Thanks to streaming, fans have been able to rewatch their favorite classics and discover new favorites. Friends, which is one of the best sitcoms of all time, is still being watched over and over again by fans even years after it ended. It’s hard to imagine someone these days not watching the show, streaming with an HBO Max subscription. Not surprisingly, Jennifer Aniston was pretty taken aback when she found out co-star Lisa Kudrow had never watched the NBC hit.

Aniston and Kudrow recently participated in Variety’s Actors on Actors segment, not only reflecting on their experience on Friends, but on their careers as a whole and how the show is still impacting their lives today. At one point, Aniston recalled her reaction when she found out that Kudrow had never actually watched Friends, and it’s definitely on par with how I reacted:

Considering a lot of actors actually avoid watching their own projects for numerous reasons, it’s understandable why Kudrow hadn’t watched Friends. And it’s not like she was avoiding the show altogether, especially since it sounds like she and the cast watched it quite a lot back in the day. Kudrow and Aniston shared their own thoughts on watching the series, and how awkward it can be watching themselves:

• Kudrow: It was really fun. And then we got busy. There were whole episodes that I hadn’t seen. I just couldn’t sit there at home and have anybody walk by seeing me watching a show that I’m in. Because it felt embarrassing to me.
• Aniston: Just like, ‘Oh, here I am, watching my own self be brilliant and funny?’ Because you were.
• Kudrow: Well, I wouldn’t feel that way. Watching it, sometimes I would just be like [she affects a loud, reedy voice], ‘He’s her lobster!’ Why that voice?

Since she and Aniston last did Actors on Actors in 2020, Kudrow has watched more episodes of Friends than before. She previously revealed that she couldn’t watch the show for years, but things changed after Matthew Perry died in 2023 because she’d be watching it for him. It’s a sweet gesture that probably makes it a little harder to watch. However, it sounds like she’s gotten over being embarrassed to watch Friends since she’d be watching her late friend and co-star.

Kudrow has also shared some feelings she’s had while rewatching Friends, including the episode that made her emotional. In 2024, she admitted that she cried while watching Phoebe’s wedding to Paul Rudd’s Mike, noting how happy her character was and how she’d never seen her so happy. Earlier this year, Kudrow said it’s been comforting to watch Friends following Perry’s passing, and since Chandler Bing had some of the funniest lines, I can only imagine how much she both cried and laughed in the same breath while remembering him.

As someone who doesn’t particularly like hearing herself on a recording, I can sympathize with Kudrow and not wanting to watch herself. Of course, that has changed in recent years, especially since she’s putting more focus on Chandler, rather than Phoebe, because of Perry, but it’s all the same. With Kudrow rewatching the show, though, this does make me wonder if she’ll ever jump on the rewatch podcast train like a lot of her colleagues have been doing. You never know.

It’s not super common to have a sitcom with six main characters of equal billing, but that’s how Friends operated for its 10 seasons — with the cast ensuring their parity by sticking together during salary negotiations. Still, every fan has an opinion about who was their favorite and which Friend was the worst. You better believe Hollywood executives did too, and Lisa Kudrow got real about people seeing her as Friends’ least popular cast member also known as the “sixth Friend.”

Phoebe Buffay was a beloved member of the Friends ensemble, irreplaceable with her consistently off-beat humor. However, it seems that people in Hollywood didn’t value her as much as they did, say, Jennifer Aniston or Courteney Cox. Lisa Kudrow was asked about representatives referring to her internally as the “sixth Friend,” and she told THR:

It seems like even as executives were pessimistic about Lisa Kudrow’s career outside of Friends, she was proving them wrong in real time. In 1995 she had a role in Mother, which Albert Brooks wrote, directed and starred in, and in 1997 she did the cult classic Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion with Mira Sorvino and Clockwatchers, as well as several other projects during Friends’ run.

I can definitely see how Lisa Kudrow and her character on Friends might not have gotten the respect they deserved. The sitcom — one of the greatest sitcoms of all time — centered a lot of its stories around Ross and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer). Chandler (Matthew Perry) brought the laughs and Monica (Courteney Cox) was kind of the glue that held them all together.

However, Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Phoebe started out as having less depth than their counterparts, making jokes about food or injecting weird and whimsical observations. Lisa Kudrow worked hard to develop her character and put a lot of thought into details like making Phoebe bad at guitar, which resulted in someone Kudrow was proud of. She even became emotional watching Phoebe’s arc as she rewatched Friends in recent years.

Even post-Friends I’d have to say those executives were wrong, because Lisa Kudrow has had plenty of success over the past two-plus decades, most recently with the third season of The Comeback (streaming with an HBO Max subscription), which got meta with a great Friends reference, as well as starring in No Good Deeds and Time Bandits.

It’s unfortunate that business executives underestimated Lisa Kudrow enough back in the day to refer to her as the “sixth Friend.” However, I love that she didn’t let it stop her and let her work speak for itself.

There’s a famous story about the cast of Friends taking a trip to Las Vegas ahead of the sitcom’s premiere in 1994, with legendary TV producer James Burrows predicting it would be the last time they’d ever be anonymous in public. That turned out to be true, and even over 30 years later, Lisa Kudrow and the rest of the gang get recognized by fans wherever they go. Sometimes, however, people can’t place exactly where they know the actors from, and Kudrow revealed probably the wildest case of mistaken identity I’ve ever heard.

Lisa Kudrow — who played the hilariously off-beat Phoebe Buffay on Friends and recently wrapped the third and final season of her meta-comedy The Comeback — participated in a roundtable with other comedic actresses for THR. They were asked about bizarre fan interactions. She had quite a doozy, too, telling the others:

Lisa Kudrow getting mistaken for Dionne Warwick is actually wild, because I can’t even figure out where the confusion would come from. Their names are nothing alike; the “Walk On By” singer is more than 20 years older than Kudrow; they don’t look alike or even work in the same corner of the entertainment industry (though I’d totally listen to Warwick try her hand at a rendition of “Smelly Cat”).

It’s a complete mystery to me how the hostess in Lisa Kudrow’s story could have mixed up the two. However, the actress hilariously admitted that wasn’t even her first thought when the woman failed to identify her, saying:

Sometimes it’s easier to understand how these cases of mistaken identities happen, like when a fan thought Kelly Clarkson was Carrie Underwood. They’re both American Idol champs who sang pop and country. Then there’s people mixing up Emma Stone and Emma Watson. They share a first name, are both accomplished actors and are around the same age — it’s not great, but you see how it could happen. Now, Ken Jennings getting mistaken for Richard Jenkins? I’m not so sure about that, despite their last names starting with the same three letters.

I have to admit, Lisa Kudrow’s bizarre fan interaction makes for a great story, but she’s not the only Friends star with one of those. Matt LeBlanc — who played the eternally hungry Joey Tribbiani — recalled shooting a series in the middle of nowhere in Morocco. The locals wore robes and lived in caves, but they still recognized him, as LeBlanc said they called him “Joey” and said, “How you doin’?” He also once saw a fan get in a wreck after recognizing him in traffic.

I don’t think either of those stories beat Lisa Kudrow getting mistaken for Dionne Warwick, though. You can see more of Kudrow by streaming Friends and The Comeback with an HBO Max subscription.

No matter how many times I rewatch Friends with my HBO Max subscription, and no matter how many behind-the-scenes stories come out about the inner workings of one of the best sitcoms of all time, I am still enthralled anytime someone speaks out about their experience on set — especially if that person is one of the many fabulous guest stars. Craig Robinson is the latest to share his story, and I love how he said Lisa Kudrow spoke up for him during filming.

Craig Robinson is a well-known comedic actor these days for his roles in Hot Tub Time Machine, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and so many more. However, back in 2004 — a year before his breakout role as Darryl Philbin on The Office — one of his first acting jobs came on Friends’ 10th season, where he played an office clerk who helped Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow) change her name after marrying Mike Hannigan (Paul Rudd). Recalling his time with Kudrow, Robinson told EW:

Even though they did go on to work together again, Lisa Kudrow wouldn’t have known who Craig Robinson was at the time, but maybe she saw something in the up-and-comer, because the actor continued:

You have to love that. It didn’t matter that Craig Robinson was a relatively new actor and didn’t have a decade of experience under his belt like she did. Lisa Kudrow heard him throw out something that she thought would make the scene better, and she used her position to give him a platform for his voice to be heard.

Others must have agreed with them that the pitch was funny, because it sounds like it made it the show. Robinson said:

The episode in question is Season 10’s The One with Princess Consuela. Phoebe asks the clerk if she's supposed to write “Buffay-Hannigan” or “Hannigan-Buffay” on the name change form, to which he replies she can write down any name she wants. Because Phoebe is consistently and hilariously off-beat, she ultimately chooses to become “Princess Consuela Banana-Hammock.”

Too bad we didn’t get a scene between Craig Robinson and Paul Rudd, after Mike threatens to give Phoebe a taste of her own medicine by changing his name to “Crap Bag.” Ah, the missed opportunity.

You’ll be able to hear more of Craig Robinson soon, as he’s lending his voice to Toy Story 5, which hits the 2026 movie release calendar in June.

Watching an episode of Friends, a.k.a. one of the best sitcoms ever, often garners only good vibes, giggles and chuckles, but it wasn’t always the same experience creating the show itself. According to Lisa Kudrow, the TV show’s writers room could get pretty nasty behind closed doors.

It’s not exactly new information that things were different off-camera, given Friends writers’ assistant Amaani Lyle claimed back in 1999 that she was subjected to sexual and racial harassment through offensive comments made by several producers and writers during meetings. Kudrow shared her own less than savory experiences with those comprising the Friends writers room, which she said amounted to around 12 to 15 people, predominantly men. In her words:

Now, Lyle’s case was dismissed in a California Supreme Court case that held that vulgarity can be a necessary part of a creative workplace environment when it comes to a sitcom like Friends. Even so, it sounds like Lisa Kudrow and the other leading women on the show were subject to commentary from the writers’ room they didn’t appreciate. As she added:

Kudrow discusses this element of Friends with The Times amidst recently bringing back her own commentary about making TV shows in her and Michael Patrick King’s HBO series The Comeback. While the latest season is set around the hot-button topic of an AI-crafted sitcom for Valerie Cherish, she’d previously drawn directly from her time on Friends to call out toxic writers rooms she's experienced herself. Case in point, the Season 1 scene where Valerie brought baked cookies to the writers, only to find Paulie G. & Co. making sexualized jokes about her.

In the new interview, she confirms that The Comeback has provided her the “closest thing” to her experience in writers rooms which she describes as being filled with “male energy” and “the sophomoric madness that happens when people are trapped, trying to do a series”. Friends certainly had a grueling schedule for a decade, with each episode taking a week to film in an industry that didn’t typically take so long per episode.

While making Friends might not have always been the best workplace environment, Kudrow has said before that she’ll always talk about it because gave her “everything.” And, following the death of her cast mate Matthew Perry, Kudrow has recently been rewatching Friends and weighing in things like if Ross and Rachel were on a break and about the show’s lack of people of color.

While we might expect a show like Friends to be all fun and games, Kudrow's comment show that the show from the 1990s and 2000s had its workplace faults.

It’s amusing that even though Friends aired its final episode on NBC more than 20 years ago, we’re still learning details about the inner workings of one of the best sitcoms of all time. For example, who would have guessed the cast went through a combined 75 wardrobe changes in the span of a half-hour? Well, Lisa Kudrow just spilled a little more tea, and it turns out Friends took quite a bit longer to shoot than other sitcoms at the time.

It’s a good thing Lisa Kudrow doesn’t mind recalling her days as Phoebe Buffay on Friends, because she’s been doing quite a bit of it lately as she promotes The Comeback Season 3 (both of which can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription). During an interview with the Table Manners podcast, she got into what a week in the life of a Friends star looked like, and when asked how long each episode took, she said:

It was like a play in the way that they had plenty of rehearsal before giving their final performance to a live crowd; however, at the theater, nobody stops to retake a scene if Jennifer Aniston can’t stop laughing at Lisa Kudrow singing along with David Schwimmer’s bagpipes, or when Aniston accidentally answers a real call on her cellphone while filming.

Even more than that, sometimes scenes or jokes had to be rewritten, Lisa Kudrow said, if they didn’t go over with the live audience as intended. Kudrow continued:

Yes, filming a Friends episode actually took so long that they had to replace the live audience halfway through. But before you go thinking that’s unfair to the fans who only get to see production of half an episode, Lisa Kudrow assured the hosts that after three hours, they were “happy to leave.” She said:

Maybe that’s where Ellen DeGeneres got the idea to order pizza for the Oscars audience. That’s really wild, when you think about it — the crew having to order food because they’ve kept the audience so long. You’re not going to get those laughs any easier if everybody’s tired and hungry.

Speaking of being tired, though, with Friends episodes taking two or three times longer to shoot than a typical 30-minute sitcom episode, that meant some long nights for the cast and crew. To add to that, Lisa Kudrow said:

Too bad Central Perk wasn’t serving up real coffee!

While producing one sitcom episode per week isn’t unusual, I don’t think you’ll hear about many productions keeping their stars late into those a.m. hours. That couldn’t have been easy, but hopefully in hindsight they can see their hard work was worth it. They are still reportedly making 10 figures a year in royalties, after all.

Either way, Lisa Kudrow is still out here killing it in the comedy department on the third and final season of The Comeback, even managing to throw in some pretty meta Friends references. Keep your eye out for more as new episodes air at 10:30 p.m. ET Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.

It’s inevitable that Lisa Kudrow will always be known for her role as Phoebe Buffay on Friends, but that doesn’t take away from “enormous magic” she’s creating as Valerie Cherish on the third and final season of The Comeback. Kudrow’s two worlds combined in the most recent episode “Valerie Faces Reality” (which can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription), with that meta moment following another almost-reference in Episode 2 that left me speechless.

The Comeback confirmed in the episode that aired April 5 on the 2026 TV schedule that Friends does exist in Valerie Cherish’s world. Valerie arrived at Warner Bros.’ Stage 24 — where Friends was famously shot — for her new show How’s That?! She gets excited looking at the plaque outside the stage, saying:

As Valerie walks away, the camera zooms in on the plaque where Friends is listed.

Lisa Kudrow said at a Los Angeles press conference (via UPI) that they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make a Friends joke there, saying:

I can’t quite put into words why this acknowledgement was so exciting for me, but I’m sure it was, at least in part, because Valerie has teased a Friends reference in the previous episode, “Valerie Has a Secret.” Upon hearing that James Burrows had passed on How’s That?!, Valerie said:

At that point the writer she’s talking to (Abbi Jacobson) interrupts her to say they have to go. How brilliant is that?

Valerie definitely had my attention when she started naming shows created by Jimmy Burrows — who famously took the Friends stars to Las Vegas for one last hurrah of anonymity ahead of the 1994 premiere. When she said “Frasier,” I thought she was going for “Friends,” and then she got cut off when she actually went to say it. Series co-creator Michael Patrick King seemed to confirm the joke was, indeed, meant to drive Friends fans like me crazy. He said:

It’s pretty meta to have Valerie Cherish and Lisa Kudrow existing in the same universe. Do we think James Burrows has noticed their resemblance to each other? Now I’m really going to be on the lookout for more little easter eggs in The Comeback’s remaining episodes, which is likely to make me read way too far into things.

For example, I’d already quietly wondered if Ella Stiller’s involvement as Valerie’s social media manager Patience was a Friends nod, since both her parents, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, guest-starred. There’s also the How’s That?! actor (Man with a Plan’s Matt Cook) playing triplets while having his own tragic twin story — possible references to Phoebe and Ursula, and Phoebe giving birth to triplets?

I better quit while I’m ahead. Tune in to see the rest of Valerie Cherish’s story, with new episodes at 10:30 p.m. ET Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.

So many actors have that one role they’ll never get away from, and for the six stars of the ensemble comedy Friends, that’s the case for all of them. Even as Lisa Kudrow does promotion for The Comeback, which is airing on the 2026 TV schedule, she’s fielding questions about the sitcom that debuted more than 30 years ago. It turns out, though, that’s not a problem, and Kudrow explained why she’s always happy to talk about Friends.

Lisa Kudrow, of course, played Phoebe Buffay for all 10 seasons of one of the best sitcoms of all time but, even now, as she’s wrapping her arc as Valerie Cherish on the third and final season of HBO’s The Comeback, she doesn’t mind sharing her updated opinion on whether Ross and Rachel were on a break or discussing why it’s better that Phoebe was bad at playing guitar. Kudrow told CBS Sunday Morning:

It’s not rare to see actors jump into a wildly different role after a big project in hopes of not getting typecast as one specific character. In fact, Jennifer Aniston did it with movies like The Good Girl and Friends with Money. Kudrow has played plenty of characters who are nothing like her role on Friends, but she said she still gets called “Phoebe” by fans and doesn’t mind if Phoebe’s hilariously offbeat quotes are the ones that stick. She explains:

Opinions may vary amongst the other Friends stars on that sentiment. Jennifer Aniston admitted the love/hate aspect of the show being a “lifetime commitment.” David Schwimmer has said he got really sick of hearing the iconic theme song for a while, and Matthew Perry even addressed the issue before his death, writing that he didn’t want to just be remembered as Chandler Bing.

We can’t know what Lisa Kudrow’s career would look like today without Friends, but it’s pretty safe to say that Valerie Cherish wouldn’t exist. Kudrow’s character on The Comeback is an actor trying to stay relevant (in the cringiest of ways) after her long run as the star of a hit sitcom comes to an end. The series premiered in 2005 — just a year after Friends’ finale.

I definitely understand actors getting frustrated when one project continues to outshine others that came after, but as a huge Friends fan, I’m also grateful when Lisa Kudrow and the others are willing to talk about it.

You can stream all 10 seasons of Friends with an HBO Max subscription. That’s also where you can stream The Comeback, which airs on HBO at 10:30 p.m. ET Sundays.

It’s been more than two years since Matthew Perry died at age 54, and yet a piece of him lives on through his role as Chandler Bing on Friends. Perry’s five former co-stars from what is considered one of the best sitcoms of all time have paid tribute to the actor in several ways over the years and spoken out about how his death affected the group. It turns out for Lisa Kudrow, she’s found comfort in the place where it all began.

Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay on the NBC sitcom's 10 seasons, has been open about not being able to watch Friends because she didn’t like watching herself (and all of Phoebe’s offbeat hilarity). However, after they lost Matthew Perry, her perspective changed. She told the Capital FM:

No apology necessary, I’m sure! Chandler Bing did have the funniest lines on Friends, and the fact that fans could still hear those jokes — whether through a TV marathon or streaming with an HBO Max subscription — undoubtedly helped people process his death. Being able to focus on Chandler rather than Phoebe certainly helped Lisa Kudrow’s rewatch. She continued:

As someone who’s seen every Friends episode 2.7 billion times, it’s hard to process the fact that Lisa Kudrow and her co-stars haven’t watched the show — she and Courteney Cox have said they don’t remember most of the episodes — but it does make sense. That was their job, not their escape like Friends is for so many of us.

