Episode 172: Lauren Herstik Interview (American Vandal, Pearson)

Episode 172

24th April 2025

In this after-show episode of Dead Pilot Society, we’re joined by writer Lauren Herstik, who brought us Camp Friends

Episode notes

In this after-show episode of Dead Pilot Society, we’re joined by writer Lauren Herstik, who brought us Camp Friends — a pilot that’s had more lives (and deaths) than most scripts could dream of. This one has everything: clown camp trauma, projectile vomit over a salad bar, surrealist puberty freakouts, and a long, winding journey through the chaotic world of TV development.

Lauren sits down with host Andrew Reich to talk about the evolution of her coming-of-age summer camp comedy, from its original, raunchy YA vision at HBO Max, to a beachy reinvention, to its current cryogenic stasis somewhere in the Disney orbit. Along the way, we hear how shifting mandates, network rebrands, and executive shakeups nearly killed the project multiple times — and how Lauren refused to let it go quietly.

In this episode...

Britt Robisheaux

Associate Producer

Guests

  • Lauren Herstik
  • Andrew Reich

About the show

In Dead Pilots Society, scripts that were developed by studios and networks but were never produced are given the table reads they deserve. Starring actors you know and love from television and film, a live audience, and a good time in which no one gets notes, no one is fired, and everyone laughs. Presented by Andrew Reich (Friends; Worst Week) and Ben Blacker (The Writers Panel podcast; co-creator, Thrilling Adventure Hour).

Email them at info@deadpilotssociety.com and follow @deadpilotspod on Twitter and Instagram.

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