In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with stunt performer and fight coordinator Caleb Spillyards for a raw, energetic, and revealing conversation about the world of stunts, screen fighting, and what it really takes to make action look effortless.

Caleb shares his journey into the entertainment industry, the grind of building a career one opportunity at a time, and the physical demands required to perform, coordinate, and survive in one of the most intense parts of production. From training and preparation to trust, timing, safety, and storytelling, Caleb breaks down the discipline behind the moments audiences feel but rarely understand.

Together, Michael and Caleb explore how great fight scenes are built — not just through choreography, but through character, camera, rhythm, emotion, and purpose. They talk about the responsibility of protecting performers, the teamwork required to sell danger safely, and why the best action is never just about impact. It is about making the audience believe the stakes.

Caleb also opens up about sharing his knowledge online, helping filmmakers, performers, and creators understand how to design action that feels cinematic, clear, and connected to story.

Honest, physical, practical, and full of hard-earned insight, this episode gives viewers a deeper respect for the artists who put their bodies on the line to bring unforgettable moments to screen.

Caleb Spillyards Links:

IMDB — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3710906/

Socials — @CalebSpillyards

Website — www.calebspillyards.com

YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@calebspillyards

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with director Lynda Tarryk for an inspiring, practical, and deeply insightful conversation about what it really takes to build a lasting career in television.

Lynda is a three-time Children’s & Family Emmy-nominated television director, with credits including The Conners, Night Court, Lopez vs. Lopez, The Upshaws, How I Met Your Father, and Raven’s Home.

Tarryk shares her remarkable journey from starting as a page, to working as a switcher, becoming an Associate Director, and ultimately earning her place as an accomplished television director with credits across some of the most beloved comedies on screen.

She reveals how her Associate Director background gives her a technical advantage with cameras, editing, and pace. Her story is a masterclass in preparation, persistence, humility, and learning the business from every angle before stepping fully into leadership.

Together, Michael and Lynda dive into the rhythm of a working set, the pressure of live decision-making, the technical precision behind multi-camera comedy, and the people skills required to guide actors, crews, producers, and departments toward one shared vision.

Lynda also opens up about teaching the next generation, passing on hard-earned knowledge, and why great directing is about far more than calling “action.”

This conversation is for anyone who loves television, dreams of directing, wants to understand how a set actually works, or believes that the strongest leaders are often the ones who took the time to learn every job along the way.

Honest, funny, wise, and full of real industry insight, Lynda Tarryk reminds us that success is not just about getting the opportunity. It is about being ready when the call comes.

Lynda Tarryk Links:

Website — https://www.lyndatarryk.com/

IMDB — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1413749/

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with producer Paige Blankenship for an inspiring and practical conversation about what it really takes to build a life in production.

Paige shares her journey from coming into the entertainment industry, rising from the bottom, and learning how to create her own path in a business that rarely hands anyone a roadmap. From a small town to shining in Hollywood.

With experience across feature films, branded content, events, and production leadership, Paige brings a clear-eyed view of what producers actually do: they organize the impossible, protect the vision, solve problems before most people see them, and will projects into existence.

Together, Michael and Paige talk about the grit behind producing, the courage required to bet on yourself, the personal growth that comes from doing hard things, and the responsibility to give back while still building forward. Paige also shares the kinds of projects that light her up, including work with comedy, heart, purpose, and social impact.

This conversation is honest, energizing, and deeply useful for anyone who wants to understand how entertainment really gets made. It is about ambition without entitlement, leadership without ego, and the creative force required to turn an idea into something real.

For artists, producers, filmmakers, dreamers, and anyone trying to build their own path, Paige Blankenship offers a powerful reminder: sometimes the job is not waiting for permission — it is becoming the person who makes it happen.

Paige Blankenships' Links:

Socials — @Blank_Paige_films

IMDB — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5446761/

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/blank-paige-films

Women In Media — https://womennmedia.com/profile/paige-blankenship/

Website — https://blankpaigefilms.com/work

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with production designer, producer, advocate, and Women In Media founder Tema Staig for a powerful conversation about creativity, collaboration, production, and the future of the entertainment industry.

