We all have friends. We know what that’s all about. But, Friends? I’m willing to bet that not many of us have cliques quite like them. Incestual dating? Marriage? Plus, non-twin siblings in the same group? College roommate this and former-homeless that? Safe to say that our friends on Friends were an unusual bunch. And, you know what? That’s why the show worked.
Even for those of you who have, or are, living this life, there was nothing “been there” about this simple premise. Particularly not for me, as I started dating my wife before you could include the word “teen” in our ages. And yet, in the age of Seinfeld, and post-Cheers, Friends was a wild success that you can’t escape from even now, five years after they said goodnight. Why? It’s all about the characters. And the jokes!
The starkest character evolution belonged to Ross (David Schwimmer). From a nerdy, creepy little man, pining for Rachel and having a baby with his now lesbian wife, Ross turned into one of the funniest people on TV. Off the top of my head? “Pivot! Pivot!” and the hilarious double-date scene in season 10 (“Fajitas!”). Ross made me want to kill him for a long time, but by the end, I was a huge fan. I mean, I’m anti Ross/Rachel, but you gotta love Ross.
Joey (Matt LeBlanc) didn’t slack on evolution himself. And it wasn’t just the career trajectory that struck me. First of all, Joey went from pretty-boy dense to just plain stupid, which, while good for us, doesn’t really make sense when you stand far enough back to gain perspective. Beyond that, though, as he lost brain cells, his sensitivity grew. Joey turned into one of the most solid friends on a show all about them; whatever you thought of the pairing, his struggle with his feelings for Rachel, because of his love for Ross, was something to aspire to. Do any of us cherish friendship that much?
The golden boy was Chandler (Matthew Perry). Chandler was the absolute funniest character on the entire show, a man-child who was responsible while also immature. Yes, he slid down the maturity scale from pilot to finale, but there was always some balance there. His relationship with Monica would have killed the character, if he wasn’t saved by best-buddies Ross and Joey. Chandler and Joey together made for some of the funniest moments in the history of the series, although it would be reckless not to mention the awkward nature of Chandler’s relationship with Rachel. Just hilarious.
Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) was the absolute worst character on the entire series (yes, I’m including Marcel the monkey in that rating). Just awful. Sorry.
Monica (Courteney Cox) could be extremely funny, but her relationship with Chandler created this screaming, whining shrew that she never was able to break free from. For the years preceding their relationship, she was never my go-to-girl, but she always made me laugh. Afterwards? How much can you emasculate the man you “love?”
This isn’t a problem with females in comedy — Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) got better and better each and every week. I wasn’t crazy about spoiled and snobby Rachel, but once she found herself with Ross, the character soared. And, while there are plenty of classic moments from the show that call for Ross and Rachel to be mixing it up (relationship wise — as sparring partners, they’re awesome), I actually think that Rachel and Chandler could have made for some great TV. At the very least, Joey and Rachel should have been given the opportunity to further explore things. Rachel is responsible for cracking Ross’ shell (and vice versa), but she was cheated by not getting something fresh and interesting to explore.
Where are the million-per six these days? Schwimmer just appeared on Entourage, and keeps on popping out Madagascar babies. LeBlanc flamed out with Joey, and his very public divorce. He’s probably still laughing, though, as he bathes himself in all of those millions. Perry has dropped a movie here and there, but was most noticeably awesome in the spectacular Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. SEE IT!
Kudrow is suckling at the teat of comebacks, but nothing she’s done is of much note; it wasn’t just her character that I thought sucked. Cox is a busy little beaver, but Dirt, and her turn on Scrubs, were embarrassing resume stains. I’m not sure Cougar Town will be any different. And Aniston? She’s hilarious, awesome and a certified success. I’m only as current as what’s made it to the movie channels, but she’s been clicking since Bruce Almighty … if you ignore her guest spots on TV.
The cast of supporting and minor characters who pranced across the Friends’ stage are innumerable. But, you know something? Not many of them stick, and even many that do, don’t do so for good reasons. Okay, so respect must be paid to Gunther (James Michael Tyler), as creepy as he was. But, for example, as funny as he was in the beginning, Jack (Elliott Gould) turned into a gross old man by series end. And I never liked Judy (Christina Pickles).
It’s really just a sprinkling of significant others that I enjoyed. Phoebe’s Mike (Paul Rudd) and David (Hank Azaria), Ross’ Elizabeth (Alexandra Holden) and Mona (Bonnie Somerville), Monica’s Richard (Tom Selleck), Rachel’s Tag (Eddie Cahill) and Gavin (Dermot Mulroney) … I never realized that Phoebe dated the biggest stars! Even so, I enjoyed them, not her with them.
A couple of guests were both surprising, as well as well utilized, over the life of the series. Giovanni Ribisi as Phoebe’s brother Frank, and his wife Alice (Debra Jo Rupp); Cole Sprouse (Big Daddy) as Ben Geller; Reese Witherspoon as Rachel’s sister Jill; Max Wright as Central Perk’s Terry; the Mad About You crossover of Ursula Buffay; Chandler’s roommate Eddie (Adam Goldberg); Phoebe’s Parker (Alec Baldwin); Rachel’s other sister, Amy (Christina Applegate). Plus, the minor drop-ins of the likes of Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, Sean Penn, and more. Actually, the show scored better on the shorter haul guests than on the longer ones.
Crucial to the success of the show, beyond what I’ve mentioned above, is re-watchability. TV is all about syndication, and few shows have been more successful in that respect than Friends. Of course, that’s not to ignore the different DVD-set combinations, “best of” compilations, etc. — how could you miss them? And they work because of how quotable so much of the show is. Check back for my follow-up post, a Friends’ quotes reminiscence.
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Sep 09, 2009 @ 11:30 EST5EDT
