What Happened to Late Night on Hbo Now
And then, no one told you the fanbase was gonna exist this way, huh? Friends, which turned 25 two years ago, was named the 2d-most streamed show in the world past Nielsen. To appease diehard viewers, Netflix even paid WarnerMedia a staggering $100 meg for an additional 12 months of streaming rights.
But, these days, HBO is the streaming service that's winning the game (and the lightning round) when it comes to Friends content. Namely, the reunion fans have hoped for since the show'southward finale is finally coming to laissez passer on HBO and HBO Max on Th, May 27. That'south correct — you tin stream it at present.
Appropriately titled "The One Where They Get Dorsum Together," the official trailer for the Friends reunion shows all six stars — Jennifer Aniston (Rachel), Courteney Cox (Monica), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe), Matt LeBlanc (Joey), Matthew Perry (Chandler), and David Schwimmer (Ross) — on the show's original soundstage in Burbank. In add-on to giving fans a candid look at their real-life friendships, the bandage tests their knowledge of the show, revisits some dearest sets, and partakes in a few surehoped-for-funny table reads. And, yeah, there's a live studio audience — at least for the interview portions.
Without a doubtfulness, this express joy-out-loud sitcom created an idealized version of what it'south similar to navigate life with your best friends in your 20s — and so much so that it has get tv's version of condolement food. Luckily, there are still some behind-the-scenes secrets that even the almost passionate Friends fanatics don't know — and we're taking a wait at them alongside the release of HBO's Friends reunion. Could we Exist any more excited?!
Information technology Wasn't Ever Called Friends
What's in a proper noun? Well, a lot, especially if your sitcom becomes one of the most dearest TV shows of all fourth dimension. Just before creators settled on Friends, quite a few unlike titles were thrown around behind the scenes.
When the testify was pitched, creators titled it "Insomnia Café," but that rapidly changed to the more straightforward "Friends Like Us." Later the pilot had been ordered, an NBC exec slapped the name "Across the Hall" on the prove, and while the airplane pilot was beingness filmed, the sitcom was dubbed "Six of 1." In the finish, the simplest title won out — thank goodness.
The Episode Naming Convention Was Done for 1 Reason…
Upon reflection, the sitcom's episode naming convention seems pretty bright. When you're chatting with pals about TV, it'south oft difficult to retrieve the names of episodes, making it easier to say, "Oh, information technology's the ane with the football," or whatever detail stands out most.
As fans know, each episode is titled "The One with the ___," just this vernacular naming convention wasn't necessarily done out of cleverness. "We'd been on enough shows where people spent so much fourth dimension trying to come up with clever, punning titles," co-creator David Crane told Today. "So, I thought of the way you always talk almost an episode." It'due south non lazy, per se, but it's certainly efficient.
Matt LeBlanc Was Broke Earlier Landing the Bear witness
Before landing his now iconic function of Joey Tribbiani, Matt LeBlanc was the epitome of the struggling role player stereotype. Living from gig to gig, LeBlanc had just $eleven in his bank business relationship when he nailed his Friends audience.
In an interview with Conan O'Brien, LeBlanc recalled that he was near at the end of his rope — he could barely afford food — and was looking to supplement his income with a second job in the food service industry. Of form, things worked out for the histrion, whose net worth now totals $80 1000000.
The Final Episode Proved Nightmarish for the Makeup Department
When you think of Friends, an all-encompassing pilus and makeup upkeep isn't exactly something that comes to mind. Given the "mundane" nature of the show — twenty-somethings navigating life in New York — the costumes weren't exactly improvident either.
All the same, when shooting the series finale, the hair and makeup department had their piece of work cut out for them. Overwhelmed that things were finally wrapping upwards, the cast kept crying between scenes. "I don't think we [ever took] more time in hair and makeup," Jennifer Aniston told Oprah during a grouping interview with the cast.
The Cast Bonded on a Trip to Las Vegas
While the serial of episodes set up in Las Vegas are iconic, fans volition be delighted to know that the cast enjoyed Nevada's infamous Strip together long earlier those storylines came to fruition. Before shooting the airplane pilot, director James Burrows took the six main cast members on a trip to Vegas, assuring them that this was their last hazard to bask anonymity.
Reportedly, Burrows was then certain Friends would launch the 6 actors into superstardom, he lent them money for gambling. The trip proved to be a great bonding moment for the cast, who would famously huddle upwards, similar a squad getting pumped, before shooting episodes. A cherry on top of the sundae? Those Vegas-based episodes are a nod to the trip that started it all.
1 Notable Side Character Got His Role by Risk
Known only every bit Gunther, this salty, Rachel-loving barista from Cardinal Perk quickly became a fan-favorite side grapheme. Fifty-fifty the duck and the chick have zip on James Michael Tyler's blonde-haired, necktie-wearing coffee connoisseur.
However, what fans might not realize is that Tyler landed his part for a rather practical reason. According to One-act Central, he was bandage every bit a nameless extra, but, when the show needed someone to piece of work the espresso auto, Tyler stepped forrard. That'south correct — knowing how to mash a fine cup of coffee can help yous snag an iconic office.
Ane of the Friends Almost Didn't Return for the Final Season
Despite making $i million dollars per episode, breakout star Jennifer Aniston most didn't return for the sitcom's last season. An international star in her own right, she was landing motion picture roles and in the middle of her tabloid-loved matrimony to superstar Brad Pitt.
Aniston was hesitant to render for a 10th season, because she wanted Friends to exit on top. At the end of the 9th season, ratings looked proficient, and fans were still clamoring for the sitcom. On a personal level, she wasn't sure she could play Rachel for much longer, which, in the terminate, led to a substantially shorter final season.
Phoebe's Pregnancy Storyline Wasn't Planned
Over the years, many sitcoms have worked around actors' real-life pregnancies in interesting ways. Fellow '90s sitcom Seinfeld made a addiction of putting large objects in front of Julie Louis-Dreyfus' grapheme to conceal her baby crash-land. When Lisa Kudrow was meaning, Friends took a different approach.
Instead of hiding her behind prepare dressings or giving her overly large sweaters to wear, the Friends team decided to write a pregnancy storyline for Phoebe, Kudrow'southward graphic symbol. Since Phoebe wasn't dating anyone seriously at the time, writers had to get artistic, which led to the wild plotline of Phoebe interim as a surrogate for her brother and his married woman.
NBC Didn't Want the Hangout to be a Java Store
Dorsum when the evidence's creators pitched Friends to NBC, it was kind of a adventure. Although Tv set 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 time. Needless to say, execs gave creators quite a few notes.
Commencement, NBC execs idea the coffee shop was too "hip." Now, 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 Central Perk for a diner. Some other annotation? NBC suggested calculation a wise, advice-giving character, but, luckily, "Pat the Cop," was nixed by the Friends creative squad.
Courteney Cox Was Offered a Different Role Initially
Although diehards at present tin 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 beginning. Will & Grace star Eric McCormack auditioned for Ross, even though the part was allegedly written with David Schwimmer in mind.
Several hereafter invitee stars initially auditioned for leading roles: The Simpsons Hank Azaria tried out for Joey, Glee'south Jane Lynch tried her manus at Phoebe and The Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau auditioned for Chandler. Perhaps the strangest? Producers idea Courteney Cox would make a slap-up Rachel, simply, luckily, Cox, who was one of the most well-known actors on the evidence at the time, really wanted to play Monica.
1 Large Element of the Serial Finale Was Planned from the Start
Fans today notwithstanding either bemoan or celebrate Rachel's decision to become off the plane to Paris, thus sacrificing her dream career for Ross. However, the sitcom'due south ultimate volition-they-won't-they couple catastrophe up together was non-negotiable for the evidence's co-creators, David Crane and Marta Kauffman.
