Ursula buffay originated in another sitcom.
Mad about you ursula.
It initially aired on nbc from september 23 1992 to may 24 1999 winning numerous awards including four golden globe awards and twelve primetime emmy awards on march 6 2019 a limited series revival was picked up by spectrum originals for 12 episodes.
Mad about you the series aired on nbc from 1992 to 1999 so when lisa kudrow was cast as phoebe in friends in 1994 she was already playing ursula in mad about you in it ursula was an inept waitress at riff s bar who often forgot orders.
Ursula phoebe s twin sister who was also played by lisa kudrow was a waitress on mad about you working at riff s a popular dinner.
Mad about you was definitely set in the universe as friends.