Let’s be “Friends”

I’m Matt LeBlanc trying to hide that I’m a closet homosexual.

I’m the absurdly large Manhattan apartments these Friends manage to all pay for on their notably menial wages, even for 90s era real estate prices.

I’m Jen Aniston 😊 - after the pilot I will be starving myself and bleaching my hair to be cuter. For literally decades to come.

Guess I won in the end - I’m the richest Friend 😘

I'm the tired sexual jokes and overly trendy hair and clothing.

I'm the population of New York City, which is 99% white and heterosexual.

I’m Chandler’s drag queen dad.

I'm the last half of the 90s and the first half of the 00s and this show was a shining moment for me.

I’m Ugly Naked Guy

I’m the TV Guide addressed to Ms. Chanandler Bong.

[quote]I’m the absurdly large Manhattan apartments these Friends manage to all pay for on their notably menial wages, even for 90s era real estate prices.

I am the often explained $200 a month in rent Monica was paying because she was illegally using her Grandmother's rent-controlled lease!

I'm Ross Gellar's son who just disappears and is never mentioned again.

I am the large sofa needing you to, "PIVOT!"

[quote]I’m the absurdly large Manhattan apartments these Friends manage to all pay for on their notably menial wages, even for 90s era real estate prices.

Actually, Monica’s storyline made sense. It was rent stabilized and passed down from her grandmother.

I moved to the West Village in 1994. The man in the apartment next door had lived in his apartment since the late 1950s and was only paying $250 per month for a one bedroom. So Monica had cheap rent. But the layout of the apartment makes no sense by West Village standards.

I'm the episodes where Matthew Perry is visibly under the influence.

I am testosterony. I am the real San Francisco Treat.

I’m the Tribiani Family tailor who always feels up the young men.

I'm the inexplicable reason why this show was set in NY, because all the characters are total LA types.

I'm Matthew Perry's fluctuating weight.

I’m Princess Consuela Bananahammock

I’m the tourists that flock to Bedford Street to take pictures of a building that was only used as an establishing shot on a sitcom that is 20 years old.

I’m Jennifer Aniston’s perpetually hard nipples visible no matter what she was wearing.

I’m Courtney Cox’s face, completely different in season 10 than it was in season 1.

I’m Marcel the Monkey wondering who approved this addition to the storyline. Obviously somebody hated David Schwimmer very much to add a monkey sidekick.

I’m Smelly Cat.

I'm SEVEN

I’m Susan being a total bitch to Ross.

I'm Craig Bierko...yes THAT Craig Bierko who turned down Friends for another pilot, which lasted...oh....weeks. And my then good friend at the time, one M. Perry, took the role I was offered.

I am the BREAK WE WERE ON

I'm Nancy McKeon who was going to play Monica... and I'm, "Greedy Bitch" Lisa Welchel who was considered for Rachel!

I’m the retroactive transing of Chandler’s drag queen dad.

R29. Not cute!

I’m Chandler being scolded for smoking.

I'm the teeth that Ross just whitened.

I glow in the fucking dark.

I believe everything to zoo tells me.

I'm Gabrielle Union, basically the only African-American person you'll ever see on this show.

Well, no r35. Not exactly.

r35 not entirely.

[quote]—-Aisha Tyler. You didn't watch this show, did you?

Oh, that's right, but let's face it, you were pretty forgettable.

I'm observers pointing out the unrealistic apartments for the billionth time, over explaining that the size and condition of the apartments wouldn't match the characters' jobs and salaries "in real life," apparently unaware of the concept of fiction.

Aisha Taylor was on 8 episodes, r38.

Gabrielle Union was on 1 episode. She was the forgettable one.

That's how I know you didn't watch the series, or at least didn't pay too much attention.

Oh, I watched it, again, she wasn't memorable. Gabrielle was only on one but SHE GLOWED.

OH MY GOD...

I'm Janice.

LOL ok, r41. I've probably watched this series at least 7 or 8 times since I first watched it when it debuted and I didn't recall Gabrielle Union AT ALL, whereas Aisha Tyler had a major character arc over a few seasons.

But, "you do you."

