Busy Philipps Exposing the Corporate Level Expectation of Women on Television

Busy Philipps knew she was right for the role of Casey Klein in 'Party Down' while she was in the audition room, and the creative team agreed, but the network had different ideas about what types of female bodies are acceptable for television.

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[sophiarodriguez]

It’s really a credit to Busy Phillips that while talking about a work scenario where she was rejected for the most superficial reason (her looks), she can still inject a little humor into that serious conversation and make Sam laugh.

[ATLfletch]

Busy is awesome... Can't wait to read her book.
BTW - 'Freaks & Geeks' was one of the best coming of age teen shows ever made, of any type or format. I think it should be considered every bit as much a part of the American 'teen genre' lexicon as any John Hughes movie is.

[jabbasan]

Thanks Sam, another great conversation.

[harveythepooka]

How did I not know she was so amazing?

[ef]

Busy, I don't know who you are. I'm on the other side of the world with a different reality check, but I am a woman and no matter where in the world you are, that is the consistent reality. Busy, never change how you say this truth. you rock

[MarinaAndTheDevil]

I only know her from White Chicks but I love her in these interviews. Gotta watch more of her!

[solfeggietto]

So disgusting. And so very Hollywood. What a cesspool.

[andreaandrea]

OMG, thank you much for talking about this! We are so fucked up about Body Image in this country (and the way we eat/our relationship with food, which yoyos from one extreme to another and we are NEVER at peace with ourselves). This so needs to be the conversation we're having. Hallelujah-Busy-Philipps.

[douglaskalberg]

I like Liz Caplan in that role, wonder how different the show would have panned out. The show became a bit of a cult show, mostly inside the industry is seems like, so she probably didn't miss out on a lot of money.

[eltravos]

Show was great. But damn they cancelled it so fast. And she would have been great in it. Showtime is TERRIBLE at tv shows. They make some great shows but then something happens after two seasons to where the show somehow goes downhill or its cancelled. IT'S SUPER WEIRD. It's almost like they hired the person who ran the shows on Fox. Fox would start a show...show would be pretty good and then BAM CANCELLED.

[lauralunaazul]

Is insane the thing with the body in hollywood. Insane!!!

[sparrowwilson]

It’s even more annoying when you see the male characters in Party Down. None of them are like the most insanely gorgeous specimens. Particularly compared with Lizzie Caplan, who got the role I assume Busy went for, they are not anywhere near as good looking. Not to be mean. None of them are hideous but it just shows the double standard. Even with her baby weight Busy would have been leagues more attractive than the men they eventually cast for that show. If she wasn’t right for the part because of her take on the character, I could understand it, but not hiring her because she was a little bit heavy is just ridiculous. It’s short-sighted too. I’m always really excited when I see Busy Phillips is in a show. She has so much nostalgia for me.

[thesmileysynesthete]

This is so interesting cuz I’ve seen her in things and I always think she’s so pretty🥰😫

[mgibs]

Busy Phillips is a treasure for the ages

[Abcdefghijk]

Busy speaking FACTS!! This is just awful and pisses me off. Representation is so important! All walks of life need to be represented!

[murphacus]

Thats upsetting. Ive always liked her and wanted more. Those executives are trash.

[paullebon]

You should have tried out for a black show. We prefer 'em thick.

[Tristanramos]

or just not have the financiers of the work to not be part of the creative process.

[JustineelkaStuff]

What is even sadder is that the show would have really been much better with Busy. Lizzy Caplan is a good actress and was in almost every indie movie, at least at the time, but the show was much less fun than it could have been with Busy. And in the end it got cancelled.

[suesheification]

Correction she is not acceptable visually...to men. Well fuck men. I'm sure Mr. Corporate would not be visually acceptable to me either.