Extended interview: Lisa Kudrow

So, big picture question first. Okay. Could you could you ever have imagined back when you and Michael came up with the comeback that you would be playing Valerie Cherish more than 20 years later?

No. I mean, thank God we were cancelled right after the first season. Do you see that as a blessing?

Yes. I mean, I wasn't even that upset when it happened then because I thought, "Oh, I can't do better than that. " So, it's I didn't not my fault, you know, like someone's I think I really did feel like someone's making a mistake and it's not my mistake and beyond that there's nothing I can do.

Thank God we were cancelled because to come back every 10 years and get to place Valerie in a different landscape of the television industry is a great opportunity, you know, and and because the first season that was the beginning of reality TV where I know everyone was panicking about, well, this is the end. writers weren't getting as many overall deals, right? They were sort of handing them out like candy.

Um, and it Okay, so now they're not gonna spend that. And now death of the scripted series. Yeah.

And they're just not going to have as many. But it felt like that was the end. And so yes, that's why you have a polyg not that showrunners were never abusive before that, but you mine weren't, by the way.

Just I have to always say that because that was right after Friends and that was not anything close to my experience on Friends. Okay. It Okay.

It wasn't. And but we had other writers in the writer room and they had all worked with at least two or three Poly G's. So you you heard from writers stories other shows in the writer room.

I was mortified by the stories because I kept saying, "Well, this is too much, right? " and they went, "Uh, no happened. " Pauly G isn't doesn't have a gun.

So, oh my goodness. You know, that's Yeah. Like, but to you could understand then that there's so much going on.

There's so much interference and panic from the networks to, you know, okay, then we'll do this sitcom, but let's hedge our bets. We'll do a reality show companion piece. And they're stuck.

And it's been such a great opportunity to examine what's going on 10 years later. It's that premium cable halfhour edgy gritty dramdy thing which I guess comeback is kind of a dramdy, you know, depending on the episode you're watching. And and she's in in the middle of that too and ends up doing good work and but also Yeah.

I mean, and then 10 years after that, everyone is terrified of of AI, you know, you know, 20 years ago, you have sitcoms and there's like 12 to 15 writers in a writer's room. 10 years after that, it's only like 8 10 episodes, 13 maybe. You don't need 10, you don't need 15, you need maybe six.

And then 10 years after that, it's again haved there. If the writer is not writing them all themsself, then you only need a couple more. So, what else can you what what can you tell us about season 3?

It involves AI. Oh, yeah. Well, so the sort of if there's a such a thing as a log line anymore, it's you know, Valerie Cherish is offered the lead in a multi- camera show, but it's written by AI.

So also what does it look like for Valerie not to deal with a writer because that's where so much of the drama comes is her and the writers. Yeah. Yeah.

Um and you know in very first episode she's you know absolutely not when it comes up absolutely not because the writers will hate me. It's not like you know the the concept of AI. She's not analyzing what does AI mean for society.

It's just writers hate it and then they'll hate me. So that's a no. That's as far as she goes.

But then that thinking evolves a little bit. Well then, you know, she's in a way offered permission to do it. She's given an out.

That's you see that in episode two. But you know, so there Valerie is always if someone if she's nervous about something and and she's told, "Yeah, but it's okay. Is it okay?

" All right, great. You know, she's not asking why, analyzing it, vetting it. No, it's just you say it's okay.

Great. Now it's okay. It's okay.

What did it feel like for you to step back into Valerie's shoes? Put on Valerie's wig. Oh, yeah.

Well, I mean, that's always fun. I love that wig. I mean, it's it's kind of flattering.

So, I'm always like, can I get a haircut? Like, how do I could I No. Okay.

Yeah. Looks good. What did it feel like to be Valerie again?

Well, I mean, I was Valerie while we were writing it, you know, along with other characters, as you do when you're writing something. But you know and just throughout the years you know Valerie just pops in to comment on something really just as you were going about your daily life. Yes.

if if if I am trying to you know something happens and it's sort of disappointing or you know anything goes wrong and you know sometimes it'll I hopefully don't say it out loud too much but you know um yeah it'll just be that's okay because you know I don't know yeah that's okay probably better to stay home watch a movie get cozy yeah it's it's like a weird she comes to cope. I don't know. Or Yeah.

Now I sound insane. You don't sound insane. I think that's So has Valerie changed you?

Yeah. A not at first, because at first, honestly, I was sort of making fun of her, which is sort of at first for any comedic character, I'm making fun of them. And then as time goes on, I start seeing some things to really appreciate.

And I'd like to sort of incorporate some of that, you know, into my own worldview, you know, and there is the thing about that there's a sort of resilience, you know, and I didn't realize how much of of me is already like her just in that um you know, yeah, it's okay to be a little delusional and to you know, like something appears like it's not good. just personally, not saying in the world, but you know, just something that's not, you know, that's kind of maybe is that a threat? Is that a red flag?

Is that a oh, now what do I Oops, shouldn't have done that. And then it's like that's okay. You know, better luck next time.

Or I don't know. Just Yeah. And you're kind of that way, too.

Just a little delusional. That's all right. Yeah.

Like that's all right. Or no. Oh, well that one person liked it, so that's good.

Yeah. Yeah. I don't know.

And even just with the comeback itself and, you know, it didn't, you know, get picked up and it was, "Oh, but we heard David Bowie had called to get DVDs of it because he was going to be on tour and didn't want to miss one. " And it's like, "Well, I'm done. That's all I need.

" You know, if I only need one person to like it, that's I'm done. So David Bowie literally called to get That's what we heard to get the comeback. As if I'm in a court of law.

That's what allegedly. Allegedly, you know, to the best of my knowledge. No, we're going to go with that.

That would be all I'd need to. Or are there aliens? Well, I heard there were I haven't seen them.

I haven't seen them. Yeah, I haven't seen them. Not in Area 51.

Um I heard David Bowie was a fan of the show. Um, your son Julian is in this season. Yeah.

What was it like to have Julian on set with you? Oh, it was heaven. I mean, I there was one day, you know, we're all in there's like cast holding rooms now just so that the actors are all there waiting for when they're ready and you you go on.

So, he was in the holding one of the holding rooms and I saw him and I was tired. Okay. I I Valerie Cherish is in every single scene and this time it's not reality cameras, it's traditional coverage, so it's a lot.

And I was just tired and I saw my son. I went, "Oh. " And I just walked over, sort of climbed onto the couch next to him and threw myself on top of him and gave him a hug and um kind of forgot that it was a room full of other people and not all of them knew that it was my son.

And also maybe a mob isn't supposed to climb on top, you know. It wasn't. I think it was okay.

Was he fine with it? Yeah. He was like, "Ah, okay.

Mom, I think that's adorable. " And I would do exactly the same thing. It's your baby.

It's my baby. But he's a grown man and beard, you know, like. But but still.

Yeah. I was nervous for him. His first like the table read, you know, but he was great.

And he's great. He's good. Can you tell us anything about what he's doing, what his character is?

Yeah, I mean, he's um he's the tech guy on set. All right, fair enough. Yeah, he's and he's good.

That's so cool. Right. Because I can imagine you're sitting there in the table read.

You have to focus on your own lines, but also it's it's your baby. It's everything. I know.

Yeah. And also perfect for the part. Perfect.

Yeah. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

There. And is there something full circle to have? I mean, he was in your belly for friends.

Yes. On stage 24 where we were shooting the sitcom. How's that for the comeback?

Yeah. Yeah. And then there he is.

And it wasn't until his very last day that I remembered, wait, I have a picture of you when you were two in the kitchen. It's the same kitchen, you know, backstage standing on a thing and washing dishes looking. It was so adorable.

And then now this guy with a beard. So we took a picture of him like recreating it. Oh, that's so great.

Recreating it. That's nice. It's a full circle moment.

And you got to en enjoy it. Yes, I did. I did take a second to enjoy it.

I took seconds. I was able to take seconds. like you know an empty sound stage is an empty sound stage.

It doesn't remind you of anything at all. But the dressing rooms are the same configuration. So that was fun.

And if you know I needed a bathroom break, I went up to my old dressing room that was mine for the last five years of friends. Um just because I felt like, well, it's mine. I'm allowed.

Yeah. Um Yeah. Yeah.

No. And and also just feeling like our last episode was shot here. We we finished up Friends, which was one of the biggest things in my professional life and life, period.

And now I'm finishing up the comeback trilogy, same place where I finished the other most important thing. So yeah, that made me a little emotional. Yeah, a little.

I say a little. Yeah, maybe more than a little. Maybe more emotional.

It did. Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, that's amazing. And my nose is running now. I don't cry, but my nose runs.

