Things About Hbo That You Didnt Know
And so, no ane told you the fanbase was gonna be this fashion, huh? Friends, which turned 25 ii years ago, was named the second-near streamed show in the world by Nielsen. To appease diehard viewers, Netflix even paid WarnerMedia a staggering $100 million for an additional 12 months of streaming rights.
Only, these days, HBO is the streaming service that'southward winning the game (and the lightning round) when it comes to Friends content. Namely, the reunion fans accept hoped for since the prove'southward finale is finally coming to pass on HBO and HBO Max on Thursday, May 27. That'due south right — you can stream it now.
Accordingly titled "The One Where They Get Back Together," the official trailer for the Friends reunion shows all 6 stars — Jennifer Aniston (Rachel), Courteney Cox (Monica), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe), Matt LeBlanc (Joey), Matthew Perry (Chandler), and David Schwimmer (Ross) — on the bear witness's original soundstage in Burbank. In improver to giving fans a aboveboard look at their real-life friendships, the bandage tests their cognition of the show, revisits some beloved sets, and partakes in a few certain-to-be-funny tabular array reads. And, aye, there's a live studio audition — at to the lowest degree for the interview portions.
Without a dubiety, this express mirth-out-loud sitcom created an arcadian version of what it's like to navigate life with your best friends in your 20s — so much so that it has become tv's version of comfort food. Luckily, there are however some behind-the-scenes secrets that fifty-fifty the about passionate Friends fanatics don't know — and we're taking a look at them alongside the release of HBO's Friends reunion. Could we BE whatsoever more than excited?!
Information technology Wasn't Always Called Friends
What's in a proper noun? Well, a lot, peculiarly if your sitcom becomes one of the most beloved Tv set shows of all fourth dimension. Just before creators settled on Friends, quite a few different titles were thrown around behind the scenes.
When the testify was pitched, creators titled information technology "Insomnia Café," but that quickly changed to the more straightforward "Friends Like Us." Later on the pilot had been ordered, an NBC exec slapped the name "Beyond the Hall" on the show, and while the pilot was being filmed, the sitcom was dubbed "Six of One." In the end, the simplest title won out — give thanks goodness.
Upon reflection, the sitcom's episode naming convention seems pretty bright. When you're chatting with pals about TV, it's often hard to recollect the names of episodes, making information technology easier to say, "Oh, it's the 1 with the football," or whatever detail stands out most.
Every bit fans know, each episode is titled "The One with the ___," only this colloquial naming convention wasn't necessarily done out of cleverness. "We'd been on enough shows where people spent so much time trying to come up with clever, punning titles," co-creator David Crane told Today. "So, I idea of the way you always talk well-nigh an episode." Information technology's not lazy, per se, simply it's certainly efficient.
Matt LeBlanc Was Broke Before Landing the Show
Earlier landing his now iconic role of Joey Tribbiani, Matt LeBlanc was the image of the struggling player stereotype. Living from gig to gig, LeBlanc had but $11 in his depository financial institution account when he nailed his Friends audience.
In an interview with Conan O'Brien, LeBlanc recalled that he was almost at the end of his rope — he could barely beget food — and was looking to supplement his income with a second job in the food service manufacture. Of course, things worked out for the actor, whose internet worth now totals $lxxx million.
The Final Episode Proved Nightmarish for the Makeup Department
When you think of Friends, an extensive hair and makeup budget isn't exactly something that comes to listen. Given the "mundane" nature of the show — 20-somethings navigating life in New York — the costumes weren't exactly improvident either.
However, when shooting the series finale, the hair and makeup department had their work cut out for them. Overwhelmed that things were finally wrapping up, the bandage kept crying betwixt scenes. "I don't think we [ever took] more fourth dimension in pilus and makeup," Jennifer Aniston told Oprah during a group interview with the cast.
The Cast Bonded on a Trip to Las Vegas
While the series of episodes prepare in Las Vegas are iconic, fans will be delighted to know that the cast enjoyed Nevada's infamous Strip together long before those storylines came to fruition. Earlier shooting the pilot, manager James Burrows took the six primary cast members on a trip to Vegas, assuring them that this was their last chance to enjoy anonymity.
