"Cancelled. His Career Is Over." But Actor Timothy Busfield Is Getting Out of Jail

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Cancelled. His Career Is Over." But Actor Timothy Busfield Is Getting Out of Jail

Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
Date: January 21, 2026
Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present (iHeartPodcasts)

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Main Theme / Purpose

This episode provides a detailed, real-time analysis of the breaking news that actor Timothy Busfield, accused of inappropriate contact with minors, has been granted release from jail after a highly charged pretrial detention hearing. Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes break down the legal arguments, emotional courtroom moments, and the broader implications for Busfield’s career and the presumption of innocence under the justice system.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

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1. Breaking News: Timothy Busfield Released from Jail

[06:17] Robes, [07:00] Amy Robach

• Robach recounts the emotional scene as the judge grants Timothy Busfield’s release, bringing his wife Melissa Gilbert (iconic TV actress) to tears.
  • "He didn't even put travel restrictions on him and let him leave on his own recognizance. So didn't even set some high dollar amount for him to be able to leave. It was the best case scenario for Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert." — Amy Robach [07:00]
• The judge’s decision surprised many, given the severity of the accusations and prosecution’s argument that Busfield posed a danger to the community.

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2. The Allegations and Arguments in Court

[07:43] Robes, [08:16] Amy Robach

• Busfield is accused by two boys, cast members on a show he directed, of inappropriate contact. He turned himself in to Albuquerque authorities.
• The prosecution argued Busfield's power and influence made him uniquely dangerous, citing that "there can't be a child anywhere in his proximity that could be safe." — TJ Holmes [07:43]
• Prosecution claimed that electronic monitoring or support from others could not guarantee community safety.

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3. Judge’s Reasoning for Release

[08:44] Robes, [09:16] Amy Robach

• The judge explicitly disagreed with prosecution, noting:
  • No evidence of a pattern of grooming or repeated abuse.
  • Prior allegations related to post-pubescent women, not minors (children).
    • "That's right. Because yes, prior allegations were brought up, but as it was pointed out, these were all post pubescent women. So there's no pattern of him abusing or any allegations of him abusing minors." — Amy Robach [09:16]
  • Zero criminal history; difficulty giving weight to unproven or uncharged prior allegations.
• Visual of Busfield in court: disheveled, exhausted, and shackled (“doing a little penguin walk”).

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4. Courtroom Drama and Emotional Details

[10:10] Amy Robach, [10:27] Robes

• Melissa Gilbert sat two rows behind Busfield, surrounded by support from family and friends.
• Busfield submitted 87 letters of support from colleagues and acquaintances; these would become a point of contention in the arguments.

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5. Prosecution’s Case: Pattern and Motive

[11:08] Robes, [11:47] Amy Robach

• Prosecution revealed new details:
  • Parents only questioned their children after being tagged in a social media post about Busfield’s alleged past behavior.
  • Children initially denied inappropriate contact when asked by parents, later disclosed details to a therapist and doctor—a typical pattern for child abuse victims, prosecution asserted.
  • Reference to actress Élodie Yung ("The Cleaning Lady"), whose lack of cooperation annoyed prosecutors. Her closeness to the family and role as an intermediary becomes relevant [13:08].
  • Attempted to establish a pattern by bringing up civil settlements from 30 years ago (with 16-, 17-, and 28-year-old women)—but these do not match the present charges (children).

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6. Defense’s Case: Lack of Evidence and Alternative Theory

[19:35] Amy Robach, [20:03] Robes

• Defense attorneys sharply criticized the prosecution’s case as "flawed," "questionable," and a "fallacy."
• Emphasized the legal presumption of innocence: "First of all, my client as he sits here today is an innocent man by our legal system. You're looking at him, and he's innocent." — Defense via Amy Robach [19:35]
• Addressed the arrest warrant argument: steps taken by Busfield (including lie detector and other sex-offender related tests) occurred on attorney advice, not evasion of arrest.

7. 87 Letters of Support: Support or Influence?

[18:18] Amy Robach, [18:55] Robes

• Defense argued the letters were unsolicited support; witnesses and colleagues vouching for Busfield’s character and safety with children.
• Prosecution claimed the volume and speed of letters was evidence of Busfield's power to manipulate and influence others, which the hosts found unconvincing and even backward.

8. Star Witness: Alan Caudillo, Director of Photography

[26:20] Amy Robach, [26:50] Robes

• The defense called a single witness: Alan Caudillo, lead director of photography on "The Cleaning Lady," who has 35+ years experience.

• Caudillo, also a parent, testified he was with Busfield "100% of the time" on set, making the alleged abuse "impossible" due to lack of privacy, constant adult presence, and regulatory oversight.