I'm Jennifer Aniston cutting her hair short mid-run and then frantically trying to grow it back.

Also, r41 - you failed to make your point that Gabrielle Union was the only African-American (for 1 episode in total) on the whole show.

Not true. Not saying there shouldn't have been more representation, just that you are repeating something that's not necessarily true.

If you were talking about Seinfeld, then I would agree.

I'm Brad Pitt making a guest appearance for one episode when he was Mr. Aniston. The joke here is that his character hated hers.

I’m Tom Selleck feeling left out of this little clique.

I'm Teri Garr taking back the schtick that Lisa Kudrow stole.

I'm the subtle homophobia, which passes as "progressive" since its the 90s/2000s.

Yes, Aisha at R45, we've heard you.

BASICALLY.

I’m Mr. Heckles. You’re disturbing my oboe practice!

I'm Monica's fat suit. This would probably be not allowed today.

I'm the antique Apothecary table (from Pottery Barn).

I'm Gunther.

I'm wet noodle Paul Rudd who was no Hank Azaria.

I'm Unagi.

I'm Joey's hand twin, Thomas Lennon.

I'm Cecilia Monroe, Susan Sarandon's MILF'y character, who is on Joey like flies on shit.

I'm Julia Roberts making a guest appearance because she was supposedly dating Matthew Perry.

I'm Anastasia Beaverhausen

r59 - they actually were dating, and she was the aggressor (by fax, no less).

They parted because he didn't think he was good enough for her.

I’m Joey putting scary books in the freezer.

R60 Wrong show, honey

I'm Sean Penn, slumming.

I'm Bruce Willis, guest-starring as Rachel's boyfriend (and Ross' college-aged girlfriend's father).

And I'm A Love Machine.

I’m Phoebe’s grandmother, looking up at us and smiling.

I'm the golden showers after a jellyfish sting.

I’m Helen Baxendale and I hate it here.

I’m Ursula - I allow Lisa to let her cunt flag fly

I’m the extended episodes Gen Z has never seen because they’re only on DVD.

Which eps?

R71 I think every episode had cut footage restored for the original DVD sets. Most of which was cut for time but a few for content restrictions. The Gabrielle Union episode had this ad-lib:

Ross: Are you hungry?

Joey: Does a bear shit in the woods?

[quote]I'm Anastasia Beaverhausen

I’m Regina Phalange

We’re the chick and the duck. We just disappeared one day.

I’m Phoebe’s pink bicycle.

I’m Phoebe running through Central Park like a lunatic.

I'm the ten years r20 forgot about.

I'm 911that the show never noticed.

[quote] I'm Cecilia Monroe, Susan Sarandon's MILF'y character

I loved her in that role. She was funny and had quite effortless chemistry with Matt LeBlanc. Just based on her one or two episodes with him, I give her a pass for her shenanigans in recent years.

Her talentless real life daughter Eva Ammuri was also in it and was actually funny.

I'm Brooke Shields' marriage that was destroyed by her finger licking scene!

I'm Ross, working on my music.

I’m the dumb storylines, like before they knew each other, Phoebe stole Ross’s book of drawings. 🙄. Not even on Gilligan’s Island would that be played out.

I’m the inconsistent manner of how Rachel and Chandler first met.

I'm the episode where Chandler was all fucked up on Ketamine and drowned in his hot tub.

Oh wait, that was real life.

I'm the dipshit tourists from Bumfucke who come up to you in Midtown and ask you where Central Perk is.

Fuck off, you idiot hayseeds.

I'm all the high fashion executive corporate jobs Rachel manages to land with no executive experience, and no fashion experience except sales and then buyer at Bloomingdales. SURE.

I'm Monica's chef job although she's supposedly a former fattie that now never eats and never tastes her food. SURE.

I'm Joey's rent that mysteriously paid although he never works much. SURE. (Rent boy? Chandler's ??

I am Christina Applegate giving the six friends a run for their money

I'm Ross' Bain de Soleil-level skin color, achieved by a series of spray-tan incidents.

In the same episode, I'm Jennifer Coolidge, guest-starring as Rachel and Monica's old friend "Amanda" from the apartment building who moves back from England and has affected a fake English accent.