Reportedly, Burrows was so certain Friends would launch the six actors into superstardom, he lent them money for gambling. The trip proved to be a great bonding moment for the bandage, who would famously huddle upwardly, similar a squad getting pumped, before shooting episodes. A cherry on superlative of the sundae? Those Vegas-based episodes are a nod to the trip that started it all.
One Notable Side Character Got His Role by Chance
Known simply equally Gunther, this salty, Rachel-loving barista from Key Perk quickly became a fan-favorite side character. Fifty-fifty the duck and the chick take zip on James Michael Tyler'southward blonde-haired, tie-wearing coffee connoisseur.
However, what fans might not realize is that Tyler landed his role for a rather practical reason. According to Comedy Central, he was cast as a nameless extra, merely, when the bear witness needed someone to piece of work the espresso machine, Tyler stepped forward. That's correct — knowing how to brew a fine cup of coffee can help you snag an iconic part.
One of the Friends Almost Didn't Return for the Final Season
Despite making $ane million dollars per episode, breakout star Jennifer Aniston almost didn't render for the sitcom's terminal season. An international star in her own right, she was landing film roles and in the middle of her tabloid-loved wedlock to superstar Brad Pitt.
Aniston was hesitant to render for a 10th flavor, because she wanted Friends to become out on meridian. At the end of the 9th season, ratings looked proficient, and fans were withal clamoring for the sitcom. On a personal level, she wasn't certain she could play Rachel for much longer, which, in the end, led to a substantially shorter last season.
Phoebe's Pregnancy Storyline Wasn't Planned
Over the years, many sitcoms have worked around actors' existent-life pregnancies in interesting ways. Fellow '90s sitcom Seinfeld made a addiction of putting large objects in front end of Julie Louis-Dreyfus' grapheme to conceal her baby bump. When Lisa Kudrow was pregnant, Friends took a different arroyo.
Instead of hiding her backside set dressings or giving her overly large sweaters to wear, the Friends squad decided to write a pregnancy storyline for Phoebe, Kudrow'south character. Since Phoebe wasn't dating anyone seriously at the time, writers had to become creative, which led to the wild plotline of Phoebe acting as a surrogate for her brother and his wife.
NBC Didn't Want the Hangout to exist a Coffee Shop
Back when the prove'due south creators pitched Friends to NBC, it was kind of a gamble. Although TV shows about aimless 20-somethings living in New York — or a comparable city — are a dime a dozen now, this focus was entirely new at the fourth dimension. Needless to say, execs gave creators quite a few notes.
First, NBC execs idea the java shop was too "hip." At present, in a time of hipster cafes and locally roasted coffee, that seems like a weird note to give, but NBC thought it would exist more relatable if the creators traded Primal Perk for a diner. Another note? NBC suggested adding a wise, advice-giving character, but, luckily, "Pat the Cop," was nixed by the Friends creative squad.
Courteney Cox Was Offered a Different Part Initially
Although diehards at present can't imagine other actors stepping into one of the iconic six roles, the Friends casting procedure wasn't so cut-and-dry in the showtime. Will & Grace star Eric McCormack auditioned for Ross, fifty-fifty though the part was allegedly written with David Schwimmer in listen.
Several hereafter guest stars initially auditioned for leading roles: The Simpsons Hank Azaria tried out for Joey, Glee's Jane Lynch tried her mitt at Phoebe and The Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau auditioned for Chandler. Perchance the strangest? Producers idea Courteney Cox would brand a swell Rachel, simply, luckily, Cox, who was one of the most well-known actors on the show at the time, really wanted to play Monica.
One Big Element of the Series Finale Was Planned from the Outset
Fans today withal either bemoan or celebrate Rachel's decision to get off the airplane to Paris, thus sacrificing her dream career for Ross. However, the sitcom's ultimate will-they-won't-they couple ending up together was non-negotiable for the show's co-creators, David Crane and Marta Kauffman.
"The only thing nosotros absolutely knew from very early on was that nosotros had to go Ross and Rachel together," Crane said to Entertainment Weekly. "We had [jerked] the audience around for 10 years with their 'will they or won't they,' and we didn't run into any advantage in frustrating them." To go on this nether wraps, producers claimed they filmed the real ending without a studio audience. Although it was untrue, this was a smart way to go along audiences guessing.
