For years after Friends, Lisa Kudrow has admitted she could not bring herself to watch reruns of the beloved NBC sitcom, explaining she didn’t want to risk not liking her work on the show. But in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kudrow says that she has begun to revisit old Friends episodes to keep the memory of her late co-star, Matthew Perry, alive.
Perry died Oct. 28, 2023, at age 54 from the acute effects of ketamine, his tragic passing sending ripples around the world. A criminal investigation into how he died is ongoing.
Kudrow told THR: Honestly, I wasn’t able to watch it because it’s too embarrassing to watch yourself. But if I make it about Matthew, then that’s okay. And it’s just celebrating how hilarious he was — and that is what I want to remember [about him].
During the Friends reunion special, which aired on HBO Max in 2021, Kudrow had told her former co-stars that, after beginning to catch up on the show with her husband, Michel Stern, she was struck by how funny the show was — a sentiment that still stands today.
What does Kudrow see when she revisits the show now?
Kudrow said: I’m laughing out loud, and everyone is hilarious. I’m blown away by Courteney Cox. I’m blown away by Jen. Matthew, obviously, is just uniquely hilarious. No one ever knew that cadence or comedic rhythm before him. Matt LeBlanc is hilarious. And David Schwimmer, too.
Kudrow further added: You’re just laughing all day long, basically, in between the scenes, because these are funny people. And especially someone like Matthew whose goal was: How many laughs can I get in real life every day? So we were always laughing so hard, tears were flying out of our faces.
Memorable Moments
Of all the moments from Friends that have been immortalized in pop culture, one of the show’s funniest episodes was The One Where Everybody Finds Out, when the rest of the characters discover that Perry and Cox’s characters – Chandler and Monica – have been secretly dating. After finding out, Phoebe decides to mess with both of them by flirting with – and even trying to seduce – Chandler.
Touching on Time Bandits
Kudrow will next be seen in Taika Waititi’s Apple TV+ series adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy classic Time Bandits. In this series – continuing Kudrow’s trend of playing charming characters who lack a certain amount of self-awareness – she portrays Penelope, leading a ragtag group of thieves through time and space.
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