  • "There is no privacy. There is no quiet time. Kids legally have to be taken care of in a certain way on these. They don't mess around with this stuff." — Robes [27:20]
  • Caudillo described the father of the boys as "aggressive" and "creepy" for directing his children to give other adults hugs, and detailed the family's unusual behavior and influence-seeking on set.

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9. Family Motive and Financial Incentive

[29:11] Robes, [29:36] Amy Robach

• Defense hammered at motive:
  • The boys earned well over $1 million on the show, with 85% of their compensation legally going to their parents.
  • The father was previously disbarred, had served prison time for fraud, and the mother also had convictions; the defense framed them as financially desperate and scheming for revenge after sons were not renewed for season four.

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10. The Career and Consequences for Timothy Busfield

[28:39] Robes, [28:46] Amy Robach

• The most memorable and sobering argument from the defense:
  • "Timothy Busfield has been canceled and his career is over. He has no power... His talent agency has dropped him. He was removed from a rom com... canceled from Law and Order SVU... His life is over, so he has no power. That's all gone, and he'll never get it back. His career is done." — Amy Robach attributing the defense attorney [28:46–29:11]
  • Even with presumption of innocence and release, Busfield’s public image and livelihood are irreversibly damaged.

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11. Conditions of Release & The Broader Question

[32:28] Amy Robach, [32:40] Robes

• Conditions: must check with pretrial services, can travel, no drinking/drugs, no unsupervised contact with minors, no contact with alleged victims.

• Defense played a voicemail to argue that prosecution misused or took statements out of context to build their narrative.

• Hosts reflect on the devastating and lasting impact of such accusations — even if cleared, is it possible to recover from the stigma?

  • "Do you ever get the stain of an accusation of pedophilia... off to work again, can you?" — Robes [32:28]
  • "He will never work again." — Amy Robach [32:28]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “He looked exhausted, he looked beaten down. He looked emotionally and physically just spent, and that's understandable.” — Amy Robach [10:10]
• “87 letters of support... the prosecution claimed that proved how powerful he is and that he could then... if he could get 87 people in such a short amount of time to write a letter... that proves that he's dangerous. I was scratching my head on that one.” — Amy Robach [18:18]
• “This is the prosecution saying it. It's the justice system. Of course we're supposed to think he's innocent.” — Robes [19:19]
• “There is no privacy. There is no quiet time. Kids legally have to be taken care of in a certain way on these. They don’t mess around with this stuff.” — Robes [27:20]
• “His talent agency has dropped him. He was removed from a rom com... canceled from Law and Order SVU... His life is over, so he has no power. That's all gone, and he'll never get it back. His career is done.” — Defense via Amy Robach [28:46]
• "We're not saying there are no victims in this case. Yeah, the kids are victims, but not victims of Timothy Busfield. They were victimized by their own parents." — Defense argument summarized by Amy Robach [30:41]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [06:17–07:43] — Introduction of breaking news, emotional courtroom scene.
• [07:43–11:08] — Prosecution’s opening arguments and newly revealed details.
• [13:08–15:43] — Role of Élodie Yung and questioning the prosecution’s narrative.
• [15:43–18:18] — Attempt to establish pattern and debate over letters of support.
• [19:35–21:23] — Defense’s rebuttal, highlighting legal presumptions and questioning prosecution logic.
• [26:20–28:19] — Testimony from Alan Caudillo, credibility and set environment.
• [28:39–29:36] — Defense's closing: career over, powerlessness.
• [30:41–31:20] — Family motives, parental criminal background.
• [32:28–32:40] — Reflection on the lifelong impact of accusations.

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Conclusion

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes deliver a gripping, nuanced breakdown of the Timothy Busfield case, navigating the high emotions, legal technicalities, and tragic human consequences playing out in real-time. The episode is marked by skepticism toward both sides’ arguments and a deep empathy for all parties whose lives are rocked by such allegations—especially as the hosts reflect on the irreversible reputational and professional harm an accusation can bring, regardless of the outcome. Busfield may have regained his liberty, but all agree: “He will never work again.”

Transcript

[Amy Robach]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[TJ Holmes]

A man with down syndrome tries the impossible, the grand slam in turkey hunting.

[Robes]

4:53 hits.

[TJ Holmes]

We're legal, shooting light.

[Robes]

And he gives us this one last.

[TJ Holmes]

And he pitches off.

[Robes]

And when he pitches off, he flies right into the gun barrel. I said to the cameraman, do you have him? He said, shoot him.

[TJ Holmes]

I said, justin, shoot. You can download this episode and others from Lines and tines with Spencer Graves on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Talking to your kids about the dangers of vaping can be hard. Getting them to listen to hot gossip is easy. So here's some drama you could share with your kid. Dude, did you hear about Cassie and Jake? No. But did you hear that vaping can cause irreversible lung damage and nicotine affects brain development? Nuh. You don't need to gossip if you want to have an open conversation about vaping. So if you want to get tips on when and how to talk to your kids, visit talkaboutvaping.org, brought to you by the American Lung association and the Ad Council.

