Lisa Kudrow Seemingly Confirms Friends Cast’s Shocking Yearly Paycheck

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Could Lisa Kudrow be any more amazed? 

Even though Friends ended 22 years ago, Jennifer Aniston and her co-stars—including Courtney Cox, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc—still earn around $20 million annually from the show being re-run, as reported by The Times.

Lisa jokingly suggested they’re receiving high fees simply because Phoebe Buffay was such a beloved character, according to an interview published on April 23.

Honestly, the 62-year-old believes she knows why Friends remains popular even now. She recently rewatched the show after the tragic death of Matthew Perry in 2023, who died from the effects of ketamine.

Lisa said that after Matthew passed away, she rewatched the show. She explained that previously, she’d only focused on her own mistakes, but this time, she was finally able to enjoy how good it actually was.

I thought my performance was decent, but Jennifer and Courteney were incredible! David and Matt were hilarious, and Matthew completely stole the show.

She also feels the energy between the six characters was incredibly unique to the time.

The Emmy-winning actor said that Friends perfectly captured a sense of innocence that younger viewers might not have known. They added that the show remains remarkably well-made.

She pointed out that many shows featuring popular comedians from that era just aren’t funny, but Friends is a notable exception.

Despite any difficulties during production, the cast always worked well together and successfully negotiated their salaries, increasing their pay from $22,500 per episode in the first season to $1 million per episode by seasons nine and ten.

Lisa understands that the success wouldn’t have happened without Matthew’s unique and funny contributions to television.

Lisa praised his portrayal of Chandler Bing, calling it a display of genius. She added that nothing they do in the future will ever quite compare to it.

Ultimately, getting to re-experience his genius on Friends was a comfort for Lisa after his death. 

She told Capital FM in March that watching marathons on TV after her husband, Matthew, died brought her comfort. She added that it also made her laugh, as he was often featured in the broadcasts.

“He was so funny, I mean, the funniest,” she continued. “Sorry, everybody else, but just truly.”

For a look at some of the most hilarious episodes of Friends, keep reading.

Rachel freaks out about turning 30 and feeling like she hasn’t achieved her life goals, and the episode shows us how the rest of the friends reacted to turning 30 themselves. It doesn’t quite add up that Rachel is turning 30 in this episode – she seemed to be 28 back in 1996! – but somehow, it makes the storyline even funnier. (Plus, she was pregnant for a whole year at one point, so continuity isn’t always a priority!)

Planning Phoebe’s wedding was incredibly stressful for Monica, made even worse by a huge snowstorm hitting New York. Despite all the chaos, the wedding was ultimately perfect, and it was especially meaningful for Phoebe, who often didn’t get much focus on the show. Phoebe truly deserved such a beautiful wedding to a wonderful guy like Mike Hannigan.

This episode is memorable for a couple of reasons. First, Joey pretends to be an older woman after Dr. Drake Ramoray receives a brain transplant from Susan Sarandon. Second, it includes the scene that resulted in some of the show’s funniest bloopers. Ross attempts to surprise Chandler and Monica by playing the bagpipes – specifically, “Celebration” – at their wedding, asking them to sing along. Instead of singing, Phoebe brilliantly imitates the sound of the bagpipes. The scene is hilarious, and many fans consider it a comedic masterpiece thanks to Lisa Kudrow’s incredible performance.

Joey is having some pretty vivid dreams about Monica, while Phoebe is amusingly playing pretend as a police officer with a found badge. Meanwhile, Ross insists on saving money by delivering a new couch himself, despite clearly not being able to handle it. The resulting struggle to get the couch into his apartment is one of the show’s most hilarious moments – complete with Ross repeatedly yelling, “Pivot!”

Lots happened with the Friends cast! Joey and Rachel had a romantic connection, and Ross started dating Charlie. Phoebe got engaged to Mike, and Monica had a memorable hair mishap. While Joey and Rachel didn’t last, and many of us disliked Ross’s partners, things briefly looked promising for them in Barbados!

This episode is incredibly relatable. Phoebe, Joey, and Rachel find themselves in an awkward situation trying to explain to their wealthier friends why they can’t keep up with expensive outings and gifts. This leads to a falling out within the group, and unexpectedly, even costs Monica her job. It’s one of the most realistic and impactful storylines the show ever tackled.

We had a hard time deciding between a couple of episodes, but ultimately we chose the one that reveals how Rachel got pregnant and features the memorable story about Ken Adams.

The story of how Monica and Chandler became a couple is actually a bit bittersweet – Monica initially had feelings for Joey! Luckily, everything worked out wonderfully for them. Meanwhile, Rachel gets into some mischievous fun teaching Ben how to play pranks, and it’s hilarious.

Fans really enjoyed a flashback episode of Friends, but the show only explored an alternate universe once. This episode imagined a very different life for everyone: Joey was a famous soap opera actor, Rachel married Barry, Ross stayed with Carol, Chandler became a writer, Phoebe worked in finance, and Monica never lost weight. Ultimately, everyone ended up exactly where they were supposed to be, and it was a fun way to show that Monica and Chandler were destined to be together, regardless of their circumstances.

This episode features a guest appearance by Brad Pitt, who played Will, a character who strongly disliked Rachel. He even started a club with Ross – the “I Hate Rachel Green Club” – and was shocked to learn Ross and Rachel dated and are now expecting a baby! Oh, and Joey attempts to eat a whole turkey. It’s a classic episode!

