US EditionLisa Kudrow Slams New Sitcoms for Avoiding Uncomfortable Jokes
Kudrow said modern multi-camera comedies are too afraid to make audiences uncomfortable and said the best jokes still need surprise.
- In a recent Interview Magazine profile, Friends star Lisa Kudrow argued that new multi-camera sitcoms have lost their edge, telling Lily Tomlin that modern shows are "too afraid" to make jokes that might make audiences uncomfortable.
- Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay across ten seasons of Friends, suggested that comedy requires surprise and daring, emphasizing that "the really good ones" need unpredictable rather than tame jokes.
- Despite its iconic status, Friends has faced criticism regarding diversity and outdated jokes about the LGBTQ community, with Zoe Kravitz previously citing the show as something she would leave behind.
- Kudrow is currently starring in the third and final season of The Comeback, which premiered last month on HBO, where her character Valerie accepts a lead role reflecting her genre observations.
- Asked whether the sitcom genre is evolving or dying, Kudrow expressed a wish for evolution, maintaining that comedy thrives on the "surprise" of jokes that challenge viewers' expectations.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Lisa Kudrow Says New Sitcoms are 'Too Afraid' to 'Make People Uncomfortable' with Jokes
"I think we need to get back to being able to tell jokes," the 'Friends' alum saidLisa Kudrow attends the premiere of 'The Comeback' season 3 on March 19, 2026Credit: Jesse Grant/Variety via GettyNEED TO KNOWLisa Kudrow is sharing her view on the current state of sitcomsThe Friends alum revealed in a new interview for Interview Magazine that she wished the format was "evolving""I feel like we’ve been too afraid to make jokes that might make peop…
Lisa Kudrow Has a Note for Modern Sitcoms: Stop Telling 'Tame' Jokes
With The Comeback Season 3 now out in the wild, Lisa Kudrow is taking a huge swing at the latest Hollywood scourge: AI writing. However, she's not stopping there. In a celebrity-on-celebrity exchange with Lily Tomlin for Interview, Kudrow did... Read more...
It's hard for young writers to write, the actress argued
Even though 20 years have passed since its end, the 'Friends' brand remains a sure bet for many clothing or fast food companies, such as the famous 'Happy Meal' for adults that McDonald's launched last October, giving away dolls from the characters of Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Ross and Chandler. The universality of its themes and its iconic six protagonists have made it one of the most viewed series despite its longevity (very similar to wha…
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