Friends star Lisa Kudrow tells Jennifer Aniston show left her with ‘commitment issue’

Former ‘Friends’ co-stars reunited for a video chat

Lisa Kudrow says Friends left her with a “commitment issue” that has made it hard to get involved with other TV shows throughout the rest of her career.

The actor brought up the topic during a video chat with Jennifer Aniston for Variety.

Aniston was asking Kudrow whether she prefers to work “from the ground up” on a programme, or whether she’d rather be ”the guest family member” of an “already formed family”, ie joining an established cast.

“I like being the guest family member for the time. When I’m producing my own thing, that’s different, but I have a commitment issue since Friends, to be honest with you,” Kudrow said.

Aniston sympathised, telling Kudrow: “Just fear of committing to something because nothing will ever be as good as Friends? I understand.”

Kudrow then elaborated: “Friends, it’s not like, ‘Oh, it was such hard work for 10 years.’ It’s not that.

“It was that I know that show worked because we all committed to each other too. It wasn’t just committing to a role, committing to a contract. We all still love each other. ... That’s why that worked.”

Kudrow, who portrayed Phoebe Buffay over the show’s 10 seasons, said she doesn’t feel like she can “do that again” – and doesn’t intend to.

Both Aniston and Kudrow are set to participate in a planned Friends reunion with their other former co-stars – Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Matthew Perry.

The reunion special was supposed to be released in May, on time for HBO Max’s launch, but has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Executives are now looking to film it in August if possible.