Secrets From the Set of Friends
Friends may have ended in 2004, but the obsession has carried on to this day! People were utterly transfixed with the lives of these six characters, and a lack of new episodes wasn’t going to stop that. To this day there are old and new viewers who appreciate the comedy and plotlines of the sitcom that shaped the 90s. Looking back, we all have to wonder; what exactly went on behind the scenes of this highly acclaimed sitcom? There are tons of unknown secrets, drama, and fun facts about our favorite group of friends.
We’re going over the most interesting and exclusive info surrounding Friends, stuff even hardcore fans may not have known!
A Very Different Rachel Green
Without a doubt, Jennifer Aniston will be forever synonymous with Rachel Green. It’s hard to imagine any other actress bringing the spirited yet naive character to life, but originally the casting director had another leading lady lined up for the role. Believe it or not, Courteney Cox herself was being eyed for the part! Perhaps more surprisingly, Cox herself was the one to turn it down.
After reading the parts of all the different characters, Cox decided the role of Monica suited her best. She was looking to portray a “strong” woman character on the show and felt Monica was the perfect fit. Hard to imagine a universe where Monica was played by anyone else!
Boy Were They Wrong
If there’s one thing we all remember about Chandler Bing it’s his sarcasm and sense of humor. The character’s sharp wit wasn’t a creation of the script writer’s alone, actor Matthew Perry wrote a lot of his own jokes on the show. Apparently, he’s funny on and off-screen! Perry has been a jokester his whole life, but it didn’t always serve him well.
During high school, one teacher told him that his clowning around would prevent him from getting ahead in life. Talk about a terrible assessment! When Perry landed a spot on the cover of People magazine he shipped a copy to that same teacher. They must’ve been eating their words after seeing how far he’d come!
Even the Cast Hated the Joey and Rachel Pairing
Fans of sitcoms will always have a pairing they’re rooting for, but most Friends fans would agree that one particular couple should’ve never existed. Joey and Rachel might have had the least likable romance, and it wasn’t just viewers who thought so. Apparently, the cast had tried to convince producers to avoid that plotline, but they didn’t listen.
The Friends cast had never before tried to get involved with their characters’ trajectory, but they thought this pairing was SO bad that they had to say something. Maybe if the producers had taken their advice we wouldn’t have ended up with that awkward proposal scene in the hospital. But the important part is that Ross and Rachel are together in the end, right?
Tardiness is a Bad Habit
We all remember Rachel being an absolute spoiled brat at the beginning of the series. As the show went on we all fell in love with her fun personality and kind heart, but there was one diva attitude actress Jennifer Aniston couldn’t seem to shake. Apparently, Aniston had a terrible habit of arriving late to set. It got so bad that her castmates staged an intervention!
The entire cast might’ve been close, but even among friends tardiness is an annoying habit. It’s been said that David Schwimmer was the one to initiate this intervention, and needless to say her castmates were gentle with her. “You’ve had bad luck getting to work,” was the way Lisa Kudrow put it. Firm but still caring!
There Might’ve Been a Joey and Phoebe Romance
We’re all familiar with the show’s main couples, but did you know there was a third that might’ve made it into the script? Phoebe and Joey were never romantically involved with each other, but the actors had pitched an idea of revealing that the characters had been hooking up! Rachel and Ross had their turbulent romance, Chandler and Monica had their happy marriage, why not pair up the other two?
The idea never got the green light, the writers just felt it wouldn’t sit well. But the actors had the idea all planned out, they imagined a scene involving “Joey and Phoebe coming out of a broom closet together.” Now THAT would’ve been a shocking moment!
Aniston Had to Act Alongside Her Ex
You probably recall the budding romance between Rachel and Joshua that took place in season four. He started out as one of her clients at Bloomingdale’s, but after a lot of flirting the two ended up together. The character never returned after their relationship ended in season four, and that might’ve been a good thing for Jennifer Aniston!
Turns out the actress had been dating Tate Donovan, the actor portraying Joshua, for three years before his appearance on Friends! Awkwardly enough, the two broke off an engagement just as he was set to appear on the series. Imagine having to act on-screen with your ex! We wouldn’t dream of it. Aniston really is a professional.
