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Tag: Phoebe Buffay

  • Lisa Kudrow: ‘Friends’ Star to Host Writers Guild Awards West Coast Show

    Lisa Kudrow of Friends fame is honored to be hosting the Writers Guild Awards West Coast Show in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 14th. The actress has launched a second career–this one in the writing and producing field–that has sent her soaring well beyond her days as the daffy Phoebe Buffay.

    “One of my most proud professional moments was when I qualified to join the Writers Guild,” Kudrow, who has been a WGAW member since 2005, said during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “Now, I’m truly honored to be asked to host the WGAW awards show this year.”

    Lisa Kudrow fans needn’t worry, however. She hasn’t given up acting. She has recently utilized all her talents to include acting, writing and producing credits on projects such as The Comeback (for which she earned a 2006 Emmy nomination for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series) and Web Therapy (for which she shared an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Class Program).

    It’s important to remember the film world when noting Lisa Kudrow’s talents, too. Over the years she has appeared on the big screen in Easy A, The Other Woman, Analyze That, and The Opposite of Sex.

    So what exactly is a Writers Guild Award? If Kudrow is hosting the celebration, fans best get the inside scoop on what it’s all about. After all, this awards show doesn’t get the kind of press that the Oscars or Golden Globes receive.

    EW reports that, “the WGA honor outstanding writing in film, television, new media, videogames, news, radio, promotional, and graphic animation categories.”

    In other Lisa Kudrow news, the actress/writer/producer was spotted hanging out with friends (not Friends, however) at Sundance late last week.

    Are you among those shocked to learn that there is way more to Lisa Kudrow than the silly antics of Phoebe Buffay, or did you know there was a boundless source of talent and creativty there all along?

  • Lisa Kudrow Loses Lawsuit, Must Pay $1.6 Million

    Lisa Kudrow of Friends fame lost the civil lawsuit her former manager filed against her. The jury awarded the plaintiff in the case, Scott Howard, $1.6 million. Howard filed the suit, claiming he was owed residual payment from Kudrow’s days on Friends.

    In a 10 to 2 decision in favor of Scott Howard, the jury determined the actress is liable for breach of contract.

    Howard was Lisa Kudrow’s manager from 1991 to 2007. He said during a court hearing that after 16 years of working together, she simply stopped paying him. His attorney argued on his behalf, saying he was owed a percentage of what she earned on Friends as well as from additional projects.

    Lisa Kudrow’s lawyer Gerald Sauer made the following statement once the jury’s decision was read.

    “The jury’s verdict is merely one step in the legal process. This case ultimately will be resolved at the appellate level. Ms. Kudrow has faith in the judicial system, and she believes that the eventual outcome of this contractual dispute will be in her favor.”

    Scott Howard’s attorney Mark Baute made a statement as well.

    “What generally happens now with unsophisticated actress clients is they overpay for filing a frivolous appeal that has no chance for success. The verdict is rock solid, and we look forward to collecting 10 percent, 16,000 dollars a month, in post-judgment interest while their frivolous appeal is pending. We will collect that interest for two years, which is how long it will take for the Court of Appeal to affirm this jury’s righteous verdict.”

    Lisa Kudrow’s attorneys fought Scott Howard’s charges, saying she was responsible to pay him following the end of their professional partnership because he had been her manager and not her agent. That meant he was no longer entitled to any commission.

    When Kudrow debuted in her role as Phoebe Buffay on Friends in 1994, she was one of the lowest paid of all the Friends actors, making just $13,500 per episode. When the show ended in 2004 she was earning more than $1 million per episode. It sounds like Scott Howard has just been cut a decent sized piece of that pie.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons