Actress Lisa Kudrow said she has finally started watching all 10 [2] seasons of the sitcom "Friends" in its entirety.

Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay on the series, is revisiting the show more than 20 [1] years after it finished airing. Her decision to watch the series from the beginning highlights a rare perspective on a cultural phenomenon from someone who helped create it but did not view the final product as a spectator.

During an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in April 2024, Kudrow said she had run out of other sitcoms to watch and decided to return to the iconic show.

"I finally got around to watching all ten seasons. I ran out of sitcoms," Kudrow said [2].

Despite the nostalgia, the experience has not been without some personal discomfort. Kudrow said she feels a sense of modesty regarding the process. "I'm embarrassed to watch Friends in front of my husband," she said [3].

The actress also said that the viewing experience has brought back strong emotional reactions. In one instance, the content was so effective that it prompted her to reach out to a former castmate. "I was laughing so hard I had to text Matt LeBlanc," Kudrow said [4].

Kudrow's journey through the 10 [2] seasons allows her to experience the timing and humor of the show as an audience member rather than a performer. While she was a central part of the production for a decade, the transition to viewer provides a different lens on the show's enduring popularity in the U.S. and abroad.

“"I finally got around to watching all ten seasons. I ran out of sitcoms."”

Kudrow's decision to watch the series decades after its conclusion underscores the lasting legacy of 'Friends' as a cornerstone of the sitcom genre. By viewing the show as a consumer, the actress gains a retrospective understanding of the series' pacing and comedic impact, which often differs from the fragmented experience of filming individual scenes on a set.