Lisa Kudrow Discusses Evolution of Multi-Camera Comedies in Interview

Lisa Kudrow, known for her role in Friends, discussed the state of multi-camera comedies in an interview with Lily Tomlin for Interview Magazine. The conversation occurred while Kudrow promoted the third and final season of her HBO series The Comeback. Kudrow stated that she has little interest in contemporary multi-camera sitcoms filmed in front of a live audience.

Kudrow responded to Tomlin's question about whether comedies are dying or evolving. She said, "I wish they were evolving."

She praised earlier multi-camera shows, noting that 30 Rock, Seinfeld, and Friends were funny and well-written. However, Kudrow indicated she is not drawn to new multi-camera sitcoms because she does not find them convincing. She attributed this partly to her exposure to single-camera sitcoms and emphasized the need to return to telling jokes that might make people uncomfortable.

“The really good ones, they’re not tame jokes. They’re jokes that are kind of, ‘I can’t believe you just said that.’ Comedy is about surprise. You need things you didn’t see coming.”

When Tomlin suggested that multi-camera shows are not short on jokes, Kudrow responded that they lack edge compared to past examples. This interview highlights Kudrow's perspective on comedy trends amid the release of The Comeback's final season.

The Comeback is a mockumentary series starring Kudrow as Valerie Cherish, a former sitcom actress attempting a comeback through a reality show. The series first premiered in 2005 and returned for a second season in 2014 after a hiatus. , which is secretly written by an AI program.

Reality cameras follow her as she navigates Hollywood challenges.

The third season premiered last month on HBO, marking the conclusion of the series. This season explores themes of technology in entertainment and cultural sensitivities in the industry. Kudrow also serves as a producer on the show.

Multi-camera comedies, typically filmed with a live audience, have been a staple of television since the mid-20th century, with shows like Friends achieving widespread popularity in the 1990s and 2000s. Single-camera formats, used in series like 30 Rock, offer more flexibility in editing and production.

Kudrow's comments reflect ongoing debates in the television industry about innovation in comedy formats.

The interview underscores challenges for comedy writers to balance humor with audience sensitivities in an era of diverse viewing habits. As streaming platforms like HBO expand, creators face pressure to adapt traditional formats. No immediate changes to production practices have been announced in response to Kudrow's remarks.