A Former 'Friends' Director Said This Cast Member Was Just 'Not Funny' Enough

According to Friends director James Burrows, one cast member left him wanting for a little more in the humor department.

In his recently released memoir entitled Directed by James Burrows, the director recalled several memories of his time on the set of Friends, among other sitcoms including Will & Grace and Cheers. Burrows commented on working with Helen Baxendale, who played Ross Gellar’s fiancée Emily Waltham, and his recollection was a bit scathing. “She was nice but not particularly funny,” he wrote. “[David] Schwimmer had no one to bounce off. It was like clapping with one hand.”

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Burrows explained, “In sitcoms and any type of romantic comedy, the funny is just as important as the chemistry. We discovered that any new girlfriend for Ross needed to be as funny as Rachel.” Though Baxendale didn’t check the box for the requirement, Burrows explained there wasn’t enough time to recast the character. “Often, you can’t recast, because of tight shooting deadlines or other logistical considerations. You don’t cast anyone to be a straw man, unless it’s for one episode,” he wrote.

Burrows continued, “You need someone who gets laughs. Sometimes you start an arc and it ain’t working out, so you have to get rid of that person. If it’s a day player, it’s a quick goodbye.” He added, “The reverse is also true. If there’s chemistry, the writers go to work to figure out some way of keeping the actor.”

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Just as Burrows wasn’t charmed by Baxendale, she wasn’t swept off her feet by her guest role on Friends either. The actress told the Daily Mail in 2012, “I am very proud and delighted to have been in such an amazingly successful and international show. … But it doesn’t feel like part of my life at all now. I look upon it as a strange surreal little blip in my life almost like a dream.”

Baxendale added, “Friends was great fun, but I was just there so they could make some funny jokes about England. And I was also expecting [a child], and you have to be thin out in America.” Hot takes all around for Burrows and Baxendale.

For more behind-the-scenes stories about Burrows’ experience directing 14 episodes of Friends, as well as other legendary shows he worked on throughout his career, snag a copy of his memoir, Directed by James Burrows, today.

‘Directed by James Burrows’ by James Burrows

Price: $17.39

Buy Now

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