26 years later, FRIENDS is still one of the most beloved TV Series of all time. From teenagers to adults, ad even kids everyone has loved the series since its beginning 26 years earlier and has the same amount of love for the show even now. We can never get enough of the show and can stream the show multiple times without actually getting bored ever.
From Chandler’s sarcasm to Monica’s neat freak attitude, the show has established a place in its viewer’s hearts that no other series can replace for many years to come. With the FRIENDS cast doing reunions courtesy of Jennifer Anniston and Courtney Cox’s Instagram and the rumors circulating a FRIENDS reunion being planned, fans of the show cannot express their happiness.
The show ruled our television screens for more than a decade, from 1994-2004, and is now ruling our hearts. Fans of the show made sure that the series became the most-watched of all time and have been loyal ever since. With FRIENDS taking an ext from Netflix to be made available for streaming in May on HBO Max, fans of the show have a little time to catch up on some interesting facts related to the cast and the show.
Here we have gathered some of the interesting and fun facts related to your favorite TV series, FRIENDS. Without wasting any time, let’s jump straight to the fun part!
40 Interesting Facts About The FRIENDS TV Series
- Joey(Matt LeBlanc) was broke when he auditioned for his role on the series
When Matt LeBlanc auditioned for the role of Joey, he only had $11 in his pocket. He bought himself a grand dinner when he got his first paycheck.
- Originally, Joey and Monica were supposed to be a couple
The producers of the show wanted a romantic setup between Monica and Joey but later on, when they saw David and Rachel’s chemistry, they dropped the idea.
- Gunther was not supposed to have a speaking part in the series
Gunther’s first word ever on the show was “Yeah” that too after being on a silent mode for almost 33 episodes.
- FRIENDS theme song became the #1 American Pop Chart of that time
The original theme song for the show was supposed to be “Shiny Happy People” by R.E.M but later on, was changed to “I’ll Be There For You” by the Rembrandts and became an instant hit.
- There were other titles considered for the show like “Friends Like Us”, “Insomnia Cafe”, and “Six of One”
There was a long list of alternate titles to be used for the series but later the creators went on with F.R.I.E.N.D.S hence making the right choice.
- Phoebe’s pregnancy was originally not a part of the script
Lisa Kudrow became pregnant during season 4 of the series and hence the makers decided to bring up the storyline of Phoebe being a surrogate to her brother.
- Courtney Cox is the only member who did not receive a nomination in the Emmy Awards
Sadly, Courtney Cox was the only one amongst the leading cast members who was not nominated for the prestigious awards. Not only incase of FRIENDS, but she also has never received an Emmy nomination in her entire career.
- Chandler was the only friend who did not leave his job intentionally
At one point or the other, all of the friends in the group changed their jobs at least once but Chandler was the only one who never changed his job involuntarily.
- Phoebe and Chandler were meant to be supporting actors in the first place
Makers of the show wanted to keep the group of four friends with Phoebe and Chandler as supporting actors but changed their plans after seeing the popularity of their characters.
- The orange couch in Central perk cafe was found in the basement of WB studio
The orange couch used in the cafe has an interesting story. It was never supposed to be used as a prop but was found lying in the basement of Warner Bros Studios and makers decided to use it.
- Courtney Cox became pregnant at the end of the show and her pregnancy was kept hidden
Courtney announced her pregnancy towards the ending of the season but it had to be kept as a secret as Monica was not able to conceive during the show.
- Joey’s white dog statue was originally a present given to Jennifer Anniston
The dog statue was gifted to Anniston by her best friend as a good luck sign but she offered to use it for show and was later kept by the producers.
- Lead characters made $1 million per episode by the end of the series
The lead characters started working together on the show with an equal paycheck of $22,500 but by the end of the series, the ratings had skyrocketed leading to the actors receiving paychecks of $1 million each. Talk about success!!!
- Pheobe’s role was given to Ellen Degeneres but she turned it down
It was Ellen Degeneres who was the makers first choice for playing Phoebe but refused to be a part of the show and later the role went to Lisa Kudrow. Guess destiny had its plans 😉
- Bruce Willis did not take a single penny for his guest appearance on the show
Willis made an appearance on the show because he had made a bet with Mathew Perry and lost it. As a result of which he was asked to make a short appearance on the show. Nevertheless, this short stint got him an Emy award for “Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series”.
- Can you guess how much Joey owed to chandler at the end of the series?
Joey owed Chandler an estimated amount of $114,260 by the end of the series
- Lisa Kudrow thought Chandler was gay when she first read the script
While reading the script for the first time, Lisa Kudrow actually thought that Mathew Perry’s character was gay. Guess Candler’s humor had a different effect on girls.
- Phoebe was originally supposed to be a goth girl with a dark character
The makers wanted Phoebe as a Goth girl at heart with a pretty dark character. Just imagine Ursula as a gothic girl with a darker personality. That’s what Phoebe was supposed to play. Good enough the makers did not stick to the original pla(In phoebe’s voice)
- Jennifer Anniston was the last one to be signed as one of the leads
Rachel’s auditions were a complete disaster and makers were not sure if Jennifer Aniston could play the role with perfection. At the time of the show, she was still new to the industry but she proved herself worthy of the role with time.
