Friends star Lisa Kudrow admits live audience “irritated” her

As a huge fan of “Friends,” I can totally relate to Lisa Kudrow’s experience of being irritated by the live audience during the taping of the show. When I watched the interview she gave on Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement.


During the filming of “Friends,” Lisa Kudrow, who played a notable role in the show, shared that the presence of a live audience at times was a source of annoyance for her.

In a recent interview, the actress known for her role as Phoebe Buffay on the comedy show expressed her discomfort with prolonged laughter from the audience while filming scenes.

She shared with the Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast, “It didn’t make me laugh at all.” The reason being, her reaction was insincere, which left her feeling annoyed.

Friends star Lisa Kudrow admits live audience "irritated" her

I’ve been there before, feeling the pressure of holding a live audience’s attention. It’s a nerve-wracking experience, and when some people just refuse to stop laughing at a joke that’s long past its prime, it can throw off the entire flow of the show. I’ve learned to give subtle cues, like looking out into the crowd or making a disapproving face, to gently nudge them along. But there are times when I have to take a firmer approach and urge them to move on. It’s not an easy task, but it’s all part of the job for a performer.

Kudrow further pointed out that a TV show isn’t intended for the live audience in the studio, but rather for the viewing audience at home.

She went on to explain, “We exist to serve that purpose. Feel free to chuckle in the audience during a performance, I’ll find ways to occupy myself until it’s time for my cue.”

Friends star Lisa Kudrow admits live audience "irritated" her

After that, filming began and I found myself merely standing there. I’m forced to perform actions I dislike, such as nodding in agreement. It’s unfortunate. I believe the spectators were advised against engaging in similar behavior.

During filming, the star disclosed that they had to do numerous retakes, which ultimately left the audience no longer amused.

After it failed to work again, the writers pondered, “It’s not effective this time around.” Yet, it had succeeded once before. As a result, they brainstormed alternative solutions.

Friends star Lisa Kudrow admits live audience "irritated" her

For over two decades, from 1994 to 2004, the beloved show “Friends” graced our screens. More recently, Courteney Cox, one of its cherished stars, celebrated the 20th anniversary of its conclusion in a heartfelt Instagram post.

The actor posted an Instagram Reel showing the Friends cast giving their last curtain call in Monica’s apartment, captioning it: “Twenty years have passed since the final episode of Friends aired. I still can’t believe we managed to film through all those tears. Gratitude will always be with me.”

Last year, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer from the Friends cast honored their late colleague Matthew Perry, who passed away at the age of 54.

In the UK, “Friends” is available to stream on Netflix alongside its daily broadcast on Comedy Central. In contrast, in the US, viewers can find the show streaming on Max.

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2024-07-24 15:48

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