Lisa Kudrow Kept Telling Ray Romano They Should Do a Sitcom While Shooting New Drama: 'I Forget the Hard Work' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

(L) Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano.Photo:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic (2)

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic (2)

Lisa Kudrowwants to getRay Romanoback into comedy!At theNo Good Deedpremiere on Dec. 4, theFriendsalum, 61, described working with theEverybody Loves Raymondstar, 66, on Netflix’s latest drama as a dream and revealed the potential project she pitched him on set.“He’s everything I thought he would be. He’s easy. He’s effortless. He’s a fantastic actor,” she exclusively told PEOPLE on the red carpet. “It’s everything I sort of fantasized. I’d see Ray in other things, and say, ‘God, he’s a really good actor. I’d love to work with him, but I guess that’ll never happen.'"(L) Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano in ‘No Good Deed’.SAEED ADYANI/NetflixThen when she got the chance to act alongside him, Kudrow admitted that she felt “nervous” about working together for the first time, but he “turned out to be exactly who I thought he would be.“When asked if she’d ever be interested in returning to multi-camera sitcoms, the actress said she hasn’t closed the door on the possibility. In fact, she’s tried to bring Romano along for the ride.“I kept saying to Ray, like, ‘Let’s do a sitcom. Come on. Rehearse all week and then shoot. Let’s do that,'” she recalled, though she added, “I think I forget what the hard work was in the beginning of doing one of those shows.“Ray Romano.David Benthal/BFA.com/ShutterstockEverybody Loves Raymondran for nine seasons from 1996 to 2005 on CBS. Romano, who starred as the sitcom’s titular character, Raymond Barone, also told PEOPLE that he hadn’t seen a single episode of his Emmy winning show in 15 to 20 years, but has since completed his rewatch.“I made it through all of them. I forced myself,” he confessed. “And back then, 20 years ago, I was quite critical of it, close to it. I did it. I was there. I saw how the butter was made or whatever the saying is. Being removed from it now, I appreciated it.”InNo Good Deed, which premieres Dec. 12 on Netflix, Kudrow and Romano star as longtime couple Lydia and Paul as they “decide to move on from their empty nest to forge a new life,” so they list their longtime home “and the real estate frenzy begins,” per the official synopsis.“Multiple families all race to buy what they believe to be their dream house, convinced it will fix all of their very different problems. But as Lydia and Paul know all too well, sometimes the home of your dreams can be a true nightmare,” the logline continues. “As they struggle to hide the dark and dangerous secrets that linger inside their longtime home, Paul and Lydia begin to realize that the only way they’ll escape the past is to finally face it.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.No Good Deedpremieres Thursday, Dec. 12 on Netflix.

Lisa Kudrowwants to getRay Romanoback into comedy!

At theNo Good Deedpremiere on Dec. 4, theFriendsalum, 61, described working with theEverybody Loves Raymondstar, 66, on Netflix’s latest drama as a dream and revealed the potential project she pitched him on set.

“He’s everything I thought he would be. He’s easy. He’s effortless. He’s a fantastic actor,” she exclusively told PEOPLE on the red carpet. “It’s everything I sort of fantasized. I’d see Ray in other things, and say, ‘God, he’s a really good actor. I’d love to work with him, but I guess that’ll never happen.'”

(L) Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano in ‘No Good Deed’.SAEED ADYANI/Netflix

SAEED ADYANI/Netflix

Then when she got the chance to act alongside him, Kudrow admitted that she felt “nervous” about working together for the first time, but he “turned out to be exactly who I thought he would be.”

When asked if she’d ever be interested in returning to multi-camera sitcoms, the actress said she hasn’t closed the door on the possibility. In fact, she’s tried to bring Romano along for the ride.

“I kept saying to Ray, like, ‘Let’s do a sitcom. Come on. Rehearse all week and then shoot. Let’s do that,'” she recalled, though she added, “I think I forget what the hard work was in the beginning of doing one of those shows.”

Ray Romano.David Benthal/BFA.com/Shutterstock

David Benthal/BFA.com/Shutterstock

Everybody Loves Raymondran for nine seasons from 1996 to 2005 on CBS. Romano, who starred as the sitcom’s titular character, Raymond Barone, also told PEOPLE that he hadn’t seen a single episode of his Emmy winning show in 15 to 20 years, but has since completed his rewatch.

“I made it through all of them. I forced myself,” he confessed. “And back then, 20 years ago, I was quite critical of it, close to it. I did it. I was there. I saw how the butter was made or whatever the saying is. Being removed from it now, I appreciated it.”

InNo Good Deed, which premieres Dec. 12 on Netflix, Kudrow and Romano star as longtime couple Lydia and Paul as they “decide to move on from their empty nest to forge a new life,” so they list their longtime home “and the real estate frenzy begins,” per the official synopsis.

“Multiple families all race to buy what they believe to be their dream house, convinced it will fix all of their very different problems. But as Lydia and Paul know all too well, sometimes the home of your dreams can be a true nightmare,” the logline continues. “As they struggle to hide the dark and dangerous secrets that linger inside their longtime home, Paul and Lydia begin to realize that the only way they’ll escape the past is to finally face it.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

No Good Deedpremieres Thursday, Dec. 12 on Netflix.

source: people.com