They Weren’t All Ready for Mega Stardom
It’s no secret that the show launched the cast members into an insane amount of fame. Some members of the cast were already a bit used to the limelight, however, others were a little less prepared to be in the public eye. Matt LeBlanc in particular handled the fame poorly, in a 2016 interview he said, “For years and years, I barely left the house. I was burnt out.”
It got to the point where LeBlanc was asking his agent to lose his number! The actor only had eleven dollars to his name when he landed the role, he likely never expected to achieve that level of stardom. Though he’s taken a few acting roles since the show aired, he prefers to keep his life on the down-low.
Lisa Kudrow Helped Write “Smelly Cat”
One of the most memorable moments from the show would have to be Phoebe’s jingle about Smelly Cat. Aside from the show’s theme song, Smelly Cat might be one of the most memorable tunes to come out of the series. But did you know Lisa Kudrow herself had a hand in creating the famous melody?
While comedy writers were responsible for the lyrics, Kudrow herself came up with the melody that accompanied it. This is all the more impressive when you know that she had no experience playing guitar! Originally Kudrow wanted her character to play bongo drums instead. Would Smelly Cat have had the same appeal without a guitar? Guess we’ll never know.
Je M’appelle Joey
We all remember the hilarious scene where Phoebe attempts to teach Joey French. Despite her clear enunciation, Joey can’t manage to produce anything other than gibberish in a vaguely French accent. It’s definitely in our top ten funniest moments of the series, but it’s not entirely accurate to the real life Matt LeBlanc. As you might’ve guessed by his surname, the actor is part French.
Matt LeBlanc isn’t just an amateur speaker of the language, he is actually fully fluent in French! It was probably pretty funny to pretend he couldn’t grasp a phrase as simple as “Je m’appelle Claude”. Too bad his character couldn’t somehow channel the real-life actor’s talents.
That Wasn’t a Fake Bump
Typically when an actress is pregnant during filming, the director and camera people will use clever angles to hide her baby bump. However, there are rare occasions where a real pregnancy is written into the script, such was the case with Lisa Kudrow while filming season four of Friends. As you might remember, Phoebe ends up becoming a surrogate for her brother’s triplets.
Because Kudrow was only pregnant with one child she was padded up to appear as though she was carrying three. But her co-star Courteney Cox didn’t have the same luxury when pregnant with her daughter Coco. As it was established that Monica would not be having children, Cox’s pregnancy was hidden from the audience.
Big Name Stars Who Were Turned Down
We can’t imagine any other cast playing these loveable characters, but you might be surprised to hear what big-name stars auditioned for certain roles. Lisa Kudrow emerged victorious among other Phoebe hopefuls, including Jane Lynch and Kathy Griffin. We can’t wrap our heads around what the character would’ve been like with either actress! Chandler had a couple of other actors lined up, too.
Jon Cryer, of Two and a Half Men fame, also auditioned for the part. Jon Favreau also tried out for the role, though he didn’t get in the end, he was eventually cast as Pete Becker, Monica’s millionaire boyfriend. That’s got to be a good enough consolation prize, right?
What is This? A Crossover Episode?
We were all surprised to learn about Phoebe’s identical twin sister, Ursula. But did you know that she existed long before Phoebe came onto the silver screen? Actress Lisa Kudrow had been playing a recurring character on the series Mad About You, which aired a few years before Friends. Because the two shows aired on NBC, the writers decided to have a little fun with the actress’s dual roles.
The two shows canonically exist in the same universe due to Ursula Buffay appearing in Friends. The twin sister was a lot less likable than our beloved Phoebe, constantly putting her down and making her feel less-than. It’s pretty obvious which character the fans prefer!
Just a One-Off Scene for Laughs
Fans of the show would agree that Chandler and Monica are the second most popular couple of the series (after Ross and Rachel of course). But did you know the two were originally meant to be a one-off pairing? When the two were shown in an apparently post-coital scene the live audience went wild. It seemed that people were rooting for them to get together!
The cheering went on for twenty-seven seconds, and the writers definitely took the hint. What was initially a single scene turned into a blossoming romance, perhaps one that was even healthier than that of Ross and Rachel. Can you imagine what the show would’ve been like if Chandler and Monica were never an item?
