What Made ‘Friends’ Such a Phenomenal Success? Lisa Kudrow Breaks Down the Show’s Real Magic
The cast of the hugely popular ‘90s sitcom Friends was composed of some of the greatest comedic actors of their generation, and while they’re all still best known for their work on that project, they’ve all been involved in some great movies and TV shows since the show ended. Friends’s final season ended in 2004 after ten years of immense success, and while several of the actors could have easily never worked again, all six members of the main cast produced some of their best work in the years that followed.
In recent years, Friends has seen another huge surge in popularity since it’s been added to streaming services like Netflix across the world, introducing the show to a whole new generation and giving these actors’ careers another big boost. It’s undeniably one of the best sitcoms ever made, and while the actors will always be associated with these lovable characters, they all have iconic roles in other projects too.
10
The Morning Show (2019 – present)
Starring Jennifer Aniston
The Morning Show is a drama series on Apple TV+ that centers around the crew of a popular TV news network whose careers are placed in jeopardy when a male anchor is accused of sexual misconduct and removed from the show. Jennifer Aniston’s protagonist Alex Levy is forced to adapt to the new environment of the network, placed alongside another female reporter whose impulsive behavior causes off-air problems.
The Morning Show is one of Aniston’s most renowned projects in the years since Friends ended, gathering huge amounts of popularity for its authentic and grounded approach to real-world news issues in a way that’s both informative and entertaining. Her performance as Alex Levy is one of her best, and the show even features a Friends guest star in Reese Witherspoon, who played Aniston’s on-screen sister in the sitcom.
9
Madagascar (2005)
Starring David Schwimmer
Despite its fairly outlandish premise, Madagascar quickly became a huge success and cemented itself as one of the most lucrative animated projects in recent memory. The film spawned a range of sequels and spin-offs that have all been equally successful, with some branches of the franchise still in development today. The movie centers around a group of talking animals from the New York City Zoo who escape their enclosures and board a one-way ship to Madagascar.
David Schwimmer voices the character of Melman, an eccentric giraffe whose bold antics often cause trouble for his other friends to clean up. The character played a large role in the first three Madagascar movies, with Schwimmer’s vocal performance giving the figure a strong personality that audiences immediately connected with.
8
Cougar Town (2010-2015)
Starring Courteney Cox
Cougar Town was Courteney Cox’s big return to TV sitcoms following the conclusion of Friends, and while it never quite reached the same heights, it was still a resounding success that finally gave the actress an opportunity to step into the spotlight and have her character lead the story. The narrative followed her protagonist Jules, a recently divorced mother who finds trouble navigating the world of modern dating.
The on-screen chemistry between Perry and Cox hadn’t changed a bit, and although his arrival came unfortunately close to the end of Cougar Town, it was still a treat to see the pair acting alongside each other again.
Incidentally, Cougar Town also served as a much-needed Friends reunion, with Matthew Perry joining the show’s fifth season as Jules’ love interest, Sam. The on-screen chemistry between Perry and Cox hadn’t changed a bit, and although his arrival came unfortunately close to the end of Cougar Town, it was still a treat to see the pair acting alongside each other again.
7
Episodes (2011-2017)
Starring Matt LeBlanc
Matt LeBlanc was technically the last Friends cast member to leave his character behind, as he starred on the spin-off series Joey for two seasons, whose finale marked his departure from television for a while. However, LeBlanc ultimately returned with Episodes, one of LeBlanc’s best roles and another creative sitcom where the actor plays a fictionalized version of himself.
The story centers around two comedy writers named Sean and Beverly who travel to Hollywood in the hopes of getting their popular British sitcom remade for an American audience. Episodes draws much of its comedy from the differences between British and American humor, with LeBlanc mastering the slapstick comedy that made him so popular in Friends. Playing himself turned out to be Matt LeBlanc’s recipe for success – because no character could have been quite as funny as the actor really was.
6
Marley & Me (2008)
Starring Jennifer Aniston
Another of Aniston’s most popular works, Marley & Me has since developed a reputation as one of those movies that always makes the audience cry. The story follows a married couple, played by Aniston and Owen Wilson, who adopt a young puppy and instantly fall in love with him. But when their lives grow more hectic and their first child comes along, the couple is forced to reckon with their growing distance from the canine in the final years of his life.
Marley & Me features some of Aniston’s best work since leaving Rachel Green behind.
Marley & Me is a hugely emotional film that really emphasizes how important pets can be in our lives, even though we don’t always acknowledge it. Wilson and Aniston have excellent on-screen chemistry, and their rapport with Marley is even more charming to watch. It’s a real tearjerker, but Marley & Me features some of Aniston’s best work since leaving Rachel Green behind.
wen Wilson, who adopt a young puppy and instantly fall in love with him. But when their lives grow more hectic and their first child comes along, the couple is forced to reckon with their growing distance from the canine in the final years of his life.
