Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow revisit abandoned ‘Friends’ rewatch podcast idea
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actress Jennifer Aniston and co-star Lisa Kudrow revisited a long-abandoned idea of creating a 'Friends' rewatch podcast, reflecting on the concept during a recent on-air conversation.
The actors spoke about the shelved project during the season premiere of Variety's 'Actors on Actors' on Wednesday, June 3, where they looked back at the idea of rewatching episodes of the iconic sitcom together and sharing behind-the-scenes memories.
Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow revisit shelved 'Friends' rewatch podcast idea
The conversation began when Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay on 'Friends', brought up the idea they had once discussed years ago.
“Remember, we were gonna do a rewatch podcast thing?” Kudrow asked.
Aniston quickly responded, recalling the same conversation, “Remember, we were gonna do that!” Kudrow then clarified, “not a podcast but a thing.”
Aniston added that the plan involved going “through the episodes” together and said, “That was a great idea,” while reflecting on why it never moved forward.
The exchange highlighted a project that was seriously discussed at one point but never developed further.
Earlier this year, Kudrow also spoke about revisiting memories from the sitcom during an appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live', sharing how rewatching episodes brought back unexpected moments from filming.
She recalled texting actor Matt LeBlanc after rewatching a scene from 'Friends' that still made her laugh, referencing an episode featuring Alec Baldwin titled 'The One in Massapequa'.
She described a moment where Joey misinterprets an oyster thrown on the floor as something else entirely, leading to one of the show’s memorable comedic misunderstandings.
“I started crying, I was laughing so hard,” Kudrow.
Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow reflect on celebrity guest stars in 'Friends'
During their 'Actors on Actors' discussion, Aniston and Kudrow also spoke about the many high-profile guest stars who appeared throughout the sitcom’s 10-season run.
Aniston noted that many well-known actors who appeared on the show often arrived feeling nervous despite their fame.
“The movie stars that came on Friends: Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Isabella Rossellini — we had so many — Sean Penn. They were always nervous,” Aniston said. “Remember? I always found it fascinating how nervous they were.”
Kudrow agreed, pointing out that the tone of the show was difficult to define for newcomers.
“Well, because what's the tone?” she said. “It's not theater; it's for TV. It's not a movie. What the hell is this? And it's a good question. And I remember someone asked one time. I didn't know how to explain it, so I said, 'Oh, just talk louder. Same intention, just [louder].'”
Aniston also reflected on her early transition into film while still starring on 'Friends', joking about projecting more energy in her early movie roles, including 'She's the One' and 'Picture Perfect'.
The conversation also turned nostalgic as they revisited Thanksgiving episodes, which often featured major guest appearances and became some of the show’s most popular installments.
One standout moment included Bruce Willis' Thanksgiving episode, which drew over 24 million viewers and remains one of the most-watched holiday specials from the series.
