As a die-hard fan of Lisa Kudrow and her iconic roles, I can’t help but marvel at the serendipitous twists and turns her career took to bring us Phoebe Buffay on Friends. It’s mind-boggling to think that she could have been Frasier Crane’s producer Roz or a mere “Waitress” on Mad About You, instead of the beloved character we all adore.
It’s hard to conceive of a universe where Lisa Kudrow didn’t portray Phoebe Buffay in Friends, as she is still widely recognized by that character’s name among her peers. In fact, it seems almost unbelievable that she might not have landed the role. Interestingly, her career took an unexpected turn when she lost a significant part on Frasier and went on to star in Mad About You, which eventually led to her iconic status in prime-time television history.
On a recent episode of the Smartless podcast, Lisa Kudrow shared that she was initially considered for the cast of Frasier (a show you can watch if you have a Hulu subscription). Although she was initially chosen to play Roz, Frasier Crane’s producer, the role eventually went to Perri Gilpin. In discussing her experience, Kudrow expressed no resentment about the outcome, acknowledging that Gilpin deserved the part.
Initially, I struggled to appreciate the show you mentioned, questioning if there was something I could do differently. However, I believe there was an error in casting, as I had previously worked with Peri Gilpin on another project. It seemed like they were rectifying a previous mistake, since Gilpin should have always played Roz.
Given that Frasier is bringing back Gilpin for additional episodes in Season 2, it seems like a wise choice to me. This is because the producers likely wanted to bring back a beloved actress to reprise her role after all these years. However, this move left Lisa Kudrow without an opportunity that could have been quite significant, forcing her to seek work elsewhere instead.
Fortunately, I received a chance through ‘Mad About You’, since they were seeking an actress for a five-episode recurring role called “Waitress.” This is a return to the show for me following a past guest appearance. My agent cautioned against this, but I decided to take it anyway. (Comeback actress refers to my previous role in ‘Comeback’).
I acted as a guest star on “Mad About You” before and was asked to reprise the role in a later season, but since I had already played a different character in the first season, my agent advised against it.
Lisa Kudrow seized those roles despite the initial hurdle, primarily because it was an exceptional opportunity she couldn’t refuse. This part eventually paved the way for more appearances and potentially contributed to her securing the memorable role on ‘Friends’.
‘Can’t Remember A Time I Wasn’t In A Fountain.’ Lisa Kudrow Remembers Filming Friends’ Iconic Opening Scene, And I’m Shook Up About How Terrible It Sounds
Lisa Kudrow said the iconic opening theme wasn’t as fun to film as it seemed.
Initially, Jeffrey Klarik, the producer of “Mad About You,” recommended Lisa Kudrow for the character Phoebe in “Friends.” Following an audition, she successfully landed the role. Interestingly, this audition was conducted under the watchful eye of director James Burrows, who had previously asked for her dismissal from “Frasier” after viewing her as Roz during the pilot episode.
Since then, Phoebe has become iconic due to her significant contributions to some of the quirkiest and heartwarming episodes on Friends. For quite some time, Lisa Kudrow avoided watching her own episodes following Matthew Perry’s unfortunate demise, but lately, she has been revisiting the series. Although the circumstances behind her viewing might be dismal, it’s comforting to know she can appreciate her performances now. Reflecting on the rollercoaster journey that led her to secure this career-defining role still leaves me amazed, and I’m grateful things turned out as they did!
With a Max subscription, you can currently stream “Friends,” and it’s always a delightful choice when you need something to watch during your leisure time. Why not put on a couple of episodes as you browse through what new shows are expected to air on television in 2024?
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2024-07-31 20:07