Busy Tonight
By Jenny Nixon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sitcom star struggles to find her footing as talk show host.
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Busy Tonight
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Based on 2 parent reviews
Disappointed
Absolute Trash
What's the Story?
BUSY TONIGHT, the newest late-night talk show offering from the E! network, is hosted by sitcom star Busy Philipps, perhaps best known for her work on Cougar Town and Freaks and Geeks. Philipps has enjoyed a growing popularity thanks to her accessible, effervescent Instagram presence, and Busy Tonight seeks to capitalize on that, only in a 30-minute chat format. The set looks like a hipster's dream living room, which serves as a cozy backdrop for Philipps to interview and drink cocktails with her various celebrity guests. A trio of staff writers serves as a Greek chorus of sorts, occasionally offering commentary from the first row of the audience. Each show ends with Phillips changing into her nightgown (fondly referred to as "Mr. Nightgown") and sending viewers off with a lullaby.
Is It Any Good?
This show came about in large part due to the popularity of Philipps' Instagram account and its off-the-cuff, ad-libbed charm -- none of which, sadly, translates to this stilted, unfocused talk show. The word "awkward" springs to mind while watching Philipps go through the motions of hosting, from the scattered monologues to the forced banter with her staff writers, which doesn't really add up to much. Philipps herself has a likable, naturally funny persona when left to her own devices -- the spontaneity of her online presence was a big part of the charm, and here she comes across best in the bits that seem looser and more unscripted. There's an extended discussion with guest Kristen Bell about favorite feminine hygiene products that touches on issues of sexism inherent in poverty, self-love and bodily autonomy that's revealing and just great.
That said, a good talk show requires that the host be able to deftly sit back and make their guests the most interesting people in the room, something that can be difficult if your interview style is too casual. Being the enthusiastic "best friend" type is all well and good, but we sometimes end up learning a lot more about Busy and her love of sheet masks and SoulCycle than we do anything else. The lullaby that marks the end of each episode is a strange addition that comes off more contrived than cute. A late night show trying to do something fresh and unexpected is a good thing, but Busy Tonight thus far is a reminder of how hard it can be to trap lightning in a bottle.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about celebrities and actors who try to transition into other roles, such as talk show host. This has been attempted before Busy Tonight, by performers such as Queen Latifah and Alec Baldwin (who has tried it twice). In what ways might a celeb-fronted talk show come across differently than other offerings in this genre?
What makes a person a good interviewer? What are some questions you might ask someone when trying to learn something new about them?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 28, 2018
- Cast: Busy Philipps
- Network: E!
- Genre: Variety Show
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 27, 2022
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