the entertainment industry and what he learned along the way. Sam explains his relationship w…
Take 44 - Showrunner LaToya Morgan, Duster, The Walking Dead, Shameless
Sept. 30, 2021
We talk to showrunner LaToya Morgan. She tells us about her vision board, her ambition and her rise to the top of the entertainment business. She explains the pressure of working on her big new show Duster with J.J. Abrams, …
Take 43 - Novelist Chuck Wendig, Wanderers, The Book of Accidents, Star Wars Aftermath
Sept. 23, 2021
We talk to the fascinating writer Chuck Wendig. He tells us about Star Wars fans liking him in real life, but not online, and getting dropped by Marvel over political tweets. We discuss the politics of cancel culture around …
Take 42 - Writers and showrunners Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, Women's Murder Club, Lie to Me, Fantasy Island
Sept. 16, 2021
We talk to writing duo Liz Craft and Sarah Fain. They talk about the dynamics of a writing duo, when and how they have disagreements and how they deal with both rejection and success. The practicalities of splitting pay chec…
Take 41 - Showrunner Hart Hanson, Bones, The Finder
Sept. 9, 2021
We speak to the fantastic Hart Hanson. He talks about being courteous but cranky, his unwanted reputation for being nice and why he would never bully his team. He explains the bizarre genesis of Bones, the balance between ar…
Take 40 - Journalist Mo Ryan, Vanity Fair
Sept. 2, 2021
We talk to veteran journalist Mo Ryan. We explore the complex world of Hollywood, reporting on abuse and toxicity in the industry and the personal toll it has taken on her. She tells how she approaches these type of stories,…
Take 39 - Producer Andy Horwitz, Suicide Squad, Triple Frontier
Aug. 26, 2021
We talk to film producer Andy Horwitz. He talks about about how to let writers go from projects, trying to treat people fairly but also the principle of 'protect the movie at all costs'. Adam explains the process of movie ma…
Take 38 - Writer and showrunner Joseph Mallozzi, Stargate SG-1, Dark Matter
Aug. 19, 2021
Having written or produced more than 120 hours of television, Joseph Mallozzi has had a stellar career. We talk to him about the relative comfort of working on one show for more than ten years, his impatience when he isn't o…
Take 37 - Manager and producer Zadoc Angell, Echo Lake Entertainment
Aug. 12, 2021
We talk to insightful and wisdom-filled manager Zadoc Angell. This long-time literary agent, manager and TV producer, as well as current Co-President of Echo Lake Entertainment, talks about moving from agent to manager, mana…
Take 36 - Showrunner Marc Guggenheim, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, Green Lantern
Aug. 5, 2021
We talk to the remarkably funny and articulate Marc Guggenheim. The industry veteran talks about moving from procedurals to genre, working for an abusive showrunner and his regrets over taking a gig ‘just for the money’. He …
Take 35 - Showrunner and Doctor Neal Baer, ER, Designated Survivor
July 29, 2021
We talk to doctor-turned-writer and showrunner Neal Baer. He talks us though his journey on ER, the public service he performs and the lives he has saved through television. We cover the anti-science movement, the joy of wo…
Take 34 - Special Episode - Screenwriter Noah Evslin - with guest co-host Paul Bae
July 22, 2021
On a special episode, we push Noah Evslin into the guest hot seat and the creator of the world's most successful scripted podcast Paul Bae joins as co-host. Noah talks about his experience of rejection, failure and adversity…
Take 33 - Actor, writer, showrunner Jonathan Lloyd Walker, Van Helsing, Snowpiercer
July 15, 2021
We talk to Canadian-British actor and producer Jonathan Lloyd Walker. He talks about his career, moving between disciplines and the different types of rejection he has met in each one. He explains how he had a fast start in …
Take 32 - Writer Thunder Levin, Sharknado
July 8, 2021
It is a cultural phenomenon that beautifully treads the line between disaster film and farce. We talk to the writer of the first four Sharknado movies Thunder Levin. He talks about the success of the franchise, his 'rock sta…
Take 31 - Writer and showrunner David Steinberg, Slackers, American Pie 2, No Good Nick
July 1, 2021
Fired, banned from set, thrown off projects, fired again, briefly blackballed. An extraordinary interview with writer and show creator David Steinberg about his journey from an arrogant youngster, to rebuilding his career an…
Take 30 - Screenwriter and Producer Steven DeKnight, Buffy, Smallville, Spartacus, Daredevil
June 24, 2021
We talk to producer and screenwriter Steven S. DeKnight. He talks about his career highlight working on Spartacus, the opportunities he missed that led to him taking that meeting and the challenges (and excitement) working o…