American actor Paul Rudd recalls watching Friends with his daughter in a recent interview. First airing on NBC in 1994, Friends achieved huge popularity and went on to become one of America’s most beloved and successful sitcoms. Running 10 seasons and 236 episodes, the show became a cultural phenomenon, and, at its peak, was watched by 30 million American households weekly, with a reported 52 million people tuning in to watch the series finale that aired in 2004.
Noted for many celebrity guest appearances, as well as helping to launch the careers of several future stars, Friends was the perfect show for the then 33-year-old Rudd, who was on the cusp of stardom. The New Jerseyan appeared in seasons 9 and 10, playing the role of Mike Hannigan, Phoebe Buffay’s boyfriend, and eventual husband. With a storyline spanning 18 episodes, the character became a fan favorite for being the quintessential ‘Great Guy,’ and served as the perfect match for the kooky and lovable Phoebe. Rudd's career post-Friends has gone from strength to strength, most notably through his collaborations with Judd Apatow and his appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Rudd recently discussed how he has been revisiting the show, and the character, with his daughter. Speaking in an exclusive interview with People, the 52-year-old revealed that, whilst he doesn't typically tend to watch himself or to revisit things he's done in the past, he admitted that he did find it fun to see his daughter discover Friends for the first time, and used it as an opportunity to be a little nostalgic. Read the Knocked Up actor's quotes on the matter below:
"I hadn't really revisited many of those episodes. But now that she's watching it, it's like, 'Oh, I remember this,' and I tell her some story about it. I'm far enough away from some things now that I can allow myself to be a little nostalgic about it. But then she'll just be like, 'Well, you're not Joey.'"
Though he didn’t play a huge role in the hit sitcom, Rudd was received warmly by viewers who enjoyed watching his blossoming relationship with quirky 'Friend' Phoebe. Indeed, it seems many fans were disappointed not to see him in the recent Friends reunion special that aired earlier this year. Director Ben Winston revealed that this was due to the fact that they couldn’t have too many cameos, though it is also likely that Ant-Man star Rudd had a busy schedule, wrapping on the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, as well as beginning filming of the third Ant-Man movie, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Interestingly, it could even be that the Clueless actor doesn’t remember his time on the show overly fondly. Back in 2020, Rudd revealed in an interview with Captain America star Chris Evans, that he felt like a "prop" during his stint on the sitcom, stating “I felt, ‘I’m like a prop on this show. It’s not about Mike Hannigan. But there’s a very interesting feeling to be a part of something that has that kind of profound impact on pop culture.” On a more positive note, it seems highly likely that his experiences joining the cast of Friends will have prepared him perfectly for when he first joined the MCU as Ant-Man in 2015. Being a part of something larger than his character would have mirrored his Friends experience, but on a far larger scale, and, though Rudd’s Ant-Man franchise shows no sign of stopping, it seems unlikely he will revisit Friends, or Mike Hannigan, again.
Source: People
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