Lisa Kudrow entertained audiences for ten seasons as the quirky and lovable Phoebe Buffay in Friends. Her portrayal resonated with millions, cementing her place as a comedy legend. While she may have touched the hearts of millions around the world, she could not impress her son. Despite the initial disappointment, Kudrow, the ever-optimistic Phoebe at heart, held onto hope.

The day eventually came when he decided to give this iconic sitcom a shot while searching for entertainment. This time, something clicked. In an interview, the beloved actress opened up about her son’s reaction to the show.

Lisa Kudrow joked about her son’s reaction to Friends

In July 2022, Lisa Kudrow shared a touching and humorous anecdote on Late Night with Seth Meyers about her son’s initially lukewarm reception to Friends. Despite her years of dedication to the show, her son Julian Murray Stern, was not interested in watching it, but COVID-19 did the trick. She recalled her son calling her and praising its humorous plotlines. “Yes!’ I almost started crying. I didn’t think that anyone in my family liked that show,” Kudrow told the host.

The Emmy-nominated star called the conversation she had with her then 25-year-old “the most thrilling thing”. She told the host that her son was only 5 years old when the series ended. However, Kudrow’s sole complaint came when her son genuinely seemed surprised that the beloved sitcom was good.

Kudrow shares Julian Murray Stern with her husband Michel Stern, whom she married in May 1995. Despite being pregnant with her child, the makers of Friends found a heartwarming way to align the real with the reel.

Phoebe Buffay’s pregnancy was real 

Friends fans might remember Phoebe Buffay became a surrogate to her brother Frank and his wife Alice. This arc was written in the show when they got to know that Lisa Kudrow was expecting a baby, much like how Jennifer Aniston’s and David Schwimmer’s off-screen attraction translated into one of the most iconic on-screen pairings. The actress also shared her experience of that phase on the sets with PEOPLE in 2018. “The six of us would do a huddle backstage and just say, ‘All right, have a good show, love you, love you, love you, love you,'” she recalled.

She considered it one of the most heartwarming memories with her co-stars. Meanwhile, seeing her son genuinely enjoy the show that was a major part of her life made Lisa Kurdrow beam with a unique kind of pride. After all, not every mother gets to hear she is “funny” by her son.

What do you think about Kudrow’s son’s reaction to Friends? Drop your comments below.