Friends Reunited: Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow's Heartwarming Revelry - A Peek into Their Emotional Interview

In a charming display of camaraderie that has spanned three decades, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow reminisced about their iconic sitcom "Friends" and shared laughter over their recent projects. The duo's heartfelt conversation was part of Variety and CNN's Actors on Actors series and is now available for viewing at CNN.com/Watch or on the CNN app, as well as on Variety's YouTube channel. Jennifer Aniston, who plays news broadcaster Alex Levy in Apple TV's fourth season of "The Morning Show," has been busy navigating the complexities of Alex's personal life. Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons portrays her estranged father, Martin, a law professor and a rogue, and the two find closure by the end of the season. Meanwhile, Lisa Kudrow's third and final season of "The Comeback" has been keeping her occupied. Co-created with Michael Patrick King, this sitcom chronicles the life of struggling actress Valerie Cherish and brings her Hollywood journey to a close. "I've been so single-focused," Kudrow confessed to Aniston, "and it was a lot of work." Reflecting on their shared history, the friends couldn't help but get emotional when discussing the third season of "The Comeback," which was filmed on Stage 24 at Warner Bros.—the very same stage where "Friends" was shot. The stars exchanged teary-eyed recollections of their Stage 24 memories, as well as the fact that Kudrow's son, Julian Stern, who was born during "Friends," now has a supporting role on "The Comeback." Aniston poignantly noted, "He grew up hearing laughter all the time." The conversation between the friends flowed effortlessly, with Kudrow greeting Aniston in her signature smooth talk-show host tone, "Hello, Jennifer. My Floosh." To which Aniston responded with an equally charming English accent, "Hello, Lisa." Discussing their long-awaited reunion, Aniston expressed that it felt like a significant leap forward, given the current pandemic circumstances. She reminisced about watching "Friends" together during its early days and how she found it hard to believe Kudrow had never seen the show until they gathered to watch it. Kudrow admitted that her initial reluctance to watch the show stemmed from feeling self-conscious about being recognized while at home. However, once she finally sat down to watch it, she was filled with happiness and admiration for Aniston's performance. "I went, ‘Wow! You were really good, Jennifer.' It’s such a ridiculous thing to say to people!" Kudrow shared with a laugh. The friends fondly recalled the unique chemistry that made "Friends" an instant hit and marveled at how genuine their relationships off-screen played into the show's success. Kudrow confessed, "I miss multi-cam." Aniston agreed, expressing her fondness for the medium and the live audience. In a playful moment, Kudrow suggested they collaborate on another sitcom together, joking, "Can we do you, me and Courteney? What would that be?" Aniston enthusiastically replied, "Girlfriends. Let's pitch it. Let's workshop it in front of all these wonderful people." Kudrow brought up Aniston's role in "The Morning Show" and expressed her admiration for the show since its first season. She praised Aniston's performance, stating, "You’re phenomenally good." Aniston humbly thanked Kudrow, attributing their series' success to an outstanding team of writers. As the conversation turned to Alex's father-daughter relationship in "The Morning Show," Kudrow asked about working with Jeremy Irons. Aniston shared her appreciation for the actor and his playful demeanor on set. She also mentioned their constant check-ins, reminiscent of the way they would ask each other about their performances during "Friends." The emotional scenes between Alex and her father resonated with viewers, particularly one where Alex learns about her mother's postpartum depression and subsequent departure. Aniston acknowledged that the scene was filled with multiple emotional bombs, explaining, "But, first of all, 'The Comeback' — I love Valerie Cherish so much." Aniston expressed her admiration for Kudrow's creation, stating, "She makes me laugh and she breaks my heart. I also think the life of 'The Comeback' has been fascinating." She went on to discuss the show's unique journey, from its initial cancellation to its eventual revival nine years later due to strong fan support. Kudrow explained how the third season came about, recounting a conversation with co-creator Michael Patrick King where he proposed a storyline involving AI in a multi-cam sitcom. Kudrow jumped at the opportunity, as it perfectly encapsulated Valerie Cherish's journey and her willingness to embrace new challenges despite potential scrutiny. The actress discussed the role of AI in today's world, acknowledging that while there are still many unanswered questions, the technology is rapidly advancing. "I think right now, just as actors, I think we’re safe," Kudrow said, "because young people can tell so much better than I can tell, what’s an AI-generated human." Aniston agreed, expressing her curiosity about the topic and her desire to learn more. She joked, "The amount of things that I get sent from people think that it’s actually me—and it’s so clearly not." In a touching moment, Kudrow spoke about working with Jimmy Burrows, who also directed "Friends," on "The Comeback." Recalling a photo she and Aniston took together on Stage 24, Kudrow's voice cracked with emotion. She reflected on the significance of that stage, having filmed the end of both "Friends" and "The Comeback" there, and the sense of closure it represented for her character, Valerie Cherish. As their heartfelt conversation came to a close, Aniston and Kudrow shared a tearful goodbye, expressing their gratitude for each other's friendship and reminiscing about the laughter and memories they had created together on and off-screen.