Washington

As 1990s nostalgia continues to shape pop culture, Lisa Kudrow has offered a nuanced take on the renewed fascination with the era that defined much of her career.

Speaking at the premiere of The Comeback Season 3 during the South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, Kudrow acknowledged that interest in past decades tends to return in cycles. However, she cautioned that how history is remembered may not always reflect reality.

Kudrow, widely recognised for her role as Phoebe Buffay on the hit sitcom Friends, said younger generations revisiting the ’90s should be mindful that interpretations of the past can sometimes be incomplete or inaccurate.

Her portrayal of Phoebe between 1994 and 2004 made her one of the most iconic faces of the decade, alongside co-stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry.

The cast reunited in 2021 for Friends: The Reunion, revisiting their shared journey and iconic moments from the series. Reflecting on the experience, Kudrow described it as emotional, while LeBlanc remarked that it felt as though no time had passed.

Beyond reflecting on the past, Kudrow also imagined what Phoebe’s life might look like today, picturing her settled in Connecticut with Mike, played by Paul Rudd, and actively involved in her children’s lives, possibly working in arts education.

Currently, Kudrow is focused on the return of The Comeback, in which she reprises her role as Valerie Cherish, a sitcom actress navigating the evolving entertainment industry. Originally launched in 2005 and revived in 2014, the series is now back for a third season after more than a decade.

The new season explores contemporary themes such as social media relevance and industry changes, including concerns around artificial intelligence. It also references the impact of the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, with Fran Drescher making an appearance as herself.

Kudrow has indicated that this season may mark the conclusion of Valerie Cherish’s story, describing it as the final chapter of a planned trilogy and a fitting end for both the character and the audience.

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Season 3 of The Comeback premiered on March 22.