And I would imagine gratitude for these moments. Yes. Yes.

Yeah. Definitely. Yeah.

I mean, but I you know what I I look I'm gonna say no, I've always, you know, stayed in gratitude, but I I kind of have. I really have. I mean, I never went through that period of no, no, I don't want to talk about Friends.

I have to move on and I want to play other characters. And no, you have to know me from No, no, that's fine. And why is that?

Because friends gave me everything. It just did and I loved being Phoebe. I loved the whole experience and I don't need to move away from it.

And you know I had done independent films and played different characters and you know whether you've seen it or not that's fine and it's fine if all you know that I've ever done is friends. How could I not be okay with that? Like that's nothing to be ashamed of you know.

So yeah, life's easier anyway if you're just like, "Oh, great. Nice. Thank you.

Good. " It's just easier. That's very true.

Yeah. Right. Yeah.

Yeah. That's very true. So much of it is about attitude.

Um, sadly Mickey is not in this season. Mhm. And in the in season two, you wrote into the script what he was actually going through in real life that he had melanoma, right?

How did you decide to do that? Well, Michael, who had a relationship with Robert Michael Morris that went back to college, he was his drama teacher. Robert Michael Morris was Michael's drama teacher.

That's right. That's right. And so Michael talked to um Michael um because he went by Michael um and and said, "We want to have Mickey, you know, have cancer in this.

" And and Mike, I'll call him Mickey. Um said, "Yes, but please um don't let him die. " Right?

And Michael said, "No, he won't die. He won't die. So, yeah.

So, he has a treatment that's rough on him and he's going to be okay. Yeah. But then we did lose Michael.

And that was hard. So, I didn't even want to talk about because whenever Michael Patrick King and I get would get together in the, you know, 10 years in between. Um, so what do you think Valerie would be doing?

like should we try to do just maybe a movie and I just and it was a no for me because I don't know I don't know how to do it without Mickey don't know how to do it without Mickey no no no no no no no and um also and then there wasn't an idea worthy you know but also good there's no idea idea. I don't know how we do this without Mickey. Mickey was you whatever Valerie's saying or doing, you cut to Mickey and even though he was so supportive of her, he sort of he's the guy letting you know even that that doesn't even make sense to me.

But um so how do we do it? Yeah. Yeah.

Two questions, I guess. first, how how did how were you able to to move on to do it? I guess enough time had passed and Michael Patrick King said, "Okay, she's offered us leading a sitcom, but it's written by AI.

" And I was like, "Oh, yes. Yes. Only Valerie would have to navigate that.

" Yes. Now we can do it. Yeah.

Let's do it. I think we should do it. Yeah.

And he was having a meeting or talking to Casey Boy who's head of HBO Max and and um you know and said, "Oh, by the way, for the comeback, we have an idea. " And told him and and Casey said, "Oh, do it. Do it now before hurry up before right because you're always just a little bit ahead of what's actually happening.

" So yeah, right and kind of just living in the space of what people are predicting would happen and you know yeah we don't want to predict too much right just stick with and it feels like a sitcom written by AI there's enough I I I don't know but it feels like there's enough sort of um lawsuits around writing in AI to keep it at bay for a bit. For a little bit. Yeah.

Yeah. It's not totally forbidden. Yeah.

Technically, but Yeah. But to the level that, you know, we're depicting. Going back to Mickey for a second, watching that final episode back when it first aired, it was beautiful.

But watching it now, it takes on a whole other level. The witch does the what? The final episode of season two.

Oh, right. Right. Yeah.

Where she thinks she's going to lose him and you have this beautiful moment in the hospital and he says, "I'm scared. " I mean, have you been able to look at that since Yes. Oh, yeah.

Because in preparation of this, I rewrote I rewatched Yeah. everything. And um Yeah.

But for me, it stayed in the context of of that. Also, you know, our first day of season two with we were shooting with Michael, Robert, Michael Morris, Mickey, and you know, he and he said, "I don't know if I can do this. I'm exhausted.

" Like, we only like walked from here to there a couple times. He said, "I don't know that I'll be able to do this. " I said, "Well, we'll do what we need to do for you to be able to do this.

So, if you can only do two takes, we're only going to do two takes, you know, like, you know, and Michael Patrick King also, he said, "Oh, you'll be able to do this, you know, we'll make sure you're gonna be able to do this. " And he was able to do it. He got better and better.

