After over two decades since the beloved sitcom concluded, Lisa Kudrow is finally indulging in a ‘Friends‘ marathon. The iconic actress, best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay, revealed this unexpected binge during a chat with Jimmy Kimmel. Fans of the show might find it amusing that Kudrow is diving into all ten seasons, citing her shortage of sitcoms as the reason for this nostalgic journey.
The Unlikely ‘Friends’ Marathon
In a candid moment on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kudrow confessed, “I’m watching it now. I’m on Season 8 or 9.” She added a humorous touch by admitting she watches the episodes solo, waiting for her husband to fall asleep to avoid embarrassment. “I’m too embarrassed,” she confessed, regarding the nightly ritual of watching herself on screen.
When Kimmel inquired about the embarrassment, Kudrow laughed it off, saying, “That I’m watching myself on TV every night!” Despite this self-consciousness, she explained her enjoyment comes from a desire to wind down with a sitcom. “I just like a sitcom before going to bed and I ran out,” she noted.
Experiencing ‘Friends’ Anew
Watching the series after so many years, Kudrow feels detached enough to view it almost as an outsider. “It does now,” she replied when Kimmel asked if it felt like watching someone else. “And everyone’s hilarious and I’m laughing out loud.” Interestingly, many episodes are fresh to her, as she hadn’t seen most and doesn’t recall them vividly.
One standout moment involved Alec Baldwin’s guest appearance. Kudrow recounted a particular scene at the Gellers’ anniversary party that left her in stitches. Recollecting Joey’s confusion over an oyster, she said with laughter, “The thought that Joey thought a giant oyster was a booger… I started crying I was laughing so hard.” It was so memorable that she felt compelled to text Matt LeBlanc about the experience.
Reflecting on ‘The Comeback’
Kudrow also shared insights about her series, The Comeback, set to launch its third and final season on March 22 on HBO. Created with Michael Patrick King after ‘Friends’ wrapped in 2004, the show took a notable hiatus between its 2005 debut and the second season in 2014. Kudrow expressed her sentiments about concluding the series to the Hollywood Reporter, emphasizing the respect owed to the audience and characters. “It’s a trilogy, and this is the end,” she declared.
The journey of revisiting ‘Friends’ has provided Kudrow with fresh laughs and reflections, bridging past and present in the world of sitcoms she helped define.
