Editing Friends (section)

== Legacy and cultural impact ==
[[File:Setofcentralperk1.JPG|thumb|right|The set of Central Perk at Warner Bros. Studios]]
<!-- Another image of Central Perk [[File:Friends Central Perk couch.jpg|thumb|Central Perk couch as displayed on the Warner Bros. Studios Tour]] -->

Although the producers thought of ''Friends'' as "only a TV show", psychologists investigated the cultural impact of ''Friends'' during the series' run. Aniston's hairstyle was nicknamed "[[The Rachel]]" and copied around the world.<ref name="friendsorigin" /> Joey's catchphrase, "How ''you'' doin'?", became a popular part of Western English slang, often used as a [[pick-up line]] or when greeting friends.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/edu/2004/12/27/stories/2004122700700400.htm |title=Take it easy yaar! |access-date=January 4, 2009 |author=Anne, S. |date=December 27, 2004 |location=Chennai, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820171147/http://www.hindu.com/edu/2004/12/27/stories/2004122700700400.htm |archive-date=August 20, 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead }}</ref> The series also influenced the English language, according to a study by the [[University of Toronto]] that found that the characters used the emphasized word "''so''" to modify adjectives more often than any other [[intensifier]]. Although the preference had already made its way into the American [[vernacular]], usage on the series may have accelerated the change.<ref name="paidcasttog" /> Chandler's habit of ending a sentence unfinished for sarcasm also influenced viewers' speech.<ref name="crook20040502">{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jl9PAAAAIBAJ&pg=3823%2C549338 | title=Going 'Friends'-less / Long-running show drops the curtain | work=Toledo Blade | date=May 2, 2004 | agency=Zap2It | access-date=October 15, 2012 | author=Crook, John | pages=V3 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222165438/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jl9PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LAQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3823%2C549338 | archive-date=February 22, 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> The show's availability on [[streaming television]]—it accounted for 4% of all Netflix views in 2018—gave it a large new [[Gen Z]] audience. Kauffman reported that her high school daughter's friends thought that ''Friends'' was a new [[period piece]] about the 1990s. One young fan described the show as "aspirational ... [kids hope] that when they're that age ... they'll have those friends".<ref name="boone20210521">{{Cite web |last=Boone |first=John |date=2021-05-21 |title=Streaming 'Friends': How a '90s Sitcom Became Gen Z's Favorite Show |url=https://www.etonline.com/streaming-friends-how-a-90s-sitcom-became-gen-zs-new-favorite-show-132624 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Entertainment Tonight |language=en-US}}</ref>

''Friends'' has been credited in helping non-English speaking students to learn the [[English language|language]]. A 2012 poll by [[Kaplan International English]] Colleges found that more than a quarter (26%) of its students cited the sitcom as the best show for helping them improve their English.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/student-union/students-learn-english-friends-american-tv|title=Students learn English from "Friends" on American TV|last=Fern|first=Charles|date=July 30, 2018|work=[[Voice of America]]|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808182628/https://www.voanews.com/student-union/students-learn-english-friends-american-tv|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Notable individuals who have also said that the sitcom helped them learn English include [[Liverpool Football Club]] [[Manager (association football)|manager]] [[Jürgen Klopp]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/how-you-doin-klopp-admits-to-learning-english-by-watching/b41gtxau4f0019q0k61laxl1j|title='How you doin'?' – Klopp admits to learning English by watching Friends|last=Blackburn|first=Liam|date=August 6, 2019|work=[[Goal (website)|Goal]]|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808182626/https://www.goal.com/en/news/how-you-doin-klopp-admits-to-learning-english-by-watching/b41gtxau4f0019q0k61laxl1j|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> South Korean band [[BTS]] member [[RM (rapper)|RM]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/bts-rm-ellen-show-english-friends|title=BTS's RM Reveals He Learned English from "Friends"|last=Weiss|first=Suzannah|date=August 6, 2019|work=[[Teen Vogue]]|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808182627/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/bts-rm-ellen-show-english-friends|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and Belgian [[professional golfer]] [[Thomas Pieters]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/05/friends-anniversary-mlb-nba-learned-english|title=9 athletes who learned English from watching "Friends"|last=Curtis|first=Charles|date=May 2, 2019|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808182626/https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/05/friends-anniversary-mlb-nba-learned-english|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Friends'' developed an alternative family lifestyle by representing young people who live unconventional domestic lives. It presented the idea that "all you need are good friends" and that you can construct families through choice. The audience was able to identify with the program through the troubles seen on weekly episodes. It portrayed a new way of living life and developing relationships which were not normally seen in conventional society.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Katzman |first=David M. |date=Summer 1998 |title=TV and American Culture |journal=American Studies |series=2 |volume=39 |pages=5–12}}</ref> According to a pop-culture expert at the [[University at Buffalo]], ''Friends'' is "one of those rare shows that marked a change in American culture." The images of youth and the roles they portray are better defined and represent a lifestyle that centers around creating and sustaining relationships between friends running their own lives and seeking help from each other.<ref>{{cite news |last=DellaContrada |first=John |date=April 16, 2004 |title="Friends" Reflected Change in American Society, Among First TV Shows to Portray "Youth on Their Own," says UB Pop-Culture Expert |url=http://www.buffalo.edu/news/6680 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528142451/http://www.buffalo.edu/news/6680 |archive-date=May 28, 2012 |newspaper=Buffalo News}}</ref>

