What was the worst season? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mcfly · 01-17-2004, 09:17 AM

Without a doubt, season 1. I'm currently watching then on DVD and it's atrocious. Unfunny, overacted, trying too hard. Where all the characters say the exact same thing at the exact same time! Or where Ross says "I like the way he makes me feel about myself" and the whole cast looks to the skies, ponders, then all go "Yeaaaaaaah".

The only one who comes off ok is Chandler. While looking at Ross' sonogram video he says "I think it's attacking the Enterprise!" Not till the very end with the whole Ross n Rachel thing heating up does it get good.

All the seasons after that I've never been disappointed. A couple of laughless ones the last couple of years, but not as bad as season 1.

Dean Winchester · 01-18-2004, 02:42 PM

no way!!! season 1 is CLASSIC. The first season is rather dated compared to the rest, especially in fashions and hairstyles, BUT... it was a great season and was the year we all fell in love with them. I do think age plays into it... if you were "too young" for Friends in 1994, it might look a lot worse than it really is. But for those of us who watched back then, that first season really revolutionized sitcoms for the rest of the 1990's.

I personally vote the first half of season 7 as the absolute nadir of the series. It did get better towards the end of the season when they had the episode they celebrate their 30th bdays, and where we meet Chandler's dad (played by Kathleen Turner) and Chand and Monica marry. But the first part of the season was really weak and I remember a lot of people at the time carrying on that "okay, Friends has lost it". But I think the second half of season 7 and all of season 8 saved Friends and brought it back to must see.

CM_Burnadette · 01-18-2004, 03:04 PM

The last season. This show used to be so funny, now it may as well be a primetime soap opera. The writers should just pair up all six of them, and get back to writing sitcoms, because they can't write dramas to save their lives.

Mcfly · 01-18-2004, 03:10 PM

During the original run I gave it till the blackout episode and had to give up. It was just grating on me. A year later they re-ran the finale of Rachel going to the airport, and everywhere I looked, read, listened or whatever it was "Ross 'n Rachel this that or the other" so I'm like, ok, I'll try one more time. Boy, had the writing come a long way, I was hooked ever since.

Funny sidenote: Friends always gets critisized for their celeb cameos, yet even in season 1 they were guilty of this, as Jill Goodacre was in the blackout one. Amaze me if anyone remembers who Jill Goodacre is now (Vicotria's Secret model).

Dean Winchester · 01-18-2004, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CM_Burnadette
The last season. This show used to be so funny, now it may as well be a primetime soap opera. The writers should just pair up all six of them, and get back to writing sitcoms, because they can't write dramas to save their lives.

season 10 has been "ok" so far, but I think the biggest problem with it thus far is the fact that you can tell they're all over the show, and are going through the motions. Nowadays, a lot of them don't even seem like they're the characters anymore. Instead of Rachel, it seems nowadays to be "look, it's Jennifer Aniston trying to be like Rachel" on the show, same with the others. I do think watching this season so far, that it would've been wise to wrap the show up at the end of season 9. Because it's evident this season that they really don't wanna do it anymore.

Superbatboy · 01-19-2004, 05:22 AM

9th and the 10th have been the worst so far IMO. Everything seems forced now.

Christopher · 01-19-2004, 09:43 AM

Season 3. Ross and Rachel ruined it with the whole "We were on a break" ****

Central Perk · 01-19-2004, 10:02 AM

Season 9 was probably the worst.

schneidy25 · 01-22-2004, 12:15 PM

Hey all,

I'm new the this messageboard. I didn't start to watch Friends until season 7-8. But we have all on DVD and I have to say that the current season, season 10 is terrible. Chandler is not funny anymore, Rachel is blah. It's just not good.

schneidy25

Dean Winchester · 01-22-2004, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by schneidy25
Hey all,

I'm new the this messageboard. I didn't start to watch Friends until season 7-8. But we have all on DVD and I have to say that the current season, season 10 is terrible. Chandler is not funny anymore, Rachel is blah. It's just not good.

schneidy25

I agree, I try to like Rachel, but Jennifer is just phoning it in nowadays, you KNOW she is sick of it and is only doing this last season for the money

Edster2973 · 01-28-2004, 10:33 PM

I don't think it's the acting that's lack lustre this season but the material, and it's *almost* not the writers' fault.

As with any good show, it takes a while to plan things out so that events and situations build to something. With FRIENDS, it was uncertain as to whether the 9th season would be the last, so plots had to be watered down *just in case* things had to end. Then it turns out that there would be a 10th season but even that wasn't set in stone as the last season (at least not at first, if I remember correctly) so events were constructed to try to propel things into the 10th season, but with loopholes *just in case* things had to end.

Then it became official that the 10th season was to be the last, so the watered down, lame events that were left over from the 9th season had to be resolved (like Ross' romance with Charlie & Joey's romance with Rachel). Plus, the fact that there are to be only 18 episodes in the 10th season instead of the usual 22/24, things had to be set up for a finale without seeming to be forced or contrived.

Let's face it, the 9th could have been the final season and things could have been ended there with a few minor plot adjustments, but it turns out it wasn't so the writers had to come up with something to propel events into the 10th season.

It may not seem like a good enough excuse, but I truly believe this is what is accounting for the lightweight material. The business side of things with the NBC network put the show in limbo several times (they weren't sure if they would renew the show or not) and I think any writer would find it hard to come up with anything substantial plotwise when one doesn't know how long the show has left. If you write something really epic and the show ends without resolving that epic, the fans (and cast) will feel cheated.

