Has Billy Bush spent enough time in Hollywood jail following the “Access Hollywood” tape leak in which he laughed as Donald Trump infamously said “grab ’em by the p***y?” Perhaps.
According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), the former “Today” host will be an anchor on a new “Extra” series — “Extra Extra.” Read all about it:
Extra, it was announced in December, is moving from its longtime home on NBC owned-and-operated stations to Fox in seven major markets, starting in the fall.
The syndicated newsmagazine is produced by Telepictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution.
Extra Extra is set to premiere Sept. 9, a rep for the show confirmed. The rebranded program will feature a modernized set and in-depth look at pop culture, sports and politics, according to People. The magazine added that Extra host Mario Lopez will continue in his role through the end of the current season.
Bill Bush’s career took a massive hit during the 2016 presidential election, when NBC fired him from “Today” after the leak of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape from 2005 that featured Donald Trump bragging about sleeping with other women and grabbing women “by the p***y.” Throughout the tape, Bush could be heard laughing and egging on Trump.
Despite Bush’s apology for his participation in what Trump downplayed as “locker room talk,” Bush lost his job at NBC and fell out of grace for over two years. Speaking with THR in 2017, Bush said his life became “a roller coaster.”
“If you start from the day everything happened, Friday, Oct. 7, it was just instant shock. Things were happening way too fast, and a media circus developed,” he told THR. “I’ve never been the type that the paparazzi would be interested in. So that early part was just chaos. But then things progressed, and when you have a big, traumatic event, you go through stages, and it led to acceptance and understanding. And then I found myself in a place of soul searching. And I developed a commitment to become a better, fuller man.”
As to his participation in the bus talk, Bush said he wished he had behaved better at the time by changing the topic. “Looking back on what was said on that bus, I wish I had changed the topic. I didn’t have the strength of character to do it,” he said.
Writing on Instagram this past October, Bush lamented that he faced a far stricter punishment than anyone else did for his affiliation with the “Access Hollywood” tape.
“Two years ago today, my life went from order to chaos in a dramatic instant. I accounted for my small part, while the President and my employer walked away and still haven’t accounted for their actions,” said Bush. “These past couple years have been character-building, to say the least — anxiety attacks, fits of rage, feelings of betrayal and abandonment — and I have concluded that I am NOT extraordinary. Terrible things can happen at any moment to ANYONE.”
Speaking with People about his new gig on “Extra Extra,” Bush said he has grown exponentially since 2005 and 2016. “We all have to be able to evolve as we grow,” Bush said. “The guy that left the scene in 2016 was already a changed person [since 2005], but I had the opportunity to grow up a little bit. Facing adversity in some way is good. And I feel I’ll be better at my job than I ever was. This is my next step.”