Yep, you read that headline right. It has been 25 years since the iconic TV series, Friends first aired, and we are all in our feels about it. The show starred Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry and became one of the most loved shows across the world. Grab your tissues and let’s take a trip down memory lane and reminisce on the good ‘ol days of the famous friend group while learning some fun facts you probably didn’t know.
Friends premiered in 1994 on NBC after a long road of editing and changing. In an ode to twenty-somethings trying to make it in the Big Apple, the show follows six friends who become family in more ways than one. However, the show we all know and love came to be after lots of changes. It was originally supposed to be named “Insomnia Café,” before being changed to “Friends Like us,” then “Six of One,” before being given the legendary and very well-suited title, Friends. The cast could have also looked very different, apart from David Schwimmer because the role of Ross was written specifically for him. Producers for the show wanted Courtney Cox, who plays Monica Geller, to play Rachel Green, but she refused. The role later went to Jennifer Aniston, who became iconic for her always perfect hair and effortlessly chic outfits. Kathy Griffin and Jane Lynch were also considered to play the role of Phoebe Buffay, which eventually went to Lisa Kudrow. Get this: Matthew Perry almost didn’t play the sarcastic, comedic king that is Chandler Bing because he had auditioned for a sci-fi show titled LAX 2194, but thankfully that show was never picked up.
The beloved show became a pivotal part of the average television-watching household each Thursday night on NBC. Over the course of 10 years and 10 seasons, millions of fans tuned in to follow the lives of their six “best friends” as they fell in love with the show’s characters. The final episode, “The Last One Part 2,” was watched by 52.5 million viewers, making it the fourth most-watched series finale in television history, which was a huge accomplishment for a television sitcom.
All the memorable moments, from the Turkey-Head and the Holiday Armadillo to the White Dog Statue and Ross’s spray tan, have become iconic scenes in television history that fans are still enjoying to this day. When Netflix announced they would be removing the show from their platform come Jan. 1, 2019, fans filed a change.org petition and used the hashtag #Justice4Friends in an effort to keep the show around. Sadly, the streaming mega-site announced the show would be officially leaving at the beginning of 2020 for HBOMAX, so get your binging on ASAP.
While the show doesn’t seem to have a reunion planned anytime soon, you can still get your fix of the oh-so addicting sitcom through Netflix for the next three months, or follow the infamous orange couch’s world travels through the Friends Instagram.
The lives of Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Gunther and even Ugly Naked Guy are all still very much a part of millions of fans’ hearts. So, don’t ever forget that even though the show may not be just “on a break,” the whole gang will still be there for you like they’ve been there before.
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