"The only thing we absolutely knew from very early on was that we 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 see any reward in frustrating them." To continue this under wraps, producers claimed they filmed the real ending without a studio audience. Although information technology was untrue, this was a smart way to proceed audiences guessing.
Matt LeBlanc Desperately Injured Himself on Gear up
Nearly fans will call back a third-season episode in which Joey wears a sling, something that'southward explained away as an injury the character sustained while jumping on his bed. While this fits with Joey'south personality to a "T," the injury really had real-life origins.
While on set up, Matt LeBlanc filmed a scene that involved both him and Matthew Perry running for a comfy chair. The ii ended up colliding, and, while comical, it besides resulted in LeBlanc's very real shoulder injury. When it happened, nosotros tin can't help but wonder if anyone on set asked him, "How you doin'?"
Lisa Kudrow Was Sued for Breach of Contract
Although Friends came to an end in 2004, Lisa Kudrow was still dealing with the backwash in 2008. That year, she ended her contract with her longtime manager Scott Howard, so he sued her, claiming Kudrow withal owed him residuals for Friends reruns.
Kudrow claimed that she didn't owe him anything — specially not the whopping ten% he was asking for — later the contract dissolved. However, the judge ended up siding with Howard in 2014, application him a cool $1.6 million. Of class, that's chump alter to Kudrow, who is worth about $90 1000000.
David Schwimmer's Neighbors Hated Him
Even celebrities who are popular the world over have to bargain with the same day-to-day troubles equally us boilerplate Joes. In 2010, David Schwimmer purchased a townhouse in New York's East Hamlet and decided to tear down the edifice for a renovation.
The townhouse had stood intact since 1852, so it wasn't really surprising when anonymous neighbors had a os to option with the Friends star. The neighbour in question spray-painted "Ross Is Not Cool" in behemothic letters on the construction site fence. (Mature, right?) Just like his sitcom character, Schwimmer wasn't the almost popular 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 one of those early on bloomers: He was arrested twice for boozer driving, something he kept a secret until after Friends wrapped.
"When I was young and stupid [the arrests happened]," LeBlanc confessed to the hosts of Meridian Gear, a prove near cars. "I wasn't driving fast, just kleptomaniacal." Luckily for LeBlanc, keeping tight-lipped about the incidents meant that the press never dug upwardly his mugshots, which would take been some bad PR for a prove that presented such a squeaky-clean version of life.
Jennifer Aniston Hated "The Rachel"
If yous didn't alive through the '90s, you'll never understand but how popular "The Rachel" was at the time. Named afterward Jennifer Anniston's iconic brusque, layered hairstyle, the fashion prompted women across the country to rush into salons, asking for the look. Despite it being popular with fans and swain celebs alike, Aniston really hated the cutting.
"[It] was kind of cringey for me," Aniston admitted, later adding that information technology was "the ugliest haircut I've always seen." Aniston's hairstylist, Chris McMillan, admitted that The Rachel was really built-in from a mistake. McMillan confessed to taking "a bit of green" before Aniston's appointment, which led to him accidentally buzzing her hair. Needless to say, his artistic problem-solving led to an unrivaled hairstyle trend.
David Schwimmer Struggled with Fame
Of the six principal cast members, David Schwimmer has ever been the least likely to savor the limelight. In fact, he struggled with his newfound fame — and with beingness so associated with his character — to the point that he has shied away from on-screen roles once 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 get comfy with," Schwimmer admitted. "It made me want to hide under a baseball game cap." Meanwhile, Matt LeBlanc found himself having a near-nervous breakup afterward the prove — and the failed spin-off Joey — ended, fifty-fifty telling his amanuensis, "Please lose my number for a few years."
There Was Ane Affair Lisa Kudrow Refused to Do…
Ten-fourth dimension Emmy nominee (and one-time winner) Lisa Kudrow is a adult female of many talents. Nevertheless, there is 1 skill she refused to pick up, despite what Phoebe's character description called for initially.