Matt LeBlanc Badly Injured Himself on Prepare
Most fans volition recall a third-season episode in which Joey wears a sling, something that'south explained away every bit an injury the character sustained while jumping on his bed. While this fits with Joey's personality to a "T," the injury actually had real-life origins.
While on set, Matt LeBlanc filmed a scene that involved both him and Matthew Perry running for a comfy chair. The two ended upwards colliding, and, while comical, information technology also resulted in LeBlanc's very real shoulder injury. When it happened, we can't assist but wonder if anyone on set up asked him, "How yous doin'?"
Lisa Kudrow Was Sued for Breach of Contract
Although Friends came to an cease in 2004, Lisa Kudrow was nevertheless dealing with the aftermath in 2008. That year, she concluded her contract with her longtime manager Scott Howard, and so he sued her, claiming Kudrow yet owed him residuals for Friends reruns.
Kudrow claimed that she didn't owe him anything — especially not the whopping 10% he was asking for — after the contract dissolved. However, the guess ended upward siding with Howard in 2014, awarding him a absurd $one.6 million. Of course, that's chump change to Kudrow, who is worth virtually $90 million.
David Schwimmer'south Neighbors Hated Him
Fifty-fifty celebrities who are popular the world over have to deal with the same day-to-twenty-four hour period troubles as us average Joes. In 2010, David Schwimmer purchased a townhouse in New York's East Village and decided to tear downward the building for a renovation.
The townhouse had stood intact since 1852, so information technology wasn't actually surprising when anonymous neighbors had a bone to option with the Friends star. The neighbor in question spray-painted "Ross Is Non Cool" in giant messages on the construction site fence. (Mature, right?) But similar his sitcom character, Schwimmer wasn't the nearly pop person in the neighborhood.
And One Friend Was Arrested…
While some celebrities deal with the hard-partying lifestyle at the height of their careers, others take that route a tad earlier. Matt LeBlanc was i of those early bloomers: He was arrested twice for drunk driving, something he kept a secret until after Friends wrapped.
"When I was immature and stupid [the arrests happened]," LeBlanc confessed to the hosts of Meridian Gear, a show about cars. "I wasn't driving fast, just crooked." Luckily for LeBlanc, keeping tight-lipped about the incidents meant that the printing never dug upward his mugshots, which would take been some bad PR for a testify that presented such a squeaky-clean version of life.
Jennifer Aniston Hated "The Rachel"
If you didn't live through the '90s, y'all'll never understand just how popular "The Rachel" was at the time. Named after Jennifer Anniston's iconic short, layered hairstyle, the manner prompted women across the land to rush into salons, asking for the look. Despite it being pop with fans and boyfriend celebs alike, Aniston actually hated the cut.
"[It] was kind of cringey for me," Aniston admitted, later adding that it was "the ugliest haircut I've ever seen." Aniston's hairstylist, Chris McMillan, admitted that The Rachel was really born from a mistake. McMillan confessed to taking "a bit of green" earlier Aniston's appointment, which led to him accidentally buzzing her hair. Needless to say, his creative problem-solving led to an unrivaled hairstyle tendency.
David Schwimmer Struggled with Fame
Of the six main cast members, David Schwimmer has always been the least likely to enjoy the limelight. In fact, he struggled with his newfound fame — and with existence so associated with his character — to the point that he has shied away from on-screen roles in one case Friends concluded.
"It was pretty jarring, and it messed with my relationship to other people in a way that took years, I think, for me to kind of adjust to and go comfy with," Schwimmer admitted. "It made me want to hide nether a baseball cap." Meanwhile, Matt LeBlanc found himself having a almost-nervous breakdown afterwards the show — and the failed spin-off Joey — ended, fifty-fifty telling his agent, "Delight lose my number for a few years."
At that place Was One Thing Lisa Kudrow Refused to Do…
Ten-time Emmy nominee (and one-fourth dimension winner) Lisa Kudrow is a adult female of many talents. However, there is 1 skill she refused to choice up, despite what Phoebe's character description called for initially.