[Brad (Brad vs Everyone podcast)]

Social media trend is landing some gen zers in jail. The progressive media darling whose public meltdown got her fired and the massive TikTok boycott against Target. That actually makes no sense. You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media, but you can keep up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things happening online in media and in politics with the Brad vs. Everyone podcast. Listen to the Brad vs. Everyone podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[TJ Holmes]

Coffee Genius Here.

[Robes]

Most people see a busy cafe, but.

[TJ Holmes]

I see precision at every step, thanks to Genius. From global payments transactions, instant inventory, precise operations in sync. Absolutely Genius. From sold out crowds worldwide to managing the morning rush, genius cube keeps operations running smoothly.

[Amy Robach]

One Portado.

[TJ Holmes]

Flawless pour, perfectly timed. Just beautiful.

[Robes]

Big league reliability for any business.

[TJ Holmes]

That's genius.

[Chelsea Handler]

This season on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler. We've got some incredible guests like Kumail Nanjiani. Let's start with your cat. How is she?

[TJ Holmes]

She is not with us anymore.

[Amy Robach]

Okay, great, great, great.

[Chelsea Handler]

Way to start. So this is a great beginning and hopefully you'll be able to, I don't know, maybe you will cry. Amanda Seyfried.

[Amy Robach]

We'll Life is so short. If you feel something like that, you have that fire in you. For this experience, it's not for a guy. It's for the experience of being in love. And like it's bigger than a guy.

[Chelsea Handler]

Elizabeth Olsen.

[Amy Robach]

I love swimming naked so much.

[Chelsea Handler]

And I know you love taking pictures of yourself. I love to be naked. I just want to be in my broad underwear all the time. Ross Matthews.

[Amy Robach]

You know what kids always say to me? Are you a boy or girl? Oh, my God. All the time.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

I know.

[Amy Robach]

So I'm always like, hi. I try to butch it up for kids, you know, so they're not confused.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, but you're butching it up.

[Amy Robach]

It's basically like an angry woman.

[Chelsea Handler]

Doris Day, right?

[Amy Robach]

No, I turn into Bea Arthur.

[Chelsea Handler]

Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dr. Jesse Mills]

Hey there. This is Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA Health and host of the Mailroom podcast. Each January, guys everywhere make the same resolutions. Get stronger, work harder, fix what's broken. But what if the real work isn't physical at all? To kick off the new year, I sat down with Dr. Steve Poulter, a psychologist with over 30 years experience helping men unpack shame, anxiety and emotional pain they were never taught to name. In a powerful two part conversation, we discuss why men aren't emotionally bulletproof, why shame hides in plain sight, and how real strength comes from listening to yourself and to others.

[TJ Holmes]

Guys are toxic, they're immature, or they've got something they just haven't resolved. Once that gets resolved, then there comes empathy, as in compassion.

[Dr. Jesse Mills]

If you want this to be the year you stop powering through pain and start understanding what's underneath, listen to the mailroom on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

The moments that shape us often begin with a simple question. What do I want my life to look like now? I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford, and on Therapy for Black girls, we create space for honest conversations about identity, radio relationships, mental health, and the choices that help us grow. As cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester reminds.

[Amy Robach]

Us, we are in a divisive time where our comments are weaponized against us. And so what we find is a lot of Black women are standing up and speaking out because they feel the brunt of the pain.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Each week we explore the tools and insights that help you move with purpose, whether you're navigating something new or returning to yourself. If you're ready for thoughtful guidance and grounded support, this is the place for you. Listen to therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl podcast)]

You know Roald Dahl, the writer who thought up Willy Wonka, Matilda, and the bfg. But did you know he was also a spy?

[Amy Robach]

Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been.

[Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl podcast)]

Our new podcast series, the Secret World of Roald Dahlia is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. His job was literally to seduce the wives of powerful Americans.

[Robes]

What?

[Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl podcast)]

And he was really good at it. You probably won't believe it either.

[Amy Robach]

Okay, I don't think that's true.

[Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl podcast)]

I'm telling you, the guy was a spy. Did you know Dahl got cozy with the Roosevelts, played poker with Harry Truman, and had a long affair with a congresswoman? And then he took his talents to Hollywood, where he worked alongside Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock before writing a hit James Bond film. How did this secret agent wind up as the most successful children's author ever? And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids? The true story is stranger than anything he ever wrote. Listen to the Secret World of Roald Dahl on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Robes]

Hey there, folks. It is Tuesday, January 20, and a breaking story developing. Just as we are getting in front of these microphones. Actor Timothy Busfield gets to go home. His court hearing just wrapped up and the judge is going to let him go home. The moment sent his wife, Melissa Gilbert to tears with that welcome to this episode of Amy and tj Again, Robes has only been, I mean, literally less than 10 minutes ago, he wrapped this hearing, but it was something to see Melissa Gilbert, this iconic TV actress, sitting in a courtroom just a couple of rows behind her husband, accused of heinous crimes. But yes, he is going to get to go home.

[Amy Robach]

I. I actually was brought to tears watching Melissa Gilbert break down when she heard the judge say that Timothy Busfield was going to get to go home. He didn't even put travel restrictions on him and let him leave on his own recognizance. So didn't even set some high dollar amount for him to be able to leave. It was the best case scenario for Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert. The judge's decision was what they were hoping for, most likely what they were praying for. And so to see all of that emotion come out after a two plus hour hearing, which was honestly riveting the entire time, it was remarkable what we learned and what we heard in court.

[Robes]

Today, because we, yes, spoke here. You know the case by now. Timothy Busfield being accused by a couple of boys who worked on a show that he directed of inappropriate contact with a minor are the charges they're going after he did turn himself in. And Albuquerque, New Mexico, that's where the movie, or excuse me, the show was being shot. That's why they are there. He has been in jail robe since last week. It was kind of a surprise to a lot of people. The prosecution called this man in absolute danger. And there can't be a child anywhere in his proximity that could be safe.

[Amy Robach]

The prosecutor was arguing today in court that there were no conditions that the court could set for his release that would guarantee the safety of the community. I mean, they went in hard and they said there was no GPS could say that he wasn't with or around children. And interestingly, they used the support that Timothy Busfield brought to court with him and used it against him.

[Robes]

And we both just rolled our eyes kind of in a way. We'll explain and we'll get into what the defense said, what the prosecution said. But first we'll just tell you, yes, what the judge says. So, yes, the headline is Timothy Busville is getting to go home. He said he combined all of these factors and did not agree with the prosecution that there are no conditions that can be set that can keep the community safe. Robes. It makes sense. There's no evidence that shows there's any pattern of abusing his power or a pattern of grooming children. Those are two major things the judge hit on.

[Amy Robach]

That's right. Because yes, prior allegations were brought up, but as it was pointed out, these were all post pubescent women. So there's no pattern of him abusing or any allegations of him abusing minors.

[Robes]

So. So how is he supposed to consider that makes sense since what the judge was saying. But you combine that with zero criminal history. The other allegations you just mentioned, they're not vetted by the criminal justice system. Said so it's difficult to give weight to all that. So ultimately the judge said he can go out under his own recognizance to set the scene here. It was set for 2 o' clock local time, 4 o' clock on the east coast this afternoon. And they told us straight up it's gonna be. Each side gets an hour. Each side had a chance to bring witnesses. But even before we started, he came into court right on time at 4:00 Eastern. And Rosie was still wearing that same orange outfit. But he looked tired, disheveled, he looked exhausted.

[Amy Robach]

Disheveled is the word that I came to mind when I saw him walk in. He was a far cry from the actor we're used to seeing. And yeah, he looked exhausted, he looked beaten down. He looked emotionally and physically just spent, and that's understandable.

[Robes]

And he was doing a little penguin walk. He was shackled, folks. He was shackled at his hands and his feet. And he was forced to walk in and out of court in that way, like a penguin.

[Amy Robach]

Yeah, that's a really good description.

[Robes]

Thought that was extraordinary as well. And what would you say his family. Melissa was sitting how many rows back?

[Amy Robach]

Melissa was two rows back. And the camera, it was pretty remarkable to have the camera. We saw Timothy the entire time. We saw Melissa a lot of the time. But, yeah, she was flanked with at least a dozen folks who looked like they were either family or friends of Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield. And having that show of support was significant. It was a visual for sure.

[Robes]

And Again, he brought 87 letters of support with him. And that ended up playing a role in this two hour hearing. Now, the prosecution got up first. She made clear, yes, I'm gonna take some time, and then I'm gonna save some of my time for rebuttal later on. But she went a good 40, 45 minutes to start, and she talked about how dangerous he was. But rope, some things we hadn't heard before that came out, why we're here in the first place, why the parents even thought to ask their kids. I hadn't heard this detail before, but it was kind of vague. They said the parents were tagged in a social media post about Tim Busfield's history, and that's why they decided to ask their kids.

[Amy Robach]

That is what they claim. And they said, they asked their kids, has Tim ever inappropriately touched you? And the kids said no. And so they did acknowledge that. The prosecution's office did acknowledge that. But then they said, and they made a very big point to say that that is a very typical response, even from children who have been sexually abused, that it does. And there typically are delays in them acknowledging it. And then she was pointing out that they didn't acknowledge it to their parents, they acknowledged it ultimately to a therapist and then to a doctor. And so that's why she was saying these were valid and they were specific and detailed. Ultimately, even though initially the kid said no.

