Lisa Whelchel as Rachel Greene

[cfr1970]

I'm sure this has been discussed, but I just found out she was offered this part on Friends and turned it down. I think she would have been a great Rachel and given the role a different dimension than Jennifer Aniston did. I also think she would've brought more depth to the character than Aniston did and wish she'd have taken it.

The more I think about it, the more I feel that role would've been perfect for her. Had she taken it, i'd probably be a fan of the Friends reruns, but Aniston has always turned me off so I never watch it. There's this smugness to her I can't quite put my finger on whereas Whelchel comes across as the exact opposite....down to earth and friendly.

[Sitcommania]

I think she was only asked to audition. But I agree she would have made a great Rachel and Nancy McKeon would have been a great Monica; it did come down between her and Courteney Cox. I think that’s part of the reason Nancy M. Worked so hard to distance herself from Facts.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by Sitcommania

I think she was only asked to audition. But I agree she would have made a great Rachel and Nancy McKeon would have been a great Monica; it did come down between her and Courteney Cox. I think that’s part of the reason Nancy M. Worked so hard to distance herself from Facts.

I too think Nancy McKeon would have been great as Monica. I wish we could have seen that! I wonder if audition tapes are out there of her trying out for it. That would be so fun to see.

Has anyone seen her in The Division? I never watched it and all I know is it was some Lifetime series, but it was apparently a hit for the channel. If any fans of that show are here, is it recommended for Nancy McKeon fans? Does she effectively shed her "Jo" personality in it?

I may give it a try as i'm always looking for "new" old shows to discover.

[Bonniegirl]

No offense to Lisa and Nancy, and it is just my opinion , but I think they were a little too old to play Rachel and Monica !

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

No offense to Lisa and Nancy, and it is just my opinion , but I think they were a little too old to play Rachel and Monica !

I disagree. Nancy McKeon was 2 years younger than Courteney Cox, so she certainly could've played Monica. Lisa Whelchel was 31 to Jennifer Aniston's 25, but I think she still could've pulled it off easily as she has a very youthful appearance, and at 56 now, she still looks 10 years younger imo.

[TSMIV]

Ugh, glad that didn't happen. Jennifer was perfect for Rachel. Her character is supposed to be a little bit of a spoiled snobby princess, in spite of that; she's basically a nice girl. If they auditioned Lisa, its because they had Blair in mind. Part of what made the show a hit is that the 6 actors were basically unknown. It would have bombed with Nancy and Lisa playing older versions of characters they already played.

[Sitcommania]

Originally Posted by TSMIV

Ugh, glad that didn't happen. Jennifer was perfect for Rachel. Her character is supposed to be a little bit of a spoiled snobby princess, in spite of that; she's basically a nice girl. If they auditioned Lisa, its because they had Blair in mind. Part of what made the show a hit is that the 6 actors were basically unknown. It would have bombed with Nancy and Lisa playing older versions of characters they already played.

Another reason they didn’t choose Nancy.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by TSMIV

Ugh, glad that didn't happen. Jennifer was perfect for Rachel. Her character is supposed to be a little bit of a spoiled snobby princess, in spite of that; she's basically a nice girl. If they auditioned Lisa, its because they had Blair in mind. Part of what made the show a hit is that the 6 actors were basically unknown. It would have bombed with Nancy and Lisa playing older versions of characters they already played.

I agree!

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by TSMIV

Ugh, glad that didn't happen. Jennifer was perfect for Rachel. Her character is supposed to be a little bit of a spoiled snobby princess, in spite of that; she's basically a nice girl. If they auditioned Lisa, its because they had Blair in mind. Part of what made the show a hit is that the 6 actors were basically unknown. It would have bombed with Nancy and Lisa playing older versions of characters they already played.

Looking at it from that perspective it does make sense. Audiences could've assumed it was a Jo & Blair reunion of sorts and not bothered to tune in, hindering it's potential to become the mega hit it became.

I guess having all 6 being unknowns actually helped it because I remember it being a hit right out of the gate. I still think Lisa and Nancy would've been great in the roles though.

[RetroGuy2000]

As much as I love Lisa, she would have been woefully miscast on Friends.

Much of Friends was pretty racy for its era. In the pilot, Monica sleeps with a guy she's just met, and he doesn't call her afterwards. Between them, the Friends sleep with a small army of characters they're not married to: Paul the Wine Guy, Kathy, Janice, Janine, Mona, Emily, the copy place girl, Paulo, Mike, David, Tom Selleck, Charlie Sheen, most of Joey's dates... This is just the short version of this list.

Lisa totally opposed sex before marriage, and refused to appear in a FOL episode where even her character stayed chaste, just because another character did not. Can you imagine how many episodes of Friends Lisa would have boycotted? We would have seen her in, like, three episodes per season!

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

As much as I love Lisa, she would have been woefully miscast on Friends.

Much of Friends was pretty racy for its era. In the pilot, Monica sleeps with a guy she's just met, and he doesn't call her afterwards. Between them, the Friends sleep with a small army of characters they're not married to: Paul the Wine Guy, Kathy, Janice, Janine, Mona, Emily, the copy place girl, Paulo, Mike, David, Tom Selleck, Charlie Sheen, most of Joey's dates... This is just the short version of this list.

Lisa totally opposed sex before marriage, and refused to appear in a FOL episode where even her character stayed chaste, just because another character did not. Can you imagine how many episodes of Friends Lisa would have boycotted? We would have seen her in, like, three episodes per season!

Good point and very logical. I didn't know her chaste views on sex before marriage extended past FOL. I read she turned Friends down because she found the script racy and she felt the show was going to deal a lot with dating and sex, but being a teen depicting the first time it is one thing....being 31 and still clinging on to that chastity belt before marriage is a bit extreme, but I respect her views nonetheless.

It's rare to see that in Hollywood so good for her. I guess her presence and deep views would have eventually disrupted the set and she ultimately made the right choice for herself and the show.

I still like to imagine what she'd be like as Rachel. Jennifer Aniston imo has been Rachel Green in everything she's done since Friends that it's clear to me she was just playing herself on that show. I think the woman has zero acting range.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Good point and very logical. I didn't know her chaste views on sex before marriage extended past FOL. I read she turned Friends down because she found the script racy and she felt the show was going to deal a lot with dating and sex, but being a teen depicting the first time it is one thing....being 31 and still clinging on to that chastity belt before marriage is a bit extreme, but I respect her views nonetheless.

It's rare to see that in Hollywood so good for her. I guess her presence and deep views would have eventually disrupted the set and she ultimately made the right choice for herself and the show.

I still like to imagine what she'd be like as Rachel. Jennifer Aniston imo has been Rachel Green in everything she's done since Friends that it's clear to me she was just playing herself on that show. I think the woman has zero acting range.

Well I admit she isn't exactly on Bette Davis's caliber of acting , but she is an OK actress , bubbly and adorable. She plays bubbly, adorable characters like she is in real life! She was PERFECT as Rachel !

[80s Dude]

Ironically the role of Monica got filled by Nancy M.'s ex boyfriend's last TV girlfriend.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Ironically the role of Monica got filled by Nancy M.'s ex boyfriend's last TV girlfriend.

Haha! Yeah, too bad it wasn't Nancy M's brother's first girlfriend.

Just kidding. I wouldn't have recast Friends at all. The casting was perfect. I don't care if Jennifer has no range: she was excellent in that role.

[TSMIV]

I've always thought Jen was the best comedienne of the three Friends girls (yes, I think Lisa Kudrow is overrated). Jennifer stinks at drama or maybe she's just lousy at choosing dramatic roles.