The Journey Of Lisa Kudrow: From Mad About You To Friends

Long before Lisa Kudrow wove her way into the 1990s pop culture fabric as the flighty but lovable Phoebe Buffay on the sitcom Friends, she was already cracking audiences up with a recurring role in another comedy on the same network, Mad About You. After making her debut on the show starring Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt in 1992, she ended up on 23 more episodes playing a ditzy waitress named Ursula Buffay from 1993 to 1999. That’s right, the role of Phoebe’s twin sister actually came before Friends ever sat on the iconic burnt orange couch in Central Perk.

With Kudrow’s comedy chops in such high demand, the show creators decided to “explain” the fact that the two characters shared the same face by turning them into identical twins across the shows. Fortunately, since both NBC sitcoms were set in New York City, the concept worked seamlessly.

Kudrow's Early Career in the Medical Field

Growing up in Southern California, Kudrow was the youngest in a funny family. After graduating from Vassar College, she followed her dad’s footsteps as a researcher specializing in headaches. However, she couldn't shake the desire to perform, leading her to join the comedy group the Groundlings.

“I learned so much from improvisation,” Kudrow told Interview magazine. “Fear wasn’t an option — or embarrassment. [Instructor Cynthia Szigeti] just made you do it. She dragged stuff out of you.” This experience was pivotal for Kudrow, shaping her comedic style and confidence in performing.

The Breakthrough Role as Ursula Buffay

Kudrow stopped working with her father and began supporting herself as an actress, but it wasn’t always easy. “I was starting to run out of money and [producer] Danny Jacobson from Mad About You called my agent at the last minute,” she recalled. Despite the last-minute nature of the opportunity, Kudrow was determined to make it work.

Although the role at the time was just “Waitress” with a couple of lines, she hopped in her car, remembering to “just listen and respond and make it funny.” It worked, and by the end of the week, Kudrow was invited to appear in five more episodes of the show. This moment marked a significant turning point in her career.

Transitioning to Friends

The role of Ursula revived Kudrow’s career and provided her the opportunity to showcase her comedic talents, which ultimately led to her audition for Friends. She went through several rounds of auditions, focusing on not losing her role on Mad About You. “I thought it was the best show on TV at the time,” she said, expressing her affection for her character.

When she landed the role of Phoebe Buffay, her initial thought was, “Oh good, this is on NBC too, so maybe they’ll let me stay on Mad About You too.” Her dedication to both roles highlighted her commitment to her craft and the characters she portrayed.

Connecting the Dots: Phoebe and Ursula

With the Friends pilot picked up for a series, Kudrow was able to juggle both roles. However, the scheduling placed the shows back to back, prompting a need for an explanation to the audience. “When Friends got its time slot on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m., everybody realized we needed some explanation for the audience,” she recounted.

Thanks to a connection between the creators of both shows, the idea of making Phoebe and Ursula twin sisters emerged. “We had to get permission from [Mad About You creators], and they were incredibly generous,” said David Crane, co-creator of Friends.

The Challenges of Playing Double Roles

Filming scenes with both Phoebe and Ursula posed challenges. According to Friends executive producer Kevin S. Bright, “Lisa really did not have a good time doing them.” Kudrow faced additional difficulties as her double was her actual sister, adding an emotional layer to the scenes. Despite these struggles, the end result was rewarding.

Her hard work paid off when Kudrow became the first member of the Friends cast to win an acting Emmy Award, taking home the supporting actress trophy in 1998. The success of Friends continued for another five years, while Mad About You concluded in 1999.

Reflecting on the Impact of Phoebe Buffay

Looking back on her iconic role, Kudrow acknowledged the profound impact it had on her life. “I merged the parts of me I could into that character, but she taught me, she influenced me,” she shared. The experience of portraying Phoebe allowed Kudrow to embrace her more playful and relaxed side.

In essence, the journey of Lisa Kudrow from Mad About You to Friends illustrates not only her remarkable talent but also her ability to adapt and thrive in the competitive world of television. The lessons learned and the characters portrayed have left a lasting legacy on both her career and the hearts of fans.