[Robes]

Okay, so that part about them telling a therapist and telling the doctor is going to come up again from the defense side. And it's a much different story continuing with the prosecution here. And again, I'm. I'm familiar with Elodie Young, the actress, because she was in a movie. I Like with Ryan Reynolds. It's the only reason I know about this French actress. And she was. This was a big deal. And they. They highly promoted this show. By the way, the cleaning lady. Four seasons these days. Ain't bad to be on broadcast network. The cleaning lady, she was the lead of this show now robes. The prosecutor kind of threw her. Her under the bus a little bit. She did. And she seemed a little annoyed.

[Amy Robach]

Oh, she absolutely seemed annoyed. Ellie Young, she said, was not compliant with this investigation. Those were the words she used. And she said that she was and had been close to the family. And we will hear later and have heard that Timothy Busfield has actually referenced Young telling him something about the parents. That would be in the defense's favor, not in the prosecution's favor.

[Robes]

Her name came up in that police report where he said he had contacted her and set up an interview, and it was set. And then the day before it was supposed to happen, she called and canceled and said she doesn't want anything to do with this. Well, it sounded like this again, but she. The boys played her child in the show, so I was surprised. Well, the prosecutors. How close she was.

[Amy Robach]

She vacationed with the family.

[Robes]

Really close with the family.

[Amy Robach]

Yes.

[Robes]

And the kids were on the show for three seasons. This is a lot of time. These folks probably did get really close.

[Amy Robach]

Yes. And according to the Busfield camp, she is one of the ones who told Busfield that she overheard when the parents found out that their children were not going to be picked up for season four. She said that basically she heard the mom say, I'm gonna have his ass. Timothy Busfield's ass.

[Robes]

But it's just interesting that this actress is dead set in the center of all this. Now, more about the boys here and Rome. This was a little. I say confusing, but I kept waiting for more to be there, probably from the prosecution. And this is all they got. But there was a lot of. They said this and they didn't say that, and they told the therapists, and then they told. It was a confusing story. I'll be honest, Robo. It was a confusing story they were trying to weave about why what the boys were saying should absolutely be believed.

[Amy Robach]

Yeah. And it was confusing because they were. She was doubling down on the fact that the boys didn't say they were ever alone with Timothy Vosfield, but that this all happened on set. And by pretty much all accounts, there were at least 10 to 30 people around at all times. So that was definitely puzzling to me.

[Robes]

Yeah, she. You know what? She. She was the only one that didn't realize she wasn't having Perry Mason moments. Like she was really saying things as if, yeah, this is definitively the case and it wasn't there.

[Amy Robach]

And what she was saying, actually I didn't think. And you didn't either. It seems like bolster her position. And yet she was saying things that she acted as though there it is, they carried weight or that they proved her point when actually I felt like they disproved her point. So I was confused by her some of the points she was making because I felt like they went to the defense's favor, not to the prosecution's favor.

[Robes]

But she did spend some time and we did learn a couple of things here about some past allegations and we did learn robes. I hadn't seen this anywhere that he settled a civil lawsuit with someone that came forward to accuse him years and years ago. This is 30, 30 years ago.

[Amy Robach]

I believe the woman at the time was, I say woman but 17. She brought up several allegations that again the judge ultimately pointed out were not vetted. So they weren't prosecuted. There were no police reports, there was no trial. So there's no way you can just say okay. And she detailed a 17 year old. We had already heard about the 16 year old. That again was from 30 years ago. And then she mentioned a 28 year old woman as well.

[Robes]

He claimed that was a consensual.

[Amy Robach]

He claimed it was consensual. But all her point was all of these narratives described a similar pattern of just sexual contact. There wasn't sexual assault or sexual abuse. There wasn't any allegations of any sexual acts taking place other than fondling or touching. And so she's saying this was a pattern. But again it was a little puzzling because these were all 16, 17. And I'm not taking away any of those alleged victims experiences. But it's the very different when you're Talking about a 7 year old boy or an 8 year old boy when it comes to a pattern.

[Robes]

Yes. And that doesn't flow with any pattern.

[Amy Robach]

But she was trying to make it a pattern and it, it fell flat to my point.

[Robes]

She was con. Trying to connect dots and she was to your point, proving the defense's point that this guy is not a danger, certainly not to children. 87 letters. Now the, the defense, we, I think we knew this number ahead of time but that he was going to bring bus witness or witnesses and that he had 87 letters of support from people who were saying he's a good guy, he wouldn't have Done this, and so on and so forth. That sounds, like, overwhelming. That sounds impressive in a week's time. However, the prosecutor said that is evidence of possible guilt and influence and power and that he's a bad dude.