The Cast’s Heartwarming Pre-Show Ritual
It’s important for cast members to get along and have good chemistry with one another. Actors who share a set will often have pre-show rituals to get themselves fired up to give a good performance. The Friends cast is no exception to this rule, in fact, they had an adorable bonding moment before filming every episode.
The six central cast members would get together in one giant group hug! Now, how’s that for a heartfelt moment? This ritual definitely brought them together in real life, as well as improved their chemistry when it came to acting on screen. You can really tell that this was a cast of real-life friends, not just actors playing BFFs!
She Was Ready to Quit
Some die-hard fans of the show probably would’ve wanted the series to go on much longer. The series ended on a high note when viewers were still eagerly tuning in for every episode instead of switching the channel. But did you know the show actually DID have a chance to continue? One of the cast members may have been the reason for an earlier finale date.
Jennifer Aniston was ready to call it quits during what became the show’s final season. She was dealing with some issues in her personal life, and wasn’t sure how much longer she could be Rachel Green. She almost walked out right before the show came to a close, but agreed to stick around for a finale.
Substance Abuse
Chandler Bing is a fan favorite amongst fans who can appreciate a sarcastic character. While he might’ve been getting the laughs onscreen, actor Matthew Perry was going through a difficult time during filming. He struggled with substance abuse during the show’s runtime, while he claims to have never used drugs onset it still affected his work.
He would often arrive to set hungover from the previous night, eventually, he had to visit a rehabilitation center to get himself together. The actor suffered from pancreatitis due to his addiction, which probably accounted for his extreme weight loss in season seven. Needless to say, Perry is all clean now and actually opened a sober living home for those in recovery.
Her Real Hair Was Too Short
Actors are known for modifying their appearance to take on certain roles. Sometimes this is as unobtrusive as a makeup change, but occasionally an actor will don prosthetics or a wig in order to look as similar to their character as possible. If you’re good at noticing small details, you might’ve suspected Lisa Kudrow was wearing a wig throughout season 6.
Apparently, the actress’s short hair was deemed too short for the character. We guess a free spirit like Phoebe would want to wear her hair long and natural? The only time Kudrow’s natural hair is seen is during the alternate universe episode “The One That Could Have Been”.
Perfect Casting
Every main character on Friends has a distinct personality, though not all of them match up with the actors portraying them. Jennifer Aniston isn’t as naive or spoiled as Rachel Green, and Lisa Kudrow isn’t a spacey hippie like Phoebe. However, there was one actor who seemed to fit her character to a T; Courteney Cox!
About Cox, series writer Marta Kauffman said, “She’s adorable and intelligent and really together. She is Monica.” Apparently, the actress was known to have the cleanest dressing room of the whole cast, and would help her castmates clean up their own rooms! Seems like she hates messiness just as much as Monica. Now that’s some incredible casting!
It Wasn’t Always Going to be “Friends”
Television shows often go through several name changes before airing a pilot. It seems totally natural that a show about six close buddies would be titled “Friends”, but the series actually had several different titles during pre-production. Original co-creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman pitched the sitcom with the name “Insomnia Café”. But that wasn’t the only version…
After the script was picked up by NBC they changed the name to “Friends Like Us”, with the president of NBC suggesting the title “Across the Hall”. Neither of these packs the same punch as the name we know the series by today. We think we can all agree that “Friends” is a catchier name that suits the sitcom best.
A Different Song Was Considered for the Opening Credits
“I’ll Be There For You” by The Rembrandts has become an iconic song in the public’s consciousness, and it’s all thanks to the popularity of Friends. But would you believe a different tune was considered for the show’s opening credits? Originally the producer’s pick was “Shiny Happy People” by R.E.M. That certainly would’ve given the opening a different vibe!
While “Shiny Happy People” is a great song, it doesn’t quite match the intense upbeat energy that the final theme song has. And what would we do without those memorable claps at the beginning? No other song would’ve suited Friends the same way, in fact, the song’s music video features the entire cast alongside the musicians!
You Can Go to a Real Central Perk
The fictional Central Perk cafe might be one of the most famous television sets in history. The actual location was always a set, which no longer exists due to the series ending. However, that didn’t stop fans from opening up their own Central Perk locations around the world! If you fancy a cappuccino at the notorious cafe there are a couple of destinations you can head to.
In 2010, superfan Du Xin opened a location in Beijing, China and it was extremely popular! If the far East is out of the way, there’s another Central Perk replica you can visit. In 2012 one was created in Liverpool, England. Sounds like it’s time to book a plane ticket!
People Thought Chandler Was Secretly Gay
Chandler Bing is known for being a sarcastic, wise-cracking cynic, but there was something else that cast members and fans thought about the character. After reading the script for the first time Lisa Kudrow was convinced Chandler was meant to be gay. This became a common theory among fans for quite a few seasons.
All that speculation went down the drain after Chandler and Monica ended up getting together. Co-creator David Crane wanted to make it clear that the character was never intended to be gay, despite what people may have inferred. In a 1997 interview he said, “No, Chandler isn’t gay. Nor will he be gay.” However, if you still want to theorize, Crane’s quote doesn’t rule out the possibility of Chandler being bisexual!
Trailblazers of Equal Pay
Nowadays there’s a lot of talk surrounding the salary an actor receives for their work. Specifically, the conversation focuses on whether an actor is getting paid fairly in comparison to the rest of their castmates. But years before this issue reached the public eye, the cast of Friends was leveraging for fair pay for the whole cast.
The six of them banded together to make sure each one of them was being paid the same salary per episode. Those are true friends who really look out for one another! They were really raking in the dough due to the series popularity, each making one million dollars per episode. No gender pay gap to be found!
It’s On the Other Coast
The opening credits of the show are absolutely iconic, and it’s not just because of the catchy tune. We all remember the cast’s goofy dancing around the famous fountain. But you won’t be able to find this landmark on the East coast, because it wasn’t filmed anywhere near New York! The theme song was actually filmed outside Warner Bros. Studios in sunny California.
While we adore the kitschiness of the opening credits, the cast members weren’t feeling the same way. In fact, they felt like the whole shot was a bit unusual, and not in a good way. “We felt it was a little…I don’t know…dancing in a pond? A fountain felt sort of odd,” Jennifer Aniston said.
The Orange Sofa Was Abandoned
The orange sofa the actors sit on in Central Perk is also featured in the opening credits. This piece of furniture should be considered a cast member in and of itself, considering what a central part of the series it is! But this comfy couch wasn’t handpicked by the prop department, if anything it was salvaged from the trash!
The famous sofa was found somewhere in the basement of Warner Bros. Studios. Sounds like not too many directors wanted the orange seat on their set, but the Friends producers felt differently. This sofa went from being a forgotten piece of furniture to one of the most memorable props in TV history!
The Origin of Pat the Dog
You definitely remember Pat the Dog, the ceramic statue that made several appearances on the show. It first debuted when Joey bought it for his new apartment in season 2, but that’s far from being its most famous moment. Chandler and Joey victoriously riding it, after winning a bet with Monica and Rachel, is one of the most memorable bits in the series.
But this pup didn’t come from the prop department. Jennifer Aniston actually received it as a present from a friend when the series first launched! guess she wasn’t too keen on keeping it in her own home. And we’re grateful for that, Joey’s apartment wouldn’t look the same without Pat!
The Most Noticeable Continuity Error
Continuity is an issue that writers struggle with in every TV show or movie. It can be difficult to keep the little details consistent when you’re writing for a show that’s been running for a number of years, now and again mistakes are bound to pop up. Eagle-eyed viewers probably caught this mistake with the friends’ apartment numbers.
In season one Monica appears to be living in apartment number 5, while Chandler and Joey live in number 4. As the show continued, these were changed to the numbers 20 and 19 respectively. The writers wanted to indicate that they all lived on higher floors. They probably thought we wouldn’t notice, but we did!
The Cast Was Just as Emotional During the Finale
We were all emotional when the series finally came to a close, but we weren’t alone. After working on the show for a decade, the cast members were really going through their feelings when they realized the series was ending. The six of them got together for a final meal together, and some of them weren’t shy about letting the waterworks show.
