20 Mind-Blowing Facts You Never Knew About Friends

12. Lisa Kudrow Thought She Was Going To Get Fired

Friends Phoebe
NBC

Legendary TV director James Burrows, who directed 237 episodes of Cheers, helped launch the Frasier spinoff and also worked on Taxi, was enlisted to direct the pilot episode of Friends, which was good news for all concerned - except Lisa Kudrow.

Although it has been reported that Ellen DeGeneres was offered the role of Phoebe, casting director Lori Openden has commented that Kudrow owned the role from the start. However, Kudrow was also the first choice to play Roz in Frasier before being replaced during rehearsals, and the actress feared that Burrows€™ involvement would prove her undoing.

These fears proved unfounded when she was handed the role, but Kudrow€™'s early experiences on set led her to believe history was about to repeat itself. Burrows wondered out loud why the other characters would be friends with the quirky Phoebe and was concerned that she might interfere with the group dynamic.

Kudrow was made to sweat for several days of experimental rehearsals before it became clear that her character would be staying put.

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