Drew Barrymore on her talk show: ‘I tend to… shy away from soapboxes or know-it-alls’

Jaime King, Kyle Newman attends The premiere of 'SOLO Star Wars' in Los Angeles

Drew Barrymore’s talk show debuts next week. I’m not looking forward to it! I mean, maybe it will work out. You never know when someone will catch lightning in a bottle and really figure out the perfect daytime talk-show persona. Megyn Kelly couldn’t do it. I feel like Kelly Clarkson is really struggling (she’s a terrible interviewer and pretty awkward in general). Ellen DeGeneres was a massive success at appearing likeable on-camera while being a monster behind-the-scenes. So what will happen with Drew? I imagine it will be petty wholesome and very positive, and probably way too sugary for my taste. But we’ll see. Drew got the cover of People Magazine to talk about the show and what she brings to the daytime talk-show table:

What most excites her: “…To be in a job where I don’t have to play a character. I just get to be myself. But I still have to prove myself. And I love that. If we come at this as students, I think that’s kind of the right tone for me, because I tend to also shy away from soapboxes or know-it-alls. I know everything is a work in progress, for me at least.”

The TMI issue: “I’ve had many times of my life exposed without my choice, and I’ve exposed things myself completely willingly. I will say I’ve found that perfect line [of] what is TMI. I started [in this industry] when I was in diapers. At 13, it was that sad sob story. And then I picked myself back up. I’ve been married, I’ve gotten divorced, I’ve raised myself, for better or worse. I have these two girls who are my entire universe. And it has all been out there.”

The content that interests her: “I get to do things that I care about. I get to share things that are important to me. I get to have conversations that are meaningful and grounded in reality. I get to bring comedy and humor. It’s funny, I always say in late night, you get that permission because everybody lived their life and you did a good job. ‘We’re going to put you to bed with some laughs.’ Uh-uh, I want to start the day that way.”

But don’t call her the boss? “I will never call this my show. This is not my show. I have never done anything in this life alone. You are just a kid sitting on your dreams alone in your space, and then you meet someone. And all of a sudden, the kindle and the spark happen, and then you talk to another person, and the flame gets a little bigger. That’s how you build things. I’m just one part of this great engine we’re building together.”

[From People]

It will be interesting to see if Drew aims to appear to the churchy demographic, because that definitely seems to be her persona now – middle-aged wholesome mom, a sort of pleasant, flowery, unchallenging feminism and girl-power-lite. No sex jokes, obviously. Maybe some toilet humor. I actually think Drew might end up being a good interviewer? I’m really curious about this: “I tend to also shy away from soapboxes or know-it-alls.” Meaning what, exactly? She’s not going to talk in-depth about politics, clearly (nor would I expect her to), but she’s banning know-it-alls? No one with any expertise is allowed on her show! YIKES.

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OUR STORY! THE MAKING OF the @drewbarrymoreshow told with my long time collaborator @22twentytwo22 Omar Lagda I am so excited to share this with you. I wanted to explain what this last year was. I wanted to be intimate and reveal this life changing year, and to try and find our voice. I truly believed we would not get here. And you will understand why as well if you watch. And I understood that. But how we convinced ourselves to keep working knowing it might never be, was an odd and beautiful liberating way to set the rule book on fire. So let me peel back the curtain! And try to bridge digital and broadcast, in this 4 part series. A mini documentary if you will. Made by us who work on this show! I wanted to share this journey, we are so privileged to be on with you. PS – There is a link in my bio to our You Tube channel where you can view the full episode! #drewbarrymoreshow

A post shared by Drew Barrymore (@drewbarrymore) on

Cover courtesy of People.

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22 Responses to “Drew Barrymore on her talk show: ‘I tend to… shy away from soapboxes or know-it-alls’”

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  1. Faye says:

    She sounds very MAGA to me with her quote, so nope I ain’t watching.

  2. MarineTheMachine says:

    The photo on the People cover… it looks like one painful smile.

    • truth fairy says:

      Drew seems to be very self-conscious about her asymmetric jawline and smile, even more so than Kaley Cuoco. Natalie Dormer has a similar asymmetry but she doesn’t seem self-conscious about it. Since Natalie is comfortable with herself, others around her are not made uncomfortable.

  3. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    I’ve been done with talk shows since I quit Oprah about halfway into her talk career. Clarkson? Barrymore? Dear God.

  4. Paperclip says:

    WHY ISN’T NIECY NASH THE COVER!?!? Now THAT would be awesome.

  5. Snowslow says:

    I watched hot ones with her and she is super cute but not that interesting. Also, I believe that to do this job you have to be somewhat self-effacing while having presence and to be genuinely interested in others / subjects and like every celebrity she seems to be very self oriented, always talking about her early stardom, addiction, marriages, etc…

    • BnLurkN4eva says:

      I think this is why people who are really good at the talk show thing, which lets them become really popular eventually becomes unbearable. When they start they are probably less up their own butt and more interested in other people. Later, as they become power houses and everyone starts telling them how great they are, they let it go to their heads and become less interested in others and more self involved. I think you might be on to something here.