[[File:The FRIENDS Experience - The One in Toronto - 2022 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[The Friends Experience|The ''Friends'' Experience]] exhibit at [[Yorkdale Shopping Centre]] in [[Toronto]] in 2022<ref>{{cite web |last=Silvestre |first=Irish Mae |date=13 July 2022 |title=Could we BE more excited? The Friends Experience is finally in Toronto (PHOTOS) |url=https://dailyhive.com/toronto/friends-experience-yorkdale-toronto |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713210644/https://dailyhive.com/toronto/friends-experience-yorkdale-toronto |archive-date=13 July 2022}}</ref>]]
''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]'' stated that ''Friends'' had an impact on the creation of other conflictless "hangout sitcoms", with groups of adult friends who are funny and have similar character traits. One example of this is ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'', which ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s TV and radio blog noted also shares its setting ([[Manhattan]]) with ''Friends''. Other examples include ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', ''[[New Girl]]'', and ''[[Happy Endings (TV series)|Happy Endings]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=VanDerWerff |first=Emily |date=January 13, 2016 |title=Friends was a great show — that just happened to ruin TV comedy |url=https://www.vox.com/2014/9/29/6857745/friends-ruined-TV |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511193526/https://www.vox.com/2014/9/29/6857745/friends-ruined-TV |archive-date=May 11, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Pickard |first=Anna |date=September 9, 2009 |title=How I met Neil Patrick Harris |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2009/sep/08/how-i-met-your-mother-e4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616080427/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2009/sep/08/how-i-met-your-mother-e4 |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |access-date=June 16, 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Daniel |date=September 19, 2016 |title=The Big Bang Theory: show returns for 10th season, but is it time it went bust? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/sep/19/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-premiere-bust |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802193223/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/sep/19/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-premiere-bust |archive-date=August 2, 2018 |access-date=August 2, 2018 |website=[[TheGuardian.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lyons |first=Margaret |date=April 13, 2011 |title=Happy Endings: Wait, Which Friends Clone Is That Again? |url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/happy_endings_wait_which_one_i.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417071121/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/happy_endings_wait_which_one_i.html |archive-date=April 17, 2011 |access-date=August 4, 2012 |publisher=Nymag.com}}</ref>