“I mean, the last scene we just wept, cried our eyes out,” Jennifer Aniston said. A few of the cast members stayed up late after wrapping the final scene, going up to the rooftop, and drinking champagne together. Now that sounds like an incredible send off to a beloved series! We can’t wait to see what’s in store for the reunion.
Rachel and Ross Were Destined to Be Together
The one thing everyone remembers from Friends is the on-again off-again relationship of Rachel and Ross. There was always a cloud of mystery when it came to these two. During the series run, it wasn’t entirely clear whether or not they would end up together. But as it turns out, their endgame was destined by co-creator David Crane.
He never doubted for a moment that Rachel and Ross would be together at the series end. They might’ve hinted at alternative possibilities throughout the series, but ultimately he was set on the pairing making it to the finale. As he said in an Entertainment Weekly interview, “Let’s deliver not just what the audience wants, but what we want.”
A Symbolic Ending
Once the series was coming to a close it was time to take down the sets, no matter how beloved they were. A little-known fact is that Central Perk was torn down in order to create the final airport scene, the one where Ross and Rachel say goodbye. Seems like a fitting way to use that set!
The last moments of the show involve each character leaving behind their apartment key, ready to move out and continue their lives. But when Rachel suggests getting coffee and Chandler says, “Where?”, it actually makes sense. At that point, there was no more Central Perk for the friends to hang out at! They must have had to find another coffee place.
A Little On Set Crush
It’s pretty normal for romances to blossom on-set, especially if your characters get involved with one another. Unfortunately for Matt, Joey and Rachel wouldn’t be end game on the show or in real life. He would have to appreciate her beauty from afar, as many of us did when the show first aired. Hey “The Rachel” didn’t become a phenomenon for no reason!
It was the book “Friends…Til’ the End” that revealed Matt’s feelings. “Now I had a little crush on Jen in the very beginning, but I think the whole world did too, so what are you going to do?”. We definitely can’t fault him for that!
Not the Controversy They Expected
Carol and Susan tied the knot in “The One with the Lesbian Wedding”, which aired in 1996. Back then same-sex couples were seen as a little controversial, this episode would mark the second gay wedding on a sitcom. Uninhibited by the possible backlash, the writers decided to go through with the episode. But they weren’t going to air it without precautions. Let’s just say their expectations were more than a little off!
Those 200 people must’ve not had a lot to do, they only ended up receiving 11 calls! That’s a lot less than they were expecting, kind of a pleasant surprise don’t you think? We’re glad these storylines are no longer considered taboo.
Hiding His Gray Hair
Time doesn’t stop for anyone, eventually we all experience the physical changes that come with aging. Some of us need to deal with it earlier than we expect! Matt Leblanc hadn’t hit 30 before he started going gray. This would’ve been too complicated to write into the storyline, so the actor used the magic of hair dye to cover it up.
It’s hard to imagine Joey with anything but jet black hair. Though photos of Matt LeBlanc today show how the actor aged into a silver fox. He’s one attractive fella with or without the salt n pepper hair. We’re glad he can finally put away the dye bottle and embrace his natural look
In One Word? Dreamy
Phoebe doesn’t end up with anyone from the main cast, but she does get a happily ever after with someone else. And he’s not exactly your average Joe, either! Paul Rudd has always been one of the big Hollywood heartthrobs, we all had a little crush on him at some point. And it looks like we weren’t the only ones to notice his dashing good looks.
“Dreamy” is definitely the one adjective we’d pick for this actor. While he never felt like an integral part of the cast, Rudd fondly remembers his time on the show. As he puts it, “there’s a very interesting feeling to be a part of something that has that kind of profound impact on pop culture.”
A Problematic Term for a Problematic Character?
You’ve probably heard the controversial term “The Friend Zone”. What you might’ve not known is that it was popularized by Friends! And who’d be more suited for this term than Ross? Joey described him as “Mayor of the Friend Zone” in season one, due to his longtime crush on Rachel. Since then, some fans have a different point of view on the character and the term.
Many longtime fans look back and see Ross in a negative light. Fans see a lot of his behavior as problematic and sometimes even creepy. For example, lying about getting his marriage with Rachel annulled and dating one of his students. What do you think, do you see Ross differently in retrospect?
