I think about Judge Trudy at least once a week. Yes, Judge Trudy, the iconic character played by Amanda Bynes in her even more iconic sketch show The Amanda Show. Be honest: Who among us hasn’t quoted “Bring in the dancing lobsters!” in real life a few times? Icon status.
And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Amanda’s former Nickelodeon co-stars Drake Bell and Josh Peck got together for Josh’s Good Guys podcast to reminisce about their past as child stars. They both met her when they worked on The Amanda Show and apparently, she was an icon even to them.
“Other than being on the show, and, you know, she was an idol to me,” Drake said. “When I got to audition for The Amanda Show, she may as well have been Rachel on Friends. She was the biggest thing on the planet to me.”
Josh echoed that by comparing her to even more comedy greats. “All I’ve ever experienced with Amanda was just like this dynamite force of nature when it comes to talent,” he said. “Watching her was like watching Carol Burnett, was like watching Tracey Ullman.”
But Drake and Josh don’t seem to keep in touch with Amanda. Drake said the last time he spoke to her was in 2017, and Josh said he’ll bump into her “every two to three years.” Drake and Josh might not keep tabs on Amanda, but here’s an update on what Amanda Bynes is doing today.
What Is Amanda Bynes Doing In 2025?
Amanda became a regular cast member on Nickelodeon’s All That at just 10 years old before headlining The Amanda Show for three seasons starting at 13. She went on to star in movies like What A Girl Wants, She’s The Man, and Hairspray, but she retired from acting in 2010 after appearing in Easy A.
Since then, Amanda’s laid low, except for the occasional (sometimes off-putting) social media post. In August 2024, she posted a photo of herself in an apartment with no caption or any other context. On March 13, 2025, she posted a selfie video of herself silently staring at the camera and saved it to a highlight reel called “HOTEL.” A little odd, no??
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But maybe we all just need to let this icon live. Over the last few years, Amanda has been building a new life separate from her child-star comedy queen era. She graduated from The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in 2019, and in 2022, her nine-year conservatorship ended. Since then, Amanda’s made use of her degree by pursuing fashion and art. She produced a pop-up art show in December 2024, including art and clothing that Amanda designed. She collaborated with Austin Babbitt, aka Asspizza, on the project.
So we’re probably not getting an Amanda Show reboot any time soon, but you can buy some shorts that Amanda Bynes designed. I guess all that’s left to say is: bring in the dancing lobsters.