[Amy Robach]

She was saying she actually used these 87 letters of support, which the defense claimed were. Were in most cases, unsolicited. Like, people were saying, what can I do? I was on the set, I saw this. I know him. I've worked with him. I can vouch for him. I would let my children be around him. The prosecution claimed that that proved how powerful he is and that he could then if he could get 87 people in such a short amount of time to write a letter and vouch for him and say that their children could be around him, but proves that he's dangerous. I was scratching my head on that one.

[Robes]

What was the point here? That he was. She did say it. That he is able to get people to blindly follow him based on his influence, his power, his money, his name is what she was trying to say. And she made this point that these people don't know the evidence. They haven't heard anything. How could they just blindly say he's innocent?

[Amy Robach]

They know him. They worked with him.

[Robes]

Sweetheart, we've been doing this. This is the prosecution saying it. It's the justice system. Of course we're supposed to think he's innocent.

[Amy Robach]

Yes. And that was the defense's point.

[Robes]

Yes.

[Amy Robach]

He has a presumption of innocence.

[Robes]

She's calling them idiots. Yes.

[Amy Robach]

And Busfield's attorney is the first thing he said when he stood up. He said, I'm sorry. First of all, my client as he sits here today is an innocent man by our legal system. You're looking at him, and he's innocent. That's what our legal system will tell you. The prosecution is acting as if he's already been convicted. Am I in la la land? And I actually was so glad the defense attorney said this, because we were thinking the same thing. I was like, what's happening right now? This is crazy.

[Robes]

And she had two defense attorneys to get up there. The guy went first, and then his female attorney did get up. But to your point, he came in hard and he responded directly to some things he heard the prosecution say. But first off, like, it's been seven days and that's all they got. He was almost just throwing. Just insulting the case that they are put on. He said every aspect of the case is flawed, is questionable, called it a fallacy. And Rose, we both looked at each other when he Said it an arrest warrant is an order to police. It's not an order to the defendant. Don't hold it against him because you put out an arrest warrant and he didn't come running.

[Amy Robach]

And he said it was three and a half days, not five. Look at when the arrest warrant was issued Friday night. He was there by Tuesday morning. Morning. Two of those days were driving. And another day he said, by my order, he went and had a lie detector test. And he went and had, well, I forgot, it's able test. It's basically to determine what you're sexually attracted to. So he was like, I told him to do that. He was going under my orders. He wasn't trying to do things his way on his terms and his time. He was actually submitting to the actual law. He was following the law. He was doing what he was supposed to do. It was the police's responsibility to arrest him.

[Robes]

Yeah.

[Amy Robach]

Not for him to turn himself in.

[Robes]

Never heard an attorney put that way. That's it's not on him when you put an arrest warrant out. But the defense, like we said, they were the only ones to put on a witness. And it was a single witness and it was possibly an effective witness. We'll tell you who that is and what he said and why the defense had set a such a strong closing. Stay here.

[Chelsea Handler]

This season on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler. We've got some incredible guests like Kumail Nanjiani. Let's start with your cat. How is she?

[TJ Holmes]

She is not with us anymore.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, great, great, great way to start. So this is a great beginning and hopefully you'll be able to, I don't know, maybe you will cry. Amanda Seyfried.

[Amy Robach]

Life is so short. If you feel something like that, you have that fire in you for this experience. It's not for. It's for the experience of being in love and like, it's bigger than a guy.

[Chelsea Handler]

Elizabeth Olsen.

[Amy Robach]

I love swimming naked so much.

[Chelsea Handler]

And I know you love taking pictures of yourself. Yes, I love to be naked. I just want to be in my bra underwear all the time. Ross Matthews.

[Amy Robach]

You know what kids always say to me? Are you a boy or a girl? Oh, my God, all the time.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

I know.

[Amy Robach]

So I'm always like, hi. I try to butch it up for kids, you know, so they're not confused.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, but you're butching it up.

[Amy Robach]

It's basically like an angry woman.

[Chelsea Handler]

Doris Day, right?

[Amy Robach]

No, I turn into Bea Arthur.

[Chelsea Handler]

Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dr. Jesse Mills]

Hey there. This is Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA Health and host of the Mailroom podcast. Each January, guys everywhere make the same resolutions. Get stronger, work harder, fix what's broken. But what if the real work isn't physical at all? To kick off the new year, I sat down with Dr. Steve Poulter, a psychologist with over 30 years experience helping men unpack shame, anxiety and emotional pain they were never taught to name. In a powerful two part conversation, we discuss why men aren't emotionally bulletproof, why shame hides in plain sight, and how real strength comes from listening to yourself and to others.

[TJ Holmes]

Guys are toxic. They're immature, or they've got something they just haven't resolved. Once that gets resolved, then there comes empathy and some compassion.

