Billy Eichner says he is not ruling out a return of Billy on the Street, though he remains uncertain about what a revival would look like. In a recent interview on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Eichner discussed the continued online popularity of the game show while promoting his audio memoir Billy on Billy. He said the series has taken on a “second, third life” on social media in a way he never expected, calling its endurance “crazy” and noting that it is the kind of success that cannot be planned.
Eichner last brought back the format for a voter-turnout campaign alongside Will Ferrell in support of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Referring to that effort with sarcasm, he said it “helped” and added, “We tried. Wish more people had tried.” He also recalled that he once felt strongly that he should never return to the show, saying he wanted to “draw a line in the sand.” But the continued enthusiasm from fans, especially online, has changed his perspective.
According to Eichner, internet users can be harsh about many things, including him, but the reaction to Billy on the Street clips is different. He said the viewers who connect with the show treat it as a favorite, repeatedly asking for more episodes and saying they want it back because “the world is so awful.” Eichner said he is touched by that response and wants to honor it, describing it as a rare form of audience affection. At the same time, he said the show no longer gives him the same creative satisfaction it once did and does not fully align with the kind of artist he wants to be, since it is not traditional acting.
Billy on the Street originally aired from 2011 to 2014 on Fuse for three seasons and later ran for two more seasons on truTV. It also returned in shorter web-based forms on Funny or Die and as part of the promotion for Eichner’s 2022 film Bros. Clips from the series, especially the recurring “For A Dollar” segment, have continued to circulate widely on TikTok and other social media platforms, keeping the show visible years after its original run ended.
Eichner said he wants a more eclectic career overall, but added that he still believes he may be able to balance that ambition with the legacy of his breakout series. He said he is “never going to do half-hour episodes” of Billy on the Street again, but confirmed that he and others are still discussing what a possible future version could be. While he does not have a clear answer, he ended on an open note: “Never say never.”
