Lisa Kudrow on New Netflix Series, "No Good Deed" (January 2025)

Summary

Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist: Episode Featuring Lisa Kudrow

Release Date: May 11, 2025
Guest: Lisa Kudrow
Topic: Discussing Lisa Kudrow's New Netflix Series "No Good Deed" and Reflections on Her Career

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1. Introduction and Background

Willie Geist opens the conversation by celebrating Lisa Kudrow as a true icon of American television. He highlights her role as Phoebe Buffay on the landmark show "Friends," noting the show's unprecedented success over its ten-season run on NBC.

Willie Geist [01:40]: "She played Phoebe Buffay, one of six friends on one of the biggest shows in the history of television that ran for 10 seasons on NBC."

Willie also shares an interesting trivia: Lisa Kudrow is one of only two cast members from "Friends" to win an Emmy during the show's tenure.

Willie Geist [01:40]: "Lisa is one of only two friends to actually win the Emmy over the 10 seasons of that show."

2. Discussing "Friends" and Its Impact

The conversation delves into "Friends," exploring Lisa’s journey before landing the iconic role, the audition process, and the unexpected fame that followed.

Lisa Kudrow [02:06]: "The individual Emmys anyway."

Willie notes the deep camaraderie among the cast members, emphasizing how they supported each other through the whirlwind of success.

Willie Geist [02:08]: "Everything that was happening in their lives and the way the six of them kind of circled up and protected each other and went through this new thing together."

3. Introducing "No Good Deed"

Shifting focus to her new project, Willie Geist introduces "No Good Deed," a Netflix series co-starring Ray Romano. The show centers around a married couple, portrayed by Lisa and Ray, who are selling a house filled with secrets.

Willie Geist [02:08]: "But we talk a lot about Friends, but also about this amazing new series on Netflix she has called No Good Deed, which she co-stars with Ray Romano."

Lisa describes the series as a blend of mystery, humor, and tragedy, highlighting Liz Feldman’s role in crafting the narrative.

Lisa Kudrow [04:50]: "The show is a mystery for all these different people. People who have secrets and they're sort of. They're all brought together around this one house that is the most beautiful house... But the house itself is holding secrets, too."

4. Collaboration with Ray Romano and the Cast

The discussion shifts to Lisa's collaboration with Ray Romano and other cast members, including Dennis Leary and Linda Cardellini. Lisa shares her excitement about working with seasoned actors and the dynamics on set.

Lisa Kudrow [07:38]: "I love that Ray says the same thing on the other side. He said, 'Lisa's gonna be in this. Let's do it.' It was kind of a sign me up on both ends."

She also reflects on the ensemble nature of both "Friends" and "Everybody Loves Raymond," drawing parallels in their collaborative environments.

Lisa Kudrow [08:16]: "We never did. But you do cross paths with people. I think it's an okay assumption to make."

5. The Evolving Acting Industry

Willie and Lisa discuss the significant changes in the television industry over the past two decades, particularly the shift towards shorter seasons and the impact of streaming platforms.

Willie Geist [12:18]: "Does the business as an actor feel different to you than it did 20 years ago?"

Lisa Kudrow [12:23]: "It feels a lot different to me than it did 20 years ago... a huge reduction in the amount of work there is for absolutely everybody in the industry."

Lisa expresses adaptability to the new format, showing enthusiasm for storytelling within the constraints of eight-episode seasons.

Lisa Kudrow [13:09]: "Yeah, it's fine with me."

6. Reflections on Career and Fame

The conversation turns introspective as Lisa shares her strategies for handling fame, maintaining a grounded personal life, and keeping family out of the public eye.

Lisa Kudrow [38:04]: "Honestly, it seems to me... you handled the fame part of it very well."

She credits her strong family foundation and long-term relationship with her husband for keeping her grounded amidst the pressures of stardom.

Lisa Kudrow [39:14]: "And my whole family's around and, you know, your family just keeps you humble, grounded."

7. "Friends" Through the Lens of Time and New Generations

Lisa discusses the enduring legacy of "Friends," noting how new generations continue to discover and adore the show through streaming services.

Lisa Kudrow [25:59]: "We were talking about streaming how there's an entirely new generation that has found Friends... my daughter's 17 years old and she and her friends watch Friends."

She expresses joy in connecting with fans of all ages and the universal appeal of the characters.

Lisa Kudrow [26:12]: "Yeah, I do. I mean, I don't. A new generation... that's nice to be that age."

8. Career Beginnings and Transition to Acting

Lisa opens up about her early career aspirations and the pivotal moments that led her to television acting. She recounts her skepticism about show business and how encouragement from friends and mentors shifted her path.

