NBC sitcom "Friends" is one of the most commercially successful television series in history and remains relevant in the cultural zeitgeist decades after its final episode aired.
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Chronicling the lives of six friends navigating adulthood in Manhattan, the sitcom ran for ten seasons, making a lasting impression on its fanbase.
So much so that "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow revealed she is often asked to recite lines from the series and is frequently called Phoebe when out in public.
Although the actress has "zero complaints about Friends or anything to do with it," she confessed there is one repeated fan request that she loathes receiving.
Friends Star Admits One Fan Request She Hates Receiving
"Sometimes people will stop me and say, 'Oh, sing 'Smelly Cat'.' I don't want to do that. I really don't want to do that," she explained to Tonya Mosley on NPR's Fresh Air.
"Smelly Cat" was an impromptu tune Phoebe sang after coming across a stray cat in Manhattan. Performed with acoustic guitar, the satirical jingle is one of Phoebe's catchiest songs—a relatively low bar.
TBS shared the "Smelly Cat" performance on YouTube, generating nearly 2 million views.
Aside from the unwanted attention from the "Smelly Cat" scene, Kudrow said that she enjoyed "every part" of making "Friends."
"Just the relationship with the other actors; we had fun," Kudrow said. "That is so rare. And real honest respect, mutual respect."
"It was a really good relationship that took some work. And we did the work," she added. "It was great."
Friends Co-Star Remembers Matthew Perry
Kudrow noted that she previously avoided rewatching "Friends" for years. That all changed after the sudden passing of co-star Matthew Perry.
Now, Kudrow enjoys watching the series and seeing Perry full of life.
"I'm so happy to see Matthew then. [He's] so funny," she said. "It was a great way to sort of process him not being here. And then really enjoy how much he made me laugh, then how much everybody made me laugh. Even myself, from time to time."
Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing on "Friends," died in October 2023 at age 54 because of "acute effects of ketamine" and subsequent drowning.
