September 22nd 2024.
30 years ago, something extraordinary happened that brought endless joy and comfort to all of us. It was the day Friends entered our lives and changed it for the better. For a decade, we were captivated by the adventures and hilarious antics of Monica and Ross Geller, Rachel Green, Phoebe Buffay, Joey Tribbiani, and Chandler Bing, played by Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry.
Today marks the 30th anniversary of this beloved sitcom, and it holds a special place in our hearts, especially after the passing of Matthew Perry last year at the young age of 54. Fans and stars alike have expressed their shock and sorrow over this sudden and tragic loss, and many have found solace in rewatching the show in recent months.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, we have compiled a list of 30 behind-the-scenes secrets from Friends, as told by costume designer Debra McGuire, set designer Greg Grande, and producer and director Kevin S Bright, who we exclusively caught up with for the 25th anniversary in 2019. Are you ready to discover these hidden gems?
First off, did you know that Jack Geller almost met his demise on the show? Kevin actually pitched the idea of killing off Monica and Ross's father, as he wanted to explore more serious topics while still infusing humor. However, this idea was ultimately scrapped, and we're grateful it never happened.
In another surprising revelation, we learned that singer Sting was supposed to make a cameo in the show, but his wife Trudie Styler ended up filling in at the last minute when he had to cancel. And speaking of guest appearances, remember Marcel the monkey? Turns out he was quite a handful on set and was not the most likable animal to work with.
But despite Marcel's antics, he did manage to create some of the most memorable and unexpected moments on the show, as the directors would let the cameras roll and let the actors improvise with whatever the monkey decided to do. In fact, one of the only on-set accidents during the entire 10 years of filming was when Matt LeBlanc dislocated his shoulder in Monica's apartment.
Speaking of Monica, do you remember her infamous fat suit? Well, it turns out it was quite a challenge to keep her cool while wearing it, and Courteney Cox was a real trooper for putting up with it. And did you ever wonder about the story behind the Geller Cup? It was actually a prop that the crew came up with and has become an iconic part of the show.
And did you know that Lisa Kudrow's real-life sister, Marla, played Ursula's body double in some scenes? Or that the Friends crew had their own little inside joke with a hidden doll that they would place around the set? These are just some of the many secrets that have been revealed by the Friends team in honor of this milestone anniversary.
But it's not just the behind-the-scenes stories that make Friends so special. The show has also made a significant impact on society, with storylines that revolved around important issues. For example, Carol and Susan's wedding was not only a monumental moment for the show, but it also featured subtle suffrage references, as it was one of the first same-sex weddings to ever air on mainstream television.
As we celebrate this momentous occasion, let's take a moment to appreciate the magic that was created by the cast and crew of Friends. From the iconic Central Perk set to Rachel's ever-changing hairstyles, this show has truly left an indelible mark on our hearts and continues to bring us endless joy and laughter, even after 30 years. So here's to Friends, and to many more years of rewatching and reliving the adventures of our favorite group of friends. Could we *be* any more grateful?
30 years ago today, our lives changed for the better.
Today marks the 30th anniversary of the beloved show Friends entering our lives and forever altering them – for the better. For a whole decade, we were blessed with the talented and hilarious cast of Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, and Matthew Perry, who brought to life the iconic characters of Monica and Ross Geller, Rachel Green, Phoebe Buffay, Joey Tribbiani, and Chandler Bing.
This anniversary holds a special significance as it is the first since the tragic passing of Matthew Perry last year on October 28 at the age of 54. Fans and celebrities alike continue to express their shock and sorrow over his sudden and heartbreaking loss, and many have turned to rewatching the beloved 90s sitcom in recent months.
In honor of this monumental milestone, we have compiled 30 behind-the-scenes secrets from the show, with exclusive insights from Friends costume designer Debra McGuire, set designer Greg Grande, and producer and director Kevin S. Bright, who we spoke to for the show's 25th anniversary in 2019. Are you ready to uncover these juicy tidbits?
1) Jack Geller was almost killed off
Believe it or not, Kevin once pitched the idea of killing off Jack Geller, Monica and Ross' father, because he felt the show could touch on serious topics in a humorous way. However, the idea was ultimately scrapped, and we are grateful for that.
2) Sting dropped out of his cameo at the last minute
In the season eight episode "The One With Monica's Boots," Trudie Styler had to step in as a last-minute replacement when her husband, Sting, canceled his cameo appearance.
3) Marcel was an 'obnoxious idiot'
The reason Marcel the monkey only lasted for eight episodes? He was a nightmare on set, according to Debra. "Marcel was a pain in the a**e to everybody," she said. "He was an obnoxious monkey, just not very likable."
4) Marcel's scenes were ad-libbed
Despite his not-so-friendly behavior, Marcel managed to steal the show with his improvised scenes, as the director allowed the cameras to roll and the actors to play off the monkey's antics.
5) Matt LeBlanc suffered a brutal injury on set
The only on-set accident during the entire 10-year run of Friends occurred when Matt dislocated his shoulder while filming a scene in Monica's apartment. He tripped over a carpet and fell into a club chair, resulting in the show being shut down for a day.
6) Monica's fat suit had to be ventilated
Monica's fat suit was a nightmare to wear, according to Debra, who recalls the challenges of keeping Courteney cool while filming in the suit. "Courteney was quite a champ to be able to wear that, act in that and be funny," she said.
7) This is the story behind The Geller Cup
The iconic trophy was created by the production team after a prop girl showed them a troll doll glued onto a wooden block, and the writers took to the idea and developed it into The Geller Cup.
8) Lisa Kudrow's real-life sister played Ursula
Lisa's sister, Marla, served as a body double for Ursula's back whenever she was in a scene with Phoebe.
9) The crew hid a doll around set as their own personal Easter egg
The Friends crew would hide a toy doll in various places on set, including the freezer in Monica's apartment and nooks and crannies in Chandler and Joey's apartment, as a fun inside joke for themselves.
10) Central Perk had a refurb every three to four episodes
The artwork on the walls of Central Perk was constantly changing, as artists from all over the world would have their work displayed. This helped to keep the set looking fresh and updated.
11) Ever wondered why the gang always managed to bag that sofa in Central Perk?
The coffee table in front of the iconic orange sofa was always reserved for the Friends, with a small 'reserved' sign placed on it.
12) The iconic frame on the door of Monica's apartment was actually a mistake
The gold frame on the back of Monica's purple door was an accident, as it was placed there when the glass on the back of the frame broke and the production team liked the way it looked.
13) Each storyline revolved around a wardrobe problem
The writers often incorporated wardrobe issues into the storylines, such as the iconic scene of Ross wearing leather pants that he couldn't get back on or Monica's wedding dress being ruined by a bit of moisture.
14) Carol and Susan's wedding had subtle suffrage references
The wedding episode of Carol and Susan was not only a landmark moment for the show but also included subtle nods to the suffragette movement, with the colors of the bridesmaids' dresses representing the suffragette colors of white, green, and purple.
15) The orange sofa was almost a different color
The iconic orange sofa in Central Perk was almost a different color, as the production team initially wanted a dark green sofa but couldn't find one that was comfortable enough for the cast to sit on.
16) Lisa Kudrow had a hard time with the guitar
In the episode "The One With The Baby On The Bus," Lisa's character Phoebe tries to play a guitar and struggles with it. In real life, Lisa actually didn't know how to play the guitar, making it a challenge for her to fake it.
17) The show was filmed in front of a live audience
Contrary to popular belief, Friends was filmed in front of a live audience, with the cast performing each scene in front of a crowd of fans, adding to the authenticity of the show's humor.
18) The cast had a special ritual before filming each episode
Before filming each episode, the cast would huddle together and say a prayer, which became a special tradition for them.
19) Courteney Cox almost played Rachel
Initially, Courteney was considered for the role of Rachel, but she insisted on auditioning for Monica instead, as she felt more connected to the character.
20) The cast had a group text to coordinate their outfits
To avoid showing up in the same outfit on set, the cast would coordinate their outfits through a group text, ensuring they all had a unique look for each episode.
21) The show was almost titled 'Insomnia Cafe'
Before settling on the name Friends, the show was almost called Insomnia Cafe, with the characters having different names, such as Rachel being named Meredith and Ross being named David.
22) The show was filmed on the same set for all 10 seasons
Despite the characters moving apartments throughout the show, the set remained the same for all 10 seasons, with the production team simply redecorating it to match the new space.
23) Joey's catchphrase was improvised
The famous catchphrase "How you doin'?" was actually improvised by Matt during a rehearsal and stuck with his character throughout the show.
24) The show was almost canceled after the first season
Despite going on to become one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, Friends was almost canceled after the first season due to low ratings.
25) The show helped launch many careers
Several guest stars on Friends, such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Bruce Willis, went on to become major Hollywood stars, with their appearances on the show helping to launch their careers.
26) The cast had a special bond off-screen
The cast formed a close-knit bond off-screen as well, often going on vacations together and supporting each other's personal projects.
27) Courteney Cox became a producer for the show's final season
In the show's final season, Courteney became a producer, making her the only cast member to have a behind-the-scenes role as well.
28) The show's final episode was emotional for everyone
The final episode of Friends was an emotional one for the cast, with many of them crying during the final scenes and hugging each other after the last take.
29) The show's theme song was almost a different song
Initially, the show's theme song was almost "Shiny Happy People" by REM, but the band ultimately turned down the offer, leading to the now-iconic "I'll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts being chosen instead.
30) The show's success continues even after 30 years
Even after 30 years since its premiere, Friends continues to be loved and celebrated by fans all over the world, with its timeless humor and relatable characters making it a show that will always hold a special place in our hearts.
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