Lisa Kudrow Admits Getting Annoyed With Friends Audience For ‘Laughing Too Much’: ‘It Wasn’t That Funny’

As a dedicated fan and avid viewer of Friends, I can’t help but feel a deep connection to Lisa Kudrow‘s recent revelation about her frustration with the live studio audience during filming. Her honesty about the impact their prolonged laughter had on her experience resonates with me, as it sheds light on the behind-the-scenes challenges that went into creating one of my all-time favorite TV shows.


Lisa Kudrow, famously recognized for portraying Phoebe Buffay in the popular NBC sitcom Friends, discussed an unexpected issue she encountered while filming, sharing her experience on the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast according to Variety. In simpler terms, Lisa shared that the live audience during Friends tapings sometimes bothered her.

She shared that their prolonged laughter seemed overly lengthy to her. “They had been laughing for far too long, and it wasn’t really amusing to me,” Kudrow expressed, growing annoyed. “Their reaction didn’t feel genuine and it grated on me. Now you’re throwing off the pacing of the rest of the scene. There are important lines coming up.”

During all ten seasons of Friends, Kudrow found the excessive enthusiasm of the audience interrupting the rhythm of the scenes. Her annoyance led her to speak out, addressing the audience directly with a frustrated “Come on.” She admitted to feeling truly angry when the laughter persisted longer than she had anticipated.

Lisa Kudrow explained the impact on filming and timing

Prolonged bouts of laughter from the audience significantly affected the making of Friends. According to Kudow, filming an episode could last up to eight hours, although each installment was merely 30 minutes long. The challenging production process was further complicated by having to re-take scenes due to audience feedback. “Sometimes I’d glance out and think, ‘Let’s move on,'” Kudow expressed, “and say something like, ‘Hurry up.'”

The actress clarified that the production was mainly created with home viewers in mind, rather than a live studio audience. She emphasized that a TV show exists primarily for the enjoyment of people watching at home and that is who they cater to.

During her discussion, she pointed out that if it were a live theater production, long bouts of laughter from the audience wouldn’t pose as big a problem since actors could adapt their performances on the spot. In contrast, prolonged reactions from television viewers can throw off the pacing and synchronization of scenes being recorded.

The effect on writers and production

Kudrow additionally discussed how feedback from the audience could shape the script and filming process. With each take, as the laughter from the viewers subsided, writers concluded that the content wasn’t resonating and requested modifications. This pattern could lead to more extended shooting periods and heightened tension for the cast and crew.

Although there were challenges with the material during rehearsals, Kudrow insisted that it shone best during the initial performance. She proposed using the same laugh track from the first take for subsequent takes instead of fretting over the audience’s dwindling response.

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2024-07-24 11:37