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Actress and producer Jennifer Aniston has spoken out about the changing nature of comedy in today’s world. She told AFP (via Yahoo News) that “comedy has evolved” so much that it’s tricky to be funny these days. Aniston has been starring in comedies for almost three decades, from the launch of NBC’s Friends in 1994 to the upcoming release of her latest Netflix movie, Murder Mystery 2. Therefore, she has had a front-row seat to watch comedy tastes change.
Comedy in Today’s World
Aniston said it is now a little tricky to make jokes because you must be careful. This makes it hard for comedians because the beauty of comedy is that it makes fun of life and ourselves. In the past, comedians could joke about bigots and have a laugh, which was hysterical, and it educated people on how ridiculous they were. However, this is not allowed now, and a whole generation of people, especially kids, find some episodes of Friends offensive when they watch them.
There were never intentional things and others that could have been thought through more carefully, but Jennifer Aniston doesn’t think there was a sensitivity like there is today. She concluded that everybody needs funny, and the world needs humor. We can’t take ourselves too seriously, especially in the United States, where everyone is too divided.
Lack of Diversity in ‘Friends’
Friends has been called out in recent years for its lack of diversity. The show’s cast consisted of six main characters, all white. The show rarely featured actors of color in prominent roles across ten seasons and 236 episodes. Lauren Tom, Gabrielle Union, Mark Consuelos, and Craig Robinson appeared on the show in small supporting roles. Meanwhile, Aisha Tyler, the most prominent actor of color featured in the series, only starred in nine episodes.
Friends creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman have been criticized for their lack of diversity on the show. Cast member Lisa Kudrow once made headlines for saying that if the show ever returned or got rebooted, “it would not be an all-white cast.” Speaking to The Daily Beast last year, Kudrow made sense of the show’s lack of diversity by saying that the Friends creators had no business telling stories about people of color given their backgrounds.
Kauffman’s Reaction to the Criticism
Kauffman announced last July that she was so “embarrassed” and felt such “guilt” over the lack of diversity on Friends that she donated $4 million to create the Marta F. Kauffman ’78 Professorship in African and African American Studies at Brandeis University. The program will “support a distinguished scholar with a concentration in studying the peoples and cultures of Africa and the African diaspora.”
Aniston and Sandler Team Up
Aniston’s latest Netflix movie Murder Mystery 2 co-stars Adam Sandler and streams on March 31. However, the movie’s stars, Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, reportedly had aches and pains while working on the Netflix film.
Sandler told Variety that he had hip replacement surgery shortly after filming. He said that he had been doing so many movies in a row, and he was always hanging in a harness. He said, “Something’s going on with my hip, man. I’m in trouble.” While filming this movie and another one, he realized that he had to get an X-ray of his hip.
Aniston also had her wear and tear. She aggravated an old back injury on the final day of filming. She told Extra she had been doing stunts all day and felt good until the last take when she twisted wrong and heard a crack. The actress said she was in so much pain that she couldn’t even walk and had to be carried off.
Despite their physical challenges, Aniston and Sandler are known for their professionalism and commitment to their craft. They have worked together before on the 2011 romantic comedy film “Just Go with It” and have developed a strong friendship over the years.
Murder Mystery 2 follows up on the success of the first movie in the series, which was released in 2019 and became one of the most popular films on Netflix. The new movie sees Aniston and Sandler’s characters reunited for another adventure, this time on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean. The film promises to be a thrilling and hilarious ride for fans of the two stars and their on-screen chemistry.
Aniston and Sandler’s team-up in Murder Mystery 2 is highly anticipated by fans. Their dedication to their craft, even through physical discomfort, is a testament to their talent and professionalism.
