A Friends Star Threatened Leah Remini's Cheers Casting As Carla's Daughter
When Leah Remini published her tell-all book "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology," in 2015, it was primarily an account of her time spent in the Church of Scientology. But as the title suggests, plenty of showbiz secrets were spilled as well. One such anecdote cataloged Remini's audition for a guest-starring role in "Cheers."
Remini got her start in the 1980s, appearing in episodes of "Who's The Boss?" and heading its short-lived spinoff, "Living Dolls." As a working actor, Remini quickly acclimated to the world of audition waiting rooms, where she would continuously run into the same group of actresses. "It seemed like all the actresses in L.A. were going out for the same roles," Remini wrote in her book (via Showbiz Cheat Sheet). "After a few rounds of endless auditions at the studios, I was able to identify the girls who were my competition for these coveted spots."
Remini continued, "When I walked into an audition for the part of Rhea Perlman's daughter on 'Cheers' and saw one of my regular contenders. I was like, 'Ugh, there's Aniston.'" Remini had only pleasant things to say about Jennifer Aniston, whom she had become friends with on the audition circuit. "When you find someone like Jennifer, who isn't douche-y, you develop a natural camaraderie." Remini was candid about why she desperately needed the gig, telling Aniston she needed the rent money. "Jennifer just smiled and said, 'I hope you get it, then.'"
Remini ultimately got the part, playing Serafina in two episodes of "Cheers" in 1991 and 1993.
Aniston and Remini were almost co-stars on Friends
Jennifer Aniston wasn't the only future "Friends" star to show up on Leah Remini's audition route. In addition to "Cheers," Remini also auditioned for "Friends" in the 1990s, specifically going out for the part of Monica Geller. According to Remini, it had come down to her and another actress — that is, until a third actress entered the ring.
"We walked out of the building and into the completely empty parking lot," Remini recalled in "Troublemaker" (via Vulture). "We chatted on the way to our cars, wishing each other the best, and then we saw Courteney Cox walking toward us, then past us and right into the building. 'Motherf****r!' We both knew it right away: She had the part of Monica."
Unlike some of her "Friends" co-stars, Cox was arguably the most famous when "Friends" premiered in 1994, having appeared in episodes of "Family Ties," "Seinfeld," and the film "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective." When she showed up at the studio lot, Remini knew she was a shoo-in.
Despite losing out to Cox and her former audition buddy, Jennifer Aniston, Remini still got a taste of "Friends" in 1995, when she appeared in the Season 1 episode "The One with the Birth." She played Lydia, a single pregnant woman with whom Joey (Matt LeBlanc) strikes up an unlikely bond. Three years later, Remini snagged her breakout role in "The King of Queens."