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{{Short description|American television sitcom (1994–2004)}} {{About|the television sitcom|the social concept|Friendship|other uses}} {{Redirect-distinguish|Central Perk|Central Park}} {{Protection padlock|small=yes}} {{Good article}} {{Use American English|date=March 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox television | image = Friends logo.svg | genre = [[Sitcom]] | creator = {{Plainlist| * [[David Crane (producer)|David Crane]] * [[Marta Kauffman]] }} | showrunner = {{Plainlist| * David Crane * Marta Kauffman }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Jennifer Aniston]] * [[Courteney Cox]] * [[Lisa Kudrow]] * [[Matt LeBlanc]] * [[Matthew Perry]] * [[David Schwimmer]] }} | theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist| * Michael Skloff }} | opentheme = "{{Theme song|[[I'll Be There for You (The Rembrandts song)|I'll Be There for You]]"|[[The Rembrandts]]}} | composer = Michael Skloff<br>Ian Christian Nickus (season 2) | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 10 | num_episodes = 236 (+ 1 special) | list_episodes = List of Friends episodes | executive_producer = {{Plainlist| * David Crane * Marta Kauffman * [[Kevin S. Bright]] * [[Michael Borkow]] (season 4) * [[Michael Curtis (TV producer)|Michael Curtis]] (season 5) * [[Adam Chase (writer)|Adam Chase]] (seasons 5–6) * [[Greg Malins]] (seasons 5–7) * [[Wil Calhoun]] (season 7) * [[Scott Silveri]] (seasons 8–10) * [[Shana Goldberg-Meehan]] (seasons 8–10) * [[Andrew Reich]] (seasons 8–10) * Ted Cohen (seasons 8–10) }} | camera = [[multiple-camera setup|Multi-camera]] | runtime = 20–22 minutes (per episode)<br />22–65 minutes (extended international TV & DVD episodes) | company = {{Plainlist| * [[Kevin S. Bright|Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions]] * [[Warner Bros. Television]] }} | location = [[Warner Bros. Studios Burbank|Warner Bros. Studios]], [[Burbank, California]] | network = [[NBC]] | first_aired = {{Start date|1994|9|22}} | last_aired = {{End date|2004|5|6}} | related = {{Plainlist| * ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]'' (2004–06) * ''[[Friends: The Reunion]]'' (2021) }} }} '''''Friends'''''<!-- As per [[MOS:TMSTYLE]], PLEASE DO NOT ADD "*STYLIZED/STYLISED AS*"; graphical flourishes are not shown as part of the "*WRITTEN*" name in any reputable source. See talk page. --> is an American television [[sitcom]] created by [[David Crane (producer)|David Crane]] and [[Marta Kauffman]], which aired on [[NBC]] from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting [[List of Friends episodes|ten seasons]]. With an [[ensemble cast]] starring [[Jennifer Aniston]], [[Courteney Cox]], [[Lisa Kudrow]], [[Matt LeBlanc]], [[Matthew Perry]] and [[David Schwimmer]], the show revolves around six friends in their 20s and early 30s who live in [[Manhattan]], New York City. The original executive producers were [[Kevin S. Bright]], Kauffman, and David Crane. Kauffman and Crane began developing ''Friends'' under the [[working title]] ''Insomnia Cafe'' between November and December 1993. They presented the idea to Bright, and together they pitched a seven-page treatment of the show to NBC. After several script rewrites and changes, including title changes to ''Six of One'' and ''Friends Like Us'', the series was finally named ''Friends''. Filming took place at [[Warner Bros. Studios Burbank|Warner Bros. Studios]] in [[Burbank, California]]. All ten seasons of ''Friends'' ranked within the top ten of the final [[Television program#Seasons/series|television season]] ratings; ultimately reaching the <abbr>n</abbr><abbr>umber</abbr> 1 spot in its [[Friends (season 8)|eighth season]]. The [[The Last One (Friends)|series finale]] aired on May 6, 2004, and was watched by around 52.5 million American viewers, making it the fifth-most-watched series finale in television history and the most-watched television episode of the 2000s. ''Friends'' [[List of awards and nominations received by Friends|received acclaim]] throughout its run, becoming one of the most popular and highest-grossing television shows of all time. The show's success led to a spin-off series, ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]'', and a reunion special, ''[[Friends: The Reunion]]''. == Cast and characters == {{Main|List of Friends and Joey characters}} <gallery class="center" caption="Main cast"> File:Jennifer Aniston 08.jpg|alt=Jennifer Aniston|[[Jennifer Aniston]] as <br />[[Rachel Green]] File:CourteneyCoxFeb09.jpg|alt=Courteney Cox|[[Courteney Cox]] as <br />[[Monica Geller]] File:Lisa Kudrow crop.jpg|alt=Lisa Kudrow|[[Lisa Kudrow]] as <br />[[Phoebe Buffay]] File:Matt LeBlanc, Arqiva British Academy Television Awards, 2013.jpg|alt=Matt LeBlanc|[[Matt LeBlanc]] as <br />[[Joey Tribbiani]] File:Matthew Perry 2013.jpg|alt=Matthew Perry|[[Matthew Perry]] as <br />[[Chandler Bing]] File:David Schwimmer (5208598833).jpg|alt=David Schwimmer|[[David Schwimmer]] as <br />[[Ross Geller]] </gallery> * [[Jennifer Aniston]] as [[Rachel Green]]: <br />A fashion enthusiast and [[Monica Geller]]'s best friend from childhood. Rachel first [[Pilot (Friends)|moves in with Monica]] in [[Friends season 1|season one]] after nearly marrying [[Barry Farber (Friends)|Barry Farber]]. Rachel and Ross Geller are later involved in an [[on-again, off-again relationship]] throughout the series. Rachel dates other men during the series, such as Italian neighbor, [[Paolo (Friends)|Paolo]], in season one; Joshua Bergin, a client from [[Bloomingdale's]], in [[Friends season 4|season four]]; [[List of Friends and Joey characters#Tag Jones|Tag Jones]], her assistant, in [[Friends season 7|season seven]]; and [[Joey Tribbiani]], one of her close friends, in [[Friends season 10|season ten]]. Rachel's first job is as a waitress at the coffee house Central Perk, but she later becomes an assistant buyer at Bloomingdale's in [[Friends season 3|season three]], and a buyer at [[Ralph Lauren Corporation|Ralph Lauren]] in [[Friends season 5|season five]]. Rachel and Ross have a daughter named Emma Geller-Green in "[[The One Where Rachel Has a Baby, Part Two]]" at the end of [[Friends season 8|season eight]]. In [[The Last One (Friends)|the final episode of the series]], Ross and Rachel confess their love for each other, and Rachel gives up a dream fashion job at [[Louis Vuitton]] in Paris to be with him. * [[Courteney Cox]] as [[Monica Geller]]: <br />The "mother hen" of the group and a chef,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lomartire, Paul |date=September 4, 1994 |title=Fall TV '94 |work=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |url= http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PBPB&p_theme=pbpb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF87116FDB357D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |url-status=live |url-access= registration |access-date= February 14, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074053/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PBPB&p_theme=pbpb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF87116FDB357D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |archive-date= November 25, 2018}}</ref> known for her [[Perfectionism (psychology)|perfectionist]], bossy, competitive, and [[obsessive-compulsive]] nature.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bianco | first= Robert |date=March 3, 2004 |title=''Friends'' played great game of poker |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-03-03-revisiting-friends_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=February 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184241/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-03-03-revisiting-friends_x.htm |archive-date= June 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Booth |first=Jenny |date=May 21, 2006 |title=Sarey Carey: Does pride in housework make me bad as well as mad? |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |location=London |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article722553.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=February 20, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629103342/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article722553.ece |archive-date= June 29, 2011}}</ref> Monica was [[overweight]] as a child. She works as a chef in various restaurants throughout the show. Monica's first serious relationship is with a long-time family friend [[Richard Burke (Friends)|Richard Burke]], who is 21 years her senior. The two maintain a strong relationship for some time until Richard expresses that he does not want to have children. Monica and [[Chandler Bing]], one of her best friends, later start a relationship after spending a night with each other in [[London]] in the [[The One with Ross' Wedding|season four finale]], leading to [[The One with Monica and Chandler's Wedding|their marriage]] in [[Friends season 7|season seven]] and the [[adoption]] of [[twins]] Jack and Erica Bing at the end of the series. A running gag in the show is Chandler's easy-going and humorous nature conflicting with Monica's high-maintenance and compulsive behavior. * [[Lisa Kudrow]] as [[Phoebe Buffay]]: <br />A [[masseuse]] and [[self-taught]] musician. As a child, Phoebe lived in [[upstate New York]] with her mother Lily Buffay, until her mother committed suicide and Phoebe took to the streets. She [[Singer-songwriter|writes and sings]] her own strange songs, accompanying herself on the guitar. She has an [[identical twin]] named [[Ursula Buffay]], who shares few of Phoebe's traits. Phoebe has three serious relationships over the show's run: David, a scientist, in season one, with whom she breaks up when he moves to [[Minsk]] on a research [[grant (money)|grant]]; Gary, a police officer whose badge she finds, in season five; and an [[on-and-off relationship]] with [[Mike Hannigan]] in [[Friends season 9|seasons nine]] and [[Friends season 10|ten]]. In season nine, Phoebe and Mike break up due to his desire not to marry. David returns from Minsk, leading to the two getting back together, but she eventually rejects him for Mike when both of them propose to her. Phoebe and Mike marry in season ten.<ref name="friendsorigin">{{Cite web |last=Jicha | first=Tom |date=May 2, 2004 |title=They leave as they began: With a buzz |url= http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/bal-friends-buzz0502,0,495484.story |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604154545/http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/bal-friends-buzz0502%2C0%2C495484.story |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=December 23, 2008 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva, Nellie |date=September 20, 2004 |title= Kudrow has ''Comeback''; Cox, HBO talk |url= http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4911247-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220714041238/https://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4911247-1.html |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |access-date=February 20, 2009 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=AllBusiness.com}}</ref> * [[Matt LeBlanc]] as [[Joey Tribbiani]]: <br />A struggling actor and food lover who becomes famous for his role on soap opera ''[[Days of Our Lives]]'' as Dr. Drake Ramoray. Joey has many short-term girlfriends. Despite his womanizing, Joey is innocent, caring, and well-intentioned.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matt LeBlanc – Friends Interview | date=August 22, 2007 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edrzHImkfqk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511215801/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edrzHImkfqk |archive-date=May 11, 2016 |publisher=NBC}}</ref> Joey often uses the catchphrase pick-up line "How ''you'' doin'?" in his attempts to win over most of the women he meets. Joey rooms with his best friend Chandler for years, and later with Rachel. He falls in love with Rachel in season eight, but Rachel politely tells Joey that she does not share his feelings. They eventually date briefly in season ten, but after realizing it will not work due to their friendship and Rachel's complicated relationship with Ross, they return to being friends. At the end of the series, he is the only remaining single member of the group, and becomes the main protagonist of the sequel series ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]''. * [[Matthew Perry]] as [[Chandler Bing]]: <br />An executive in [[statistical analysis]] and data reconfiguration for a large [[multinational corporation]]. Chandler hates this job, although it pays well. He attempts to quit during season one but is lured back with a new office and a pay raise. He eventually quits this job in season nine due to a transfer to [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]. He becomes a junior [[copywriter]] at an [[advertising agency]] later that season. Chandler has a peculiar family history, being the son of an erotic novelist mother Nora Tyler Bing and a gay, [[cross-dressing]] [[Las Vegas]] star father Charles Bing. Chandler is known for his sarcastic sense of humor, bad luck in relationships, and tendency to be the butt of all jokes.<ref>{{Cite news |date= March 26, 1995 |title=''Friends'' Star Finally has Chance to Enjoy Success |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url= http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AC&p_theme=ac&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAEAB624D214A1B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |url-status=live |access-date=February 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074048/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AC&p_theme=ac&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAEAB624D214A1B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |archive-date= November 25, 2018}}</ref> Despite this, he is still kind and usually serves as the voice of reason in contrast to his more arrogant and selfish friends. Chandler marries Monica, one of his best friends, in season seven, and they adopt twins at the end of the series. Before his relationship with Monica, Chandler dated [[Janice Hosenstein]] in season one and subsequently broke up with her many times. * [[David Schwimmer]] as [[Ross Geller]]: <br />Monica's "geeky" older brother, a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]-carrying [[Paleontology|palaeontologist]] working at the [[American Museum of Natural History]], and later a tenured professor of palaeontology at [[New York University]]. Ross is involved in an [[on-again, off-again relationship]] with Rachel throughout the series. He has three failed marriages during the series: [[List of Friends characters|Carol Willick]], a lesbian who is also the mother of his son, [[Ben Geller]]; [[List of Friends characters#Emily Waltham|Emily Waltham]], who divorces him after he accidentally says Rachel's name instead of hers during their wedding vows; and Rachel, as the two drunkenly marry in Las Vegas. His divorces become a running joke within the series. Following a one-night stand, he and Rachel have a daughter, Emma, by the end of season eight. They finally confess that they are still in love with each other in the series finale. [[James Michael Tyler]] appears as [[List of Friends characters#Gunther|Gunther]], a [[barista]] at Central Perk, in every season of the show, but is only ever credited as a [[guest appearance|guest star]]. Gunther has a mostly secret profound love for Rachel throughout the entire series. At one point he becomes the manager of the coffee house. It is revealed that Gunther speaks [[Dutch language|Dutch]] in addition to English, as well as being a former soap opera actor. In their original contracts for the first season, cast members were paid $22,500 per episode.<ref name= "salariescastlots">{{Cite news |last= Lowry |first=Brian |date=August 12, 1996 |title=''Friends'' cast returning amid contract dispute |work= Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/10164381.html?dids=10164381:10164381&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+12%2C+1996&author=Lowry%2C+Brian&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=%27Friends%27+cast+returning+amid+contract+dispute&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |access-date=March 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720012355/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/10164381.html?dids=10164381:10164381&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+12%2C+1996&author=Lowry%2C+Brian&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=%27Friends%27+cast+returning+amid+contract+dispute&pqatl=google |archive-date=July 20, 2009 |issn=0458-3035 |oclc= 3638237}}</ref> The cast members received different salaries in the second season, beginning from the $20,000 range to $40,000 per episode.<ref name="salariescastlots" /><ref name="castpaid">{{Cite news |last= Carter |first=Bill |date=July 16, 1996 |title=''Friends'' Cast Bands Together To Demand a Salary Increase |work=[[The New York Times]] |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/16/arts/friends-cast-bands-together-to-demand-a-salary-increase.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825231542/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/16/arts/friends-cast-bands-together-to-demand-a-salary-increase.html |archive-date=August 25, 2011 |issn=0362-4331 |oclc= 1645522}}</ref> Before their salary negotiations for the third season, the cast decided to enter collective negotiations, despite Warner Bros.' preference for individual deals.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rice | first= Lynette |date=April 21, 2000 |title= Friendly Fire |url= https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,275935,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |page=1 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090719103906/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C275935%2C00.html |archive-date=July 19, 2009 |access-date= March 8, 2009}}</ref> The actors were given the salary of the least paid cast member. The stars were each paid $75,000 per episode in season three, $85,000 in season four, $100,000 in season five, $125,000 in season six, $750,000 in seasons seven and eight, and $1 million in seasons nine and ten, making Aniston, Cox, and Kudrow [[List of highest-paid American television stars|the highest-paid TV actresses of all time]].<ref>{{Cite book |url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec2051222guin |title=Guinness World Records 2005 |publisher=Guinness World Records Ltd |year=2004 |isbn= 978-1-892051-22-6 |edition= Special 50th Anniversary |location=New York City |page=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec2051222guin/page/n291 288] |oclc=56213857 |url-access= registration}}</ref><ref name= "friendstimeline">{{Cite news |last= Saah |first=Nadia |date=January 21, 2004 |title=''Friends'' til the end |work= USA Today |url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-01-21-friends-timeline_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184252/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-01-21-friends-timeline_x.htm |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |issn=0734-7456}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rice |first=Lynette |date=April 21, 2000 |title=Friendly Fire |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,275935_2,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |page= 2 |issn=1049-0434 |oclc= 21114137 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090720180227/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C275935_2%2C00.html |archive-date=July 20, 2009 |access-date=March 7, 2018}}</ref> The cast also received syndication royalties beginning in 2000 after renegotiations. At the time, that financial benefit of a piece of the show's lucrative back-end profits had only been given out to stars who had ownership rights in a show, like [[Jerry Seinfeld]] and [[Bill Cosby]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carter | first= Bill |date=February 12, 2002 |title='Friends' Deal Will Pay Each Of Its 6 Stars $22 Million |work= The New York Times |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/12/business/friends-deal-will-pay-each-of-its-6-stars-22-million.html |url-status= live |access-date=March 28, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130308114145/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/12/business/friends-deal-will-pay-each-of-its-6-stars-22-million.html |archive-date=March 8, 2013}}</ref> Series creator [[David Crane (producer)|David Crane]] wanted all six actors to be equally prominent,<ref name="friendsorigin2">{{Cite web |last= Jicha| first= Tom |date=May 2, 2004 |title=They leave as they began: With a buzz |url= http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/bal-friends-buzz0502,0,495484.story?page=2 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604153826/http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/bal-friends-buzz0502%2C0%2C495484.story?page=2 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=December 23, 2008 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |page=2}}</ref> and the series was lauded as being "the first true '[[Ensemble cast|ensemble]]' show."<ref name="paidcasttog" /> The cast members made efforts to keep the ensemble format and not allow one member to dominate;<ref name= "paidcasttog" /> they entered themselves in the same acting categories for awards,<ref name= "community2003">{{Cite news |last= Bianco | first= Robert |date= January 1, 2005 |title=The Emmy Awards: Robert Bianco |work= USA Today |url= https://www.usatoday.com/community/chat_03/2003-09-18-bianco.htm |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120113234559/http://www.usatoday.com/community/chat_03/2003-09-18-bianco.htm |archive-date=January 13, 2012}}</ref> opted for collective salary negotiations,<ref name="paidcasttog">{{Cite news |last=McCarroll | first= Christina |date= May 6, 2004 |title=A ''family'' sitcom for Gen X - ''Friends'' cast a new TV mold |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |url= http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0506/p01s01-ussc.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090131083232/http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0506/p01s01-ussc.html |archive-date=January 31, 2009}}</ref> and asked to appear together on magazine cover photos in the first season.<ref name="filmhours" /> The cast members also became best friends off-screen,<ref name="kudrowcast">{{Cite web |last=Zaslow | first= Jeffrey |date= October 8, 2000 |title=Balancing friends and family |url= http://www.usaweekend.com/00_issues/001008/001008kudrow.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526223112/http://www.usaweekend.com/00_issues/001008/001008kudrow.html |archive-date=May 26, 2012 |access-date=December 19, 2008 |publisher=| work= [[USA Weekend]]}}</ref> so much so that recurring guest star [[Tom Selleck]] reported that he sometimes felt left out.<ref>{{Cite news |last= Power| first= Ed |date=May 6, 2004 |title=Why we will miss our absent ''Friends'' |work=[[Irish Independent]] |url= http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/why-well-miss-our-absent-friends-170513.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120724004952/http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/why-well-miss-our-absent-friends-170513.html |archive-date=July 24, 2012}}</ref> The cast remained good friends after the series run, most notably Cox and Aniston, with Aniston being godmother to Cox and [[David Arquette]]'s daughter, Coco.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 18, 2007 |title=People: DeGeneres tries to calm the howling pack |work=[[The Denver Post]] |url= http://www.denverpost.com/celebritybuzz/ci_7213047 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090719174243/http://www.denverpost.com/celebritybuzz/ci_7213047 |archive-date= July 19, 2009}}</ref> In the official farewell commemorative book ''[[Friends 'Til the End (book)|Friends 'Til the End]]'', each separately acknowledged in interviews that the cast had become their family.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wild |first=David |title= Friends 'Til the End: The Official Celebration of All Ten Years |publisher=[[Time Warner]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-932273-19-9 |edition=Authorized collector's |location=New York City |oclc=55124193 |author-link=David Wild}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wild |first=David |title=Friends 'Til the End: The Official Celebration of All Ten Years |publisher= Time Warner |year=2004 |isbn=1-932273-19-0 |author-link= David Wild}}</ref> == Episodes == {{Main|List of Friends episodes}} [[File:Friends season one cast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|''Friends'' in first season. Front: Cox, Aniston. Back: LeBlanc, Kudrow, Schwimmer, Perry.]] {{:List of Friends episodes}} === Season 1 === {{Main|Friends season 1}} The first season introduces the six main characters who live in New York City: [[Rachel Green]], a waitress; professional chef [[Monica Geller]]; her paleontologist brother, [[Ross Geller]]; free-spirited masseuse [[Phoebe Buffay]]; struggling actor [[Joey Tribbiani]]; and Ross's college friend, [[Chandler Bing]], whose precise occupation at a corporation is unknown. Rachel arrives at Central Perk, wearing her wedding dress, after leaving her fiancé, Barry Farber ([[Mitchell Whitfield]]), an orthodontist, at the altar. She moves into her high school friend Monica's apartment, and gets a waitress job at Central Perk. Ross, who has had a crush on Rachel since high school, often attempts to declare his feelings for her. However many obstacles stand in his way, including his insecurities, Rachel dating an Italian neighbor named Paolo, and the fact that he is expecting a baby with his lesbian ex-wife, Carol Willick (played first by [[Anita Barone]] and then [[Jane Sibbett]]), who gives birth to Ben Geller ([[Cole Sprouse]]) later in the season. Joey never has a steady girlfriend and constantly sleeps with a variety of women. Phoebe is rather odd and complex, mostly due to her mother Lily Buffay's suicide when she was a child and having lived on the streets for a time. However, the gang loves her regardless. Chandler breaks up with his girlfriend, Janice Hosenstein ([[Maggie Wheeler]]), only to find himself reconnecting with her throughout the series. Near the end of the season, while Ross is at a paleontology dig in China, Chandler accidentally lets slip that Ross loves Rachel, who then realizes that she also cares for him. The season ends with Rachel waiting at the airport for Ross, who is returning from China. === Season 2 === {{Main|Friends season 2}} Rachel greets Ross at the airport only to discover that he has returned with Julie ([[Lauren Tom]]), someone he knew from graduate school. Rachel's attempts to tell Ross that she loves him initially mirror his failed attempts in the first season. After he breaks up with Julie for Rachel, friction between them develops when Rachel discovers Ross's list of the cons of dating her. They eventually begin a relationship after Rachel sees an old home video from her and Monica's prom night and realizes Ross was going to stand in for her prom date Chip Matthews ([[Dan Gauthier]]) who nearly stood her up. Monica is promoted to head chef at the Iridium restaurant, then gets fired for accepting gifts from a supplier, which is against company policy. Needing money, she is forced to take an embarrassing job as a waitress at a 1950s-style diner. She begins dating Richard Burke ([[Tom Selleck]]), a recently divorced family friend who is 21 years her senior. They eventually break up when Monica realizes that Richard, already a father, does not want more children. Joey is cast in a fictional version of the soap opera, ''[[Days of Our Lives]]'' as neurosurgeon Dr. Drake Ramoray. He moves out of his and Chandler's apartment, forcing Chandler to get a new roommate, Eddie Menuek ([[Adam Goldberg]]). However, Eddie is annoying and somewhat deranged. When Joey claims in a soap opera magazine interview that he writes many of his own lines, offending the show's writer ([[James E. Reilly]]), his character is killed off. No longer able to afford his expensive new apartment, Joey moves back in with Chandler, kicking Eddie out in the process. In the [[The One with Barry and Mindy's Wedding|season finale]], Chandler talks to an anonymous woman in an online chat room. When they agree to meet in person, the woman turns out to be Janice. === Season 3 === {{Main|Friends season 3}} Season 3 takes on a significantly more serialized format. Chandler and Janice date for several episodes until Joey catches Janice kissing her soon-to-be ex-husband Gary Litman (Mark Cohen). Not wanting to destroy her family, Chandler urges Janice to go back to Gary, then becomes depressed over the breakup for several episodes. Rachel quits her job at Central Perk and begins working at Bloomingdale's, an upscale department store chain. Ross soon becomes jealous of her colleague Mark Robinson ([[Steven Eckholdt]]) and frustrated by Rachel's long work hours. She is tired of his constant jealousy and insecurity, and decides they need a relationship break. Ross, hurt and somewhat drunk, immediately sleeps with Chloe ([[Angela Featherstone]]), "the hot girl from the Xerox place," causing Rachel to break up with him completely. Although Phoebe initially believes she has no family except her twin sister Ursula Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), she learns she has a half-brother, Frank Buffay, Jr. ([[Giovanni Ribisi]]) and discovers her birth mother, Phoebe Abbott ([[Teri Garr]]) over the course of the season. Joey falls in love with his acting partner Kate Miller ([[Dina Meyer]]), but is jealous of her dating Marshall Townend ([[Reg Rogers]]) the director of their play. They begin a brief relationship that ends when she takes an acting job in Los Angeles. Monica dates millionaire Pete Becker ([[Jon Favreau]]), despite her initially not being attracted to him. However, she breaks up with Pete after he is seriously hurt trying to become the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|Ultimate Fighting Champion]] and refuses to quit. Phoebe sets Ross up on a date with her friend, Bonnie ([[Christine Taylor]]), inciting Rachel's jealousy. She tries sabotaging the relationship by coercing Bonnie to shave her head bald, and eventually admits to Ross that she still has feelings for him. The season closes with Ross having to choose between Rachel and Bonnie. === Season 4 === {{Main|Friends season 4}} In the season 4 premiere, after Ross breaks up with Bonnie, he and Rachel briefly reconcile after Ross pretends to read a long letter that Rachel wrote for him. However, Ross continues to insist that the two were on a break when he slept with Chloe, so they break up again. Joey dates Kathy ([[Paget Brewster]]), a girl that Chandler has a crush on. Kathy and Chandler later kiss, which causes drama between Chandler and Joey. Joey only forgives Chandler and allows him to date Kathy after Chandler spends Thanksgiving in a box as punishment. Chandler's relationship with Kathy ends after he discovers that she cheated on him due to an argument. Phoebe loses her job as a masseuse after making out with one of her clients Rick Sanoven ([[Jason Brooks (actor)|Jason Brooks]]) and she accompanies Monica, who has become a caterer for hire. They soon start a catering business together but Monica, after negatively reviewing a restaurant, Allesandro's, is offered the position of head chef. Despite initially being pressured by the wrath of her co-workers, Monica eventually asserts her dominance in the kitchen. Phoebe becomes a [[Surrogacy|surrogate]] for her brother and his fiancée, Alice Knight ([[Debra Jo Rupp]]). Monica and Rachel are forced to switch apartments with Joey and Chandler after losing a bet during a quiz game, but manage to switch back by bribing them with [[New York Knicks|Knicks]] season tickets and a one-minute kiss (off-screen) between each other. After her boss Joanna ([[Alison La Placa]]) dies, Rachel is demoted to personal shopping and meets and later dates a customer named Joshua Burgin ([[Tate Donovan]]). Ross begins dating an English woman named Emily Waltham ([[Helen Baxendale]]), and they quickly get engaged. Rachel struggles to cope and hastily suggests to Joshua that they marry, after which he rejects her. In the [[The One with Ross' Wedding|season finale]], the group, apart from a heavily pregnant Phoebe and Rachel, travel to Ross and Emily's wedding in London. Chandler and Monica sleep together, and Rachel, realizing that she is still in love with Ross, rushes to London to stop Ross and Emily's wedding, but changes her mind when she sees them happy together. While saying his vows, Ross accidentally says Rachel's name at the altar, shocking his bride Emily and the guests. === Season 5 === {{Main|Friends season 5}} Ross and Emily marry, but an angry and humiliated Emily flees the reception. Rachel soon admits her love for Ross, but realizing how ridiculous this is, advises him to work on his marriage to Emily. She develops a crush on her neighbor Danny ([[George Newbern]]) and they date briefly, until she realizes that he is too close with his sister Krista (Julie Lauren). Monica and Chandler try to keep their new relationship a secret from their friends. Phoebe gives birth to triplets in the show's [[The One Hundredth|100th episode]]. She gives birth to a boy, Frank Buffay, Jr. Jr., and two girls, Leslie and Chandler Buffay, the latter of whom was supposed to be a boy, but was later revealed to be a girl. After weeks of trying to contact her, Emily agrees to reconcile with Ross and move to New York if he breaks off all communication with Rachel. Ross agrees, but later attends a dinner with all his friends, Rachel included. Emily phones Ross, discovers Rachel is there, realizes she does not trust him and ends their marriage. Ross takes out his anger at work, resulting in him being indefinitely suspended from the museum, and he moves in with Chandler and Joey until eventually getting a new apartment across the street from them. Rachel gets a new job at Ralph Lauren. Phoebe has a brief relationship with a police officer, Gary ([[Michael Rapaport]]), after finding his badge and using it as her own. Monica and Chandler go public with their relationship, to the surprise and delight of their friends. They decide to get married on a trip to Las Vegas, but change their plans after witnessing Ross and Rachel drunkenly stumbling out of the wedding chapel. === Season 6 === {{Main|Friends season 6}} In the season 6 premiere, Ross and Rachel's marriage turns out to be a drunken mistake that neither remembers until the other friends mention it. Ross promises Rachel he will get them an annulment, then secretly does nothing because he cannot face having three failed marriages. By the time Rachel discovers they are still married, an annulment is impossible due to their history; they are forced to get a divorce. After ignoring the numerous signs that they should get married, Monica and Chandler decide to live together, forcing Rachel to move in with Phoebe. Joey gets a new roommate, Janine LaCroix ([[Elle Macpherson]]). Joey and Janine develop feelings for each other and date briefly until Janine criticizes Monica and Chandler, ending the relationship. After Janine moves out, Joey struggles with paying his bills so he takes a job at Central Perk. He soon lands a role on a cable TV series called ''Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E.'', starring alongside a crime-fighting robot. Ross gets a teaching job at [[New York University]]. He dates Elizabeth Stevens ([[Alexandra Holden]]), a student, despite it being against university policy. Elizabeth's father, Paul Stevens ([[Bruce Willis]]), disapproves of Ross but falls for Rachel, and they start dating. Both relationships soon end: Elizabeth is too immature for Ross, and previously reserved Paul opens up emotionally and is more than Rachel can handle. Phoebe and Rachel's apartment catches fire, and Rachel moves in with Joey, while Phoebe stays with Chandler and Monica, though they later switch. While at a museum that has a two-year wait for weddings, Monica puts her name on the reservation list as a joke. When Chandler intercepts the museum's phone call about a cancellation, he panics; however, Chandler has been planning to propose while pretending he may never want to marry. While dining at a fancy restaurant, Chandler's planned proposal is subverted by Monica's ex-boyfriend Richard Burke, who unexpectedly shows up. Richard later tells Monica he wants to marry her and have children. Monica becomes upset at Chandler, believing his ruse about not wanting to marry. Chandler believes Monica has left him until he comes home to find their apartment decorated with candles and her waiting to propose to him. When she becomes too emotional to continue, Chandler proposes and she accepts. === Season 7 === {{Main|Friends season 7}} The seventh season mainly follows Monica and Chandler as they plan their wedding amid various problems. Joey's television series, ''Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E'' is canceled, but he is offered his old role on ''Days of Our Lives''; the show is [[Retroactive continuity|retconned]] with the revelation that Dr. Drake Ramoray has been in a four-year coma and is revived with a brain transplant from Cecilia Monroe ([[Susan Sarandon]])'s character Jessica Lockhart. Phoebe's repaired apartment now has one large bedroom instead of the original two, so Rachel permanently stays at Joey's. Rachel is promoted at Ralph Lauren and impulsively hires a young assistant, Tag Jones ([[Eddie Cahill]]), based on his looks, passing over a more qualified woman Hilda (Jean St. James). Tag discovers her feelings about him at Thanksgiving dinner, and they begin dating, hiding it from co-workers. However, on her 30th birthday, Rachel ends their relationship, realizing Tag is too young and immature, particularly if she intends to follow her marriage schedule. Hours before Monica and Chandler's wedding ceremony, Chandler panics and goes into hiding just as Phoebe and Rachel find a positive pregnancy test in Monica and Chandler's bathroom. They assume Monica is pregnant. Ross and Phoebe find Chandler and convince him to return for the ceremony, though he briefly bolts again after overhearing Phoebe and Rachel discussing the pregnancy test. He quickly returns, embracing the idea of fatherhood. After the ceremony, Monica denies she is pregnant; unbeknown to everyone, the positive pregnancy test is Rachel's. === Season 8 === {{Main|Friends season 8}} Season 8 begins at Monica and Chandler's wedding reception. Phoebe and Monica discover Rachel's pregnancy and persuade her to take another test to confirm it. Phoebe initially claims the test is negative, badly disappointing Rachel, then reveals it is positive, saying Rachel now knows how she really feels about having a baby. Ross is eventually revealed to be the father, and the season revolves around Rachel's pregnancy. Rachel and Ross agree to be co-parents without resuming their romantic relationship; Ross begins dating Mona ([[Bonnie Somerville]]), who is Monica's co-worker from Allesandro's. Joey takes Rachel out to quell her fears about motherhood, and realizes he has romantic feelings for her. While suppressing his feelings, he encourages Rachel to stay at Ross's apartment so he can be involved in the pregnancy. The arrangement is too much for Mona, and she breaks up with Ross. Joey tells Ross about his feelings for Rachel. Ross initially is angry, then gives his blessing. Joey tells Rachel that he loves her, but she realizes she does not feel the same way, and they remain friends. When Rachel goes into labor, Ross's mother Judy Geller ([[Christina Pickles]]) gives him a family heirloom ring and encourages him to propose to Rachel. Ross hesitates, and puts the ring in his jacket, which he later leaves in Rachel's room. After Monica jokes about having kids, she and Chandler decide to have a baby, starting while they are still at the hospital. After a prolonged labor, during which numerous other expectant mothers, including Janice, are taken to the delivery room, Rachel gives birth to baby Emma Geller-Green. She is left saddened and afraid after Janice later says that Ross may not always be there for her and the baby. When Joey comforts Rachel, the ring falls from Ross's jacket to the floor. Joey kneels to pick it up, and Rachel, believing he is proposing, impulsively says yes. Meanwhile, Ross intends to ask Rachel if she wants to resume their relationship. === Season 9 === {{Main|Friends season 9}} Season nine begins with Ross and Rachel cohabitating with their daughter Emma, after Joey and Rachel clear up the proposal misunderstanding. Monica and Chandler run into obstacles as they try for a baby: Chandler unknowingly agrees to a work transfer to Tulsa just as Monica is offered a head chef job at a new restaurant, Javu, resulting in Chandler commuting back and forth. After being apart from Monica during Christmas, Chandler quits to pursue a new career in advertising, starting as an unpaid intern at an ad agency, and eventually being hired as a junior copywriter. Monica and Chandler discover they are physically incompatible to conceive and after considering multiple options, decide to adopt. Phoebe begins dating Mike Hannigan ([[Paul Rudd]]) for most of the season until Mike says that he never wants to marry again. Phoebe dates her ex-boyfriend from season 1, David ([[Hank Azaria]]) who plans on proposing to her, but Mike proposes first. Phoebe rejects both proposals but gets back together with Mike, only needing the reassurance that they have a future together. Rachel, believing that her co-worker Gavin Mitchell ([[Dermot Mulroney]]) is trying to steal her job while she is on maternity leave, returns to Ralph Lauren early. She discovers at her birthday party that Gavin has feelings for her. They kiss but do not pursue a relationship due to her history with Ross. Meanwhile, Ross, having seen the kiss, retaliates by dating other women. After realizing that her and Ross's living situation is too weird, Rachel and Emma move in with Joey. Rachel develops a crush on him, only to be disheartened when he starts dating Charlie Wheeler ([[Aisha Tyler]]), a new palaeontology professor to whom Ross is attracted. In the [[The One in Barbados|finale]], the group travels to [[Barbados]] for Ross's keynote speech at a conference. Joey and Charlie break up upon realizing they have nothing in common. Joey then learns about Rachel's feelings for him, but says they cannot pursue this because of Ross. However, upon seeing Ross and Charlie kiss each other, he goes to Rachel's hotel room, and the finale ends with them kissing. === Season 10 === {{Main|Friends season 10}} The tenth season brings several long-running story lines to a close. Joey and Rachel try to contend with Ross's feelings about their relationship, and after disastrous attempts to consummate, decide it is best they remain friends. Charlie breaks up with Ross to get back together with her ex-boyfriend Dr. Benjamin Hobart ([[Greg Kinnear]]). Mid-season, Joey officiates Phoebe and Mike's wedding outside the Central Perk coffee house after a snow storm paralyzes the city, preventing them and guests getting to the wedding venue. Monica and Chandler are chosen by a pregnant woman named Erica ([[Anna Faris]]) to adopt her baby. Following this, Monica and Chandler prepare to move to a house in the suburbs to raise their family, saddening everyone, particularly Joey, who is coping with all the changes in his life. In the series finale, Erica gives birth to fraternal twins Jack and Erica Bing, much to Monica and Chandler's surprise. Rachel is fired from Ralph Lauren after her boss Mr. Zelner (Steve Ireland) overhears her interviewing for a job at [[Gucci]]. She encounters her former Bloomingdale co-worker Mark, who offers her a new job at Louis Vuitton in [[Paris]]. Ross, believing Rachel wants to stay, tries bribing Mr. Zelner to rehire her until he realizes Rachel wants to go to Paris. When Rachel says a tearful personal goodbye to everyone except Ross at her going away party, a hurt and angry Ross confronts Rachel, and they end up sleeping together. Rachel leaves, and Ross – realizing how much he loves Rachel – chases her to the airport. When he reaches her, Rachel says she has to go to Paris. Before the plane takes off, Rachel calls Ross's home phone and leaves a voice mail, apologizing for the way it ended. While speaking, she realizes that she loves him too, and gets off the plane at the last minute. The series ends with all the friends, plus Monica and Chandler's new babies, leaving the empty apartment together for a final cup of coffee at Central Perk. The show ends first with a shot of everyone's keys to Monica and Chandler's apartment left on the counter top, and then pans to a shot of the apartment's purple door. == Production == === Conception === {{blockquote|text=It's about sex, love, relationships, careers, a time in your life when everything's possible. And it's about friendship because when you're single and in the city, your friends are your family.|sign=The original treatment used by David Crane, [[Marta Kauffman]] and [[Kevin Bright]] to pitch the series to [[NBC]].<ref name="friendsorigins1">{{Cite web |last=Lauer, Matt |date=May 5, 2004 |title=''Friends'' creators share show's beginnings |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4899445 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002162908/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4899445/ |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=May 4, 2005 |website=[[NBC News]]}}</ref>}} David Crane and Marta Kauffman began developing three new television pilots that would premiere in 1994 after their sitcom ''[[Family Album (1993 TV series)|Family Album]]'' was cancelled by [[CBS]] in 1993.<ref>Wild, p. 206</ref> Kauffman and Crane decided to pitch the series about "six people in their 20s making their way in Manhattan" to NBC since they thought it would fit best there.<ref name="Kolbert1">Kolbert, Elizabeth (March 8, 1994). [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E6DF163DF93BA35750C0A962958260 "Birth of a TV Show: A Drama All Its Own"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122060730/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E6DF163DF93BA35750C0A962958260 |date=January 22, 2009 }}. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved on January 19, 2008.</ref> (Film director and screenwriter [[Cameron Crowe]] has asserted that the concept originated with [[Warner Bros. Television Studios|Warner Bros. Television]] wanting him to make his 1992 movie ''[[Singles (1992 film)|Singles]]'' into a television show.<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |last=Sottile |first=Alexis |date=2017-09-18 |title='Singles' at 25: Cameron Crowe on Making the Definitive Grunge Movie |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/singles-at-25-cameron-crowe-on-making-the-definitive-grunge-movie-118103/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=2023-05-01 |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501120632/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/singles-at-25-cameron-crowe-on-making-the-definitive-grunge-movie-118103/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |date=July 27, 2015 |orig-date=September 3, 2000 |title=As Crowe flies |url=https://www.wbez.org/stories/on-the-set-of-almost-famous/2395201a-f25a-4c6a-9191-8f99524b95af |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=[[The Chicago Sun-Times]] |language=en |via=[[WBEZ Chicago]] |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501120633/https://www.wbez.org/stories/on-the-set-of-almost-famous/2395201a-f25a-4c6a-9191-8f99524b95af |url-status=live }}</ref> Crowe alleges that when he refused permission, the idea was then taken over by Crane and Kaufman, who changed some details from the premise of the movie while developing the show.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />) Crane and Kauffman presented the idea to their production partner Kevin Bright, who had served as executive producer on their [[HBO]] series ''[[Dream On (TV series)|Dream On]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Behind the Scenes |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488124/415695 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203061651/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488124/415695 |archive-date=February 3, 2009 |access-date=January 10, 2009 |publisher=[[TV2 (New Zealand)|TV2]]}}</ref> The idea for the series was conceived when Crane and Kauffman began thinking about the time when they had finished college and started living by themselves in New York; Kauffman believed they were looking at a time when the future was "more of a question mark."<ref name="friendsorigins1" /> They found the concept to be interesting, as they believed "everybody knows that feeling",<ref name="friendsorigins1" /> and because it was also how they felt about their own lives at the time.<ref name="friendsorigins1" /> The team titled the series ''Insomnia Cafe'' and pitched the idea as a seven-page [[Film treatment|treatment]] to NBC in December 1993.<ref name="friendsorigins1" /><ref name="Kolbert1" /> At the same time, [[Warren Littlefield]], the then-president of [[NBC Entertainment]], was seeking a comedy involving young people living together and sharing expenses after he regretted passing on the Black sitcom ''[[Living Single]]''. Littlefield wanted the group to share memorable periods of their lives with friends, who had become "new, surrogate family members."<ref name="friendsorigin" /> However, Littlefield found difficulty in bringing the concept to life and found the scripts developed by NBC to be terrible. When Kauffman, Crane and Bright pitched ''Insomnia Cafe'', Littlefield was impressed that they knew who their characters were.<ref name="friendsorigin" /> NBC bought the idea as a [[put pilot]], meaning they risked financial penalties if the pilot was not filmed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stallings |first=Penny |title=The Ultimate Friends Companion |publisher=Channel 4 Books |year=2000 |isbn=0-7522-7231-4 |location=London |pages=102–103}}</ref> Kauffman and Crane took three days to write the pilot script for a show they titled ''Friends Like Us.''<ref name="friendsorigins1" /><ref>Wild, p. 215</ref> Littlefield wanted the series to "represent [[Generation X]] and explore a new kind of tribal bonding", but the rest disagreed. Crane argued that it was not a series for one generation, and wanted to produce a series that everyone would enjoy watching.<ref name="friendsorigin" /> NBC liked the script and ordered the series. They changed the title to ''Six of One'', mainly because they felt ''Friends Like Us'' was too similar to the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] sitcom ''[[Ellen (TV series)|These Friends of Mine]]''.<ref name="friendsconcept">{{Cite news |last=Kolbert, Elizabeth |date=May 9, 1994 |title=The Conception and Delivery of a Sitcom: Everyone's a Critic |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9405EEDF1239F93AA35756C0A962958260 |url-status=live |access-date=December 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122060548/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9405EEDF1239F93AA35756C0A962958260 |archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> === Casting === {{See also|The Pilot (Friends)}} [[File:Courteney Cox '10 PaleyFest.jpg|thumb|upright|The producers wanted [[Courteney Cox]] (''pictured'') to portray Rachel; however, Cox wanted to play Monica and co-creator Marta Kauffman agreed after watching the audition.]] Once it became apparent that the series was a favored project at NBC, Littlefield reported that he was getting calls from every agent in town, wanting their client to be a part of the series.<ref name="friendsorigin" /> Auditions for the lead roles took place in New York and Los Angeles.<ref name="friendswrit" /> The casting director shortlisted 1,000 actors who had applied for each role down to 75. Those who received a callback read in front of Crane, Kauffman and Bright. At the end of March, the number of potential actors had been reduced to three or four for each part, and these actors were asked to read for [[Leslie Moonves|Les Moonves]], then president of Warner Bros. Television.<ref name="Kolbert2">Kolbert, Elizabeth (April 6, 1994). "[https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/06/arts/finding-the-absolutely-perfect-actor-the-high-stress-business-of-casting.html Finding the Absolutely Perfect Actor: The High-Stress Business of Casting] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008185205/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/06/arts/finding-the-absolutely-perfect-actor-the-high-stress-business-of-casting.html |date=October 8, 2016 }}", ''The New York Times''. Retrieved on January 19, 2008.</ref> Having worked with David Schwimmer in the past,<ref name="friendswrit" /> the series creators wrote the character of Ross Geller with him in mind, and he was the first actor cast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Couric, Katie |date=May 5, 2004 |title=Can David Schwimmer leave Ross Geller behind? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/4908086 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831112036/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4908086 |archive-date=August 31, 2013 |access-date=December 23, 2008 |website=[[NBC News]]}}</ref> Courteney Cox wanted to play the role of Monica Geller because she liked the "strong" character, but the producers had her in mind to play Rachel Green because of her "cheery, upbeat energy", which was not how they envisioned Monica; after Cox's audition, though, Kauffman agreed with Cox, and she got the role.<ref name="friendsorigins1" /><ref>{{Cite book |title=Friends Til the end: The Official Celebration of all Ten years |publisher=Time Home Entertainment |year=2004}}</ref> When Matt LeBlanc auditioned for Joey Tribbiani, he put a "different spin" on the character.<ref name="friendsorigins1" /> He played Joey more simple-minded than intended and gave the character heart. Although Crane and Kauffman did not want LeBlanc for the role at the time, they were told by the network to cast him.<ref name="friendsorigins1" /> Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow were cast as Rachel, Chandler Bing and Phoebe Buffay based on their auditions.<ref name="friendswrit" /> Perry and Aniston, both still under contract to other shows that year, ''LAX 2194'' and ''[[Muddling Through]]'', were cast days before shooting of the pilot began.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/matthew-perry-tribute-david-janollari-chandler-friends-1235633427/ |title=Warner Bros. Exec Recalls Casting Chandler: "It Was Magic" |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031205130/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/matthew-perry-tribute-david-janollari-chandler-friends-1235633427/ |url-status=live }}</ref> More changes occurred to the series's storylines during the casting process. The writers found that they had to adjust the characters they had written to suit the actors, and the discovery process of the characters occurred throughout the first season. Kauffman acknowledged that Joey's character became "this whole new being", and that "it wasn't until we did the first Thanksgiving episode that we realized how much fun Monica's neuroses are."<ref name="friendsnewsday" /> === Writing === In the weeks after NBC's pick up of ''Friends'', Crane, Kauffman and Bright reviewed sent-in scripts that writers had originally prepared for other series, mainly unproduced ''[[Seinfeld]]'' episodes.<ref name="friendsborn" /> Kauffman and Crane hired a team of seven young writers because "When you're 40, you can't do it anymore. The networks and studios are looking for young people coming in out of college."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shayne, Bob |date=June 10, 2001 |title=No Experience Wanted |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-10-ca-8511-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616165543/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jun/10/entertainment/ca-8511 |archive-date=June 16, 2009}}</ref> The creators felt that using six equal characters, rather than emphasizing one or two, would allow for "myriad storylines and give the show legs."<ref name="friendsorigin2" /> The majority of the storyline ideas came from the writers, although the actors added ideas.<ref name="friendswrit">{{Cite news |date=April 23, 2004 |title=''Friends'': Kevin Bright |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/2002-04-23-friends.htm |url-status=live |access-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715065109/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/community/chat/2002-04-23-friends.htm |archive-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref> Although the writers originally planned the big love story to be between Joey and Monica, the idea of a romantic interest between Ross and Rachel emerged during the period when Kauffman and Crane wrote the pilot script.<ref name="friendsorigins1" /> During the production of the pilot, NBC requested that the script be changed to feature one dominant storyline and several minor ones, but the writers refused, wanting to keep three storylines of equal weight.<ref name="friendsconcept" /> NBC also wanted the writers to include an older character to balance out the young ones. Crane and Kauffman were forced to comply and wrote a draft of an early episode that featured "Pat the Cop" who would be used to provide advice to the other characters. Crane found the storyline to be terrible, and Kauffman joked, "You know the {{Sic|kids}} book, ''[[Pat the Bunny]]''? We had Pat the Cop." NBC eventually relented and dropped the idea.<ref name="friendsorigins1" /> Each summer, the producers would outline the storylines for the subsequent season.<ref name="joeyrach" /> Before an episode went into production, Kauffman and Crane would revise the script written by another writer, mainly if something concerning either the series or a character felt foreign.<ref name="friendsborn">{{Cite news |last=Kolbert, Elizabeth |date=May 23, 1994 |title=A Sitcom is Born: Only Time Will Tell the Road to Prime Time |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E5DF1E38F930A15756C0A962958260 |url-status=live |access-date=January 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122060645/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E5DF1E38F930A15756C0A962958260 |archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> The hardest episodes to write were always "the first one and the last one of each season."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Radloff |first=Jessica |title=The Creators of Friends Reveal Brand-New Secrets About the Show |language=en |work=Glamour |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/exclusive-the-creators-of-frie |url-status=live |access-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204005712/https://www.glamour.com/story/exclusive-the-creators-of-frie |archive-date=December 4, 2018}}</ref> Unlike other storylines, the idea for a relationship between Joey and Rachel was decided on halfway through the eighth season. The creators did not want Ross and Rachel to get back together so soon, and while looking for a romantic impediment, a writer suggested Joey's romantic interest in Rachel.<ref name="joeyrach" /> The storyline was incorporated into the season; however, when the actors feared that the storyline would make their characters unlikable, the storyline was wrapped up, until it again resurfaced in the season's finale. For the ninth season, the writers were unsure about the amount of storyline to give to Rachel's baby Emma Geller-Green, as they wanted the show neither to revolve around a baby nor pretend there to be none.<ref name="joeyrach">{{Cite news |last=Bauder, David |date=May 15, 2002 |title=Baby episode could make ''Friends'' TV's top show |work=Seattle Times |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20020515/wfriends/baby-episode-could-make-friends-tvs-top-show |url-status=live |access-date=January 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122135945/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20020515&slug=wfriends |archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> Crane said that it took them a while to accept the idea of a tenth season, which they decided to do because they had enough stories left to tell to justify the season. Kauffman and Crane would not have signed on for an eleventh season, even if all the cast members had wanted to continue.<ref name="friendsnewsday" /> The episode title format—"The One ..."<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2004 |title=Have yourself a mocha latte and reminisce a bit |url=http://www.ocala.com/news/20040505/have-yourself-a-mocha-latte-and-reminisce-a-bit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211172257/http://www.ocala.com/news/20040505/have-yourself-a-mocha-latte-and-reminisce-a-bit |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |access-date=February 11, 2018 |publisher=Ocala.com}}</ref>—was created when the producers realized that the episode titles would not be featured in the opening credits, and therefore would be unknown to most of the audience. Episode titles officially begin with "The One ..." except the title of the [[The Pilot (Friends)|pilot episode]] and the series finale "The Last One". The season 5 episode "The One Hundredth" has the alternative title of "The One With The Triplet". === Filming === [[File:The House used in Friends (48072768102).jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Greenwich Village]] building, 90 Bedford Street, used as the friends' apartment block in [[establishing shot]]s]] The first season was shot on Stage 5 at [[Warner Bros. Studios Burbank|Warner Bros. Studios]] in [[Burbank, California]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Endrst, James |date=February 23, 1995 |title=''Friends'' wins friends with caffeine-fueled energy |work=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD97908003E2DA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |url-status=live |url-access=registration |access-date=January 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074027/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD97908003E2DA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |archive-date=November 25, 2018}}</ref> NBC executives had worried that the coffee house setting was too hip and asked for the series to be set in a diner, but eventually consented to the coffee house concept.<ref name="friendsorigins1" /> The opening title sequence was filmed in a fountain at the [[Warner Bros. Ranch]] at 4:00 am, while it was particularly cold for a Burbank morning.<ref>{{cite news|title= F. Y. I.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 27, 2005|author=Pollak, Michael<!--|access-date=December 31, 2008 -->}}</ref> At the beginning of the second season, production moved to the larger Stage 24, which was renamed The ''Friends'' Stage after the series finale.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blake, Lindsay |date=May 25, 2021 |title=Revisit These Iconic Locations Made Famous by Jennifer Aniston and ''Friends'' on the Hit Show |url=https://www.dirt.com/gallery/locations/filming-locations/1203383350-1203383350/lb-friends-filming-locations-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004014332/https://www.dirt.com/gallery/locations/filming-locations/1203383350-1203383350/lb-friends-filming-locations-2/ |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |access-date=October 3, 2021 |website=Dirt.com}}</ref> Filming for the series began during the summer of 1994 in front of a live audience, who were given a summary of the series to familiarize themselves with the six main characters.<ref name="friendsorigins1" /> A hired comedian entertained the studio audience between takes.<ref name="filmhours" /> Each 22-minute episode took six hours to film—twice the length of most sitcom tapings—mainly due to the several retakes and rewrites of the script.<ref name="filmhours">{{Cite web |last=Kiesewetter, John |date=January 27, 2002 |title=''Friends'' grows in stature, ratings |url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/01/27/tem_friends_grows_in.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121204193030/http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/01/27/tem_friends_grows_in.html |archive-date=December 4, 2012 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[The National Enquirer]]}}</ref> Although the producers always wanted to find the right stories to take advantage of being on location, ''Friends'' was never shot in New York. Bright felt that filming outside the studio made episodes less funny, even when shooting on the lot outside, and that the live audience was an integral part of the series.<ref name="friendswrit" /> When the series was criticized for incorrectly depicting New York, with the financially struggling group of friends being able to afford huge apartments, Bright noted that the set had to be big enough for the cameras, lighting, and "for the audience to be able to see what's going on".<ref name="friendswrit" /> The apartments also needed to provide a place for the actors to execute the actions in the scripts.<ref name="friendswrit" /> The fourth-season finale was shot on location in London because the producers were aware of the series' popularity in the UK.<ref name="friendswrit" /> The scenes were shot in a studio with three audiences each made up of 500 people. These were the show's largest audiences throughout its run. The fifth-season finale, set in [[Las Vegas]], was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios, although Bright met people who thought it was filmed on location.<ref name="friendsjoeystuff" /> == Series finale == {{Main|The Last One (Friends)}} [[File:JenniferAnistonFeb09.jpg|thumb|upright|The cast became very emotional while filming the final episode. [[Jennifer Aniston]] explained, "We're like very delicate china right now, and we're speeding toward a brick wall."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gilbert, Matthew |date=January 15, 2004 |title=''Friends'' end painful, cast says |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2004/01/15/friends_end_painful_cast_says/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121013328/http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2004/01/15/friends_end_painful_cast_says/ |archive-date=January 21, 2009}}</ref>]] The series's creators completed the first draft of the hour-long finale in January 2004, four months before its original airing. Crane, Kauffman and Bright watched the finales of other sitcoms to prepare the episode's outline, paying attention to what worked and what did not. They liked the ones that stayed true to the series, deeming "[[The Last Show (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)|The Last Show]]", the finale of ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' to be the gold standard. Crane, Kauffman, and Bright had difficulty writing the finale. They did not want to do "something high concept, or take the show out of the show."<ref name="friendfinale2" /> The most critical parts of the finale were shot without an audience and with a minimum number of crew members. The main cast enjoyed the finale and were confident that the fans would react similarly:<ref name="friendfinale2">{{Cite news |last=Hartlaub, Peter |date=January 15, 2004 |title=''Friends'' challenge - finding right words to say goodbye |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/01/15/DDGPB49B2D1.DTL&type=printable |url-status=live |access-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123083513/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F01%2F15%2FDDGPB49B2D1.DTL&type=printable |archive-date=January 23, 2009}}</ref> {{blockquote|It's exactly what I had hoped. We all end up with a sense of a new beginning and the audience has a sense that it's a new chapter in the lives of all these characters. |David Schwimmer on the series finale.<ref name="friendfinale2" />}} NBC heavily promoted the series finale, which was preceded by weeks of media hype.<ref name="friendsfinalepost">{{Cite news |last=Shales, Tom |date=May 7, 2004 |title=A Big Hug Goodbye to ''Friends'' and Maybe to the Sitcom |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7176-2004May7.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107055436/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7176-2004May7.html |archive-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> Local NBC affiliates organized viewing parties around the U.S., including an event at [[Universal CityWalk]] featuring a special broadcast of the finale on an outdoor [[70 mm film#Astrovision (10/70)|Astrovision]] screen.<ref name="castnames">{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2004 |title=''Friends'' heads for much-hyped farewell |url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=31095#compstory |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129120529/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=31095#compstory |archive-date=January 29, 2009 |access-date=December 19, 2008 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> The finale was the subject of two episodes of ''[[Dateline NBC]]'', one of which ran for two hours. A one-hour retrospective of clips from previous episodes was shown before the airing of the episode. Following the finale, ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'' was filmed on the set of the ''Friends''<nowiki>'</nowiki> Central Perk coffee house, which featured the cast as guests.<ref name="finalefox">{{Cite news |date=May 7, 2004 |title=Estimated 51.1M Tune in for ''Friends'' Finale |work=Fox News Channel |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,119305,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217151358/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C119305%2C00.html |archive-date=December 17, 2008}}</ref><ref name="finaletodayguest">{{Cite news |last=Oldenburg, Ann |date=May 5, 2004 |title=And now, the one where ''Friends'' says goodbye |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-05-05-friends-farewell-main_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114000759/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-05-05-friends-farewell-main_x.htm |archive-date=January 14, 2012}}</ref> The advertising rates for the finale averaged $2 million for 30 seconds of commercial time, breaking the record held by the [[The Finale (Seinfeld)|''Seinfeld'' finale]] at $1.7 million.<ref name="castnames" /> In the U.S., 52.5 million viewers watched the finale on May 6, 2004, making it the most-watched entertainment telecast since the ''Seinfeld'' finale in 1998.<ref name="finalefox" /> The finale was the fifth most-watched series finale in television history, only behind the finales of ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' ("[[Goodbye, Farewell and Amen]]"), ''[[Cheers]]'' ("[[One for the Road (Cheers)|One for the Road]]"), ''[[The Fugitive (1963 TV series)|The Fugitive]]'', ("The Judgment") and ''Seinfeld'', which were respectively watched by 105, 80.4, 78.0 and 76.3 million viewers.<ref>Chareunsy, D. (2020, May 20). End of the road: Top 10 most-watched scripted-TV series finales of all time. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/may/19/end-of-the-road-top-10-most-watched-scripted-tv-se/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921100138/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/may/19/end-of-the-road-top-10-most-watched-scripted-tv-se/ |date=September 21, 2022 }}</ref> The retrospective episode was watched by fewer than 36 million viewers, and the finale was the second most-watched television broadcast of the year in the United States, only behind the [[Super Bowl]].<ref name="finalefox" /> Following the finales of ''Friends'' and ''[[Frasier]]'', media critics speculated about the fate of the sitcom genre. Opinions varied between a signalling of the end of the sitcom genre, a small decline in the large history of the genre,<ref name="castnames" /> and a general reduction of scripted television in favor of reality shows.<ref name="friendsfinalepost" /> == Reunion special == {{Main|Friends: The Reunion}} On November 12, 2019, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' announced that Warner Bros TV was developing a ''Friends'' reunion for [[HBO Max]] that would feature the whole cast and creators returning.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=November 12, 2019 |title='Friends' Reunion Special in the Works at HBO Max (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/friends-reunion-special-works-at-hbo-max-1254331 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115203707/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/friends-reunion-special-works-at-hbo-max-1254331 |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=November 15, 2019 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en}}</ref> On February 21, 2020, HBO confirmed that the unscripted reunion special, tentatively named "The One Where They Got Back Together", was set to be released in May the same year, along with the 236 original episodes of the series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Marcus |date=February 22, 2020 |title=Cast of Friends to Reunite in Special Episode for HBO Max Launch |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-22/friends-cast-set-to-appear-in-special-episode-in-hbo-max-launch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223125324/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-22/friends-cast-set-to-appear-in-special-episode-in-hbo-max-launch |archive-date=February 23, 2020 |access-date=February 24, 2020 |website=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2020 |title=The One Where They Got Back Together {{!}} WarnerMedia Pressroom |url=https://pressroom.warnermediagroup.com/na/media-release/hbo-max/one-where-they-got-back-together |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222073745/https://pressroom.warnermediagroup.com/na/media-release/hbo-max/one-where-they-got-back-together |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |access-date=February 24, 2020 |website=[[WarnerMedia]]}}</ref> On March 18, 2020, it was announced that the special, which was set to film on the ''Friends'' Stage on March 23 and 24, had been postponed indefinitely, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 18, 2020 |title='Friends' Reunion Special Delayed at HBO Max |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/friends-reunion-special-delayed-at-hbo-max-1285276 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320160106/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/friends-reunion-special-delayed-at-hbo-max-1285276 |archive-date=March 20, 2020 |access-date=March 18, 2020 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> In November 2020, Matthew Perry tweeted that the reunion is set to start filming in March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Will |first=Thorne |date=November 12, 2020 |title='Friends' Reunion Special at HBO Max to Shoot in March, Says Matthew Perry |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/friendsreunion-special-hbo-max-production-march-matthew-perry-1234830507/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035528/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/friendsreunion-special-hbo-max-production-march-matthew-perry-1234830507/amp/ |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Will |first=Thorne |date=November 12, 2020 |title='Friends' Reunion Set To Begin Filming Early 2021, Says Star Matthew Perry |url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/matthew-perry-friends-reunion-set-to-begin-filming-early-2021-1234613866/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035550/https://deadline.com/2020/11/matthew-perry-friends-reunion-set-to-begin-filming-early-2021-1234613866/amp/ |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> On May 13, 2021, a teaser trailer was released officially announcing ''[[Friends: The Reunion]]'' also known as "The One Where They Get Back Together". The reunion special was released on HBO Max on May 27, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=Andy |date=May 13, 2021 |title=''Friends'' Reunion Special Gets May Premiere Date on HBO Max — First Look |url=https://tvline.com/2021/05/13/friends-reunion-premiere-date-video-hbo-max/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513170209/https://tvline.com/2021/05/13/friends-reunion-premiere-date-video-hbo-max/ |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |access-date=May 13, 2021 |website=[[TVLine]]}}</ref> == Reception == === Critical reception === {{Television critical response | rotten_tomatoes1 = 70% (43 reviews) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 1 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s01 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> | metacritic1 = 65% (24 reviews) <ref name= "Metacritic"/> | rotten_tomatoes5 = 100% (6 reviews)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 5 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s05 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> | rotten_tomatoes6 = 100% (6 reviews)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 6 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s06 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> | rotten_tomatoes8 = 100% (7 reviews)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 8 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s08 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> | rotten_tomatoes9 = 20% (5 reviews)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 9 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s09 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> | rotten_tomatoes10 = 80% (25 reviews)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends: Season 10 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends/s10 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> }} Early reviews of the series were mixed;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Middis |first=Jessie |date=September 22, 2021 |title=Why Friends' first episode was 'The one with the mixed reviews' |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/on-this-day-why-critics-slammed-friends-when-it-premiered-013102084-084618164.html |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=[[Yahoo News|Yahoo News UK]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Viruet |first=Pilot |date=September 4, 2014 |title='Friends' Doesn't Deserve Your Nostalgia |url=https://www.flavorwire.com/475487/friends-doesnt-deserve-your-nostalgia |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=[[Flavorwire]] |quote=The show premiered in 1994 with a rather unimpressive pilot and an uneven first season that received mixed reviews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=James |first=Emily St. |author-link=Emily St. James |date=September 9, 2014 |title=Today is the 10th anniversary of the sitcom Joey. How are you doing? |url=https://www.vox.com/2014/9/9/6126361/joey-sitcom-10-nbc-matt-leblanc |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |quote=Friends, which received decidedly mixed reviews when it debuted in 1994}}</ref> the first season holds a [[Metacritic]] score of 65 out of 100, based on 24 sampled reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".<ref name="Metacritic">{{Cite web |title=Friends Season 1 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/friends |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516111958/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/friends |archive-date=May 16, 2014 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |publisher=[[Metacritic]]}} </ref> Tom Feran of ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' wrote that the series traded "vaguely and less successfully on the hanging-out style of ''Seinfeld''",<ref>Feran, Tom (September 22, 1994). "New Series Softens Dabney Coleman—A Little", ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'', [[Advance Publications|Newhouse Newspapers]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> while Ann Hodges of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' called it "the new ''Seinfeld'' wannabe, but it will never be as funny as ''Seinfeld''."<ref name="Hodges">Hodges, Ann (September 22, 1994). "[https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1994_1227698/nbc-sitcoms-make-thursday-less-funny.html NBC sitcoms make Thursday less funny] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226224328/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1994_1227698/nbc-sitcoms-make-thursday-less-funny.html |date=February 26, 2013 }}", ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', [[Hearst Corporation|Hearst Newspapers]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> In the ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'', [[Ray Richmond]] named the series as "one of the brighter comedies of the new season",<ref name="rayreview">Richmond, Ray (September 22, 1994). "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66B174A1CE015&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Season Premiere of ''Friends'' Leaves Room to Grow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074053/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66B174A1CE015&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |date=November 25, 2018 }}", (Registration required). ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'', [[Los Angeles Newspaper Group]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> and the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called it "flat-out the best comedy series of the new season."<ref>Rosenberg, Howard (September 22, 1994). "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-22-ca-41409-story.html NBC's Strongest Evening of the Week Has Its Weak Spot] ", ''The Los Angeles Times'', [[Tribune Company]]. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> The ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''{{'}} Ginny Holbert found Joey and Rachel's characters to be underdeveloped,<ref>Holbert, Ginny (September 22, 1994). "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB421DE1111933C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D X Marks Spot For ''Friends'' On Thursday] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074047/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB421DE1111933C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |date=November 25, 2018 }}". (Registration required). ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> while Richmond commended the cast as a "likeable youth ensemble" with "good chemistry."<ref name="rayreview" /> Robert Bianco of ''[[USA Today]]'' was complimentary of Schwimmer, calling him "terrific." He also praised the female leads, but was concerned that Perry's role as Chandler was "undefined" and that LeBlanc was "relying too much on the same brain-dead stud routine that was already tired the last two times he tried it."<ref name="Bianco">Bianco, Robert (September 22, 1994). "Six ''Friends'' Sittin' Around, Talking", ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]''.</ref> The authors of ''Friends Like Us: The Unofficial Guide to Friends'' thought that the cast was "trying just a little too hard"; in particular, Perry and Schwimmer.<ref>Sangster, p. 14</ref> As the series progressed, reviews became more positive, and ''Friends'' became one of the most popular sitcoms of its time. It is now often ranked among the [[List of television shows considered the best|all-time best TV shows]].<ref name="Time">{{Cite magazine |last=Poniewozi |first=James |author-link=James Poniewozik |date=September 6, 2007 |title=All-Time 100 TV Shows |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/completelist/0,,1651341,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226031518/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/completelist/0%2C%2C1651341%2C00.html |archive-date=February 26, 2009 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref name="cbsnews.com">{{Cite news |date=April 26, 2002 |title=TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tv-guide-names-top-50-shows/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904061715/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/26/entertainment/main507388.shtml |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref name="empireonline.com">{{Cite web |last1=Dyer |first1=James |last2=Williams |first2=Owen |last3=Gross |first3=Ed |last4=White |first4=James |last5=Nugent |first5=John |last6=De Semlyen |first6=Phil |last7=Hewitt |first7=Chris |date=June 15, 2016 |title=The 50 Best TV Shows Ever |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-tv-shows-ever/?tv=7/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923204754/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-tv-shows-ever/?tv=7%2F |archive-date=September 23, 2018 |access-date=February 10, 2020 |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref> Critics commended the series for having consistently sharp writing and for the chemistry between the main actors.<ref name="friendsreviews" /> Noel Holston of ''[[Newsday]]'', who had dismissed the pilot as a "so-so ''Seinfeld'' wannabe" in 1994, repudiated his earlier review after re-watching the episode and felt like writing an apology to the writers.<ref name="friendsnewsday">{{Cite web |last=Holston, Noel |title=''Friends'' that were like family |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/ny-friendsfanfare,0,6756416.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124163208/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/ny-friendsfanfare%2C0%2C6756416.story |archive-date=January 24, 2009 |access-date=January 1, 2009 |website=Newsday}}</ref> [[Heather Havrilesky]] of ''[[Salon.com]]'' thought that the series "hit its stride" in the second season. Havrilesky found the character-specific jokes and situations "could reliably make you laugh out loud a few times each episode", and the quality of writing allowed the stories to be "original and innovative."<ref name="reviewsalon" /> [[Bill Carter]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called the eighth season a "truly stunning comeback." Carter found that by "generating new hot storylines and high-decibel laughs", the series made its way "back into the hearts of its fans."<ref name="plottwists">{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=February 18, 2002 |title=Plot Twists Paid Off For ''Friends'' |work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D7113FF93BA25751C0A9649C8B63 |url-status=live |access-date=November 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118115851/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D7113FF93BA25751C0A9649C8B63 |archive-date=November 18, 2007}}</ref> However, [[Liane Bonin]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' felt that the direction of the ninth season was a "disappointing buzzkill", criticizing it for the non-stop celebrity guest spots and going into [[Jumping the shark|jump the shark]] territory. Although disappointed with the season, Bonin noted that "the writing [was] still sharp."<ref name="friendsoverstay" /> Havrilesky thought that the tenth season was "alarmingly awful, far worse than you would ever imagine a show that was once so good could be."<ref name="reviewsalon">{{Cite news |last=Havrilesky, Heather |date=May 7, 2004 |title=Never forget your ''Friends'' |work=[[Salon.com]] |url=http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/tv/review/2004/05/07/friends_finale/print.html |url-status=dead |access-date=January 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122133540/http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/tv/review/2004/05/07/friends_finale/print.html |archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> ''Friends'' was featured on ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s list of "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-Time", saying, "the well-hidden secret of this show was that it called itself ''Friends'', and was really about family."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 13, 2007 |title=Friends - The 100 Best TV Shows of All |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1651341_1659188_1652526,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430194439/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0%2C28804%2C1651341_1659188_1652526%2C00.html |archive-date=April 30, 2009}}</ref> Reviews of the series finale were mostly positive. ''USA Today''{{'}}s Robert Bianco described the finale as entertaining and satisfying and praised it for deftly mixing emotion and humor while highlighting each of the stars.<ref name="finalerob">{{Cite news |last=Bianco, Robert |date=May 7, 2004 |title=Rachel stays, so ''Friends'' are able to leave together |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2004-05-06-friends-finale_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=January 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101152402/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2004-05-06-friends-finale_x.htm |archive-date=November 1, 2008}}</ref> Sarah Rodman of the ''[[Boston Herald]]'' praised Aniston and Schwimmer for their acting, but felt that their characters' reunion was "a bit too neat, even if it was what most of the show's legions of fans wanted."<ref>{{cite news|title=Six pals depart on a classy note |last=Rodman|first=Sarah|date=May 7, 2004 |newspaper=[[Boston Herald]]|page=3<!--|access-date=January 1, 2009 -->}}</ref> Roger Catlin of the ''[[Hartford Courant]]'' felt that newcomers to the series would be "surprised at how laughless the affair could be, and how nearly every strained gag depends on the sheer stupidity of its characters."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Catlin |first=Roger |date=May 7, 2004 |title=The Long Farewell is Over; Lots of Fans, Little Fanfare for Mich-Anticipated Finale of ''Friends'' |work=[[Hartford Courant]] |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/629993481.html?dids=629993481:629993481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+07%2C+2004&author=ROGER+CATLIN%3B+Courant+TV+Critic&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=THE+LONG+FAREWELL+IS+OVER+%3B+LOTS+OF+FANS%2C+LITTLE+FANFARE+FOR+MUCH-ANTICIPATED+FINALE+OF+%60FRIENDS%27&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |access-date=January 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122233106/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/629993481.html?dids=629993481:629993481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+07%2C+2004&author=ROGER+CATLIN%3B+Courant+TV+Critic&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=THE+LONG+FAREWELL+IS+OVER+%3B+LOTS+OF+FANS%2C+LITTLE+FANFARE+FOR+MUCH-ANTICIPATED+FINALE+OF+%60FRIENDS%27&pqatl=google |archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> Ken Parish Perkins, writing for ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]'', pointed out that the finale was "more touching than comical, more satisfying in terms of closure than knee-slappingly funny."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perkins |first=Ken Parish |date=May 7, 2004 |title=Farewell to ''Friends'': The finale to the 10-year series wraps up all the loose ends |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=102C895664833147&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |url-status=live |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125115410/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=102C895664833147&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |archive-date=November 25, 2018}}</ref> {{blockquote|text=It may have been impossible for any one episode to live up to the hype and expectations built up around the Friends finale, but this hour probably came as close as fans could have reasonably hoped. Ultimately, the two-hour package did exactly what it was supposed to do. It wrapped up the story while reminding us why we liked the show and will miss it.|sign=Robert Bianco of ''USA Today'' on the series finale.<ref name="finalerob" />}} In a 2021 program on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]], ''[[Mr. Bean]]'' writer [[Richard Curtis]] accused the ''Friends'' writers of stealing the joke which involved Joey getting a turkey stuck on his head in "[[The One with All the Thanksgivings]]" from the 1992 episode "[[Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean]]". In that episode, [[Mr. Bean (character)|Mr. Bean]] ([[Rowan Atkinson]]) got a turkey stuck on his head after losing his watch while stuffing the turkey and put his head in to try to retrieve it. Rowan Atkinson, however, argued that jokes are meant to be stolen, or to inspire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Richard Curtis reckons 'Friends' stole 'Mr. Bean' turkey-on-the-head gag |url=https://www.nme.com/news/tv/richard-curtis-reckons-friends-stole-mr-bean-turkey-on-the-head-gag-2853946 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123015004/https://www.nme.com/news/tv/richard-curtis-reckons-friends-stole-mr-bean-turkey-on-the-head-gag-2853946 |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021 |website=NME}}</ref> === Awards === {{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Friends}} To maintain the series' ensemble format, the main cast members decided to enter themselves in the same acting categories for awards.<ref name="community2003" /> Beginning with the eighth season, the actors decided to submit themselves in the lead actor balloting, rather than in the supporting actor fields.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lowry, Brian |date=July 19, 2002 |title=Its Coffin Overflows |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/cl-et-newemmys19jul19,0,7220504.story |url-status=dead |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122034847/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/cl-et-newemmys19jul19%2C0%2C7220504.story |archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> The series was nominated for 62 [[Primetime Emmy Award]]s,<ref>[http://www.emmys.com/shows/friends Friends] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010090803/http://www.emmys.com/shows/Friends |date=October 10, 2011 }} ''emmys.com''. Retrieved June 1, 2014.</ref> winning six. Aniston and Kudrow are the only main cast members to win an Emmy, while Cox is the only actor not to be nominated. The series won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series]] at the [[54th Primetime Emmy Awards]] in 2002, receiving nominations in [[47th Primetime Emmy Awards|1995]], [[48th Primetime Emmy Awards|1996]], [[51st Primetime Emmy Awards|1999]], [[52nd Primetime Emmy Awards|2000]], and [[55th Primetime Emmy Awards|2003]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Advanced Primetime Awards Search |url=http://www.emmys.tv/awards/awardsearch.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121204901/http://www.emmys.tv/awards/awardsearch.php |archive-date=January 21, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]}} Type "Friends" in the "Program" field, select "1993" and "2008" in "Year range" field, and select "NBC" in "Network" field.</ref> The series also won an [[American Comedy Awards|American Comedy Award]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keck, William |date=June 2, 2005 |title=Kudrow back in the fold |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-06-02-kudrow_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124162829/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-06-02-kudrow_x.htm |archive-date=January 24, 2009}}</ref> one [[GLAAD Media Award]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2005 |title=15 years of recognition |url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4133520/15-years-of-recognition-Special.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122051128/http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4133520/15-years-of-recognition-Special.html |archive-date=January 22, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=TelevisionWeek}}</ref> one [[Golden Globe Award]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=HPFA - Jennifer Aniston |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29209 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121055257/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29209 |archive-date=January 21, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[Golden Globe Award]]}}</ref> three [[Logie Award]]s,<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2003 |title=Fed: Logie Award winners |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-73851066.html |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216080213/http://www.highbeam.com/Search?searchTerm=Fed+Logie+Award+winners&searchType=Article¤tPage=0&orderBy= |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[Australian Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2004 |title=Fed: Full list of Logies winners |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-93575833.html |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216074334/http://www.highbeam.com/Search?searchTerm=Fed+Full+list+of+Logies+winners&searchType=Article¤tPage=0&orderBy= |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[Australian Associated Press]]}}</ref> six [[People's Choice Awards]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=Entertainment Awards Database |pages=2–3 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=category&query=Favorite+Television+Comedy+Series&x=0&y=0 |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903235242/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=category&query=Favorite+Television+Comedy+Series&x=0&y=0 |archive-date=September 3, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 6, 1995 |title=Tim Allen Wins Twice at Awards |work=[[Rocky Mountain News]] |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4E258D9CBCB83&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |url-status=live |url-access=registration |access-date=January 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125073924/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4E258D9CBCB83&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |archive-date=November 25, 2018}}</ref> one [[Satellite Award]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 5th Annual Satellite Awards |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2001.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218060819/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2001.shtml |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=[[Satellite Award]]s}} Select the "Television" field.</ref> and one [[2nd Screen Actors Guild Awards#Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series|Screen Actors Guild Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 24, 1996 |title=The 2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards |url=http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/2nd-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525002959/http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/2nd-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards |archive-date=May 25, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2013 |publisher=Screen Actors Guild Awards}}</ref> === Ratings === The table below shows the ratings of ''Friends'' in the United States, where it consistently ranked within the top ten of the final [[Television program#Seasons/series|television season]] ratings.<ref name="RatingsBySeason">Ratings for ''Friends'' by television seasons: * Season 1: {{cite web |title=TV Season Rankings 1994–95 |date=April 20, 1995 |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/apr/20/tv-season-rankings/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903224557/http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/apr/20/tv-season-rankings/ |archive-date=September 3, 2015 }} * Season 2: {{cite web |title=How Twitter is Changing Television |url=https://prezi.com/jh1vkem_a0p9/how-twitter-is-changing-television/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903224557/https://prezi.com/jh1vkem_a0p9/how-twitter-is-changing-television/ |archive-date=September 3, 2015 }} * Season 3: {{cite web |title=A Milestone Year |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 23, 1997 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-23-ca-61847-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630104546/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-05-23/entertainment/ca-61847_1_recent-years/2 |archive-date=June 30, 2015 }} * Season 4: {{cite magazine |title=What Ranked and What Tanked |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=https://www.ew.com/article/1998/05/29/what-ranked-and-what-tanked |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216222920/http://www.ew.com/article/1998/05/29/what-ranked-and-what-tanked |archive-date=February 16, 2015 }} * Season 5: {{cite web |title=TV Winners & Losers |url=http://geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029011819/http://geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html |archive-date=October 29, 2009 }} * Season 6: {{cite news |title=Nielsen Ratings for 1999–2000 |newspaper=Sfgate |date=May 26, 2000 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/NIELSEN-RATINGS-FOR-1999-2000-2776698.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203214816/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/NIELSEN-RATINGS-FOR-1999-2000-2776698.php |archive-date=February 3, 2014 }} * Season 7: {{cite magazine |title=Friends Or Foes? |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2001/02/09/friends-or-foes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903224557/http://www.ew.com/article/2001/02/09/friends-or-foes |archive-date=September 3, 2015 }} * Season 8: {{cite web |title=How Did Your Favorite Show Rate? |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015225616/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm |archive-date=October 15, 2015 }} * Season 9: {{cite web |title=A Look at the Good Ol' Days of Broadcast Primetime TV: You Know, 2003 |work=Broadcasting Cable |date=March 14, 2013 |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/look-good-ol-days-broadcast-primetime-tv-you-know-2003/114241 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903224557/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/look-good-ol-days-broadcast-primetime-tv-you-know-2003/114241 |archive-date=September 3, 2015 }} * Season 10: {{cite web |title=Nielsen TV Index Ranking 2003–04 |url=http://www.quigleypublishing.com/TandValmanac/TV_listing_08.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818042736/http://www.quigleypublishing.com/TandValmanac/TV_listing_08.html |archive-date=August 18, 2015 }}</ref> "Rank" refers to how well ''Friends'' rated compared to other television series that aired during primetime hours of the corresponding television season. It is shown in relation to the total number of series airing on the then-six major English-language networks in a given season. "Viewers" refers to the average number of viewers for all original episodes, broadcast during the television season in the series' regular timeslot. The "season premiere" is the date that the first episode of the season aired, and the "season finale" is the date that the final episode of the season aired. Following the [[September 11 attacks]], ratings increased 17% over the previous season.<ref name="plottwists" /> {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Ratings table |- ! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Season ! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Timeslot ! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Season premiere ! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Season finale ! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | TV season ! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Rank ! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Viewers<br />(in millions) ! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" colspan="2" | Most-watched episode |- ! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" | Title ! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" | Viewers<br />(in millions) |- | scope="row" | [[Friends season 1|1]] | Thursday 8:30 pm <br /> <small>(1–16)</small> <br /> Thursday 9:30 pm <br /> <small>(17–24)</small> | September 22, 1994 | May 18, 1995 | [[1994–95 United States network television schedule|1994–95]] | [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1994–95|8]] | 24.3<ref name="RatingsBySeason" /> | "[[The One Where Rachel Finds Out]]" | 31.3<ref name="BuzzFeed">{{cite news |first=Ira |last=Madison III |title=You Won't Believe What America's Favorite "Friends" Episodes Are |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/iramadison/you-wont-believe-what-americas-favorite-friends-episodes-are |work=[[BuzzFeed]] |date=October 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620234026/http://www.buzzfeed.com/iramadison/you-wont-believe-what-americas-favorite-friends-episodes-are |archive-date=June 20, 2015 }}</ref> |- | scope="row" | [[Friends season 2|2]] | rowspan="9"| Thursday 8:00 pm | September 21, 1995 | May 16, 1996 | [[1995–96 United States network television schedule|1995–96]] | [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1995–96|3]] | 30<ref name="RatingsBySeason" /> | "[[The One After the Superbowl]]" | 52.9<ref name="BuzzFeed" /> |- | scope="row" | [[Friends season 3|3]] | September 19, 1996 | May 15, 1997 | [[1996–97 United States network television schedule|1996–97]] | [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1996–97|4]] | 24.9<ref name="RatingsBySeason" /> | "[[The One Where Chandler Can't Remember Which Sister]]" | 29.80<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tv.zap2it.com/news/ratings/networks/970106networks.html |title=Zap2it.com {{!}} TV {{!}} Shows {{!}} Features |website=Zap2it |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010622061032/http://tv.zap2it.com/news/ratings/networks/970106networks.html |archive-date=22 June 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | [[Friends season 4|4]] | September 25, 1997 | May 7, 1998 | [[1997–98 United States network television schedule|1997–98]] | [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1997–98|4]] | 24.0<ref name="RatingsBySeason" /> | "[[The One with Ross's Wedding]]" | 31.61<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41304257/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 4–10, 1998)|date=May 13, 1998|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 24, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514074234/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41304257/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | [[Friends season 5|5]] | September 24, 1998 | May 20, 1999 | [[1998–99 United States network television schedule|1998–99]] | [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1998–99|2]] | 23.5<ref name="RatingsBySeason" /> | "[[The One After Ross Says Rachel]]" | 31.12<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41307174/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 21–27, 1998)|date=September 30, 1998|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 25, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514040007/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41307174/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | [[Friends season 6|6]] | September 23, 1999 | May 18, 2000 | [[1999–2000 United States network television schedule|1999–2000]] | [[Top-rated United States television programs of 1999–2000|5]] | 20.7<ref name="RatingsBySeason" /> | "[[The One with the Proposal]]" | 30.73<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41303427/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 15–21, 2000)|date=May 24, 2000|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 6, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512174544/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41303427/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | [[Friends season 7|7]] | October 12, 2000 | May 17, 2001 | [[2000–01 United States network television schedule|2000–01]] | [[Top-rated United States television programs of 2000–01|5]] | 20.2<ref name="RatingsBySeason" /> | "[[The One with Monica and Chandler's Wedding]]" | 30.05<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41488110/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 14–20, 2001)|date=May 23, 2001|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 10, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512174543/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41488110/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | [[Friends season 8|8]] | September 27, 2001 | May 16, 2002 | [[2001–02 United States network television schedule|2001–02]] | [[Top-rated United States television programs of 2001–02|1]] | 24.5<ref name="RatingsBySeason" /> | "[[The One Where Rachel Has a Baby]]" | 34.91<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41463107/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 13–19, 2002)|date=May 22, 2002|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 16, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512190116/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41463107/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | [[Friends season 9|9]] | September 26, 2002 | May 15, 2003 | [[2002–03 United States network television schedule|2002–03]] | [[Top-rated United States television programs of 2002–03|2]] | 21.8<ref name="RatingsBySeason" /> | "[[The One Where No One Proposes]]" | 34.01<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41465735/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 23–29, 2002)|date=October 2, 2002|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 18, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512190132/https://www.newspapers.com/article/41465735/the-los-angeles-times/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | [[Friends season 10|10]] | September 25, 2003 | May 6, 2004 | [[2003–04 United States network television schedule|2003–04]] | [[Top-rated United States television programs of 2003–04|4]] | 22.8<ref name="RatingsBySeason" /> | "[[The Last One (Friends)|The Last One]]" | 52.46<ref name="finale ratings">{{cite web |work=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Medianet]] |date=May 11, 2004 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051104_04 |title=Weekly Program Rankings (May 3–9, 2004) |access-date=May 26, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110707093757/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051104_04| archive-date= July 7, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> |} === Syndication === Because of syndication revenue, ''Friends'' continues to generate approximately $1 billion each year for [[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros]]. That translates into about $20 million in annual residuals each for Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, who each get 2% of syndication income for ''Friends''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Thompson|first=Arienne|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2015/02/27/youll-never-believe-how-much-money-the-friends-cast-still-earns-today/77593556/|title=You'll never believe how much money the 'Friends' cast STILL earns today|work=USA Today|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405093541/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2015/02/27/youll-never-believe-how-much-money-the-friends-cast-still-earns-today/77593556/|archive-date=April 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> All episodes became available on [[Netflix]] on January 1, 2015, introducing a new generation to the show. UK ''Friends'' reruns' ratings in 2015 increased by more than 10% annually. The 2016 reruns' US weekly audience, not including streaming, of 16 million would make it a hit on network television were the show still being produced.<ref name="sternbergh20160321">{{Cite magazine |last=Sternbergh |first=Adam |date=March 21, 2016 |title=Is 'Friends' Still the Most Popular Show on TV? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/03/20-somethings-streaming-friends-c-v-r.html |magazine=New York |access-date=July 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718051800/https://www.vulture.com/2016/03/20-somethings-streaming-friends-c-v-r.html |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the US, the series has a syndication deal through multiple networks, including [[Nick at Nite]], [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]], and [[Paramount Network]]. In July 2019, it was announced that from the beginning of 2020, ''Friends'' would not be available on Netflix in the US and instead would be shown on [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]'s video-streaming service HBO Max,<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5622979/friends-leaving-netflix-for-hbo-max/|title='Friends' Won't Be There for You on Netflix Starting in 2020|magazine=Time|language=en|access-date=October 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810145912/https://time.com/5622979/friends-leaving-netflix-for-hbo-max/|archive-date=August 10, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> which launched in May 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Savannah |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Friends Is Now Streaming On HBO Max |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a32223466/friends-hbo-max-streaming-release-date/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916080809/https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a32223466/friends-hbo-max-streaming-release-date/ |archive-date=September 16, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |website=Elle |language=en}}</ref> == 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> == Distribution == === Broadcast === After the produced pilot lived up to NBC's hopes, the series premiered with the name ''Friends'' on September 22, 1994, in the coveted Thursday 8:30 p.m. time slot. The pilot aired between ''[[Mad About You]]'' and ''Seinfeld'',<ref name="friendsorigin" /> and was watched by almost 22 million American viewers.<ref name="creators">{{Cite web |last=Lauer |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Lauer |date=May 5, 2004 |title='Friends' Creators Share Show's Beginnings |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4899445 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002171335/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4899445/ns/dateline_nbc-newsmakers/t/friends-creators-share-shows-beginnings/ |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=May 5, 2004 |website=[[Dateline NBC]]}}</ref> The series was a huge success throughout its run and was a staple of NBC's Thursday night line-up, dubbed by the network as [[Must See TV]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a13025/nbc-elaborates-on-friends-finale-plans.html |title=NBC elaborates on ''Friends'' finale plans |access-date=December 31, 2008 |author=Welsh, James |date=January 15, 2004 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121212505/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a13025/nbc-elaborates-on-friends-finale-plans.html |archive-date=January 21, 2009 }}</ref> Having already made huge success in the United States, ''Friends'' producers decided to air the show in Europe. It premiered in the United Kingdom on April 28, 1995.<ref>Edition: 65,253 The Times April 28, 1995</ref> Season 1 was broadcast until September 1995 on [[Channel 4]] at 9:30 PM on Friday nights, and immediately was a success. The popularity of the show allowed "[[I'll Be There for You (The Rembrandts song)|I'll Be There for You]]" the theme song by [[the Rembrandts]] to hit number 3 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]s in September 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19950903/7501/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035559/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19950903/7501/ |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref> When Crane told reporters in 2001 that the ninth season was a possibility, critics believed that he was posturing and that at least two of the cast members would not sign on for another season.<ref name="plottwists" /> When it was confirmed that ''Friends'' would return for a ninth season, the news was mainly about the amount of money—$7 million per episode—that it took to bring the series back for another season.<ref name="plottwists" /> After year-long expectations that the ninth season would be the series' last, NBC signed a deal in late December 2002 to bring the series back for a final tenth season. The series' creative team did not want to extend negotiations into the next year and wanted to start writing the rest of the ninth-season episodes and a potential series finale.<ref name="friendsseason10" /> NBC agreed to pay $10 million to Warner Bros. for the production of each tenth-season episode, the highest price in television history for a 30-minute series.<ref name="friendsreviews">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/entertainment/3689029.stm |title=''Friends'' climax watched by 51 m |access-date=January 1, 2009 |date=May 7, 2004 |work=BBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205020628/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/entertainment/3689029.stm |archive-date=February 5, 2009 }}</ref> Although NBC was unable to bring in enough advertising revenue from commercials to cover the costs, the series was integral to the Thursday night schedule, which brought high ratings and profits to the other television series.<ref name="friendsseason10">{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E4DF163CF932A15751C1A9649C8B63 |title=NBC Close to a Deal to Keep ''Friends'' for Another Season |access-date=December 29, 2008 |author=Carter, Bill |date=December 21, 2002 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122075303/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E4DF163CF932A15751C1A9649C8B63 |archive-date=January 22, 2009 }}</ref> The cast demanded that the tenth season be reduced from the usual 24 episodes to 18 episodes to allow them to work on outside projects.<ref name="friendsoverstay">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/09/ew.hot.friends/ |title=Is ''Friends'' overstaying its welcome? |access-date=January 1, 2008 |author=Bonin, Liane |date=January 9, 2003 |work=CNN|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122070102/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/09/ew.hot.friends/ |archive-date=January 22, 2009 }}</ref> In fall 2001, Warner Bros. Domestic Cable made a deal with sister network TBS (both were owned by [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]]) to air the series in rerun syndication. Warner Bros. Domestic Cable announced that it had sold additional cable rights to ''Friends'' to Nick at Nite which began airing in the fall of 2011 (unlike the TBS and broadcast syndication airings, Nick at Nite broadcasts of the series, which began airing as part of a seven-night launch marathon on September 5, 2011, replace the end credit [[post-credits scene|tag scenes]] with [[Marginalized closing credits|marginalized credits]] featuring promotions for the series and other Nick at Nite programs). Warner Bros. was expected to make $200 million in license fees and advertising from the deal. Nick at Nite paid $500,000 per episode to air the episodes after 6 pm. ET for six years through fall 2017. In syndication until 2005, ''Friends'' had earned $4 million per episode in cash license fees for a total of $944 million.<ref>{{cite news |author=Dempsey, John |title=Friends of ''Friends'' |url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/friends-of-friends-1117925752/ |date=July 11, 2005 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 3, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119160918/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117925752.html?cs=1&s=h&p=0 |archive-date=January 19, 2012 }}</ref> === Remaster === Beginning in March 2012, [[High-definition television|high definition]] versions of all 236 ''Friends'' episodes were made available to local broadcast stations, starting with the pilot episode. For the remastered episodes, Warner Bros. restored previously cropped images on the left and right sides of the screen, using the original [[35mm movie film|35 mm film]] source, to use the entire [[16:9]] widescreen frame. Because the show was not originally filmed for widescreen, but rather filmed in 4-perf format and protected for 4:3, some cropping problems arise in some shots where information from the top and bottom of the frame is removed, and some expanded shots reveal unintentional artifacts, including set edges, boom mics and body doubles replacing some of the main cast.<ref name="Albiniak, Paige">{{cite news |author=Albiniak, Paige |title=With Friends Like These, Who Needs Standard-Def? |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/481325-With_Friends_Like_These_Who_Needs_Standard_Def_.php |date=March 5, 2012 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226235238/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/481325-With_Friends_Like_These_Who_Needs_Standard_Def_.php |archive-date=February 26, 2013 }}</ref> In early versions of the HD remasters, there were also a few shots, including chroma effects shots, which were sourced from standard-definition videotape sources, as not all of the footage had been located in time for the remaster. The original film sources for these shots were later rescanned for later broadcast and release.<ref name="Albiniak, Paige" /> These masters had been airing in New Zealand on TV2 since January 2011, and the earlier HD prints continue to air on Comedy Central in the United Kingdom as of 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screenscribe.tv/channels/the-one-with-the-high-definition/ |title=The One With the High Definition |publisher=ScreenScribe |date=January 17, 2011 |access-date=July 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726115618/http://www.screenscribe.tv/channels/the-one-with-the-high-definition/ |archive-date=July 26, 2013 }}</ref> Netflix added all ten seasons of ''Friends'' in high definition to its streaming service in the United States in January 2015 before the platform discontinued the series in late 2019. === Home media === All ten seasons have been released on DVD individually and as a box set. Each [[DVD region code|Region]] 1 season release contains special features and are presented in their aforementioned original international broadcast versions, although Region 2 releases are as originally aired domestically. For the first season, each episode is updated with color correction and sound enhancement.<ref name="friendswrit" /> A wide range of ''Friends'' merchandise has been produced by various companies. In September 1995, [[Warner Music Group|WEA Records]] released the first album of [[Music of Friends|music from ''Friends'']], the ''Friends Original TV Soundtrack'', containing music featured in previous and future episodes. The soundtrack debuted on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] at number 46,<ref>{{cite news |author=Dretzka, Gary |date=November 2, 1995 |title=Hit Show, Hit Soundtrack: It's No Longer An Accident |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19951102/2150142/tv-amp-music----hit-show-hit-soundtrack-its-no-longer-an-accident |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823075419/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19951102&slug=2150142 |archive-date=August 23, 2009 |access-date=January 3, 2009 |work=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> and sold 500,000 copies in November 1995.<ref>{{cite news |author=Burlingame, Jon |date=December 27, 1995 |title=''Friends'' Theme Leads Pack of Hot-Selling TV Soundtracks |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4E4396284FBF4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074058/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4E4396284FBF4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |archive-date=November 25, 2018 |access-date=January 3, 2009 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> In 1999, a second soundtrack album entitled ''Friends Again'' was released.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 16, 1999 |title=''Friends Again'': Various Artists |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000023YA0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035556/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000023YA0 |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=January 3, 2009 |website=Amazon}}</ref> Other merchandise includes a ''Friends'' version of the DVD game ''[[Scene It?]]'', and a quiz video game for [[PlayStation 2]] and [[PC game|PC]] entitled ''Friends: The One with All the Trivia''.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Friends: The One With All the Trivia'' |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B6H21S |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035507/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B6H21S |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=January 3, 2009 |website=Amazon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=''Friends: The One With All the Trivia'' |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AMFEHM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626211400/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AMFEHM |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |website=Amazon}}</ref> On September 28, 2009, a box set was released in the UK celebrating the show's 15th anniversary. The box set contained extended episodes, an episode guide, and original special features.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 28, 2009 |title=Friends – Season 1–10 Complete Collection 15th Anniversary DVD: Amazon.co.uk: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, James Michael Tyler, Elliott Gould, Maggie Wheeler, Christina Pickles, Paul Rudd, Jane Sibbett, David Crane, Marta Kauffman: DVD |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002CYIR0M/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035541/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002CYIR0M/ |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=July 26, 2010 |publisher=Amazon.co.uk}}</ref> Warner Home Video released a complete series collection on [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] on November 13, 2012.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Friends – Warner Home Video Press Release Announces The Complete Series on Blu-ray Disc! |date=June 19, 2012 |publisher=Warner Home Video |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Friends-The-Complete-Series/17109 |via=TV Shows On DVD |access-date=June 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622020526/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Friends-The-Complete-Series/17109 |archive-date=June 22, 2012}}</ref> In September 2024, the entire series was released on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the show.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Chan |first=Tim |date=September 21, 2024 |title='Friends' in 4K: The Hit Series Celebrates 30th Anniversary With This Special-Edition Box Set |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/lifestyle/friends-complete-series-4k-box-set-buy-online-1235108619/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> == Spin-off == {{Main|Joey (TV series)}} [[File:Matt LeBlanc 2010.jpg|thumb|upright|LeBlanc hoped that by having his own show, ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]'', "probably the least evolved character" on ''Friends'' would become more developed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2004-09-05/entertainment/18270318_1_shana-goldberg-meehan-matt-leblanc-joey-tribbiani |title=Matt LeBlanc's ''Joey'' goes West to seek fame & fortune |access-date=January 4, 2009 |author=Endrst, James |date=September 5, 2004 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112150426/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2004-09-05/entertainment/18270318_1_shana-goldberg-meehan-matt-leblanc-joey-tribbiani |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>]] After the series finale in 2004, LeBlanc signed on for the spin-off series, ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]'', following Joey's move to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. Kauffman and Crane were not interested in the spin-off, although Bright agreed to executive produce the series with [[Scott Silveri]] and [[Shana Goldberg-Meehan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-07-23-joey_x.htm |title=NBC has sitcom plans for ''Friends'' pal Joey |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Levin, Gary |date=July 24, 2003 |work=USA Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124143800/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-07-23-joey_x.htm |archive-date=January 24, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> NBC heavily promoted ''Joey'' and gave it ''Friends''<nowiki>'</nowiki> Thursday 8:00 pm timeslot.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/10/joey.debut/ |title=''Joey'' finds new friends on NBC |access-date=January 4, 2009 |date=September 10, 2004 |work=CNN|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122070106/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/10/joey.debut/ |archive-date=January 22, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.jsonline.com/enter/tvradio/jul04/242989.asp |title=''Joey'' co-star looking for sitcom laughs |access-date=January 4, 2009 |author=Weintraub, Joanne |date=July 11, 2004 |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209060112/http://www.jsonline.com/enter/tvradio/jul04/242989.asp |archive-date=February 9, 2006 }}</ref> The pilot was watched by 18.6 million American viewers,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13051-2004Sep10.html |title=''Joey'' & ''The Apprentice'': Downright Unfriendly |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=de Moraes, Lisa |date=September 11, 2004 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111134349/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13051-2004Sep10.html |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> but ratings continually decreased throughout the series's two seasons, averaging 10.2 million viewers in the first season and 7.1 million in the second.<ref name="friendsjoeystuff" /> The final broadcast episode on March 7, 2006, was watched by 7.09 million viewers;<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=March 21, 2006|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=032106_05|title= Weekly Program Rankings|access-date=December 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120204556/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=032106_05|archive-date=January 20, 2009}}</ref> NBC cancelled the series on May 15, 2006, after two seasons, leaving eight episodes unaired.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500555.html |title=NBC Betting on Aaron Sorkin's New Drama |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Bauder, David |date=May 15, 2006 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111134417/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500555.html |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Bright blamed the collaboration between NBC executives, the studio and other producers for quickly ruining the series:<ref name="friendsjoeystuff">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/friendly-art-of-funny/2006/12/05/1165080950967.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 |title=Friendly art of funny |access-date=December 30, 2008 |author=Ryan, Suzanne C. |date=December 7, 2006 |work=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne, Australia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825080619/http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/friendly-art-of-funny/2006/12/05/1165080950967.html?page=fullpage |archive-date=August 25, 2009 }}</ref> {{blockquote|On ''Friends'', Joey was a womanizer, but we enjoyed his exploits. He was a solid friend, a guy you knew you could count on. Joey was deconstructed to be a guy who couldn't get a job, couldn't ask a girl out. He became a pathetic, mopey character. I felt he was moving in the wrong direction, but I was not heard. |Kevin S. Bright on the reason for ''Joey''{{'}}s cancellation.<ref name="friendsjoeystuff" />}} == See also == * [[Hello Friends (TV series)|''Hello Friends'' (TV series)]] * [[The Friends Experience]] * [[Music of Friends|Music of ''Friends'']] == References == {{Reflist}} == Further reading == * {{Cite magazine |last=Littlefield |first=Warren |date=May 2012 |title=With ''Friends'' Like These |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/05/friends-oral-history-top-of-the-rock |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422233352/https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/05/friends-oral-history-top-of-the-rock?verso=true |archive-date=April 22, 2019 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=April 22, 2019}} '''Articles concerning the cultural influence of the program:''' * {{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Samantha |date=September 12, 2014 |title=The Best Reason to Love 'Friends' Is the One We Never Realized at the Time |url=http://mic.com/articles/98732/the-best-reason-to-love-friends-is-the-one-we-never-realized-at-the-time |website=[[Mic (media company)|Mic]]}} * {{Cite web |last=Ihnat |first=Gwen |date=August 18, 2014 |title=How 'Friends' Changed the Sitcom Landscape |url=https://www.avclub.com/article/how-friends-changed-sitcom-landscape-207938 |work=[[The A.V. Club]]}} * Harrison, Andrew (September 12, 2014). [http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2014/09/hunting-snark-friends-20-years "The Hunting of the Snark: ''Friends'', 20 Years On"]. ''[[New Statesman]]''. == External links == {{sister project links|d=y|display=''Friends''|n=no|b=no|v=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|s=no|q=Friends (TV series)|wikt=no|c=Category:Friends (1994 TV series)|voy=Friends Tour}} * {{official website}} * {{IMDb title}} * [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/friends ''Friends''] on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] * {{The Interviews title|friends}} {{Friends}} {{Friends episodes}} {{Navboxes |title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Friends|Awards for ''Friends'']] |list = {{EmmyAward ComedySeries 2001–2025}} {{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series}} {{People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy}} {{ScreenActorsGuildAwards EnsembleTVComedy 1994–1999}} {{TCA Heritage Award}} {{Teen Choice Award for Choice Comedy Series}} }} {{TopUSTVShows}}{{Former NBC original programming}}{{Portal bar|United States|1990s|2000s|Television}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Friends (1994 TV series)| ]] [[Category:1990s American romantic comedy television series]] [[Category:1994 American television series debuts]] [[Category:2000s American romantic comedy television series]] [[Category:2004 American television series endings]] [[Category:BAFTA winners (television series)]] [[Category:American English-language television shows]] [[Category:Fictional sextets]] [[Category:Nielsen ratings winners]] [[Category:Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners]] [[Category:Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series winners]] [[Category:Primetime Emmy Award–winning television series]] [[Category:Salary controversies in television]] [[Category:Television series about siblings]] [[Category:Television series by Warner Bros. 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