In a recent episode of Conan O’Brien‘s talk show, the comedian and actress Lisa Kudrow shared an interesting tidbit about their friendship. It turns out that their bond was formed through an improv class they took together.
Conan revealed that when he first arrived in Los Angeles, he felt self-conscious about his lack of acting training. However, in the improv class, he found solace in the presence of Lisa, who had just graduated from Vassar College and had no previous experience in acting or writing professionally. Their shared background and similar age instantly sparked a connection between them.
Lisa, known for her role as Phoebe Buffay on “Friends,” impressed Conan with her confidence and commitment to the class. Despite Conan’s initial confusion about the acting terminology, he observed Lisa’s unwavering dedication and genuine performances during exercises like lifting a disc or throwing a ball.
Their time in the improv class laid the groundwork for their friendship and shared experience in the entertainment industry. While Conan eventually pursued a career in comedy writing, including a stint at “Saturday Night Live,” Lisa continued with improv and was on the cusp of joining the Groundlings when she landed a writing job and left Los Angeles.
During their conversation, Conan reflected on the sometimes awkward and embarrassing aspects of improv and acting exercises. Both Conan and Lisa admitted to having little patience for those moments but recognized their bond in their shared reluctance. Conan even mentioned a scene from the show “Hacks,” where Jean Smart’s character chooses to opt-out of an improv exercise, resonating with their own feelings about it.
The conversation also turned to Conan and Lisa being asked to participate in improv for charitable causes. However, they both found themselves less inclined to engage in the warm-up activities typically associated with improv scenes. In one instance, Conan simply offered to write a check for the cause instead of going through the exercises, which drew some comments about losing the “Improv Spirit.”
Interestingly, Conan and Lisa also discovered that they share a tendency toward passive-aggressive behavior. They joked about their experiences in therapy and their attempts to quell these tendencies. But, as Conan humorously noted, therapy may not be the best place to openly express every thought and feeling.
Conan and Lisa’s lively conversation showcased their friendship and shared perspectives on the entertainment industry. While they may have initially connected in an improv class, their bond extends beyond the stage, making them a formidable comedic duo.
For fans of Conan O’Brien‘s talk show and followers of Lisa Kudrow‘s career, this episode offered an entertaining and heartfelt glimpse into their friendship and experiences in the world of comedy and improvisation.