I’m Ursula starring in “Buffay the Vampire Layer”.

I'm the last name "Arquette" appended to every cast member's name in the opening credits of the first episode after Courteney Cox got married.

I’m Chandler’s two copies of the “Annie” soundtrack.

I'm the "moo point". I'm like a cow's opinion. I don't matter. I'm moo.

I'm the one with...

I'm "My eyes!! My eyes!!"

I'm Phoebe's fire alarm.

I'm Elle McPherson regretting taking this role.

I'm the producers regretting giving her the role. A+ looks, but the acting...

I’m what happens when Baby Kangaroo Tribbianni gets ahold of a thesaurus.

We're Billy Crystal and Robin Williams doing a cringeworthy cameo.

I’m the Diet Coke plugs.

Crystal and Williams were promoting their film Father's Day which was also made by Warner Bros.

Helen Hunt and Leila Kenzle did the same thing, promoting Mad About You. But their cameo was better because they continued the Ursula/Phoebe joke.

I’m Sandrine, an industrial solvent/baby name.

I'm Jill Goodacre aka Mrs. Harry Connick Jr. I got stuck in an ATM vestibule with Chandler and offered him gum.

I’m the apartment pants!

I’m Chandler’s sweater vests.

I'm Cheryl, the incredibly hot and smart woman (played by Rebecca Romijn) who has NY's filthiest apartment with a rat as a free-range pet.

I was cast to play Ursula but Gary Morton talked me out of it.

I'm the baby powder all over Ross' sweaty cock and leather pants.

I'm shark porn.

I'm the break we were on.

I’m suicidal Jason Alexander.

I'm the uncanny amount of guest stars Seinfeld and Friends share; as well as many plot lines/gags.

I’m Rachel’s real nose.

I'm the random-ass romance of Rachel and Joey

I’m George Stephanopoulus’s pizza.

I'm Jennifer Aniston being a good sport about doing the Rachel nosejob gag since I had a pretty obvious nose job done myself not too long before the series began.

I'm Anita Barone, the original Carol, wife of Ross.

I'm Mrs. Petrokis.

R118 I’m Jane Sibbett, forever in your debt.

I'm the cat that's turned inside out.

I’m Winona Ryder playing Ray Ray’s sorority sister.

I’m the black person sitting in the cafeteria at work/school giving silent eye rolls while all the white folks are discussing in depth last night’s episode.

I’m the grudge certain black people will forever hold against this show, never mind that they’ve now got first dibs on nearly everything being made today.

I’m Joey, and even I don’t know why I have a spin off.

I'm Ross's tight leather pants. Please, save me.

We’re the writers. We think David Schwimmer is a fag.

I'm Living Single who Friends owes everything to.

I'm Living Single, the far superior original show that Warren Littlefield demands NBC do their own version of.

I'm Ross' glowing chicklets.

I'm Kristin Davis, doing a cameo in season 7 even though I'm in the hit show SATC. Why I felt the need to do this is beyond anyone's comprehension.

I am Bea. I like tea.

I'm Living Single, which most people couldn't give two fucks about.

I’m r124, eating black peoples excrement.

I'm Lisa Whelchel kicking my own ass.

I'm Jennifer Aniston, pretending that I would still have a major career if I hadn't married Brad Pitt.

I'm Teri Garr, being cast as Phoebe's mother, only fitting since the actress stole my act.

I’m Tom and Sue, the most sinfully boring people I’ve ever met.

R119 - who was Mrs. Petrokis?

I’m “The Rachel” haircut, much to Aniston’s everlasting chagrin.

R19, downstairs neighbor

I’m the tiny t-shirt.

R135 Was Lisa up for a part on Friends?

She turned down the role of Rachel.

I’m the wooden beam that soon disappeared because it got in the way.

How cool would it have been to have had Lisa as Rachel and Nancy as Monica?

There could have been two Lisas and two Matts

[quote]How cool would it have been to have had Lisa as Rachel and Nancy as Monica?

Would never have worked. We all know the story about how the cast members banned together as a group so they had negotiation power. That Greedy Bitch, Lisa, would have gone behind everyone's backs and tried to get herself a sweeter deal.

