Lisa Kudrow changed her career thanks to Friends, a role she really can't remember all that much these days. However, prior to landing the sitcom, she failed to secure another one, losing her role as Roz on Frasier. In truth, Frasier made some controversial casting decisions, especially when it came to cuts.In the following, we'll take a look at Kudrow's short-lived stint on Fraiser. Kudrow herself said she wasn't right for the role, however, the network thought otherwise.Ultimately, the show's director decided to cut Kudrow after a failed test screening. We'll take a look back at how it all unfolded, and how Peri Gilpin entered the mix, securing the role of Roz Doyle.
Lisa Kudrow Admitted She Wasn't Right For Her Role On Frasier
Ultimately, it all worked out for Lisa Kudrow, who went on to become a sitcom star thanks to Friends. However, the road to the popular sitcom wasn't an easy one, and it included a stumble while getting cast on Frasier. Kudrow was removed from her role, however according to the actress, she fully understood the decision.
"I wasn't right for the part [or] for the chemistry of the group. So that wasn't working but I did think, 'Oh, I am not this guy's cup of tea," Kudrow said speaking about the show's director, James Burrows.
Unfortunately for Kudrow, she couldn't escape James Burrows, as the director was also attached to Friends. Burrows directed 15 episodes of the series.
According to Kudrow, life was made difficult for her, both during the audition and when the show started.
"He would say, 'Why are they friends with her?' Meaning [Phoebe]. We have to figure that out. She doesn't fit," she said. "And I was like, 'Oh, my God. Here we go again."
Despite the early hiccup, Kudrow was clearly a fit on Friends, and it all worked out for the actress.
Casting Director Jeff Greenberg Says The Studio Wanted Lisa Kudrow, But Things Fell Apart When She Shot Scenes With Kelsey Grammer
The search for Roz on Frasier was a wide open one during the casting phase. Ultimately, Lisa Kudrow and Peri Gilpin were the finalists, and the network wanted Kudrow for the role.
"Kelsey [Grammer] came in and read with five or six of them, and our two favorites were Lisa Kudrow and Peri Gilpin. We tested them at NBC, and they chose Lisa. She was great."
However, when it came time to test Kudrow alongside Grammer in front of an audience, things changed.
"There was so much good confrontation in the scenes at home and a palpable sort of tension. At the radio station, not so much. And they figured out it was because of Lisa's version of Roz," casting director Jeff Greenberg reveals.
"You could see Kelsey [as Frasier] was going to be able to railroad her and do what he wanted. She was sort of spacey, and she was funny. But there was not going to be the conflict there."
Jim Burrows made the decision to call Peri Gilpin in for the role, given that Frasier wouldn't want to mess with her. As they say, the rest is history.
Peri Gilpin Got Re-Cast In The Role Of Roz Doyle, And Kept An Amicable Relationship With Lisa Kudrow
Peri Gilpin got the role, but she was torn by the decision, given that she grew a close connection to Lisa Kudrow during the audition process. Once Gilpin made sure everything was okay with her fellow actress, she agreed to take on the role.
Gilpin has fond memories of her role as Roz Doyle, including shooting scenes with her fellow castmates.
“On TV it’s obviously different. But on ‘Frasier,’ since we all had theater backgrounds none of us wanted to not know our lines; we wanted to get it right for the audience. It was so beautifully written and everything was so perfectly set up — we were dying to see how the audience would react — so you didn’t want to blow a line," she told the Chicago Tribune.
Gilpin remains active on both TV and film, recently working on The Anthrax Attacks.