He got stronger and stronger to the point where his doctors were saying, "What are you doing? " Wow. Because this is not progressing like p as would be predicted.

What are you do? Are what are you doing? It was working.

That's amazing. Yeah. Yeah.

And so then to make it through that season after he thought maybe he couldn't do it, it was it was a victory. Yeah. He was fine.

He was fine. He had more energy by the end of it than when we started. Wow.

Yeah. Um, James Burroughs pops up throughout the series, often giving Valerie advice on a personal level to have James Burroughs be the one there giving the advice. What's that like for you?

Well, I mean, it's as it should be. I mean, there aren't I can't think of another legendary director of television comedies aside from Jimmy Burroughs. So, how fantastic that he agreed to do it the first one.

And also, when he delivers unhappy news, he's not trying to hurt her. He's just telling her the truth. And that's very Jimmy Burroughs.

He just says the truth, you know, like, "No, it's not gonna work because they're not for you in that scene. " Like, you know, like he would just tell you like, "No, that's not No, you can't do that. It's not funny.

You can't. " So, it's perfect. And that he would This time though, we have him.

He's in three episodes. So that's all you're going to say? That's all I'm going to say.

In your own life, did he ever give you a nugget of advice that stayed with you? Well, I mean, I don't I'm trying to think. I mean, it might be.

Yes. But just being around him, watching him, seeing how he would analyze, you know, Matthew Perry was always like, "Jimmy, Jimmy, what do we look at like the numbers of viewers or the share? " And Jimmy would explain, "We're both important, but the share, you only dropped off two points from Mad About You, so that's it's good.

Really good. That's good. You're doing great.

" you know, and he was the one who took us to Las Vegas before the show aired um all together to bond and had us at to at dinner and just said, you know, this is the last time any of you will be able to be out in public because nobody knows who you are yet. And I remember everyone else was like, "Wow. " And I went, "Maybe.

" Like, "How do you know? " Was he right? Well, yes, he was.

He was right. He was right. And he was right that it was a hit.

He was right. And I thought, I don't know. I mean, there's a lot of shows that are good and funny and they don't get picked up and or they don't work with an audience.

I don't know. How do you know? I know.

But that's a probably a pretty good survival skill, too, right? Just I don't know. We'll Let's see.

Maybe that's an okay yeah coping mechanism too. Maybe. Or maybe I'm an idiot, you know.

I don't know. Was there a moment that you remember when you knew, oh, our lives are never going to be the same? Oh, after a photo shoot for Entertainment Weekly.

Yeah. I think before we started the second season or right into the second season, we came out of the photo shoot and there were paparazzi everywhere and it was um really unpleasant because they're yelling at you. That was the first time like why are they yelling at us?

We haven't done why are they mad? We haven't done anything. It sounded super aggressive.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Did you make a conscious decision to not let fame change you get to you?

Oh. Oh, I don't know. I don't know.

What do you mean? I I mean I I I don't know. Because you kind of did, you know, didn't It's not that you didn't play that game, but you you didn't play that game.

You know, you kind of did just didn't let it get to you. You kept working. Well, look, my family all lives here, so I saw my family a lot and my husband is not in this business.

So, that's a leveler, you know. I mean, they're all excited and friends was a hit and they were excited, but um but just there's always something that's more important. Not more important, work was important.

I mean, I'm looking back and I had given birth to my son and 10 days later I was at a meeting. I did the Tonight Show 10 days after you gave birth. Uhhuh.

And then was in a meeting for analyze this that my agent's like, "Yeah, we'll be okay. It doesn't, you know, you're not shooting till July and it's May. It's no big deal.

" I was like, "Okay, yeah, I might be okay by then. " And then in the meeting, Billy Crystal's saying, "Yeah, I mean, you look great. are you sure you're able to do this?

When did you give birth? And I told him, he's like, "All right, well, we start Thursday. " And I just went, "Oh, do you you start Thursday?

" "Yeah, I don't. " And I'm thinking, "Right, you're going to shoot all your stuff. I'm not in that much.

" So, like, I'll be fine by I'm just thinking. I didn't say it out loud. I just went, "Yeah, no, I'll be fine.

" Like, by July? Yeah. When you look back on that now, what do you think?

It wasn't July. It was And then it was Yeah. So today's Monday and then Thursday you have to fly to New York.

It was You did have to go shoot. Yes. And I remember my husband's parents were visiting from France.

My parents were around. Everyone around went, "Of course you can do it. " Wow.