She Wasn’t a Fan
One of the most iconic elements of Friends isn’t the cast. In fact, it’s not even one of the props on set! It sat right on top of Jennifer Aniston’s head and became a fashion icon while the show was being aired. It was known as “The Rachel”, created by Aniston’s long-time stylist, and every girl and her mother wanted it. But this ultra-layered cut wasn’t beloved by all.
Aniston herself called it, “the ugliest haircut I’ve ever seen.” She remarked that it took a while to blow dry and touch up, “it was like doing surgery!” she said. This is a look that’s definitely staying in the 90s, and we’re positive Jen is happy about that!
Arquettes for a Day
The One After Vegas begins with Ross and Rachel discovering they got married while drunk. In the same episode, Monica and Chandler have a back and forth about their relationship and whether marriage is in the cards for them. But the theme of marriage wasn’t just on the show, one of the cast had just said her vows. Courteney Cox had recently become Courteney Cox-Arquette, and the producers dedicated the episode to the new couple.
Everyone in the cast became an Arquette for the opening credits. Did you catch that Easter egg when it first aired? If not, we think it’s worth a second watch. Unless you’re Courteney Cox or David Arquette and don’t want to be reminded of your divorce.
What a Wager
Friends has been studded with guest stars throughout its run time, but there’s one appearance with an interesting backstory. Bruce Willis portrayed Paul Stevens, the dad of Ross’s young girlfriend. Weird plotline aside, Willis wouldn’t have appeared on the show if he hadn’t lost a bet to Matthew Perry. The two had starred in “The Whole Nine Yards” together and had conflicting opinions on what the box-office performance would be.
Willis was sure it’d fail, while Perry was optimistic. The wager? A guest appearance Friends. The movie was a major box-office success, holding the number one spot for a few weeks. Willis ended up doing the show without compensation, donating his appearance fee to charity instead.
Not a Natural Bleach Blond
While he might’ve been a background character, Gunther is a name most Friends fans won’t forget. He was hired to give central Perk a more authentic vibe. While the espresso machine never actually worked, the actor was a real barista. He just never made a real coffee on the show. And there’s another unique feature about James Michael Tyler you might not have known.
The character was never meant to be blond! The day before they first filmed, Tyler’s friend wanted to practice his hairdressing skills. Tyler wound up coming to work with bleached blond hair, little did he know he’d have to keep that color for the next ten years!
How Many Divorces?
One of Ross’s many defining traits might have to be his numerous flings. Although he ends the series with Rachel, there were a number of other women along the way. You might think his number of marriages and divorces was a bit much, and you wouldn’t be alone. David Schwimmer even admitted the relationship arc with Rachel was getting a little weird.
While the ever-changing relationship between the two might’ve had audiences on the edge of their seats, Schwimmer thought it was a tad unrealistic. He just didn’t think a guy could move on that many times and still go back to the same girl. Is it true love or idealistic television writing?
The Accidental Frame
Set design is an important factor for any tv show or movie. A space needs to fit the personality of a character as well as look believable and realistic. We think the production team behind the friends’ apartments did a bang up job, but there’s one unique element that’ll really stand out to viewers. You shouldn’t have trouble remembering that frame around Monica’s peephole.
Seems like an unusual accessory when you think about it, right? It should come as no surprise that this prop was nothing more than a happy accident! Though it makes a lot more sense to have a frame around your peephole instead of a mirror over it.
We Never Got to Meet Pat
It’s hard to imagine anyone but our six main characters dominating the series. Six feels like the perfect number, doesn’t it? But originally the plan was to have a group of seven, and the one who was cut was more than a little unusual. A fatherly figure named Pat the Cop was going to be a part of the gang, serving as a character that provided wisdom and advice.
Suffice it to say he didn’t make it past the pilot. A character like that would feel a little preachy and possibly prevent the friends from learning from their own mistakes. We think they’re better off figuring things out for themselves.
An Unusual Match?