However, watching the show back after Matthew Perry died allowed the actress to remember things like how hard he made them all laugh when they filmed that “nightmare” opening scene in the fountain. It even helped Lisa Kudrow come to terms with her own character, with Phoebe’s story bringing her to tears.

Perry’s life ended in tragic fashion, as the actor was ruled to have drowned in his hot tub after a ketamine overdose, but he worked hard when he was alive to help others who were also struggling with addiction. Perry addressed his legacy in his memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, writing that he hoped to be remembered for that as much as for his role as Chandler Bing.

I’m not sure he realized how much comfort Chandler would end up bringing to his fans and co-stars.

All 10 seasons of Friends can be streamed on HBO Max, and be sure to check out 10 of the funniest Chandler episodes. You can also currently catch Lisa Kudrow on The Comeback Season 3, which is a must-watch for all Friends fans. New episodes air at 10:30 p.m. ET Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.

Both Lisa Kudrow and Noah Wyle are seasoned TV veterans with hit shows currently streaming on HBO Max. Season 2 of Wyle’s award-winning medical drama The Pitt is approaching its finale, while Kudrow’s mockumentary The Comeback premiered its long-awaited Season 3 last week on the 2026 TV schedule. Long before The Comeback and The Pitt, the two knew each other as young actors at NBC, and I can’t get over the story of how the Friends star used to flirt with Wyle, and the ER actor was completely clueless.

In 1994, NBC hit the ratings jackpot with the additions of Friends and ER to the Thursday night schedule. The hit NBC shows filmed next to each other on the Warner Bros. lot, and the casts used to mingle, with Wyle and co-star George Clooney heading over to watch Friends tape after wrapping episodes of ER. Apparently, the proximity also meant Lisa Kudrow could flirt with the man who played Dr. John Carter, but Wyle told Magic Radio he was totally oblivious to it at the time:

It's pretty funny to think about how long this could have gone on between Kudrow and Wyle, as both of their NBC shows ran for many years. Wyle and George Clooney even guest-starred on Friends as doctors in a Season 1 episode, called “The One With Two Parts: Part Two,” which can be streamed with an HBO subscription.

As it turns out, Kudrow also recently visited Magic Radio to say “hello hello hello” as part of her press tour for The Comeback, and she didn’t miss the chance to make a playful dig at Wyle’s sudden revelation:

I think it's safe to say that the then 23-year-old Wyle achieved heartthrob status thanks to ER. Standing next to prime George Clooney definitely gave the Falling Skies actor more of a baby-face, but there’s no denying he was cute, and Kudrow never missed an opportunity to tell him so:

That’s such a Phoebe line if I’ve ever heard one! I can totally see the character dead-panning an “Oh, OK, so you just hate me” on Friends. For his part, Wyle told Entertainment Weekly that it was very "collegiate” back in the day, that the young casts were always hanging out with each other. Many of them had other friends in common, and they were all auditioning for the same projects at the time, just before landing their individual legacy roles.

It’s funny to think what might have happened had Noah Wyle noticed Lisa Kudrow's flirtation, but it seems like everything worked out for the best, and it sure made for a hilarious reveal decades later. Now I’m hoping we get a Noah Wyle/Lisa Kudrow crossover now that they're both on in the HBO sphere. Both ER and Friends, as well as The Comeback and The Pitt, are available to binge now on HBO Max.

There are so many iconic things about Friends, with each of the six primary characters having their own quirks. Chandler had the jokes, and Joey had his food, but nobody was quirkier than Phoebe. Her musical “talent” was such a fun part of the show, and Lisa Kudrow explained why she thought it made sense that her character was actually not great at playing the guitar.

Of all the offbeat Phoebe moments in Friends, she’s arguably best-known for her songs like “Smelly Cat.” Lisa Kudrow opened up about preparing for that part of the role, admitting to Vanity Fair that musicianship wasn’t her strong suit. The actress said:

Just like Joey said in "The One With Ross And Monica's Cousin," if you get asked in an audition if you can do something, say yes and just figure out how to do it later. In Lisa Kudrow’s case, however, it actually made sense to make the adjustment to the character, rather than have her train to get really good at the guitar. She continued:

It really does speak to the character of Phoebe Buffay that she would play guitar for the love of it, not the money. She even says as much in "The One with the Baby on the Bus," when she takes to busking outside of Central Perk after being replaced inside by a professional musician. It also makes sense that Phoebe never would have had proper guitar lessons, given her rough childhood.

A lot of good stories came out of her being a bad singer/songwriter, too, like when she tried to teach Joey how to play guitar without knowing the names of the chords (“You nailed the old lady!”), how much of a fan Phoebe was of Ross’ awful keyboarding skills, and when she wrote inappropriate songs to play for children.

It really worked out for Lisa Kudrow, when she realized that she didn’t like playing guitar, that it was actually funnier if Phoebe wasn’t great at it either. Those brilliant character details are part of the reason Friends is one of the best sitcoms of all time and remains so popular nearly 22 years after its series finale.

You can stream all 10 seasons of Friends with an HBO Max subscription, and you can also currently catch Lisa Kudrow on The Comeback Season 3, airing at 10:30 p.m. ET Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 3 premiere of The Comeback.

The Comeback is a HBO show that got the world talking during its first two seasons, both of which helped offer commentary on the state of the TV industry. Those with a HBO Max subscription were recently treated to the premiere of Season 3, which is set to be Lisa Kudrow's final bow as her cringeworthy character, Valerie Cherish. The season premiere had plenty of laughs, including an A+ dig at the Real Housewives that I couldn't get enough of.

The Real Housewives franchise continues to be wildly popular, with a number of cities airing regularly on Bravo and streaming with a Peacock subscription. In-universe, Valerie was nearly on Beverly Hills, before having a meltdown opposite Lisa Vanderpump. Season 3 of The Comeback has once again acknowledged the Bravoverse, this time taking aim at Housewives who have done stints on Broadway. Let's beak it all down.

The Comeback Season 3 Premiere Poked Fun At The Real Housewives Starring In Chicago On Broadway

Lisa Kudrow's portrayal of Valerie Cherish has a cult following, so there were tons of eyes on The Comeback during its Season 3 premiere. The episode's first major scene was in 2023, at the height of the WGA strike. Kudrow's character is shown preparing to make her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart, a role that a number of Bravolebrities have taken over the years. Unfortunately, she's struggling with the choreography and lyrics required for the iconic musical number "We Both Reached For The Gun."

Val only has one rehearsal with the full cast the day of her debut and it is... not going well. She eventually asks the director "is this the Real Housewives version?" of the choreography, to which he responded:

Shots fired. Chicago, which is the longest running Broadway revival in history, is known for bringing in celebrities to play leading roles and therefore sell tickets to their fans. A bunch of Bravo stars have treaded the boards over the years, with both Lisa Rinna and Erika Jayne playing Roxie Hart. That role as also famously played by Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix. Most recently Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Whitney Leavitt also played the show's lead. And it looks like The Comeback is throwing some shade by claiming they got an easier version of the choreography during their tenure on the Great White Way.

Additionally to Rinna and Jayne playing Roxie, both Nene Leakes and Kandi Buress have played Matron "Mama" Morton in Chicago on Broadway. But that track doesn't require intense choreography like the lead role. Unfortunately for Valerie, she realized she was in over her head, and ended up dropping out of the role (after having a delightful conflict with the cast).

Since Valerie is a reality TV icon legend herself, it's always fun to see The Comeback's connections to The Real Housewives. We'll just have to wait and see if Bravolebs end up taking any more lumps throughout the rest of Season 3. It's still very early; we haven't even watched Lisa Kudrow's character start filming for her new sitcom. And there's sure to be lots of backlash to her signing on, because it's going to be written by AI.

New episodes of The Comeback air Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. While I'm bummed this will be the show's final season on the air, I can't wait to see what Lisa Kudrow and company will bring to the table.

There are some movie and TV debates that will never die, like the iconic Titanic raft debate or whether Tony really died at the end of The Sopranos. Arguably, one of the most well-known comes from Friends: Were Ross and Rachel on a break? Nearly 30 years after the infamous Season 3 episode aired, the cast of Friends is still being asked their opinions, and apparently, Lisa Kudrow has switched hers.

The Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion actress hit the red carpet for the return of her comedy The Comeback, in which Kudrow plays a sitcom actress desperately trying to stay relevant in the evolving TV industry. Season 3, Episode 1 will be available to stream starting March 22 with an HBO Max subscription, but Valerie Cherish’s career is not the only thing being revived by Kudrow. Entertainment Tonight asked Kudrow where she stands these days on whether Ross and Rachel were on a break, and the Easy A actress shared that she's updated her take:

There’s no one I would expect to give their blunt opinion more than Phoebe Buffay herself. You’ll notice Kudrow doesn’t explicitly say whether or not Ross and Rachel were on a break when he hooked up with “coffee shop” Chloe, but does it matter? He didn’t even wait a full 24 hours after his argument with Rachel to have a rebound fling with someone else.

So I have to say, I’m in agreement with Kudrow. The fact that his cop out line to cheating on Rachel has sparked this decades-long debate is ridiculous.

Not being able to admit fault for sleeping with another woman while his relationship status was unresolved speaks volumes about Ross as a person, and is one of several reasons why he’s kind of the worst. You really can’t plan a future with someone like that, which is why the man was divorced three times over the course of ten seasons!

The No Good Deed actress recently revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week that she’s almost completed her rewatch of Friends, and clearly, the years between filming the show and watching it have given her a fresh perspective on the infamous TV break-up.

Up until a few years ago, Kudrow said she couldn’t watch the beloved sitcom without getting the ick from seeing herself on TV. After Matthew Perry’s sudden death in 2023, the Mad About You actress said she started watching it for her late friend. She was even able to separate herself from her character Phoebe, and said she was most emotional during the episode "The One with Phoebe's Wedding." It makes my heart so full to know that even though Kudrow has moved on to other projects like The Comeback, Friends is still very near and dear to her.

Much like Ross and Rachel, The Comeback has been on-again-off-again for decades, and although HBO is toting this third installment as the final season, who really knows? Right when the world needs her, Valerie Cherish always seems to reappear. You can watch new episodes of The Comeback as they release weekly on the 2026 TV Schedule. Meanwhile, you can always go back and watch Friends on HBO Max.

Following Valentine’s Day weekend, Wuthering Heights won out among new 2026 movie releases as the buzzy movie of the moment, and it dominated the box office, too. Now, Jennifer Aniston is even adding to the chatter of the smutty epic starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi by reminding people of the time the book was in Friends, and it made me chuckle.

Aniston took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a throwback clip from Friends circa 1998 in honor of Wuthering Heights’ release. Check it out below:

The comedy actress shared this clip from Season 5, Episode 9 “The One With Ross’ Sandwich”. In the episode, Rachel joins the literature class Phoebe is in, but they butt heads. However, when she attends, she’s late to class and asks her what happened in the book they are reading for class, Wuthering Heights, and Phoebe has to explain it to her.

I find it hilarious that Aniston took the time to post this clip along with the comment “Thanks to Margot and Jacob, no reading required” along with some funny emojis. And hey, she’s right. If the episode had taken place in the present day, Rachel could have simply gone to see Emerald Fennell’s take on the classic book and would have a better sense of what’s going on in the class. That’s probably what she would have done if given the option.

Though, as things tend to go with book-to-screen adaptations, the Wuthering Heights movie is not only not a word-for-word adaptation, it only covers about half of the novel from Emily Brontë. When the first trailer came out, the movie received some whitewashing backlash for Jacob Elordi playing Heathcliff when he’s thought to be a person of color.

Anyways, in the episode, you may remember that Phoebe gets frustrated with Rachel for not reading the class’s reading material and stealing her analysis from her. So during the next session she makes up things for Rachel to repeat in class that humiliates her. This leads to Phoebe and Rachel to talk about the different ways they were approaching the class.

Phoebe actually wanted to learn because she didn’t get to go to high school, while Rachel wasn’t thinking too much of it. The episode ends with Monica joining the class and hilariously being a way worse partner to Phoebe than Rachel was due to her competitive nature.

Jennifer Aniston reminding us of this episode has us imagining if Phoebe and Rachel would have gone to see the movie together and what they would have thought of the Wuthering Heights ending. I know I’m picturing Phoebe being the book purist who’s so not into it, and Rachel being all over it.

You can check out our Wuthering Heights review and go see the movie for yourself in theaters now.

In the entertainment business, sometimes actors happen upon a role that, for better or worse, sticks with them for the rest of their careers, and there’s no getting around it. That’s definitely the case for Jennifer Aniston and the cast of Friends. Despite the actress currently starring in another hit series (The Morning Show’s fourth season is airing on the 2025 TV schedule), to some, she will always be Rachel Green. So, with that in mind, she opened up about what that means and bluntly stated the chances of a Friends reboot.

Jennifer Aniston Opens Up About The ‘Lifetime Commitment’ The Cast Has With Friends

Thanks to endless reruns and the ability to stream all 10 seasons with an HBO Max subscription — not to mention lovable characters and jokes that somehow hit just as hard the 86th time as the first — Friends remains as popular as ever, despite having been off the air for 21 years. Jennifer Aniston and her colleagues likely couldn’t have predicted the level of success that would come from the NBC sitcom, and she told Harper’s Bazaar the experience bonded them together like a family, saying:

What I would give to be able to see that text chain!

I love to hear that the Friends stars still keep in touch, and Jennifer Aniston said she even had dinner a few weeks ago with Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow. As with any tight-knit group, it sounds like they — along with David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and the late Matthew Perry — have had their ups and downs, but the six of them are bound together forever.

So will we ever get an update on the Central Perk coffee-drinkers?

Jennifer Aniston Shuts Down The Idea Of A Future Friends Revival

The six members of the main cast came together in 2021 for Friends: The Reunion, where they revisited the set, discussed whether Ross and Rachel were on a break and relived some of the show’s more iconic moments. As far as Jennifer Aniston is concerned, that’s all we’re going to get as far as a revival or reboot. She said since Matthew Perry’s death in 2022, there is no world where a sequel or remake could happen, giving a blunt, six-word response:

It’s tough to think that the six of them could never share the stage again, even if they wanted to, since the man who had the funniest lines as Chandler Bing drowned in his hot tub at age 54 after taking a large amount of ketamine.

However, even before Matthew Perry’s untimely death, the idea of a reboot or revival was shot down, and Courteney Cox also said the Friends cast wasn’t likely to do another reunion.

Friends fans will just have to settle for the glorious videos and photos the actors share when the besties do get together, as well as the knowledge that the actors have taken the words of their iconic theme song to heart and will always be there for each other.

As we all know, Friends is indisputably one of the best sitcoms ever and that’s largely due to the performers’ joint chemistry. Fans like me love to watch the fictional sextet true friendship goals highs and lows year in and year out. But what’s equally as addicting to watch are the series' many bloopers and breaking moments between the stars. The latest viral one I’ve had on repeat is Jennifer Aniston derailing thanks to a surprise Lisa Kudrow improvisation.

This summer, Friends has been a bit buzzy for a few reasons. There have been apparent parallels in Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty, and along with it, an Instagram clip of Aniston breaking as Kudrow mimics a poorly played bagpipe. Specifically, Ross is practicing bagpipes in front of his pals. As he begins, he tells the quartet to join in on the indiscernible song, but Buffay humorously does, and kills Aniston in the process–check it out:

Naturally, every Friends watcher has a favorite, and my Phoebe Buffay flag rose long ago because of Lisa Kudrow’s comedy chops. This out-of-the blue mirroring a horrific sounding bagpipe solidifies her humor skills for me. The Morning Show star collapses perfectly in real time and I can’t blame her. The move is a master class of sheer improvised talent (it’s crazy we almost didn’t have Phoebe full-time, she was a character with a much smaller role originally).

Of course, this isn’t the only moment throughout the 10 Seasons she’s stolen the scene. The “Smelly Cat” singer actress has endlessly memorable quotes, and highs and lows that she nailed throughout. But plenty of commenters showed up to praise this A+ breaking moment of Aniston’s while hyping up Buffay/Kudrow. Among the countless laughing face emojis, people shared it was truly unscripted. Here are a few highlights:

• Phoebe broke everyone lol - shajtags
• I'm not suprised. None of them expected Lisa to start singing 🤣🤣- lolad_20
• Who needs a bagpipe when you have a Phoebe…😂😂😂- kialgr
• To die for hilarious - saracopitz
• The best part is that Lisa Kudrow completely improvised this. No one knew she was going to do this. - greg_fear

I’m just obsessed with everything about the video. It’s one of the many contributing factors in leading Kudrow to still be highly recognized as Friends character, Phoebe Buffay to this day. But, the NBC character was just the beginning of seeing all that the 62-year-old had up her sleeve! She continued to prove she was a queen of comedy with her impressive follow up with The Comeback and has continued to this day with the black comedy, No Good Deed.

As I continue to return to this loud, wild but lol-worthy clip, it’s really making me debate another rewatch (via my HBO Max subscription). Maybe I’ll just find a Friends blooper reel but if it’s anything like Aniston laughing over Kudrow’s mouth bagpipe, I’m sure I’ll find myself returning to their apartments, Central Perk and more!

It’s been over 20 years since Friends aired its final episodes and, as it remains one of the most rewatchable shows in TV history continues, behind-the-scenes stories continue to come out. We’ve gotten funny anecdotes — the epic prank pulled on Jennifer Aniston — as well as scary moments — Matt LeBlanc’s “genuinely frightening” injury. Now, Courteney Cox has revealed a sweet memory, as she recalled the pre-show ritual she and her co-stars had.

The six stars of Friends skyrocketed to fame in 1994, and going through that whole experience together — including famously negotiating their contracts as a group — formed a bond between them that continues today. It seems like that support for each other started pretty early, as Courteney Cox said at the Inc. 5000 conference (via People):

Somebody cue the Friends theme song, because wow! What a sweet way to center themselves before going out in front of the studio audience and showing their confidence in one another.

In addition to Courteney Cox, the ensemble included Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry, who passed away in 2023 in an accidental drowning caused by the “acute effects of ketamine.”

There are plenty of instances that prove the Friends co-stars’ pre-show huddle wasn’t just for show. For example, Matt LeBlanc helped Lisa Kudrow when she had problems playing Phoebe early on. Jennifer Aniston reached out to Matthew Perry about his addiction several times, as the actor explained before his death. The colleagues were together for a pretty significant decade of their lives, seeing each other through marriages, breakups, fertility issues and more.

It may have actually been director James Burrows who set the tone for the six actors to become lifelong pals. In his memoir, he recalled the fabled trip to Las Vegas that he treated them to ahead of Friends’ 1994 premiere, telling them this was their last shot at anonymity. He was right.

They stuck together after that, with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow eating lunch together every day (though they didn’t have the viral salad that many have attributed to Aniston). Aniston became the godmother to Cox’s daughter, and the actresses still shout out each other’s birthdays and even get together every once in a while. Also, while there’s probably no pre-show huddle anymore, the actors have often made cameo appearances on each other’s projects.