[Dr. Jesse Mills]

If you want this to be the year you stop powering through pain and start understanding what's underneath, listen to the mailroom on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

The moments that shape us often begin with a simple question. What do I want my life to look like now? I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford, and on Therapy for Black Girls, we create space for honest conversations about identity, relationships, mental health, and the choices that help us get grow. As cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester reminds.

[Amy Robach]

Us, we are in a divisive time where our comments are weaponized against us. And so what we find is a lot of black women are standing up and speaking out because they feel the brunt of the pain.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Each week, we explore the tools and insights that help you move with purpose, whether you're navigating something new or returning to yourself. If you're ready for thoughtful guidance and grounded support, this is the place for you. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl podcast)]

You know Roald Dahl, the writer who thought up Willy Wonka, Matilda and the bfg. But did you know he was also a spy?

[Amy Robach]

Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been.

[Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl podcast)]

Our new podcast series, the Secret World of Roald Dahl is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. His job was literally to seduce the wives of powerful Americans.

[Robes]

What?

[Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl podcast)]

And he was really good at it. You probably won't believe it either.

[Amy Robach]

Okay, I don't think that's true.

[Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl podcast)]

I'm telling you, the guy was a spy. Did you know Dahl got cozy with the Roosevelts, played poker with Harry Truman, and had a long affair with a congresswoman and Then he took his talents to Hollywood, where he worked alongside Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock before writing a hit James Bond film. How did this secret agent wind up as the most successful children's author ever? And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids? The true story is stranger than anything he ever wrote. Listen to the Secret World of Roald Dahl on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Robes]

All right, we continue here on Amy and tj. We'll wrap up with what the defense was saying today in the Timothy Busfill pretrial detention hearing, in which it was determined after both sides put on evidence, the judge said that, yes, Timothy Busfield can go home, can be released on his own recognizance pending trial, which might never come. Quite frankly, one witness on the stand today, robes. It was the DP that we saw mentioned in some of the court filings. Pretty effective.

[Amy Robach]

Yes. Lead director of photography on the cleaning lady. Been in the business for over 35 years. Alan Caudillo was his name, and he was a very credible witness. He's also a father, pointed that out. So he said that he was with Timothy busfield on set 100% of the time. He said it is not possible that inappropriate sexual contact happened at the cleaning lady. He said it was impossible.

[Robes]

Well, he said it was impossible for them to be alone. He said it's impossible that those kids were alone. That I believe the prosecutor got up there and said, well, the kids. And we never said the kids were alone with him. We just said that the abuse was happened. So they are acknowledging the prosecution, even during this thing that, yep, the abuse happened, but it was when people were around.

[Amy Robach]

That's still a head scratcher because Alan Cardillo said he. This was his quote about Timothy Bostfield. I never left his side.

[Robes]

We've happened to be on movie sets and you see them all the time. There is no privacy. There is no quiet time. Kids legally have to be taken care of in a certain way on these. They don't mess around with this stuff.

[Amy Robach]

He said there were a minimum of 10 people with the boys on set at all times, including their parents. And speaking of the parents, Alan Cardillo had a lot to say about the father. Specifically, he's calling him aggressive, calling him creepy. He used that word. And he said that he was a set parent and trying to be his friend because he said, I think he thought I was more important or more powerful, misunderstood. My role was.

[Robes]

Yes.

[Amy Robach]

And he said that he thought it was creepy that he would direct. He watched the father direct the boys to give him and other people, including Timothy Busfield, a hug. And he thought that was not. He just said, I didn't think that was great parenting. To force a child to hug an adult or someone that they don't want to do. To make your child have physical contact with someone is weird. He said, I noted that and noticed it. And he called the father aggressive.

[Robes]

He also said he never mentioned this to anybody else. I think that was the only point that the prosecution made that was effective. Said, hey, did you mention this thing, this creepy thing, you and to anybody else? And he said, no. But at that point, he was an effective witness. The defense team continued, and she finished strong.

[Amy Robach]

She was great.

[Robes]

She finished strong, but she made the point just flat out. Timothy Busfield has been canceled and his career is over.

[Amy Robach]

He has no power. She said, you. You're worried about him being a danger. Don't worry. Because his talent agency has dropped him. He was removed from a rom com that was about to be released. We know that they canceled his Law and Order SVU episode. That was like. She was like, his career is over. His life is over, so he has no power. That's all gone, and he'll never get it back. His career is done.

[Robes]

And that's. You hear that? That's sad. This has been a long, long career. And these are, at this point, allegations that is an innocent man, as an innocent man, period, point blank, until otherwise. This was. This was a very interesting point and worth mentioning. And this was part of the case that the defense was putting on money with these kids and how much they were making and how much of that money possibly was going to their parents.

