For years following Friends, Lisa Kudrow has been hesitant to revisit the beloved NBC sitcom, expressing concerns about not liking her own work on the show. However, during a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote her upcoming Apple TV+ series Time Bandits, Kudrow revealed that she has started rewatching old Friends episodes to keep the memory of her late co-star Matthew Perry alive.
Perry died on October 28, 2023, at 54 due to the acute effects of ketamine, a tragedy that rippled across the globe. A criminal investigation into his death continues.
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 OK,
Kudrow stated. And it’s just celebrating how hilarious he was—and that is what I want to remember [about him].
Friends premiered on September 22, 1994, drawing in 21.5 million viewers and immediately shooting its cast into global stardom. The show ran for 10 seasons and celebrated its 20-year finale anniversary last month.
Kudrow shared that during the Friends reunion special in 2021 on HBO Max, she was struck by the show’s humor while watching it with her husband Michel Stern—a sentiment that persists today.
She admitted that upon revisiting the show now, she is often laughing aloud: I’m laughing out loud, and everyone is hilarious.
A notable episode often recalled by fans is “The One Where Everybody Finds Out,” where Phoebe attempts to seduce Chandler after discovering his secret relationship with Monica.
Kudrow remarked she remembers Matt LeBlanc’s input: ‘We’ve got to come up with something to up the stakes.’
He suggested Joey unbuttoning Phoebe’s shirt as a comedic twist.
This overwhelming sense of joy resonates as one of Kudrow’s fondest memories from making Friends: You’re just laughing all day long, basically, because these are funny people. And especially someone like Matthew, whose goal was: How many laughs can I get in real life every day?
Kudrow expressed her desires for how the world should remember Perry: I think the world is remembering him the way he wanted to be remembered. I think that’s happening [already].
Kudrow will next appear in Taika Waititi’s Time Bandits, an adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy film. In this Apple TV+ series, she portrays Penelope, leading a group of thieves who travel through time with their newest member.
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