Given how much the Friends actors make in residuals each year, they probably don’t even need to keep working; however, the actresses are all involved in some highly anticipated projects. Courteney Cox will reprise the role of Gale Weathers in Scream 7, set for release on the 2026 movie calendar. Lisa Kudrow also has big things happening next year, as it was recently announced she’ll return for a third and final season of The Comeback, and Jennifer Aniston will also return to the small screen as executive producer and star of The Morning Show Season 4.

While we wait for these to happen, we can always relive the days of yore (or yesteryear) by streaming all 10 seasons of Friends with an HBO Max subscription and imagining the sweet pre-show huddle that came before.

Valerie Cherish is ready to say, “Hello, hello, hello!” one more time, HBO confirmed Friday, because The Comeback is officially coming back for a third and final season. Lisa Kudrow will once again portray a fictionalized version of herself — the struggling former sitcom star who allows reality TV cameras to capture her attempts to resurrect her career. A handful of OG cast members will also reprise their roles, and I’m especially ecstatic about one.

The Comeback Season 3 will premiere more than a decade after the second season came to a close in December 2014. It won’t make it in time for the 2025 TV schedule, but Lisa Kudrow and company are reportedly eyeing a 2026 release on HBO and streaming with a Max subscription. The announcement came with a brilliant teaser that shows Kudrow falling seamlessly back into the Valerie Cherish persona, and I am thrilled at the confirmation that Laura Silverman is back as her producer Jane:

Lisa Kudrow will inevitably always be known for playing Phoebe Buffay on Friends, but many are of the opinion that The Comeback is actually where she gets to do her best work. That said, The Comeback isn’t even The Comeback without Valerie shouting, “Jane!” or snapping at the producer, so I’m really happy to hear that Laura Silverman’s character is back behind the camera.

I love the double meaning behind the entire teaser, with Valerie Cherish getting increasingly frustrated in announcing her new show, “How’s that?,” telling Jane, “This is the last time!” in a warning to the audience that The Comeback’s third season will be its swan song. It seems like the clever writing is going to be as strong as ever in this new chapter.

In addition to Lisa Kudrow and Laura Silverman, Dan Bucatinsky will return as Valerie’s publicist Billy and Damian Young as Valerie’s husband Mark. Sadly, we won’t see the return of Mickey, Valerie’s beloved friend and hairdresser, as Robert Michael Morris passed away in 2017 at age 77. I can’t imagine Kudrow won’t find a way to honor the actor and character somehow in Season 3.

According to HBO, Michael Patrick King is returning as an executive producer for the third season in addition to Lisa Kudrow, John Melfi and Dan Bucatinsky. The Comeback Season 3 is set to go into production this summer for an expected 2026 release date that's yet to be determined.

Given that nine years elapsed between the first and second seasons, fans had held out hope that Lisa Kudrow would revive one of television’s cringiest series to give us an update on Valerie’s life and career. The fact that we’ve got the OGs on board with her has me really excited for what’s to come.

If you are a Friends fan who’s never seen The Comeback or if you forgot the HBO show existed, no worries! There’s plenty of time for you to stream the first two seasons on Max before Valerie Cherish gives it one last go in Hollywood.

With Friends turning 30 years old in 2024, the always excellent Lisa Kudrow and her famed co-stars have reflected quite a bit on heading up one of the biggest TV shows of all time. Though for all the mega-success and pleasure that the Must See TV sitcom delivered, it wasn’t always the easiest fit for Kudrow as an actor, since playing a ditzy character doesn’t come so naturally to non-ditzy people.

Kudrow has shared previously that other jobs since Friends have paled in comparison to having “won the lottery” with her five co-stars, but she sometimes struggled with playing a character who exists on such a different and kooky wavelength. Speaking with White Lotus Season 3 standout Parker Posey for Variety, Kudrow was asked if the sitcom process felt akin to a sport at the time, and the actress addressed that despite all the positives, getting into Phoebe’s headspace presented the biggest challenge. In her words:

That take is totally understandable, since there are so many shows out there that feature quirky Phoebe-esque characters who feel far more like cartoonish caricatures than real people. So it's a testament to Kudrow's talents that she was able to ground her performance in a way that made it easy to understand why she'd be a constant presence in everyone else's lives. (Except for twin sister Ursula, of course, but that's a different convo.)

Kudrow talked about a point in the early seasons when she struggled over thinking she wasn't doing enough in the role, which sparked a sweet reaction from co-star Matt LeBlanc:

Now, for the most part, one can assume that LeBlanc's intentions were completely genuine and kind-hearted. And that he only meant to imply that Lisa Kudrow was such a natural talent that she embodied any role she took on, as opposed to him saying, "You're naturally a nutty woman."

But even if that was the point, Kudrow still felt there was something slightly off, in that she felt like she needed to put more of a measurable effort in, which is what ended up hurting her the most during Friends' run. As she put it:

We often do hold ourselves to the highest standards, even when others don't, so it's good to know that Lisa Kudrow was able to settle into portraying Phoebe with more ease as time went on, allowing for the day when her character would get married to Paul Rudd, er, to Crap Bag, er, to Mike.

Lisa Kudrow went on to play characters who were surprisingly even more uncomfortable than Phoebe, from The Comeback's Valerie Cherish to No Good Deed's Lydia Morgan, and hasn't ever seemed like she was struggling, so hopefully all of those feelings were shed and forgotten a long time ago.

For the past 30 years that we’ve been enjoying Friends — one of the best sitcoms of all time — a lot has been said about how often the six main characters sat around drinking coffee at Central Perk rather than working. Another big question should have been how they managed to stay in shape despite rarely working out. The magic of A.I. has now reimagined our Friends as gym rats, and fans have some pretty clever reactions, including a great Joey callback.

Over the course of its 10 seasons (which can be streamed with a Max subscription), we saw hints of the group working on their fitness. One of Phoebe’s most hilarious moments involved her and Rachel going for a run, and Monica was determined to help Chandler lose a few pounds in Season 5. This Instagram post, however, takes things to a whole other level with the A.I. Check it out:

Why does Rachel (or A.I.’s version of Jennifer Aniston) look like she went full beast mode with Kim Kardashian’s trainer? Meanwhile, it looks like Courteney Cox’s Monica is ready to star in her own action movie franchise.

Then there’s Joey. Friends fans know how much Joey liked to eat, and despite this A.I. image of Matt LeBlanc’s soap opera actor looking quite juiced, fans like @sr9el came to the comments of the above post to recall one Season 10 quote where, after being shamed by Rachel’s sister Amy (Christina Applegate in her iconic guest role) over some pizza, Joey shouted:

I mean, don’t you remember how contentious a relationship Joey had with his weights? (“Damn you, 15s!”)

The above quote from “The One Where Rachel’s Sister Babysits” pops up quite a few times under the A.I. post, but it was far from the only clever retort. Many people (including @sofiamelone_ and @ ___bad90s_) recalled “The One With the Ballroom Dancing,” where Chandler (Matthew Perry) tried to get out of his gym membership:

In this A.I. alternate universe, Chandler couldn’t leave Ross without a spotter, and Ross clearly couldn’t say no to Maria, the Lycra spandex covered gym treat. However, fans were a little weary of the powerful paleontologist, saying:

• That’s clearly Russ. – ashleygreen026
• That ain’t Ross that’s Russ – youngsavagemydude

A.I. certainly does have a way of making the characters look just a little bit off — much like David Schwimmer’s alter ego in Season 2’s “The One With Russ.” My favorite part of the Ross image is the picture of himself that’s eerily popping out of the picture frame behind him. Yikes.

Last but not least, there’s Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe, who looks like she’s been doing a lot more than just running away from Satan (the neighbor’s dog). Instagram user @_cnnr_0818_ might have won the comments with this simple but effective edit to Phoebe’s name, writing:

There are definitely instances of the misuse of artificial intelligence, but sometimes the technology can be used for some frivolous fun, like imagining the Harry Potter cast as Grey’s Anatomy doctors or as stars of The Office.

If seeing Ross, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Phoebe and Monica as gym rats has you craving re-runs, you can stream all 10 seasons on Max, including Friends’ most ridiculous episodes.

One of the best movies on Max to check out later this week is the new comedy horror film, The Parenting. Led by an all-star cast including Lisa Kudrow, Dean Norris, Brian Cox, Edie Falco and Parker Posey and penned by a Saturday Night Live head writer, the latest of 2025 movie releases follows a family who stays in the same remote (and very haunted) home one weekend, and deal with demonic entities. And funny enough, Kudrow’s “Smelly Cat” became part of one improvised moment, and this story is too good.

The Parenting follows a young couple (played by Brandon Flynn and Nik Dodani) who bring together both sets of parents for a weekend getaway. Lisa Kudrow plays the mom of Flynn's Josh, who funny enough is a struggling musician (much like Kudrow's highly recognizable Friends character, Phoebe Buffay). In the film, Josh ends up painstakingly singing a song of his creation called “Puppy Dog Eyes.” When I spoke to Flynn, he shared that he very much saw the parallels between Josh and Phoebe. Here’s what happened in his own words:

Given how beloved the aforementioned NBC sitcom is, it has to be hard for someone not to bring it up on set in some form when working with a member of the Friends cast. That's especially true when you're working with the woman who portrayed the flaky, but endearing, Phoebe, who has so many memorable and offbeat quotes on the show. As Brandon Flynn shared, knowing he was going to have to sing off-the-cuff like Phoebe does on set, he decided to surprise Kudrow with his own rendition of “Smelly Cat”.

The song has become something of a cultural touchstone, and Lisa Kudrow hasn't shied away from it. There was even a time at which she performed the song on stage with Taylor Swift. The song was written by the show’s writers, but Kudrow contributed to the melody. The actress previously shared that she’s constantly being asked to sing it by fans, because well, it’s “Smelly Cat”.

The mere thought of the song being performed for the star on set is too priceless, but I still have questions. I mean, was she pleased or confused? Regardless, I do love that the nod directly led to the scene that's ultimately in the movie. In an awkward, but rather funny moment, Flynn’s Josh sings “Puppy Dog Eyes” to his boyfriend’s mom (played by Edie Falco) when she asks him about his music career.

In addition to Kudrow playing Josh’s mom, Breaking Bad’s Dean Norris plays his dad, and Brian Cox plays his boyfriend’s own father. Oh, and Parker Posey plays a very odd and shady caretaker of the residence they occupy that weekend.

The movie is definitely worth your time, whether you love a good comedic horror film, or you're just a fan of Lisa Kudrow. Check out The Parenting with a Max subscription when it drops on March 13. That same membership also gives you access to all 10 seasons of Friends. So you can indulge in "Smelly Cat" and other aspects of the beloved show.

As one of the best sitcoms of all time, Friends continues to be a source of comfort and entertainment for fans like myself through reruns and streaming with a Max subscription but, sometimes, it’s jarring to realize that three whole decades have passed since those Thursday nights on NBC. That may be a bit of a touchy topic for Jennifer Aniston and her co-stars as well. I loved looking back at Courteney Cox’s Walk of Fame ceremony and how Lisa Kudrow really drove home how much time had passed.

Many of Friends' stars continue to show up in projects on the 2025 TV calendar, but there’s no questioning that the NBC sitcom and the relationships they formed back then changed the entire trajectory of their lives. When Courteney Cox — aka Monica Gellar — was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow joked about how long it had been that they’d been co-workers, friends, family and sisters, which you can see in the clip on Instagram below:

More than 20 years may have passed since a new episode of Friends hit NBC, and more than 30 have past since the first episode's airing, but it’s pretty fun to see the comedic timing between the stars never went away. Lisa Kudrow seemed insistent on acknowledging just how long it had been, almost like if she said it out loud enough, she might actually believe it. In their speech honoring Courteney Cox, the actresses said:

• "Jennifer Aniston: We’ve known you for a very long time.
• Lisa Kudrow: It’s been that way for since we met 30, almost 30 years ago.
• Aniston: No, not 30 years, that’s a typo."

Coming across this video made me think of just how long ago 30 years was. Friends’ run from 1994 to 2004 spanned my teen years, where I went from tying up the landline so I could watch episodes on the phone with my friends to college watch parties and ultimately getting a buddy to tape “The Last One” on VHS because I had to work that night at my first real job.

In the video above, Lisa Kudrow didn’t mention the multiple decades that had passed just once. As Jennifer Aniston continued, their exchange went:

• "Aniston: I mean she’s just such a really a good human, you know, an extraordinary friend.
• Kudrow: At almost 30 years ago.
• Aniston: Will you stop saying 30 years ago?"

The Phoebe Buffay portrayer got one last one in there, too, as the sitcom’s three female leads gathered for a group hug at the conclusion of the speech, shouting:

Lisa Kudrow makes a good point, and while Jennifer Aniston has talked about the criticism that comes with aging in Hollywood, it’s a blessing that they have these relationships that have lasted so long.

The actors still regularly post tributes on each other’s birthdays, and it’s such a treat for fans when we see a reunion between two or more of them, like Aniston and Courteney Cox blowing kisses during a Facetime call.

Luckily for us as fans, no matter how much time has passed, we’ll always be able to revisit the series, with all 10 seasons (including Friends’ most ridiculous episodes) available to stream on Max.

The ‘90s was a very prominent decade for Christina Ricci and Lisa Kudrow. Ricci made a splash in the movie scene, and Kudrow starred in one of the best sitcoms of all time, Friends. After co-starring in 1998’s The Opposite of Sex, the former child star tells the story of awkwardly telling the sitcom actress she was a fan of her show.

The Opposite of Sex was a dark rom-com that premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. Christina Ricci played a pregnant manipulative 16-year-old who seduced her half-brother’s boyfriend and made him believe he impregnated her. Lisa Kudrow played the friend of the half-brother who grows suspicious of the teenager’s actions. While Ricci spoke of career highlights during her recent ET video interview, I became obsessed with the story of when she tried to tell Kudrow what a Friends fan she was, which took an awkward turn:

Aww, I can understand how that’s one of those human moments you wish you could rewind and redo. It’s true that sometimes, our tone doesn’t always match how passionate we feel about something. Maybe Christina Ricci was in such shock working with a sitcom queen that it could have been nerves. But we all know that the Yellowjackets actress is a “huge” Friends fan like anyone else of the decade.

It’s easy to be a fan of one of the most rewatchable shows of NBC. Each character of Friends brings something original and exciting to the sitcom. You’ve got the independent woman evolution of Rachel, Joey’s goofiness, Monica’s obsessive nature, Chandler’s sarcasm, and Ross’s awkward charm. But, of course, we can’t leave out Phoebe, who brought memorable offbeat lines and her quirky music. If you can believe it, Phoebe and Chandler weren’t originally going to have big roles on the show. The series creators couldn’t ignore the natural charisma the two stars brought out in their memorable characters, and they were way too good for occasional appearances.

Even though it’s been more than twenty years since Friends ended, it doesn’t mean that fans have stopped calling Lisa Kudrow “Phoebe,” including Sandra Bullock once at a party. Considering what a feel-good show Friends is, the importance hit Kudrow in a post-9/11 fan moment when someone driving in the car next to her would mouth “thank you.” The Easy A actress realized there were mental health benefits to leaving the world’s problems behind for a bit and turning on your favorite comedy series. If you can touch the hearts of fans with your work, that’s true success you can forever hold onto.

Christina Ricci’s fan experience with Lisa Kudrow may have been an awkward one, but it’s a story I love to hear because it’s an experience that can surely happen to any fan. When you’re face-to-face with someone who appears on your TV screen every week, it must be easy to feel starstruck working with them and having issues expressing your admiration. Hopefully Kudrow knows now that The Addams Family actress is a genuine Friends fan. You can watch all ten seasons of the beloved sitcom with your Max subscription.

While not every TV show cast gets along as well off-camera as they do on screen, one of the things that made the Friends cast so special — and one of the best sitcoms of all time — is just how close the six actors were in real life. When Matthew Perry died in October 2023 in a drowning due to the effects of ketamine, his former co-stars were “utterly devastated,” saying they’d lost not just a castmate but a family member. As hard as the year has been for those closest to the Chandler Bing actor, an insider said there’s actually one positive aspect that’s come from it.

If we’re looking at the Friends characters, it was probably Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe Buffay who was best able to find the silver lining in every cloud, and while that’s an admittedly tall order in this case, if there’s any good that Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc could take from Matthew Perry’s tragic passing at age 54, a source told Life&Style it’s this:

We’ve seen evidence of how close the six Friends leads have remained in the 20 years since its finale aired. Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox having dinner together, Lisa Kudrow getting lots of birthday love and all of them making cameo appearances on each other’s projects. Aniston even said she was texting with Matthew Perry the day he died.

However, it seems like the tragedy has only strengthened the bond of the five remaining cast members, and it sounds like now they’re keeping in touch pretty regularly. Lisa Kudrow even started rewatching Friends in Matthew Perry’s honor.

The actor who made us laugh so much as Chandler Bing even addressed how important they all were to each other during the Friends reunion in 2021 (available to stream with a Max subscription), saying that anytime they would run into one of the castmates at a party, “you apologized to the people you were with, but they had to understand you had met somebody special to you and you were going to talk to that person for the rest of the night.”

For someone who is being remembered as a man who embodied the “I’ll Be There for You” theme song, one would have to think Matthew Perry would be happy to know he was able to bring his friends together in this way. And if there are silver linings to be found, It’s also undeniable that the actor was able to help so many people by speaking candidly about his addictions. Perry will always be remembered for his role on Friends, but helping people was the legacy he hoped to leave behind.

In addition to streaming all 10 seasons of Friends on Max, you can continue to see the cast on new projects, and we’ve also compiled a list of the best Matthew Perry movies and shows to remember him by.

Lisa Kudrow just teamed up with Ray Romano for one of the latest best shows on Netflix, No Good Deed. So, in celebration of their new comedy series, the sitcom legends decided to surprise some fans on the Warner Bros. lot in Los Angeles, California who were visiting the set of Friends. And honestly, their reactions are priceless!

No Good Deed creator, Liz Feldman, took to Instagram this week to share a humorous bit that Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow did in front of the iconic Friends couch while fans took pictures. Check it out:

The video starts with Romano strutting on the Warner Bros Studio Tour where the Friends couch and fountain are set up for a photo op. He shared that his hit sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond, also shot on the Warner Bros. lot as well as Friends before coming up to those on the tour and letting them know that detail. The appearance led him to take pictures with fans on the couch before Lisa Kudrow strutted in.

Ray Romano is not part of the Friends cast, of course, but Lisa Kudrow was Phoebe Buffay for ten seasons. She continued the bit with her No Good Deed co-star, by yelling at him to “go sit on your own show’s couch” comedically. The appearance had a group of Friends fans freaking out and veering on being in tears.

Some of the lucky tour guests then got the chance to take photos with her on the Friends couch.

At the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Burbank, Friends fans can sit on the actual couch from the incredible sitcom in front of the fountain featured in the opening credits. It’s not the only Friends thing on the attraction though, fans can also go to the Central Perk set and enjoy coffee at the studio’s own Central Perk cafe.

It’s a really fun video, especially because both Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow were filming their most famous shows around the same time in the 1990s and 2000s on the Warner Bros. lot, and now they have worked together on No Good Deed, which has proven to be a highlight of Netflix's 2024 schedule.