- Courtney Cox was originally offered the role of Rachel
Initially, it was Courtney who was offered the role of Rachel but she turned it down saying that Monica was a more powerful role and she would love to play that.
- Courtney Cox is a neat freak just like her character Monica
Courtney Cox was similar to her character Monica in many ways. One being a cleanliness freak just like her. “She is adorable and intelligent and has the neatest dressing room on the sets” Said Kauffman(co-creator of the show)
- The set became tensed because of Ross’s pet monkey
The role of Ross’s pet Marcel was played by two monkeys “Monkey” and “Katie”. In reality, David couldn’t form a stronger bond with the monkeys and eventually, it became time-consuming to shoot with them.
- Courtney Cox was the only popular cast member at the beginning of the show
Cortney was known to fame way before Friends happened. She had appeared in multiple TV commercials and also starred in Bruce Springsteen’s music video.
- Ross’s character was made keeping David Schwimmer in mind
David had auditioned for the role one year prior for the pilot the creators were making. When Friends started, David was offered the role. He wasn’t asked to audition for the role of Ross as David was always the choice.
- Courtney Cox and Monica shared the same hindrances while having a child
Courtney had been trying to have a child for years just like Monica. Courtney and her then-husband David Arquette eventually became parents to a beautiful girl “Coco Arquette” but their journey to becoming parents wasn’t an easy one. Guess who is Coco’s Godmother?
- The cast demanded equal pay by the end of series
By the end of the series, each of the leading cast members had become very popular and their paychecks were different from each other. But the cast worked together as a group and made sure that all of them were being paid equally($1 million)
- All their names were taken from the soap opera “All My Children”
The creators of the show were a big-time soap opera lover and all the character name references from “All My Children”. For example, Phoebe was taken from “Phoebe Tyler Wallingford” and Rachels’s last name was taken from “Janet Green”.
- Before the show went on air, the 6 cast members went on a Las Vegas trip
Friends director “James Burrows” was very confident that the show would become a huge success and took the 6 cast members on a trip to La Vegas before the premiere of the show.
- Not only fans but the cast also hated Joey and Rachel
No one, no one ever wanted to see the two friends getting involved in a romantic relation. Neither the fans nor the cast members like the idea of the two together and immediately convinced the producers not to stretch the storyline anymore.
- Matt LeBlanc took up an unhealthy habit by the end of the series
When the show was preceding towards its ending, it was emotional for every single person involved on the sets. But it was Matt LeBlanc who could not handle the pain of the show ending and took upon his habit of smoking to cope with it.
- Joey and Pheobe were supposed to have a secret relationship
Both Lisa Kudrow and Matt Leblanc had pitched the idea of their characters having a secret relationship(hook-up) to the show’s producers. But they weren’t quite happy with it and quickly rejected the idea.
- The cast demanded equal pay by the end of series
By the end of the series, each of the leading cast members had become very popular and their paychecks were different from each other. But the cast worked together as a group and made sure that all of them were being paid equally($1 million)
- Courtney had gone through a miscarriage when Rachel was about to give birth
While Rachel was bringing Emma to this beautiful world on-screen, Courtney Cox was going through the pain of losing a child. It was a very difficult time of her life and coming to set daily was not easy for her.
- Jennifer was almost out of the show
As per sources, Jennifer Anniston was dealing with a few issues by the end of the series and did not how much of Rachel she could handle. But eventually, she agreed to be a part of the show till its end.
Bonus: Jennifer Anniston is Coco Arquette’s Godmother
- Cole Sprouse was in love with Rachel
Cole Sprouse(the actor who played Ben) was in awe of Jennifer Anniston and would often end up forgetting his lines and getting all shy and mushy in front of her.
- Paul had a dreamy audition for the role of Mike
Mike’s auditions weren’t going as expected and no one was a perfect fit to play his role. When Paul Rudd agreed to do a one-time read with Lisa Kudrow, casting director Leslie Litt could not take her eyes off of Paul and wrote dreamy in her notes.
- The show struggled to keep up with NBC’s changing standards throughout the time
During an interview with Vanity Fair, co-creators Crane and Kauffman expressed that due to NBC’s changing broadcast standards they kept struggling to use a few words during the run time.
- Ross stayed 29 for three years
A simple writing goof during the 3rd, 4th, and 5th seasons of the show did not let Ross age for three years. During three seasons Ross stayed 29 only.
- Jennifer Anniston was not a fan of Rachel
The iconic short haircut with full-body layers often known as “The Rachel hair-cut” became a huge problem for Jennifer Anniston. She couldn’t style her hair without taking the help of a stylist.
- A reunion is on cards for the die-hard fans of F.R.I.E.N.D.S
Ever since the show has ended, one thing the fans have ever wanted is a reunion of the cast. Their wishes may come true as rumors around the reunion have been going on for a long time. In 2019, HBO even announced that the cast is coming together to shoot a reunion that may be titled “The One Where They All Got Back Together”.
If you are a true FRIENDS fan, you already knew all of these facts but if you learned something new from this article share it with us in the comments below.