CB and I are both fans of Busy Phillips’ talk show, Busy Tonight. Busy honed her skills as an interviewer and brought out the best in her guests, getting them to tell not only personal stories but random things we’d never heard before. Her show feels comfortable, like a late-night gabfest with a fun friend. Now that I’ve sold it to you, let me break your heart, E! is not airing the showing after May 16. Busy made the announcement on both Instagram and Twitter Sunday night:
Hey guys. Just wanted to let you know my show BusyTonight won't be continuing on the E network after May 16. I'm beyond proud of what we've built in such a short period of time and I'm hopeful we can find the right place for the show to live on. Goodnight you guys. I love you.✨
— Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) May 6, 2019
As she mentioned in her IG post, she also posted a long video to her IG stories talking about the show and it’s end date on E! The story video is a little hard to watch because Busy is obviously very emotional and trying hard not to let her emotions overcome her. At one point, though, she reflected on what she’s accomplished and in that moment, she really shined. I love that she acknowledged she had done something pretty unique and was proud of herself for it:
And in that time, I feel like we’ve been able to accomplish so much creatively and I guess culturally. And I think that we’ve had a real point of view. And I’m so proud of all of the things that we’ve been able to do, and I feel like the show’s really successful in that way. I have faith in me. I hope that we can continue to do the show somewhere else. I hope that we figure that out. ‘Cause it does seem lame that there would be just one woman in late-night at a time.
[Busy Phillips Instagram Stories translated by People]
I used the People quotes because I haven’t figured out how to rewind an IG story so I can transcribe accurately. It’s so easy to chastise ourselves when something like this happens. It’s important to remember our accomplishments too. In the IG story, Busy never used the word ‘cancelled’ and repeats several times that she has already met with other outlets to find a good fit for the show. I don’t know if she’s just putting the idea out in the universe or because she’s been given reason to believe her show will find a new home. She’ might be looking for a fan campaign on social media to save Busy Tonight ala Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Like I said, I enjoy the show and would like to see it continue. I agree with Busy’s that we need more women late night talk shows happening concurrently. I’ll join any crusade the Twitterverse assembles – I’ll even paint my own “You guys!” sign to carry.
In a bittersweet turn of events, Busy was nominated for a Critics Choice award for her talk show the day after it was announced it would be ending.
Photo credit: WENN Photos, Instagram and Twitter
I really liked the show. I hope it finds a new home.
Why she opens her mouth wide in almost every pic? It’s like Bündchen and the damn tongue and ‘V’ sign with the fingers. Both of them just look pathetic.
What are you on about? She has her mouth open in exactly one picture and even that one looks like someone caught her in the middle of speaking.
Oh nooooo! I am hooked on her show! She is such a nice person and she makes the show fun and comfortable. I am amazed by her singing voice also! She is extremely talented and down to earth. You can tell the guests love her and she does a great job interviewing them. I hope it is picked up by another network or E realizes they are making a mistake.
I’m surprised by this. I never really watched it, but it seems like it got a lot of publicity. And is there anything else on E that people are even watching?
Tap the left side of the screen to skip back to the beginning of an IG story, tap it again quickly to move to the previous story. If you watch the whole thing, let it close, and go back to it it will start at the beginning again. 🙂
-Your friendly neighborhood millennial
Thank you! I was hoping someone would tell me. I appreciate it.
She should just start her own YouTube channel & continue the show there. Everyone who watched it on E! would follow her there.
I’ve also found that if the instastory has text on it, if you press and hold your finger on the page you’re trying to read it won’t advance to the next image until you release it 👍🏻
Her show is tailor made for a streaming service.
I agree, I like her show a lot but this old bag of bones usually needs to be in bed by the time it comes on. I hope it gets picked up!
I tried to watch her show a couple times but her intense vocal fry make it unbearable.
And the way she’s always playing with her hair and looking directly into the camera. It’s very off-putting and unnatural.
Maybe she needs a podcast like every other celebrity. Her show didn’t seem to be much more than a televised podcast where she interviews her celebrity friends. That’s what most celebs are doing on their non-televised podcasts.
I like her show. Maybe another network will pick it up? Funny how E rushes to cancel a show a lot of people like but the f*cking Kardashians will be on E until the end of time.
That sucks. If I had cable I’d be watching it. I hope it lands somewhere I can stream (does it stream anywhere?).
E! cancelled The Soup, which was one of the best shows ever. This isn’t surprising, but unfortunate.
I’ve only ever watched it on YouTube, I had no idea it was on E! I co-sign moving to a podcast or YouTube channel. I’m a Californian so I don’t really hear vocal fry but I can imagine it might be grating. I will definitely continue to be a fan regardless of where her show ends up.
I hope she gets that award. I didn’t catch her show but I like her so much!