While fans have a soft spot for Phoebe's 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, even after the Friends crew called in a tutor for her. "I wasn't getting information technology," Kudrow said, recalling her failed attempts to larn guitar. "I think I even asked, 'What if she plays the bongos?'"
A Lot of Suffering Went into the At present Iconic Opening Credits
The testify's championship sequence is i of its most iconic features, merely when it came to shooting the montage, the actors were put through the wringer. The shoot started at 4 in the morning, and, by Burbank, California, standards, it was a cold forenoon. Exhausted, Jennifer Aniston had a hard time grasping the concept — formal wear, umbrellas, splashing in a fountain? — but all that hurting and suffering and freezing paid off.
Not only is the title sequence amazing, merely it's nearly impossible to separate 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 plenty for the credits, but the ring had to complete a total track to cease radio DJs from cobbling together their own "full versions."
The Cast Wanted to Reject a Now Archetype Plot Line
In "The One with the Cat," a feline friend emerges from Phoebe's guitar instance, causing the hapless musician to think that the true cat in question is a reincarnation of her belatedly mother. Sure, Phoebe has had her off-white share of weird plot lines, but for the cast and writers, this one felt a piffling too weird.
Allegedly, the episode fabricated the cut because it was pitched past co-creator Marta Kauffman after the passing of her own mother. Needless to say, no ane felt comfy voicing their criticisms. When information technology came to another storyline, however, the bandage did speak upward: Well-nigh of the cast members, including Matt LeBlanc, hated the Rachel/Joey pairing and the ensuing love story.
Jennifer Aniston Didn't Invite Her Castmates to Her Wedding
When she married Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston cordially sent nuptials invitations to her Friends co-stars. Nevertheless, despite all the same existence close off-screen, the guys didn't quite brand the cut when it came to Aniston's marriage to Justin Theroux in 2015.
It was a small wedding — only 70 guests — so while Matthew Perry said he was surprised to take been skipped over, he was still happy for the couple. Aniston, who is the godmother of Courteney Cox's daughter and who still keeps up a group text thread with Cox and Kudrow, did invite the women of Friends to her second wedding.
The Evidence Didn't Fare Too Well at the Emmys
Despite having six top-billed actors and legions of fans, Friends didn't fare all that well when it came to awards flavour. Subsequently a decade on the air — and hordes of extremely zealous fans — the show walked away with only 4 Emmy wins, 1 for Outstanding One-act Series in 2002, i for Directing in a Comedy Series in 1996, and two for interim.
Of the six stars, only Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow nabbed Emmys. Aniston won for Lead Extra in 2002 and Kudrow, despite having the same billing equally Aniston, won for Supporting Extra in 1998. Surprisingly, the only Friends cast member to non receive an Emmy nomination was Courteney Cox. Meanwhile, just Aniston, Kudrow, and LeBlanc received Golden Globe nominations — and Aniston was the only victor, winning in 2003.
While Filming the Show, Matthew Perry Navigated Living with Habit
Navigating newfound fame can prove difficult, but some of the Friends bandage members struggled more than others. For Matthew Perry, dealing with a new way of life led to addiction. Although his addictions were kept nether wraps at the fourth dimension, Perry has since been pretty candid about his recovery.
Between seasons iii and six, Perry was addicted to both alcohol and pills — although the former addiction started well before the Friends fame set up in. The thespian noted that he was oft "painfully hungover" on set, leading him to cheque into rehab a few times. These days, a sober Perry has dedicated his fourth dimension to helping other addicts discover support and navigate the recovery process.
Co-Creators Wanted to Pair an Unlikely Couple Together…
Although Ross and Rachel ended up beingness the show's central pairing, producers initially had some other power couple in mind. Co-ordinate to co-creator Marta Kauffman, they had intended to have Monica and Joey gather because "they just seemed the most sexual of the characters."
