Mom, I saw Dylan's dad make dinner, like actually cooked, and it was straight fire. He said it was Blue Apron Assemble and Bake. All the ingredients showed up pre-chopped, and he just laid it out on a baking sheet and no cap. Dinner was on the table in like 25 minutes. Apparently, it's chef design and it has like over 40 grams of protein.
That's a lot, right?
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Price and Coverage Match Limited by State Law. Mm-hmm. This is Jane Pauley. She rose to fame as Phoebe Buffet on Friends and remained in our lives in TV, streaming, and film roles for the last 20 years. Lisa Kudreau is back in an HBO series she first brought to us in 2005.
the comeback. And she's talking with Sunday Morning's Tracy Smith.
So Big picture question first.
Okay. 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 canceled right after the first season. Do you see that as a blessing?
Yeah. 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 it's 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 canceled 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. And it, okay, so now they're not going to. Spend that and then 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 poly G. Not that showrunners were never abusive before that, but mine weren't, by the way. I have to always say that because that was right after Friends.
And that was not anything close to my experience on Friends, okay?
Okay. It wasn't. And But we had other writers in the writer's room, and they had all worked with at least two or three poly Gs.
So, you heard from writers. In the writer's room, I was mortified by the stories because I kept saying, well, this is too much, right? And they went, uh. No, at least Polly G doesn't have a gun.
So that's but yeah, like, but 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. Peace.
And they're stuck. And It's been such a great opportunity to examine what's going on. Ten years later, it's that premium cable half hour. Edgy, gritty. Dramedy.
thing, which I guess come back is Kind of a dramedy, you know, depending on the episode you're watching. And she's in the middle of that too, and ends up doing good work. But also, yeah, I mean. And then 10 years after that, Everyone is terrified 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 to You don't need fifteen, you need maybe six. And then 10 years after that, it's again halved. They are.
If the writer is not writing them all. themselves then you only need a couple more.
So, what else can you, what can you tell us about season three? 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.
Sorry. 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 concept of AI. She's not analyzing what AI means for society.
It's just, oh, 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 and out. That's you see that. In episode two.
But you know, so there uh 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.
No, 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. Kind of flattering.
So I was like, can I get a haircut? Like, how do I, could I?
Well, 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. You know, and just throughout the years, you know, Valerie just pops in. 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 Yeah. I don't know. Yeah, or that's okay.
Probably better to stay home, watch a movie. Get cozy. Yeah, it's it's like a weird she comes into 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 l not at first. 'Cause 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. Yeah. 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 r 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. 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 company. Look at me as if I'm in a court of law. That's what allegedly. Allegedly.
That's what we're doing. To the best of my knowledge. No, we're going to go with that. That would be all I'd need to. Are there aliens?
Well, I heard there were, but I haven't seen them. I haven't seen them. Yeah, I haven't seen them. Not in Area 51. I heard David Bowie.
What was a fan of the show? Yeah. 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. He was in the holding, one of the holding rooms, and I saw him, and I was tired, okay? Valerie cherishes 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 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 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.
He's the tech guy. On set. All right, fair enough. Yeah. He's and he's good.
That's so cool. I think. Right? Because I can imagine you're sitting there in the table reading. You have to focus on your own lines, but also it's your baby's everything.
Yeah, and also perfect for the part. Perfect. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And is there something full circle to happen? I mean, he was. In your belly for friends. Yes, on stage 24, where we were shooting.
The Sitcon. How's that for the comeback? Yeah. Yeah, and then there he is. And it wasn't till his very last day that I remembered.
Wait, I have a picture of you and 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 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 I needed a bathroom break, I went up to my old dressing room that was mine for the last five years. of friends. Just 'cause I felt like, well, it's mine.
I'm allowed. Yeah. 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. A little. I say a little. Yeah. Maybe more than a little.
Maybe more. Emotional. It did, yeah. Yeah, I mean that's amazing. My nose is running now.
I don't cry, but my nose runs. And I would imagine Gratitude. For these moments. Yes. Yeah.
Definitely. Yeah. I mean, but I you know what? I I Look, I'm going to say, no, I've always stayed in gratitude, but I kind of have. I really have.
I mean, I never went through that Mm-hmm. 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?
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?
Well 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. And it 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. Yeah. Because he went by Michael. And and said, we want to have Mickey you know, have cancer in this. And Mike, I'll call him Mickey, said, yes, but please.
Don't let him die. Right. And Michael said, no, he won't die. He won't die. 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 it. Because whenever Michael Patrick King and I would get together in the 10 years in between, 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.
Okay. Mm-mm. Don't know how to do it without Mickey. No. No, no, no, no, no, no.
And um Also And then there was a An idea worthy. you know. But also Good. There's no 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 doesn't even make sense to me.
So how do we do it? Yeah. Yeah. Two questions. I guess first, how were you able to move on to do it?
I guess enough time had passed, and Michael Patrick King. She's offered a sin lead in 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 Bloys, who's head of HBO Max and You know, and said, Oh, by the way, for the comeback, we have an idea, and told him, and In Casey said, oh, do it, do it now. Before.
Right, because you're always just a little bit ahead of what's actually happening, so you. 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.
A sitcom written by AI. There's enough, I don't know, but it feels like there's enough sort of. Lawsuits around writing. in AI to keep it at bay. For a bit.
For a little bit, yeah. It's not totally forbidden. Yeah. But yeah. But to the level that 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. Which 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? Oh yeah.
Because in preparation of this, I rewought, I re-watched, yeah, everything and um. Yeah, but for me it stayed in the context of So, yeah. Also, you know, our first day of season two. With we were shooting with Michael, Robert Michael Morris, Mickey, and you know, he's And he You 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. And 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. We'll make sure you're going to 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 as would be predicted. What are you doing?
