Lisa Kudrow Remembers a Heartfelt Note from Matthew Perry in 'Friends' Gift

A Special Gift

On Tuesday's episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show," Kudrow reflected on this meaningful present. "Matthew gave that to me at the end of our last episode," she said, referring to the clock-shaped cookie jar from a season 8 episode. "I just recently found the note he put in there for me. I hadn’t opened it or looked inside before, but yeah, there was a note in there that I totally forgot about. Timing is everything."

A Treasured Keepsake

When Drew Barrymore asked Kudrow if she took anything from the "Friends" set, Kudrow jokingly replied, "Yes, but I’m too scared to tell you what it is. I just can’t say. I’m afraid." It wasn't clear if she was referring to the cookie jar clock, which Barrymore later mentioned. "Someone might come and take it away from me," Kudrow said, referring to her prized souvenir from the set.

The cookie jar clock plays a significant role in the season 8 episode titled "The One With the Cooking Class." In this episode, Phoebe (Kudrow) helps Chandler (Perry) prepare for a job interview, specifically trying to help him resist the urge to make punny jokes about words like "duties."

A Sign of Their Friendship

Kudrow has talked before about how this seemingly simple prop came to symbolize her friendship with Perry. "Do you see that 'Cookie Time?' That was in Monica and Rachel's apartment," she pointed out during a Zoom call with Jimmy Kimmel in 2020, indicating the cookie jar on a shelf behind her. "That was the wrap gift he gave me. We were laughing and crying so much because it was the end."

She went on to share the backstory: "It’s funny to think about, because we were filming a scene, way before we finished. My line was, 'Ooh, I better get going!' But I didn’t have a watch, and while we were shooting, it hit me—how do I know when to say, 'Ooh! I have to get going?' As the words came out, I noticed the clock and pointed to it, saying, 'Ooh! Look at the time, I gotta get going.' When we wrapped up shooting, Matthew asked me, 'Did you really point at the cookie jar and say, Look at the time?'"

Honoring Matthew Perry

Kudrow’s appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show" came just over a year after Perry’s untimely passing at the age of 54, due to the acute effects of ketamine. Since his death in October 2023, Kudrow and her former castmates have been sharing memories about their dear friend and colleague.

Kudrow has also reflected on Perry’s "uniquely funny" performance during the first table read for the "Friends" pilot, stating, "When we had that initial table read, what Matthew brought to the table sounded so different from what I was expecting. It was a style I’d never heard before, and I thought, 'Oh boy.' Matthew was unbelievably hilarious."

In Conclusion

Lisa Kudrow's fond reflection on the heartfelt note from Matthew Perry poignantly highlights the deep connections formed among the "Friends" cast. The cookie jar clock, a cherished symbol of their shared story and friendship, remains dear to Kudrow. As she and her castmates keep Perry's memory alive, their stories emphasize the lasting impact he had on their lives and the legacy he leaves behind.