LAist interview: Danielle Fishel of the Dish

You have been working as actress since the early 90's. Now with The Dish you are hosting a show that focuses on making comments about the clothing choices of your peers. Did you have an trepidation before taking the job?

No I didn't because I feel I can take it just as well as I can dish it. I don't feel like we are going after making fun of anybody. That's not ultimately our goal. It's more to find the humor in things that people take very seriously. We're not saving lives. We're talking about jackets and a cute skirt.

Why are we so obsessed with what celebrities wear?

People enjoy talking about everything celebrities do from what they are eating to anything they are doing. They have more resources than 99% of the rest of the world, so it's fun to see what they do with those resources. We can pick them apart and think that is not what we would chose to wear. Daydreaming what you would do if you were in the same situation. It's fun to play dress up in your mind- or say 'ew that's horrible'. Couldn't you do better with all of the money you have? I When I see someone that I have talked about wearing fantastic things and I see them wearing something terrible, I feel personally slighted. Like 'Where did you go wrong?', I had so much faith in your ability and now you have lost it.

Do you read any of the websites that focus on celebrity fashion disasters?

I read magazines and look at the websites to see what people were wearing. You see a picture of what somebody was wearing in a magazine and I wanted to know where did they wear that to and why did they think that was appropriate. Or I need to find out who that designer is, I love it. I do that a lot with shoes. I see a picture of someone and think who made those shoes. I have to know. Kelly Ripa wears the greatest shoes.

I remember a time where it felt like every magazine I opened, I'd say I like that dress, then I'd look down, Rami Kashou and then I'd flip through and say, I like that dress, Rami Kashou. It was crazy.

I am that way with Chloe. Everything Chloe it turns out I like. It will be weird, I'll look at an Elle or Vogue on one of those pages where they have seventeen little pictures of seventeen different designers. I'll be like, 'hideous, hideous, hideous, oooh'. It's always Chloe. Every time. I like it. I don't wear it, but I like it.

What is you favorite segment on the show?

I really like the Project Runway segments. I love America's next Top Model. There are so many characters on that show, that I get to impersonate. That's probably my favorite part of doing The Dish in general, being able to impersonate and turn anything into a character. It's my fusion of acting and hosting.

Are there any celebs that you think are off limits or dress so perfectly they will never be on The Dish?

No nobody ever dresses so perfectly that they'll never be on The Dish. I put myself on the show over and over again. Even in day to day life, we all make mistakes. Like when you walk out and you feel good about what you are wearing, and you catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror four hours later and you think "What?! What was I thinking!" This is way too short or this is way to whatever. I left covered up and now I look like a prostitute and I have lipstick on my teeth. We've all been there done that. So no, I don't think there is anyone who won't eventually be on The Dish.

Do you have a favorite? Who has the best style?

I love Rachel Bilson. I think she is so classically put together all of the time. She always looks classy, age appropriate, she is always wearing something pretty. She can pull off tomboy. She can pull off girly. But then I just saw her in a bowler hat. I'm sorry I feel personally let down by her. I have been routing for her. I have talked about her so highly. I see the photo with the bowler hat- so sad. But overall I give her a 9 out of 10.

And Angelina Jolie is just remarkable to me. I love her red carpet style. Not all of it, before she was with Brad she had some sketchy moments. Like the Elvira look. She's had a few setback, but now that she is a mom her style has really evolved.

Jennifer Garner is cute too. When she gets all dressed up, she always looks great. Even when she is out playing with Violet and she is the jeans and t-shirt girl. She is super cute too.

Do you ever see something during the week and come to work with an idea for a segment? How much are you involved with writing the show?

When I see something that I think is funny, I definitely tell the writers, but to be honest the writing staff is so unbelievably talented that most of the time when I bring something up they have already seen it, included it, and written something hysterical about it. I am incredibly blessed with the writing staff for the show. They are on top of it. Which is good because I am also in school.

What are you studying?

I am getting my psychology degree. Between the show and school I don't get to watch as much TV as I'd like, but luckily the writers catch all of the funny.

The Soup has Lou the dog, do you have a mascot? Do you want one and what would it be?

We don't have a mascot yet, but we are working on coming up with our own things. We are trying to find the voice of our show. After that becomes very well established, there will be recurring things that I am sure will start popping up.

From 1993-2000 you played Topanga Lawrence on Boy Meets World. How many times a day do people still say 'hi Topanga' or ask you about the show?

Depends on how many times I leave my house. Everywhere I go at least one person, but what's unbelievably cool is that in the last two tothree weeks more people have asked me 'are you the host of The Dish?" I love that.

You live in the OC, what do the locals do in Anaheim Hills? Where would we find you having breakfast?

My house. I am a big cook.

Where do you like to eat?

There is a great place in Laguna called Javier's. http://javiers-cantina.com/ Javier's in Laguna Beach is awesome. And 59th & Lex, the restaurant at Bloomingdale's is so underrated. I love that place. I used to work at Bloomingdale's. For the last two years from October to December I worked at Bloomingdale's wrapping presents. I worked on Christmas Eve for the last two years. I wrapped so many presents, it was so fun. People come in and say' you know what's so funny, you looks so much like that girl from...

Any other odd jobs you've taken along the way?

I taught school for a year. Special needs 1-3 year olds. I also want to be a waitress. Really bad.

What kind of restaurant?

Like Ruby's. I don't want to work in some fancy schmancy place. I want to ask 'do you want curly fries or regular?'. And I want to open up my own breakfast place. A ma and pa style breakfast restaurant. Then I could create the menu and I could waitress.

Favorite breakfast dish?

Pancakes. My favorite breakfast place is The Griddle on Sunset. I make some great omelets with chili in them, like at The Griddle. In my family, I am famous for my scrambles, like cheese avocado tomato scallions and salsa. And I make grits. I love grits. Sundays are big at my house. I make a big brunch and then we watch twelve hours of football.

Favorite team?

Dallas Cowboys. I can't wait for Laker season to start. I am a big Lakers fan.

Did you ever play sports?

I played soccer as a kid, but I was terrible. I used to sit down and pick the grass.

Any cheerleading?

No, I would have. All of my friends in high school were cheerleaders, but I couldn't do it because I was working full time. I was always at the football games. I was the only one of my friends that was sitting in the bleachers. Maybe I was the only person in the world that was sad that they were on TV because they wanted to be a cheerleader. My mom always laughs and says, 'I think you are the only actress that wants to be a waitress.'

Last question, what is your earliest memory of fashion?

When I was a little girl I had a truly fantastic Rainbow Bright dress. I obsessively wore it. I remember one time I had croup, that hacking cough. My mom was stressed out because I couldn't sleep and I couldn't breathe. She called the hospital and they said wrap her up in sweats and put her in the car and drive around with the windows down. It was winter. They said the cool air will help break up the congestion in her lungs. I remember being mortified that she was going to make me leave the house in sweats. So with my croupy cough and tears streaming down my face I had to wear the Rainbow Bright dress. My mother dug the dress out of the hamper for me, so I would get in the car. I was four years old.

It sounds like you and Joel McHale hosting The Soup and The Dish was some sort of match made in heaven. Remember when Joel wore that crazy Rainbow Bright costume.

Oh that's right. I didn't even think about that. It's kismet.

You can catch The Dish on Saturday Nights on The Style Network at 10pm.

photo courtesy of The Style Network