Readers of ''[[TV Guide]]'' voted the cast of ''Friends'' their Best Comedy cast of all time, ranking at 29% of the votes, beating ''[[Seinfeld]]'', which registered 18%.<ref>"Your Favorite TV Casts", ''[[TV Guide]]'', January 3, 2011, page 11</ref> A poll undertaken by ''[[60 Minutes]]'' and ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' named ''Friends'' the third-greatest sitcom of all time.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 3, 2012 |title=Is 'Seinfeld' The Greatest Sitcom Ever? |url=https://deadline.com/2012/12/seinfeld-greatest-sitcom-cbs-vanity-fair-poll-381644/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002050050/http://www.deadline.com/2012/12/seinfeld-greatest-sitcom-cbs-vanity-fair-poll/ |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=September 30, 2013 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In 2014, the series was ranked by ''[[Mundo Estranho]]'' the Best TV Series of All Time.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 28, 2014 |title=As 100 Melhores Séries da História, segundo jornalistas brasileiros! |work=Ligado em Série |url=http://www.ligadoemserie.com.br/2014/10/as-100-melhores-series-da-historia-segundo-jornalistas-brasileiros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031141139/http://www.ligadoemserie.com.br/2014/10/as-100-melhores-series-da-historia-segundo-jornalistas-brasileiros/ |archive-date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=November 1, 2014 |language=pt}}</ref> A 2015 survey by ''The Hollywood Reporter'' of 2,800 actors, producers, directors, and other industry people named ''Friends'' as their No. 1 favorite show.<ref name="thr20150916">{{Cite news |date=September 16, 2015 |title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-ever-top-819499/item/friends-hollywoods-100-favorite-tv-821361 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717030112/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-ever-top-819499/item/friends-hollywoods-100-favorite-tv-821361 |archive-date=July 17, 2019 |access-date=July 17, 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en}}</ref>

''Friends'' was parodied in the twelfth season ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'' episode "Murder Among Friends". In the episode, amateur sleuth [[Jessica Fletcher]] ([[Angela Lansbury]]) investigates the murder of Ricki Vardian (Cindy Katz) a producer for ''Buds'', a fictional television series about the daily lives of a group of city friends. The episode was devised after CBS moved ''Murder, She Wrote'' from its regular Sunday night timeslot to a Thursday night timeslot directly opposite ''Friends'' on NBC; Angela Lansbury was quoted by [[Bruce Lansbury]], her brother, and ''Murder, She Wrote''{{'}}s supervising producer, as having "a bit of an attitude" about the move to Thursday, but he saw the plot as "a friendly setup, no mean-spiritedness."<ref name="Murder">{{cite news|author= Littlefield, Kinney|date= February 7, 1996|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S4UNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6841,3491473|title= 'Murder, She Wrote' parodies 'Friends'|work= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date= October 29, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170222151240/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S4UNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eW8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6841,3491473|archive-date= February 22, 2017|url-status= live}}</ref> Jerry Ludwig, the writer of the episode, researched the "flavor" of ''Buds'' by watching episodes of ''Friends''.<ref name="Murder" />

Producers of ''[[Married... with Children]]'' attempted to create a spinoff series called ''Enemies'', which was intended to act as an antithesis to ''Friends'' the same way ''Married... with Children'' had been an antithesis to family sitcoms such as ''[[The Cosby Show]]''. However, the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network declined to pick up the series.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/06/the-lost-roles-of-married-with-children.html|title=The Lost Roles of Married… with Children|last=Evans|first=Bradford|date=June 9, 2011|work=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-date=March 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316231635/https://www.vulture.com/2011/06/the-lost-roles-of-married-with-children.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Coffee house ===
The Central Perk coffee house, one of the principal settings of the series, is part of the [[Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood]]. People sometimes propose marriage on the couch, and many tourists cry when they sit on it.{{r|sternbergh20160321}} The coffee house has inspired various imitations worldwide. In 2006, Iranian businessman Mojtaba Asadian started a Central Perk [[franchising|franchise]], registering the name in 32 countries. The decor of the coffee houses is inspired by ''Friends'', featuring replica couches, counters, neon signage and bricks. The coffee houses contain paintings of the various characters from the series, and televisions playing ''Friends'' episodes. James Michael Tyler, who plays Gunther, the Central Perk manager in the series, attended the grand opening of the [[Dubai]] café, where he worked as a waiter.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/05/08/10038500.html |title=Where ''Friends'' hang out |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Kalsi, Jyoti |date=May 8, 2006 |newspaper=[[Gulf News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708052016/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/05/08/10038500.html |archive-date = July 8, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Central Perk was rebuilt as part of a museum exhibit at Warner Bros. Studios and was shown on ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'' in October 2008 when Jennifer Aniston visited the set for the first time since the series finale in 2004.<ref>{{cite episode |title=''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'': Lisa Kudrow/Natasha Bedingfield/Jalen Testerman |series=The Ellen DeGeneres Show |series-link=The Ellen DeGeneres Show |credits=[[Ellen DeGeneres]] (host) |network=NBC |airdate=October 16, 2008 |season=6 |number=29 }}</ref> From September 24 to October 7, 2009, a Central Perk replica was on Broadwick Street, [[Soho]], London. The coffee house sold coffee to customers and featured a display of ''Friends'' memorabilia and [[prop]]s, such as the Geller Cup from the season three episode "The One with the Football".<ref>{{cite news|author=Thorley, Chantelle |date=September 15, 2009 |url=http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/news/search/938562/London-celebrate-15-years-Friends-Central-Perk-pop-up/ |title=London to celebrate 15 years of Friends with Central Perk pop-up |work=Event |publisher=Haymarket Media |access-date=September 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410130417/http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/news/search/938562/London-celebrate-15-years-Friends-Central-Perk-pop-up |archive-date=April 10, 2010 }}</ref> In [[Beijing]], business owner Du Xin opened a coffee shop named Central Perk in March 2010.<ref>Hong, Haolan and Jo Ling Kent. "[http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/02/friends.china.central.perk/index.html 'Friends' in China: 'Central Perk' hits Beijing] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072853/http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/02/friends.china.central.perk/index.html |date=March 4, 2016 }}." ''[[CNN]]''. July 2, 2010. Retrieved on July 4, 2010.</ref>

