How did Lisa Kudrow turn a wacky three-minute web series about a delusional therapist into a full-fledged TV show? Out’s Ari Karpel talks to the Emmy winner about her path from being a Biology PhD to becoming a comedian, her Real Housewives obsession, and being recognized as Phoebe Buffay.
Read Out’s full Lisa Kudrow feature at OUT.com. Plus: Watch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video of her Out photo shoot.
Kudrow on her career path:
“It was weird! I had a plan, I was doing headache research with my father, I was going to get published, get into a great program, but I was compelled to do comedy. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
On being recognized as her Friends character:
“If you just talk about it, then that’s done and you can move on to something else. It’s nothing to run and hide from, that’s for sure. [Fans] haven’t seen The Opposite of Sex, and of course they haven’t seen The Comeback, and there’s nothing bad about that. Had I not done Friends I wouldn’t be able to afford to do [her new Internet and Showtime series] Web Therapy. I’d be busy trying to do a sitcom so I could have a steady check.”
On how the Real Housewives remind her of The Comeback:
“It is as close to making a deal with the devil as you can get now. At first, you think, Why are they doing this on TV? Then you realize, she’s in an unhappy marriage, and she’s figuring out what her next step is after her divorce. As a viewer, you have to figure out what their agenda is, their game plan. It’s what they’re willing to sell to secure their future.”
