INTERVIEW: Busy Philipps (Laurie) of Cougartown
October 6th, 2009
Cougartown is part of the new ABC comedy block on Wednesday nights that I absolutely adore. Courteney Cox stars in this show about a recently divorced woman trying to put her life back together, and get back on the dating scene. Cougartown is actually the name of the town she lives in, although make of it what you will. This was a pilot that really surprised me with its writing and humor. And it has kept up its momentum. I adore Courteney Cox from her “Friends” days and she really shines in this lead role. I recently had the chance to speak with Busy Philipps, who plays Laurie, about working with Courteney Cox, and her own character’s antics.
When I read the script, I thought it was a really fun character and I was excited to worth with Courteney Cox and Bill Lawrence, who did Scrubs. And it all worked out, I was very excited to be a part of it.
Do you see a lot of yourself in Laurie?
You know, I feel like I am–I have a little bit of Laurie in me. I think Laurie’s a little more who I was a couple years ago as far as all the partying is concerned. I’m sort of a settled down, boring mom now (laughs), so I don’t go out drinking with my girlfriends and look for guys anymore (laughs), but you know, I can relate a little bit to that time in my life.
You know, I feel like Freaks and Geeks and Dawson’s Creek both certainly had comedic elements to it, and you know, I do movies that are comedies: White Chicks and He’s Just Not That Into You and Made of Honor. So I feel like, I pretty much have been doing comedy for a while now, so it doesn’t feel like a transition.
Do you have a preference in terms of drama versus comedy?
Yeah, I like doing both. I love comedies. I like making people laugh. I like laughing. Obviously.
How has it been working with Courteney Cox? Did you watch “Friends?”
Oh yeah, I’m a huge Friends fan. And it’s just been so thrilling to be able to work with her every day and sometimes she says lines and I think “Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be sitting across from Monica!” (laughs) It’s been a lot of fun.
What do you think makes Cougartown different from other comedies on television?
I think it’s a lot of fun and I think it’s about a woman who’s trying to get back out there after her divorce and her son is starting to leave the house more, and she’s pretty soon going to have an empty nest and so she’s exploring some of these things that she didn’t get to do because she was a mom and basically a housewife, taking care of her husband and building her own business. So now she’s able to have some fun. And so I think it’s kind of an empowering show for women. And I think it’s really great.
Your daughter Birdie just had her first birthday. What has it been like balancing this new show and motherhood?
The transition has been really great and really easy. If you’re going to be a working mom, being an actress on a TV show is not a bad gig to get (laughs). She’s able to come to work and visit me, and we have a nanny that works full time when I’m working full time so it’s pretty fantastic. The schedule’s pretty great and I’m really thrilled.
Can you give a little teaser of what’s coming up this season on Cougartown?
Well this season is a lot of Jules getting back out there. [Last] week’s episode specifically Jules is trying to relive the 20s that she never had. I’m trying to get her to go out with my friends and she does, but she’s not in her 20s anymore and it’s a little bit harder for her. (laughs)
There’s a lot of animosity between Laurie and Ellie (Jules’ other friend). Does that continue throughout the season?
The animosity continues. Ellie, played by Christa Miller, is hilarious and so dry and mean. She gets mean. She’s mean to Laurie and she’s jealous of their friendship, so yeah, our relationship comes full circle.
Are there going to be any other stunts pulled by Laurie?
I think that Laurie is always going to be on the lookout for ways to push Jules in the direction of putting herself back out there and meeting guys and trying to help her get back out there. So I think there could be more stunts that Laurie pulls to push her in that direction.
What would you tell viewers about why they should tune into Cougartown?
I would tell them that this show’s really funny and Courteney’s great and really funny. I think it’s a great show, and we’ve been having such a great time filming it that I hope that people tune in and respond and feel the same way watching it.
Cougartown continues its first season tonight on ABC at 9:30 pm. Be sure to tune in!
