Who would have thought the eternally optimistic Phoebe Buffay from ‘Friends‘ would have a bone to pick with anyone? Well, as it turns out, Lisa Kudrow, the actress behind the beloved character, had a rather unexpected frustration during the show’s filming.
Surprisingly enough, the live studio audience was the root of her trouble. While the show is synonymous with being a sitcom, Lisa thinks differently. She believes that the studio audience was more of a headache than useful.
Lisa Kudrow Calls Out ‘Friends’ Studio Audience
In a recent interview with Variety, Kudrow revealed that she often found herself growing “really angry” at the audience’s prolonged laughter. Additionally, according to her, the excessive reactions would disrupt the show’s pacing and hinder the delivery of subsequent lines. “It wasn’t that funny,” she admitted candidly.
She talked about how the prolonged laughter didn’t feel like an honest response and messed with the timing of the rest of the show. “There are other lines. Sometimes I would just look out if they’d been laughing too long, and go, ‘Come on’. Really angry,” she added.
A lot of fans shared this sentiment. Additionally, the exaggerated responses didn’t accurately reflect the intended comedic value of the scene. Moreover, it proves that while live audiences are typically seen as a source of energy and enthusiasm, they can also pose unexpected hurdles.
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Kudrow Further Explains The Reason Behind Her Frustration
The actress further explained that the extended laughter would often lead to rewrites and additional takes, as the writers and directors struggled to maintain the desired comedic rhythm. “A TV show is not for the studio audience. It is made for the TV viewers at home,” she firmly stated.
Lisa also talked about how with each retake, the audience’s laughter would inevitably diminish, creating a frustrating cycle. Additionally, she talked about how a half-hour episode would take almost 6 hours to film due to the director’s doubts. So, Kudrow’s frustration is understandable.
Moreover, her candid remarks offer a refreshing look behind the curtain of a beloved sitcom, highlighting the challenges faced by the cast and crew in creating television magic. Additionally, while the audience’s laughter is undoubtedly a crucial component of a sitcom’s success, it’s equally important to keep things real.
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