Friends reunite ... and discover Phoebe’s secret
THE FRIENDS cast were all best mates but things got awkward at their reunion when it emerged one had not been a shoo- in for her role.
During a tribute to producer James Burrows, attended by five of the show’s six stars, Lisa Kudrow learnt she was the only one to have to audition twice.
As Jennifer Aniston, 47, Matt LeBlanc, 48, Courteney Cox, 51, and David Schwimmer, 49, gathered round, Kudrow, 52, revealed that she was called back to audition in front of Burrows for the part of singer Phoebe Buffay.
In a clip from the show, which airs in the US on Sunday, Kudrow says: “But I had to come in and audition for Jimmy.” Cox then asks: “Did you?” Thankfully, Kudrow took the news on the chin, while Burrows responded with an awkward smile as he sat alongside.
The sixth Friend – Matthew Perry Together
again, from left, LeBlanc, Kudrow, the
show’s producer Burrows, Schwimmer, Aniston and Cox – was not able to make the reunion as he is in London starring in his playwright debut The End Of Longing.
The 46- year- old appears by video link in the TV special to introduce his former co- stars on the sofa.
The NBC show is part of a tribute to TV veteran Burrows who helped create the hit sitcom, which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004.
It featured friends Rachel ( Aniston) and Monica ( Cox), her brother Ross ( Schwimmer), Phoebe ( Kudrow), Chandler ( Perry) and Joey ( LeBlanc).