[[File:The Friends Stage.jpg|thumb|right|After filming on the finale concluded, Stage 24 at Warner Bros. Studios, where ''Friends'' had been filmed since season 2, was renamed "The Friends Stage".]]

In India, there are six ''Friends''-themed cafes which feature many icons from the original TV series, including Chandler and Joey's ugly dog statue, the orange sofa, the purple door of Monica and Rachel's apartment, and Phoebe's pink bicycle. One named Central Perk is in [[Chandigarh]], [[Kolkata]]; one named F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Cafe in [[West Bengal]], and the others are in [[Delhi]], [[Gurgaon]]; [[Bhubaneswar]], [[Odisha]]; and [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{citation |title=These Cafes in India Are Based On Your Favourite 'Friends' TV Show |date=August 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tiwari |first1=Shwali |title=India Now Has 5 F.R.I.E.N.D.S Themed Cafes, But There's A Catch |url=http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/india-now-has-5-f-r-i-e-n-d-s-themed-cafes-but-there-s-a-catch-262485.html |publisher=India Times |access-date=February 11, 2017 |date=September 27, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211160603/http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/india-now-has-5-f-r-i-e-n-d-s-themed-cafes-but-there-s-a-catch-262485.html |archive-date=February 11, 2017 }}</ref>

In 2016, a Central Perk replica was opened in [[Outram, Singapore|Outram]], Singapore. It is the only Central Perk replica outside of the United States that has been given [[intellectual property rights]] by Warner Bros. The café includes feature walls, replicating the walls of the main characters' apartments and memorabilia and props used on the show.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asiaone.com/food/friends-themed-cafe-central-perk-opens-business|title=F.R.I.E.N.D.S-themed cafe Central Perk opens for business|last=Quek|first=Eunice|date=November 28, 2016|website=AsiaOne|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809192533/http://www.asiaone.com/food/friends-themed-cafe-central-perk-opens-business|archive-date=August 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cosmo.ph/lifestyle/food-drink/friends-cafe-central-perk-singapore-a00177-20161201|title=Central Perk, The Cafe From 'Friends,' Just Opened In Singapore|last=Singson|first=Ysa|date=December 1, 2016|website=Cosmopolitan Philippines|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809122850/https://www.cosmo.ph/lifestyle/food-drink/friends-cafe-central-perk-singapore-a00177-20161201|archive-date=August 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2019, [[Lego]] launched a Central Perk Lego set to mark the show's 25 anniversary.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2019/08/legos-friends-central-perk-set-is-out-today-and-could-we-be-anymore-excited/|title=Lego's Friends Central Perk Set is Out Next Month And Could We BE Anymore Excited|last=Pritchard|first=Tom|date=August 6, 2019|work=[[Gizmondo]] UK|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808182628/https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2019/08/legos-friends-central-perk-set-is-out-today-and-could-we-be-anymore-excited/|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>