Lisa Kudrow [29:23]: "I had to really just let it go. And I'm still always working on that."

She reflects on her initial auditions and the challenges she faced, including the unique experience of auditioning for "Friends" while other cast members did not.

Lisa Kudrow [34:26]: "And you auditioned for Jimmy Burroughs?"

Lisa Kudrow [35:06]: "I thought, I can trust him, right? I can trust him, right?"

9. Launching "No Good Deed"

The final segment focuses on the creation and development of "No Good Deed." Lisa shares the spontaneous yet serendipitous process of conceiving the show idea over lunch with Michael Patrick King, leading to its greenlighting by HBO.

Lisa Kudrow [40:10]: "We wrote the first episode in just a very short time."

She marvels at the show's evolution, balancing grounded comedy with dark, compelling narratives, and praises the writing and production team.

Lisa Kudrow [42:30]: "Yeah, it turns out that is really different... it's like, oh, but there's like heavy. Okay. Yeah. That's a challenge."

10. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Willie wraps up the interview by congratulating Lisa on her ongoing projects and encouraging listeners to watch "No Good Deed" on Netflix. Lisa expresses her gratitude and excitement about the new series, reaffirming her passion for diverse and challenging roles.

Willie Geist [42:58]: "My big thanks again, Lisa, for a great conversation. You can check out her show, No Good Deed on Netflix."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Willie Geist [01:40]: "She played Phoebe Buffay, one of six friends on one of the biggest shows in the history of television that ran for 10 seasons on NBC."

• Lisa Kudrow [04:22]: "It's exciting. And then a little, you know, you don't want to make too many assumptions. So you hope people think it's as compelling as I do."

• Lisa Kudrow [07:38]: "I love that Ray says the same thing on the other side. He said, 'Lisa's gonna be in this. Let's do it.' It was kind of a sign me up on both ends."

• Lisa Kudrow [12:23]: "It feels a lot different to me than it did 20 years ago... a huge reduction in the amount of work there is for absolutely everybody in the industry."

• Lisa Kudrow [25:59]: "We were talking about streaming how there's an entirely new generation that has found Friends... my daughter's 17 years old and she and her friends watch Friends."

• Lisa Kudrow [38:04]: "Honestly, it seems to me... you handled the fame part of it very well."

• Lisa Kudrow [42:30]: "Yeah, it turns out that is really different... it's like, oh, but there's like heavy. Okay. Yeah. That's a challenge."

---

Final Notes

This episode provides an intimate glimpse into Lisa Kudrow's illustrious career, her experiences on "Friends," and her latest venture into producing compelling television with "No Good Deed." Listeners are treated to candid reflections on fame, the evolving entertainment industry, and the enduring impact of beloved television shows across generations.

For those who haven't listened to the episode, this summary encapsulates the essence of Lisa Kudrow's journey and her insights into crafting meaningful narratives in today's media landscape.

Transcript

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[Willie Geist]

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit down podcast. My thanks as always for clicking and listening along. Got a good one dialed up for you today with a true icon of American television, Ms. Lisa Kudrow.

[Lisa Kudrow]

Yeah, Lisa Kudrow, obviously.

[Willie Geist]

She played Phoebe Buffay, one of six friends on one of the biggest shows in the history of television that ran for 10 seasons on NBC. Fun fact, Lisa is one of only two friends to actually win the Emmy over the 10 seasons of that show. Jennifer Aniston won the Emmy for playing Rachel one year and Lisa won it for playing Phoebe another year. But that's it. Only two Emmys despite the massive success of the show.

[Lisa Kudrow]

The individual Emmys anyway.

[Willie Geist]

So obviously we get into Friends, that history of the show, what she was doing before she became a friend. Yes, she had a career before that, auditioning for that part, getting it the show starting in 1994 and then blowing up in ways none of them could ever have imagined. And the celebrity that came with all that, everything that was happening in their lives and the way the six of them kind of circled up and protected each other and went through this new thing together. She actually got married in the first season of the show in real Life. She got pregnant with a child in the fourth season of the show. So she was going through, it seems to me, and to hear her talk about it, more real life, family stuff that kept her really grounded through all this, while some of the others were kind of living more on that celebrity level. But we talk a lot about Friends, but also about this amazing new series on Netflix she has called no Good Deed, which she co stars with Ray Romano. Ray Romano. So you get two legends of the American sitcom pantheon co starring as husband and wife. Won't give away too much, and we can't even say that much in the interview, but basically, they're selling a house. They're a married couple, empty nesters, selling a house that is full of secrets. Some stuff has gone down in that house that you kind of learn about and figure out as the series goes on. And now they're trying to sell it. So I'll get out of the way. You know Lisa Kudrow, you love Lisa Kudrow. What else do you need to know? We're sitting at a big old restaurant at lunchtime, not open. So it's just the two of us in a big midtown Manhattan restaurant having a conversation about show business, about her career, and about her life. So sit back, relax right now and enjoy Lisa Kudrow on the Sunday Sit down podcast.

[Lisa Kudrow]

Lisa, it's so good to see you. Thanks for doing this.

Thanks for wanting to talk to me.

We're just alone in this cavernous restaurant together.

I like it.

It's. It's beautiful. Yeah, it's a beautiful room. Congratulations on no Good Deed, which, as of right now, as we sit here today, is available. People are like, they're home watching it right now. What does this day feel like? Day one. Something you work so hard on.

Yeah.

That you're proud of. That's really good because I've seen a bunch of it. What does it feel like to have it out in the world?

It's exciting. And then a little, you know, you don't want to make too many assumptions. So you hope people think it's as compelling as I do. Right. And I think it's pretty compelling. I watched the first episode and forgot I was in it and got drawn in and then by the end of it went, oh, but I can't wait to see the next episode.

Yes.

That doesn't happen a lot. So I thought that was a good sign.

That is a good sign if you remove yourself from it. Just enjoy it as a viewer. It is compelling, as you say. In fact, so compelling. We were just laughing. There's not that much you and I can sit here and say about it, because the twist happens early, and we're not gonna give that away, obviously. So I guess, broadly speaking, what can you say about what the show is and what it's about?

The show is a mystery for all these different people. People who have secrets and they're sort of. They're all brought together around this one house that is the most beautiful house. That feels like if you could live in this house, your life will be so good and. But the house itself is holding secrets, too. You come to find out and what. And it's funny. Yeah, it can be funny, definitely. And deeply tragic. Yeah, I think it's good. It's what Liz Feldman does. You know, she did Dead to Me. She created this show. And by the way, when I was told about no Good Deed, it was. It's on Netflix. It's Liz Feldman, who I said did Dead to Me. I love her. Yes. It's a yes. Oh, and Ray Romano, you know, that would be your husband. What? I mean, I've really wanted to work with Ray Romano for a long time, and I'd, like, watch him in. I keep saying, like, Paddlington or Paddington. It's not Paddington. Paddleton.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Sorry.

On Netflix. Was also on Netflix. And. And I just went, I would love to work with him, but I guess that will never happen. Yeah. And then I got to. With this. That was really good.

Yeah. I mean, for you who probably can pick and choose what she wants to do, what does it take to sort of commit? Cause this is a big commitment of time and energy and all the things that you do. What does it take at this point for you to say, yeah, I'm gonna invest in that.

Yeah. It's sort of like a party, like a game night at someone's house. And the host in this case, it's Liz Feldman, you know, and. Oh, I'm interested in being with her. And then, like, the games are the show, the genre, all of that. That's interesting to me. And then it's the other people who are gonna be there. It is kind of how I feel about it now.

I love that. Think of it as a game night.

A game night at someone's house. And it's like, oh, interesting. Interesting people will be there. Yeah, I'd like to see what that is.

And, you know, what I love is Ray says the same thing on the other side. He said, lisa's gonna be in this. Let's do it. It was kind of a sign me up on both ends.

Yeah.

I was interested to read, though. You guys didn't really know each other. I mean, there. I guess you would also.

He signed on before I did.

Okay.

He didn't know I was going to.

Well, he was excited. They were talking to you, I think, is what's nice.

Yeah, it would have been nice to hear him say that.

Yeah.

No, I'm kidding.

We'll find you a clip. But you guys didn't really know each other. I mean, I think there's some strange assumption by the public that because you were the stars of the biggest comedies of the last generation that you somehow would have crossed paths, but you never did.

We never did. But you do cross paths with people. I think it's an okay assumption to make. And we just never, ever did. And I. I forgot that we were on the same lot at Warner Brothers. In fact, they shot Everybody Loves Raymond on our. We shot on that stage our first season of Friends.

Oh, really?

Yeah. And. And, yeah, I for. I forgot that they had been there. So, you know, when he first said we were on the same lot, and I just went, were we? So now forever. She didn't even know we were there.

Right.

No, I did. I forgot.

But you're sort of each in your own world with your show, right? You're not like.

Yeah. I mean, we, you know, the six of us didn't really leave the stage after a certain point. Yeah.