This new dark comedy follows three families trying to buy the same house. Kudrow and Romano play husband and wife, who are the owners of the home. No Good Deed has earned positive reviews from critics, and it has continued to rank among the most-watched TV shows for those with a Netflix subscription since its release earlier in December.

So, considering all this, how cool is it to see Lisa Kudrow interact with Friends fans on the show’s iconic couch? The hilarious actress is a Friends fan herself, given the series opened the door to so many opportunities for her. Plus, Kudrow has been rewatching the series herself lately. Truly, this video encapsulates the “I’ll be there for you” of it all, and I love to see it.

Back in 1994, the six stars of Friends were still up-and-coming actors trying to get their big break in the entertainment business. They did exactly that, and now, 30 years later, Friends is one of the best sitcoms of all time, and Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and the late Matthew Perry are recognized around the world (sometimes in the wildest of places). A lot has been said of how close the stars actually were, and Kudrow confirmed that as she revealed another aspect of the show’s success that she found “really fulfilling.”

Lisa Kudrow, whose ensemble series No Good Deed recently hit the Netflix schedule, looked back fondly on her time on Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004 and skyrocketed its stars to fame. She couldn’t speak highly enough of the production and the bond she formed with her co-stars, telling TODAY.com:

It truly sounds like the best of all worlds, as Lisa Kudrow said her goal had simply been to be able to support herself as an actor. Friends went above and beyond her expectations, because in addition to people loving the sitcom, she loved the people she got to work with.

After Season 10 concluded, the Central Perk six went their separate ways (but remained close in real life — as evidenced by the sweet birthday posts the Friends send each other every year). It was then that Lisa Kudrow was able to take advantage of another perk. She explained:

Lisa Kudrow was financially stable enough and probably had enough clout to do what she wanted without the stress of her next project needing to be as successful as Friends. We, as fans, are lucky she did, because she has since gifted us with amazing projects like The Comeback, which totally changes the way you see Kudrow as an actress.

As much as we all love Valerie Cherish and the other characters she’s taken on over the years, it’s a foregone conclusion that Lisa Kudrow will always be remembered for her role on Friends as the hilariously off-beat Phoebe Buffay. The actress knows that she is “lucky,” “privileged” and “fortunate” to have had that experience and meet her co-stars who became her lifelong friends.

It’s just, as she put it, icing on the cake that the NBC sitcom allowed Lisa Kudrow the opportunity to then pursue other fulfilling and creative outlets. You can continue to enjoy her and the rest of the gang on Friends, which is streaming with a Max subscription — as is The Comeback — or catch her on her latest series No Good Deed with Ray Romano, which is available with a Netflix subscription.

The following article contains spoilers for No Good Deed. If you’re not caught up, check out the entire first season with a Netflix subscription.

When it comes to legendary comedy stars like Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano, there have been fewer moments in TV history where we really get to see their fantastic dramatic sides shine. Thankfully, 2024's Netflix release No Good Deed was the perfect way to show these dramatic chops off, and the major fight between their characters during Episode 7 is a prime example. I wanted to know more about the scene, so I spoke to the actors about what it was like on set that day and the process it took to get that notable argument just right.

The newly popular No Good Deed follows the story of several couples who are all vying for a house in California – the Morgans’ home (Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano). As the story goes on, we find out the actual reasons why the Morgans’ are selling their home, all of which date back to their son getting killed in their own house. When I asked the actors what it was like on set to film that scene as typically comedic actors, Romano commented that it actually was like a “release” since, at that point, they had been playing these two characters for months:

The argument that happens between Lydia (Kudrow) and Paul (Romano) was really a long time coming by the time Episode 7 rolled around. The scene in question boiled down to the two of them finally snapping at each other after keeping their emotions hidden for so long. Lydia had been dealing with long-repressed trauma from her son’s death, while Paul had been the one trying to help her but also becoming more emotionally distant as the series progressed. It was the big explosion that fans were really waiting for.

Kudrow agreed the scene worked because it was as if all this emotion was finally coming out, despite Lydia becoming the main target of anger.

Truthfully, No Good Deed is one of those dark comedies where there are plenty of moments that make you laugh, but when the dark instances occur or the drama comes out, you are locked in. This scene is a prime example of that.

And it’s excellent for both Kudrow and Romano as well. While both are certainly primarily known for their super successful sitcoms, from Kudrow in the Friends cast to Romano as the lead of I Love Raymond (though don't expect a reboot), it’s always a delight when they are able to show their range as actors. And No Good Deed was a great series in that it allowed them to do so.

No Good Deed has been called ‘quirky yet macabre,’ and the show, as of writing this, is currently trending in the Top 10 of Netflix’s TV shows right now, so there’s no denying its popularity. Season 2 is still up in the air at this point, but if I get to see Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano flex their dramatic chops again, I’m all for this story continuing. Who knew the housing market could bring such drama?

A new comedy has just hit the 2024 Netflix calendar, and it’s impossible to not be intrigued by the strength of its ensemble cast. Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano star as homeowners Lydia and Paul Morgan, and they are just two of the comedy veterans featured in No Good Deed. Ahead of the series’ release on the 2024 TV schedule, critics were given a chance to screen the new dark comedy. Now, you can see what the reviews are saying to decide if you should make this the next thing you binge on Netflix.

No Good Deed will see Lydia and Paul looking to sell their home to one of three interested couples, who are played by Poppy Liu and Abbi Jacobson; Teyonah Parris and O-T Fagbenle; and Luke Wilson and Linda Cardellini. Throw in a possible murder and this sounds like quite the interesting real estate venture. Kelly Lawler of USA TODAY sure thinks so, rating the series 3.5 out of 4 stars. The critic says despite the number of characters and competing plots, the series is worth the binge, as it comes to quite a satisfying conclusion. Lawler says:

Philip Mutz of PureWow praises the actors of this “twist-a-minute” dark comedy, predicting that No Good Deed will be a fixture at the top of Netflix subscription holders’ top 10. In Mutz’s words:

Isabella Soares of Collider gives the series a 7 out of 10, writing that No Good Deed is a prime example of an ensemble piece done right. Linda Cardellini is compelling as a character opposite her role in Dead to Me, and Lisa Kudrow gets to flex her acting chops far past her beloved Friends character. Soares continues:

Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian rates No Good Deed 3 stars out of 5, calling the eight-episode series “occasionally clumsy” but well-paced and packed with plot. The ensemble is excellent, Nicholson says, finding a way to blend slapstick comedy with, at times, painful family tragedy. The critic says:

Saloni Gajjar of AV Club, however, doesn’t agree. The critic gives the new show a C, saying this series is not worth your investment. The ensemble is wasted, according to Gajjar, but No Good Deed’s worst offense is its unimaginative whodunit. More from the review:

It’s hard to argue with a series that stars such comedic greats, especially with several of them getting to show how well they dip into drama as well. The critics mostly agree this twisty tale is a satisfying binge, so if you want to check out Lisa Kudrow, Ray Romano, Linda Cardellini and the rest, No Good Deed is available to stream on Netflix now.

Despite the fact that it’s been off the air for two full decades, Friends remains one of the most rewatchable shows in TV history. Many of us fanatics can recite full scenes of dialogue, if not full episodes, from all of our repeated viewing, but the same can’t be said for the stars of the show. Lisa Kudrow has admitted she doesn’t remember filming many of the episodes, and it was only recently that she felt compelled to start watching them back for herself. When she did, she revealed that there was one episode that made her particularly emotional.

Lisa Kudrow has said she was too embarrassed to watch herself on TV — even if Friends was considered one of the best sitcoms ever — but after her co-star Matthew Perry died in October 2023, she started watching it in Perry’s honor. The actress who played the hilariously off-beat Phoebe Buffay has raved about how amazing her co-stars are on the show, but it was actually her own character who caused tears to spill. Kudrow explained the Armchair Expert podcast:

That is the sweetest response ever, and I think lots of people had the same reaction when Phoebe got married to Mike (Paul Rudd) in Season 10’s "The One with Phoebe's Wedding."

It makes so much sense that Lisa Kudrow would have that kind of emotional attachment to Phoebe, as she was the one who literally brought her to life for a whole decade’s worth of television. Phoebe had already been through some traumatic experiences by the time we meet her in Season 1 — abandoned by her father, estranged from her twin sister and left homeless after her mother’s death. Her character finally getting her happy ending must have been such a relief for the actress as she said:

On top of what we already knew about Phoebe and her family’s tragic past, she also learned over the course of the series that her late mom was not her birth mother (a fact that was revealed in a suicide note that her sister Ursula never showed her) and that Ursula had sold her birth certificate, keeping Phoebe’s middle name a mystery and causing her to think she was a year younger than she actually was.

Mike Hannigan ended up being the perfect complement to Phoebe — or should I say the perfect Crap Bag to her Princess Consuela Banana Hammock — and it’s heartwarming to think that all these years later, Lisa Kudrow still thinks so too.

If you want to relive the moments that made you cry or laugh at some of the most ridiculous episodes of Friends, all 10 seasons are available to stream with a Max subscription.

It's possible that a number of movie fans are familiar with the classic comedy Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, which stars Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow in the lead roles. However, what you might not know about how the movie came to be -- and how Jon Lovitz was involved in a way. Well, if so, I’m right there with you. Both Lovitz and Kudrow are big comedy hitters and have been in some of the most watchable series ever, in SNL and Friends respectively. However, they also go way back.

Lisa Kudrow has deep comedy roots and was a part of the LA comedy troupe the Groundlings. The actress shared -- while on a panel with five decades' worth of female Groundlings members speaking to the LA Times -- that she and Jon Lovitz grew up together. Apparently, the actress was seeking advice on how to get into acting, and Lovitz made a keen suggestion. In Kudrow's own words:

It's definitely surprising to hear about this connection between the two actors, but I'm here for it. That aside, taking advice from people can definitely be a gamble, especially when you're in the entertainment industry. However, it would seem that the NewsRadio alum steered the eventual Phoebe Buffay actress in the right direction. Seriously, there's nothing like having good friends who have your best interest in mind.

As Lisa Kudrow became a part of the Groundlings, career opportunities began to present themselves. Interestingly enough, it was around that time that the Mad About You cast member went out for an intriguing gig that would end up changing her life. Kudrow recounted:

And the rest is, as they say, movie history! Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, which eventually hit theaters in 1997, connected with its viewers in various ways. It's been noted for a number of great scenes, including Alan Cumming's dance number. The David Mirkin-helmed film was a humorously smart, female-led piece that welcomed any viewer who wasn’t a part of the "in crowd" while in school themselves.

It’s funny to think that there was a time at which Lisa Kudrow wasn't a household name. Today, it's even wilder to know that fans can thank the Jon Lovitz-to-Groundlings-pipeline for her start in the business. And, without Lovitz, who knows if fans would've ever been graced with Kudrow's winning performance as Michele Weinberger. And, considering her impeccable work in the film, that's a reality I don't want to imagine.

Anyone who'd like to check out Romy and Michele's High School Reunion now using a Hulu subscription or a Disney+ subscription. Be sure that you also keep your eye on the 2024 movie schedule for updates on comedies heading to cinemas soon.

One of the great things about Phoebe in Friends was that you never knew what might come out of her mouth. While the Friends cast had no shortage of talent to go around, Lisa Kudrow delivered some of the funniest and most out-there lines through her performance as the offbeat and eccentric masseuse and musician, Phoebe Buffay. So naturally, it was a lot of fun revisiting some of Phoebe’s funniest scenes to compile this list of some of the best of the characters quotes. 

“Both fine answers, but we were looking for leafy. LEAFY.”

Ask Phoebe to make up a game on the spot and she can do it. But don’t bet on being able to guess the correct answer to her questions, like what your favorite thing about trees might be. That’s what happens in Season 4 when Monica and Rachel are determined to win their apartment back from Joey and Chandler.

"Oh my eyes! My eyes!"

Phoebe wasn't the first person to discover Monica and Chandler’s secret relationship, but her reaction certainly is memorable! In the Season 5 episode, one moment she’s delighted to see her two friends through the window from across the way, and the next, she’s horrified to see what they’re doing. 

"I’m Regina Phalange. PHALANGE"

The name Regina Phalange is practically synonymous with Phoebe Buffay. After all, it was her favorite pseudonym when a situation called for a fake name. This particular reference happens in Season 5 when Phoebe is pretending to be a business woman to help Joey connect with his hand twin. 

"Bye Ross (FOREVER)"

When Ross is being forced to sever ties with Rachel so that he can reconcile with Emily in Season 5, it takes very little effort for Rachel to convince Phoebe to come with her to start a new group. Phoebe’s up for it, but she’s not going to leave without saying goodbye to Ross, including an ominously whispered “forever.” 

"I should really start wearing hats"

What does one say when looking at themselves in the mirror while trying on a Trojan helmet? If you’re Phoebe Buffay, you might just come to the realization that you should start wearing more hats. That’s exactly what happens when she tries on Joey’s Trojan helmet at the hotel in one of the final episodes of Season 5. 

"Ohhh, no!"

By itself, this may not seem like much of a quote, but anyone who’s watched enough Friends knows exactly how it’s meant to be said when Phoebe says it. When something doesn't work out the way she’s hoped, this is what she'll say — with an emphasis on the “Ohhh” and a drop for the “no.” 

“Uh-huh. Why do you think it takes me so long to answer the door?”

At first, Rachel seems thrown off when Phoebe suggests that she’d want some time alone in the apartment so that she can walk around naked. And then Phoebe reveals it’s one of her own personal pastimes (and the reason she might take a minute to get to the door when someone stops by.) 

"They thought that they could mess with us? They’re trying to mess with us?… They don’t know that we know they know we know.”

“The One Where Everybody Finds Out” is surely one of the most iconic episodes of the entire series, and undoubtedly one of Phoebe’s best episodes. She and Rachel refuse to be bested by Chandler and Monica in a game of uncomfortably flirtatious chicken to force them to reveal their relationship, leaving a baffled Joey to try to unravel this particular line about who knows what (and who does or doesn't know who knows what.)

"Yeah, if you get married in Vegas, you're only married in Vegas."

Every once in a while, you might learn something really random about Phoebe. Like that she might have once gotten married in Vegas, and is perhaps still married to that person. This is implied when she tries to tell her friends that a Vegas wedding means you’re only married in Vegas. The alarm on her face when they tell her that’s not true is fleeting, but it’ll always make us wonder. 

"See? He's her lobster."

Ross and Rachel being each other’s lobsters is a well known fact to Friends fans, but Phoebe deserves the credit for the declaration. While her explanation about lobsters mating for life might not actually be true, she wasn’t wrong about Ross and Rachel being destined to be together when she called it in this Season 2 episode. 

“Oh, hello Mr. Bicep”

In an attempt to force Chandler to admit he’s seeing Monica in Season 5, Phoebe turns up the charm with some hilarious flirting that includes introducing herself to Chandler’s bicep while admiring his jacket. It leaves Chandler very confused. 

"What! Monica, I'm scared!"

Poor Phoebe is just trying to put a sweater on while waiting on hold on a phone call when she finds her head trapped in the sleeve. All she can do is panic and call out to Monica. 

“Are you in there little fetus, in nine months will you come greet us? I will buy you some Adidas.”

Phoebe is always up for creating new music. Such is the case when she’s laying back killing time while she waits to find out if she’s pregnant in Season 4. I like to think the song she sang (to what would turn out to be three fetuses) helped make it a success. 

“This is your third divorce. Ha, you love divorce you’re probably gonna marry it. And then it won’t work out so you’re gonna have to divorce it, Divorcing Guy. Ha-ha. I’m so drunk”

Season 6 starts off on a hilariously awkward note as Ross and Rachel have to come to grips with the fact that their escapades in Vegas the night before have resulted in them getting married. And Phoebe can’t help but poke fun at Ross for being the “Divorcing Guy” in the group. When no one thinks she’s funny, she quickly blames the alcohol. 

"Wow. Well done."

What else does one say when addressing a higher power after being introduced to a man who looks like… well, Brad Pitt. Phoebe’s quiet but unsubtle reaction after meeting Monica’s dreamy old friend in Season 8 is perfect. 

"I love Jacques Cousteau!"

The Thanksgiving episodes of Friends are known to be some of the best episodes of the series. In the Season 6 episode, amidst people admitting the truth about several things, including Rachel’s trifle being terrible, Phoebe confesses that she’s in love with Jacques Cousteau (due to having had a dream about him.) 

“I was wondering — PLEASE — if it’s not too much trouble — Please — if, might I speak with Miss Emily Waltham PLEASE?”

Phoebe is left behind when everyone goes to London for Ross and Emily’s wedding in Season 4. But when she’s trying to urgently get in touch with her friends by phone, her efforts include trying to be super polite in hopes of getting the British woman she’s speaking to to help her. That includes putting on a special voice and inserting the word “please” a lot in the sentence. It does not go over well with the woman she’s speaking with. 

"What a neat idea, all your clothes match! I'm gonna do this."

While Rachel’s devastated to see that her efforts to do her own laundry have resulted in all of her clothes turning pink in this Season 1 episode, Phoebe just sees a great way to make all of her clothes match. 

“I’m unemployed. My music is all I have now. Well, music and making my own shoes. Pretty, huh?!”

Phoebe doesn’t forget to point out her shoe-making (or shoe-decorating?) abilities when calling attention to the status of her livelihood. It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Phoebe’s efforts to make her own shoes are similar to her approach to making music. You never quite know what to expect (but candy corns and tassels aren’t out of the question.) 

"Nuh-Uh, they're maternity pants. Look, they even came with a list of baby names. See? These names are good, and these are bad!"

It takes Phoebe a moment to realize that the pants she’s wearing in this Season 4 episode are not maternity pants, but actually Santa pants. It isn’t the bright red fabric or the oversized belt that give it away, but the realization that the list of baby names (separated by good and bad) is actually Santa’s naughty and nice list. 

"Oh my God, she's Smelly Cat!"

When Phoebe discovers that her voice has been dubbed over by a better singer for her “Smelly Cat” music video, her disappointment quickly turns to sympathy when all she can do is feel bad for whoever the singer is, as she feels the woman is as unappreciated as the cat she’s singing about. 

"No, that made me feel precious."

Ross spends most of this Season 5 episode trying to figure out why Phoebe’s mad at him. Turns out, it was due to something she dreamed. But before that reveal, when Ross asks her if she’s mad that he described her handwriting as “childlike,” she beams when saying that it made her feel precious. And it’s kind of adorable. 

"Dinosaur attack. Quick, everybody into the house! Ah-ahhhh!"

If you invite Phoebe to play with your dollhouse, she might bring a giant dog and a dinosaur, much to Monica’s dismay. This is not at all how Monica wants to play dollhouse. 

“And did you notice the ice? We have crushed, cubed and dry. Look. AhhAhhh. Mystical!”

Monica thinks she has the most important elements of the party under control in this Season 5 episode, so she leaves Phoebe to handle the cups and ice. Phoebe takes her responsibilities very seriously… and creatively. So much so that her ice and cups outshine the rest of the party. 

"That is brand new information!"

