Like, do you think it'll ever be a sitcom classic? Not at the level of, say, "I Love Lucy" or "All in the Family," but just a classic in itself?

Because when you think about it, there was never anything particularly unique about "Friends," other than it was one of the few shows to be a true ensemble and be about twentysomethings. It was pretty much a formulaic kind of show, except that it was actually funny and thought-out.

I would just hate to see the show be forgotten years from now.

Originally posted by slackermonkey
I would just hate to see the show be forgotten years from now.

I would hate to see the show be forgotten, also!!

I'm starting to think it'll become the "Cheers" of this generation -- popular during its heyday and fondly remembered today, but mostly ignored.

(Not to diss on "Cheers" or anything; it really deserves more respect these days than it's getting, which I'm glad to see is somewhat changing with the DVDs.)

I think it will be remembered at the same level as ILL and AITF, just not for the same reasons.

Those (although very funny), are more remembered for changing television.

Friends will go down (like The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Cheers and Seinfeld before it) as just a great sitcom.
Nothing revolutionary, just interesting characters that provide hours of laughs.

Nothing against ILL or AITF (I love them both, have them both on DVD)....
but I personally prefer series like this. Shows that play it safe, while not treating its audience like a four year old.

Originally posted by slackermonkey
I'm starting to think it'll become the "Cheers" of this generation -- popular during its heyday and fondly remembered today, but mostly ignored.

(Not to diss on "Cheers" or anything; it really deserves more respect these days than it's getting, which I'm glad to see is somewhat changing with the DVDs.)

As a fan of both shows (although much more of a Cheers fan).... that reminds me of the NBC 75th Anniversary Special.

The cast of Friends introduced the tribute to Cheers, claiming to be "the Cheers of this generation."
Which has always irked me.
Cheers is the Cheers of this generation.
Friends is the Friends of the new generation.

They will both go down as great sitcoms, on their own. A comparison is completely understandable, but neither could replace the other.

Originally posted by barwars

They will both go down as great sitcoms, on their own. A comparison is completely understandable, but neither could replace the other.

And keep in mind that Cheers was NEVER trendy.

But yes, Friends is/will be a classic.

Originally posted by barwars
As a fan of both shows (although much more of a Cheers fan).... that reminds me of the NBC 75th Anniversary Special.

The cast of Friends introduced the tribute to Cheers, claiming to be "the Cheers of this generation."
Which has always irked me.
Cheers is the Cheers of this generation.
Friends is the Friends of the new generation.

They will both go down as great sitcoms, on their own. A comparison is completely understandable, but neither could replace the other.

Really? I've always thought of "Friends" as a modern-day, twentysomething "Cheers." They have really similar tones and styles. It's not fair to either show to compare, but that's how I've always seen it. I never saw the 75th Anniversary Special, so it's weird that the cast had the same impression I did.

Originally posted by Chambers
And keep in mind that Cheers was NEVER trendy.

But yes, Friends is/will be a classic.

Would you say Friends is trendy?

They're nowhere near as "in your face" about it as most sitcoms, but yeah, it was.

Look at Rachel's haircut, or the fact that they hang out in a coffeehouse (even though this was before Starbucks was common, they still helped popularize it).

Originally posted by slackermonkey
They're nowhere near as "in your face" about it as most sitcoms, but yeah, it was.

Look at Rachel's haircut, or the fact that they hang out in a coffeehouse (even though this was before Starbucks was common, they still helped popularize it).

Oh God, you just said Friends was trendy. I haven't even started thinking about the show in the past tense. This is so sad!

Originally posted by barwars
As a fan of both shows (although much more of a Cheers fan).... that reminds me of the NBC 75th Anniversary Special.

The cast of Friends introduced the tribute to Cheers, claiming to be "the Cheers of this generation."
Which has always irked me.
Cheers is the Cheers of this generation.
Friends is the Friends of the new generation.

OT, but I was wondering if anyone has a copy of the special? I missed it when it was originally on and I've been interested in seeing it! If you have a copy you could make for me (I'd pay, of course, for the tape and shipping!) let me know. Thanks! lol.

Originally posted by ChambersVsMalone
OT, but I was wondering if anyone has a copy of the special? I missed it when it was originally on and I've been interested in seeing it! If you have a copy you could make for me (I'd pay, of course, for the tape and shipping!) let me know. Thanks! lol.

I don't have it, sorry.
Although.... if you do find someone with a copy, drop me a message.

I'd love to see it again.

Maybe you can get a copy from NBC? Their NBCUMV website still has a mini-site for the 75th Anniversary Special, so it's possible.