The 25 best Busy Philipps roles and episodes

You can’t start talking about Philipps' work without starting at the very beginning, with her role as the permanently angry (but hey, with good reason) Kim Kelly on "Freaks and Geeks."

I mean, this is the episode with Kim Kelly’s name right in the title — one would hope this is one of Philipps’ best "Freaks and Geeks" episodes. And it is, as the show was pretty quick to explain why Kim Kelly is the way that she is and to solidify her close friendship with Lindsay (after she lies to her family about already being close friends with Lindsay, that is). Of course, in terms of the original airing on NBC, that quickness wasn’t the case — NBC didn’t air it, as it was an early episode that was already tonally different from the entire series to that point.

There are few images greater than Kim Kelly channeling all of her rage into spiteful school spirit. Sure, there’s the rest of the Freaks doing the same — and it’s pretty damn funny — but it’s especially hilarious when Kim Kelly does it.

Poor Kim Kelly. Lindsay Weir’s parents think Kim’s a bad influence, and they forbid Lindsay from hanging out with her. How dare they? But also: Talk about a real-as-hell plot. No one should ever put Kim Kelly in a corner — just go with me on this — and “The Diary” is the episode that focuses on why.

Philipps joined the cast of "Dawson’s Creek" in its penultimate episode as a recurring character — Joey’s college roommate, Audrey — but like Kerr Smith’s Jack and Meredith Monroe’s Andie before her, she was very clearly more than just a “guest star” character pretty soon. In the sixth and final season (which, due to music rights, unfortunately, butchers a lot of her downward spiral storyline), she was a series regular, and as we all know, during her time on the show, she and Michelle Williams became the best friends we all know and love today.

At this point, this is only our second episode seeing Audrey, and the first had a lot of stick-in-the-mud Joey thinking she’s better than Audrey because Audrey parties, hooks up with boys and, you know, actually has fun. (Partying and hooking up with boys doesn’t necessarily equal fun, but come on: We all know Joey Potter had some fun issues. Especially during the last two seasons of "Joey’s Creek." Yes, that title was intentional.) But this second episode showed that Audrey wasn’t just a character all about partying and hooking up with boys — while she flirted with Dawson, it was clearly all in jest — as Dawson’s tour guide around campus and Joey cheerleader (again, despite Joey thinking she’s better than her). 

Again, a character (this time, Jack) learns an important lesson about not judging a book by its fun cover when it comes to Audrey. Because Audrey isn’t just impressed by any guy who pays her any attention — despite Jack’s disgusting belief that he relays to his frat bros — and the fifth season of the series really made sure to show that this character wasn’t just some one-dimensional party girl. And she wasn’t even a series regular yet! (This is also a good episode for Philipps’ best friend, Michelle Williams, as Jen takes Dawson’s virginity, and the two embark on perhaps the most mature relationship in the history of the show…before it ends for no reason.)

It feels so strange to choose such upsetting episodes for an effervescent character like Audrey and actor like Philipps, but you can’t deny how good she could be when she had to play angry Audrey. And the venom she has for Pacey as she breaks up with him certainly proved that, though, yes, it hurts.

Oh yes, Audrey hits rock bottom. (Not to be confused with the episode where Audrey, Joey, Eddie and some guy drive cross country to take Audrey to rehab, titled “Rock Bottom.”) It’s actually interesting: While Audrey’s a fun and entertaining character, you’ve got to admit, Philipps got to do a lot more when Audrey ended up going through her downward spiral. Like drive Pacey’s car through the wall of Dawson’s house. "I think I zigged when I should have zagged."

Going to bet that Philipps herself would also agree with this choice, considering she even had a "White Chicks" reunion — complete with recreated dance battle — on an episode of "Busy Tonight." It’s sometimes amazing the legacy certain pop culture has, and that’s certainly the case with a film like "White Chicks." But perhaps that’s because of such a solid supporting cast with actresses like Philipps.

Philipps had a 14-episode run on "ER." Yes, "ER" also lasted 331 episodes, so that’s kind of infinitesimal in comparison and why there’s no need to just pick out any specific episode. But it’s truly perhaps the least expected credit you’ll see on Philipps’ IMDB page — even more than the "Entourage" credit. (Of course, she was on an episode of "Entourage." Every likable actor somehow found their way to "Entourage" at least at some point, unfortunately.) Philipps' character, Hope Bobeck, was an ER intern who was also a devout Christian. Yeah, naming her “Hope” probably gave that way.

Philipps has made a career of being the comedic sidekick, and while "Made of Honor" is not a great movie, she is great in it. And like "White Chicks," it made for great fodder for "Busy Tonight," as Philipps is also very aware "Made of Honor" is not a great movie.

