Sometimes, TV magic isn’t just in regards to the laughs – it’s about clever tricks behind the scenes. Friends fans remember Phoebe’s surprise pregnancy in season 4, but Lisa Kudrow’s real-life bump had a twist. As a substitute of hiding it, the writers got creative and made Phoebe a surrogate for her half-brother! Sensible, right? This kept Kudrow’s pregnancy within the highlight while staying true to Phoebe’s quirky roots.
Pregnancies on TV are common, but Friends took it up a notch. Kudrow’s character was all about that free-spirited vibe, so turning her right into a mom would’ve felt off. As a substitute, the writers rolled with it, making Phoebe pregnant with triplets. It was the right fix, keeping Friends rolling without missing a beat.
Kudrow has shared how heartwarming the experience was, especially together with her castmates. Recalling her time on set, she told People who the group’s famous pre-show “huddle” took on recent meaning while she was pregnant. The same old “love you, love you, love you” chant grew to incorporate, “Love you, little Julian!” after the crew learned she was expecting a boy. “So sweet,” Kudrow remembered, adding, “They included my little fetus within the huddle.” Years later, it’s certainly one of Kudrow’s feel-good memories from the Friends era.
As if reliving Friends magic wasn’t enough, the highly anticipated Friends reunion on HBO Max brought Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer back together, stirring up nostalgia and excitement. The episode featured some big guest stars, too – everyone from BTS to David Beckham to Reese Witherspoon (and a listing of pop icons long enough to make any Friends fan scream). The reunion gave fans a rare, heartwarming take a look at the forged’s favorite memories and on-set stories, complete with anecdotes like Kudrow’s pregnancy tale.
Phoebe giving birth was certainly one of season 5’s highlights. It tied a heartfelt bow on her surrogate journey, bringing closure to her arc and a sweet goodbye to Kudrow’s real-life pregnancy. And now, that “little Julian” from the backstage huddles? He recently graduated from the University of Southern California, with Kudrow proudly sharing an image on Instagram: “Glad proud HAPPY. And just a little crying. By me, not him.”
During Courteney Cox’s real-life pregnancy within the show’s final season, the situation was trickier, as Monica and Chandler were famously unable to have children. To maintain the storyline intact, the wardrobe team relied on oversized sweaters, layered outfits, and strategic camera angles to cover her growing bump. The truth is, sharp-eyed fans might notice that Monica spends much of those later episodes sitting on the kitchen table, leaning on counters, or holding large props like bowls and laundry baskets. This subtle behind-the-scenes work ensured the show’s continuity while giving Cox the comfort to maintain filming until the very end.
For a show as iconic as Friends, moments like these are priceless, keeping the off-screen stories just as memorable because the on-screen laughs. And as Friends mania continues with the reunion and infinite fan re-watches, Lisa Kudrow’s journey is proof that sometimes, life and art mix in essentially the most memorable ways.
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