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Lisa Kudrow Says New Multicam Sitcoms Shy From Risk

Her remarks revive debate over how cautious TV comedy has become.

Overview

  • Speaking in interviews published Saturday, April 4, Kudrow said she avoids new multi‑camera sitcoms because writers seem too afraid to tell jokes that might make people uncomfortable.
  • She argued that the best comedy relies on surprise and bold lines that make audiences think, "I can't believe you just said that."
  • Reflecting on her Friends years, she said parts of her agency called her "the sixth Friend" and that she felt "nobody cared about me."
  • She rejected long‑running reports that she led the Friends cast’s group salary talks, saying, "I absolutely was not the ringleader."
  • She is promoting the third and final season of HBO’s The Comeback, which includes an AI‑written‑sitcom storyline that echoes today’s concerns about how TV is made.