What if the cast members had been "Friends"? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 05-18-2004, 01:50 PM

When Friends premiered in 1994, Courteney Cox was the most famous member of the cast at that time. She'd done a couple of seasons of Family Ties and had appeared in movies such as the first Ace Ventura, whereas the others had not had such luck.

She could have demanded more money and star billing, but elected to be part of an ensemble. She also proposed that all of them make the same salary per episode. Any time there were negotiations for a salary increase, they stood together and as a result, the cast stayed in place for the entire run of the show.

It makes me wonder: If John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers had struck a similar deal on Three's Company, would Suzanne have departed?

An interesting "What If" scenario, I think.

Chain Gang Member · 05-18-2004, 05:54 PM

If that dumbass husband didn't tell her that she should get more money and publicity,maybe she wouldn't have not gotten greedy and almost savatage the show!

Mariel · 05-23-2004, 01:57 PM

Yeah, every time I hear about the Friends cast sticking together through salary negotiations, I always think about Three's Company because of what happened with Suzanne.

BTW, the cast members said it was David who proposed they got the same salary. In the first season of Friends, he was the one who got movie offers and such, so naturally, he had the power to ask for more money, but he refused. Instead, he talked to the rest of the cast and said that since it was an ensemble show and they did the same amount of work, they should earn the same amount of money. Matthew even joked that he thought David was an idiot for refusing all that money. Hehe.

I think that was a really smart move. They say that was the first time it even happened in television history.

MistyDoll · 05-23-2004, 09:40 PM

I think Susanne's at fault here for being soo greedy. She didn't want to settle for anything less than $150,000 which was really dumb of Suzanne to expect that much and I don't think even John who was The True Star of Three's Company made that much and he totally deserved to be paid the most money out of all of them!

David · 05-25-2004, 06:54 PM

It wouldve gone on longer, and I think there would've been a nice twist to it. Hmm.. we'll never know

View Poll Results: Would the original cast have stayed together if they'd been paid equally...?
YES	7	70.00%
NO	3	30.00%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll

05-18-2004, 01:50 PM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	What if the cast members had been "Friends"? When Friends premiered in 1994, Courteney Cox was the most famous member of the cast at that time. She'd done a couple of seasons of Family Ties and had appeared in movies such as the first Ace Ventura, whereas the others had not had such luck. She could have demanded more money and star billing, but elected to be part of an ensemble. She also proposed that all of them make the same salary per episode. Any time there were negotiations for a salary increase, they stood together and as a result, the cast stayed in place for the entire run of the show. It makes me wonder: If John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers had struck a similar deal on Three's Company, would Suzanne have departed? An interesting "What If" scenario, I think.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

05-18-2004, 05:54 PM	#2
Chain Gang Member 1st Female Triple Crown Champ Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Watching Three's Company & Wrestling Posts: 8,925	If that dumbass husband didn't tell her that she should get more money and publicity,maybe she wouldn't have not gotten greedy and almost savatage the show!
	__________________ Mickie is the best woman to step inside the ring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOTh3hVT0HU

05-23-2004, 01:57 PM	#3
Mariel cool beans Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 04, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 97	Yeah, every time I hear about the Friends cast sticking together through salary negotiations, I always think about Three's Company because of what happened with Suzanne. BTW, the cast members said it was David who proposed they got the same salary. In the first season of Friends, he was the one who got movie offers and such, so naturally, he had the power to ask for more money, but he refused. Instead, he talked to the rest of the cast and said that since it was an ensemble show and they did the same amount of work, they should earn the same amount of money. Matthew even joked that he thought David was an idiot for refusing all that money. Hehe. I think that was a really smart move. They say that was the first time it even happened in television history.
	__________________ Please check out: Amy Yasbeck Online Miranda: I just realized -- maybe it's maturity or the wisdom that comes with age, but the witch in Hansel and Gretel, she's very misunderstood. I mean, the woman builds her dream house and these brats come along and start eating it. *~Sex and the City*

05-23-2004, 09:40 PM	#4
MistyDoll JohnRitter:1948-2003 Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 08, 2003 Location: Jack's Bistro Posts: 288	Hi! I think Susanne's at fault here for being soo greedy. She didn't want to settle for anything less than $150,000 which was really dumb of Suzanne to expect that much and I don't think even John who was The True Star of Three's Company made that much and he totally deserved to be paid the most money out of all of them!

05-25-2004, 06:54 PM	#5
David mcphee. Forum Superstar Join Date: Jan 30, 2003 Location: jacksonville, FL. Posts: 28,115	It wouldve gone on longer, and I think there would've been a nice twist to it. Hmm.. we'll never know
	__________________ v. 39 - katharine and chris elliott, you rock.