Luckily, Monica concluded upwards with Chandler — and the rest is history. Yet, it's articulate that the minds behind Friends always saw Monica as a sex-positive, confident character. In the very first episode, Monica slept with someone after their first date, which NBC execs thought would plough viewers off. Thankfully, the studio audition had no trouble with Monica's decision and loved her just equally she was written.
The Cast Was Afraid of One of Their Co-Stars at First
While Joey is a lovable, teddy behave-similar guy, Matt LeBlanc's castmates didn't see him that mode in the beginning. In fact, they were a little intimidated by him. Reportedly, LeBlanc'due south by — a stint as a model and being raised past a crude-and-tough mechanic — fabricated the other actors a bit wary.
Not to mention, the only matter they knew about LeBlanc's on-screen persona was that he was a real womanizer. "I was scared of that type of guy," Jennifer Aniston recalled. "He thinks it's very funny now. And, actually, he tin sit downwards and condolement me just like Courteney or Lisa could."
As far as actually scary castmates go, 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 After 9/11
Even on her honeymoon, Monica is the Blazon-A, slightly pushy character we all know and love. During the episode, she and Chandler stop upwardly competing with another couple, who seem to be just one footstep alee of the Geller-Bings the whole trip. Although the storyline works well, it wasn't the initial premise.
In the original version, Monica and Chandler got bumped to first grade, but to be pulled bated by airdrome security. Chandler, being Chandler, made a joke near a bomb. The episode was slated to air just two weeks after the events of 9/11, so NBC apace called for reshoots. Afterwards on, the original scenes were released then that fans could enjoy them.
The Cast Banded Together to Ask for Pay Raises
One of the great things nigh Friends? The six 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 then they could even out the number of lines and jokes for each character.
During the first flavour, the actors each fabricated $22,000 per episode, giving them equal monetary footing as well. The 2d flavour saw them being paid unevenly, which led to the six actors banding together to demand equal pay for season three. Led by David Schwimmer, the cast teamed upwards again to negotiate for college final season salaries. The outcome? Each histrion made a whopping $ane meg per episode.
Matthew Perry Almost Went with a Different Pilot
At the time, David Schwimmer, an L.A. Police alum who had just 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 nigh well known of the half dozen friends. However, it was Matthew Perry who became a hot article during airplane pilot flavour.
The aforementioned yr Perry landed Friends, he shot the pilot for LAX 2194, a prove about drome baggage handlers who worked for aliens. Hoping this intergalactic travel evidence wouldn't brand it, Friends showrunners took a gamble and bandage Perry. Could there Be a safer bet? Nosotros call back not.
Two of the Half dozen Friends Were Almost Supporting Characters
While the bandage ended upward getting equal billing — and equal pay — the show wasn't always conceived as having six 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 on, misguided desire to pair Monica with Joey.)
That'southward right — Phoebe and Chandler were meant to exist supporting characters. Thankfully, things changed during the casting procedure, and the writers developed all six of the at present-dear "Friends" on equal footing. This is made even more perplexing when y'all acquire that the part of Phoebe, and then a supporting role, was offered to the wildly pop comedian Ellen DeGeneres.
The Iconic Frame on the Door Was an Advert Hoc Decision
The apartment that Monica inherits is iconic for then many reasons. Not but is it the dream New York apartment — there'south and so much closet space! — but since so many of the Friends live there at some point and continue to drop in oftentimes, it's brimming total of memories. Purple paint aside, the most memorable characteristic of the apartment is that yellowish motion picture frame hanging over the door'due south peephole.
Originally, the frame was serving its typical purpose, merely someone knocked into the table it was resting on and broke the frame's glass. Set director Greg Grande got creative and decided to utilize it as some door decor. In that location are plenty of apartment fun facts, but our favorite — and Joey's favorite — is that the refrigerator really worked and was used to store beverages and snacks for the cast and crew.
Source: https://www.ask.com/entertainment/friends-bts-tv-secrets?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740004%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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