Movies News Talk
Renowned for her performance as Phoebe Buffay in "Friends," Lisa Kudrow recently revealed a less-known side of her career: her brief run and eventual dismissal from the hit show "Frasier." Originally cast as Roz Doyle, the radio producer for Frasier Crane, Kudrow was eventually replaced by Peri Gilpin following rehearsals that revealed poor chemistry in the part.
Kudrow came clean on the "SmartLess" podcast, "I got fired from 'Frasier.'" Simply said, it was not working. Jimmy [Burrows] the director was saying during the run-throughs, "This isn't working, so don't even..." They must correct it.'" She said, "I think they did make a casting mistake with me, because I went to the network with Peri Gilpin, and for whatever reason... They were, I believe, simply fixing a mistake. As Peri should have always been Roz."
For Kudrow, losing "Frasier felt like a major setback at the time since her career was still young. But as luck would have it, this rejection set the path for her breakthrough performance as Phoebe in "Friends," a sitcom that grew to be a cultural phenomenon. Had Kudrow stayed in "Frasier," she might not have been cast in "Friends," so depriving herself of the chance to become a cherished TV icon.
Kudrow's problems in "Frasier" were ascribed to a mismatch in personalities. The job of Roz called for a strong, commanding presence—qualities Kudrow lacked naturally. On the other hand, Kudrow's character Phoebe Buffay in "Friends," was a quirky, free-spirited, and eccentric person who fit her strengths.
Originally second choice for Roz, Gilpin flourished in the part and gave the character a trademark sarcasm and bluntness. Strong professional respect and shared sense of humor grew between Roz and Frasier over the series, so strengthening their bond. Gilpin is scheduled to make a guest appearance in the season one finale of the "Frasier" reboot and lately returned in season two.
Based on the popular sitcom "Cheers," "Frasier," a spin-off, follows psychiatrist Frasier Crane as he adapts to single life in Seattle while tending to his father, brother, and eccentric coworkers. Combining comedy with drama, the show examines family, relationships, and negotiating life's complexity.