By Alex Passa
It seems like both Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow were very much into their romance on Friends.
Throughout its ten season run, fans of Friends debated lots of storylines. Some they wish they didn't see like Joey and Rachel hooking up. While others left fans wanting more, like the relationship between Phoebe and Joey.
A large portion of the audience wanted to see the two together, and that included both Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow.
In the following, we're going to take a closer look at their dynamic behind the scenes. We'll also reveal how the two felt about their kiss, and possible romance.
Although the two pitched an idea together, it seems like the creators weren't as eager to pursue it. We'll reveal why it wasn't meant to be.
Lisa Kudrow Used Matt LeBlanc As A Big Brother Figure Behind The Scenes On Friends
Lisa Kudrow changed her career forever on Friends. However, despite the success as Phoebe, the actress admitted that things weren't always easy. In fact, early on during the series, Kudrow struggled with her confidence and contemplated leaving the show.
Kudrow also admitted alongside Andy Cohen that she was once body-shammed by a guest star behind the scenes.
Kudrow reveals, "The worst behavior, just off the top of my head. I rehearsed without makeup most of the week, and then on show night, I'm in hair and makeup, and was told 'Oh wow ... Now you're f****ble!'"
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This was especially hard for Kudrow given that she struggled with her image at the time.
"You see yourself on TV and it’s that, “Oh, my God, I’m just a mountain of a girl,”’ she explained on the WTF podcast in a separate interview. ‘I’m already bigger than Courteney and Jennifer — bigger, like my bones feel bigger. I just felt like this mountain of a woman next to them."
"Unfortunately for a woman, if you’re underweight, you look good. And that’s all I ever got. When I was too thin, I was sick all the time. A cold, sinus infection… I was always sick."
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Despite the struggles behind the scenes, Kudrow admitted to always counting on Matt LeBlanc for help, given that he was like a big brother behind the scenes.
"I told Matt LeBlanc. He's a big brother," Kudrow revealed after get body-shammed by a guest star.
Turns out, not only were the two close, but they also had quite the pitch for the sitcom.
Joey and Phoebe had obvious chemistry during Friends. Fans loved their moments together, especially the scene of the perfect kiss.
Fans have always wondered why the two weren't a romantic item throughout its decade long run. It certainly wasn't due to lack of effort as according to Matt LeBlanc alongside People, both he and Kudrow pitched a storyline that saw the two secretly hooking up for years.
"We’d go back and shoot all the historical scenes.
“Just before a moment that everyone recognizes, there’s Joey and Phoebe coming out of a broom closet together."
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From a fan perspective, this would've been a great moment, especially given how adored the two were when together in intimate scenes throughout the show's history.
One fan writes, "Phoebe and Joey are a better couple than Ross and Rachel because they were best friends and they were always on screen together hanging out."
Another fan had praise for the perfect kiss scene, "The scene where Joey decides to give Phoebe her perfect kiss, always gives me goosebumps. He was, without doubt, a caring person and a real friend for her during the entire show."
Fans were clearly into the idea of the two forming a romantic relationship, but why was it turned down by the writers?
The Friends Writers Decided To Keep Joey And Phoebe Apart Despite The Pitched Idea
Creator David Crane touched on the topic alongside Daily Mail. According to Crane, the outcome would've been far too easy and predictable if the two ended up together.
"It all would have been too tidy and too complete. When your goal is to keep the six characters in stories together, it would be really easy to go down that road but I think we all felt it would be a mistake."
Given that Monica and Chandler had also hooked up, this likely lessened the probability of Joey and Phoebe. In fact, even Chandler and Monica was first pitched, the creators hesitated given that it came off as desperate.
"When the second season was being planned, one of the writers tossed out an idea: "What if we get Chandler and Monica together?”
"The thought was intended less as a permanent shift in the gravity of the series and more as a fun plot line, good for a few episodes before the status quo snapped back into place."
That clearly was not the case as given the reaction it drew from the audience, the show had no choice but to continue the storyline and eventually, it lasted for good!
