“Often, you can’t recast, because of tight shooting deadlines or other logistical considerations,” said Burrows, who worked on the sitcom throughout the ’90s. “You need someone who gets laughs. Sometimes you start an arc and it ain’t working out, so you have to get rid of that person. If it’s a day player, it’s a quick goodbye.”
Moreover, Burrows acknowledged that, oftentimes, efforts are made to keep performers if the situation calls for it.
“If there’s chemistry,” he added, “the writers go to work to figure out some way of keeping the actor.”
Friends co-creator Marta Kaufmann previously praised Baxendale’s talents and admitted it would be hard to join the tight-knit cast.