And he 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.
Uh victory. Yeah, it's fine. He was fine. He had more energy by the end of it than when we started. Wow.
Yeah. We'll have more from our Sunday morning extended interview after this break. Hey, Sal. Hank, what's going on? We haven't worked a case in years.
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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, Are there I can't think of Another legendary Mm-hmm. Sure.
Okay. director of television comedies. Aside from Jimmy Burroughs.
So How fantastic that he agreed to do 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, it's not you no, you can't do that. It's not funny. You can't.
So It's perfect in that he would This time, though, we have him He's in three episodes.
So That's all you're gonna say. That's all I'm gonna 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 shares? And Jimmy would explain, well, they're both important, but the share, he 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. Yeah.
All together to bond and had us 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? Hmm. Yeah. 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 probably a pretty good survival skill too, right? Just, I don't know.
Let's see. Maybe that's an okay helping mechanism too. Maybe. Or maybe I'm an idiot. Yeah, 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 really unpleasant because they're yelling at you. That was the first time. Like, why are they yelling at us? 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 mean, I.
I don't know. didn't play that game, but you you didn't play that game.
Well, you kind of 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. Uh-huh.
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 me. 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. 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. You know, when you look back now, does it seem a little nutty?
I would never do it. No. Yeah. 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 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 laughing, postpartum depression.
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 Yeah. Yeah, you gotta 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. Everything else just has to accommodate it.
Um That really was sort of the ethos.
Okay. at that time. Yeah. Yeah, it's true. And this is the comeback talks about this, that 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, It's not as cringe. And why do you think that is?
Well, first of all, because we have some kind of context for reality TV. 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. And there was survivor, but.
an amazing race, but they 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. And also Yeah. The thing I felt like When we were shooting it, it's 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 just went, ah. What? Why?
It wasn't hard for one second. Like emotionally hurt? 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. Because 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.
Okay. 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 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 between man, woman? I mean, it's a. I don't understand the difference.
Women are ambitious too. You know, and women have their priorities can be off also.
So, I don't understand 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.
Okay. So That's why, and that was depressing. to me. that she was seen as a victim and that that spoke to something like her. 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. 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, yeah. Everybody's Valerie shares, essentially, now. Yeah. Uh-huh. Yeah, that's a little sort of underlying.
Note. in this season. We're all Valerie Cherish. Yeah. Go back for a second.
When you went to school to Vassar for biology. You were headed on a totally different path. And I'm thinking about this. 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. 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? Take it one to add. Not grown up, but I couldn't respect it.
Mm now. No. And who, it was sort of like an older, old timey mindset of. No, I want, you know. I want my future husband to take me seriously, you know, and needs to know I'm smart.
Yeah. 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, ooh, I don't want to have any regrets. 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'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 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, ooh, 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.
Okay. 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 gonna keep let's see When happens. Yeah. When you auditioned for Phoebe, could you At that moment, know, did you know this is a character I can lean into? I got this.
Huh.
Well, 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. It sounds like I have a thing about James Burroughs, but he has this great quote where he says, The caste was a gift from God. Did you feel like that caste 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.
Ooh, 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 at the table read, short, he fulfilled every expectation I had. Everyone was great. Matthew Perry, as Chandler, that was the last person to be cast.
I couldn't figure out what Chandler sounded like when reading it. I thought Chandler was a gay character. I thought Chandler was the gay character. And then Matthew Perry is Chandler, and it was, I never saw that coming. Miles away, never saw that coming.
Hilarious. Oh my god. Yeah. That was like revelatory. Matthew Perry.
What do you think it was about the two of you that clicked as friends? The two of me and Matthew Perry. Oh, what a 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. From my point of view, that he got me was great. Yeah, that was really nice. Yeah, and also, yeah, I mean, we were all laughing at everything. Matthew said, and we were laughing at each other.
This was like a puppy's. 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, eh, went, went, went, 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? 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 n is It's the worst thing you can do. In the arts.
And that's where you figured that out on the friends set? Yeah. Yeah. Yes, they were right. It's got to be light fun.
It's just got to be light. Fun, relaxing. Yeah. 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, 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.
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've realized that how much friends means to people. 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 hoof. 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 And oh, shall we have 20-something 30-year-old show.
The technology is different, all of that. But I do feel like there's this unconscious nostalgia for. Connection.
So And that's what it is. 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. But then when Matthew passed away, there were marathons and I watched it and it really did comfort me.
And I wa 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 watched, like during COVID, I discovered Everybody Loves Raymond and Big Bang Theory. 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 'cause 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. Yeah. So you, when did you start doing this again, where you watch it before you go to bed?
Like this last month. Oh, wow. Yeah, yeah, really recently. Really recently. Yeah.
Don't mind myself. And sometimes even laugh. But it feels like I'm laughing at what she did. Sure.
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 LeBlant, everything he says. Unbelievable.
Yeah, I 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. Yeah. It's just funny.
Look at me going through as if I want to introduce you to this thing. It's a show that I discovered called Friends. Friends. Because as you're saying this, in my mind, I'm going, yeah, she's discovering what we knew all along. Yeah, it's got to sound weird, yeah.
Could you see, will there ever be another reunion of the caste? I don't know, I don't think so. I don't know. Thank you. Who knows?
You never know. Like Why or how maybe it would Makes 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.
Out of the realm. I mean, they're even talking about revisiting Romy and Michelle. They're not. 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 the script, I laughed out loud.
So it's it's a positive times. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's in the works. Let's see if it works out. You know, but Yeah.
That might happen.
Okay, I'll just do things I did before. You know. Yeah. 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. Peace. chronicling it turns out. Every the 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 coy. 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. I'm Jane Pauley. Thank you for listening.
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