Friends' director James Burrows struggled with a guest star's lack of humor. Despite her memorable role, comedic chemistry was lacking.
If you're a fan of the hit TV show Friends, you might be surprised by a lesser-known behind-the-scenes secret that's quite revealing. It turns out, one of the guest stars posed quite a challenge for the director because, well, let's just say they didn't exactly bring the laughs.
According to director James Burrows, there was a particular guest star who struggled to deliver the comedic punch the show thrived on. Helen Baxendale, known for her role as Emily, Ross Geller's love interest, during a 14-episode arc, found herself in the spotlight for not quite hitting the mark in the humor department.
While Friends boasted a roster of famous guest stars like Ben Stiller, Brad Pitt, Robin Williams, and Bruce Willis, it was Baxendale's portrayal of the British bombshell that left something to be desired in terms of comedic timing. Even though her character's romance with Ross was memorable for its dramatic turn at the altar, Burrows recalled the challenges of working with her, citing a lack of comedic synergy with the other actors.
James Burrows wrote in his new memoir, Directed By James Burrows: "She was nice but not particularly funny. Schwimmer had no one to bounce off. It was like clapping with one hand."
"In sitcoms and any type of romantic comedy, the funny is just as important as the chemistry," Burrows noted i
"We discovered that any new girlfriend for Ross needed to be as funny as Rachel."
While Baxendale's time on Friends was cut short, partly due to her pregnancy, Burrows emphasized the necessity of finding someone who could elicit laughs to maintain the show's comedic momentum.
Baxendale herself reflected on her time on the show as a surreal experience, acknowledging the professionalism of the cast while noting that the camaraderie often expected from a show titled Friends wasn't quite the reality behind the scenes.
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