Marley & Me features some of Aniston’s best work since leaving Rachel Green behind.
Marley & Me is a hugely emotional film that really emphasizes how important pets can be in our lives, even though we don’t always acknowledge it. Wilson and Aniston have excellent on-screen chemistry, and their rapport with Marley is even more charming to watch. It’s a real tearjerker, but Marley & Me features some of Aniston’s best work since leaving Rachel Green behind.
5
17 Again (2009)
Starring Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry may have done the least on-screen work following the success of Friends, but those few projects that he did complete were some of the funniest work of his entire career. 17 Again was a clear standout of the actor’s filmography, telling the story of a regretful man who wishes to return to his 17-year-old self. When his wish comes true, protagonist Mike O’Donnell takes the opportunity to help those around him, learn more about himself, and save his relationship with his ex-wife.
Zac Efron, who plays Perry’s 17-year-old self, worked with Perry to make sure he had Perry’s mannerisms and movements down.
While 17 Again isn’t a perfect movie, the character of Mike O’Donnell was one of Matthew Perry’s best roles (outside of Chandler Bing). The character’s regrets and bitterness allow the film to offer some touching and important commentary on the fleeting nature of time, reminding audiences that we only get one life and it’s our job to live it to its fullest extent.
4
The Whole Nine Yards (2000)
Starring Matthew Perry
The Whole Nine Yards is one of the few movies that Matthew Perry made during his tenure on Friends, and it was a huge success. The film centers around his protagonist Nicholas, who considers himself in grave danger when he realizes that his new neighbor is an infamous contract killer. The movie also features an excellent performance from Bruce Willis, who has unrivaled on-screen chemistry with Perry.
Interestingly, Bruce Willis also made a guest appearance on Friends as the father of Ross’ girlfriend Elizabeth (and later Rachel’s short-term lover), and the whole storyline came around as a result of Willis’ bet with Matthew Perry. The former was confident that The Whole Nine Yards would be a commercial failure, wagering with Perry that he’d appear on Friends for free if he was proven wrong.
3
Booksmart (2019)
Featuring Lisa Kudrow
Although it’s not a lead role, Lisa Kudrow’s appearance in Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart is some of the funniest and most entertaining work the actress has provided since the end of Friends. She plays Charmaine Antsler, the mother of Kaitlyn Dever’s protagonist Amy. The actress only appears in a few scenes, but she perfectly embodies the stereotype of an overprotective mother who’s way too involved in her daughter’s personal affairs.
Kudrow’s role in the film is very different from her turn as Phoebe Buffay, ditching the carefree nonchalance of her Friends character for a hilariously intrusive gossip instead.
Booksmart follows two young girls, Amy and Molly, who try to make up for lost time on the night before graduation and let loose at the school party. But the girls quickly realize that they’re not suited for the sorority lifestyle and tensions begin to grow between the pair, who blame each other for their respective social ineptitude. Kudrow’s role in the film is very different from her turn as Phoebe Buffay, ditching the carefree nonchalance of her Friends character for a hilariously intrusive gossip instead.
2
Band Of Brothers (2001)
Starring David Schwimmer
Band of Brothers is a totally different kind of project for David Schwimmer, who filmed this intense war drama during the height of Friends’ fame at the turn of the century. The minseries depicts the true story of Easy Company, an airborne division of the American military in the final years of the Second World War. The show uses an innovative combination of archive footage, dramatic recreations, and voice recounts to create an immersive portrait of the lives of these soldiers.
Band of Brothers was nominated for a whopping 20 Emmys in 2002, winning seven.
Band of Brothers is one of the best miniseries ever made, and it’s completely different from anything else the Friends cast were doing at the time. It’s not comedic in the slightest, but rather it gives Schwimmer an opportunity to display his more dramatic acting capabilities, which is something that Friends rarely gave him an opportunity to do.
1
Scream (1996)
Starring Courteney Cox
While Monica Geller will always be Courteney Cox’s most famous role, her turn as Gale Weathers in the Scream franchise is certainly her second. The original movie was an instant classic of the genre, commenting fondly on the state of horror movies while parodying all the tropes that had made them so popular in the ‘80s and ‘90s. It’s funny, it’s scary, but most of all, it’s absolutely captivating.
Scream is filled with interesting characters and gripping mysteries that keep the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish, before allowing all the narrative threads to resolve in one of the most exciting final-act twists ever written. It’s a masterclass in horror storytelling, and Cox serves as one of the only grounded, adult characters in a sea of laughably selfish and stereotypical teens who embody the pulp spirit of ‘90s slashers. It’s clear she pulled a bit of Friends’ Monica into her role and it made it all the better.