And I said, "But it's wrong. I have a newborn. But a baby nurse will go with you.

Look after the baby. Baby won't remember anything. It's fine.

" Yes. Absolutely. Everybody was, "Yes, it's okay.

You'll go do it. " I went, "All right. " I don't know.

Like, you know, your hormones are just like, "All right. " I mean, I guess. Okay.

And you did it. It's insane. Yeah.

When you look back now, does it does it seem a little nutty? I would never do it. No.

No. Yeah. And now it's impossible.

So, I don't have to ever think about anything like that. But, yeah. What do you think was what was your mindset?

Do you think was there a part of you that just thought I have to I have to keep working? No. I thought this is insane.

But everybody else seems to think I need to defer to everybody else because I know my brain's not working right now. Too many hormones. I'm a little like just like a smidge depressed.

You know what I mean? And and laughing. Postpartum depression.

But um and I just deferred to everybody else and thought, well, I mean, I guess it is okay to go back to work immediately. Okay. Yeah.

I'm not mad at anybody because it was the other thing that informed I guess we were talking about a little before that. Yeah. For men and women, we are really what an enlightened wonderful time.

we really are equal now because you know yeah you got to like work's important and it was at a time where work is a priority work is allowed to be a priority and main focus and everything else just has to accommodate it um that really was sort of the ethos at that time. Yeah. Yeah.

It's true. And this is the comeback talks about this that are are men and women really on a level playing field. Well, I mean that first season for sure and that's why it was so cringe to some people and I think if you look at it now um it's not as cringe.

And why do you think that is? Well, first of all, because we have some kind of um context for reality TV because that was before Real Housewives took off. There was, I think, just Orange County, but it wasn't everybody was aware of it, you know.

Um, and there was Survivor, but an Amazing Race, but there weren't the Yeah, we didn't have Housewives of everywhere. We didn't see that it was a means to an end for people. that was uh normalized over time.

And so it just felt like the level of desperation and bad judgment it felt like and why doesn't she know to just like shut up or oh don't oh yeah um and also the thing I felt like when we were shooting it it like why is it cringe? What's cringe? And people would say to me, other actors like, "How did you do that?

That must have been so hard to play that. " And I and I just went, "Uh, what? Why wasn't hard for one second?

" Like emotionally hard. I don't even know what they mean. Emotionally hard.

And because you didn't see it as humiliating. I mean, that's why I think people would say that, right? Oh, that was humiliating.

Cuz Valerie never felt humiliated. As Valerie, I didn't feel humiliation. She spun it and while it's such a lame spin, it was enough for her.

She just fully believed it. Yeah. Delusional.

Um but it's a fine line between, you know, denial and coping. That's very true. Yeah.

And the thing is though that I at the time also felt like um and it turned out what was so upsetting to people was that this woman was being treated like this and you don't want to see a woman being treated like that and I didn't understand that because what's the difference man woman I mean it's a I don't understand the difference women are ambitious too you know and women have their priorities ities can be off also. So I don't understand we're kind we're the same. Aren't we the same?

I was instructed to go right back to work after giving birth. I thought we were the same and then a couple years later I realized oh women are still perceived as sort of victim. So that's why and that was depressing to me that she was seen as a victim and that that spoke to something larger in general like don't have the same like seat at the table.

They don't have that and I thought we did. So it was sort of jarring to me, you know, to realize that. Um, but it's gotten better and over time and that's why I feel like it's not as cringe right now.

Maybe. I don't know. It's changed.

Yeah, I can't I know. I like coming up with theories for things, but I don't know. But it does definitely feel like it's changed and it's not as cringe, especially younger people who are used to reality TV and you know, everyone's curating their own reality show on social media.

So everybody's Valerie Cherish essentially now. Yeah. Uhhuh.

Yeah. That's a little sort of underlying note in this season. We're all Valerie Cherish.

go back for a second when you went to school to Vassor for biology. Uhu. You were headed on a totally different path.

And I'm thinking about this. I I have two I have twins and they're both about to go to college. And I keep telling them like, you know, your major is it's important, but it's not that important.

Do you see a life lesson in that that you went to school for biology and then ended up doing something completely different? Yeah. Um, a life lesson.

Yeah. But yeah, I guess just yeah, pursue what's interesting to you because you're going to spend four years doing it or you'll change your mind halfway through and choose a different major. Go ahead.