Ross thinks he’s revealing the big news that Rachel is pregnant with his child to Phoebe and Joey in Season 8. Little does he know that they already know. In fairness to Joey, he does an admirable job of feigning surprise, but Phoebe’s exclamation that this is brand new information might’ve oversold it. 

“Yeah, when I first met you, you were like blah blah blah blah. I was like Shh.”

Poor Chandler has to learn from Phoebe that he’s not good at making a good first impression right as he’s nervously anticipating a big job interview in Season 8. Phoebe adds a cherry to the top of this news by describing their first iteration and it’s not good. 

"Oh, I wish I could, but I don't want to."

Phoebe makes it clear from the very first episode of the series that she’ll be totally honest. That includes expressing sincere disappointment in not being able to help out when Joey asks because she doesn’t want to. 

"Here's something rich. Thirteen bathrooms in this place, I threw up in the coat closet. Ta-ta!"

Phoebe manages to chew and temporarily swallow a bite of veal during her first meeting dinner with Mike’s parents in Season 9. But as a vegetarian, she’s revolted and the meat just won’t stay down. After Mike tells off his parents (and their “sinfully boring” friends), Phoebe gleefully shares that she never actually made it to one of their many bathrooms when she got sick. 

"Oh, ok, it's P as in Phoebe, H as in Heebee, O as in Obee, E as in Eebee, B as in Beebee, and E as in 'ello there mate!"

If you need to know how to spell Phoebe, she has you covered, as evidenced by this quote from the Season 8 episode, where she spells out her name by mostly using made-up words that rhyme with Phoebe (or are Phoebe).

"Say we are unagi!"

Ross thinks having unagi will be enough to best Phoebe and Rachel in a game of sneakiness. He learns how wrong he is the hard way more than once. Of course, Phoebe’s demand to be declared “unagi” by a defeated Ross is met with a correction that unagi is not something you are, it’s something you have. Obviously. 

"Rachel. I don't know."

Phoebe makes the mistake of answering the question when Monica throws out the hypothetical idea of which one of them she’d date. Rachel smartly claims she doesn’t know, but Phoebe quickly says Rachel… and then tries to backtrack. Too late. 

"It's fun, god I love how sexy I am."

Most people would despair at having to deal with a cold, but Phoebe finds the silver lining in her congestion as it’s doing wonderful things for her singing voice. Never mind the she sometimes erupts in a coughing fit, she sounds great? 

I consider myself just about the biggest Friends fan out there. I watched the series in real time growing up; bought all of the DVDs and pored over the commentaries; and — thanks to my Max subscription — that familiar laugh track and the dialogue I can recite from memory are often the last things I hear before I fall asleep. Where I’ve fallen short, however, is keeping up with the Friends cast’s other movies and TV shows. Despite being years late to the party, I finally watched Lisa Kudrow in The Comeback, and now I’ll never be able to look at the actress the same way again.

The Comeback was canceled after one season on HBO in 2005, only to be revived by the cable network nine years later for Season 2. Lisa Kudrow executive produces and stars in the satirical look at the TV industry in this brilliant, meta and cringe-inducing mockumentary that has forever changed my perception of her. Let me explain why.

Portraying A Has-Been Sitcom Star So Soon After Friends Was A Gutsy Move

Even 20 years after Friends ended, it’s clear Lisa Kudrow will never shake the persona of Phoebe Buffay. However, that role was even fresher on people’s minds when The Comeback premiered on HBO on June 4, 2005 — just 13 months after “The Last One” aired on NBC. To jump into the role of Valerie Cherish, the seemingly desperate former sitcom star documenting her return to TV, so soon seems like such a ballsy move.

Many actors looking to move on from a big role will often take on something completely different so as not to pigeonhole themselves — just look at Jennifer Aniston doing movies like The Good Girl and Friends with Money. Lisa Kudrow went in the opposite direction and jumped right into playing a sitcom actress. Not only that, but one trying to reclaim the fame she'd found earlier in their career. How meta is that?

Of course Lisa Kudrow didn't have to "reclaim" anything in 2005; however, it's important to remember that she was 41 years old coming out of Friends, and likely not up for the same kinds of roles as 10 years earlier. Enter Valerie Cherish, who faces that exact situation on Room and Bored, the fictional sitcom that is the impetus for her comeback. After starring on a show called I’m It, Valerie's new series feels like a downgrade, surrounding her with young singles (including actors played by Malin Akerman and Kellan Lutz), and relegating her to the role of the tracksuit-wearing Aunt Sassy.

It was impossible for me to look at Valerie Cherish and not compare her situation to Lisa Kudrow’s. Did she and her Friends co-stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer — see the end of Friends as having the freedom to do whatever they wanted next? Or was Kudrow saying in The Comeback that she worried her best was behind her?

The Comeback Proves That Friends Just Scratched The Surface Of Lisa Kudrow’s Talents

Friends may be one of the best sitcoms of all time, but after watching The Comeback, I think Phoebe Buffay only scratched the surface of what Lisa Kudrow was capable of as an actress. Friends did allow her to tap into a different character when Ursula would appear, but in the HBO comedy Kudrow was, in effect, portraying at least four subtly-but-distinctively different characters — the perky version of Valerie she affected for the reality cameras, Room and Bored’s Aunt Sassy, Seeing Red’s Mallory Church (a fictionalized version of Valerie), and the real Valerie Cherish, when her guard was down and not playing to the cameras.

The last of these was the most enjoyable, possibly because of how excruciatingly rare it was for Valerie to let the cracks show, or to tell her husband Mark (Damian Young) or director Paulie G. (Lance Barber) how she really felt. I think The Comeback proved that just like Valerie Cherish was always underestimated as an actress, Lisa Kudrow is so much more than Phoebe Buffay.

Valerie’s Struggle To Be Real On Her Reality Show Is Equal Parts Grating And Brilliant

Valerie Cherish needs to be one of the roles that defines Lisa Kudrow’s career for how complex a character she created. However, that does not mean The Comeback was always an enjoyable watch. If you thought Phoebe’s kookiness on Friends could get old, wait until all the times you hear Valerie enter a room with an overly cheery, “Hello hello hello!,” or refer to Malin Akerman’s Juna as “Baby Girl,” or shoehorn her catchphrase, “I don’t need to see that!” into a random situation. This series is on par with Curb Your Enthusiasm for knowing how to make its audience uncomfortable.

It’s all about Valerie’s complete unwillingness and/or inability to let her guard down in front of her documentary crew’s cameras. Anytime she or “Marky Mark” says anything remotely negative or even real, she gives her producer Jane (Laura Silverman) the “time-out” sign to signal that they can’t use that footage. She laughs at her own jokes, eyeing the camera as if she’s anticipating us laughing with her at home. She justifies and overexplains everything she thinks might be misconstrued or that could paint her in a bad light. It’s equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.

I can’t believe it took me this long to watch The Comeback, and I completely get why it’s considered a cult classic. As a Friends fan, I definitely recommend this comedy to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. As awkward as it can get, the series really highlights Lisa Kudrow’s talent in a different way than we saw on Friends.

She’s surrounded by a great cast (shout out to the late Robert Michael Morris as her hairdresser Mickey), and it’s amazing to see how her character grows and changes from the beginning of Season 1 to the end of Season 2. Honestly, the finale literally gave me chills and has forever changed the way I see Kudrow as an actress.

Both seasons of The Comeback can be streamed on Max, one of the best streaming services to subscribe to.

Friends is considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, and it really did offer the roles of a lifetime to Jennifer Anison, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer back in 1994. While the actors will forever be associated with those characters, they have accomplished far more than portraying, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross. Here are 32 other movies and TV shows that feature the main cast of Friends.

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

When Ryan Murphy tackled O.J. Simpson's trial for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, many were surprised that David Schwimmer was cast as Robert Kardashian. However, Schwimmer's portrayal of Simpson's best friend and attorney was praised by Kim Kardashian, who said it was "just done so well."

The Comeback

In Lisa Kudrow's first big TV role post-Friends, she starred as Valerie Cherish on HBO's The Comeback. The concept was actually pretty meta, featuring an actress (Valerie) joining a series in a humbling (and often cringeworthy) attempt to recapture the fame she'd previously found on another sitcom — all while a camera crew documents her journey for a fictional reality show.

Lost In Space

Around Friends' midpoint, Matt LeBlanc took some time to star in the 1998 sci-fi adventure Lost in Space. He plays Major Don West, a hotshot fighter pilot who is part of the crew that gets lost while attempting to lead a planet-wide emigration from a dying Earth.

Scream

Courteney Cox has found fame on several projects outside of the famed NBC sitcom, but arguably her next-most-recognized character after Monica Gellar is Gale Weathers in the Scream franchise. The cut-throat journalist holds the distinction of being the only main character to appear in every film through Scream VI, but thankfully Gale's infamous bangs did not survive all the sequels.

Fools Rush In

Matthew Perry may have had some hilarious lines as Chandler Bing, but he had some good moments outside of his and Joey's apartment as well. Amongst Perry's best movies is the romantic comedy Fools Rush In, which also stars Salma Hayek in a story of a would-be one-night-stand resulting in a pregnancy and the couple's efforts to make a marriage work despite having just met.

The Morning Show

Jennifer Aniston and her Friends sister Reese Witherspoon reunited in 2019 to executive produce and star on The Morning Show on Apple TV+. The workplace drama tackles issues straight from the headlines, as Aniston and Witherspoon play news anchors who are often right in the center of the turmoil.

Better Nate Than Ever

Better Nate than Ever is a coming-of-age story and celebration of musical theater, as 13-year-old Nate sneaks off to New York to audition for a Broadway show. Once in the Big Apple, he enlists the help of his estranged aunt Heidi (Lisa Kudrow), who has dreams of the Great White Way herself.

Dirt

Three years after Courteney Cox bid goodbye to Monica Gellar, she joined the cast of FX's Dirt as Lucy Spiller, the editor-in-chief of a sleazy tabloid. The show ended after two seasons, doomed by the 2007 writer's strike, a timeslot change, and other factors, but fans did get to see a fun guest appearance by Jennifer Aniston.

17 Again

In 17 Again, Matthew Perry plays 37-year-old Mike O'Donnell, who loses his job and is on the brink of divorce from his high school sweetheart Scarlet (Leslie Mann). After an accident, Mike finds himself back in his 17-year-old body (portrayed by Zac Efron) with the chance to relive his high school experience and perhaps make some changes to ensure a happier future.

Picture Perfect

The Friends cast periodically took part in other projects during the 10 years that the sitcom aired on NBC, and 1997's Pitch Perfect was one of those for Jennifer Aniston. In the rom-com, she plays the advertising executive Kate, who lies and says she's engaged to Jay Mohr's Nick in order to make it look like her life is more stable than it is. The only thing missing from these complicated relationship dynamics was someone shouting, "We were on a break!"

The Pallbearer

It's pretty obvious why the Friends stars were tapped for so many romantic comedies in the '90s. David Schwimmer, for his part, took a break from Ross Gellar to play Tom Thompson in 1996's The Pallbearer. Tom is a struggling twentysomething who agrees to be a pallbearer for a former classmate who has died, despite not remembering him. A strange love triangle forms between Tom, his high school crush and his late friend's mother.

Mad About You

Friends fans know that Phoebe Buffay was a twin, with Lisa Kudrow pulling double duty as both Phoebe and Ursula on eight episodes. What people may not know is that Ursula Buffay was a fully formed character on Friends' fellow NBC Must-See TV offering, Mad About You. Kudrow appeared as Phoebe's ditzy counterpart alongside Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt in 24 episodes from 1992 to 1998.

Episodes

Five years after Matt LeBlanc's Friends spinoff Joey was canceled, the actor returned to the sitcom space on Episodes. LeBlanc plays a fictionalized version of himself — a charming but arrogant actor who signs onto the American remake of the British series Pucks. LeBlanc was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor during Episodes' run and won one of two Golden Globes for Best Actor that he was up for over those years.

Cougar Town

Premiering in 2009 and running for six seasons, Cougar Town stars Courteney Cox as Jules Cobb, a divorced woman in her 40s trying to reintegrate herself into the dating world. The role nabbed her a Golden Globe Award nomination in 2010, and Friends fans were surely delighted to see cameos from Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow and Matthew Perry.

The Odd Couple

In one of Matthew Perry's final TV roles, the man most famous as Chandler Bing took on another iconic comedic character in The Odd Couple's sloppy Oscar Madison. He starred in the CBS adaptation opposite Thomas Lennon, who played the obsessively clean Felix Unger. Sounds like he and Monica Gellar would have gotten along.

Cake

Jennifer Aniston has proven over the years that her talents stretch far beyond the spoiled Rachel Green, and her performance in 2015's Cake earned both critical praise and a Golden Globe nomination. The actress plays Claire Bennett, a woman who abuses pain medication to deal with the physical and emotional effects of the car accident that killed her son. After the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group, Claire forms a bond with her husband and son.

Romy And Michele's High School Reunion

In one of the best movies about female friendship, Lisa Kudrow stars alongside Mira Sorvino in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. Ten years after graduating, Romy and Michele are roommates who haven't made much of their lives, but they decide to return to high school with fake stories of success in order to face the ex-classmates who bullied them. This 1997 comedy is a cult classic and features a great cast, not to mention an iconic dance from Alan Cumming.

Top Gear

Taking a step away from scripted TV, Matt LeBlanc got to show off his expertise as a car enthusiast when he signed on BBC's Top Gear as a co-host from 2016 to 2019. Even shooting episodes of this show abroad, LeBlanc wasn't able to escape the grasp of Joey Tribbiani, as he has said he once encountered a Moroccan group living in caves far from civilization who, upon seeing him, called him Joey and affected an accent to say, "How you doin'?"

Shining Vale

Courteney Cox has established herself both as a comedic actress on Friends and a scream queen in the Scream movies, and in the 2022 Starz series Shining Vale, she gets to show her expertise in both genres. In the horror comedy series, Cox plays Pat, who is convinced that something is going on in her dysfunctional family's home, with terrible things having taken place in the past.

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip

In 2006 following the end of Friends, Matthew Perry signed on to Aaron Sorkin's NBC dramedy Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. The series depicted the behind-the-scenes antics of a live sketch comedy show similar to Saturday Night Live, but it was strangely made to compete with 30 Rock, a comedy with a very similar premise, which premiered on NBC only a month after Perry's project. Studio 60 was canceled after its first season.

Office Space

Office Space is considered one of the most Gen X movies of all time, and Jennifer Aniston perfectly embodies that spirit in her role as Joanna, the waitress who gets fed up for her lack of enthusiasm and flair.

Band Of Brothers

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg teamed up for the powerful miniseries Band of Brothers, which was based on the nonfiction book by Stephen E. Ambrose and premiered on HBO on September 9, 2001. David Schwimmer was in the midst of his stint on Friends but found time to portray Herbert Sobel in the World War II saga that followed soldiers preparing to fight in one of the biggest military conflicts of all time.

Web Therapy

Years before telehealth was a common and necessary thing, Lisa Kudrow tackled the subject in her web series-turned-Showtime-show, Web Therapy. The actress portrays therapist Fiona Wallice, who offers abbreviated sessions to her clients via the Internet. The show utilized a computer screen POV, and featured a number of fun cameos over its four seasons on Showtime, including appearances from Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. If only Jennifer Aniston could have made it a clean sweep!

Man With A Plan

Matt LeBlanc found himself another sitcom in 2016, starring in Man with a Plan on CBS. He played Adam Burns, who must take on more responsibilities of raising his three kids when his wife Andi decides to go back to work. The series was largely panned by critics, who called it "bland and forgettable," among other things, but it still managed to air for four seasons.

Family Ties

Years before Monica Gellar would enter the realms of television history, Courteney Cox had a recurring role on Family Ties' sixth and seventh seasons. She played Lauren Miller, the girlfriend of Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) in 19 episodes from 1987 to 1989.

Go On

Matthew Perry took yet another stab at NBC sitcom glory in 2012 with Go On, where he played Ryan King, a sports radio talk show host struggling with the recent death of his wife. He joins an emotional support group, where he's introduced to a motley crew of characters and personalities. Despite being previewed following NBC's Olympics coverage and getting a boost from The Voice as a lead-in, the series was canceled after a single season.

The Good Girl

Jennifer Aniston really got about as far away from Rachel Green as she could in 2002's The Good Girl. Aniston stars as Justine, an employee at a small-town big box store who seems stuck in an unhappy marriage. She engages in an affair with the new cashier Holden (Jake Gyllenhaal), which ultimately ends in tragedy on multiple levels.

The Whole Nine Yards

Approximately halfway through his stint as Chandler Bing, Matthew Perry teamed up with Bruce Willis for the 2000 crime comedy The Whole Nine Yards. Perry plays a dentist named Oz who discovers that his new neighbor Jimmy (Willis) is a highly sought-after former hitman. Oz decides to go to Chicago to inform the mob of Jimmy's whereabouts in order to collect a reward. The pairing of these actors in this movie led to Willis' memorable guest appearance on Friends as the father of Ross' college student girlfriend.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

The same year that Friends debuted, Courteney Cox appeared alongside Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. She played Melissa Robinson, the publicist for the Miami Dolphins, as the zany animal detective is hired to find the team's dolphin mascot after an abduction.

Time Bandits

Lisa Kudrow has said it was "heaven" to work with Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris and Taika Waititi on the Apple TV+ adventure series Time Bandits. Kudrow portrays Penelope, the quasi-leader of a ragtag group of time-traveling thieves, in the 2024 adaptation of Terry Gilliam's 1981 film.

Lovesick

Ten years after Joey Tribbiani finally gave up his key to Monica's apartment, Matt LeBlanc starred in the rom-com Lovesick. In the 2000 movie, he portrayed Charlie Darby, a man who can't find love because of a psychological condition. He must figure out how to overcome this when he meets the girl of his dreams. The film was not well-received by critics, but Friends fans might find something to like in LeBlanc's performance.

The Break-Up

Ironically, The Break-Up inspired a real-life romance between its doomed couple, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. The 2006 rom-com sees Gary and Brooke end their relationship but remain roommates, as neither agrees to move out. It's funny. It's awkward. It's ultimately a little heartbreaking.

Friends is truly considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, providing audiences with laughter and feel-good moments. With the show’s strong theme about the importance of friendship, it’s easy for fans to see themselves in a dramatic Rachel, an organized Monica, an awkward Ross, a sarcastic Chandler, a lovable Joey, or even a quirky Phoebe. Friends turned 20 this year, and Lisa Kudrow has been looking back on the legacy of the series, sharing how an emotional 9/11 moment made her realize the true impact of the beloved sitcom.

Lisa Kudrow’s guest appearance on Ted Danson’s podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name, the Friends alum spoke about how the fame an actress experiences can be fleeting and is not a reflection of a person’s worth. In fact, she said she was used to downplaying her sitcom fame in her personal life, but said she had a realization in her car shortly after the September 11th attacks happened.

It’s clear that when America was going through an uncertain time, Friends was a unifying factor. In fact, according to The New York Times, Season 8 of NBC’s must-see TV show was maybe going to be the last due to the ratings dropping and allegations NBC didn’t have the money for another season due to the infamous bloated Friends salaries, not to mention competition from CBS' then behemoth Survivor.

