The Friends Project: another look at a popular classic

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Friends went off the air in May of 2004, 17 years ago, but it’s still one of the most watched shows in syndication. The show hasn’t dipped in popularity and in fact, younger viewers – many of whom were too young to watch the show when it was on the air have embraced the show. As I type this, Comedy Central is hosting a Friends Fest, a tourist attraction that allows fans to play amongst recreations of iconic sets like Monica’s apartment or the hallway scene with a couch lodged on a flight of stairs. Visitors are invited to recreate the title sequence on the orange couch in front of the fountain or play foosball at the boys’ apartment. In the UK, the show is a phenomenon, enduring despite nearly two decades since its end.

I “came of age” when Friends was on the air. I remember when the first season premiered; I wasn’t a big fan of the show. I watched it passively so that I could talk with my friends the next day and recite the jokes (the junior high school version of water cooler talk). We would trade bits from Friends as well as Seinfeld and Ellen. I liked the show well enough, but it wasn’t my favourite show at the time. I was watching Murphy Brown, Roseanne, and Mad About You. I thought Roseanne and Murphy Brown were better shows because they had a strong female lead with a singular point of view. Friends seemed surfacy and pretty, but a seeming knock off of Seinfeld or Ellen – a sitcom about gorgeous young New Yorkers joking about their dating lives.

Throughout the show’s 10-season run, I popped in and out of the show, never really getting into the programme too much, but watching episodes that featured a guest star I liked (the show was lousy with great guest stars). Even if I wasn’t as into the show, I did become a huge fan of Lisa Kudrow – a Groundlings vet who won an Emmy as Phoebe, the witty space cadet. Kudrow is a brilliant comedienne and wonderful actress who I thought was far more interesting and tart than the genial sitcom trappings of Friends. I made a point of watching her films, including the cult classic Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion as well as her brilliant turns in more challenging fair like Clockwatchers, The Opposite of Sex, and Wonderland. Though she wasn’t the most successful Friends star, she had the most interesting career and if I did give the show another glance, it would be to watch Kudrow steal scenes.

Now, in 2021, Friends is still as popular as ever. Merchandise fills store shelves and streaming services feature the show on their schedules. In May of this year, the cast assembled for a HBOMax special. In light of this continued popularity, I’m embarking on what I’m calling ‘The Friends Project.’ I’ll be watching every episode of the show’s 10 seasons and writing reviews and recaps on this blog. It’ll be good to see the show outside of the context I remember it from.