While fans accept a soft spot for Phoebe'due south terrible guitar playing — "Smelly Cat," anyone? — the writers wrote her to be a talented musician. Funnily plenty, Kudrow hated playing the guitar and refused to learn in those early on seasons, fifty-fifty later on the Friends crew called in a tutor for her. "I wasn't getting it," Kudrow said, recalling her failed attempts to learn guitar. "I remember I even asked, 'What if she plays the bongos?'"
A Lot of Suffering Went into the At present Iconic Opening Credits
The bear witness'south title sequence is one of its most iconic features, but when it came to shooting the montage, the actors were put through the wringer. The shoot started at four in the morning, and, by Burbank, California, standards, it was a cold morning time. Exhausted, Jennifer Aniston had a difficult time grasping the concept — formal article of clothing, umbrellas, splashing in a fountain? — but all that pain and suffering and freezing paid off.
Not only is the championship sequence amazing, but it's nearly impossible to split the backing song from the sitcom. When Friends' creators asked the Rembrandts to write a theme song, the band quickly churned out "I'll Be There for You." Originally, the vocal was just long enough for the credits, but the ring had to complete a full rails to stop radio DJs from cobbling together their own "total versions."
The Cast Wanted to Pass up a Now Archetype Plot Line
In "The I with the Cat," a feline friend emerges from Phoebe's guitar instance, causing the hapless musician to think that the cat in question is a reincarnation of her late female parent. Sure, Phoebe has had her fair share of weird plot lines, but for the bandage and writers, this ane felt a niggling too weird.
Allegedly, the episode fabricated the cut because it was pitched by co-creator Marta Kauffman after the passing of her own mother. Needless to say, no ane felt comfortable voicing their criticisms. When it came to another storyline, however, the cast did speak up: Most of the cast members, including Matt LeBlanc, hated the Rachel/Joey pairing and the ensuing beloved story.
Jennifer Aniston Didn't Invite Her Castmates to Her Wedding
When she married Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston cordially sent wedding invitations to her Friends co-stars. Nonetheless, despite however beingness close off-screen, the guys didn't quite make the cutting when it came to Aniston's wedlock to Justin Theroux in 2015.
It was a small nuptials — but seventy guests — then while Matthew Perry said he was surprised to take been skipped over, he was nonetheless happy for the couple. Aniston, who is the godmother of Courteney Cox'south daughter and who nonetheless keeps upwardly a group text thread with Cox and Kudrow, did invite the women of Friends to her second wedding.
The Prove Didn't Fare Too Well at the Emmys
Despite having 6 top-billed actors and legions of fans, Friends didn't fare all that well when it came to awards flavor. After a decade on the air — and hordes of extremely zealous fans — the testify walked away with just four Emmy wins, one for Outstanding Comedy Serial in 2002, one for Directing in a Comedy Series in 1996, and two for acting.
Of the 6 stars, just Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow nabbed Emmys. Aniston won for Atomic number 82 Actress in 2002 and Kudrow, despite having the aforementioned billing every bit Aniston, won for Supporting Extra in 1998. Surprisingly, the only Friends bandage member to non receive an Emmy nomination was Courteney Cox. Meanwhile, merely Aniston, Kudrow, and LeBlanc received Golden Globe nominations — and Aniston was the only victor, winning in 2003.
While Filming the Testify, Matthew Perry Navigated Living with Habit
Navigating newfound fame can testify difficult, but some of the Friends cast members struggled more than others. For Matthew Perry, dealing with a new way of life led to addiction. Although his addictions were kept under wraps at the fourth dimension, Perry has since been pretty candid about his recovery.
Between seasons three and 6, Perry was addicted to both alcohol and pills — although the former addiction started well before the Friends fame set in. The actor noted that he was often "painfully hungover" on prepare, leading him to bank check into rehab a few times. These days, a sober Perry has dedicated his time to helping other addicts find back up and navigate the recovery process.
Co-Creators Wanted to Pair an Unlikely Couple Together…
Although Ross and Rachel ended up being the evidence's fundamental pairing, producers initially had some other ability couple in heed. According to co-creator Marta Kauffman, they had intended to have Monica and Joey become together because "they just seemed the most sexual of the characters."
Luckily, Monica ended up with Chandler — and the rest is history. Even so, it's clear that the minds behind Friends always saw Monica every bit a sex-positive, confident character. In the very get-go episode, Monica slept with someone afterwards their first engagement, which NBC execs idea would turn viewers off. Thankfully, the studio audience had no problem with Monica'due south decision and loved her just every bit she was written.