Trust me on this.

I’m Monica’s fat suit - I’m the fat creator’s revenge on that anorexic bitch Courtney

I’m Frank Jr. Jr.

[quote]How cool would it have been to have had Lisa as Rachel

Lisa would have asked for creative control of her character. Rachel would have been a very different character.

I’m Janice - I’m basically a case study in misogyny and weird internalized anti-Semitism. It’s like I was written by Philip Roth if he was a fratty hack sitcom writer!

I'm the monkey.

Janice was Janice. Much of her character traits were developed based on Maggie Wheeler's eccentric performance. I don't see her written or portrayed in a way that supported or perpetuated misogyny or antisemitism.

I'm Charlton Heston showing my comedic chops.

I'm homosexualist Tom Selleck.

I'm Massapequa.

I'm me and the first thing that popped into my head when seeing the title, "Let's be Friends" was that retarded-sounding song by WAR - "Why Can't We Be Friends"

I'm Phil Donahue, thanking god someone tossed Marlo a bone to get her out of the house for a while.

I'm "Enemies",

Married With Children's attempt at satirizing the show through a spinoff.

Nancy McKeon tested several times for the role of Monica. She almost had it but it went to Courtney. Lisa was offered Rachel without a test. Dumb bitch.

R14 Can you please post them.

As another poster said, Lisa Whelchel would've wanted creative control if she had played Rachel. She was super-religous at that time and would've had a LONG list of things she wouldn't say or do. And she'd want to put some Christian bullshit into her portrayal.

It's just as well that she wasn't cast as Rachel because she would've been a huge pain in the ass.

Agree on Lisa. She probably would have been let go before the first season even started filming.

Friends was one of the shows where the chemistry between the cast was so perfect that it’s almost hard to imagine anyone else in the roles. It’s not so much the perfect casting but the perfect chemistry all these actors were able to execute.

I wonder if they ever considered making one of the Friends black in the early development stages. It was the 90s after all and taking place in NYC.

[quote]It’s not so much the perfect casting but the perfect chemistry all these actors were able to execute.

Weren't all of them basically unknowns at the start of Friends? Yes, they had done recurring characters on other shows, but none had shows built around them. Lisa Welchel would have thrown that balance off because she was well known for Facts of Life.

Even 30 years ago it was odd that a circle of friends in NYC was all white.

[quote]I wonder if they ever considered making one of the Friends black in the early development stages.

Do we think David Crane and Marta Kaufman even knew any black people?

Rachel was more fun as Jewish.

I doubt Lisa Whelchel ever would've played Jewish.

R166, Courtney Cox was the most well-known at the time having played Michael J. Fox’s girlfriend on Family Ties for a season or two. Plus the Bruce Springsteen video. But everyone else was pretty much unknown.

It is hard to imagine anyone else in the roles. Is it confirmed somewhere that Lisa Whelchel was offered Friends with no audition? She had been off of network TV for quite a few years at that point so it seems unlikely but I guess on paper the role was Blair-ish so maybe that was enough.

I don't buy that story about Whelchel being offered Rachel, without a test or a reading. The only person who was cast without an audition was Schwimmer because Marta Kaufmann had worked with him previously. Whelchel was living in Texas, married to a pasto, a mother of small children, and had been out of the business for over five years by the time the show was aired.

Madonna was originally offered Rachel.

Lucy was offered Rachel but...well...you know who...

R174. Gary made me turn it down...

I'm Lea Thompson guest starring from Caroline in the City, and I was the first of many, MANY people to note that Joey and Chandler made a cute couple.

[quote]The only person who was cast without an audition was Schwimmer

But you can see how WASP Lisa would work well with Jewish nebbish Schwimmer if contrast was what they were going for. It makes more sense that they would eventually be a couple than Aniston/Schwimmer.

They probably decided against a black friend because it would limit the potential dating/romances between the characters as middle America is so fkin ignorant especially back then.

Yuck, this show would have been a shit show with Lisa as Rachel. Similarly, with Nancy as Monica. Those two are very one-note, not very comedic.