After 9/11 happened, there seemed to be a creative spark with the show due to plotlines like Monica and Chandler's wedding and Rachel getting pregnant. Ratings increased by 17% and all of those excuses not to renew the show were no longer important.

Kudrow continued to tell Danson the car moment was when it "hit" her that what she was doing on TV wasn't just for a barrel of laughs. It honestly meant so much more to a lot of people.

The Emmy Award-winning series was clearly here at a time when audiences needed it the most. Each episode gave an excuse for fans to laugh their heads off and redirect their attention towards something happy. Even though Lisa Kudrow has had plenty of TV and film projects since the series ended, she has said fans still call her Phoebe and think of her as the character years later, so that legacy has lived on and on. As Kudrow’s musical, free-spirited character made her a household name for over a decade, I really don't think you can blame fans for thinking of Kudrow as the character.

An emotional 9/11 moment taught Lisa Kudrow the importance her show Friends had on an audience who needed an excuse to laugh and feel good after tragedy fell on The World Trade Center. Years later, we’re lucky to have so many classic TV shows that can give our mental health a positive boost when we need it.

It's impossible for me to imagine a world in which Lisa Kudrow doesn't play Phoebe Buffay on Friends. Hell, even the actress' friends still refer to her as "Phoebe." So it's wild to think there could've been a reality in which she never had the role. Strangely enough, it took losing a big part on Frasier and signing on for Mad About You for her to get the big break that solidified her legacy within the history of primetime TV.

Lisa Kudrow was recently a guest on the Smartless podcast, where she revealed that she was originally part of the cast of Frasier (which is currently available to stream with a Hulu subscription). The series originally cast her to play Frasier Crane's producer Roz, another iconic TV role that ultimately went to actress Perri Gilpin. Kudrow's comments about losing the gig suggest that she has no ill will about what went down, based on her agreeing that Gilpin should've earned it:

Based on the fact the Frasier revival will see Gilpin to return for more episodes amid Season 2, I'd say the show made the right call. That's based on the fact that the producers would want the fan-favorite actress to reprise her role decades later. This decision, however, left Lisa Kudrow without what would've been a massive gig, and she subsequently had to look for work where she could find it.

Fortunately, an opportunity arrived via Mad About You, as the casting directors were looking for an actress to do a five-episode guest role titled "Waitress." The Comeback actress talked about returning to the series after a previous guest spot, and how her agent advised against it:

Lisa Kudrow went ahead and nabbed the roles anyway, mainly because it was the best show offer she'd received, and she wasn't in a position to say no. The role led to more appearances, and a connection that might've helped Kudrow ultimately land her iconic Friends role.

Mad About You producer Jeffrey Klarik ultimately suggested Lisa Kudrow for the role of Phoebe to Friends creator David Crane and, after an audition, the job was hers. Ironically enough, her audition was held in front of director James Burrows, the same person who requested she be fired from Frasier after seeing her as Roz on the pilot.

The rest is TV history, and fans now know Phoebe for playing a big role on some of the most ridiculous episodes of Friends and some of the sweeter ones as well. For years, Lisa Kudrow couldn't watch her own episodes but has slowly been rewatching the sitcom after the untimely passing of her former co-star Matthew Perry. While the reasons for her watching now are sad, it's good to hear she can watch her performances, considering the wild ride it took for her to land that career-changing role. My head is still spinning over the thought of a world in which she might've never landed the job, and I'm glad everything worked out as it did!

Friends is available to stream with a Max subscription and, even now, the classic show makes for a great watch whenever you have downtime. Throw on an episode or two while looking at what else is coming down the pipeline on the 2024 TV schedule.

While it’s been 20 years since Friends ended, the comedy still remains a favorite to this day and is arguably one of the best sitcoms of all time. There are so many memorable elements about the series, from the most ridiculous episodes to the opening credits. Despite the cast making it look like they were having the time of their lives, however, Lisa Kudrow recently revealed filming with the fountain was anything but a joy worth clapping at.

Throughout Friends’ 10-season run, the non-episodic bits from the opening sequence did not change, though the clips that were mixed in changed with the seasons. As such, the umbrellas and dancing and fountain fun have remained an iconic part of the series. But as Kudrow told Conan O'Brien on his podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, it was actually quite a rough experience for her. In her words:

Considering they were filming at night and were covered in water, it definitely makes sense why this isn't the coziest memory. Add on the fact that they were presumably filming all this for hours. Still, even knowing the details involved, it's still surprising to know just how horrible it actually was.

It can certainly be hard to keep up one's energy for something like that, but luckily, there was at least one thing that kept them all going. Kudrow admitted that Matthew Perry had a funny response when they all found out they were going to be doing at least one more take:

It’s not surprising to hear that Perry brought all the laughs when everyone likely just wanted to go home at that point. Knowing that their smiles are (likely) genuinely because of him in the opening sequence makes it all the more better. It also shows just how alike Perry and Chandler Bing really were, because just going off of some of Chandler’s hilarious quotes, his comedic timing couldn’t be better.

Jennifer Aniston also previously shared her take on dancing in a fountain for the opening sequence. In 2016, Aniston shared how she felt about the Friends theme song, admitting that “no one was really a big fan” of it and they felt “odd” dancing in a fountain, but went along with it because they were told to. It might have not been the best way to do the opening sequence, but at least it’s a memorable one, even if the band had to split up because of its popularity.

Those with a Max subscription can rewatch Friends, and instead of skipping the intro, they can watch it as much as they want. No matter how many times it’s played and how many times you’ve listened to it, it will never get old. Plus, now hearing the story behind the opening sequence and just what it was really like will make viewing it a different experience.

Lisa Kudrow may be best known for playing Phoebe Buffay on Friends, but her latest project has her tackling a different classic — one of the best time travel movies, Terry Gilliam's fantasy adventure Time Bandits. The 1981 movie has been reimagined as a new Apple TV+ series and comes from the brilliant minds of Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris. Ahead of its July 24 premiere on the 2024 TV schedule, Kudrow sat down with CinemaBlend to talk about the series, and she said working with the talented trio was “heaven.”

Taika Waititi has made some truly wonderful television over the past few years, producing series like What We Do in the Shadows, Reservation Dogs and Our Flag Means Death. Now he’s tackling the adventures of the rag-tag group of thieves — led by Lisa Kudrow’s Penelope — who travel through time and space, begrudgingly picking up an 11-year-old history buff along the way. When our own Nick Venable asked Kudrow what it was like to work with Waititi and Clement on Time Bandits, she said:

That really does sound like the ideal situation for an actor. The Friends veteran enjoyed that Time Bandits was a collaborative effort, where the actors were given the space to experiment but also could lean on the comedic expertise of the creators. The actress continued:

Lisa Kudrow clearly had a lot of trust in the people around her, and having seen the first couple of episodes of Time Bandits (available to stream now with an Apple TV+ subscription), it’s funny to hear her specifically mention the way Penelope talks to Kevin (relative newcomer Kal-El Tuck in a wonderfully precocious role). The pre-teen proves to be as helpful to the bandits as he is disapproving of their plight, which leads to some hilarious exchanges between Kudrow and Tuck’s characters.

The trio behind the Time Bandits series and Lisa Kudrow have all proven themselves in the comedy world, and the synergy that she described between the cast and crew makes it sound like it was a great situation for all involved.

The first two episodes of Time Bandits’s 10-episode first season are streaming now on Apple TV+ — one of the best streaming services to subscribe to — with two new episodes dropping each Wednesday.

Friends remains one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. Not only was it incredibly popular when it aired, but reruns and streaming have given the show another life for younger generations. So many people have watched the entire series over and again, but Lisa Kudrow apparently was previously not one of them. Despite playing Phoebe for ten years on the NBC comedy show, Kudrow avoided watching the series herself. However, this changed after Matthew Perry’s tragic passing last year.

Matthew Perry was one of the highlights of Friends. His character, Chandler, was easily one of the funniest on the show, always piping in with sarcastic comments and quippy jokes. After Perry passed away in 2023, many fans revisited his hilarious performance on the series and the goofy spirit that he brought to the show. This was the same for Kudrow, who told the titular host of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend that while she steered away from the show for many years, Perry’s death made her revisit Friends herself. She said:

Many actors don’t like watching their own performances, so it’s not abnormal for Kudrow to want to avoid watching herself play Phoebe. Actors tend to be critical of their own work, and watching it may ignite feelings of self-consciousness. But after Perry passed, Kudrow seems to have a different perspective, as she was primarily watching for her late friend, instead of herself. She has opened up previously about rewatching Friends, and the emotions that come with it. The show, in a lot of ways, acts like a time capsule for the period, and revisiting the show keeps Perry’s spirit alive, and the humor he brought into the world.

While Conan O’Brien wasn’t a member of the Friends cast himself, he is a good friend of Lisa Kudrow’s and was during the time that the show was airing. He remembered a phone conversation he had with the actress when she first started working on the show, and how Kudrow immediately thought Perry was incredibly funny. O’Brien said:

O’Brien is a comedic legend himself, so there was no need for any jealousy, but this just goes to show that Perry’s sense of humor shined from the moment people met him. It’s a big reason that people watch the show over and over, and the actor is so well remembered. The Friends cast was incredibly close, and it’s wonderful that rewatching Friends gives them the ability to celebrate Perry’s life, and the memories they shared during the 10 year period. Perry’s death gives revisiting the show a whole new meaning, showcasing the incredible talent the actor shared with the world.

You can revisit Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, and the rest of the cast of Friends by binging the series now, as it is currently available for Max subscribers. For more information on other work from Perry, make sure to check out our feature on the best movies and TV shows starring the Chandler actor.

Lisa Kudrow is gearing up to deliver a TV character like no others in her successful career thus far, as she’ll be leading a roving band of time-traveling thieves for the upcoming Apple TV+ series remake of Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits. Of course, no matter how many TV shows or movies she takes part in, a certain part of the population will always see her as Friends’ most left-of-center regular Phoebe. And it’s not just everyday fans, but A-listers as well.

Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! opposite this week’s guest host Anthony Anderson, Kudrow was immediately asked about still answering to her Friends character name despite the fact that two decades have passed since one of the best sitcoms ever closed down the Central Perk for the last time. After her initial “OMG” seemingly made it clear that the mistake is not a rare occurrence, the actress shared a fun story involving The Lost City and Bullet Train’s Sandra Bullock. As Kudrow put it:

Lisa Kudrow beamed the entire time she was telling the story, implying she was downright tickled by the fact that a fellow Hollywood mainstay slipped and failed to use her real name. At this point, I'm pretty sure I would have called Bullock by the name Annie, in reference to her character in Speed, one of my all-time favorite action movies. And then I would have pitched some kind of buddy comedy with Phoebe and Annie. And then somebody would have been like, "Why is this guy here?"

As for the actual conversation, the Friends vet said she didn't have to say anything, and that Bullock clocked the mistake as it happened. In her words:

I'm sure there are times when being called by the wrong name can be annoying, with a lot depending on the person making the mistake. But I'm willing to bet that Sandra Bullock ranks low on the list of annoyances in any respect.

Lisa Kudrow also addressed another element of her Friends past recently when reflecting on her allegedly negative reactions to studio audience laughter. The actress said her issue was only when those present at the episode tapings were too overzealous and laughed so long that they stepped on other jokes and follow-up dialogue.

Check out Kudrow telling her Bullock story below!

Most Friends fans won’t ever need to worry about differentiating between the actors’ names and their character monikers, but everyone can share the enjoyment of streaming the NBC classic with a Max subscription, which is also where fans can stream both seasons of her cringe classic The Comeback.

And don’t forget to check out Lisa Kudrow in a brand new role when Time Bandits debuts for streamers with Apple TV+ subscriptions on Wednesday, July 24. And given that the movie is among the best time travel movies out there, there’s nothing wrong with rewatching that ahead of time.

There are few sitcoms more beloved by more people than Friends. The hilarious series about a group of young New Yorkers is a classic that continues to be a staple among audiences, even two decades after the finale. But the way the Friends cast filmed the series apparently didn’t particularly amuse Lisa Kudrow from time to time. At least that’s what Jennifer Aniston previously claimed… and her co-star has now refuted. Let’s get into it!

Jennifer Aniston’s Claim About Lisa Kudrow And The Friends Live Audience 

When Jennifer Aniston spoke to Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson last month for an Actors on Actors interview, they got into Friends, including through a "happy tear" moment when the actress remembered the late Matthew Perry following his passing last year. While talking to one another, they started discussing the process of Friends being filmed as a multicam series with a studio audience on-set with them at Warner Bros. Studios. As Aniston noted:

The tidbit came up while Brunson was talking about how Friends did a great job of playing to the format because the cast handled the series like a play rather than saying a punchline and pausing for audience laughter in between jokes.

How Lisa Kudrow Clarified Her Comments

When Lisa Kudrow recently spoke to Entertainment Tonight, the fellow core Friends cast member spoke to Aniston’s comments. In her words:

It’s understandable! Imagine being an excited fan of Friends and getting the chance to see the cast record an episode in front of you. You might end up cracking up with more intensity than you would watching it on TV. While Kudrow wouldn’t say she “hated” the live audience, she did get “irritated” by them laughing too much at one joke when she had more lines to say in a scene. If you’ve seen Friends, you know what she’s talking about. Sometimes there’s someone who is laughing profusely, leading one of the cast members to have to disrupt their rhythm before saying something else that’s funny.

Friends, which is currently streaming for those with a Max subscription, belongs to an decreasingly popular format of television called the multi-camera sitcom. Other famous shows like The Golden Girls, Cheers, I Love Lucy, and Seinfeld contributed to the format. These days multicam shows are a rarity, but certainly do still exist – such as with ABC’s The Connors and Fox’s (admittedly short-lived) Call Me Kat.

Lisa Kudrow’s latest series, Time Bandits, is certainly not a multicam sitcom. It’s a adventure-driven comedy premiering on AppleTV+ on July 24.

How does a person go about becoming a comedy legend? Well, one good way to begin your journey is studying the art with the Los Angeles-based improv and sketch comedy troupe, The Groundlings, which has proven to be a breeding ground for many of the funniest people you have ever heard of, including quite a few Saturday Night Live cast members. Take a look at some of the most esteemed Groundlings alumni who went on to rule at Studio 8H or elsewhere.

Maya Rudolph

In an op-ed for Oprah.com, Maya Rudolph described The Groundlings as her “graduate school,” where she “ate, slept, and drank improv and sketch comedy” for four years, and even learned how to use her singing voice for comedic purposes. That skill would come in handy for her impersonations of musicians like Beyoncé and, arguably, the actor’s single funniest SNL sketch in which she takes far too long (and explores various vocal ranges) to sing the National Anthem at the World Series.

Paul Reubens

The world would have never been blessed with the iconic Pee-wee Herman if not for the Groundlings, which is where the late Paul Reubens first developed the fun-loving man-child in the 1970s. The character was actually a collaborative effort with future SNL star and fellow member Phil Hartman, who also worked with Reubens and others on the screenplay for 1985’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.

Will Forte

Will Forte told Diablo magazine that, after feeling miserable at his job as a financial broker, he changed his career path by joining The Groundlings in the early 1990s. Around a decade later, he was invited to be on SNL, where he specialized in some really weird sketches like “Spelling Bee” and “Potato Chip.”

Melissa McCarthy

While never a cast member, Melissa McCarthy went on to become known as one of the best SNL hosts in the show’s history. The Academy Award nominee earned her sketch comedy chops while a part of the Groundlings, which is also where she developed the character she played in 2016’s The Boss.

Phil Hartman

In the same year SNL started, the late, great Phil Hartman was preparing for his own tenure on the series at The Groundlings. It was more than a decade later, in 1986, when he would finally become part of the cast, working the magic he learned taking classes with the troupe.

Lisa Kudrow

Years before playing Phoebe Buffay in the Friends cast made her a star, Lisa Kudrow was part of The Groundlings, studying improv under teacher Cynthia Szigeti. She was also part of a short-lived troupe called Unexpected Company with Conan O’Brien and was the only female member of the Transformer Comedy Troupe for a while. 

Ana Gasteyer

During her six years on SNL, Ana Gasteyer mastered multiple characters — such as Bobbie Mohan-Culp — and spot-on celebrity portrayals, from Martha Stewart to Celine Dion. The Happiest Season cast member developed her impeccable sense of humor while performing with The Groundlings.

Tim Matheson

Two-time Emmy nominee Tim Matheson is not thought of as a comedic actor these days but, lest we forget, one of his earlier major roles was Otter in National Lampoon’s Animal House. Before then, he was learning how to be a comedic actor by studying improv under The Groundlings.

Kristen Wiig

Many of Kristen Wiig’s funniest quotes originated from her time at Saturday Night Live. However, she spoke most of those lines while portraying characters that really date back to her time with The Groundlings, such as Target Lady and harsh movie critic, Aunt Linda.

Craig T. Nelson

Despite plenty of roles that are not much to laugh at — such as Steve Freeling in Poltergeist or Jack Mannion on The District — Craig T. Nelson can also put down “Emmy-winning sitcom star” on his resume for playing Hayden Fox on Coach. His comedic chops do make more sense when you learn that the Incredibles star actually would break into the business performing stand-up and became a Groundlings members in the troupe’s early days.

Will Ferrell

Improvisational comedy would become a staple of Will Ferrell’s post-SNL career, as many of the funniest lines from his most famous movies — including Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby — are largely ad-libbed. The actor would develop this skill while performing with The Groundlings, which he joined in 1994 — only a year before being invited to audition for SNL producer Lorne Michaels.

Cassandra Peterson

You may know Cassandra Peterson better as Elvira, a character whom the actor would portray when presenting midnight movies on TV or in her own cult favorite movies. Peterson’s creation of the “mistress of the dark” originates from her time with The Groundlings, where she developed a “Valley Girl-esque” character who would later evolve into the “horror host” we all know and love.

Jon Lovitz

Most of the SNL characters that Jon Lovitz is most famous for — such as the self-obsessed Master Thespian and pathological liar Tommy Flanagan — actually never originated at Studio 8H. The actor and comedian first developed them when he was part of the Groundlings, which is also where he met his friend and collaborator, Phil Hartman.

Kathy Griffin

After seeing a live performance of The Groundlings, a then-19-year-old Kathy Griffin knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. She went on to join the troupe in the early 1990s before pursuing stand-up and becoming a more prominent figure with appearances in movies like Pulp Fiction and her Emmy-winning reality show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.

Laraine Newman

Being a part of the Not-Ready-For-Primetime Players in SNL’s infancy and portraying characters like Connie Conehead made Laraine Newman a comedy icon, but her prior background before hitting Studio 8H is particularly astonishing. After studying miming under Marcel Marceau in Paris in 1970, she became a founding member of The Groundlings when she moved to Los Angeles.

Jennifer Coolidge

Jennifer Coolidge’s road to becoming a renowned comedy icon has been a long one, having made her screen acting debut on Seinfeld in the early 1990s before playing “Stifler’s Mom” in the American Pie movies and winning two Emmy Awards for her role in HBO’s The White Lotus cast. At one point, she had the chance to perfect her skills as part of The Groundlings, whom she performed with for nearly a decade.

