<p id=”par-1_42″>Lisa Kudrow spent years <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/friends-lisa-kudrow-is-glad-the-show-ended.html/”>starring on <em>Friends</em></a>. She recently spoke about <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/friends-writers-dont-like-1-monica-rachel-subplot.html/”>the writers’ room</a> on the show and noted that the way the cast treated the female stars was inappropriate. Her comments echoed claims made in a lawsuit by a writers’ assistant.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-lisa-kudrow-spoke-about-the-friends-writers-room”>Lisa Kudrow spoke about the ‘Friends’ writers’ room</h2>
<p id=”par-2_55″>While the long-running sitcom was about a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/lisa-kudrow-breaks-friends-fans-hearts-no-one-cared-about-me.html/”>group of friends</a>, Kudrow admitted that there was “definitely mean stuff going on behind the scenes.” She said the writers’ room, which was primarily made up of men. They could be harsh to the cast, and Kudrow also said they were inappropriate about the women on the show.</p>
<p id=”par-3_79″>“Don’t forget we were recording in front of a live audience of 400, and if you messed up one of these writers’ lines or it didn’t get the perfect response they could be like, ‘Can’t the b**** f***ing read? She’s not even trying. She f***ed up my line,’” she told <a href=”https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/lisa-kudrow-friends-matthew-perry-comeback-new-season-5nw086dx8″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Times</a>. “And we know that back in the room the guys would be up late discussing their sexual fantasies about <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/friends-co-stars-jennifer-aniston-and-courtney-cox-once-dated-the-same-guy.html/”>Jennifer [Aniston] and Courteney [Cox]</a>. It was intense.”</p>
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<p id=”par-4_17″>Kudrow said that she tried to ignore it as long as nobody said anything to her face.</p>
<p id=”par-5_45″>“Oh, it could be brutal, but these guys — and it was mostly men in there — were sitting up until 3am trying to write the show so my attitude was, ‘Say what you like about me behind my back because then it doesn’t matter.’”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-a-lawsuit-made-many-of-the-same-claims-about-the-friends-writers-room-as-lisa-kudrow”>A lawsuit made many of the same claims about the ‘Friends’ writers’ room as Lisa Kudrow </h2>
<p id=”par-6_48″>In 2006, the California Supreme Court ruled on a sexual lawsuit brought forward by writers’ assistant Amaani Lyle. After she was fired from the show in 1999, she sued for racial discrimination and wrongful termination. She later brought forward a sexual harassment lawsuit after speaking to her lawyer.</p>
<p id=”par-7_33″>Lyle alleged that the male writers spoke in graphic sexual terms about Cox and Aniston. She also alleged that they simulated masturbation, drew breasts and vaginas, and referred to women in vulgar terms.</p>
<p id=”par-8_32″>The California Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of the writers, noting that state law “does not outlaw sexually coarse and vulgar language or conduct that merely offends” (per the <a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-apr-21-me-friends21-story.html” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>LA Times</a>).</p>
<p id=”par-9_39″>Justin Marvin R. Baxter wrote that the decision was based “on the totality of the undisputed circumstances, particularly the fact the ‘Friends’ production was a creative workplace focused on generating scripts for an adult-oriented comedy show featuring sexual themes.”</p>
<p id=”par-10_12″>The writers’ room celebrated the decision as a win for creative freedom.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-her-show-the-comeback-shows-the-way-writers-rooms-can-treat-women”>Her show ‘The Comeback’ shows the way writers’ rooms can treat women</h2>
<p id=”par-11_33″>Kudrow now stars on <em>The Comeback</em>. In it, she plays Valerie Cherish, an actress attempting to relaunch her career. <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/what-sex-and-the-city-director-michael-patrick-king-didnt-like-about-carrie-bradshaw-in-season-1.html/”>Creator Michael Patrick King</a> said the show echoes the reality of many writers’ rooms.</p>
<p id=”par-12_51″>“TV writers perceived any woman over 40 as not f***able,” he said. “It’s in the DNA of many, many writers’ rooms. The show is the closest thing to my experience of writing rooms, with male energy and the sophomoric madness that happens when people are trapped, trying to do a series.”</p>
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<p id=”par-13_11″>“Yeah,” Kudrow agreed. “We’re showing you how the sausage gets made.”</p>
<p id=”par-14_11″>The third season of <em>The Comeback </em>is currently airing on HBO.</p>