One of the sitcoms that captured the hearts of people all over the world is Friends. It follows the extraordinary story of a group of people everyone learned to love along the way.
So, when did Friends start? From forming new friendships to strengthening their relationships, here are a few fun facts about one of the most beloved TV series ever!
Friends: TV Show Debut
The famous sitcom TV show Friends aired on September 22, 1994, on NBC [1]. It showcased the lives of six people living in New York City.
David Crane and Marta Kauffman were the creative and brilliant people behind Friends. Who would believe that it was almost called “Friends Like Us” and “Six of One” at first? It’s a great thing they decided to keep it simple and just called it “Friends”!
This series was composed of 10 seasons which captured the hearts of many in its 10 years in television. With its great storyline and entertaining episodes, the show garnered positive reviews and tons of awards, making it even more popular worldwide.
How It All Started
The pilot episode of this famous sitcom begins with four young adults, namely Monica, Joey, Chandler, and Phoebe. They were sitting inside Central Perk and talking about Monica's date in the coming night.
In the first episode, a woman came in who happened to be Monica's high school best friend - Rachel Green. She wanted to ask for Monica's help since his fiance left, and because of that, Rachel spent the rest of the day with the whole gang, which marked the start of their soon-to-be lifelong friendship.
The pilot episode presented the viewers with laughs and introduced the whole gang in a playful and truly interesting way.
Why & When Did Friends Become Popular
Friends fans find the show interesting because everyone can relate to each of the character’s personalities. From the passion of Rachel for fashion, the charming vibe of Joey, the sarcastic jokes of Chandler, the timeless songs by Phoebe, Ross’s bad luck in love, and even up to the neurotic personality of Monica.
Aside from that, people find the plot very relatable, as it tackles real-life situations in a young adult’s life stage.
Friends Characters That We Loved
Many people have liked Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) since the first episode because of his affectionate nature, which has always been evident. His sister, Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), is tidy and the most meticulous in the gang.
Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) is one of the crowd favorites because he is extremely witty and light-hearted. On the other hand, Rachel Green (Jenifer Aniston) is the person who will do everything in her power to achieve what she wants.
Together with Chandler, Joey Tribbiani also possesses a funny vibe making him a more memorable Friends character. Meanwhile, Phoebe Buffay is too eccentric at times and the “weirdo hottie” of the gang.
Shop The Friends Collection NowViewers Reception
Aside from the Los Angeles Daily News believing that it is one of the brighter comedies of the new season, the Los Angeles Times called it a flat-out comedy series too. Home Improvement is one of its contemporaries, but Friends received more positive feedback from critics than any other TV show in its time had.
Despite being a crowd favorite, people hate one episode among all - “The One With The Invitation.” This is the time when Rachel receives an invitation from Ross and his fiance's wedding. She decided to stay in New York together with Phoebe, who had just got impregnated by her brother (spoiler alert!)
Friends Awards & Recognition
Even though it came head to head with other great TV shows like Home Improvement, Friends’ cast came on top and received six Emmy Awards, including “Outstanding Comedy Series” (from its second season).
Each of the cast and production members has been nominated and even awarded different recognition. The final episode (Friends: The Reunion) was nominated for an Outstanding Pre-recorded Variety and gave Courteney Cox recognition.
Lisa Kudrow also won as the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. At the same time, Matt Le Blanc and David Schwimmer were nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series. Matthew Perry also made the list as he was appointed Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.
Also Read: What's Our Favorite Friends Gift?
FAQs
When did Friends end ?
On May 6, 2004, the final episode of Friends aired on NBC, and around 50 million people tuned in. They have said countless times that the previous seasons would be the last, but it was only during that year that they finally decided to end the show.
How old was Jennifer Aniston in Friends?
Jennifer was 25 years old when the very first episode of this sitcom was aired on NBC. The series featured the lives of young adults going through profound changes in their mid-20s. This plot made the sitcom even more relatable to the audience as they dealt with their issues and the realities of their lives.
Who got paid the most in Friends?
According to the New York Times, Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer have hit $40,000 per episode compared to the other casts, who only received around $22,200 for every episode in season 1.
Both of them have decided to cut their payments for each episode so everyone can receive the same amount as they do.
How many years did Friends run?
The series lasted for almost ten years. The very first episode of the sitcom Friends was aired on September 22, 1994, and the last one was on May 6, 2004.
Is Friends the most-watched show ever?
Yes. During that time, Friends was one of the best sitcoms in the industry since the first episode was aired on NBC. People will always set their alarm and open the television to watch the funniest hit series in America!
The countless awards and nominations of everyone - from the actors to the directors in this series are enough to say that Friends has been very popular since then.
In Summary
No one can deny the huge impact of the famous sitcom “Friends” on the whole world. David Crane and his co-directors have produced a fascinating, life-changing, and entertaining series that everyone could relate to.
It featured six young adults, namely: Chandler Bing, Ross Geller, Joey Tribbiani, Monica Geller, Phoebe Buffay, and Rachel Green, who faced the harsh reality in the early stage of their lives.
It is no surprise that it captivated the hearts of many, even after decades had passed. The show truly deserves all the awards and nominations it received along the way, and it is something that the fans will never forget.
If you are a fan of Friends, make sure to visit our site and check our collection of Friends toys and collectibles!
Shop The Friends Collection NowReference:
- https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/friends-debuts