I mean, if it doesn't cost more and you can afford it, you know, the school, but you know, yeah, just pursue what's interesting to you and see what happens. Do you think that in some way that aided you having those four years to focus on science, something completely different before going into comedy and acting? Yeah, I wasn't.

For whatever reason, I completely dismissed acting as a possible adult identity. Did it just seem not like a grown-up thing to do to go into acting? Not grown-up, but I couldn't respect it.

No, no. And who it w it's it was sort of like a an older old timey, you know, mindset of No, no, I want, you know, I want my future husband to take me seriously, you know, and needs to know I'm smart. Actors weren't actresses weren't known for their smarts.

Doesn't mean they weren't. So, how did you change your mindset about that? Oh, because I don't look it was a very strong impulse or compulsion to you know what it was sort of a I don't want to have any regrets.

I do want to be I do want to get married. I do want to have kids. I'm going to have to pay attention to them.

I don't want any regrets that I didn't try this because you do want to do this. You really do. Stop it.

You know you do. So now's the time. It's a selfish pursuit, but you don't have a mortgage.

You don't no one, you're not responsible to anybody, and now's the time and see what happens. How did you keep going in those early days when you know you have all these auditions, you get cast in a role, then you're fired from that role. What kept you going?

Oh, um, yeah, quitting wasn't an alternative. And even when I thought I would think um oh maybe I'm not one of those people for whom this works out and and then it would pass like if I felt bad or felt like yeah this probably maybe this isn't for you. It didn't last more than a couple days and then what replaced it.

Oh but you know Conan O'Brien thinks you're good. Hey, Lorraine Newman thought you should be on Saturday Night Live. That stuff just Okay.

You know what? If they think I should do this. Yeah.

I'm going to keep Let's see what happens. Yeah. When you audition for Phoebe, could you at that moment know, did you know this is a character I can lean into?

I got this. Huh. Wow.

I don't think I gave it that much thought, but I mean, yes. Yes, I thought I had a funny take on the character, but I didn't know if it would be appreciated or not appreciated, but if it would fit with, you know, the creator's view of who this character is. But I had at that point at least learned enough to just make a choice that makes sense to you and then you see if it's in line with the way they want to portray this character and tell the story and it was Yeah.

And it was so that was great. Um it sounds like I have a thing about James Burroughs but he has this great quote where he says the cast was a gift from God. Did Did you feel like that cast was a gift from God?

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Yes.

Definitely. Definitely. Because I mean I didn't know who anyone was except Courtney Cox and at the table read when I heard for example and Schwimmer I kind of saw him on some Fox show that didn't last long but I thought oh my god he's really great.

He's funny. Oh he's something different about him. He's good.

And he was the first person cast. So I thought, "Oh, this could be this could be really good. " And then um at the table read, sure, he fulfilled every expectation I had.

Um everyone was great. Matthew Perry, that as Chandler, that was the last p person to be cast. I couldn't figure out what does Chandler sound like when reading it.

I thought Chandler was a gay character. I thought Chandler was the gay character. Um, and then Matthew Perry is Chandler, and it was I never saw that coming.

Not miles away. Never saw that coming. Hilarious.

Oh my god. Yeah, that was like revvelatory. Matthew Perry.

What do you think it was about the two of you that clicked as friends? The two of me and you and Matthew Perry. Oh, le sense of humor.

I think same sense of humor. Similar. I mean an appreciation that was nice for each other.

You mean? Well, I mean that was nice for from from my point of view that he got me was great. Yeah, that was really nice.

Yeah. And also Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, we were all laughing at everything Matthew said. And we were laughing at each other. This was like a puppies just like playing on a set.

Honestly, that's what it felt like. That's what it felt like getting notes and everyone's like, "Knock it off. " And I'm going nuts like I'm a good student.

It's like they're giving us notes, guys. Guys, they're giving us notes. It's like, "Hey, back off.

What are you snapping at me for? " you know, like and then wondering why, you know, why aren't they getting mad at them for not paying attention during the lecture, you know, like and that was also a good thing to learn that, you know, oh, trying to be an A student is is the worst thing you can do in the arts. And that's where you figured that out on the friend set?

Yeah. Yes. Yes.

They were right. It's got to be light fun. It's just got to be light fun, relaxing.

Yeah. Um, the reunion was a gift to fans. Was it a gift to you?

Yes. Yes, that was a gift to us. What was the best part of it for you?