Right.

Yeah.

So with Lydia, your character, a no good deed you mentioned, sort of. She's funny and there are moments of humor, but there is a darkness.

Yeah.

Not that you haven't done that in your career, but you're so well known for being so great at comedy. Does that interest you a little more because of that other dimension to it?

It did in that it was grounded, you know, so. Because that's also what Liz Feldman does. She wants. There are things happening that are kind of extreme or excessive, you know, but it's really happening. So, yeah, that's what she needs. It's what it feels like when she does something so that you can buy it. You buy what's happening. But then that's what I was saying. Not about how much I want. Not about how much I want to work with Liz Feldman, but that. That's what she does. And also then it's like teasing out information in a way that makes you want to say, oh, that. Oh, I thought it was. Oh, okay, let's. So you kind of want to see more.

It's fun and this show definitely pulls a new string in every episode. You go, oh, we're going that way. Oh, he's that. Or she's that. So to summarize, what we can say is it's a show about real estate in Los Angeles and things go south, kind of. That's all we can say.

Yeah. I mean. Yeah.

How fun was the group? I mean, you've worked in incredible ensembles, but, you know, you talked about Ray, but Dennis Leary you're working with.

Yeah, he's so great.

Wilson. I mean, it's an amazing cast as well. How much fun did you have having experienced such closeness with cast in the past?

It was really fun and closer than I thought we'd get, you know, because. Yeah, there's no guarantee of, you know, this continuing, you know, until. Until, you know, it does. If it does. I don't know. But. So people don't tend to like Bond too much, you know.

Interesting.

But no, I mean, I think we were all just so thrilled to be working together and meeting. I didn't. I had never met Linda Cardellini.

She's great.

I hadn't met anybody in the cast except for Abby Jacobson, who I am friends with. I know. She's so great. She's funny.

Very funny.

And it was just, to me, like, oh, phew. Everyone like me wants this to be a fun, pleasant experience and we're going to get along and we're gonna become friends. And. Yeah.

I'm curious to what extent you feel like that experience you just described changed over the years. Obviously, Friends was its own thing. Live, studio audience, all. All that. But the comeback maybe was a little bit more like this. By that, I mean, these streaming shows that commit resources and almost have, like, a cinematic quality to them.

Right.

Does the business as an actor feel different to you than it did 20 years ago?

It feels a lot different to me than it did 20 years ago. I mean, now there's almost no such thing, or very, very few shows that are more than 10 episodes. So, I mean, that's a huge reduction in the amount of work there is for absolutely everybody in the industry. Right. Writers, actors, everyone in Ayatsi, you know, So I think that's a tough one, but I don't know what to do about it.

Right, right. I mean, as an actor, do you like, though, telling a story in eight episodes instead of 22 or whatever? Friends.

Yeah, it's fine with me.

Yeah.

I mean, if I. I even knew, because we were friends with the ER cast and their hours compared to our hours, and we Put in hours, make no mistakes, you know, on our show. But not like, not like the hour long shows. And I thought, oh, I don't know if I could ever do that. That's too much.

Right.

It's simply too much, you know, and we would all go away and do movies and come back and go, well, that was for the birds. This is great, you know. Yeah. Rehearsing all week and then we shoot.

Right.

And it's like we were doing 24 episodes a season, but that's. There's only a couple of those.

I know.

Now I know. Yeah. So what all to say, I'm sorry, everybody who can use more work, but it's fine for me to do like.

Eight episodes and maybe it makes up for a little bit just by the volume of content that's out there because of all these streamers. There are so many more shows and places, hopefully people can work.

No, I feel like there's been a.

Contraction, but since the network days. Right, right. Since. Yeah, since streaming took off.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Willie Geist]

Hey, guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Lisa Kudrow right after the break.

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[Lisa Kudrow]

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[Lisa Kudrow]

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Willie Geist]

Welcome back. Now more of my conversation with Lisa Kudrow.

[Lisa Kudrow]

It was interesting to hear you say you sort of gone back recently. Speaking of Ray and friends going back and watching some of those shows. You said you never watched Everybody Loves Raymond until Covid and you said, you know what? I've heard great things. I should watch this show.

Let me see. Yeah, I'm tense. I'd like to relax. And I mean, I was laughing out loud and that's a big deal if I'm watching something and I'm laughing out loud. So, yeah, I watched it and then I needed it and I watched it. I think I watched the whole series like three times.

Did you really?

[Willie Geist]

Wow.

[Lisa Kudrow]

Not in a row.

Yeah, but you know, over that stretch.