  6. Mrs. Peel says:

    I find her very disingenuous, so it’s a hard pass for me.

  7. wheneight says:

    Pass. Seems like this is gonna be GOOP-y and cutesy and filled with platitudes and softball interviews, at a time when we need to be asking more of our public figures, not less. But that’s just the vibe I get–maybe she’ll surprise us.

    • Jules says:

      I get a goopy vibe as well…

      • Chris says:

        Agreed, no thanks to this. However, I would love to see an actual GOOP talk show for one season. It would be an interesting hate watch for me. Like she’d have an astrologer on to tell you what kind of tea you should be drinking while bragging that she only drinks tea made with water from an ancient hot spring and you can too, out of a golden teacup for $999.99. 2020 really owes this to us.

  8. BnLurkN4eva says:

    Something just occurred to me. I just realized I can’t think of any POC woman who has had what’s considered a tarnished reputation who later is allowed to make the move to becoming the wholesome girl next door type. Drew has definitely had this happen to her, which if it’s what she wants, fine. I just which women of color were allowed to change and become other than they start out too.

  9. Andrew’s Nemesis says:

    She and Juliette Lewis have a permanent space on my dartboard.

  10. chitowngal says:

    I tend to shy away from ‘scrappy’ actresses who won’t acknowledge their privilege.

  11. Lunasf17 says:

    I want to like her but that cringey Colbert (I think it was Colbert) interview she did a few years ago when Me Too was happening big really turned me off to her. She was born into a wealthy, privileged family and basically said her success was from staying positive and being scrappy. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, so tone deaf and disconnected from what regular people deal with.

  12. Charfromdarock says:

    I honestly don’t think I could listen to her voice day in day out over and above the actual content.

    You know who’s show I’m excited for?
    Amber Ruffian! I’m so sad we can’t get Peacock in Canada but I’m hoping they will post to you-tube after airing like the other nbc talk shows.

    • Mrs. Peel says:

      I get the same from Amber’s voice … she has amazing things to say, but in that baby girly voice it’s irritating as hell.

  13. Sarah says:

    Firstly, I really dislike the cover photo. What were they trying to do with her?

    I’m concerned that her ‘no know it all’ stance is giving more airtime to the ‘both sides’ approach which is frankly dangerous in a lot of areas. Do we need people to come together and talk? Absolutely. Is it dangerous and wrong to give airtime to anti-vaxx (or as I saw on here a while back – pro-death), anti-choice, etc. under the guise of ‘dialogue’? Yes. That is just dangerous and that’s my concern with her.

  14. Sorella says:

    To me she is a “small-doses only” person – her voice, her persona, her acting – I can only take in very small doses. So I’ll watch one, but not likely more. She will likely cash in on her “I’ve been in Hollywood and know everyone” brand. It’s funny, when she says “I’;ve been exposed, and it has all been out there.” I actually find the opposite with her in recent years – nobody really talks or thinks about her, even her divorce was a blip, we know little about her kids and life, the only think I ever remember about her is her ET, troubled childhood, bad Adam Sandler movies, makes mostly forgettable movies and her friendship with Camera Diaz – that is it. Otherwise, if she wasn’t the little girl from ET grown up, not sure the care factor would be there at all.

    I was hoping after Grey Gardens she would stretch and go a different route, but no, cutesie girl is her forever image.

  15. MissyMissMiss says:

    Whoa! What’s goin’ on with Drew?

    She sounds very angry or defensive, or is this just me getting this vibe? I mean, she sounds like a “know it all” on a soap box who is not going to enjoy this type of gig of sharing and exchanging ideas.

    Did someone write this for her, because it doesn’t sound like a “come on down” and inclusive, welcoming deal for her guests or audience.

    Some people know ALOT and I actually love talking to them and more importantly listening to them, as in meeting them take the lead and interject with questions or statements as they go on, because someone’s informing me about something they know more about than I do. And that’s gonna be a cool conversation if it’s with an interesting guest with something interesting to share!

    She looks really unhappy in that pic. I hope she works out what ever’s going on behind the scenes so that she can enjoy this new space. I’m actually really excited for her and I’m going to tune in and check it out.

  16. Natasha says:

    Wow , I was reading thru the comments and you’re a tough crowd tonight! lol
    I’m excited to watch Drew’s show because she knows everyone in Hollywood, I’m sure they’ll all be on the show. And I think it will be light-hearted entertainment. I need lighthearted fun, happy nonsense chitchat in my life.
    I grew up with Drew, we’re almost the same age. She’s like the sweetheart of my generation.