In a recent episode of the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast, Lisa Kudrow, famously known for her portrayal of the quirky Phoebe Buffay on the iconic 90s sitcom *Friends*, opened up about a surprising annoyance she experienced during the filming of the show.
Kudrow, now 60 and a Primetime Emmy Award winner, recounted how the studio audience’s reactions sometimes got under her skin. She candidly shared, “Because they were laughing for too long. It wasn’t that funny. That’s why.”
The actress explained that the prolonged laughter felt inauthentic and disrupted the flow of the show. “It wasn’t an honest response and it irritated me.
Now you’re just ruining the timing of the rest of the show. There are other lines,” she elaborated.
Kudrow’s frustration stemmed from the belief that the excessive laughter hindered the natural rhythm of the scenes, making it challenging for the cast to maintain the intended comedic timing.
Kudrow further expressed her irritation, saying, “Sometimes I would just look out if they’d been laughing too long, and go, ‘Come on’. Really angry.”
She emphasized that while a live audience’s laughter is crucial for a stage play, a TV show is primarily made for the viewers at home.
“It is made for the TV viewers at home. That’s who we are in service to. If it was a stage play, yeah laugh as long as you want. I’ll figure out things to keep my character busy waiting to continue with it. That’s fine.”
Kudrow also shed light on the demanding nature of filming “Friends”.
She noted that the extensive takes required to capture the perfect scene often meant that a 30-minute episode could take up to eight hours to film.
This process was taxing for the actors and the writers and crew, whose efforts were sometimes overshadowed by the audience’s diminishing enthusiasm.
In a related note, Kudrow has been in the spotlight recently for her thoughts on revisiting *Friends* following the tragic passing of her co-star Matthew Perry.
Her reflections continue to resonate with fans of the beloved series, highlighting the deep connections formed both on and off the set.
Lisa Kudrow’s honest insights into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of *Friends* offer a new perspective on the challenges of producing a hit TV show.
Her comments remind us of the delicate balance between live audience interaction and the crafted experience intended for viewers at home.
