Courteney Cox reflects on 'Friends' cast's pre-show ritual
Before filming each episode in front of a live studio audience, she and her co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and the late Matthew Perry, would gather in a circle to exchange good-luck wishes, hugs, and high fives.
'It was just 'Alright everybody! Good luck!'' Cox recalled.
She said the energy from the live crowd was so strong that producers often didn't need a laugh track.
'Friends was shot in front of a live audience, and that was a whole different thing,' she noted, contrasting it with the single-camera format of many modern sitcoms.
The ritual wasn't just routine, it was a sign of the deep connection the cast shared. Cox said it helped ground them before the cameras rolled and strengthened their chemistry, which she believes still exists.
She referenced the 2021 Friends reunion, where Matt LeBlanc observed that they could 'pick up right where we left off.'
By revisiting this behind-the-scenes moment at Inc. 5000, Cox reminded longtime fans that the enduring appeal of Friends wasn't just its comedy, it was also about the bond between six actors who supported one another from the first take to the final bow.
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