Yeah. Because then I would watch 30 Rock, then I'd watch Will and Grace, and then I watched Big Bang Theory and then I came back and so I just sort of go back. Maybe I've forgotten and I don't forget, but. So it'll feel like new, but yeah, so. And yeah, Ray didn't believe me when I said, yeah, I watched I loved Everyone Loves Raymond. I watched it all during COVID He didn't believe me.

Really? That you were just buttering him up a little bit?

Yeah, he thought I was buttering him up, but I wasn't. It was true. Then he believed me when he was talking about something and I said, wait, didn't you do that on your show? Because there's that episode where this happens. And he just went, oh, you really did watch it.

I did watch it.

Okay. Yeah.

Is there a kinship on some level of having both been in the center of two massive television shows of a certain era that only a handful of people can understand?

Yeah, maybe. I mean, I was just curious about how his show worked. And the show was Everybody Loves Raymond. I was in an ensemble and so it was like the six of us sort of splitting everything, the attention and all of that, which was great. And I don't know that we talked about that so much, but. No, I was just curious about. So you were in the writers room, you were doing that, and then you'd have your run through and you couldn't go home because you'd have to go to the writers room. That's a lot.

Yeah. Yeah, I guess when your name's on the door, right?

Yeah. Yeah.

You also said you've been watching Friends lately.

Yeah, I did.

Is that something you hadn't done previously?

No, I hadn't done it because I couldn't get over myself. You know, you can be self critical and it's not fair, but. Yeah, but after. After Matthew died, there were a lot of marathons and that was comforting to me to watch. And it wasn't about me, which was sort of. Yeah, it never had to be about you, you know, But I really loved the show. Everyone was so good. Yeah, I really, I liked watching it, but I Didn't go through the whole thing. So there's still episodes I haven't seen. I want to get back to it when I work up the nerve, just in case somebody's going to walk in and see me watching my own show.

You know, you never want that.

That's the thing. I'm also just embarrassed if anybody were to see me, like, even if I'm staying in a hotel and I see, oh, France is on. Oh, what if someone comes in, like, to do. Like to do something in the room.

Right.

I don't even want them to hear that song and I'm in the room. That's embarrassing.

Just picture you in a hotel drawing the blinds before you put on your show.

Like, My Secret.

Yeah, but isn't that nice, though, that you enjoy it because you could watch it and be like, ugh, I don't want to see myself. This isn't what people said it was. But to be able to have that distance from it and say, oh, you know what? They were right. This is pretty good.

Everyone is so funny, and from early on, they're so funny.

So when the show came out, you wouldn't watch it?

No, I didn't. We'd go to Courtney's and watch it and have dinner, and then it just got busy and we couldn't, you know, we stopped doing that. But first season for sure, I think we tried a little bit second season and then, yeah, can't make it this time. Can't make it this Right.

Right. And what a wonderful way to connect with Matthew. To go back and watch him and have that image of him. It must feel special.

Yeah. I mean, that's just appreciating how hilarious he was. You know, he was so smart, so funny, unique, uniquely funny. When we had that first table read, I thought when I read the script, I went, oh, that's cool. They have a gay character in the show. That's really great. And then we went to had the table reading and what Matthew was doing didn't sound like what I thought I was going to hear, but it was like nothing I've ever heard before. So I went, oh, boy. Because I knew Schwimmer was really good. And then Matthew was blow away hilarious. It was all, oh, this is all really surprising what everybody's doing. Oh, this could be good. Too bad it won't work because most pilots didn't get picked up, right? Yeah.

I mean, can you go back to that room and think about, like you say, it's one of a hundred pilots going out. Who knows? What's gonna happen? You think it's good, but you don't know how it's gonna happen. And then now to look back where it's talked about as one of two or three greatest shows of all time, you never, obviously, could have known that. But it has to be gratifying to know the thing you thought was special was. Yeah. And audiences thought so.

Yeah. I mean, I thought also, like, I don't know, and I don't really know, but I know that good shows don't get picked up all the time. I knew Seinfeld, you know, was having iffy orders. Right. They weren't sure about it. And I just thought, yeah, you know what? It doesn't matter. Just do what you do, and then you see. But. And I would get. I don't like. I get nervous when people like, well, I think this is gonna be a really big hit. And I just like, oh, I don't.

I'm with you.

That's what you do. I don't like it. Don't do it.

Yeah. Was there a moment, Lisa, where you realized that this thing was getting big? Was it in season one? Was it later?