Praise the lord that didn't happen.

I’m the mouse, back in the house.

Lisa Whelchel can't act, she's even mentioned that herself

I’m using my breasts to get other people’s attention.

R179 That’s another thing that people overlook about the huge success of Friends. They all had perfect comedic timing. Ross was probably the weakest link and even he was solid.

[quote]. Whelchel was living in Texas, married to a pasto, a mother of small children, and had been out of the business for over five years by the time the show was aired.

I don't think Whelchel was in Tx when Friends started. My cousin lived on the same street as her in CA when we were kids.

I'm Tea Leoni, the first choice for Rachel.

R185 That would have been interesting. Did she turn it down to film Bad Boys 1.

I could see Tea...she has a quirkiness about her. But maybe *too* quirky for that role.

I could see Tea’.

I'm average "Friends" viewer.

God it would have sucked with either of the FOL girls. And I like them. I do know that Liza was sent almost a season's worth of scripts. To her credit, thank god, she knew it wasn't for her. Could you imagine Rachel having a constant battle with her weight?

Anyway, I'm the Monica closet.

Friends stole the concept of from my star vehicle on Fox.

Nobody cares Tootsie.

Ohhhh now it makes sense. I can see why blacks in the industry then say NBC stole the concept of Friends if they had all these bitches from Facts of Life in mind for the leads.

I'm fun Bobby.

[quote]I do know that Liza was sent almost a season's worth of scripts. To her credit, thank god, she knew it wasn't for her.

Shweetie, in that sheason'sh worth of shcriptsh, they wouldn't let me shing one shong! Not one. My gaysh would be sho dishappointed. I'll write about it in my memoirsh ash shoon as Michael takesh off my Halshton dresshesh.

LOL I know I saw my typo as soon as I hit post. Sorry Liza but you've been on my mind baby.

I’m Phoebe’s shoes that belonged to the late Shania Twain.

She overpaid.

I’m Ben Stiller, I’m a rageaholic asshole…. I mean I’m playing one.

I’m Rachel’s poor fashion choice of wearing white knee socks. Elizabeth Montgomery also wore them in Bewitched. Grown ass women should not be wearing white knee socks. It’s a look that should remain reserved for girls under 18.

I'm Jennifer Aniston clearing her throat.

I’m pulling a Monica

I used to work on "Friends," for a bit. I never knew Lisa was doing this until she recently put it out there, however, I do recall thinking at times she looked "pissed" and I didn't understand why; She's actually a very lovely person.

I’m Rachel’s perky tits and a miniskirt. Enough to make even a gay man reconsider.

R202 Nice. Any other stories you’re able to share?

I'm Bruce Willis.

I'm Beth. I DIED.

I'm Mrs. Braverman who gets cheesecake delivered.

I’m this big bitch behind Rachel trying to steal her umbrella. So she clocked me.

I'm Joey's girlfriend who likes to hit.

Here's a clip

I’m Monica in a fat suit. I would be problematic today.

She used to be funny as hell in the fat flashbacks.

R40 he probably thought they were the same person.

Yes she was funny dancing.

R209

I'm Punky Boobster playing adult.

I’m Nana. I died TWICE!

I'm the bottle of saline solution, and I bring the ruckus.

I’m Ross getting divorced…AGAIN!!!

I'm Christina Pickles.

Hello. It's MARLO.

I'm the trifle made with beef...

I’m FREUD! the musical.

I'm the cafeteria at AMNH.

I’m Rachel’s dirty book teaching Joey about Vicars.

I'm Adam Duritz trying to date his way through the cast.

I’m Chandler’s “Flock of Seagulls” haircut.

I'm Monica - Bang!

I’m the Sphinx cat, a minion of the Antichrist.

I'm the deli meat Monica attaches to Joey's penis so he looks uncircumcised.

I'm Courteney Cox tucking her hair behind her ears.

I’m Fergie’s cameo in London.

I’m Jill Goodacre’s cameo in the vestibule.

I’m Brooke Shields as a deranged soap fan.

IT'S MARCEL

I’m the “Joey” spin-off writer who, knowing the final episodes wouldn’t air, suggested Joey offhandedly mention Ross and Rachel had died.

