The ‘Friends’ Character Who Actually Deserved a Spin-Off
While Friends only spawned one spin-off — the ill-fated Joey — the real character who deserved one was Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow). Joey’s charm relied on the group dynamic, but Phoebe could’ve easily carried her own show.
Unlike the others, Phoebe lived life on her own terms. Introduced as Monica’s old roommate — and Ross’s childhood mugger — she was always delightfully unpredictable. She didn’t care what people thought, proudly embracing her quirks (“So, you’re okay with being flaky?” “Yeah, totally.”).
Her storylines often stood alone — from singing “Smelly Cat” at Central Perk to collecting charity money in an elf costume — proving Lisa Kudrow’s impeccable comic timing. Phoebe was weird, wise, and endlessly funny.
🎸 If any Friends character could’ve led a successful spin-off, it wasn’t Joey or Ross — it was Phoebe Buffay, without question.
A ‘Friends’ Spin-Off Featuring Phoebe Could Literally Go Anywhere
The beauty of a Friends spin-off starring Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow) is that it could go in almost any direction. Her chaotic backstory alone could fuel an entire prequel series. From losing her mother at a young age to living on the streets, sharing cars with eccentric strangers, learning French behind a dumpster, or marrying a gay Canadian ice dancer for his green card — Young Phoebe basically writes itself.
A post-Friends spin-off would work just as well. Phoebe’s marriage to Mike (Paul Rudd) gave the show a sweet ending, and a series about their quirky newlywed life — Mr. Crap Bag & Mrs. Princess Consuela Banana Hammock — would’ve been pure fun.
Then there are the “what if” ideas: What if Phoebe actually became famous for “Smelly Cat”? Or teamed up with her chaotic twin Ursula in a musical-comedy series (The Suite Life of Ursula & Phoebe, anyone?).
With Lisa Kudrow’s effortless humor and Phoebe’s boundless weirdness, this is the Friends spin-off we never got — but absolutely deserved.