When you think of Friends, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind? Whether you’re a diehard fan or a casual viewer, your first thought is probably the on-again off-again relationship between Ross and Rachel. While the main cast shared an equal amount of screentime, these two dominated when it came to capturing the audience’s attention. But that wasn’t always going to be the case.
Originally the writers wanted the big romantic plotline to surround Monica and Joey! Pretty hilarious when you consider the two never had a romantic plotline. But in the beginning, these two were considered a natural pair, as the creators felt they were the most sexual characters.
It Wasn’t Chocolate Milk
Production magic means that actors don’t need to have the same habits or perform the same stunts as their characters. If the cast of Mad Men really drank that much booze they’d be too drunk to finish the take! The same goes for characters who smoke, get into life-threatening hijinks, or have dangerous action scenes. But Friends was a little different in that regard, particularly when it came to Central Perk.
While the brew was never made at the fake cafe’s coffee machine, that’s real java you see the actors sipping on set. Hopefully they never needed to down more than one real cup of Joe every morning, otherwise we can imagine them getting the caffeine jitters!
Bringing His Personality to the Role
Sometimes directors or writers will incorporate an actor’s real traits into their character. Not only does it help bring the character to life, but it can help the actor really feel at home in their role. Such was the case with Chandler Bing and his awkwardness around women. While it feels like a central part of his personality, it was never written as a part of his character.
It was Matthew Perry who suggested Chandler share his nervous tendencies with women. We can’t imagine Chandler any other way, his awkward struggles in the dating world are funny and super relatable. We’re not all super suave, Chandler reminds us that it’s okay to fall down and get up again when it comes to romance.
Everyone Else, Stay Out!
Some show writers like to get the cast involved in the process, others do not. There’s such a thing as having too many cooks in the kitchen. One can get overwhelmed with others’ opinions when trying to come up with a coherent script. However, they did make an exception for one cast member, and you won’t be surprised when you learn who.
We don’t think it’s controversial to say that Matthew Perry is the comedian of the series. As a result, he was allowed in the writer’s room and lent his great sense of humor to the scriptwriting process. Just think, a lot of Chandler’s zingers might’ve been written by Perry himself.
He’s Just That Big of a Star
We’re positive you recognized the actor behind Dr. Richard Burke. Monica was one lucky gal to get involved with the one and only Tom Selleck! She wasn’t the only one who went crazy over Dr. Burke, the audience couldn’t get enough of him either. So much so that it caused some minor production problems.
Usually filming in front of a live audience gets natural reactions, but in this case it might’ve gone a little too overboard. We’re guessing there were a lot of Magnum P.I. fans in the audience. But sadly, guest stars can’t last forever. This dreamy doctor had to move on so Monica could wed her eventual true love.
Buying Time
The romantic plotline between Rachel and Joey is highly controversial, to say the least. Cast members and fans alike have criticized this pairing for many reasons. We know the creators wanted Rachel and Ross to end up together by the finale, so why did they stick them together in the first place? The reason isn’t as profound as you might think.
Apparently, this storyline was used to stall Rachel and Ross reuniting. The creators wanted a little more time to pass before the famous couple got back together. Was it a bad move? There are fans out there who prefer the Rachel and Joey pairing, so perhaps it wasn’t a waste of time after all.
The Role He Was Born to Play
Usually writers will create characters and cast them later, and actors will line up for auditions in the hopes to land a prestigious part. But there are some cases when a writer, director, or producer has their eye set on someone specific. Some directors prefer to work with familiar faces, other times there’s just no other performer who could bring the part to life.
Given that Ross was written for David Schwimmer, it would’ve been near impossible for anyone else to give a better audition. Erin McCormack from Will & Grace tried to land the part three times! But Schwimmer was a done deal, and the first actor cast on the series.
That’s Why It’s Such a Great Song
A show’s theme song is an integral part of creating a great series. It’s one of the first things the audience is introduced to, and if the melody is good it’ll stick in their heads long after the episode has ended. There were a few songs considered for the opening of Friends, one being Shiny Happy People by R.E.M. But in the end, the co-creators settled on a song they helped write!
There’s a good reason why the Friends theme song seems to fit perfectly. While The Rembrandts get the credit for the song, co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane also had a hand in writing it. Clearly, no other tune could’ve been a better fit.