The Bandage Was Afraid of One of Their Co-Stars at Start
While Joey is a lovable, teddy behave-like guy, Matt LeBlanc'south castmates didn't meet him that fashion in the start. In fact, they were a trivial intimidated by him. Reportedly, LeBlanc'southward past — a stint every bit a model and being raised by a rough-and-tough mechanic — made the other actors a flake wary.
Non to mention, the only thing they knew about LeBlanc's on-screen persona was that he was a existent womanizer. "I was scared of that blazon of guy," Jennifer Aniston recalled. "He thinks information technology'due south very funny now. And, really, he can sit down and comfort me but like Courteney or Lisa could."
As far as actually scary castmates get, the duck might take the cake: Lisa Kudrow was terrified of birds and hated having to share the screen with an actual duck.
An Airport Scene Was Cut Later on nine/11
Fifty-fifty on her honeymoon, Monica is the Type-A, slightly pushy graphic symbol we all know and honey. During the episode, she and Chandler end up competing with another couple, who seem to be merely ane step ahead of the Geller-Bings the whole trip. Although the storyline works well, information technology wasn't the initial premise.
In the original version, Monica and Chandler got bumped to start class, only to exist pulled aside by airport security. Chandler, beingness Chandler, made a joke about a bomb. The episode was slated to air just ii weeks later the events of ix/11, and so NBC speedily called for reshoots. Afterwards on, the original scenes were released so that fans could enjoy them.
The Cast Banded Together to Inquire for Pay Raises
One of the great things about Friends? The 6 core characters all received equal billing throughout the run of the show. In fact, the writers initially had a pie chart taped to the wall and then they could even out the number of lines and jokes for each character.
During the offset season, the actors each made $22,000 per episode, giving them equal monetary footing also. The second season saw them beingness paid unevenly, which led to the six actors banding together to need equal pay for season three. Led past David Schwimmer, the cast teamed up over again to negotiate for higher final season salaries. The outcome? Each histrion made a whopping $1 million per episode.
Matthew Perry Almost Went with a Different Pilot
At the time, David Schwimmer, an L.A. Law alum who had merely ended a run on a short-lived show called Monty, and Courteney Cox, who was known for Family Ties and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, were the most well known of the six friends. Withal, it was Matthew Perry who became a hot commodity during airplane pilot season.
The same year Perry landed Friends, he shot the pilot for LAX 2194, a show most airport luggage handlers who worked for aliens. Hoping this intergalactic travel bear witness wouldn't make it, Friends showrunners took a gamble and cast Perry. Could there BE a safer bet? We call back not.
Two of the 6 Friends Were About Supporting Characters
While the cast concluded upward getting equal billing — and equal pay — the evidence wasn't always conceived as having half dozen starring roles. In fact, co-creator Marta Kauffman and David Crane had wanted the story to focus on four of the friends: Rachel, Ross, Monica, and Joey. (This probably explains their early, misguided desire to pair Monica with Joey.)
That's right — Phoebe and Chandler were meant to be supporting characters. Thankfully, things changed during the casting procedure, and the writers developed all six of the now-beloved "Friends" on equal footing. This is made even more perplexing when you learn that the part of Phoebe, then a supporting role, was offered to the wildly popular comedian Ellen DeGeneres.
The Iconic Frame on the Door Was an Advertising Hoc Conclusion
The flat that Monica inherits is iconic for and then many reasons. Non only is it the dream New York flat — there's so much closet space! — simply since so many of the Friends live there at some signal and continue to drop in oft, it'southward chock full of memories. Royal paint aside, the most memorable characteristic of the apartment is that yellow picture frame hanging over the door's peephole.
Originally, the frame was serving its typical purpose, but someone knocked into the table it was resting on and broke the frame's glass. Set director Greg Grande got artistic and decided to use it as some door decor. At that place are plenty of apartment fun facts, merely our favorite — and Joey'southward favorite — is that the fridge actually worked and was used to store beverages and snacks for the bandage and coiffure.
Source: https://www.ask.com/entertainment/friends-bts-tv-secrets?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740004%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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