Throughout the series, Phoebe finally found a meaningful connection with Mike Hannigan (Paul Rudd). Their compatibility was hilariously highlighted when Phoebe playfully decided to change her name to Princess Consuela Bananahammock, prompting Mike to respond by changing his to Crap Bag. This led Phoebe to realize her choice wasn’t entirely sensible. Meanwhile, Rachel received a job offer of a lifetime, Monica and Chandler were house hunting, and Joey was coming to terms with them moving on. It was a classic episode focused on everyone experiencing personal growth.

Oh my gosh, Chandler totally freaked out and almost ruined the wedding, running off beforehand! Thankfully, everything worked out in the end. But honestly, if Monica ever found out that Rachel being pregnant actually overshadowed her big day, she’d be heartbroken. It’s just… a lot to process, even now!

This episode is a standout because it pairs Chandler and Rachel, a combination we haven’t seen much of before. While their cheesecake-stealing isn’t exactly admirable, they’re clearly enjoying themselves, and it’s always fun when the show throws us a surprising duo – it’s a treat that’s better than even a messy cheesecake situation!

Janice’s question about who’s been close to hooking up reveals some surprising history: Ross and Phoebe once kissed, Rachel and Chandler considered it, and Joey and Monica had a brief, awkward moment. We also learn Central Perk used to be a bar! It’s a funny conversation, but ultimately frustrating because no one actually gets together. It’s a shame Ross and Phoebe didn’t pursue things!

Chandler hilariously attempted to give Joey money by inventing a fake game, while Rachel realized she needed to find a new place to live, and Monica faced the prospect of having a boyfriend move in. Phoebe, as usual, tried to smooth things over. The show didn’t focus enough on the friendship between Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe, but those moments were always fantastic when it did.

Ross is determined to teach Ben about Hanukkah, but Ben is only interested in Santa Claus. When Ross can’t fulfill Ben’s Santa wish, he hilariously dresses up as the Holiday Armadillo! Things get even more chaotic when Santa and Superman both appear. It becomes a wonderfully silly holiday tradition. Meanwhile, Phoebe tries to annoy Joey with bad gifts, hoping Rachel will move out, but Rachel surprisingly loves the gifts (including drums and a tarantula!) and even misses living with Phoebe. It’s an episode full of heartwarming moments.

Ross attempts to impress Emily and her friends with a tough persona, while Monica becomes obsessed with a mysterious, seemingly useless light switch. Meanwhile, Chandler desperately tries to end things with Janice, failing so spectacularly that he winds up buying a ridiculously expensive plane ticket to Yemen – his new address is even 15 Yemen Road, Yemen! We never learned what Chandler did in Yemen, but he eventually figured out how to better communicate with women.

As a lifelong Friends devotee, let me tell you, this new prom video is everything. It turns out Ross was totally ready to take Rachel to prom when her date bailed, and it’s the moment that really starts to mend things after all the drama with Julie and that list! Honestly, it’s just so sweet – it proves there’s nothing more romantic than someone who never truly gets over their crush.

Whether you loved or hated the Ross and Emily drama, it’s essential to remember the episodes that gradually built up the connection between Monica and Chandler. These episodes perfectly set the stage for their romantic encounter in London, and the audience’s excited reaction when Monica reveals herself under the covers remains iconic and thrilling.

Okay, seriously, this episode wrecked me! It wasn’t funny, it was FULL-ON DRAMA, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Chandler was working SO hard to play it cool with Monica, pretending he wasn’t ready to get married, and it actually brought Richard back?! I was terrified! Then Chandler was sprinting back to the apartment, thinking Monica was leaving him, and oh my god, the relief! She hadn’t left, she was getting ready to propose to him! It was the sweetest thing ever, and they basically proposed to each other at the same time. I’m not even kidding, I was a mess, totally sobbing! It was perfect.

This episode is absolutely packed with drama! We find out the Gellers dislike Chandler because they mistakenly believed he was smoking marijuana in their home – it was actually Ross. Plus, Monica accidentally broke the porch swing, Ross secretly took some magazines, Phoebe has a surprising admiration for Jacques Cousteau, and Rachel made a big mistake by adding beef to the trifle. It’s a hilariously chaotic Thanksgiving!

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I always say some things just define a moment, and for me, this Friends episode is one of them. It’s amazing how many iconic jokes are packed into what feels like a perfectly cozy Central Perk afternoon. Then, Rachel walks in, everything shifts, and we see the beginnings of the group we all fell in love with. It perfectly captures that bittersweet feeling of starting over – it’s tough, but you’re going to embrace it!

This episode feels like a tightly-written play, filmed as if it’s happening live. With only 20 minutes before they need to leave for a gala, Ross freaks out that everyone is still getting ready, leading to an argument with Rachel. Meanwhile, Monica obsesses over Richard, Phoebe grabs some hummus, and Joey and Chandler have a hilarious fight over a chair – culminating in Joey famously stuffing himself into all of Chandler’s clothes and asking, “Could I be wearing any more clothes?” Ross is, as usual, a bit of a jerk.

Most fans remember this episode as the one with the trivia game. While Phoebe considers having a baby with her brother, the rest of the group splits into teams – guys versus girls – to see who knows each other better. The competition was really close until Chandler’s inability to spell cost Monica and Rachel, and the girls ended up losing their apartment as a result. Luckily, we got to learn some funny new things about the friends, like the story behind Phoebe’s nickname for Chandler: “Miss Chanandler Bong.”

The highlight of the show was definitely the secret relationship between Monica and Chandler, and it all comes to a head in what’s widely considered the best episode. It’s a hilarious 20-minute showdown where Monica and Chandler try to keep their relationship under wraps from Phoebe and Rachel (with Joey caught in the middle). The tension builds perfectly, and Chandler finally saying ‘I love you’ is the ultimate sweet moment. It’s a funny game of everyone trying to figure out who knows what!

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2026-04-29 01:50