Tema has spent her career building worlds on screen while also building real pathways for talented women and nonbinary professionals behind the scenes.

Together, Michael and Tema discuss the art of production design, the teamwork required to bring a set to life, the current state of the business, and why protecting production means protecting the people whose skill, craft, and dedication make film and television possible.

As an advisory board member of Women In Media, Michael joins Tema in a deeper conversation about the organization’s mission to set a new precedent for hiring. They discuss the Women In Media talent list, training programs, mentorship, professional development, and the evolution of CAMERAderie — from short films to the launch of CAMERAderie features.

This is an episode about more than advocacy. It is about action. It is about access, excellence, opportunity, and the responsibility to open doors without lowering standards. Tema shares why representation must include real hiring, real training, real community, and real chances to lead.

Insightful, urgent, inspiring, and deeply practical, this conversation is for anyone who cares about the future of entertainment, the people who make it, and the power of creating sets where talent, trust, camaraderie, and opportunity can thrive.

Tema Staig Links:

Tema's Website — https://www.temastaiglive.com/home

Tema's Socials — @temastaig

Tema's LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/tema-staig-46823a20

Article — https://www.heartofhollywoodmagazine.com/post/tema-staig

Women In Media Links:

Women In Media Website — https://womennmedia.com/

Women in Media Socials — @WomenNMedia

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with writer, director, producer, and stand-up comedian Blake Pickens for a thoughtful, funny, and deeply personal conversation about craft, identity, and finding your voice in the entertainment industry.

Blake shares his journey from humble beginnings to building a multi-hyphenate career across film, television, comedy, cartoons, commercials, and live performance. 

Together, Michael and Blake explore the discipline behind writing, the vulnerability of stand-up, the leadership required to direct and produce, and the courage it takes to create work rooted in lived experience.

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful discussion about authentic representation not as a buzzword, but as a responsibility. Blake opens up about his personal Indigenous experience, how it has shaped his perspective, and why the stories we tell matter both on screen and behind the scenes.

This is a conversation about comedy as truth, storytelling as service, and the long road of turning where you come from into the power of what you create.

Honest, grounded, insightful, and full of heart, this episode is for anyone who loves the craft of entertainment, believes in more authentic stories, or is working to build a creative life without losing themselves along the way.

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with writer and comedian Eden Dranger for a sharp, funny, and deeply useful conversation about the real craft of writing for film, television, animation, and performers.

Eden shares stories from her work on shows like Beavis and Butt-Head and The Unicorn, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how comedy is built, rewritten, sharpened, and sometimes cut.

Together, Michael and Eden explore what it means to write for actors, how the best performers elevate material, and why great writing is often a team sport. They reveal how even great jokes are not protected from the cutting room. 

They also get honest about one of the hardest lessons in creative work: not being too precious. From jokes that never make it to air, to scenes that get trimmed, to the importance of creating your own opportunities, Eden brings both humor and hard-earned wisdom to the conversation. And yes, she explains exactly what she means by being “Horny for Acting.”

The episode also takes a personal turn as Eden reflects on her parents, the lessons they left her, and the empowerment that continues to shape her voice, choices, and creative life.

She also shares practical financial guidance inspired by her Substack, Not So Starving Artist, helping artists, writers, and freelancers think smarter about stretching a check, building stability, and striving for more.

Eden also shares her personal journey and advocacy for Women's Health. From the BRCA gene, to surgery, she shares information for survival.

Funny, honest, practical, and full of heart, this conversation is for anyone who loves comedy, creates for a living, or is learning how to survive and thrive.

Eden Dranger Links

Socials - @Eden_Eats

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10097198/

Website - https://heyitsedendranger.com/

Substack - https://edendranger.substack.com/

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with longtime friend, director, and assistant director Ron Moseley for an honest, hilarious, and deeply insightful conversation about the real work that keeps a television set moving.

Michael and Ron have known each other since the late eighties, crossing paths through some of television’s most memorable productions. Ron shares his journey through the industry, from A Different World to Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, Geena Davis Show, My Wife & Kids and his recent multi-year run on The Neighborhood. Along the way, he opens up about what it takes to organize a set, build a call sheet, lead a crew, solve problems under pressure, and create the kind of environment where people can do their best work.

