Exclusive | Maggie Wheeler recalls juggling Janice Friends fame and Everybody Loves Raymond role in 90s sitcom heyday

Oh.My.

God.Maggie Wheeler was pulling double duty on two of the biggest sitcoms of the ’90s.The actress, 63, looked back on playing Janice in “Friends” while guest-starring as Linda Gruenfelder in “Everybody Loves Raymond” while attending an event for the latter show at The Paley Museum in New York City on June 16.Ray Romano (Ray Barone), Patricia Heaton (Debra Barone) and series creator Phil Rosenthal were also present.“I feel very, very fortunate, not only to have been in such exceptional shows that live on and that have captured the hearts of millions of people,” Wheeler exclusively told The Post on the red carpet, “but to have been able to do them at the same time was very, very special.”Wheeler appeared as Janice, Chandler Bing’s (played by the late Matthew Perry) longtime on-again, off-again girlfriend, across all 10 seasons of “Friends,” which aired from 1994 to 2004.She debuted as Linda Gruenfelder, Debra’s friend, in Season 1 of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” appearing in 12 episodes.Her other roles have included Marva Kulp, Jr.

in the 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap” and Anita Warrell in the ABC sitcom “Ellen.”“I had a smile that I couldn’t wipe off my face during that era because I was working with such great comedians, such great writers, having a chance to play these women who I love,” Wheeler said.“To be able to bring such extraordinary writing to life — that is the best gift an actor can have,” she added.“I got to do it in two places at the same time.

I’m very lucky.”Regarding filming in front of a live studio audience for both series, Wheeler described the experience as a “living organism.”“I think that’s one of the things that makes these sitcoms feel so wonderful and be so much fun: the theatrical sort of experience that you have with the audience,” she said.“You know when a joke works, you know when it doesn’t, and everyone gets to hover around and make changes in the moment.”...