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For someone who's not exactly a huge Hollywood star, Courteney Cox has had a surprisingly iconic career.
Not a huge Hollywood star, you say? The linchpin of Friends and star of Scream, not to mention the fact that she lent her voice to the currently popular Barnyard: The Original Party Animals and stars in this week's Zoom?
Well, to truly gauge her the luminosity of Cox's star, ask yourself this: what was your first reaction when you saw the words "Courteney Cox's Fame Audit"? Probably something like "The fuck?" Or, "Why her?" Or, "Why now? Or: Mel Gibson's a drunk!"
All good points.
But let us consider, or reconsider -- no, actually, "consider" is more accurate -- Lady Cox. Here's how you probably think of her: woman hired as ostensible star of sitcom about sextet of friends, later eclipsed by all five of her co-stars. Currently coasting along on stream of pure money, while married to famously slouching goofball. Once starred in possible hoax-stunt in Bruce Springsteen video. Pre-fame, co-starred on Family Ties and guest-starred on Seinfeld. And, for you obsessives: once starred in Misfits Of Science.
Nothing to get too excited about. Yet consider this: of all the Friends alumni, who's fared the best? Jennifer Aniston, with her tabloid infamy and parade of similar-sounding flops? (Pop quiz: Aniston once starred in a movie called Something To Talk About. True or false? Not sure, are you? Not really!)
Or how about Matt LeBlanc, with his spinoff-cum-punchline? Or Lisa Kudrow, whose boredom and apparent contempt for her meal ticket, so evident in the final, oh, four seasons or so of Friends, translated all-too-well to her curdled, sour sitcom The Comeback?
Or Schwimmer, whatever he's up to?
Arguably, only Matthew Perry's navigated a better course, and that's just because he's landed himself a plum role on an Aaron Sorkin series. Before that, he was only navigating his way into porches.
Now consider Ms. Courteney: voice-overs! Horror franchises! Daisy Does America! (She produced it.) Not spectacular, but no spectacular failures either. And in that there's a quiet dignity, no? In knowing what you're good at, and sticking to it?
We say hurrah for Courteney Cox! (And hurrah for Misfits Of Science while we're at it. So terrible. So good.) Hurrah for the lady pulled conveniently up on stage to dance with the Boss! Hurrah for the one ex-Friend who's not engaged in a patently fake (or fake-seeming, which is worse) tabloid-friendly engagement, not mounting self-loathing comebacks, not off-handedly mentioning her willingness to do a reunion show in the press.
You know who probably couldn't give a rat's heinie about a Friends reunion show? Ms. Cox, that's who!
You know, it's fitting that Cox should end up co-starring with Tim Allen; after all, he too has the air of the Hollywood survivor, buoyed by sitcom money, confident in his limited talents and at peace with his place in the world. And if that place is starring in tossed-off kid movies, why not? It pays for the pool-cleaning service. And the pool.
Frankly, we never thought we'd say it, but Courteney Cox is the former Friend we're the most not sick of.
And that, friends, is saying a hell of a lot.
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