Seeing the other to people interviewed all around the world. That made us all very emotional, touched, not a dry eye for any of us. I'm not sure if that's in there.

I can't remember, but we were kind of a wreck after seeing people all over the world talking about, you know, what friends helped them get through. Do you have a particular because I think you've talked about this when you you've you've realized that how much friends means to people. Um have people shared with you what it means to them and is there one in particular that's touched you?

Um, there's so many that are similar and that are like what we saw on at the Friends reunion, but you know, I Yeah, just that got people through a hard time. um feeling really isolated and alone and it helped like fill a hole or made them feel a connection. And I think especially now you wouldn't expect young people to still want to watch an old show 20some 30 year old show.

The technology is different. all of that. But I do feel like there's this like unconscious nostalgia for connection.

So, and that's what it is. And also, it's great because they can like, you know, give each other a hard time, make fun of each other, but they love each other. And I think we do need more of that.

Yeah. You started watching the show for kind of comfort. Yeah.

Well, I was able to watch it when I haven't watched it. I think I was self-conscious. If anyone walked by and saw me watching my own show, it embarrassed me.

Um, but then when Matthew passed away, there were marathons and I watched it and it really did comfort me and I and it wasn't about me. It was about watching Matthew and all of us and it was this other thing and I really enjoyed it. And then recently I like watching I want to have a laugh before I go to bed.

So I watch like during co I discovered Everybody Loves Raymond and Big Bang Theory and and then and I would rewatch Will and Grace that makes me laugh out loud and 30 Rock makes me laugh out loud. Funniest ever. And so I very recently just started watching Friends before going to bed.

And I go to bed too late because it just keeps rolling into the next episode and I'm like, "Oh, yeah. Wait, what happened? " Because I didn't see all of them.

So you don't know what happened in some of the episodes. I kind of do, but it's a surprise. Yeah.

No, it's a surprise. So you When did you start doing this again? Were you watch it before you go to bed?

Like this last month. Oh, wow. Yeah.

Yeah. Really recently. Really recently.

Yeah. And I don't mind myself and sometimes even laugh, but it feels like I'm laughing at what she did. It's so nuts.

It makes sense though. You're able to take a step back at this point and appreciate it maybe a little more. Yeah, I think so.

But absolutely everybody is making me laugh. Like, oh my god, Jennifer so good. Courtney's so funny.

Holy cow. Matt Leblanc. Everything he says.

Unbelievable. Yeah. You know, and then Matthew, come on.

That's laugh out loud. Every time he opens his mouth, you know, and Schwimmer, every take is just the look on his face. ever.

Yeah. It's just funny. Look at me going through as if I'm gonna I want to introduce you to this thing.

It's a show that I discovered called Friends. Called Friends. Because as you're saying this, in my mind, I'm going, "Yeah, she's discovering what we knew all along.

" I know. Yeah. It's got to sound weird.

Yeah. Could you see Will there ever be another reunion of the cast? I don't know.

I don't think so. I don't know. It Who knows?

You never know like why or how maybe it would make sense. I don't know right now. I don't think it does.

You obviously you've revisited Valerie. Could you revisit Phoebe? I don't know.

That's a good question. But it's not out of the realm of possibility. It's not out of the realm.

I mean, they're even talking about revisiting Romy and Michelle. They're not talking about it. I heard that you're actually starting to shoot over the summer.

Alan Cummings said that. Oh, really? Yes.

Oh my god, that's thrilling. Is there truth to that? Are you guys starting to shoot this summer?

Well, no, not No. Oh, but but there the script I laughed out loud. So, it's it's a positive times, is it?

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's it's in the works.

Let's see if it works out, you know. But, yeah, that might happen. is that okay?

I'll just do things I did before, you know. Um, do you think could you see going back to Valerie in another 10 years? I don't know.

Every question I'm going to ask you, no answer for you. Are these hypotheticals? Yes.

Yeah. I mean, I felt like, you know, Michael and I talked about this that third and final make it a trilogy. So, it's just a nice piece chronicling it turns out every the changing landscape of television, right?

That seems fair enough. And you did say final final. Yeah.

So, you feel like this is it? I do. I don't know.

Yes, I do. I'm not being koi. I'm not It's just because who knows?

But to me, yes. of this iteration. Yeah, I think this is it.

And that feels good. Okay, great. Yeah, it's a complete package.

How often do you get that? No, I know. I know.

Yeah.