Can I get a “What, what?!” for Laurie Keller? (“What, what?!”) Laurie was a special character. And she was one with: plenty of stories about her time in the foster care system, a friend named Nezzie who ended up having the absolute worst things happen to her (and we even meet this character once, before misfortune like robot legs befall her) and a love of making crazy cakes (“Krazy Kakes,” even).

That Laurie Keller — she was a rascal. As evidenced by her taking every opportunity she possibly could to nap during her bet with Travis to stay awake the longest, all just to mess with him one last time before he leaves for college. Of course, Travis doesn’t really “leave” the town or show in going to college, but it’s still one of the many sweet moments between the two during their friend phase.

Of course, Laurie’s light and constant positivity are what made her such a great character, so it’s doubly painful when she has to deal with Jules being mad at her and that jerk Smith breaking her heart. But Philipps was, of course, down to play the heartache, providing one of the character’s very best episodes.

Three words: Laurie’s outfits changes. All because Katy Perry wore 12 different outfits at the “MTV Music Awards.” Unfortunately, Laurie runs out of boob tape, but she still makes quite the impression in this Thanksgiving episode, for a bit that’s mostly silent.

The introduction of @TheLarmy — that would be “The Laurie Army” — and Laurie smoking everyone at trivia. Come on! Of course, this episode makes the cut. (Plus, this is the episode where Jules says, “I grew up in the hood, y’all.” and messes up the Pledge of Allegiance twice, which will never not be funny.)

See? Travis is still around. And Laurie tries to spend some quality time with him while he’s at college, only for them to finally address the elephant in the room about their flirty relationship vs. Travis’ very real feelings for someone he just can’t have. Of course, Laurie and Travis end up together at the end of the series, but at this point, they just weren’t in that place. Laurie/Travis was a complicated relationship due to the age difference and Travis being the son of Laurie’s best friend, but Philipps and Dan Byrd always found the heart to it all.

Look, this isn’t so much about the episode itself — the first to air on TBS, after the series’ ABC cancellation, which is kind of important to this bit — as it is the end tag. An end tag that features a cameo from “three-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams”... as Laurie’s foster sister. Again, it’s just a bit, but it’s a funny bit — one fueled by the power of Philipps and Williams’ best friendship.

This is the episode where Ellie finally challenges all of Laurie’s…let’s say, “elaborate” stories about her life (thanks to ol’ robot-legged Nezzie). Sure, some of these tales may be taller than others, but honestly? Every time Philipps uttered one of them, I bought it.

Of course, the one "Dawson’s Creek" reunion in Apartment 23 — and honestly, even if the show had lasted, it probably would’ve remained that way — was from an actor who was only part of the show for the last two seasons and (sadly) didn’t even appear or get a mention in the two-part series finale. (That’s obviously the joke.) It’s just one scene, but it’s one scene that adds to the greater absurd world that is the one of Apartment 23 and its version of James Van Der Beek.

One of the funniest things about Angie Tribeca — of which there were many — was how it would have the most impressive guest stars…and use them in the smallest ways possible. In this case, Philipps’ one-scene role as Courtney Woodpatch-Newton at least had more substance than a lot of others, as an interrogation suspect who could best be described as “a more put-together, spiritual relative of the Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party.”

The worst thing about HBO’s "Vice Principals" was that it only lasted two seasons. But they were two hilarious seasons. Philipps played Gale Liptrapp, ex-wife to Danny McBride’s aspiring principal character Neal Gamby. This is another show where just picking out a specific episode for Philipps' character is a futile effort, so please just go watch "Vice Principals."

"The Comedy Jam" was a one-season show on Comedy Central that about 10 people saw, but it was fun for what it was: Celebrities (comedians and actors) would tell a story about a song from their past and follow it up by singing that song. Philipps’ (hilarious) story was about when she met her idol, Courtney Love, which honestly really put into perspective what must’ve informed her storyline in the final season of "Dawson’s Creek." Then she followed it up with a cover of Hole’s “Violet.” It was awesome. Again, only like 10 people watched this show.

Some people say we never knew true art until we witnessed the perfection that was the tandem of Tiffany Haddish (as narrator) and Philipps (as reenactor) in this episode of "Drunk History." Those people would be absolutely correct.

Despite how much of a force of nature (I mean, that’s one way to describe it) the Sheba character was, Philipps was only in two episodes of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." Her introductory episode gets the edge, though, because the reveal that she’s actually a mess pretending to be normal is great, and you don’t quite have that in the second episode (when you already know going in that she’s a mess).

And this is the second episode of Sheba, with her portion of the episode dedicated to the bizarre subterfuge that comes with her antagonistic relationship with Lillian. It also focuses on her general love of bad ideas. "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" was such a delightfully weird show, y’all.

To end this on a somewhat sad note, unfortunately, "Busy Tonight" is no longer on the air. But it was a special show for 105 episodes, one that essentially encapsulated everything one could love about Philipps as an actress, personality and, of course, person. Long live (and love) "Busy Tonight."