Ron is an authentic straight shooter with incredible behind-the-scenes stories and a rare understanding of both the logistics and humanity of production. He talks about earning opportunities as a director, the discipline of being a great assistant director, and why leadership on set is about more than schedules, timing, and efficiency. It is about trust, communication, teamwork, family, and happiness.

Together, Michael and Ron reflect on their shared experiences with Cedric the Entertainer, Brett Butler, Roseanne, Damon Wayans, John Goodman and countless others, offering a warm and revealing look at the relationships, lessons, and unforgettable moments that shape a life in television.

Funny, grounded, wise, and full of heart, this episode celebrates the people who make sets work — and the kind of leadership that makes everyone better.

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with writer, creator, and showrunner Simone Finch, the creative force behind the acclaimed series Single Drunk Female.

With credits that include Madam Secretary, Homeland, Roseanne, and The Conners, Simone has built a career writing characters who are complicated, funny, flawed, honest, and deeply human.

Together, Michael and Simone explore the craft behind the page: how stories are shaped, how writers’ rooms function, how lived experience becomes art, and what it takes to create work that feels both personal and universal.

At the heart of the conversation is Simone’s powerful journey through sobriety and the creation of Single Drunk Female, a beloved and socially impactful series that gave audiences a fresh, funny, vulnerable look at recovery, accountability, family, identity, and starting over.

This is a conversation about writing with courage, creating from truth, and using television not only to entertain, but to help people feel seen.

Honest, insightful, funny, and deeply meaningful — this episode is for anyone who loves storytelling, values recovery, or believes great television can change the way we understand each other.

More on Simone Finch: 

Socials - @SimoneFinch

Single Drunk Female @SingleDrunkFemale

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5984133/

Creative Screenwriting - https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/life-on-lifes-terms-tv-writer-simone-finch-on-single-drunk-female

New Yorker Article - https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/what-happened-when-i-stopped-drinking

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In this extraordinary episode of Fish's Call Sheet, Michael Fishman sits down with legendary television producer Tom Werner, co-founder of Carsey-Werner and on of the most influential creative forces in modern television.

Werner's work helped shape generations of comedy and culture through iconic series including The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, 3rd Rock from the Sun, That '70s Show, The Conners, and many more.

His career goes beyond a list of hit shows. It is a blueprint for understanding how television can reflect families, challenge audiences, launch careers, and become part of America's shared memory.

But this conversation goes far beyond the credits.

Nearly 40 years after Michael Fishman first became part of the world Tom helped build, the two reconnect for a deeply personal, wide-ranging conversation about television, timing, leadership, loyalty, risk, legacy, and the evolving entertainment industry.

Tom shares his perspective on what makes great storytelling last, how the business has changed, and what still matters in an industry constantly reinventing itself.

Together Fish and Tom explore his remarkable journey beyond Hollywood as part of Fenway Sports. With connections to some of the most beloved sports institutions in the world, including the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Personal, reflective, and rich with history, this episode is a rare conversation between two professionals connected by one of television's most iconic shows. They unpack and share nearly four decades of life, growth, and perspective.

This is not just an interview with a legendary producer.

It is a conversation 40 years in the making

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For the relaunch of Fish's Call Sheet, the tables turn.

In this powerful episode, Michel Fishman steps out of the host chair and into the hot seat as his business partner, Michael Johnson, leads an honest, revealing, and deeply personal conversation about the life behind the credits.

From growing up on television as D.J. Conner on Roseanne and The Conners, to building a career across acting, directing, writing, producing, coaching, entrepreneurship, and humanitarianism, Fish opens up about the professional lessons, personal losses, defining relationships, hard-earned wisdom, and behind-the-scenes experiences that shaped him.

This is more than a career retrospective. Led by his closest friend it is a deeper look at the human being behind the work: the child Actor, the Father, the builder, the survivor, the leader, the storyteller, and the main still learning how to turn life's hardest moments into purpose.

Honest. Authentic. Transparent. Powerful.

This is the beginning of a new chapter for Fish's Call Sheet.

A show dedicated to the people, stories, work, and wisdom behind the entertainment industry.

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