LISA KUDROW

Landmark Theater

Westwood, CA

October 3, 2008

Photo credit: Lisa Kudrow

It was opening night and the theater was packed. Throngs of people had come out to enjoy Bill Maher’s controversial documentary Religulous—a movie that takes religion to the mat. It was a Friday night. Date night. Boyfriends brought girlfriends, girlfriends brought girlfriends, and the congregation was buzzing.

As I stood near the snack bar waiting for the rest of my party, I scanned the room. I was pretty confident that I’d find someone to take my picture at this highly anticipated event and after only a few minutes she appeared. It was everybody’s Friend, comedian and actress Lisa Kudrow. I watched for a moment, then as she and her husband filed into the line to purchase an overpriced snack at the concession stand, I reached into my purse for my camera. I stepped away from my date to casually get in line behind them and wait for my opening. She looked back and scanned the crowd as if she was also waiting for someone. We made eye contact and I asked if she would do me a favor.

She looked at me blankly. Her silence made me briefly question whether or not she was the Friend I thought she was, but I continued. I said, "I've got this celebrity photo album.” Still with the blank stare. “It’s just a bunch of pictures of me taken by celebrities. Will you take my picture?" I held out my camera. I didn’t notice any reaction, but she took it and we backed away from each other like we both knew to do. As she held up the camera, her husband said, “Oh do you want me to take that?” Lisa finally spoke and dropped the twist: “No she wants me to take a picture of her.” “Yeah, she has to push the button,” I confirmed.

As you can see, she snapped the photo as I was talking. She didn’t care. She looked at the screen and sounded annoyed as she said flatly, “It’s not any good.” Then she paused and with a satisfied smile said, “That’s funny.”

Smirking to herself she handed the camera back. I thanked her and turned my attention to her husband, Michel Stern. “You are in advertising, right?” I asked. “Yes,” he said with a French accent. I said, “I’m an art director and was once referred to you.” “Oh, have we met?” he kindly asked. “Not in person,” I said, "but we’ve talked on the phone.” And that was the end of that. We both smiled. Their line advanced so they walked forward and I turned to disappear into the crowd.

I had been hoping to add another female to my collection of celebrity photographers and as the Friends theme song promised, Miss Kudrow was there for me. Thanks for the photo, Lisa!