What If Sunday: Lisa Kudrow, Roz, Frasier and Friends

Way back in 1998, when I was a lot younger than I care to admit, I became obsessed with a little show called 'Friends'.

'Friends' was the first show I truly loved, and it is the series that ignited my fascination with television production.

When she was just starting out as an actress, Lisa Kudrow was cast to play Roz on 'Frasier'. But during the filming of the pilot episode the role was recast with Peri Gilpin.

Luckily Kudrow didn't have long to wait before she was recast in a different series, 'Mad About You'. She played Ursula Buffay, a recurring character, on the hit NBC show.

Even more luckily, Kudrow auditioned for and was cast in 'Friends'. The show, also set to air on NBC, was given the timeslot immediately following 'Mad About You'.

The network was concerned that viewers who watched 'Mad About You', and stuck around to watch the premiere of 'Friends', would be confused by the same actress playing different characters in the two shows. Because of this the script of 'Friends' was altered specifically for Kudrow, and the character of Phoebe on 'Friends' was given the last name Buffay and made to be the twin sister of Ursula (from 'Mad About You'). Kudrow even occasionally played her own twin on 'Friends', allowing Ursula and Phoebe to act out parts of their sibling rivalry.

What if Kudrow had never lost the role of Roz on 'Frasier'? Not only would the role of Phoebe have been played by a different actress, but the character, and key aspects of her motivation, would have been completely different--she wouldn't have had a twin sister.





Kudrow speaks about 'Frasier' and 'Friends' during Vassar's 2010 Commencement address:

What If Sunday: Nathan Fillion, Joss Whedon, Angel, and BTVS

What if Nathan Fillion had been cast as Angel in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'?

It could have actually happened. The first time he auditioned for a Joss Whedon television show he was trying out for the part of Angel. According to Fillion (pictured on left) he didn't make it far enough through the auditions to actually meet the producers, so Whedon didn't see him then. Years later Whedon told him he wasn't even aware that he'd auditioned for the role (see clip at end).

It's clear that Whedon loves Fillion (as an actor, and I'm assuming also as a person). He's used him in multiple projects: in the final season of 'Buffy' (as Caleb), in 'Firefly' and 'Serenity', in 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog', and in 'Much Ado About Nothing'.

Because it's clear that Whedon loves Fillion's talent (which I'm in no way disputing he has), I'm secretly glad that Fillion didn't make it to the final casting round for Angel.

Fillion is a brilliant actor, and he's definitely multi-faceted. He's also attractive or, as they say on 'Castle', "ruggedly handsome". But he doesn't have the dark, brooding handsomeness that helped David Boreanaz fill the role. Everyone uses "dark" and "brooding" as adjectives for Boreanaz (image on left). Seriously, just try Googling those words with his name.




If Fillion had been cast as Angel it would have impacted the entire tone of the Buffy and Angel relationship, as well as many of the show's central plots. I know that looks are in no way the most important factor of an actor's performance, but they do matter.

Considering the fact that Fillion and Boreanaz are on quite similar shows now ('Castle' and 'Bones'), I wonder if their careers paths would have still followed the same trajectory if Fillion had been cast as Angel instead of Boreanaz. Luckily, we'll never know.