Chris Parnell

Before his memorable, eight-year tenure on SNL, Chris Parnell made his breakthrough into the business in the early ‘90s performing improv with The Groundlings for a number of years. These days, the actor is best recognized for his voice, which is also the voice of Cyril on Archer and Jerry on Rick and Morty.

Pat Morita

It may come as a surprise to some that, before his Academy Award-nominated role as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid movies made him an icon, Pat Morita got his start as a stand-up comedian. The L.A. native was even part of The Groundlings in the 1970s, around the time he landed his recurring role as Arnold on Happy Days.

Chris Kattan

Following in the footsteps of his father, Kip King, Chris Kattan became part of The Groundlings, which is how he met Will Ferrell and, with him, created the characters who came to be known as “the Butabi brothers” during their time there. Later, they both wound up at SNL where they introduced the dim-witting club-goers to the mainstream, earned their own SNL movie (A Night at the Roxbury), and the rest is history. 

Phil LaMarr

Phil LaMarr is best known for his brief role in Pulp Fiction, his extensive voice acting career, and for becoming an original cast member on the hit sketch comedy series, Mad TV, where he played characters like Jaq the UBS Guy. Early on, however, the actor was actually part of a few different comedy troupes, including The Groundlings and Second City.

Cheri Oteri

One of the most talented members of the SNL cast during the mid-to-late ‘90s was Cheri Oteri, who is probably best known as Spartan cheerleader, Arianna. She was given the opportunity to join the sketch comedy series while she was part of The Groundlings, with whom she is still known to perform on occasion.

Mikey Day

Performing improv with The Groundlings led Mikey Day to become an original regular cast member on Nick Cannon’s improv comedy show, Wild ’n Out, on MTV in 2005. By 2013 — having acted and written in several other projects — he became a valued member of the SNL cast and its writing staff, for which he, Bobby Moynihan, and Seidell created the sketch that introduced the world to David S. Pumpkins, as played by Tom Hanks.

Heidi Gardner

Missouri native Heidi Gardner was working as a hairstylist in L.A. when she attended a performance by The Groundlings and became inspired to pursue acting. After working her way up in the ranks at the troupe and landing voice acting gigs, she was hired on SNL in 2017 and quickly became known as one of the show’s most dynamic performers.

Michael McDonald

The MVP at Mad TV has to be Michael McDonald (not to be confused with the musician), whose early days in comedy included performing improv with The Groundlings. In fact — as he recalled on Comedy Central’s This Is Not Happening — Academy Award winner Faye Dunaway saw him at one of his shows with the troupe and enlisted his help in honing her comedy skills.

Julia Sweeney

Julia Sweeney’s most iconic contribution to Saturday Night Live is her role as a person of indeterminant gender known only as Pat. She would first invent the character — who later inspired a movie called It’s Pat in 1994 — while performing with the Groundlings, along with other famous characters of her own — including Mea Culpa.

Jim Rash

Jim Rash is one of the most accomplished comedy talents of his time, having stolen the show from his fellow Community cast members as Dean Craig Pelton and earned an Academy Award alongside his longtime writing partner Nat Faxon, for penning the screenplay for Alexander Payne’s 2011 adaptation of The Descendants. Rash actually first met Faxon while both of them were performing with The Groundlings in the early 2000s.

Taran Killam

Even before Taran Killam joined The Groundlings, he was already well-versed in show business — having made his acting debut in The Naked Gun 33-1/3: The Final Insult, becoming a major presence on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show and even joining Mad TV for 2001-2002 season. In fact, it was not until two years after he was hired on SNL in 2010 that he officially retired from The Groundlings’ main company.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

Nearly a decade after joining The Groundlings in 2002, Wendi McLendon-Covey collaborated with fellow troupe veterans of Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Melissa McCarthy as part of the Bridesmaids cast in 2011. Just a couple of years later, the comedian would begin to earn raves for her leading role in the hit ABC sitcom, The Goldbergs.

Michaela Watkins

Despite earning acclaim for her unique characters — most notably tech whiz Angie Tempura —  and hilarious celebrity impersonations of Barbara Walters, Hoda Kotb, and more, Michaela Watkins ended up lasting only one year at SNL before she was let go in 2009. At least her career since has proven to be very successful — let alone the fact that she can say she was a regular performer with The Groundlings for several years.

Jillian Bell

While she never made it on Saturday Night Live as a cast member, Jillian Bell did write for the show during its 35th Season, before going on to appear in Bridesmaids and star in the likes of Workaholics, 22 Jump Street, and Brittany Runs a Marathon. Years before those career milestones, the actor joined The Groundlings soon after moving to Los Angeles. 

Edie McClurg

Multi-generational audiences should recognize Edie McClurg from the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off cast as Ed Rooney’s assistant, Grace, who referred to Matthew Broderick’s title character as a “righteous dude.” Said famous line was actually an ad-lib, which should come as no surprise to anyone who knows her history with The Groundlings, which she performed with in the 1970s.

Tim Bagley

Tim Bagley is a comedian known best for his many notable recurring roles on series like Will & Grace and Monk. He first broke into the industry in the late 1980s as a performer for The Groundlings, whom he continues to perform with from time to time.

Whether or not you end up on SNL or even do something greater, The Groundlings is a great place for aspiring comedic actors to get started.

As the investigation into the death of Matthew Perry remains ongoing, the actor’s longtime Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow is remembering the good times. She recently shared that she has been rewatching the beloved comedy series in honor of the late actor, and she has a lot of sweet things to say about the sitcom in retrospect.

Kudrow played Phoebe Buffay alongside Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing for 10 seasons and 236 episodes of Friends. Here’s what Kudrow recently said about how she’s looking back at her friend:

Kudrow got to experience all our favorite Friends moments in real-time, but now she is getting the chance to see the episodes we’ve seen over and over, and perhaps attach to those episodes that really made us Matthew Perry fans. While Lisa Kudrow spoke to THR about her time watching one of the best sitcoms, she also said this:

I don’t know what’s more embarrassing, Kudrow watching her work in one of the best sitcoms of all time, or me wanting to rewatch the whole series (probably for the 20th time) with my Max subscription? While many of us can’t say we have hours and hours of recordings of a decade of our life to look back on, I’m sure many of us would spend some time looking back on it if we did.

It’s sweet to hear Kudrow is returning to Friends following the death of Matthew Perry, who sadly was on the list of actors we lost in 2023. He died back in October at the age of 54 from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine. This week, the law enforcement looking into his death told People the investigation is “nearing its conclusion” and believes “multiple people” should be charged for the actor’s death.

Following the Friends finale in 2004, the core cast has remained close. Jennifer Aniston even said that she was texting Perry the morning of his death. When speaking about his memory, Lisa Kudrow shared this as well:

Despite the sadness that comes with knowing that the Friends cast will never be completely reunited again and Perry’s life was cut too short, the actor certainly has left behind an incredible legacy, between Friends and being an advocate for others who struggled with addiction like he did.

Lisa Kudrow’s words about Matthew Perry came as the actress stars in a new series called Time Bandits created by Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris. The fantasy adventure series premieres on the 2024 TV schedule for those with an Apple TV+ subscription on July 24.

Everybody's got their favorite Friends character when it comes to Ross Gellar, Rachel Green, Chandler Bing, Monica Gellar, Phoebe Buffay and Joey Tribbiani. But what about the dozens of other people who came in and out of their lives over the NBC Must See TV show's 10 seasons? Here are 32 side characters from one of the best sitcoms of all time that we still love today:

Janice Litman-Goralnik

Oh. My. God! Chandler's on-off girlfriend Janice Litman-Goralnik (Maggie Wheeler) was nothing short of iconic, and despite all the cute moments Chandler and Monica blessed us with in Friends' later seasons, there is still a contingency of the fandom that thinks he and Janice should have been endgame. 

Carol Willick

Things weren't always easy for Ross (David Schwimmer) and his ex-wife Carol Willick (Jane Sibbett), as the series opened with them navigating not just their divorce, but their unexpected pregnancy and her new relationship. However, they continued to be there for each other when needed — Ross walking Carol down the aisle at her wedding, for instance — and we couldn't help but love her too.

Julie

The six Friends had a lot of girlfriends come and go over the years, but poor Julie (Lauren Tom) was simply a victim of bad timing. She came back into Ross' life just as Rachel was finally reciprocating his years-long crush on her. Julie was never anything but sweet and kind, but nobody could have stood in the way of Ross and Rachel finally getting together.

Richard Burke

Tom Selleck was one of Friends' best guest stars, playing Richard Burke, Monica's fan-favorite Season 2 boyfriend. Forget the fact that he was 21 years older and her dad's best friend. He still fit in just fine with Monica's close-knit friend group, even if Joey and Chandler did see him more as a father figure. Their breakup because Richard didn't want to have more children was truly heartbreaking.

Gunther

No one will ever forget Gunther, the Central Perk barista with hair brighter than the sun. James Michael Tyler stood mostly quietly behind the counter for an impressive 162 episodes, secretly pining for Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) the entire time.

Frank Jr.

Phoebe's half-brother Frank Jr. (Giovanni Ribisi) really seemed to prove which side of the family her wacky personality came from. Frank Jr. was hard to rein in, but he had so much love for his sister, and you can't help but smile at how enthusiastic he was to be having triplets with his wife Alice. Because he never had a dad around, and "now I always will, 'cause, you know, it'll be me!"  

Marcel The Monkey

It was certainly a unique choice of Friends to bring in a pet monkey for Ross. Marcel, who was actually a capuchin named Katie, was a hilarious companion to the newly divorced character in the first season. To this day can Friends fans even hear "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" without thinking of Marcel?

Ugly Naked Guy

It may be strange to love a character whose face we never saw, but Ugly Naked Guy provided quite a few comedic moments for the gang watching him from Monica's apartment.

Rhonda

Sherri Shepherd has said she loved guest starring on Friends as Rhonda, a museum employee who helped Matt LeBlanc's Joey (a new tour guide) navigate the lunchtime situation. Just as Joey was hurt that Ross chose to sit with the other scientists rather than him, we can all understand why Rhonda called out Peter, a fellow employee she'd known since grade school, for the same thing. After all, she shared her pudding with him. She gave him her Snack Pack!

Sandra Green

Marlo Thomas made a few appearances over the years as Rachel's mother Sandra Green, and she was at her best when she was marveling at the life her daughter had created. Sandra had never had to take care of herself, and she admired Rachel for being brave enough to not go through with a wedding to a man she didn't love.

Jack Gellar

Who was more lovable than Ross and Monica's dad Jack? The character, played by Elliott Gould, may have still shown a little favoritism toward Ross, but Jack clearly had a soft spot for his little Harmonica. Fans continue to love him for his musings on being buried at sea, selling ice on the Internet and the sun-dried tomato business. Don't tell me your heart didn't melt when he went to check on Monica (Courteney Cox) after her breakup with Richard.

Estelle Leonard

Estelle Leonard, played by a heavily made-up June Gable, was not the most talented of talent agents, as Joey struggled as an actor possibly more than necessary over the years. However, her exaggerated New York accent and chain-smoking proclivities made for consistent laughs in an unforgettable role.

David

It's hard to believe Hank Azaria appeared in only three episodes as David, the scientist who was forced to move to Minsk (which is not in Russia) so soon after he and Phoebe fell in love. I wouldn't have been upset if she'd ended up with him.

Mike Hannigan

It's hard to argue against Mike Hannigan though. Paul Rudd played a pretty significant role in Seasons 9 and 10, as his character eventually married Phoebe. Mike didn't always understand Phoebe's unconventional ways, but he always allowed her to be herself, even if that meant changing his name to Crap Bag to prove a point to Princess Consuela Banana-Hammock.

Mr. Heckles

Anybody who's ever had a noisy upstairs neighbor can likely relate to Mr. Heckles. Larry Hankin's character was a bizarre one, indeed, as he spent his sporadic appearances either telling Monica and co. to keep it down or insisting that he could have a cat/play the oboe/have birds, etc. According to "The One With the Flashback," we also have Mr. Heckles to thank for Joey and Chandler becoming roommates!

Susan Bunch

Susan Bunch gets a bad rap on Friends, and I honestly don't get it. We all know that Ross was kind of the worst, and nobody got the brunt of his pettiness more than the woman Carol left him for. While their interactions were often strained, Susan was as understanding as possible of Ross' perspective, but she never allowed herself to be pushed aside, especially when it came to Carol or their son Ben, and I love that. 

Eddie

Man alive! Who didn't love this dehydrating maniac? Adam Goldberg played Eddie, Chandler's roommate when Joey temporarily moved into his own place. Eddie didn't always have a strong grasp on reality, and there was really nothing creepier than finding out he liked to sneak into Chandler's room to watch him sleep, but Eddie sure was an amazing character who fans continue to love to this day.

Ursula Buffay

The character of Ursula Buffay originated on Mad About You, with Friends creating Phoebe as her identical twin to justify Lisa Kudrow's appearance on both NBC series. Ursula was the "evil twin" of sorts, just as flighty as Phoebe but with none of the warmth. She was still a heck of a lot of fun to watch.

Leonard Green

It was interesting to get to meet Rachel's dad Leonard Green (Ron Leibman), the man who spoiled his three daughters so shamelessly, but the best part about this character was how ruthless he could be, particularly toward Ross. "Nice hair. What'd you do, swim here?" Classic.

Nora Bing

Like many of the Friends characters, Chandler had a loving but complicated relationship with his mom Nora Bing (Morgan Fairchild), particularly because of her line of work writing erotic novels. But how fun was it for his friends to be able to meet the woman who wrote page 79 of Mistress B... well, never mind.

Jill Green

If there's one thing we learned about Rachel's sisters on Friends, it's that they're used to getting what they want. Reese Witherspoon was a joy to watch as Jill Green, who easily manipulated everyone around her, even dating Ross for no other reason than to prove to Rachel that she could. After all, the only thing she can't have is dairy!

Erica The Birth Mother

Erica (played by Anna Faris) wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, but she made the process of Monica and Chandler adopting her twins extremely easy for them, despite the fact that they lied to her about their identities during their first meeting.

Erika The Obsessed Fan

Brooke Shields went way over the top to play Erika, Joey's stalker who somehow didn't understand that his soap opera character Drake Ramoray didn't exist in the real world. Her hand-licking scene lives in infamy, and who didn't love watching her throw water in Joey's face after she saw him kissing another character on Days of Our Lives? 

Paul Stevens

Things could have gotten all kinds of weird when Rachel started dating Paul Stevens (Bruce Willis), the father of Ross' girlfriend Elizabeth. Oh, and they definitely did get weird, but one can't blame Paul for giving himself that mirror pep talk before he continued his romantic weekend with Rachel. Everybody needs a little reminder that they're a neat guy (and a love machine).

Parker

Alec Baldwin guest-starred as Phoebe's date Parker in Season 8, and how could you not love how excited he got about every little thing? The brake lights were "aglow with the light of a thousand fairies!" The Long Island Expressway was "a concrete miracle!" Parker, I just want to take a mental picture of you ... click!

Pete Becker

Who hasn't dreamed of being pursued by a multi-millionaire? Jon Favreau guest-starred in six episodes as Pete Becker, and I can't even be mad that he tried to woo Monica by leaving $20,000 tips and whisking her away to Rome for pizza on their first date. Too bad their relationship couldn't withstand Pete's dream of becoming the Ultimate Fighting Champion.

Amy Green

While Rachel's sister Jill was defined by her manipulative personality, Amy Green was the very definition of self-centered. Christina Applegate's character couldn't be bothered to learn anyone's name (even Rachel's daughter Emma), constantly mistook Ross for a guy who worked at the falafel stand and somehow still thought she would get custody of Emma if something happened to Ross and Rachel. Talk about a character you loved to hate!

Judy Gellar

Christina Pickles appeared 19 times in Friends' 10 seasons as Monica and Ross' mom Judy, and while the micro-aggressions she hurled at Monica were pretty brutal, it was downright hilarious to see what aspect of her daughter's life she would nit-pick next: The un-fluffed pillow? The "easy" lasagna she made for dinner? Still not having a boyfriend? It was a lot, but it was relatable to a lot of Friends viewers.

Mr. Treeger

Sure, Mr. Treeger made Rachel cry that one time, but he wasn't exactly wrong in calling her out for being spoiled. As far as building superintendents go Michael G. Hagerty's character was a pretty nice one, not evicting Monica from the apartment she was apparently living in illegally. He also had a great storyline where he learned to dance so he could impress a woman he liked at the Super Ball.

Alice Knight

If you can get past the age difference between Frank Jr. and his wife Alice Knight (Debra Jo Rupp), and the fact that he was her student (her BEST student, obviously), the love between them was so undeniable. In pretty much all of their appearances together, they couldn't keep their hands off of each other, and that's one of the things that made Alice such a great side character.

Charlie Wheeler

Ross and Joey each had a lot of girlfriends over the series' 10 seasons, and they both dated Aisha Tyler's Charlie Wheeler. One can certainly see how they'd both be attracted to her, as she was brilliant, beautiful and pretty funny too. Frankly it was also nice to see a Black character with a major storyline.

Kathy

It's a little surprising that Kathy is so beloved by Friends fans, given the fact that she ultimately cheated on both Joey and Chandler. But the Joey situation was just unfortunate, because he was dating other people too, and Paget Brewster's on-screen chemistry with Matthew Perry was simply electric. I join many other Friends fans in wishing she and Chandler had lasted longer ... and ended differently.

Friends may have aired its final episode decades ago, but you know what they say: I'll be there for you, and that includes all of the beloved side characters that we met along the way. You can revisit any of your favorite episodes and guest stars, as all 10 seasons are available to stream with a Max subscription.

This year is a big one for the cast of Friends, as they celebrate 30 years since one of the best sitcoms of all time premiered on NBC. The milestone is especially poignant as it comes a year after losing one of the six leads, with Matthew Perry’s death in October 2023. Just the mention of the show was enough to bring Jennifer Aniston to tears in a recent interview, but she insisted it was a happy cry, as she recalled the day Friends premiered, when she and Perry played a prank on Lisa Kudrow. 

Jennifer Aniston Gets Emotional Thinking About Friends 

Jennifer Aniston sat down with Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, and the two talked about their respective hit sitcoms. At a producer’s suggestion that Brunson ask Aniston what it’s like to watch Friends now, Aniston immediately became emotional. Brunson asked her if she wanted to take a minute, but she insisted she was OK. Aniston said: 

The actress, who played Rachel Green on the Must See TV series alongside a main cast that also included Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, seemed overwhelmed by the emotion, and it’s impossible to know what memory specifically caused Jennifer Aniston to have such a reaction. 

This was far from the first time Friends memories have gotten to Jennifer Aniston, though. After Friends: The Reunion aired in 2021, she recalled that it was “so creepy” how everything on the set was exactly the same, and admitted that she had to walk out at certain points to gather herself. 