This is what is making the show lacklustre, not the actors...

at least IMHO...

Ed

Dean Winchester · 01-29-2004, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Christopher
Season 3. Ross and Rachel ruined it with the whole "We were on a break" ****

while I don't think it's their worst ever. I think season 3 was easily the weakest of their "glory day" era (seasons 1-5)

01-17-2004, 09:17 AM	#1
Mcfly Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 06, 2001 Location: ca Posts: 374	What was the worst season? Without a doubt, season 1. I'm currently watching then on DVD and it's atrocious. Unfunny, overacted, trying too hard. Where all the characters say the exact same thing at the exact same time! Or where Ross says "I like the way he makes me feel about myself" and the whole cast looks to the skies, ponders, then all go "Yeaaaaaaah". The only one who comes off ok is Chandler. While looking at Ross' sonogram video he says "I think it's attacking the Enterprise!" Not till the very end with the whole Ross n Rachel thing heating up does it get good. All the seasons after that I've never been disappointed. A couple of laughless ones the last couple of years, but not as bad as season 1.

01-19-2004, 05:22 AM	#6
Superbatboy The Brandon Show Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: California..USA Posts: 793	9th and the 10th have been the worst so far IMO. Everything seems forced now.
	__________________ "Marion, stop cackling I've been waiting 10 years for you to lay that egg"

01-22-2004, 12:15 PM	#9
schneidy25 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 17, 2003 Posts: 18	current season Hey all, I'm new the this messageboard. I didn't start to watch Friends until season 7-8. But we have all on DVD and I have to say that the current season, season 10 is terrible. Chandler is not funny anymore, Rachel is blah. It's just not good. schneidy25

01-28-2004, 10:33 PM	#11
Edster2973 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 19, 2003 Location: Somerset, Massachusetts, USA Posts: 951	I don't think it's the acting that's lack lustre this season but the material, and it's almost not the writers' fault. As with any good show, it takes a while to plan things out so that events and situations build to something. With FRIENDS, it was uncertain as to whether the 9th season would be the last, so plots had to be watered down just in case things had to end. Then it turns out that there would be a 10th season but even that wasn't set in stone as the last season (at least not at first, if I remember correctly) so events were constructed to try to propel things into the 10th season, but with loopholes just in case things had to end. Then it became official that the 10th season was to be the last, so the watered down, lame events that were left over from the 9th season had to be resolved (like Ross' romance with Charlie & Joey's romance with Rachel). Plus, the fact that there are to be only 18 episodes in the 10th season instead of the usual 22/24, things had to be set up for a finale without seeming to be forced or contrived. Let's face it, the 9th could have been the final season and things could have been ended there with a few minor plot adjustments, but it turns out it wasn't so the writers had to come up with something to propel events into the 10th season. It may not seem like a good enough excuse, but I truly believe this is what is accounting for the lightweight material. The business side of things with the NBC network put the show in limbo several times (they weren't sure if they would renew the show or not) and I think any writer would find it hard to come up with anything substantial plotwise when one doesn't know how long the show has left. If you write something really epic and the show ends without resolving that epic, the fans (and cast) will feel cheated. This is what is making the show lacklustre, not the actors... at least IMHO... Ed
	__________________ save water... shower with a friend...

01-18-2004, 02:42 PM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	no way!!! season 1 is CLASSIC. The first season is rather dated compared to the rest, especially in fashions and hairstyles, BUT... it was a great season and was the year we all fell in love with them. I do think age plays into it... if you were "too young" for Friends in 1994, it might look a lot worse than it really is. But for those of us who watched back then, that first season really revolutionized sitcoms for the rest of the 1990's. I personally vote the first half of season 7 as the absolute nadir of the series. It did get better towards the end of the season when they had the episode they celebrate their 30th bdays, and where we meet Chandler's dad (played by Kathleen Turner) and Chand and Monica marry. But the first part of the season was really weak and I remember a lot of people at the time carrying on that "okay, Friends has lost it". But I think the second half of season 7 and all of season 8 saved Friends and brought it back to must see.

01-18-2004, 03:04 PM	#3
CM_Burnadette Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 10	The last season. This show used to be so funny, now it may as well be a primetime soap opera. The writers should just pair up all six of them, and get back to writing sitcoms, because they can't write dramas to save their lives.

01-18-2004, 03:10 PM	#4
Mcfly Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 06, 2001 Location: ca Posts: 374	During the original run I gave it till the blackout episode and had to give up. It was just grating on me. A year later they re-ran the finale of Rachel going to the airport, and everywhere I looked, read, listened or whatever it was "Ross 'n Rachel this that or the other" so I'm like, ok, I'll try one more time. Boy, had the writing come a long way, I was hooked ever since. Funny sidenote: Friends always gets critisized for their celeb cameos, yet even in season 1 they were guilty of this, as Jill Goodacre was in the blackout one. Amaze me if anyone remembers who Jill Goodacre is now (Vicotria's Secret model).

01-19-2004, 09:43 AM	#7
Christopher The OG Core Four Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2001 Posts: 14,833	Season 3. Ross and Rachel ruined it with the whole "We were on a break" ****

01-19-2004, 10:02 AM	#8
Central Perk ~~~~~ Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 10, 2002 Posts: 4,553	Season 9 was probably the worst.