38 Facts You Probably Don't Know About 'Friends' | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

38 Facts You Probably Don't Know About 'Friends'

How well have you paid attention while watching your favorite sitcom?

1044
38 Facts You Probably Don't Know About 'Friends'
Independent.co.uk

Friends is a sitcom that almost everyone has fallen in love with since in aired in the early nineties. I believe it's safe to say most people have seen every episode a million times and could pretty much recite every line from their favorite episodes. In 10 seasons and 236 episodes, the world went head over heels for the amazing friendship that Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross shared. Everyone thinks they know everything there is to know about Friends, but are you certain you know it all? Here are 38 facts that you might not have known about Friends:

1. Monica + Joey = Perfect Match!--Monica and Joey were originally intended to be love interests.

2. The actor that plays Joshua's father is actually Matthew Perry's father in real life.

3. "The One Where No One's Ready" takes place entirely in Monica and Rachel's apartment because the show was on a budget and they didn't have enough money for additional sets or guest stars at the time.

4. James Michael Taylor scored the role of Gunther because he was the only extra that was able to operate the expresso machine and didn't have a line until the 33rd episode--his line was 'yeah'.

5. In "The One with The Dollhouse" they had to make six different versions because they kept setting on fire while filming.

6. Ellen DeGeneres turned down the offer to play Phoebe.

7. Lisa Kudrow played Ursula on "Mad About You" two years before Friends aired, so the producers made that her twin sister to create a cross-over between the two shows.

8. When Rachel is trying to find someone to officiate Chandler an Monica's wedding, she is seen outside of the Anastassakis wedding, which is Aniston's family name.

9. Both refrigerators in the girl's and boy's apartments actually worked and that is why so many scene start off with someone going in the fridge.

10. Phoebe's brother, Frank Jr. actually appears a few seasons before his character is created, throwing something in her guitar case while playing outside of Central Perk.

11. An average episode of Friends took about five hours to film and David Schwimmer directed 10 episodes himself.

12. Joey, also known as Dr. Drake Ramoray, plays a fictional character in NBC's soap opera Days of Our Lives, and in real life, Aniston's father (John Aniston) plays Victor Kiriakis on the actual soap opera.

13. Every episode was filmed in front of a live studio audience, except for cliffhangers.

14. In the pilot Monica forget the name of the guy she slept with the night before and producers were worried this would give off the wrong impression so they asked the studio audience in a survey if they should change it, but they didn't think so.

15. Joey and Chandler's big white dog actually belonged to Jennifer Aniston--it was a good-luck gift from a friend from when the show first started.

16. Phoebe and Chandler were originally meant to be support characters.

Lisa Kudrow also thought Chandler's character was gay when reading the script for the first time.

17. If you notice the numbers on the apartments changed from 5 and 4 to 20 and 19 because the writers thought that it wouldn't make sense since they were meant to live much higher considering their balcony and view from the window.

18. Friends was almost called a number of different things, but the writers had it down to either Friends or Insomnia Cafe.

I think we all can agree they went with the better choice.

19. The cast would huddle before each show for good luck.

20. Ross and Rachel's relationship wasn't meant to be the central relationship of the series, but the two simply displayed such obvious chemistry, that it just sort of happened.

21. Joey wasn't intended to be portrayed as dumb, Matt LeBlanc suggested it.

22. Courteney had to film the episode where Rachel has a baby right after having a miscarriage.

23. The actress who played Estelle Leonard, Joey's agent, also played the nurse in the episode where Ben is born in season one.

24. The role of Ross was created, intending for it to be made for David Schwimmer and he was the first member to be casted on the show, while Jennifer Aniston was the last of the six to be casted.

25. Marcel was played by two monkeys, Katie and Monkey.

26. Ross stayed 29 for three years.

27. Producers asked Courteney Cox to play Rachel, but she wanted to play Monica because she loved how strong of a character she was.

28. The orange couch was found in the basement of the Warner Bros. Studio.

29. Phoebe's pregnancy, having her brother's triplets, was written into the show because she was pregnant in real life, along with Jennifer's pregnancy later on in the series, however, Courteney's pregnancy was not.

30. Bruce Willis appeared on the show for free after losing a bet to Matthew Perry.

31. David the scientist auditioned for the role of Joey twice before the show was set for production.

32. Kudrow wasn't a fan of the duck or playing the guitar at first.

33. Chandler was written in as a guy who was awkward around women because Matthew Perry told them he was himself.

34. The Friends cast was the first cast in history to come forward as a group to negotiate a increase in salary--they went from $22,000 in the first season, to receiving $100,000 per episode.

35. Aniston almost didn't return for the final season.

36. When the series ended each cast member was given a piece of the sidewalk outside Central Perk as a keepsake.

37. In the last episode they say that everyone has lived in Monica's apartment, but actually they all have lived in Joey's apartment.

38. When the series ended, Jennifer Aniston and husband at the time, Brad Pitt, had a dinner party to celebrate and they drank bottles of wine that were saved from when the show first aired.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190441
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

15033
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457951
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26689
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments