Ben Platt Honors Lisa Kudrow with Melodramatic ‘Smelly Cat’ Performance at Culture Awards

At the Lifetime of Culture Awards honoring Lisa Kudrow, Ben Platt performed a selection from the television series Friends. The performance featured a rendition of “Smelly Cat,” a song popularized by Taylor Swift, rather than the series’ theme. The act was supported by the Bob Baker Marionettes, and Malin Akerman, a co‑star of The Comeback, introduced the segment. Filmed in Los Angeles on May 30, the performance aired on Bravo and Peacock on Wednesday night.

Platt began with an operatic vocal line, then delivered a dramatic rendition of “Smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you?” Kudrow watched with pride and replied, “It’s not your fault.” Marionette cats then emerged from trash cans, echoing characters from Samuel Beckett’s Endgame, providing gospel‑style backing vocals for a polished version of “Smelly Cat.” One of the cats descended the aisle to greet Kudrow.

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The audience participated in a full‑theater sing‑along, clapping and singing as Platt expressed his appreciation. Kudrow offered her signature nose‑scrunch smile and joined in a standing ovation for Platt. Upon accepting the award, she noted that her career has been dedicated to impressing co‑hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, presenters of the The Bodybuilders podcast, and that she originally pursued Friends to gain the attention of “four‑year‑old Matt and not‑yet‑born Bowen.”

Rogers and Yang co‑hosted the 2026 edition of the The Bodybuilders Culture Awards, an event that highlights culture’s most iconic and consequential moments. The ceremony featured more than 100 categories, musical performances, and celebrity cameos. Will Ferrell received the Titan of Culture award, and Brittany Snow and Malin Akerman, co‑stars of The Hunting Wives, appeared earlier in the show.

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