It was right before season two premiered. And we went to Chicago to do Oprah, which should have been a sign right there, but we were like, that's exciting. And while we were there, Oprah showed us a package of people who were getting together to watch the show. All this stuff and, like, Internet cafes, people are talking about it. That was the first time, you know, online. And people are chatting chat rooms and stuff about it. And we all. I guess we're watching with our mouths wide open. And she said, you don't know about any of this. And we just went, uh, no. We had no clue.

Well, that's so interesting, because there's no social media.

Right.

And if you're not looking for it particularly, you don't really appreciate the response it's getting.

Yeah.

So that was the first moment. Wow.

Well, no. And also, no one was telling us. I think.

The network didn't mention that it was doing well.

Right? Well enough to get picked up.

Right?

Yeah.

Which is good. That's the step you need for starters. Anyway.

I mean, we knew it did better in reruns because then we were on after Seinfeld, and that's when it kind of exploded.

Did you feel in the bubble of the six of you that there was some safety in that as the show got so big?

Yeah.

And you guys were so famous and your lives were kind of being turned upside down? Did you kind of pull each other in closer through that time we did.

You know, we kept saying, people experience this on their own. Like they're in a movie and they don't have. That's got to be hard. We've got each other, like, to. All right, let's check in. This happened. Oh, that's not fair. You know, like, oh, that's freaky. Or we all did a photo shoot for Entertainment Weekly. And when we were leaving the photo shoot, it was nighttime and there were paparazzi out there. Flash balls. We hadn't had that ever. And yelling, you know, we hadn't had the yelling where they just sound angry. David, like, why? Yeah, why are you mad? What happened? And so that was a little. That was jarring. But we had each other to talk it through. And even that period, we were completely overexposed. There was.

When was that exactly?

Like third season, maybe, or fourth. And then. Yeah. And we had each other to say, you know what, let's take it easy as a group. We'll just say, let's not do much, and we'll just focus on the task at hand, which is this show. And how about we just do that?

So, yeah, it's nice to have friends at your side when the world's changing around you. Right.

Or co workers that have smart ideas about, like, how to handle things. Yeah.

It's amazing, too. We were talking about streaming how there's an entirely new generation that has found Friends. You know, they. I mean, my daughter's 17 years old and she and her friends watch Friends, you know, a show that went off the air 20 years ago.

Yeah.

And it's all new to them and they love Phoebe and they love all these characters. Do you notice in fans, a new generation when they come say hello to you?

Yeah, I do. I mean, I don't. A new generation. I don't know how old anyone is anymore. So if someone's 30, I think they're 17, you know? Yeah. That's nice to be that age, but. Well, it is. It's nice to be any age, but. And little kids, you know, But I always thought, like, when my son was in kindergarten, we were still on. Right. And little girls saying, oh, I watch Friends. And you do. You shouldn't be. I thought we're on at 8 o' clock. I think that's too early. I don't think we should be on that early.

Right, right. You want to have a little later, a little more edge. Right.

Well, I just thought there was things on the show. There were things that I think that's. I don't think 8 o' clock is early. They're having sex. They're talking about having sex.

Yeah, but the kindergartners were watching.

Nevertheless, they were.

[Willie Geist]

Stick around for more of my conversation with Lisa Kudrow right after a quick break.

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[Willie Geist]

Back now to the rest of my conversation with Lisa Kudrow.

[Lisa Kudrow]

I don't think a lot of people realize where you were in your career before Friends. And if I can go back even a little bit further to growing up in your house, you were funny. I think you were performative a little bit at school, but you were not on a track to work in show business by any stretch of the imagination.

No.

Father's a doctor.

Yeah.

You kind of thought that's what you were going to do when you went to college.

Yeah.

And at what point did that flip from, I'm gonna try this entertainment thing and see what happens?

I think, I mean, there's a couple things. There's some weird things while I was in college and I'd be home on break and I'm driving around LA and hear a commercial for a sitcom and you know, they have their best joke on the radio and I thought, oh God, they're just punching that so hard. They just throw it away. Lisa, remember? Throw it away. And then I'd say, yeah. Wait, why would I be throwing it away? Hopefully becoming something in evolutionary biology. I don't know. So I'd have these thoughts like, someone's on Letterman. It's like, ugh, they're so phony. Remember not to be phony. It's okay. Wait, why would I be on. You know, it was just these weird thoughts. And I graduated, and Jon Levitz is my brother's best friend, and I grew up with John, and he got on Saturday Night Live, and I went, oh. So it's not just like this magical realm that touches some people and not others. And maybe I should. I mean, I. I'm 22. I don't have any responsibilities. This is a pretty selfish pursuit, I think. But now's the only time to do it, and I don't want to have regrets when I have my three kids and I'm married and, you know, so I think I need to see this through.