I'm Gladys.

Let's not, and say we did.

I'm Luisa who has come to take Marcel away.

I’m the girl from Poughkeepsie.

I'm Tag Jones, Rachel's boytoy assistant at Ralph Lauren.

I'm the word "wicked".

I’m Lisa Kudrow staring daggers at the studio audience for having the gall to laugh too long at someone else's performance.

I’m Anna Farris’ pre-plastic surgery appearance.

Tag Jones (aka Eddie Cahill) in recent years.

I'm pretending to be in love with Professor Gellar.

I'm Professor Gellar, gleeful at his "taboo" affair with his student, who eventually kicks his ass to the curb when he becomes a fun-sucker.

I am Paul, Elizabeth’s dad, having a fling with Rachel. I’m just a love machine.

I'm the fact that none of these characters resemble actual New Yorkers at all.

I’m Janice’s laugh

I'm Lisa Kudrow's real life pregnancy that the show incorporates to make Phoebe a surrogate for her half-brother's triplets.

I’m Pablo’s back hair.

That makes no sense r247.

[quote]I'm the fact that none of these characters resemble actual New Yorkers at all.

I think at the time of the show that may have been true. But there are now a lot of Rachels in NYC.

More importantly, Friends and Sex & the City created a culture of young people that wanted to come and live out what they saw on tv. The problem is that both shows are extremely vapid. The characters sit around a coffee shop (Friends) or brunch (S&TC) and don’t actually engage with New York in a productive way.

NYC is now very vanilla. It’s really one of the most boring big cities in the US. Hopefully, one day a new crop of young people will move here and inject the energy that it once had.

Anyone who grew up in the NYC metro area before 1960 knew a Rachel Green, Ross Geller annd an Joey Tribiani Anyone who lived in Manhattan in their 20s for the past five decades knew people like the other characters.

I'm Elliott Gould as the lovable father of Harmonica.

I'm Phoebe, 'singing' along as Ross plays the bagpipes. One of hte truly funny moments on the show.

R252 The sex and the city gals seems like New Yorkers though. Only Joey seems New York. The rest seemed like college transplants. I guess maybe Rachel could have grown up on Strong Island.

Monica: Why is your family Scottish?

Chandler: Why is your family Ross?

Monica, Ross, Rachel grew up on Long Island.

I'm how you doin?

I'm surprised they didn't do some ridiculous story that Monica, Ross, and Rachel all had run ons with Joey in their youth before meeting him.

Not me r253. Those characters were all LA to the core.

I was dreading the possibility of a Friends Babies spin-off set in the early 70s.

R262, dont give them any ideas.. they can still do a Friends Spin off where all their kids move into Moncia's apartment!

Ben and Emma replace Ross & Monica!

Young Friends

R263 With Jack and Erica (Monica and Chandler’s twins) across the hall.

I'm sure Joey will have had a son they SORAS into the same age group.

Emma and Erica can live in Monica's apt. Jack and Ben live in Ross's old apartment across the street, and Joeys and Phoebes kids live across the hall from Emma!

Remember Joey had a nephew in his own series.

I’m Amy’s favorite Thanksgiving dinner: SUSHI!

Archie Bunker’s Place was better than friends

R269. Hi, Carroll!

So all three male leads on Friends were gay right?

[quote]So all three male leads on Friends were gay right?

It wasn’t the audience that Lisa Kudrow was angry at. It was the last minute threesomes that Matt, Matthew and David had before starting the show. The smell of cum on their breath made her retch. It’s how she came up with the song “Smelly Cat.”

I’m Chandler wishing out loud that he was a lesbian.

Im the cast laughing all the way to the bank. They really became bigger than most movie stars in the 90s. Smart move with the collective bargaining.

[quote]Im the cast laughing all the way to the bank. They really became bigger than most movie stars in the 90s. Smart move with the collective bargaining.

Except the last season was only 18 episodes, where the previous seasons were 23/24. Their greed cut the other workers on the show out of 5-6 episodes of pay.

They did not want to work a full 22.

I'm Lisa, trying desperately to channel Julia Duffy.