Matthew Perry And Jennifer Aniston Pranked Lisa Kudrow On Friends’ Premiere Day 

Jennifer Aniston said it was wild to think that it was 30 years ago when America first saw Rachel run into Central Perk, soaking wet in a wedding dress, because she remembers that day — September 22, 1994 — so clearly. She recalled: 

There is something so heart-warming about the fact that after everything that cast went through together over those 10 years and everything that’s happened in the two decades since the series finale, that prank from the day the show premiered is one of the memories that sticks out for Jennifer Aniston.

Friends remains a huge part of Jennifer Aniston’s life, for obvious reasons, as the sitcom maintains its popularity, even after 30 years. If you want to relive any of your favorite moments, all 10 seasons plus the reunion special can be streamed with a Max subscription. 

The Holocaust was Nazi Germany’s deliberate genocide of European Jews that left 6 million murdered. With millions of people affected by the Holocaust, there’s a good chance you or someone you know has family connections to those who passed away or those who survived during that devastating time. With a number of Jewish talents in Hollywood who you may have found in 2024 movie releases, many famous celebrities have shared the stories of their family ties with the Holocaust.

Steven Spielberg

American filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s connections to the Holocaust go way beyond the boundaries of his World War II movie, Schindler’s List. Aish reported that in the biography, Steven Spielberg: A Life in Films, Spielberg’s father lost an estimated sixteen to twenty relatives who were from the Ukraine and Poland. He recalled that his parents would educate the blockbuster filmmaker on the Holocaust through many dinner talks:

In fact, Spielberg’s exploration of the Holocaust came full circle when he courageously delved into its horrors in Schindler’s List. Arguably the best film of Spielberg's and one the best of the ‘90s, he told the true story of German industrialist Oskar Schindler, who saved more than a thousand Polish-Jewish refugees at the time. The Jurassic Park director wanted to make a movie “that would confirm my Judaism to my family and myself.” Beyond Schindler’s List, Spielberg is also the founder of the Shoah Foundation which archives testimonies of Holocaust survivors.

Mila Kunis

During the Nazi occupation in the Ukraine, where Mila Kunis was born, 900,000 Jews were murdered. While speaking to Britain’s The Sun in 2012, the That 70’s Show actress revealed that her grandparents were Holocaust survivors:

Kunis also made sure to mention that her upbringing in the Ukraine was not a pleasant one. She remembered seeing anti-Semitic graffiti in her school in Chernivtsi and her school friend going home crying after someone put a swastika sign on the back of her seat. The Black Swan actress made sure to mention that while Russians weren’t allowed to be religious after the Holocaust, her parents made sure to remind her of her roots:

Gene Simmons

Florence Klein, the mother of Kiss frontman and former Jingles celebrity judge, Gene Simmons, apparently almost never spoke to her son about her experiences in the Holocaust. But according to The Times of Israel, the Israeli-born musician got some answers by reaching out to a German newspaper about his mother two years after her death. 

On the 75th anniversary of the then-19-year-old Klein’s liberation at the Mauthausen camp, Simmons was given 100 pages of what happened to his mother during the Holocaust. Here was her statement to the former Restitution Office in Koblenz:

Klein was transferred to the Venusberg sub-camp of the Flossenburg concentration camp in January 1945 and then arrived at Mauthausen two months later. Simmons found his grandmother’s name, Ester Blau, in the documents that said she died in the Nazi gas chambers. While reading the documents, the “Detroit Rock City” singer discovered something else important about his mother:

Lisa Kudrow

In Lisa Kudrow’s celebrity genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?, she wanted to find answers to what her dad taught her growing up about their family ties with the Holocaust. The television star traveled to Minsk, Belarus for her episode, where she discovered almost the entire Jewish population of Belarus was murdered at the hands of Nazis. 

One of them was Kudrow’s great-grandmother, Meri Mordejovich, who was among Jewish citizens who were ordered to march to a storage building, forced to remove their clothes and enter the building where they were shot. The Nazis then threw oil on the walls and set the building on fire. According to Kvellar, here is the reaction the former Friends actress had in the episode: 

The one who broke the news at the time to Kudrow’s grandmother about Meri Mordejovich was their cousin, Yuri Barudin. Long believed to have died, the Easy A actress went on Ancestry.com to discover that Cousin Yuri was alive! Kudrow got to meet him and his grandchildren who then connected with her dad. 

Josh Gad

Known for his work in the Frozen series, which are two of the top-ranked Disney Animation movies, Josh Gad is the grandchild of Holocaust survivors. This year on Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Beauty and the Beast actor posted on Instagram a family photo with his grandparents who, during the Holocaust, were separated from their parents and put into concentration camps: 

At the end of Gad’s post, he delivers a powerful reminder about being two generations away from a world where Jews were targeted "for nothing more than their identity and faith." He concluded with a takeaway message we should all hold dear:

The families of each of these celebrities dealt with unspeakable tragedies during the Holocaust, but survived and showed resilience. Through each story told, A-listers help keep the memories of their ancestors alive. Each survivor’s story helps future generations understand the depths of the atrocities that occurred in the world.

Make sure to take a look at our streaming schedule so you’re updated on the latest movies and TV shows these celebrities are in.

It’s hard to believe that two full decades have passed since Matthew Perry spoke the final line on Friends — a joke about where the six core characters could go for a cup of coffee. As the 20th anniversary of “The Last One” approaches on May 6, it will be a bittersweet day, falling less than a year after Perry died at age 54. Sources say the surviving cast members still want to celebrate the milestone, and they are allegedly figuring out the most appropriate way to do that without their Chandler.

The six stars of Friends — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry — all came together on-screen just one time after the 2004 series finale, for Friends: The Reunion (available to stream with a Max subscription). The knowledge that they can never do that again is reportedly weighing on the actors as they approach that 20-year milestone. According to an insider for US Weekly:  

Matthew Perry delivered some of Friends’ most hilarious quotes as Chandler Bing, and just like the sitcom couldn’t have existed without the statistical analysis and data reconfiguration expert, a formal reunion to mark the finale’s 20th anniversary wouldn’t be the same without Perry. 

The cast, however, is still in touch with each other “frequently,” the source reports. They have group chats and will get together one-on-one, with Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox apparently being in “constant contact.” The insider said Matthew Perry’s October 2023 passing was a wakeup call for the other five friends, explaining: 

The fact that they have Friends to thank for their success and the relationships formed through that shared 10-year experience isn’t lost on them, and that’s why they “most certainly” will be commemorating the May 6 anniversary. The source continued: 

The Friends cast paid tribute to Matthew Perry with a touching message after his death, and it will be interesting to see how they decide to handle this first big milestone fpr the show. 

If you want to honor the late actor, you can check out some of Matthew Perry’s best movie and TV appearances or relive some of Chandler’s best episodes. All 10 seasons of the sitcom can be streamed on Max (one of the best streaming services to purchase, per CinemaBlend staffers). 

Friends aired for 10 years on NBC — from 1994 to 2004 — and during that time the world experienced a lot of change. Inarguably, one of the things that affected our country the most over the course of that decade was the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. 9/11 affected every facet of our lives at that time, from politics to entertainment, and not surprisingly, that included the sitcom Friends, which was set in New York City. Specifically, a Season 8 episode involving Chandler Bing and Monica Gellar’s honeymoon had to be retooled in the aftermath of that day. 

While Friends takes place in New York, the 9/11 attacks were not woven into the show as a storyline, but subtle steps were still taken to honor New York’s first responders and the nearly 3,000 people killed that day. The episode “The One Where Rachel Tells…” also went through major rewrites due to jokes that many would not have found humorous at that time of our lives. Let’s take a look at what the script originally had in store and how it was altered to what we ultimately saw on TV. 

How Chandler And Monica’s Honeymoon Plot Was Changed After 9/11 

In the Season 8 episode that aired October 11, 2001 — exactly one month after the tragic attacks — Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) set off on their honeymoon. At the airport they encounter another newly married couple who are upgraded to the last first class seats (complete with access to the exclusive first class lounge) because they’re on their honeymoon. Chandler and Monica are bested again when they reach their destination, and the other couple are given the honeymoon suite, basically for arriving just seconds ahead of the newlywed Bings.

Later in the episode, Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow) and Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) call Monica, lying to say there was a gas leak in her apartment in order to justify them busting down her door. This story would turn out to be relevant to the original story as well.

As originally written, there is no second couple. Chandler and Monica get the upgrade to first class; however, they never make it onto the plane to enjoy it. In that scene that never aired, Chandler — who is responsible for some of Friends’ most hilarious quotes — reads a sign that says jokes about aircraft hijacking or bombs are strictly prohibited, and then promptly tells a member of airport security: 

When pleading his case, Chandler proceeds to tell the authorities that their issue should be with the guy who has bombs, not the guy who jokes about bombs, reasoning that if he were actually carrying a bomb, he likely wouldn’t be joking about it. After they’re cleared to leave, that’s when Monica gets the call from Joey about the fake gas leak. When he asks if she’s sure it’s OK that they break down her door, Monica sarcastically responds:  

This, of course, lands them right back in the custody of airport security. Much of that dialogue made it into the final product, minus the above quote. While this version of the episode was never broadcast, the scenes were apparently included as bonus material on the UK’s Season 8 DVD release, per Business Insider, ultimately making their way onto YouTube. You can see the scenes in question in full below: 

While humor can be an important tool to help people sort through their emotions and even deal with grief, it’s easy to see why airing this version of Monica and Chandler’s story would have been seen as insensitive and tone deaf in the weeks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.  

How Friends Paid Tribute To The 9/11 First Responders And People Of New York 

Some fans thought it was preposterous that a sitcom set in New York City wouldn’t acknowledge the events of September 11, 2001. Executive producer Kevin S. Bright has spoken about that, saying that at first the creative team wasn’t sure about the correct way to address it. In the end Bright said they thought the show would be most effective if it stayed in the comedy lane, telling Digital Spy: 

When Season 8 premiered on September 27, 2001, “The One After ‘I Do’” was dedicated to “The People of New York,” and small nods were made to the events of 9/11 throughout the season. There was now a flag hanging in Central Perk, for instance, and in “The One Where Chandler Takes a Bath,” Joey wore a T-shirt honoring Billy Burke, an NYFD fire captain who died in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

The board hanging on Joey’s apartment door also could be seen nodding to New York and the fire department. In “The One With Monica’s Boots” — also from Season 8 — you can see a drawing of the Statue of Liberty, as well as “NYFD.”

Whether or not the showrunners were correct to address (or not address) 9/11 in the way they did can be debated, but it does seem like a good call that they restructured Chandler and Monica’s honeymoon story to leave out the jokes about hijacking a plane and bombs — especially with that episode airing just weeks after the Twin Towers fell. 

If you want to relive any of Friends’ 10 seasons — including the retooled version of “The One Where Rachel Tells…” the entire series is available to stream with a Max subscription. Be sure to also take a look at our 2024 TV schedule to see what premieres are coming soon. 

In the beginning, the cast of Friends reportedly made $22,500 per episode, by the end all six actors famously had astounding salaries of $1 million per episode. However, at one point, all of these stars were not set to make the same amount of money. It turns out that David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston actually played a big role in helping the ensemble eventually get to their gigantic paydays, as the late Matthew Perry revealed in his book. 

As many reflect on and pay tribute to Matthew Perry, including his fellow Friends alums, discussions about the legacy of Friends and just how popular it was (and still is) have been reignited. Along with that, the crew’s famously high salaries have been explained, and thanks to the Chandler actor’s book, it’s also been revealed how the crew was able to stand together, and make it so they were all paid equally. 

David Schwimmer Had The Idea For The Cast To Negotiate Salaries As A Group 

In Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry wrote about how the Ross Geller actor was considered the big star of the show. However, instead of taking a larger raise than his co-stars, Schwimmer approached the cast and proposed the idea that they all negotiate their salaries as a unit. 

After Season 1 of Friends, as reported in The Guardian, David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston were earning more than Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox because of the buzz around Ross and Rachel’s relationship. When Season 3 rolled around, Schwimmer asked Aniston if she’d be willing to take a pay cut, so all six members of the ensemble could receive equal pay. In his memoir (via The Guardian), the Chandler Bing actor gave big props to his co-star for making this choice, as he wrote:

Later on, Perry wrote about how grateful he was to Schwimmer and that decision made during the early seasons of Friends. He explained:

In the end, the cast went on to famously make $1 million per episode during the last two years of the show. Series co-creator Marta Kauffman called the salaries “ridiculous.” However, considering how beloved the show was, and how much appreciation there still is for the series, it seems like it was worth every penny to pay all six actors so much.  

By The Last Seasons, The Friends Cast Was Making $1 Million Per Episode 

By the time Friends entered into its later seasons, the cast had become bonafide superstars, and the show had been a pop culture phenomenon for years. In an interview with the Huffington Post Matt LeBlanc commented on how the ensemble ended up making $1 million per episode, saying:

The Joey Tribbiani actor went on to say that if anyone is in a position to get a raise, and they don’t, they’re “stupid.” He then explained that he and his castmates were “in a position” where they could “pull it off,” so they did. 

By the end of its run, the stars of the hit sitcom were making $1,100,040 per episode, and it was in big part thanks to David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston deciding to take a pay cut early on and stand in solidarity with their colleagues. To this day, the Friends cast still makes money in royalties, and the story of their incredible salaries is legendary.

To go back and watch all eight seasons of Friends, all you need is a Max subscription. 

The Friends cast lost a member with the passing of Matthew Perry at the age of 54 at his home on October 28. He played Chandler Bing through ten seasons of the beloved comedy, alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer. Now, two days after the sad news, his former castmates have joined together with a touching message about their friend. 

In a joint statement (via People), the surviving members of the Friends cast said:

The message from the five stars follows guest stars like Selma Blair and Paget Brewster speaking out about Matthew Perry, and establishes that this will not be the only time that Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc, and Schwimmer address the tragedy. The sad news comes just over two years after the six leads came together for Friends: The Reunion.

When Perry's death was first reported, it was said that he drowned in his jacuzzi following cardiac arrest, with no drugs or foul play involved. The sitcom legend had been open about health struggles in the past, including an accident when he was given 2% chance of survival and his addictions throughout the seasons of Friends. He credited Jennifer Aniston for reaching out to him.

In his memoir that released almost exactly one year prior to his death, Perry also expressed that he hoped Friends was not remembered as his biggest accomplishment in life, as (via The Wrap) he "did try to help other people." He wrote that "the best thing about me is if an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says, 'Will you help me?'" According to the actor, his response was always "'Yes, I know how to do that.'" That could involve helping in a group setting, or one on one. 

For their part, Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with former executive producer Kevin Bright, commended Perry for his performances as Chandler Bing was well as what he brought to the show with his personality behind-the-scenes. In a joint statement (via People) on October 29, they said: 

Matthew Perry was clearly beloved for his work on screen as well as his presence and personality off-screen, and fans have been posting messages of their own on social media ever since the news broke. TBS is running a marathon of episodes that showcase his character from November 1 - November 5. Our thoughts here at CinemaBlend are with the family, friends, and loved ones of Perry in this difficult time.

For 10 years in the ‘90s and early aughts, the writers on Friends had their work cut out for them, tasked with providing funny and memorable storylines for Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. Somehow, they succeeded in not only making lifelong stars out of the show's main six but in creating a universe that included a long manifest of A-plus guest stars and beloved recurring characters. One of the most iconic of those was Ugly Naked Guy. So who exactly was this “unattractive nude man”? What happened to him, and why didn’t we ever see his face?

What’s notable about Ugly Naked Guy is that while he was talked about several times in the first five seasons of Friends, he was actually only seen twice, and both times his face was hidden. So let’s dive into the story behind one of the sitcom’s most enigmatic characters. 

Who Played Ugly Naked Guy, And Why Didn’t We Get To See His Face? 

First things first, the character of Ugly Naked Guy was the man who lived in the building across from Monica Gellar’s apartment. The gang often watched him through the window, commenting on whatever he was up to — playing the cello, using a Thighmaster, trying out Gravity Boots, etc. The actor, however, was an uncredited extra, and until 2016 — 17 years after his final appearance on Friends — nobody even remembered the actor’s name. 

Enter Todd Van Luling of the Huffington Post, who went on a yearlong quest to solve the mystery. He followed the Ugly Naked trail back to Jon Haugen, and all those years later, Haugen explained why his identity remained hidden for so long, saying: 

Friends producer Todd Stevens provided even more clarity as to why they kept the character uncredited, including why his face was never seen. Stevens told Van Luling: 

It’s true that Ugly Naked Guy wasn’t the kindest name the group could have picked, and I can see why there was apprehension to have an actor’s name and face associated with the character and all of his exhibitionist hobbies. But that begs the question … 

Was Ugly Naked Guy Really Naked? 

Ugly Naked Guy made physical appearances in two episodes: Season 3’s “The One With the Giant Poking Device” and Season 5’s “The One Where Everybody Finds Out.” In that latter episode, the unnamed character was moving out, and as Ross Gellar hoped to snatch up the apartment for himself, he attempted to bond with Ugly Naked Guy by stripping down. The extended version of the episode showed the two disrobed men sitting together and enjoying a basket of mini muffins. As for whether they were really nude or not, Jon Haugen revealed to the Huffington Post: 

It makes sense that Jon Haugen and David Schwimmer weren’t actually naked during shooting, but the production made it look realistic enough that the scene was kept off of the original NBC broadcast. 

How Was Jon Haugen Cast As Ugly Naked Guy? 

When the decision was made to find an extra to play the subject of the group’s voyeurism, there was likely no expectation that the character would become as iconic as he did. So how did Jon Haugen happen upon the opportunity? Executive producer Kevin Bright gave some insight on the casting process, saying on the DVD commentary for “The One Where Everybody Finds Out”: 

I can imagine that was one of the stranger casting processes anyone on either side of the table ever had to do. With the emphasis being on what the actors looked like in their boxer shorts rather than any actual acting prowess, the actors had to actually audition in their underwear. Even though the job only resulted in two episodes’ worth of work, Jon Haugen at least has lifelong bragging rights. 

What Happened To Ugly Naked Guy? 

As previously mentioned, the decision was made in Season 5 to have Ugly Naked Guy move, with Ross taking the apartment across from his sister. This served two purposes, the creators said in the episode commentary. For one thing, they felt it was time to move on from the “Ugly Naked” jokes. David Crane said: 

Marta Kauffman concurred and added that while Ugly Naked Guy had served them well as a source of humor, having Ross and Monica be able to see into each other’s apartments served as an even-better setup for stories and jokes in the latter half of the series. Ugly Naked Guy may have moved out, but Friends fans will never forget what he contributed to the early seasons. You can see a compilation of “Ugly Naked” jokes below: 

Ugly Naked Guy may seem like sort of a thankless role, with only two appearances over 10 years, an objectively unflattering nickname, not having his face shown or his name in the credits. Jon Haugen, however, didn't see it that way. He said he loved the character and had nothing but great memories of the cast and crew, telling the HuffPost: 

You can revisit Ugly Naked Guy’s episodes of Friends, or any of your other favorites, as all 10 seasons — and the 2021 reunion special — are available to stream with a Max subscription. Be sure to also check out our 2023 TV schedule to find out about all of the upcoming television and streaming premieres.