And what did your parents say?

Thank God is what they said. I'm not kidding. Maybe something will lighten you up. How's she supposed to meet anybody? She's so heavy. Massive.

Were you, like, a serious kid? Is that what they saw?

I was serious. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But this was the Groundlings, and improv was a way for this other side of you that it sounds like had been percolating as you were driving around LA to come out.

Yeah, I think so. I mean, yeah, it took me a minute to let go and loosen up. I mean, I don't think being an A student is great and fits really well with the arts. It doesn't for me anyway. So I had to really just let it go. And I'm still always working on that.

Yeah, because that's about getting the A is about drive and goal oriented and not just reacting to whatever comes at you. So when do you say, okay, I'm pretty good at this. Do the Groundlings. You and Conan are doing some improv in another group. When do you say this might actually be a job, a career, a life?

I thought Conan thinks I'm funny. Lorraine Newman saw me grown. She thinks I'm funny. Like, there were certain people that I went, okay, so they think I'm funny. I think it's safe for me to think I'm funny and that I might be good even. So that's great. But that I know, has nothing to do with being able to support yourself in this business. So I really felt like, I think TV will be the way in. Maybe you'll be a recurring character on a show and then. Cause you're not really castable as a lead in anything. So you'll be a recurring character and you'll become a regular on a TV show and that will be a great thing. I think that's how it's gonna happen. And it felt like it was happening. Cause I was on. I did a guest star on Mad about yout and they had me back. And then I was asked to have a recurring role on Mad about yout the same season that I auditioned for Friends. Like after a few of those, I auditioned for Friends.

So there's a little bit of an NBC pipeline, Right. You do a spot on Cheers that goes relatively well, right?

Well, I don't know. I mean. No.

Good enough for them to ask you to be on another show? No, no, no. That didn't go to Frasier from there. No.

Oh no, no. There were years in between.

Okay.

And to me it felt like there were years in between. And then I looked at a timeline and it was like two. Yeah, maybe. Yeah, no, that's true.

But I'm sure to you it felt like an eternity, right? Yes, but yeah. So you get the recurring role. I'm Mad about yout. And then there's a connection to Friends.

There was, because one of the writers was Jeffrey Cleric and Jeffrey's significant other is David Crane, who co created Friends. It was called Friends Like Us. So he and Marta Kaufman wrote that and they were talking about casting and Jeffrey said, what about the girl who's playing Ursula? And Dave went, oh yeah, we should bring her in.

And you auditioned for Jimmy Burroughs?

Yeah, I had to audition for Jimmy, which I thought was part of the process. And I only found out like a few years ago, none of the other five had to audition for Jimmy, only me.

Is that true?

Uh huh. Oh yeah.

And why do we think that is?

Because I got let go from Frasier and he was directing that. So I think they just wanted to make sure. Look, I don't know.

But it went great. The audition.

It's kind of simple math.

Yeah, but let me have another look. But it went well. And he famously said what? At the end of the audition, no.

Notes.

Which you didn't fully understand meant you got the job, right?

Oh yeah, No, I thought I just went, okay, here's one. You have no idea what it is. It's out of your hands. No notes, she's hopeless. Or that was as good as it could be. So I just went, none of my business.

But then they asked you to show up on set and you knew you had the job.

Yeah, but I didn't know I'd keep the job because, you know, with Frasier, it was during the pilot rehearsals that it was clear it wasn't working out. Yeah, Yeah. I think Jimmy wrote about this in his book. He, you know, pitches things and they're not all going to work, but he pitched one thing in the pilot. Rachel is going to cut up her credit cards, and we're all sitting around the table to support her. And Jimmy thought that it would be, let's just see. I think it's funny to put me under the table. And I just went, okay. So they're all sitting up there and I'm down here. Who am I talking to? And he said, just look out. Just be looking out. And I said, okay. I thought, that's not okay. And I do. He's like, yeah, let's do it in the run through. And I went, oh, my God, I'm going to get fired because this is really a bad idea. And sure enough, after the run through, David Crane, who was so nice, says, um, Lisa, it's funny that you're under the table, but I think, is it okay if you're Jimmy, can she be? And he's going. And I thought, oh, my God, they think this was my idea. I'm never going to be able to pitch anything ever again, I think. And then Jimmy said, oh, no, that was my idea. That's all right now. She doesn't have to be down there.

[Willie Geist]

They thought you were improv.

[Lisa Kudrow]

And.

Thank you, Jimmy. That was nice and that saved you. Yeah, yeah.

You go for 10 seasons.

