Next Gen 2012: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Stars
After a stint at NBC and Tom Werner’s Good Humor TV, Gish (originally from Dallas) joined 20th, where he developed the Fox hit Bob’s Burgers and helped sell IFC’s upcoming — and first — animated show, Out There, from South Park’s Ryan Quincy.
INDUSTRY MENTOR: Mike Clements, whom I worked with at Good Humor Television. He reignited my love for animation.
BIG BREAK: After a few months as an NBC page, I applied to work in the development department. Cheryl Dolins, who was head of comedy development at the time, took a shine to me and hired me to work on her desk.
CAREER INSPIRATION: I was always a massive couch potato, but I didn’t realize it could be a career until I got to Washington and Lee [University] and was writing reviews for the paper. I interned at Scott Rudin Productions in New York, too. That’s where I learned that I loved development.
10 YEARS FROM NOW: I hope to be staying creative. I’ve dabbled in a few things: animation, live action, and I produced a documentary called Barbarian Days a few years ago. It was based on Robert E. Howard, who created Conan the Barbarian; it focused on four of his superfans, who gather at this festival in Texas.
BIGGEST 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENT: Getting our show, Out There, picked up by IFC.
MOVIE FIX: I quote Blazing Saddles the most.
WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I’M: Drinking good beer and playing bad golf.
I FALL ASLEEP AT: 11:15 p.m.
THE LAST THING I DO: Read. Right now, I’m reading Simon Rich’s new book, What in God’s Name.