[Amy Robach]

85%. I didn't realize this. And the kids made well over a million dollars. So they were getting 50 to $60,000 an episode. So we're talking millions of dollars. If 85% of that goes to the family, that's the law. Or the parents, 15% has to be put into a special account for the children. So the parents were making a ton of money. That was very effective to hear that. But also, I thought the audio that they played when the kids were first asked by the police officer and if they were touched, they were emphatic and they were separated, and they were asked. And they said, no. And it was just. There was no hesitation. There was no nerves. It just seemed like, no, he didn't touch me. It was very effective.

[Robes]

But the conditions now, do we have. No, no, no. The strong clothes I'm talking about, you know, don't let me skip that part that I thought that was the best. Yes, we talk about him being canceled, being over, but talking about. Yes, he said, we're not saying there are no victims in this case. Yeah, the kids are victims, but not victims of Timothy Busfield.

[Amy Robach]

They were victimized by their own parents. And they are saying that those parents coached them. Those parents wanted revenge on Timothy Busfield. And what they have, why they are in this court today is because these parents, they brought up the three years in prison the father spent for fraudulent behavior, how he was disbarred, how she was like these. This isn't just like, oh, he got a dui. She was like, no, these parents. And both of them were charged and convicted, and he spent time in jail for fraudulent acts, for deceiving people for money. That is absolutely relevant to this case because they're claiming that is what these parents are doing to Timothy Busfield.

[Robes]

Because they have to do it. Because the father who went to prison has been disbarred for what he did. And the mom who has gotten busted in some schemes, she can't keep up with her scheming. They have no way to make money. And this is part of the motive they're putting together through all of this. Now, Timothy Busfield is going to be able, yes, to go home. The conditions. He's, like we said, released on his own recognizance. He has to report to some pretrial services. He can travel, can't drink, can't use drugs, has to have no contact with the alleged victims, and no unsupervised time with anyone under the age of 18. The strongest line from the. The attorney in closing about his career being over, but his liberty can be restored. Like, this is awful. But this is the only thing, only recourse we got now just to right or wrong, is to give the man his liberty back. And don't know what you do with cases like this, robes, unless someone would come out. And we. We cover that story as much and say, yeah, it was all made up. It's a lie. Do you ever get the stain of an accusation of pedophilia, of touching a little boy inappropriately? You get that off to work again, can you?

[Amy Robach]

He will never work again. And I did also think it was interesting that the defense played a voicemail and said there was another. Where people who were used in their. In the affidavit for the prosecution, they said that their. Their statements were taken out of context, were used against them. When they wanted to. They were upset with how their comments were misused by the prosecution to try and paint Timothy Busfield in a negative light. That was interesting to me as well and certainly drew into question what went into creating this narrative about Timothy Busfield and what the allegations are. So this was a fascinating afternoon, but the headline timothy Busfield is going home. As he awaits the next steps in this very, very salacious. I guess I don't even want to say trial because we don't know that it's going to go to trial, but certainly these charges that he is facing. And so we will continue to monitor this story. It is developing and we appreciate you as always for listening to us. I'm Amy Robach alongside T.J. holmes. We will talk to you soon.

[TJ Holmes]

A man with down syndrome tries the impossible, the grand slam in turkey hunting.

[Robes]

4:53 hits.

[TJ Holmes]

We're legal, shooting light.

[Robes]

And he gives us this one last.

[TJ Holmes]

And he pitches off.

[Robes]

And when he pitches off, he flies right into the gun barrel. I said to the cameraman, do you have him? He said, shoot him.

[TJ Holmes]

I said, justin, shoot. You can download this episode and others from Lines and tines with Spencer Graves on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Talking to your kids about the dangers of vaping can be hard. Getting them to listen to hot gossip is easy. So here's some drama you could share with your kid. Dude, did you hear about Cassie and Jake? No. But did you hear that vaping can cause irreversible lung damage and nicotine affects brain development? Nuh. You don't need to gossip if you want to have an open conversation about vaping. So if you want to get tips on when and how to talk to your kids, visit talkaboutvaping.org, brought to you by the American Lung association and the Ad Council.

[Brad (Brad vs Everyone podcast)]

The social media trend is landing some gen zers in jail. The progressive media dart darling whose public meltdown got her fired and the massive tick tock boycott against Target. That actually makes no sense. You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media, but you can keep up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things happening online in media and in politics. With the Bread vs Everyone podcast. Listen to the Brad vs Everyone podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Amy Robach]

Whether it is getting swatted or just hateful messages online, there is a lot of harm. And even just reading the comments, that's.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester on the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. Every season is a chance to grow, and the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is here to walk with you. I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford, and each week we dive into real conversations that help you move with more clarity and confidence. This episode, we're breaking down what really happens to your information online and how to protect yourself with intention. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Amy Robach]

This is an iHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.