But I just thought, I can trust him, right? I can trust him, right? Yeah.

10 seasons. You win the Emmy, you guys become these icons of television in America with 20 years distance from it. Now, when you watch those episodes, what do you think about the experience? Not just the show itself, but do you look back and go, my God, that was wild.

It was just as good as it felt at the time, which is rare because a lot of times you look back and it was a little happier than you remember it. I mean, it's happier remembering it than what you were actually. You weren't appreciating how good it was at the time, you know, but we appreciated every second, which is a. I'm proud of that for us. I really am. We took it in. We loved it. We loved each other. Yeah.

Honestly, it seems to me, and correct me if I'm wrong, but you handled the fame part of it very well. Got a nice family, keep yourself out of the newspapers, all that kind of stuff. Was that a conscious effort, or was it just the way you lived? And it turned out that way, I think.

You know, I got engaged. I had my boyfriend Michelle already, and we got engaged into the first season, you know, at some point, and we got married right after we wrapped, so that was done. And I think, because I know these people that I worked with, you know, and it's different if you're with someone else who's famous.

Yeah.

You know, that becomes a story, and it can be tough. That can be tough, I think, you know, so I'm really glad. That felt really lucky to me that I met Michelle before. Yeah.

Before it exploded.

And my whole family's around and, you know, your family just keeps you humble, grounded. It's like, yeah, I knew you. I know who you are.

You're not fooling us.

Yeah.

Before I let you go, I have to talk about the comeback because it's such a brilliant show.

Thanks.

And you were nominated for all the awards and won some for that as well. And it was right on the heels of Friends, and it was like, a little bit meta, which is, how does this sitcom star come back and find the next thing?

Except she wasn't on a hit show.

Right, right. That's the only. That's the only difference there. I. It gets the love it deserves from a lot of people. For my money, not enough love. It's such a great show. You started that pretty quickly after Friends. Did you say to yourself, I got to keep this ball rolling, or was there any temptation to sit back and relax for a while?

Well, I was do. I thought, I'll do independent films now that I'm done with Friends forever after.

Right.

And those went away. But anyway. But my agent said, hey, Michael, Patrick King is done with Sex and the City. You two should have lunch. I said, I know Michael. I did. I knew Michael already. And I said, okay. I mean, I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to do another show right now, and I don't either, but I love him. Let's have lunch. Yes, go have lunch. So we had lunch. And he said, I don't imagine you want to be doing anything on a big, shiny set. And I said, no. Do you? He said, no. I said, all right. And I said, but if I were to do something, I have this idea. And so I started telling him the idea about this kind of phony actress and on a reality show, and he Went, oh. And we talked for three hours. And by the end of that, he said, we have a show. You know, like, that's a show. And so we just kept talking and then he said, I think this is right for hbo. And we went. It just was so easy. And wrote the first episode in just a very short time.

And were you ready for that or were you hoping to, like, take a breath after Friends?

It was so different from Friends that I. Yeah, I was ready. I was ready to. It was very exciting to create something and it was so different. And it was kind of risky because it was, you know, just about raw footage and no one understood, reading the script, what it was, you know, and then those days are over. I think it was sort of like HBO went, well, it's Michael Patrick. He just did Sex and the City. So. Yes, with Friends. Okay, sure. We don't get it, but do it any. Write it, you know, and then we wrote it. Okay, we still don't get it, but.

Let'S shoot the pilot and the rest is history. It's a great show and people can still watch it on HBO if they haven't dialed into it yet. Definitely worth digging back through.

Yeah. And there's two seasons.

Yeah. Yeah.

You know, there's all that.

Yeah. Well, what's cool is when you pick something, you're always doing something a little different than what you've done, which is the case with no good deed as well. Which is.

Yeah, it turns out that is really different. I didn't realize it would be that different. When I first read it, I was like, yeah, grounded comedy, great. And then once got, I got into it, it's like, oh, but there's like heavy. Okay. Yeah. That's a challenge. Good.

Kind of gets heavier as you go too.

It does.

And again, we're not saying anything about it. You just have to watch. Congratulations on the show. It's great.

Thank you.

Thanks, Lee. This is fun.

Yeah.

[Willie Geist]

My big thanks again, Lisa, for a great conversation. You can check out her show, no Good Deed on Netflix. And my thanks to all of you for listening again this week. If you want to hear these conversations each and every week, be sure to click follow so you never miss an episode. And don't forget to tune in to Sunday Today every weekend on NBC. I'm Willie Geist. We'll see you right back here next week on Sunday.

[Lisa Kudrow]

Sit down Podcast.

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